2024 was such a great year for travel. Remember, in 2023, we were still dealing with the post-COVID world and things were WEIRD. Cruise lines and hotels had staffing issues in 2023 which made everything just a little bit harder than it should have been. In 2024, things were pretty much back to normal! (Except for flight prices, which just keep going up!)

It was honestly such a joy to be working with an industry back at full-strength. I just have to recognize some of the partners and clients I worked with in 2024. So I want to give out some awards! Here they are…

Best Hotel Concierge Team

St. James Paris, a Relais & Chateaux property: The team here must work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I had some very VIP clients staying here and the concierge team was an absolute lifesaver. Good fact to know: The best concierges have the Clefs d'Or designation. Note I am a Relais & Chateaux preferred partner.

— close tie with —

The Peninsula Paris. I love that I can Whatsapp them! They are so amazingly helpful and friendly. Nothing is impossible! (If you have been to France, you know what I mean with this sentence!) Note I am a PenClub member, the Peninsula’s program for top-producing agencies that helps me VIP my clients.

Honestly, French concierges are the best. It is a true profession in France and I love it.

Best Hotel Service

Four Seasons Taormina at San Domenico Palace, Sicily: Yes, the White Lotus hotel. Everyone always worries about Mount Etna erupting when they visit Sicily and then it never does. But then…it did! The morning my clients checked out of the Four Seasons Taormina! My clients made it to the airport and then…no flights. My clients were stuck in Sicily. The Four Seasons was AMAZING. They took such amazingly great care of my clients and made me look like a rockstar. I am a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, which helps in situations like this. (Tip: You should always book a Four Seasons resort through a travel advisor who is a Four Seasons Preferred Partner…like me!)

Best Welcome Amenity

The Charles Hotel, Munich (Rocco Forte): Pretzels and beer cheese and pickles! Sometimes, you just want a fun and different welcome amenity! I loved the entire idea of this. Note I am a member of the Rocco Forte Knights program, Rocco Forte’s program for top-producing travel agencies. This helps me VIP my clients with perks and amenities.

— close tie with —

Peninsula Paris petite dejeuner (small breakfast) for clients who arrived early in the morning. The Peninsula has something called “PenTime” where as long as you let them know when you are going to arrive, they will pretty much guarantee that your room will be available. With clients arriving super early, the Peninsula concierge suggested a little in-room breakfast spread for everyone on arrival. I thought that was so sweet!

Best New Travel Gadget Award

Apple Air Tags! Truly a game changer. Track your luggage! Everyone should buy these. Knowledge is power! When United left my bags on the tarmac in Newark (along with the bags of about 30 other people on my flight to Amsterdam), I was the only one who knew where my bags were!

Most Adventurous Client Award

It’s a two-way tie for me:

• My client who booked a two week trip to Egypt with me later this year. I know the world is an uncertain place but Egypt is truly a very special destination.

• The family who went to Panama on my suggestion when Costa Rica flights were pricing too high. I love when clients are willing to try something new!

Award for Most Interesting Inquiry

Request for a helicopter from northern Croatia to Montenegro. I was able to provide this for approximately $2000 USD but the client decided on a car and driver instead.

Award for Worst Travel Story

The client who received a flight notification as soon as he pulled up to the airport (in Europe) to learn that his flight back to the US had been cancelled. It was rescheduled for the next day and then that was cancelled too!! At that point, he asked for the next flight to America and didn’t care where they sent them! (Flexibility works!) He had to stay a night in that US city before finally flying home the next day. He purchased travel insurance and received a very nice reimbursement that took the sting out of things. Yey travel insurance!

Headscratcher Awards

Geography is my bag! Here are some of the more interesting requests I received this year…

• The prospect who asked for a day trip from London to the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (To be fair, this is totally possible…with a private plane.)

• The prospect looking for an Amalfi coast beach resort in December. (Brrrrrr.)

• The family who wanted ferry tickets from Singapore to Bali. (They are…not close.)

Award for The Shoemaker’s Children…I Mean…Parents

Sigh. In April, my 84 year old dad married his 86 year old girlfriend. (!!!) They went to Paris on their honeymoon and my dad, who likes to think that he’s a travel expert, did not ask for my help. By the time I learned of their plans, it was too late. So many mistakes during this trip. Firstly, they bought plane tickets at the last minute and didn’t realize that Premium Economy would have been about the same price as coach. Secondly, they booked a non-refundable hotel, so once I realized what they had done (keep reading), I couldn’t help them. Thirdly, they booked a hotel with Champs-Élysées in it’s name that was…you guessed it…nowhere near the Champs-Élysées. Lastly, they showed up at the Louvre without tickets or a private tour and couldn’t believe how long the line was. (They ended up not going to the Louvre.)

A good travel advisor — moi! — can help you avoid mistakes like these. I would have put them in a much better hotel for their budget and hooked them up with a private tour for the Louvre.

What I’m Looking Forward to in 2025

• In addition to my Virtuoso website where you can book your own hotel stays, I should also be launching a hotel search engine with a much larger variety of hotels where clients can self-book. (As long as the booking is pretty straightforward.)

• Experiencing an Avalon river cruise in March.

• Experiencing an Azamara cruise this summer. I love how Azamara spends more time in each port.

• Working more with Pix Around! They do great vacation photography.

• Talking to more of you!! Book your complimentary vacation consultation here.

About Krista

I’m a Virtuoso travel advisor based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Prior to moving to Florida to take care of my elderly mom with Parkinson’s Disease, I spent over 11 years living and working in London, England, selling financial data. My career and personal travel have taken me all over the world. To date, I’ve been to 78 countries. Now I bring the joy of travel to others as a Virtuoso travel advisor. I offer a 30 minute complimentary vacation consultation for anyone looking to plan their next trip.

• Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.

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Ways I Can Help You

• I can offer VIP perks and amenities at thousands of hotels around the world. Virtuoso perks are just the start. I can also VIP you at Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Four Seasons, and Rosewood properties…among others! (See my website footer for all the brands I work with And yes, you can double dip between your hotel status and mine, supercharging your VIP status!)

• I have a huge storehouse of luxury cruises: I partner with all the major cruise lines…Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Viking, Ama Waterways, Tauck and more. I can add onboard credits and other perks that you cannot get by booking direct.

• I have vetted villa rentals  with concierge service all around the world

• Private jets! Yes, I can do this for you.

• All sorts of small group and private touring.

• VIP on arrival and VIP on departure airport services. (Get met at the plane door!)

• Travel insurance. I know insurance is boring but it’s important!