An amazing family experience in London/Paris, courtesy of Travel Darlings My family of 15 decided to travel to London and Paris this summer. In February, I reached out to Irene at Travel Darlings via Yelp. After reading each and every glowing review, I decided to set up an introductory call. Our first call confirmed that the reviews were accurate and that I should start working with Irene. I could tell right away that she had first hand experience in London and Paris and that she was up for the task of planning our big trip. Because we had such a large group with multiple generations and interests, we needed an expert hand to guide us. We also wanted to find a travel agency that could deliver personalized attention for our group. We've used other large luxury travel agencies in the past, for example, and felt their approach was too cookie cutter. Travel Darlings is a smaller company and because of that, was in a better position to create a highly tailored vacation for our family. Irene went above and beyond during our planning process, helping us put together a spectacular experience. She took care of every detail of our trip. She put us in a hotel in London that now sets our benchmark for what a luxury hotel should be. When we arrived, there were welcome gifts and notes from Irene and the hotel GM. The staff knew us by name and joined us for welcome drinks in their private library/bar. We had a similar experience at our hotel in Paris. When we arrived there, we were greeted by the head of guest experience with champagne and gifts in our room. Irene found expert guides for our visits to important sites in both London and Paris. These guides were highly educated (e.g. masters degrees in Art History). She was able to match our interests and needs (with young children) to guides who were knowledgeable and entertaining. In almost every case, we had "skip the line" concierge service when visiting important sites. One highlight in London was visiting the Churchill War Rooms. Also in London, Irene arranged a walking tour and then a Sunday Roast experience that was memorable, and something we would not have thought about planning for ourselves. She has in-person relationships with the hotels we stayed in, several restaurants and all of the guides in London and Paris. This meant that our family was treated with extra care and attention along the way. Our main family reunion was for 12 nights in London and Paris. Irene also helped plan complete 3 separate extended side trips for different family members in Amsterdam, Madrid, Biarritz, Lisbon and Normandy. And she placed the same high level of care and attention, along with knowledge of the best hotels and restaurants to suit our preferences for these side trips. All along the way, Irene was available for questions and checked in with us over a group Whatsapp chat frequently. We truly felt that Irene was invested in making our trip a success, like she was a member of our family. In fact, we were so appreciative of her work for us, that we invited her to join us for a private dinner experience in London. We are so glad that we got to meet her in person. Overall, our summer trip to Europe with Travel Darlings was very memorable. Irene's meticulous planning, attention to detail, care, and personalized touch made it an extraordinary experience. We truly felt that Irene was invested in making our trip a success, like she was a member of our family. We recommend Travel Darlings and will work with them again.

I'm struggling to find the perfect words to express how impressed, delighted, and thankful for everything that Travel Darlings did for us. Writing this review, is extremely important to me, because it's the exact reason why I reached out to Travel Darlings over a year ago. When I read the testimonials and reviews from others, I was sold. I hope others make the same choice, when they read this... I met Irene over a year ago when I reached out to her about my destination wedding in Cancún Riviera, México. We met in person and I knew instantly that I wanted to work with her and Travel Darlings. Her vibrant personality and willingness to not only do her job, but commit herself personally to the year ahead was completely heartwarming and appreciated. Together with Chaim and Irene we successfully planned, coordinated, communicated, negotiated...(you name it) a 100-person destination wedding! Travel Darlings was the single point of contact for all things related to resort bookings, concessions, and airport transfers for our guests who were traveling from near and far. They did all the ground work for our contracts with multiple vendors with the resort so that I, as the bride, could focus on everything else related to our wedding. It was such a relief to know that we, and all our guests, were in good hands with Travel Darlings. They were always communicative and available for any and all questions. They were also instrumental in helping solve some bumps along the way. They respected our expectations and budget constraints and literally pulled all the strings to accommodate what we needed. We had an unexpected situation arise when a close family member became too ill to travel to our wedding. Irene and Chaim immediately stepped into action and were so helpful in making sure all travel insurance was in place so that a full refund could be granted. They were so amazing and sensitive given our situation and found completely unexpected ways to help. When things seemed like everything was going wrong, Irene called me with good news and it literally brought me to tears. It was like a weight had been lifted. And in the end, everything went off PERFECTLY. Our guests were immersed in the "wedding experience," the second they landed in México. Looking back at the past year, I can honestly say that Irene and Chaim are dear friends. It feels like we've been through the trenches together and came out on top. For all brides out there and anyone who loves to travel, I can't recommend Travel Darlings more. You can put your FULL trust in them because they will always have your best interest at heart and it's not all about business. I can't wait for Travel Darlings to help plan our big trips in the future! Their company name, Travel Darlings, is spot-on for who Irene and Chaim really are. They are DARLINGS and I'm so thankful to have met and worked with them and to now call them true friends.

If you are looking for an exceptional travel experience you must work with Irene. Before working with Irene I would spend countless hours laboring away making my own travel arrangements, booking my own airfare and hotel and comparing all the websites to get the best rates. Then I would spend hours researching and reading countless reviews to decide upon activities, tours, dining etc. It would take so much time and in the end I wasn’t really sure if I would end up making the best decisions. Now with the pandemic, there was no way I was going to worry about all the possible changes I would have to be on top of. Alas, I called Irene to help plan our family vacation to Madrid & Barcelona. After discussing my interests and travel goals she curated the most extraordinary experiences for my family! Each day she thoughtfully planned every detail, from actives with personalized tour guides, dining reservations, train rides, found and English mass for us, and booked the best luxurious hotel accommodations. We were thrilled each day and amazed by the quality and uniqueness of the activities. My 15 year old son was so engaged with the guides, and discovered he enjoyed cooking b/c of our personal chef took us shopping at La Boqueria and then back to his kitchen to cook Tapas. Our entire family had a blast touring Barcelona on a motorcycle side car tour. Every guide she selected was exceptionally knowledgeable and showed great hospitality. I would never have been able to book the quality of tours she arranged. Irene is passionate about travel and you can tell that she loves creating exceptional experiences for her clients. I was so touched by her welcome gifts at each hotel we arrived at. She also made herself available to us anytime of day via Whats app and was very responsive to any questions or needs. In fact I think I was texting her photos from our trip all hours of day/ night b/c I was so thrilled. Poor Irene…. Our trip was originally scheduled for March 2020 and then the pandemic delayed our plans. In this day where travel arrangements can be so volatile it was a great comfort knowing that Irene would be able to manage all the grueling details of travel and last minute changes. She took care of all the COVID travel requirements and arranged convenient testing that came to our hotel. I cannot speak more highly of her service, as well as Irene as a person. We have shared her information with all our friends and colleagues that are considering traveling. Will definitely plan our next trip with Irene!

We used Travel Darlings to set up a trip to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Thailand, and we could not be happier with the results. Travel Darlings carefully designs a trip that is tailored only for you, truly creating your Once in a Lifetime adventure that you can't help but love. I had read 3 travel books for Vietnam and 3 for Thailand. While I felt like I had a good grasp of what to expect, I still did not know where we should go or what we should do for the two weeks in each of those countries. To get the trip we would love, we needed an expert who could filter out the details that would be unimportant to us, and use their experience to recommend those things that would make it one that would provide a lifetime of warm memories. Irene is AMAZING! Our direct contact with Travel Darlings started with about an hour call in which Irene asked us all the details of what we expected from our trip and what kind of travel we enjoyed, so she would know how to start. After a small monetary commitment and some clarifying emails, she sent us a first draft of what she heard. This draft itinerary was, in itself, a work of art. It described where we would go, what we would see, and included many photos to ensure we understood what we could expect. Since she knew we were foodies from the first conversation, she included plenty of information that had us salivating. We had several short discussions over the phone as well as emails to discuss the many details that crept up. Irene always called back promptly, and if my emails were unclear, she always followed up with a phone call. What more could one ask for than to have an expert at your fingertips who designed our trip based on our needs and wants. If that appeals to you, Travel Darlings is the right choice!

Really appreciated all the work that Irene did to plan and arrange our trip to Scotland! The accommodations worked out very well, centrally located and with easy access to the restaurants and sightseeing activities. The guides were professional and very friendly, adding a local and personal touch. The tour of St. Andrews worked out well, with funny stories and picture-taking opportunities. And the drivers were friendly and helpful, as well. All the restaurant suggestions were successful. Starting with Berties, we were able to sample just about every food that Scotland is known for, from fish and chips to smoked fish and haggis. My personal favorite restaurant was the last one, Blonde (in Inverness), which had a uniquely crafted menu and executed each dish to perfection. The golf courses were excellent, and the experience was certainly enhanced by near perfect weather. Fortrose and Rosemarkie, although a lesser course, offered the most knowledgeable caddies. Royal Dornach was a true championship layout, with daunting but striking, golden blossomed gorse lining the fairways and broad views of the North Sea coastline from nearly every hole. Nairn was just as scenic, with manicured tee boxes and challenging pothole bunkers. Castle Stuart / Cabot Highlands featured greater elevation changes which enhanced views of the water. Irene provided us with thoughtful suggestions, careful planning, and direct communication during the trip which added to our confidence at just the right moments! Photos: Classic Fish & Chips in the Highlands; Edinburgh's Old Section; Championship Golf along the North Sea

Irene & Travel Darlings are truly incredible – I couldn’t possibly write out every little thing she did for my trip, but I’ll try! In addition to just being an amazing person, she is so talented when it comes to all things pertaining to traveling. Irene not only helped me pick the cities for my solo trip to Europe, but she also took care of every possible detail that you could think of. Her knowledge and expertise on international cities made it so easy to decide where to go and what to do. Additionally, she is so tapped into flights, hotels, restaurants, and experiences in each city that you are guaranteed to have the exact type of trip that you want. One of the best parts of working with Irene, though, is her connections with the travel guides abroad. I met some amazing people and got to explore the cities with locals who were not only knowledgeable, but also just really cool people to hang with. She hand picks each guide to match the type of experience you’re looking for. I had some unforgettable times with my guides and still keep in touch with them. Lastly - traveling during COVID is very challenging, but Irene was on top of everything so I never had to worry. I even had one destination implement a lockdown before my arrival, but Irene acted quickly and was able to find a solution for me ASAP so I didn’t miss out on anything. Seriously, she even worked on her own personal time to ensure that I was taken care of. I can’t stress enough how valuable that is to have when you’re abroad. I HIGHLY recommend Irene and Travel Darlings!

Probably the best honeymoon decision we made was to hire Travel Darlings to plan and coordinate our trip. Irene is a gem — to call her a travel agent doesn’t do her justice. She’s like a tourism encyclopedia, gourmet cuisine connoisseur, cultural historian, event planner, project manager, personal concierge, and thoughtful friend all rolled into one. She consults with you to create a unique, personalized itinerary that is as pre-arranged or as improvisational as you’d like, books all your hotels/experiences/restaurants/etc. ahead of time AND during your trip if you need to make any adjustments, checks in with both you and your trip vendors to make sure you are having the best experience possible, surprises you with little gifts along the way, and helps navigate whatever hiccups arise. I mean, people: She knows the front desk staff at all your hotels and calls them the day of your arrival to make sure they know who you are when you get in, that there are special treats in your room, and that you basically get the royal treatment. Seriously, WHO DOES THAT? Irene, that’s who. She’s just a genuinely kind person who wants the best for all her clients. We’ve been recommending her left and right to all our friends; Travel Darlings provides such an excellent service, it really is just silly not to work with them.

My wife and I feel very fortunate to have found Irene of Travel Darlings. We had never been to Italy and Irene after our many conversations, planned a trip unique to us and made our dream vacation come true! We spent 4 nights in Rome, 2 in Florence, 3 in Tuscany and 4 in the Amalfi Coast. Each stay was at a 5 star luxury hotel, we had private tour guides who were all extremely knowledgeable and personable, with a huge perk of no waiting in lines. A few of our favorites - Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican, Sistine Chapel; night walking tour and museums in Florence; bike riding in Luca; Leaning Tower of Pisa & dinner at a small family restaurant in Pisa with homemade wine; private chauffeur and guide to a sheep farm, olive oil tasting, and family owned winery in Tuscany; private sailing of the Amalfi Coast and around Capri, beautiful hike of Path of the Gods, and shopping in Positano. Irene booked amazing dinners for us each night and also provided additional options. Each day and meal was as amazing and memorable as the last. We cannot recommend Irene enough, she has a passion for what she does and truly exceeded our expectations!

We started working with Irene at Travel Darlings 2 years ago as my wife and I wanted to take a family trip to Spain in the spring of 2020. Irene planned an extremely thoughtful trip to suit our interests and then COVID hit. Over the past 18 months, Irene has kept us informed of all the changes in travel guidelines and spent countless hours re-booking our entire itinerary. Finally, all of Irene's hard work came to fruition when we boarded our flight to Spain. Irene planned the most amazing activities, from private tours with the friendliest guides to a private cooking lesson from a local chef. Every day was planned with perfect timing from one activity to the next. Her attention to detail and thoughtfulness is unbelievable. All in all, it was the best planned and most fun trip we have taken as a family and we have Irene to thank for it. We haven't set a date for our next European family vacation, but one thing for sure, Irene will plan it for us.

Talk about going above and beyond. I wasn't even planning an international trip (which is Irene at Travel Darlings specialty), but when she returned my call she spent several minutes sharing her personal recommendations for my visit to San Francisco. Anyone who reads my reviews and knows me is aware that I deplore exclamation points. I loathe them. If I saw Bigfoot flying a unicorn over my house, or found myself in an elevator with my celebrity crush Kristen Wiig, or stumbled upon $5 million in large bills stuffed in a sweat sock under my couch, I wouldn't use an exclamation point. No damn way. But I will use one to describe the level of personal service Irene gave to me. Boom! there it is. I highly recommend Irene. The End

Hiring Irene/Travel Darlings to plan our honeymoon was one of the best decisions we've ever made! We couldn't recommend her enough and already can't wait to use her for a future trip. Her passion for travel and attention to detail made our entire planning process so fun, exciting and resulted in an impeccable 2 week itinerary. From the luxury hotel selections, driver pick ups, amazing tour guides and all the restaurant recommendations and activities planned - she knocked our expectations out of the park. It was truly the most incredible trip, the honeymoon of a lifetime and a trip we will never forget. Thank you Irene!

Travel Darlings is the best travel agent in SF hands-down! Irene has unlimited energy and will create an amazing itinerary based upon your likes, dislikes, and dreams. It can include an amazing resort, village cottage, private guide, tour, beach or all of the above as was the case for our Mexico Riviera Maya vacation. Highly recommend Travel Darlings! You won't regret it! A+++

I've been fortunate to have in-person hand-holding through my journey. One highlight that stands out through the years was the perfect birthday combo created specifically for me! I had no idea. But it was a cake and champagne combination to rival any Michelin restaurant. Take it from me - just go with travel darlings. Your life and the life of those you love will be enriched.

I can only say the best about Irene and Travel Darlings, always going out of her way to search the best travel experience for her customers. 100% recommendation!

Highly recommended !