Ellen Clark

Ellen is our veteran and has been assisting travelers with their vacation planning for 30 years. Although born and raised in California, she started in the business while living in Durban, South Africa. Ellen’s passion for travel was directly inherited from her adventurous parents and her international experiences started at the age of 10 when her family moved to Brazil for 2 years. As soon as she graduated from high school she headed for Europe and spent 2 ½ years there before an opportunity came up to go to the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa. She stayed on for 11 years and it’s where she began her travel career. Since this start in the travel business Ellen has traveled extensively and planned thousands of vacations for her clients. She is a certified scuba diver and her vacation tastes range from adventure to urban.

Specialties: Tahiti, Fiji, Ecuador/Galapagos, Belize, Argentina, India.   Honeymoons and Luxury Travel.

Lei Thuc

Lei is has over 14 years in the business. Her passion for the sheer pleasure of travel brings a fresh enthusiasm to our team. Originally from Vietnam, her family immigrated to the United States when Lei was just 6 years old but she still holds on to her language and culture. She is a single mother of a very vibrant little 10 year old and well experienced in traveling with a child. Lei’s vacation adventures tend towards the Family experience when traveling with her daughter and the Singles Party scene when not. Her love for all types of ethnic foods also contributes to her expertise in finding those resorts that offer diverse dining opportunities.

Specialties: Mexico, Hawaii,Caribbean, South East Asia and Cruises.

Michelle Crabtree

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, Michelle really is our “African Specialist”! She studied tourism at College and worked for one of South Africa’s largest inbound Tour Operators specialising in Africa before joining the Boutique Travel Team. Michelle moves back and forth between California and Cape Town, working from both locations. During her 16 years in the Travel Industry, Michelle has travelled extensively throughout Africa and has firsthand knowledge of every product she recommends. Active and adventurous, she is the first one to try out the world’s highest bungee jump located in South Africa. Her passion for travel and creating life-long memories for her clients comes through in the way she works with each traveler in depth to ensure they have their very own unforgettable African experience!

Specialties:  Africa and Indian Ocean Islands.  All travelers interested in Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Penny Voigt

Penny was born and raised in Durban, South Africa.  After leaving school and completely a Marketing and Sales degree, she joined one of Africa’s largest Tour Operators, and spent 13 years arranging holidays for US visitors to Southern Africa.  Now living in Auckland, New Zealand, Penny is in an ideal position to specialize in holidays to New Zealand.  Living life as a Kiwi she is in touch with what’s hot, and is on hand to personally assist and offer expert guidance in planning your visit to this beautiful country.   Much of her own holiday time is spent exploring her new country with her young family, so a personal perspective is all part of the service.  Whether you’re looking for the ultimate luxury getaway, a romantic honeymoon, or a family holiday with the kids, she can help to custom make a holiday that will best suit you.

Specialties:  New Zealand, Australia and Southern Africa.  Adventure, Luxury, Romance and Family travel.

Paula Gerhardt

Paula has 20 years of diverse experience in the travel industry. From arranging elaborate world-wide touring arrangements for performance arts groups such as the San Francisco Symphony and designing custom vacations for individuals to working with a Colorado River rafting company in Moab, Utah. Her love of the visual and performing arts has taken her to Europe, South America, and Mexico. While her love of geology and wildlife has taken her to The Galapagos, National Parks of the Western United States and Canada.

Specialties: Vietnam, Cambodia  Ecuador/Galapagos,  Tahiti, Europe, Luxury Rail,  Adventure Travel & Honeymoons,