 | Kate Phillips
Interests & Specialties
kate@classictravel.net
From Luxury Cruising to Adventure Safaris ...from Private Jet travel to attending the New Year's Imperial Ball in Vienna. Kate will handle all of your travel desires with concierge expertise. Your trip will be detailed from door to door.
Expert Bio
Kate has been in the travel industry for over 30 years. After a career with KLM and Air New Zealand Kate began Classic Travel. She was born and educated in New Zealand, traveled extensively throughout Europe and Africa then moved to California with her family in 1976. Her work was in the ownership and management of hotels at that time. Kate uses her ' well traveled' knowledge of the world to enhance her ability to arrange personalized travel worldwide. Of course, she specializes in “Down Under” and has sent numerous clients to this fascinating area of the world but also uses her knowledge and education to design travel to many other parts of the world with a level of expertise that is invaluable to her clients. In particular, the African Continent. She has personally visited Africa approx. 20 times and has sent many, many clients.
Kate has sailed on all of the major cruise lines and is very familiar with most ships and services. Kate’s entrepreneurial skills have taken Classic Travel from a two person office to a 36 persons in three offices – survived the downturn in business after 9/11 and reorganized to have two offices and 14 consultants today. Her ability to communicate well with people has made her a very efficient and popular travel consultant.
Kate and her husband, Trevor, have traveled the world together for the past 20 years and they escort at least one small deluxe trip per year and often take the role of Virtuoso Hosts onboard Voyager cruises.
My Recent Trips
MARCH 2008
We returned from another Luxury Small Group trip in May... this time to DUBAI AND THE MIDDLE EAST. We sailed aboard the wonderful Seabourn Pride from Dubai to Alexandria, an 18day cruise visiting many ports of call on the way. Of course as the Middle East has such wonderfully historical sites - but I would have to say that Petra in Jordan would be the highlight. Something that everyone should see. It is good to note that we had not one but two excellent historians onboard to educate us in the details of these sites, this was a great enhancement to our experience. We traveled with a group of clients - all interesting people which always enhances your travel experience. We are planning a deluxe small group visit India in 2009 - contact me if you wish to be on the mailing list for any of these small luxury group tours (maximum 16 persons). I look forward to hearing from you.
|  | Pat (Kelly) Randall
Interests & Specialties
pat@classictravel.net
Corporate Travel and Europe Specialist. You name it and Pat can handle it! Extremely knowledgable and customer service oriented travel consultant. Ask her about ALL of your travel needs - if she doesn't already know she will find out for you in a flash!
Congratulations to you Pat! Thank you for your dedication over the past 20 years.
Expert Bio
Pat has been in travel over 20 years, and has been with Classic Travel since its inception. Pat received her Master’s Degree at the University of California, Riverside, majoring in foreign languages and has used that knowledge to enhance her ability to arrange travel worldwide. She lived in Germany for a year and has traveled extensively through Europe during at least 20 trips there. She speaks German fluently, and does very well in French and Spanish. Pat specializes in the Christmas Markets of Germany and Austria and has sent numerous clients to these fascinating areas.
Pat has sailed on 25+ cruises and is very familiar with the major cruise lines. Pat is primarily a corporate specialist and excels in international air travel and round-the-world fares. Her ability to communicate well with people has made her a very popular corporate agent.
|  | Andrew Seligman
Interests & Specialties
andrews@classictravel.net
Aussie Specialist (Australia),Kiwi Specialist, (New Zealand) and knows all of the South Pacific very well. Andrew is well versed in ecological tourism, escorted group arranging, Papua New Guinea and many other unique destinations.
Andrew is also our Villa Specialist.
All in all an extremely knowledgeable consultant with detailed expertise in many areas.
Expert Bio
As a Welshman, Andrew naturally believes there can be no finer task than to send travelers to Wales, though he reluctantly accepts that there may be other places to see! Apart from his home ground of the UK and Ireland, Andrew has a thorough knowledge of most of Western Europe and over the past 10 years as a travel agent he has broadened his expertise considerably.
His university research in third-world development took him to many countries and sparked his interest in ecological tourism in sensitive areas. He has traveled extensivley in S.E.Asia and Central America and escorted a group of 20 school-kids to Costa Rica. One of life's bigger challenges...
Andrew has also lived in Japan for 2 years - a wonderful experience. The ultimate adventure was perhaps his visit to Papua New Guinea, which resulted in several years of arranging groups and individual travel to that remote but unique destination.
andrews@classictravel.net
My Recent Trips
The Statendam has completed its "signature of excellence" upgrades and is comfortable and well cared for. The service on board is impeccable and whilst not considered a "luxury cruise", the food is hard to criticize. Ports of call in Alaska include the recently added Icy Strait Point. Andrew recommends clients opt for later dining to give themselves maximum time to enjoy shore excursions and the magnificent Hubbard Glacier.
|  | Marsha Richardson
Interests & Specialties
Marsha works primarily as a Cruise Specialist however, she also works with clients planning tours and group travel. She has a strong ability to create that most customized tour to suit your special needs and desires.
Marsha took a three-month educational course at the Universita Italiana Per Stranieri in Perugia, Italy, lived and worked on a kibbutz in Israel and also lived in Manchester England at one time.
She is an active woman with interests in tennis, diving and has completed the strenuous 55 mile - 3 day Avon walk for breast cancer research. She is a certified PADI diver and has dived in the Cook Islands and Fiji.
marshar@classictravel.net
Expert Bio
During her 18 years in the travel business, Marsha has concentrated on her passion – cruising. She has sailed several times on all the major cruise lines, Crystal, Regent Seven Seas, Windstar, Princess, Holland America and more. Marsha came to Clasic Travel she booked group cruises for a nationwide organization. She has been the escort for 500 members on an Alaska cruise. Marsha has cruised to Alaska several times and is very familiar with the land tours in Denali, Fairbanks and Anchorage as well. She is a qualified Princess Cruises expert holding Commodore status. In addition to cruising she enjoys Hawaii and the South Pacific- both of which she has visited many times and sent countless numbers of clients. Marsha has a loyal following of clients - she surely is one of the mosted detailed and caring travel consultants and we are very fortunate to have her on our team.
My Recent Trips
It is no surprise, given my love for the South Pacific, that my son and I enjoyed 10 days on the beautiful islands of Moorea, Bora Bora and Tahiti in the Society Islands in April. The island breezes, the sunsets, the beautiful blue warm waters, just writting this makes me want to go back.
My Mother and I just returned from my first experience on Celebrity's lovely new Constellation. We sailed a wonderful Canada and New England itinerary out of New Jersey, passing by the Statue of Liberty twice. Celebrity's level of service is extaordinary.
|  | Carolyn Daves
Interests & Specialties
carolyn@classictravel.net
Corporate travel and Luxury Leisure trip planning.
|  | Kristin Allen
Interests & Specialties
Kristin is our Weddings and Honeymoon Specialist. With several years experience in the event planning business Kristin is able to create the perfect honeymoon - plan the perfect wedding - or arrange that perfect romantic getaway for you. Contact her today to get your plans started.
Kristin is also an experienced cruise counselor. Contact her to get the latest in ship details and destinations. She really knows how to personalize your travel experience.
Ask about our Wedding Registry
Expert Bio
Kristin is our Weddings and Honeymoon Specialist. With several years experience in the event planning business Kristin is able to create the perfect honeymoon - plan the perfect wedding - or arrange that perfect romantic getaway for you. Contact her today to get your plans started.
Ask about our Wedding Registry
|  | Sheila Cohn
Interests & Specialties
Independent Travel Consultant
Luxury leisure travel
Expert Bio
For 30 years, Sheila has concentrated her efforts on the luxury leisure client, beginning with 23 years in Beverly Hills. There, she catered to the most demanding clients with her typical calm and assuring attitude. Frequently, she moved whole production companies to locations around the country. At the same time she was responsible for moving over 200 auto magazine writers from all over the US to California for the launching of a new car.
Sheila was born in Toronto, Canada and lived in London for 7 years. She has traveled extensively to Europe, Africa, Israel, Turkey, Egypt, South America, Australia and New Zealand. She has escorted groups to Hawaii. Sheila speaks French and some Hebrew.
Her hands-on knowledge of many of the most upscale resorts and hotels in the world makes her popular with her long list of repeat clientele. When preparing a client for a trip, Sheila is extremely particular that they have all the proper documentation, a clear itinerary with addresses, phone and fax numbers, restaurant lists and articles about their destination.
sheilac@classictravel.net
|  | Laurel Lichtman
Interests & Specialties
Laurel's leisure travelers are well served by her twenty years in the travel industry and by her extensive travel experiences. She has sailed Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean on most of the major cruise lines. She has toured with many companies including Tauck and A & K. She can put together an intricate trip to Eastern Europe or a relaxing honeymoon in Tahiti.
Expert Bio
As an independent consultant, Laurel can accommodate the travel needs of a variety of clients. Her corporate travelers are rewarded with economical flight arrangements, car rentals and hotel reservations that contribute to the overall success of their business trips.
Laurel's willingness to listen to what her clients want and need has enabled her to grow her business year after year.
travel@classictravel.net
|  | Helen Sargent
Interests & Specialties
Helen Sargent
Independent Travel Consultant
Interests
Helen’s degree in Art History led her to travel the world in search of her passion…art. Her current interest is China, and she is leading a tour to Shanghai and Xian in April. She is also knowledgeable about gardens and has led many tours to famous gardens in California. Next September she is planning a tour to South Africa and Botswana and a highlight will be garden tours.
Expert Bio
As an independent travel consultant and owner of a tour planning company, TEAM, Helen has worked for over a decade with many clients both corporate and private in organizing tours primarily in and around Southern California.. With her background in art history, she conducts docent tours of museums and other historical sites. Her specialty is planning custom tours which highlight cultural and artistic experiences. Her husband Tom is an avid golfer and they have traveled to many of the world’s most famous courses… (There are always art treasures to be found nearby!).
Helen and Tom have lived in Westlake Village for the past 28 years and have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren.
My Recent Trips
Ni Hao (Hello)
On our recent trip to China ( April 1-14, 1007) our travel group of 19, which included my husband and me, delighted in exploring the sites of this ancient civilization that is changing so drastically and swiftly that one in our group described the experience as “like watching a country transform itself from a third to a first world status overnight”. How true!. Our operating base in Shanghai was the Portman Ritz Carlton – (Club level) which was exceptional in every respect.. The rooms were luxurious, the service throughout the hotel superb. At the start of every day we were joined by our guide, Spencer Dodington, a tall, articulate Texan (son of one of our travelling couples, by the way), who has spent the past 12 years working in Shanghai. His architectural background and the fact he speaks both Shanghainese and Mandarin qualifies him, certifiably, as a font of knowledge about the China of yesterday, today and even tomorrow.
Our very full itinerary included multiple museums, gardens, temples, art galleries and fantastic meals, with Spencer providing an unending stream of fascinating and informative talks en route. Be sure to check our itinerary for the sites we visited. Great sites, wonderful food, bargain shopping including custom-made clothes at the fabric market, and even significant purchases, i.e. paintings, were part of the experience. Our advice: GO TO CHINA NOW – it is moving fast – changing rapidly – old China is morphing into the modern world at warp speed, don’t miss it!!! It’s a different, unusual, and educational experience. China must be seen and experienced to be believed! Factoid: In China today there are over 140 skyscrapers most of them built in the last 10 years! That’s why it’s said, half in jest, that the construction crane is China’s national bird.
One day we traveled by bus for two hours to Suzhou to experience IM Pei’s new Suzhou Museum, his special gift to China. Check out the pictures. Suzhou is one of China’s most ancient cities and boasts many spectacular gardens. We spent several enjoyable hours touring the Humble Administrators’ and the Master of the Nets’ gardens.
After 8 days in Shanghai, 16 of the group flew to Xian where we were met by Jesse our guide for the next six days. The highlight of of our visit to Xian was to see the Terra Cotta Warriors – an amazing and almost indescribable experience.. Our special VIP tour allowed us “behind the scenes” in several of the museums and architectural sites where we were able to touch and hold ancient artifacts in the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeological Research and the Xian Municipal Institute Archeological Research. Xian, the ancient capital of China, has a huge number of historic sites, tombs and museums. One of the most spectactular is the City Wall and Moat – the most ancient in all of China – that completely surrounds the City. Besides learning about about the Han, Tang and Ming Dynasties, one might say the cradle of the Chinese ancient civilization, we also enjoyed a day in the country touring the Famen Temple and several Mausoleums of former emperors... all in all a very busy and enlightening experience.
In all a wonderfully informative trip with a great group of congenial, fun, interested and interesting fellow travelers.
If you wish to be on Helen's mailing list to hear about her adverntures - please contact her at the above e-mail
|  | Loren Barron
Interests & Specialties
Corporate and leisure specialist.
Expert Bio
Loren was born in Valencia, Spain and speaks Spanish as well as English. He has made many visits to Mexico, Spain, South America and also to Jamaica and Hawaii.
Rather unusually, Loren has also visited Fatima and Lourdes, areas of interest for religious travelers He has escorted groups to Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Spain and Portugal in his 29 years in travel.
Loren likes to present his clients with complete information about the culture, weather and other attractions of the area they will be visiting. He offers door-to-door service to each client so that their vacation truly begins and ends at their front door.
loren@classictravel.net
|  | Kathy Sedlmayr, CTC
Interests & Specialties
International group and individual travel with special interests in gourmet food and wine touring, shopping tours and spas. Kathy prefers to work with local companies in the country of interest in order to get the most experienced individuals and itineraries for her specialty groups. She also escorts each tour personally to insure that her group participants always have an English speaking and known individual to turn to for questions and concerns and even regards herself as the “mother-hen” when taking groups out, making certain that her group participants are well looked after.
Expert Bio
Kathy started her career in the travel industry back in 1976 while working for Hilton Hotels and attending high school and travel school simultaneously. She landed her first full time travel agent position in 1981 and received her CTC designation in a record 9 months time in 1988. During this time she specialized in Walt Disney World family vacations, Caribbean travel and Hawaii travel. With a steady flow of international clients, due to her location at the time, she developed an interest in individual leisure international travel with a specialty in student travel. It wasn’t until 1992 that she began to focus on specialty groups to Europe, specifically France. Kathy has remained an active CTC since her initial designation, showing her dedication to the travel industry.
kathy@classictravel.net
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