What Our Clients Are Saying
Travel Testimonials
“Karen was the consummate professional during my company’s recent leadership retreat in the Caribbean. Her assistance during the planning, execution, and follow-up was exceptional.
Karen’s drive and energy ensured my team had the best trip ever and made me look like a real travel planner with my peers.
I could not have managed this trip on my own, and I appreciate everything Karen did in the planning and on-location to make this trip memorable for all involved.”
-Rose Cole,
Executive Assistant, Venture Capital Firm
Corporate Retreat at Sugar Beach
ST. LUCIA
“With an ever-present camera in tow, a quick smile, an easy laugh, and razor-sharp wit, along with immeasurable worldly travel knowledge and invaluable travel tips, our fearless leader, Karen Loftus, is the consummate travel coordinator and guide focused on empowering women through travel experiences while supporting women-owned businesses.
Spanning the globe like a rock star journalist, comedian, and fashionista since the early 1990s, Karen navigates cities and countries fiercely adventurous and spiritually grounded”
-Suzanne Bong Scharff,
Editor in Chief of Southern Bride Magazine
Women's Wellness Trip
TURKS & CAICOS
"Karen is an absolute rockstar! She made our Luthercare Executive Team Retreat to the Lodge at Woodloch not only seamless, but truly special. Her passion for crafting a memorable experience shined through in every detail—from juggling wild schedules to last-minute changes, to handling coordination with the property with the utmost grace and professionalism. She was always available when we needed her, quick to respond, and full of positive energy that put our minds completely at ease and allowed us to fully be present in the moment.
As the facilitator for this retreat, I'm beyond grateful for her steady presence, expert coordination, and all-around magic. We couldn’t have done it without her!"
-Dr. Katie Sandoe,
Light Echo Co / Retreat Leader
Executive Team Retreat for Luthercare
THE LODGE AT WOODLOCH (PA)
"I literally started to cry when we walked into our room in Sorrento. You told me this trip would be life changing. You are correct. My heart has exploded. I am certain you bring much joy to all of your clientele. I can feel your passion for your company and what you do for others.
We walked into our (upgraded) room to a bottle of wine and your beautiful card. Thank you for your lovely details and showering us with love. You're just wonderful; you make sure every little detail is perfect. We are truly blessed to have found you.
Thank you, Karen, for giving me the courage to step out of my comfort zone. I have no words - THIS IS LIFE CHANGING!"
-Patricia Anderson (with Mark Anderson)
Owner at The Windows Place Exteriors
Cultural & Ancestry Trip
ITALY
"A huge thank you to Karen and her team for delivering exceptional service and an impeccable travel planning experience. Our family enjoyed a stress-free vacation in Aruba, all thanks to Karen's meticulous research and dedication to detail. She curated the perfect all-inclusive accommodations suitable for four adults and an 8-month-old baby, ensuring a family-friendly environment throughout our stay.
The resort exceeded our expectations with its proximity to the beach, pool, and restaurants, all of which were conveniently located near our accommodation. The culinary experience was outstanding, offering fantastic food that delighted us all, making our trip truly unforgettable. Karen's efforts made this vacation possible, and we are immensely grateful for her expertise and hard work.
Thank you for making our time in Aruba so memorable!"
-Joanne Burt
Multigenerational Family Travel
ARUBA
“Thank you for doing an incredible job organizing The Capital Group Leadership Summit in St. Lucia.
Everything was smooth sailing and hassle-free, with your coordinating over 60 guests coming in from all over the United States to arrive simultaneously, get through customs, and have a stress-free journey to the hotel. It was precisely that throughout the stay. Your hard work and attention to detail made this trip to paradise even more heavenly for everyone.
I Iook forward to our next big adventure!!"
-David Prill
Chief Financial Officer
Glorious Cannabis Company
Corporate Retreat
ST. LUCIA
“Karen nailed it. She paid attention to every detail. The flow couldn’t have fit our family better. Each accommodation was perfect for where we were on the trip and suited our family very well.
She recommended where we stayed and how many rooms to reserve and provided options for the room layout. She booked our flights, rooms, and rental car and recommended “must-see” vacation spots.
Because of Karen’s diligence and knowledge of what to do, our experience was easy. (For example, we had no idea we would need a national park pass to enter Yosemite AND reserve time at Yosemite seven days before we intended to be there. We entered the park with ease.)
Karen is knowledgeable, conscientious, and detail-oriented, and she understands that to have a successful vacation, planning is a must.
She takes the pressure off so you can enjoy your time with your family."
-Doug Herr,
Senior VP, Wealth Management Advisor
Merrill Lynch
Family Travel
CALIFORNIA
"The best ever. This was the first time I took a vacation with my family. It was so much fun from beginning to end. From the excursions (parasailing, kayak adventure, sunset cruise), to the luxury villa we stayed in, the fish taco lunches on the beach and dinners at Infiniti Restaurant and Raw Bar and dinner at the highly coveted Coco Bistro were perfect, all places we would have never found on our own.
I also loved watching my granddaughters enjoying themselves. There isn’t anything I would change.
Karen did a fabulous job putting this itinerary together. She comes highly recommended."
-Jill Simeral
Multi-Generational Family Travel
TURKS & CAICOS
“Karen, I have to be honest; I didn't think you were the real deal. Boy, was I wrong? Donna and I were blown away by what you arranged for us in Tokyo.
On any trip, we have never been treated the way we were while in Tokyo. We felt like celebrities or royalty. By the end of the trip, we were convinced of it. We had hoped to get one of the three Michelin-star restaurants we requested.
We never imagined you could arrange nine of the top Michelin-starred restaurants for us while we were there and, especially,
on such short notice.
We will continue to travel with you. You did a wonderful job. Thanks again for everything."
-Thomas Ponessa
TW Ponessa & Associates
Epicurean and Cultural Adventure
JAPAN
"We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica, thanks to Karen’s knowledge and attention to detail. She created a vacation for us that had the perfect blend of activity and relaxation. She found the most amazing villa at a boutique resort that totally exceeded our expectations. She handled every aspect of the planning from start to finish, including a few last-minute flight changes.
Using Karen as a travel planner was a great experience!"
-Michelle Ayers
Restore Hyper Wellness
Couples & Friends
Cultural, Wellness & Adventure Travel
COSTA RICA
"Coordinating a trip of a lifetime for 10 of us was a feat of nature and Karen did it! We had a seamless experience, and the fact that we could fully relax was a dream come true because every little detail had been thought of. The attention to every single detail and her knowledge of all things related to travel to any place! She’s the best!"
-Carrie Scranton Johnson
Carrie Johnson & Associates
"Thank you so much, Karen, for making our Italy adventure a trip we will remember for the rest of our lives. WE loved your attention to detail and follow-up!"
-David Scranton
Stoner Solutions
Multi-Generational Family Travel
ITALY
"I had the privilege of working with Karen Loftus in planning an aggressive trip to four European countries in 10 days. She met with me to capture my thoughts about hotels, best sights, budget, and mode of travel. She gave me several hotel choices for each city that were outstanding and difficult for me to choose. We wanted part of our journey done by rail, and she quickly isolated train schedules.
As any Gemini traveler knows, we change our minds. Karen was easy to work with as she adjusted our schedules and hotel stays. Because she is a Virtuoso agent, we were upgraded to suites, complimentary breakfasts, and resort credits. She is a world traveler who knows the dos and don’ts. She was with us every step of the way, ensuring that accommodations met and exceeded our expectations. I would highly recommend her services."
-Jo Ann Morgano
Financial Advisor - Laurel Oak Wealth Management Group
A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC.
Cultural Travel
BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS, LUXEMBOURG, GERMANY
“Luxury and experience curated my Italian escape that created a vacation to remember, compliments of Karen Loftus and
Lofty Traveler."
-Rhonda Willingham
MenzFit, Philadelphia
Cultural, Culinary & Wine Adventure
ITALY
“Karen has been so helpful with planning trips for my family over the years. She helped plan my ten-day graduation trip to Europe and made it so easy to see four cities in two different countries. In every city, she arranged and booked tours for us and had fabulous recommendations for popular local spots and things you might miss. She truly made sure everything went off without a hitch!
She also helped plan a trip to Turks and Caicos last winter, which was better than I could have imagined! She found this stunning Villa on the water and a two-minute walk from the beach. She booked reservations for amazing restaurants as well as excursions like parasailing and kayaking. If you are looking for a travel agent I would highly recommend Karen!"
-Regan West
Family Travel
TURKS & CAICOS
“We needed one more day in every place we visited in Italy! Some highlights of our trip... cooking class in Florence, horseback riding in the vineyards of Tuscany, swimming in the grottos of Capri, boating around the Amalfi coast.
We loved the culture, the people, the wine, and the food.
We cannot thank Karen Loftus enough for organizing our trip and dreaming up all the special extras to celebrate Cal's graduation. Amazing!"
-Dana Herr
Wealth Management Advisor - Merrill Lynch
Family Travel
ITALY
"Back on US soil and feels like the perfect time to give a shout-out to Karen Loftus (Women's Adventure Travels) for all of her help with planning and booking the most amazing vacation ever!!!!
Great hotel choices, awesome tours, seamless transfers, great overall recommendations and most importantly, she put up with my crazy Type A planning personality!
Thank you, Karen."
-Denise Elliott
McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC
Family Travel
IRELAND, FRANCE, DISNEYLAND PARIS
"Massive shout out to Karen Loftus! Our family vacation last month looked a little different than usual. At 3:45 AM the morning we were all meeting in Costa Rica, Peter said that he couldn’t go and was checking himself into the ER. Long story short, Alex, Regan and I ended up going without Peter (he made us go) and thanks to Karen, we were able to do it with confidence. Women's Adventure Travels is always our travel planner, and boy was I happy to have her and her team with this one! I called her at 4AM (emergency status) the day we were flying and she spent hours on the phone with the airline- cancelling flights, getting new options, booking new flights, travel credits, rebooking all our excursions, rental car, etc. You name it, she did it!!! Alex, Regan and I could focus on Peter and if we were actually going to still go on the trip without him. Regan was flying from Nashville and meeting us in Costa Rica, which made it even more logistically challenging.
We can’t say enough good about Karen and highly recommend contacting her for your next vacation. Whether it’s a weekend in a hotel or a week+ anywhere in the world- she is your girl!! From a long weekend in Iceland for two, to a graduation trip to Europe with extended family, and Turks and Caicos with my mom, this was our 4th vacation using Karen and we will always use her."
-Jennifer West
Executive Director
Girls on the Run Lancaster - Lebanon
Family Travel
COSTA RICA
"Karen most recently helped us to plan a two-week cruise to Tahiti/French Polynesia on Windstar Cruises followed by an extensive two-week trip throughout New Zealand’s north and south islands. She is passionate about finding places and experiences that match your travel priorities.
Her recommendations for several “worth the splurge” places to stay were spot-on. She worked relentlessly to find the right flights and the right price for the multi-country flight package for our trip.
I can certainly recommend Karen for planning your couple or group travel plans."
-Nelson Longenecker
Windstar Cruise in Tahiti + Extensive Travel in New Zealand
TAHITI/NEW ZEALAND
“You are the best travel contact on the planet. Everything has been so smooth here in Italy.
I really can't compare the places we have stayed because it's almost like traveling to a different world, walking into different places.
This place on the Tuscan Coast is a 10 out of 10. There are a limited number of rooms and guests. It's a real cliffside paradise for honeymooners. I couldn't be more impressed.
There will be many referrals coming your way.
We appreciate all you do more than this can express."
-Ian Gallagher
Financial Advisor at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC
Honeymoon
ITALY
"I cannot express my thanks enough to Karen Loftus, principal of The Lofty Traveler, for helping me curate the Italian trip of a lifetime. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a strong opinion of what I want and hope to accomplish. Karen was able to take my wishes and translate them into the perfect mix of properties and experiences, and together, we crafted the perfect plan for us.
The Lofty Traveler also focuses very well on independent female travelers, which made it a better fit for my BFF and me."
-Krista Altok Tassa
President
Tassa Consulting, Inc
Girls Trip
ITALY
“Hey, Karen!
You rocked, and we loved you.
It was great spending time with you, and thanks again for all the planning you did to make it a rockstar week."
-Dennis Ream
Chief Operating Officer
Paramount Management Group
Executive Corporate Retreat
ST. LUCIA
“Karen’s extensive knowledge of places was evident as she listened to our desires and then created a plan that exceeded our expectations.
She even knew when and where to throw in a few surprises!
I felt incredibly cared for and heard each step of our travel!
She anticipated our needs, was diligent in all facets of the schedule and transportation/lodging, and created a trip we talk about every time we are together!"
-Carrie Johnson
Carrie Johnson & Associates
Family Travel / Graduation Travel
SWEDEN, DENMARK, NETHERLANDS
“Karen was FANTASTIC to work with!
She made the entire process frictionless. From aiding in passport support to planning our journey to and from St. Lucia – she did an excellent job!”
-Matt Smith
President Pro Sportsman
Corporate Retreat
ST. LUCIA
“A huge thank you to Karen Loftus and Women Adventure Travels! Our family vacation to France and Italy was seamless and packed full of great adventures.
After extensive research on Karen’s end, we met, and she presented pages upon pages of information with options of places to see, the best time to see them, and the history of each location we were visiting. She is incredible!
We highly recommend Karen and Women Adventure Travels; it was a wonderful experience, and her depth and breadth of knowledge seem limitless!”
-Jennifer Middleton West
Executive Director
Girls on the Run Lancaster - Lebanon
Family Travel / Graduation Travel
FRANCE & ITALY
“We enjoyed working with Karen - a great asset to our trip planning and experience. She listened and incorporated our preferences as we planned.
She was fun to work with and very helpful in giving suggestions along the way.
I also appreciated the detailed trip itinerary, heightening my excitement for a memorable trip!
I’m already anticipating the next great adventure!”
-Nelson Longenecker
Vice President
Four Seasons Produce
Cruise Travel
ITALY, CROATIA, MONTENEGRO, GREECE
“Karen really listened to what we wanted and found activities that suited our interests.
She made sure that there was something for everyone. She also found the most beautiful and unique hotels/Villas that made the experience so enjoyable."
-Libby Johnson
"There was a perfect versatility - a mixture of tours/sightseeing, culinary adventures, diverse lodging, and ample free time to explore."
-Hannah Johnson
Family Travel / Graduation Celebration
SWEDEN, DENMARK, NETHERLANDS
“The cruise was absolutely fabulous... by far my favorite part of our trip! The food and service were spectacular and we loved having a larger stateroom.
We're already brainstorming where to visit next and we will definitely work with Karen and her team again.”
-Laura Crocker
Cruise Travel
THE NETHERLANDS, GERMANY, FRANCE, SWITZERLAND
