OUT OF OFFICE CURATED

Travel For The Intentionally Curious

By Kristen Fung

Advanced Travel Advisor

Dear Reader,

This issue is dedicated to Chicago. One of my favorite cities in the world. It encompasses all the things I love— great public transit, integration with nature, beautiful architecture, and fantastic food at any budget.

I am featuring a trip I planned to Chicago last May, which was a mixture of new and nostalgia for three people who wanted to reconnect with home.

Before I forget...

This is your semi-annual reminder to check your PTO to see how much vacation you have left for the year.

If you are in the US, you may be just now realizing that the 4th of July falls on a Saturday, and there are no more holidays during the workweek until September 7th.
For those of you in Canada, Canada Day is mid-week, and the May 2-4 weekend has passed.

Let me know how I can help you use your PTO.

Some wins!

I got a couple of great reviews via Instagram this month of travel I’ve curated.

From Rose, who is a four-peat client of mine, whom I've planned a moving cross-country road trip, a get-to-know-Lisbon trip, and trips to Vancouver and Montreal. (See the review)

From Jannie, whom I created curated lists for Rome & Florence, which included a truffle hunt and a seven-course dinner at a farm outside of Rome. Her review is in my profile grid — I can't share it directly due to account privacy.

Want me to plan something for you? Fill out my trip inquiry form and set up a call.

CONTACT ME

Planned outage for Kristen Fung Travels (My website)

My website will be down the week of July 5th, so I can improve the theme and make it look better. During that time, I will be moving some of the information to downloadable guides. Now is your time to grab all of the free information I’ve provided.

Sweet Home Chicago

Continuing on with the trips I planned last year that paved the road to becoming an advanced advisor...

My first and only trip curation request from social media came from three gentlemen looking to reconnect with their Chicago roots. All three had connections there before meeting in San Diego decades later. For some, it had been at least 25 years since they had been back, and they wanted to revisit home for a milestone birthday

This trip had a lot of moving parts, which shows why working with a travel advisor can really save you time and stress.

What my client wanted: 11 days in Chicago to reconnect with the city. They are art, architecture, and history lovers. The birthday celebrant is a foodie, and Chicago is one of the best food cities in the world. One person in the group had mobility issues and felt that using a scooter would make it easier to explore the city, while another had chronic fatigue and wanted a good mix of things that offered exploration and rest.
Themes & vibes: Art, Architecture, food, and shopping
Timeframe: I started planning in December for a trip the following May
What I booked for them:
- The Chicago Athletic Association at an extended stay discount.
- A mobility scooter that I had dropped off and picked up conveniently at the hotel
- A private driver tour of Chicago, a docent-led tour of the Field Museum before opening time, a small group tour of The Art Institute, and a baroque choral concert in an old church.
- In addition, I created five fully curated day-long itineraries based on their must-sees and made reservations at several of my favorite restaurants for them, working with each restaurant to make sure they could accommodate a scooter and food allergies. I also added birthday notes to a special restaurant.
How much does it cost for my clients to work with me: $655—Five fully planned day-long itineraries were the majority of this budget.
Client favorites: They loved the hotel, the Field Museum tour, the river architecture tour, dinner at Monteverde, and the Soaring Over Chicago experience.

I sent them a book that reminded me of a highlight from their trip for their client gift.

My post about the Chicago Athletic Association
My post about Chicago Architecture
I love Chicago and would love to plan your trip there. CONTACT ME.

Do you like this series of learning what I planned for clients, or is there something else you are interested in? Let me know. (Reply to this newsletter)

Chicago Deals

Contact me for these deals before they expire.

Kimpton Gray

I've stayed at this hotel and have nothing but good things to say about it. Boutique, historic, and within walking distance to the Magnificent Mile. I love that Kimpton has a social hour no matter where you stay in the world.

My deal for you: A complimentary night on long-term stays.