TRAVELANDLEISURE.COM 93
A-Listers know where to find
uncrowded stretches of sand,
such as Ho’okipa Beach on the
island of Maui, Hawaii.
BRITISH COLUMBIA,
CANADIAN ROCKIES,
ALASKA
Marianne Abraham
Abraham grew up in British
Columbia, where she learned
to forage, a passion that led to
a career as a chef at several
lodges in western Canada and
Alaska. Her knowledge of the
wilderness allows her to
create distinctive itineraries,
from tours of Kodiak Island
with First Nations guides to
luxury camping in the Great
Bear Rainforest. Additional
specialty: Hawaii; minimum
daily spend: $1,000 per
person; 416-864-2041;
marianne.abraham@
butterfield.com.
THE CARIBBEAN
Louisa Gehring
Gehring, who has visited
28 Caribbean islands, plans
restorative vacations away
from the crowds. Currently on
her radar: Canouan, with its
new Mandarin Oriental, and
Grenada, with its low-key
Calabash Luxury Boutique
Hotel and Silversands. Gehring
is also a pro at arranging
unforgettable honeymoons
in locations as far-flung as
Chile, Morocco, and Fiji.
Minimum daily spend: none;
513-666-1129; louisa@gehring
travel.com.
Margie Hand
A getaway in the Caribbean
can be relaxing, Hand says,
but it can also be much
more. The 20-year veteran of
the travel-planning business
can supplement your beach
stay with adventure
excursions. A former scuba
diver, Hand makes a point of
inspecting the boats and
meeting the instructors she
uses for snorkeling charters.
Additional specialty:
destination weddings;
minimum daily spend: none;
888-234-0046; margie.
hand@andavo travel.com.
CUBA
Joe Sandillo
Many American travelers
avoid Cuba because of
confusion about the country’s
travel rules. Sandillo is
intimately familiar with the
Treasury Department’s
license requirements, so his
clients can get the trip they
seek while following the law.
The advisor also has extensive
experience in Colombia,
where he can plan a meeting
with a journalist who has
covered the peace process
there. Additional specialties:
Colombia, Brazil, Panama,
Peru, Argentina, and Chile;
minimum daily spend: $500
per person; 813-682-1959;
joe@almaz journeys.com.
H AWA I I
Marilyn Clark
Clark is certified as a Master
Specialist by the Hawaii
Visitors and Convention
Bureau—an accomplishment
only a handful of people have
achieved. She plans around
140 trips to the state each
year. Her itineraries are often
filled with active pursuits like
ziplining, sunset hikes,
moonlight snorkeling, and
private volcano tours.
Additional specialties: Tahiti
and luxury cruises; minimum
daily spend: none; 844-339-
1774; marilyn@lighthouse
travel.net.
U.S. NATIONAL PARKS
Melissa Ladvala
Ladvala’s knowledge of and
passion for America’s
protected wilds stem from
her years growing up in the
mountains of Montana and
hiking in Yellowstone. She
visits about five parks every
year, scouting out high-end
lodges and new tour-
operator offerings. Ladvala
shows you where to find
wildlife without the crowds.
Additional specialties:
western Canada and South
America; minimum daily
spend: none; 510-831-7526;
[email protected].
U.S.,
Canada,
and the
Caribbean
EXPERTS
MISHA GRAVENOR
