MacMillan Travel Design

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Alameda, CA
MacMillan Travel Design

I design seamless European journeys for accomplished professionals who value their time.

With trusted partnerships and 25+ years of expertise, I take care of the details so your vacations feel effortless, elevated, and unforgettable. As a time-saving travel planner for working moms, Christine helps you personalize and maximize every trip with insider research, optimized itineraries, and booking for stellar land and cruise vacations in the US, Mexico, and Europe. To get help with your next trip, set a free consultation with Christine at macmillantravel.com

09/02/2026

"Every day was like Christmas."

That's how one of my clients described her Iceland trip, and honestly, it's one of my favorite pieces of feedback I've ever received.

She and her friend knew little about Iceland with no time to plan, so they asked for my help.

On their trip they woke up every morning knowing exactly what was planned for the day. Their favorite memory: a boat ride that took them up close and personal to a glacier.

This is what travel is supposed to feel like. Not time-consuming research and hoping you don't waste your day figuring out what to do. Just a beautiful vacation designed around you, by someone who genuinely loves doing this work.

What destination has been on your list that feels too overwhelming to plan on your own?

07/22/2026

"Can we see the major sites without feeling like tourists?"

Yes. That's exactly what I design for.

The Sistine Chapel without the crowds. Versailles with a guide who shares the stories most visitors never hear. An olive oil tasting with the local family who actually makes it.

But the moments that stay with you longest? Those happen in between.

A guide who spontaneously stops at a hidden cemetery because the story is too good to skip. An extra rest stop mid-afternoon because this is your trip, not a schedule to keep.

That's the difference between private and truly personalized.

What's the one experience you'd want on your European trip that no group tour would ever include?

07/15/2026

"I want this trip to feel special."

I hear that often from clients.

Special doesn't mean the same trip for everyone. It means designed for YOU. The right pace. The right balance of planned and spontaneous. Hotels in neighborhoods that fit your preferences.

Special is what happens when someone who knows Europe designs your trip instead of you piecing together blog posts at 11pm.

If 2026 is still on your radar, now is the time. I'm already designing trips for 2027. Let's chat.

07/08/2026

Build an entire trip around food? Yes, and I'd start in Bologna. 🍝

Bologna is a food city, full stop. Fresh pasta, open air markets, and the kind of meal that makes you rearrange the rest of your day around it (nap anyone?). My family found this out firsthand and would visit again in a heartbeat. It's also a super walkable city with a small old town, history, and beautiful architecture.

What's the one thing you'd build an entire trip around? Tell me in the comments.

07/01/2026

You've been meaning to book that Spain trip for six months.

The tabs are still open. The Pinterest board keeps growing. And you still haven't actually planned anything.

Because you don't have time to figure out: How many days in Madrid vs. Seville? Which hotel neighborhood actually makes sense? What needs to be booked ahead?

This is exactly what I do. You tell me what you want. I design it.

DM to start planning.

06/17/2026

"All of it was AMAZING! This has truly been the trip of a lifetime." ✨

Just received this feedback from Alysha and her husband after their romantic Italy trip, and honestly, messages like this are exactly why I love what I do.

They came to me completely overwhelmed by all the hotel and tour options (sound familiar?). After I planned their complete Rome, Venice, and Florence experience - with transfers, restaurant reservations, and every detail handled - they could relax and fall in love with Italy.

Their favorite moment? Getting lost wandering the streets of Florence. Sometimes the best travel moments are unplanned, made possible because everything else is taken care of.

When someone calls a trip "the trip of a lifetime," that's not luck. It's the result of careful planning so you can focus on what matters: making memories.

What’s a travel memory where you were fully present?

06/10/2026

Your Vienna depends on you.

Coffee in a historic café for two hours OR wandering museums?

Opera at the State House OR wine at a local heuriger?

Schönbrunn Palace OR Sisi Museum?

Pick your vibe and tell me in the comments. Your answers tell me how to design your visit to Europe.

05/20/2026

December means winter at home. In Antarctica, it's summer.

Zodiac landings on the Antarctic Peninsula. Humpback whales surfacing so close you can hear them breathe. Penguins that waddle right past you like you're not even there.

December offers 20+ hours of daylight and weather that allows multiple landings each day.

Expedition cruises to Antarctica sell out months ahead. If this is on your bucket list, let's talk.

05/13/2026

It's May and you're finally ready to book that Italy trip for July.

I get it. Life gets busy, and vacation planning slides down the list until suddenly summer's almost here.

However, when planning is delayed, the hotels you actually want are booked. Peak summer in Europe books 6-8 months out, not 6-8 weeks. This is the reality of how European travel works during high season.

If spring 2027 is on your radar, now's actually the perfect time to start planning.

05/06/2026

"We want to see the Colosseum, but we don't want the tour bus experience."

I hear this constantly.

You want the iconic moments AND the authentic ones. The Eiffel Tower at sunset, yes. But also that perfect bistro your guidebook doesn't mention.

That's what custom itinerary design does. The major sites, on your timeline, plus the experiences most tourists never find.

Planning Europe? Let's talk.

Address

Alameda, CA

Website

https://www.macmillantravel.com/

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