McCurdy Luxury Travel

08/05/2026

With TAUCK – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

08/04/2026

Travel Tip Tuesday: August Travel Recommendations

Two of my favorites are listed in AFAR’s August travel list: Spain and Switzerland!! ✨

Pictured here is the spectacular exterior of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, alongside a look inside the breathtaking, light-filled interior of the León Cathedral.

August is an incredible time to experience the distinct beauty of both destinations. Whether you are craving the sun-drenched coastal charm and rich culinary heritage of Spain, or the crisp mountain air and breathtaking Alpine scenery of Switzerland, late summer offers a truly magical backdrop.

If you are looking to plan a last-minute summer getaway or want to start mapping out next year's seasonal escape, you can read the full AFAR guide here: https://www.afar.com/magazine/10-best-places-to-travel-in-august

07/30/2026

Magical Rome: From Day to Night

There is something completely magical about watching the historic layers of Italy shift from day to night! ✨

Pictured here is a favorite moment of mine inside the walls of the iconic Colosseum, a view of its striking architecture illuminated at night, and the stunning exterior of Basilica San Marco in Venice.

When I design Italian itineraries for my clients, I love balancing grand architectural moments with thoughtful, slower-paced logistics.

An option for a perfectly curated escorted trip with TAUCK, a preferred partner, for a week exploring Florence, Venice, and Rome can be found here: https://travefy.com/trip/6yw9rqkf87tsqz2av7kqpvnb66d99hq

07/28/2026

Travel Tip Tuesday: Vacationing Without a Passport!

Yes, that’s a passport, but you can actually leave yours at home for these getaways! ✨

For this Travel Tip Tuesday, I’m helping you look past the mainland for your next big adventure. If your passport is expired or stuck in the renewal pipeline, you don't have to settle for a standard domestic road trip.

In a recent guide, AFAR highlights several spectacular destinations open to US citizens with just a standard government-issued photo ID. A few top picks include:

The US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam!

Even though these escapes skip the customs line, matching you with the perfect private villa and curating the best local excursions still takes a thoughtful strategy.

You can read the full AFAR guide here:
https://www.afar.com/magazine/where-can-i-travel-without-a-passport

07/27/2026

Behind the Scenes: The Peninsula Istanbul

This past May, I had the pleasure of spending time at The Peninsula Istanbul — and it's exactly the kind of experience that reminds me why in-person hotel visits are such an important part of what I do as a travel agent.

I sat down with Omer Demir, the Director of Sales, for a full property tour. Meeting hotel leadership face-to-face gives me a completely different level of insight than a brochure or website ever could. I get to ask real questions, understand the service philosophy, and see firsthand whether a property truly matches what my clients are looking for. That relationship also means that when I send a client to the hotel, there's already a connection in place — which often translates into thoughtful little touches during their stay.

And what a property to explore! I stayed in one of the deluxe rooms, nearly 500 square feet of beautifully appointed space. In the evening, we enjoyed cocktails at the Topside Bar, taking in a stunning view of the Bosphorus. Dinner was at The Lobby Restaurant, where we savored mezze, a rich lentil soup, and shish kebab with incredibly tender meat.

But if I'm being honest, breakfast stole the show. The menemen — stewed eggs with tomatoes, garlic, onion, and green pepper — was so delicious that I asked the chef for the recipe so I could recreate it at home! And we did with success!

Experiences like this are exactly why I love what I do. Touring properties, meeting the people behind the service, and tasting the food myself means I can recommend hotels with real confidence — and help my clients have the best possible stay, down to the smallest detail.

07/23/2026

Caribbean Travel During Hurricane Season

Nothing beats being surrounded by clear Caribbean waters! But worried about hurricane season?

You can actually enjoy a flawless, warm tropical escape without the stress of storm tracking. The secret is looking south to the ABC Islands:

Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao! ✨

Because this stunning trio sits safely outside the Caribbean’s typical hurricane belt, they offer guaranteed, reliable sunshine year-round, with each island bringing a completely unique style of luxury to the table.

In a recent feature, "What to Know About the ABC Islands of the Caribbean," AFAR highlights exactly why these three destinations make for the perfect worry-free getaways.

You can read their full breakdown here:
https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-abc-islands-of-the-caribbean

Three Caribbean islands where hurricane season doesn't matter.

07/21/2026

Travel Tip Tuesday: European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)

If you’ve been keeping an eye on European travel news, you may have heard about the newly implemented digital Entry/Exit System (EES) and associated delays. Flying into the Barcelona airport before embarking on a recent Mediterranean cruise aboard the Regent Seven Seas Grandeur, we went through the new EES biometric process and were quite lucky. With helpful airport staff guiding us through the facial scan and fingerprinting, the entire check-in took just five minutes from start to finish. However, there have been significant delays at several airports.

For travelers planning upcoming European escapes, there is reassuring news: the EU has officially pushed back the launch of its secondary ETIAS travel permit until 2027, giving border systems more time to streamline before adding extra pre-trip paperwork.

You can read the full news update in AFAR here: https://www.afar.com/magazine/europe-delays-etias-travel-authorization-until-2027

The border-crossing process will require eligible travelers to pay an application fee and receive preapproval before visiting 30 European countries.

07/20/2026

I’m so proud to be a part of the Brownell community of travel advisors!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DaieVcymZnP/?igsh=MWczdWQxMTh0djBjaw==

07/17/2026

07/17/2026

With Renee Hale Drase – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉