Kristen Smederovac, MS, CSS
Owner & Travel Advisor
Phone:
847.712.4409
Email:
Accreditations:
Certified Sandals Specialist
AMResorts Master Agent
Certified Disney Knowledge Expert
Specialties:
All-Inclusive Vacations
Disney
Europe
Central America
Hawaii
Couples Vacations - Domestic/International
Honeymoons - Domestic/International
Family Vacations - Domestic/International
Solo Travel
Babymoons
Favorite Destinations I've Traveled:
Europe - Belgium, France, Italy, Netherlands
Caribbean - Turks & Caicos, St. Lucia, Exuma
Accreditations
A Bit About Me
Hi! I'm Kristen and I'm the face behind Travel Trouvaille. I am a self-proclaimed travel addict. I have been traveling for over 20 years and professional travel planning for 11 years.
I fell in love with travel at a young age when my parents took us on a family vacation to Jamaica. I was amazed at how different the culture was just a short 4 hour flight away from Chicago. Since then, I've personally been to over 15 countries spanning across the Caribbean, Europe, and spent a short tenure living in Paris, France. I began travel planning in 2011 when I coordinated a study abroad program to Paris, France. I then transitioned into leisure travel planning in 2017 and opened Travel Trouvaille.
I love exploring new places, discovering their history and culture, and bringing back memories that leave a lasting impact on me. I started Travel Trouvaille to help others find a way to experience that same joy I've found in travel. The planning process is often a huge hurdle for people wanting to go somewhere - it's so easy to become overwhelmed with the options, locations, vendors, excursions, advertisements, etc. I love building meaningful relationships with my clients to the point I can alleviate the stress of planning a trip - so they can focus on simply enjoying it!
I can plan a trip to almost anywhere domestically or internationally. But, the destinations I consider my expertise include - Caribbean, Mexico, Disney, Europe, Central America, & Hawaii.
My Process - What to Expect
Initial Discovery Call & Logistics
Proposal, Revisions, & Booking
Pre-departure Meeting & Support
We'll start with a 30-45 minute "get to know you" call. A crucial part of the travel planning process is understanding who you are, how you prefer to vacation, and what is most important to you for this trip. This is part of how I really learn about you and ensures I'm able to deliver on the boutique experience! I will also gather logistics around your trip (travel party details, dates, budget, destination ideas, etc.) and provide an overview the Partnership Agreement during this call.
Shortly after our intake call, I will share several proposals for you to review. We'll then come back together to chat through the options, what you like, what you don't, and what changes you'd like to see. Most often, these proposals will include individualized options based on our intake conversation. We'll spend time prioritizing your choices to optimize your budget the way YOU want. When you're satisfied with the plan, we will proceed to booking.
After you've booked and leading up to your departure date, I will continuously monitor pricing to make sure you receive the best price for your trip. I will also monitor travel conditions, weather, your flights, etc. to ensure everything is taken care of and limiting hiccups and surprises during travel.
As your departure date nears, we'll schedule a pre-departure meeting. This is where I'll share all your travel documents, walk you through your travel details, share tips/tricks, and answer any questions you have about your trip. I will also work with your vendors/suppliers to make sure everything is checked and double-checked for accuracy!
During and after your trip, I remain available for any issues, concerns you have - they are extremely rare. But, in the event something does need attention, a key benefit of having a travel advisor is that I am there to step in on your behalf.
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