SKIP THE TRAVEL PLANNING STRESS

Enjoy the trips of your dreams…designed just for you

People having fun while eating and drinking

Travel Should be Fun, Not Stressful!

Go beyond the guidebooks — with my insider connections, you’ll access hidden-gem restaurants, private experiences, and boutique stays most travelers never find.

Skip the endless planning — I’ll curate every detail with VIP access, so you can relax and enjoy.

Feel like a guest, not a tourist — from private tastings with top chefs to exclusive local adventures, I’ll make your trip truly unforgettable.

Here how I can help:

Couple on a boat

WEEKEND AND GROUP GATEAWAYS


CELEBRATION TRIPS AND MILESTONE BIRTHDAYS


HONEYMOONS AND ANNIVERSARIES


PROUDLY PARTNERING WITH A REFINED LIST OF LUXURY HOTEL, RESORT AND CRUISE PARTNER


A VARIETY OF WAYS I CAN HELP YOU

Your Trip Planning Options

Your hassle free trip starts here! From a weekend away to multi week/multi country honeymoons, group trips, milestone birthdays, and family reunions…my travel planning expertise and professional food, wine, and travel connections save you time, stress, and let you enjoy the perfect, customized trip.

Group of people eating and drinking
  • This package for up to 4 people lightens your planning load, offering stress-free trip organization for a memorable getaway.

    What's Included:

    • Duration: 2-4 days for up to 4 people

    • Destination Help: Assistance in choosing the ideal location

    • Accommodation: VIP hotel bookings with upgrades & perks

    • Itinerary: Daily itinerary ideas with key activities & sights

    • Foodie Recs: Top restaurant, market, and cocktail spots

    • Transportation: Recommendations for transfers & local transport

    • Pro Tips: Essential travel tips & packing advice

    • Custom Plan: All details in one document

    • Cost: Starting at $500 (additional for activity bookings)

  • Designed for up to 4 travelers, this tour includes culinary and cultural experiences tailored to your taste.

    What's Included:

    • Duration: Up to 9 days for 4 people (multi-location options)

    • Destination Help: Assistance in choosing the best spots

    • Accommodation: VIP hotel or Airbnb recommendations

    • Itinerary: Daily itinerary with local tours & experiences

    • Foodie Recs: Renowned restaurants, food markets & hidden gems

    • Cooking & Wine: Classes, food tours, and winery visits

    • Transport: Coordination for transfers & day trips

    • Personal Touches: Customized activity recommendations

    • Pro Tips: Travel & packing tips, local insights

    • App: Easy access to your itinerary via Julie's travel app

    • Call: Bon Voyage call with Julie 2 weeks before departure

    • Cost: Starting at $1000 (includes itinerary, Airbnb, and hotel bookings)

  • Let me handle the details of your multi-week or group trip, ensuring a seamless experience for you and your group.

    What's Included:

    • Duration: Up to 2-4 weeks

    • Group Size: 6-16 people

    • Surveys: Custom surveys to capture preferences & needs

    • Calls: Multiple itinerary calls with Julie

    • Destination Help: Expert advice for selecting the perfect spots

    • Accommodation: Luxury hotels, resorts, or unique stays

    • Itinerary: Extensive daily itineraries with exclusive experiences

    • Group Details: Capturing dietary, emergency, and flight needs

    • Dining: VIP reservations at top restaurants

    • Food Tours & Classes: Premium culinary experiences

    • Additional Services: Caterers, cleaners, or home shopping

    • Wine Tastings: Vineyard tours & wine tastings

    • Transport: Private transfers, chauffeurs, and group drivers

    • Personal Touches: Custom surprises, swag bags, decor & more

    • Full Booking Services: Complete trip booking in advance

    • Payments: Per person pricing, paid in installments

    • Concierge/Guide Services: 24/7 support or bi-lingual guide

    • Travel Tips: Personalized travel guides & packing lists

    • App: Full itinerary on Julie's Travel App

    • Call: Group call 2 weeks before departure

    • Cost: TBD based on trip complexity and group size

Multicountry 3 Week Trip / Brittannie & Gerard

“Julie was a no brainer choice when choosing someone to help plan our honeymoon. Her great knowledge of the areas we were planning to go to, connections, and knowledge of great food places was top notch. Most importantly, Julie stuck with the vibe she knew we were looking for. She even added things we wouldn’t have thought of. Nothing short of a pleasure to work with! Can’t wait to see what she can procure for us on our next trip!”

Latest Custom-Curated Getaways

A Tuscan Family Escape

I crafted the perfect balance of fun, bonding, and relaxation for this extended family, ensuring a stress-free, once-in-a-lifetime Tuscan adventure.

  • Private villa with a chef, wine tastings, and exclusive winery visits.

  • Every detail curated, from Michelin-starred dinners to private street food tours.

  • A personal photographer to document their dream week together.

Ultimate Jet-Setter Escape

From Budapest to Barolo, Sardinia to Portugal, I designed a flawless 3-week adventure—luxury, adventure, and total ease.

  • Room upgrades, spa treatments, welcome champagne, and top-tier hospitality.

  • Expertly booked flight routes, private drivers, and effortless logistics.

  • Winery visits, Michelin-starred dining, e-bike tours, truffle hunts & more.

Seattle Like a VIP: The Guys’ Weekend

Football, craft brews, and live music—all planned to perfection.

  • A hip boutique hotel with a free night, late checkout, and $200 in dining credits.

  • Insider picks for the best brewpubs, restaurants, and live music hotspots.

  • No planning stress—just epic memories with friends.

    From NFL game day to the best Seattle has to offer, I’ve ensured Dane and his friends had an unforgettable, hassle-free weekend away.

EFFORTLESS ADVENTURES, EXPERTLY PLANNED

Leave it to a Trip Planning Pro!

→ Ride camelback through the golden dunes of the Agafay Desert before settling into a luxury camp for a private fireside dinner under the stars, complete with traditional Berber music.

→ Arrive at a five-star hotel steps from the Seine, where your suite is upgraded, and a private pâtissier awaits to guide you through an exclusive macaron-making session.

→ Trek through the lush cloud forests with a naturalist guide, then unwind at a secluded eco-lodge where a local chef prepares a farm-to-table feast using ingredients harvested that morning.

Your next unforgettable adventure starts here.

2 Week Italian Honeymoon / – Yuvette & Jim Bessette

“Julie helped us in planning every detail of our long-awaited Honeymoon.  With her help we are embarking on a custom, once in a lifetime trip through Italy!  We could not have come up with the fabulous itinerary on our own without her experience, connections and expertise in trip planning.  We highly recommend her personal services.”  

3 Steps Away from Your Dream Trip

STEP ONE

Share Your Travel Dreams

Start by filling out a quick Trip Questionnaire and selecting the level of Trip Planning Service that works best for you.

STEP TWO

Your Perfect Itinerary

With your input and feedback, my team and I will design a personalized itinerary, handling all the destination details and logistics.

STEP THREE

Relax and Enjoy

Kick back and savor your completely customized trip, knowing every detail has been perfectly planned for an unforgettable experience!

Authentic Travel, Minus The Hassle

Avoid the frustration of arriving at a subpar hotel, missing key details, or feeling like a tourist. I curate one-of-a-kind experiences that let you explore like a local, indulge in authentic moments, and enjoy every second of your journey stress-free.


VIP Perks Just For You

Be swept away by breathtaking sunsets, not endless planning. With every detail of your trip thoughtfully planned for you, there’s no need to worry about overwhelming logistics, missed opportunities, or travel stress. Just kick back, relax, and enjoy the adventure.


Leave The Stress Behind—Focus On The Magic

Say goodbye to hours of scrolling through Expedia and random blogs. From exclusive hotel upgrades you can’t get online to access to authentic local experiences, your trip is designed to be unique, seamless, and utterly unforgettable.

Julie Hartigan Strolling around Marrakesh

ABOUT ME

Meet Your Private Trip Planner

I help fun-lovers like you enjoy incredible culinary & culture experiences through my small group trips, private trip planning services, recipes, videos, and tips! 

After transitioning from a snooze-inducing tech career to the joyful world of food, I published 1000’s of recipes, became a regular on your favorite morning & lifestyle shows, and traveled the world to create my boutique culinary trips – I’m here to share the joy with you.

Julie Hartigan in Petra

Family Reunion in Tuscan Villa

“Julie’s support in planning our extended family vacation helped us make memories that will last a lifetime! Family members -both young and old had a blast. Julie’s connections to local tour guides, transportation operators, restaurateurs, artisans and more ensured we were in the best of hands and were experiencing Italy authentically. Plus, Julie makes everything fun and even our planning and prep felt celebratory and created excitement about our upcoming trip. She is a joy to work with and we would not hesitate to work with Julie again!” 

RELAX + INDULGE + EXPLORE

Your Dream Trip, Perfectly Tailored For You

Imagine this. Start your day with a scenic bike ride through lemon groves and charming cliffside villages on the Amalfi Coast, stopping for an espresso with a view. Then, cruise along the coastline on a private boat, swimming in hidden grottoes before docking at a family-run seaside restaurant for the freshest spaghetti alle vongole and limoncello straight from the orchard.

This is all possible—and effortlessly planned just for you.

Love & Praise from past clients

  • “Julie made it EASY for my friends (a mix of couples and singles) to do a trip together without any planning stress and for a simple price per person paid to Julie. She took care of everything for us!”

    - Private 12 Person Tour in Sicily / Sue & friends

  • “Within 24 hours Julie was able to score us an incredible hotel stay in a prime downtown location in Seattle with a $200 credit at their James Beard restaurant and a free nights stay thrown in to boot! She knows exactly how to find you the best spots and books you with VIP bonuses too.”

    - Football and Live Music / Brian

  • With decades of experience planning her own worldwide tasting tours everywhere from Japan to Sweden to Spain (and countless other countries and continents!) to her Culinary & Culture Tour Group Trip planning and hosting experience via Julie Hartigan Adventures CO; Julie offers the perfect mix of enthusiasm, itinerary design know-how,  insider/local connections, and attention to detail that you and your trip deserve.  As a professional chef and food + wine media professional Julie will get you access to insider foodie and culture experiences you’d never be able to find on your own.  As a certified Travel Advisor with the worldwide agency FORA Travel and member of the prestigious Women’s Travel Leaders group Julie has a deeply vetted, worldwide network of travel partners including VIP hotel bookings with perks and discounts, as well as professional guides, drivers, tour experiences, concierges, and travel logistics managers around the globe.  PS: don’t forget Julie is a former engineer & tech professional! You get the benefit of a travel experienced food and wine world insider with the “thinks of every detail” pro.

  • Since everything is custom and Julie has access to vetted industry partners around the globe she can help you with the perfect stays and itinerary planning wherever your wanderlust takes you! She’s got you covered if you've booked your flights and lodging but need help with cool things to do and restaurants. Or, if you need help with every last detail—from figuring out how to tour the Galapagos Islands or where to stay in Tuscany to where to bring the girls trip for fun in New Orleans trip —Julie and her team can handle it all.

  • Sometimes, with the “Just Bookings” service or if arranging a group tour in one destination Julie doesn’t need to charge you a fee as her worldwide travel partners compensate her directly. I If you just need a little help getting started planning your own trip she’s also available for quick $50 Travel Consults. However, depending on the amount of help you need with your custom trip itinerary, how long the trip will be, and how many people will be participating, Julie charges a Trip Planning fee for her expertise, time and service. These are billed 50% at the start of the project and 50% once you’re 100% happy with your itinerary.

  • Laughing! I feel you - honestly those terms are pretty interchangeable. Often, a traditional travel agent will only do hotel, cruise, or packaged tour bookings, while travel planners/concierges/ advisors like Julie provide customized full-service itinerary planning and personalized bookings with access to non-cookie-cutter travel options for you.

  • All of Julie’s travel services begin with your Travel Planning Questionnaire.  You’ll fill Julie in on your dream trip and travel needs so she can help you choose which way of working with her is best for you.  Julie will then send over a proposal and booking link so you can set up your Trip Design or Travel Consult call.  During this call, Julie will get to know you and your travel preferences to begin designing your trip.

    This typically starts with destination selection and high level itinerary design (how many days in each place, hotel options, etc) via a shared Google doc or PDF with video walk through where Julie lists out the hotel options, perks, and things to do along the way.  In the case of larger group trips Julie will survey the group to create a custom tour itinerary with a set per-person cost and professional, safe, group trip onboarding process. 

    After review and feedback (the number of reviews and calls depends on your project) and optional full-bookings service; you’ll receive your custom itinerary in Julie’s Travel App to have at the ready along the way on your trip. You can have peace of mind knowing everything is in one place, from your flight numbers, hotel confirmations. addresses, contact info, itinerary details like time/address, and more. Julie also provides a Bon Voyage check in call just before you leave for your trip to make sure you’re all set.

  • Depending on the season, group size, and destination it’s best to leave at least 90 days for custom travel planning.  For hot spots around the world Julie can plan trips for up to a year in advance (or in the case of groups, even 18 months out) to get the best hotel rates and experiences. For long weekends or simple one week vacations it’s best to plan 3-6 months out. If you only need a Travel Consult or simple VIP Hotel Bookings Julie offers a fast turnaround. If you’re really in a pinch, rush planning and rush bookings are also available at an additional rate - just reach out to Julie with this Travel Planning Questionnaire to fill her in on what you need and she’ll get back to you with rates and timing ASAP.