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Vanessa Ballard

Vanessa Ballard

Sarasota, FL Travel Agent

Vanessa Ballard

Sarasota, FL Travel Agent
The Journey Group, an independent agent with The Journey Group, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
13 reviews
100% Recommended

Luxury and Adventure Travel

Hi! My name is Vanessa and over the past 3 decades I've either been traveling, planning trips for myself and others, or talking about travel! Whether you want an individualized trip with the details planned out for you, or a group type trip with like-minded travelers I have you covered! From Safaris to hiking Machu Picchu, to multi-city European trips and River cruises, I not only book travel and adventures for others but I've been doing it myself for decades. Who better to help you than someone like me with extensive first hand experience?
My Travel Specialties

Certificates & Awards

Client Reviews

My Places

Areas of expertise

Destinations
South Africa
Europe
Canada
New Zealand
Interests
Adventure
European Culture
Cruises
Hiking & Backpacking
Family Vacations
Safari
See All Interests >
Supplier Partners
AmaWaterways
G Adventures
Backroads
Intrepid Travel
Hilton Worldwide
National Geographic Expeditions
See All Supplier Partners >

My Travel Specialties

Adventure and Luxury Travel Specialist
Adventure and Luxury Travel Specialist
Hi! My name is Vanessa and I have spent the last three decades of my life either traveling, reading about traveling, taking photos while traveling or planning vacations for myself/my family and many others. I have been to over 31 countries so far and have done everything from sleeping under the s...
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Adventure Travel
Adventure Travel
Adventure Travel is a passion of mine that I've not only spent decades doing on my own, but have booked clients on adventures trips in multiple countries/continents with a variety of activities and focus.What is Adventure Travel??  Many people think adventure travel must involve an ag...
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River cruise specialist
River cruise specialist
Having traveled extensively to Europe over the past few decades one of my favorite ways to see the undiscovered and authentic Europe is by river cruising!  Visiting the major European cities are a must, but river cruising is the only way to see the incredible and unique villages scattered along t...
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Certificates & Awards

ASTA is the leading global advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public.It is the world's largest association of travel professionals.Our members include travel agents and the companies whose products they sell such as tours, cruises, hotels, car rentals, etc.Expand your world.Go with the pros.
Certified Active & Adventure Travel Specialist: During this certification program Travel Agents study several components including: Understanding the Active & Adventure Travel Customer, Destination Knowledge, Active & Adventure Travel Experiences, ATTA Travel Resources, Active & Adventure Preferred Suppliers, Case Studies and a Marketing Plan. This is a two-year study program.
Anchorage Wild Expert
Lindblad/National Geographic Expeditions 360
Certified Journeys Specialist National Geographic
Backroads Insider Specialist
100% Pure New Zealand Specialist

CLIENT REVIEWS

Rating: 4.9
13 reviews
100.00% Recommended
Beautiful Amsterdam and Tulips
Reviewed By G - Sarasota, FA | Traveled to Amsterdam ~ Netherlands ~ Europe
Vanessa was amazing— everything was perfectly planned— every detail of our trip handled seamlessly! We could not be happier with our experience.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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A fabulous 10 day trip to Italy!
Reviewed By Tess and Tom Magee - Olney, MD | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Vanessa had great recommendations on restaurants, site seeing ideas and was able to accommodate all our suggestions into a very workable itinerary that provided lots of time to relax on our own as well.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Great River Cruise!
Reviewed By Carol - Kelowna, BC | Traveled to Europe
Thorough & great attention to detail. I particularly liked the complete itinerary on an app!
Prompt in responding to questions, etc.
Maintained contact throughout the trip.
Great follow up.
A pleasure to work with.
Thank you!😊
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Amazing trip!
Reviewed By Gina D - Denver, CO | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Vanessa was thorough and attentive to all of our requests throughout the planning process. She was an excellent communicator and always answered our questions and concerns. This made our the trip seamless and exactly what we were looking for!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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A truly incredible Italian experience thanks
Reviewed By Top Bird - Sarasota, FL | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Vanessa is passionate about travel, it’s not just a job to Vanessa it’s a vocation. From planning to execution Vanessa was just fantastic, nothing was too much trouble and every effort was made to source the absolute best experiences for our Italian holiday. Vanessa listened to where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see and made our dream holiday a reality. From locating the most authentic and utterly memorable wine tasting in a Tuscan vineyard to researching and reserving a truly wonderful Cinque Terre boat trip complete with delicious fresh mussels cooked by the crew and locally produced Vermentino wine - just sublime. Vanessa’s attention to detail and ability to research and suggest experiences and accommodation to exceed your expectations and match your budget is what sets her apart from any other advisor we have worked with.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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My Places

When it comes to travel planning, real-world experience makes a huge difference. Check out the map below to see all the places I have personally visited or booked for my clients. I know these destinations well and can give you reliable guidance.

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