Debbie Linder
Debbie Linder
Luxury travel, river cruise & vacation specialist
I was born in Chicago and eventually moved to the western suburbs. We traveled quite extensively as a family and I was always looking forward to the next trip. So I was hooked at a very young age. I started in travel and worked for a leisure agency for 20 years. Totally by surprise and out of the blue I was contacted by a Corporate agency with over 35 million in sales to open, develop and run a new division of their agency geared toward vacation travel. It was an amazing job! My knowledge and expertise really took off with the vacation side for their agency.
I have an extensive following so with my "regulars" and now all of these endless new clients I was seeing burnout. After several years, I decided to open my own agency and create the business I wanted. Golden Travel Inc was born. Yes, the name is a tribute to my love of Golden Retriever's!
For 25 years I worked extensively with the 101st Airborne to organize a local "get together" in their area. They were a group like no other and loved to talk of their experiences, some of my phone calls lasted hours! Once a year we would arrange a group trip with their children and even grand children back to Bastogne and Normandy where we had several wreath ceremonies to commemorate those that were lost and also private events where they could rebond year after year. Many of them had made friends with locals during the war and wanted to go back to visit them. Maybe they just offered them a cup of coffee during the night, but they never forgot. We made that happen, time and time again. In the early years, several made the jump on to the beaches in Normandy. As they got older and less were able to do that, we had 1 jumper that in his mid 90's made the jump onto the beach every year. I remember he told me, "parachutes had come a long way" I could feel the smile on his face.
We leave no stone unturned when it comes to creating the dream.
I have been a travel professional for 42 years and love my job.
My areas of expertise include but is not limited to:
- Europe
- River Cruises
- South America
- African Safaris
- Egypt
- Galapagos
- Machu Picchu
- Russia
- Mexico/Caribbean
- All inclusive resorts
- Ocean Cruises
- Customized European Tours
Whether you travel as a single, couple or groups of friends and family I can customize your journey to include highlights of each destination but also the hidden gems that you don't read about in a brochure. My reputation is about details and custom itineraries.
I am foodie, so taking food tours and cooking classes all over the world I find that food is the breakthrough for each destination. Its a great start on the local culture and the back round of food is what makes each country so unique. If you really want to dive in to the local way of life, I can arrange dinner with a local at their home almost anywhere in the world. That's a once in a lifetime experience!
In our first meeting we will discuss what excites you about travel and then I will work out a truly unique itinerary that highlights all of your desires. We will work things out at a leisurely pace so you have time to wander and explore on your journey.
We provide a beautiful itinerary for all of our clients on all of their travels. We provide this on our app but also as a PDF if you prefer to have things printed.
I feel so fortunate that I have spent my life travelling. There are still those that say, "when I retire" or "someday". Now more than ever in this new world we are living in, we see that tomorrow is not like yesterday. We've all spent a year of our lives basically putting that dream on hold. Its just lost time. So when we can get going again, lets do it - DON'T PUT OFF THAT DREAM!
As your travel professional the first item I want to talk about with you, will be having the proper documentation for your travel. If you don't have a passport and you need it for your destination then we need to get that going. Passport expiration dates are extremely important as different countries have different rules. We monitor entry and exit requirements for your travel travel throughout the world.
Passport, inoculations and visas can change and we are always on top of that. Now more than ever with COVID countries entry and exit requirements are changing daily. This is a changing environment and you need a professional to help navigate this changing world.
I have already had clients that had to change up their last minute plans to get COVID testing when it wasn't required 3 days ago. Hopefully it will get easier but until then I've got your back!
Luxury you say?
Here I am in Galapagos with a Sea Lion sunning!
Well by definition, LUXURY is indulgence in and enjoyment of rich, comfortable and sumptuous living.
Everyone strives to live their best lives and live comfortably. When we travel we want that notch up of our LUXURY, better than we have it at home. Maybe it's a room with a view, room service, spa services or an amazing culinary experience.
It doesn't have to be the Four Seasons (but it can be!) but it has to be something that is etched in your memories and when you get home you can't wait to talk about it.
We provide that to every client, every time and on every itinerary - worldwide.
Ready to find your LUXURY? Then let's make that happen!
My Areas of Expertise
My Travel Stories
Quito Ecuador and the Galapagos
The Galapagos - #1 on the wish list/bucket list and must do before I die list. I had been to a travel program in 1980 at a Museum in Chicago about the Galapagos and I was hooked. Everything happens in time I guess. So when we found the time to make ... Read more from my Quito Ecuador and the Galapagos story.
The story or Hiram Bingham part 2 of 2
During Bingham's archaeological studies, he collected various artifacts which he took back to Yale. One of the more prominent artifacts he recovered was a set of ceremonial Incan knives made from bismuth bronze. These knives were molded in the 15th century and are the earliest known artifacts containing this alloy.
As Bingham's ... Read more from my The story or Hiram Bingham part 2 of 2 story.
The story of Hiram Bingham Part 1 of 2
This is a bit of a continued story from our visit to Machu Picchu. Hiram Bingham found MP and his story if pretty cool. So if you can't hear it in person just yet (you will when you get there) here you can read his amazing story.
Hope you enjoy the read!
Hiram Bingham was ... Read more from my The story of Hiram Bingham Part 1 of 2 story.
An Experienced Travel Agent
Thank you so much! Its clients like you that keep my job so interesting. I'm looking forward to the next adventure(s)!
Best trip ever!
Cant wait to see what Debbie suggests next for u
Well thank you so much. There isn't a part of my job that is more fulfilling than to suggest a trip a lifetime that is the trip of a lifetime!. Glad you took the time to check things of the bucket list that we never knew should have been there from day 1
Fabulous trip
Thank you so much - loved planning this trip with you. A little bit of everything and you saw so much! Debbie
Unbelievable trip !
Best family trip ever
Thanks Mike, You have an amazing family that really does love to travel together! Until next time! Debbie
TRIP OF lifetime
The perfect honeymoon!
Really good trip...
Skiing in Telluride was awesome!
Thank you Derek! I am so happy you had such a great time and the "girls" got on the slopes too! We appreciate your business!
Great tour, guide and plenty of friendly people!
Trip of a lifetime
Thank you so much - it really was a trip of a lifetime and it was really fun to plan!
Best TA
Amazing Trip!
Thank you so much - Loved planning this trip with you! Debbie
AMAZING ADVENTURE
We will be return customers!
Thank you so much - Loved it that you guys moved forward regardless of the hurricane! Appreciate you guys Debbie
Golden Travel = GOLDEN trip
Thank you so much - that means the world to me! So happy you had such a fabulous experience. The pictures are fabulous too!
Family Trip
Thank you - I am so happy you all had such a great trip! Debbie
Fourth time is a charm!
AND - we've never even met her! But, she treated us like we have been life-long clients. Debbie was referred to us through a friend, which has been one of the best personal recommendations we've ever gotten....and we now consider ourselves a life-long client to her.
Donna, Thank you so much. It certainly was an interesting couple of years in the travel business. Something else to learn to navigate but it all worked out. So glad we were able to make this dream come true. So many more out there - looking forward to continuing to work with you. Most of our business is referral and I give 100% to ever single one! Finding life-long clients is the best! Thank you again ! Debbie
Crusin Crew 2023
Relaxing Get Away
The trip was fantastic
Everything was perfect
Thank you so much Pat, we appreciate you! Looking forward to our next big "thing"
A perfect vacation... in a beautiful place
Fall Cruise
A dream trip
Thank you, David Your trip was so much fun for me to plan. The "moving" parts are in my wheelhouse because I do love pulling it all together and making things just right. So happy you found me. Until next time! Thank you again Debbie
Re: Alaska once again does not disappoint
Could not have done it without her!
Thank you so much! I'm so happy you had such a great time too. Well deserved!
Autumn Colors New England Tour
You are wonderful to work with! We appreciate your business over the years.
Every trip !!!!!
Thank you - I love to do business with you too!
Wedding
Debbie planned my sons wedding on a cruise. She took care of all the stress of 40 passengers and it turn out beautiful.
Family Travel Aruba
Debbie did an excellent job putting a recent family trip together for us. Thorough, great communication - follow up and detail! We would highly recommend
Caribbean and Mexico
I have been on several vacations that were booked with Golden Travel Inc and am in the process of planning more! Always helpful, personable and always listens to just what I'm looking for. I highly recommend this travel agent!!
Paris Engagement
My now fiancé Chris and I (got engaged on the lovely trip Debbie planned) decided to go to Paris less than 2 months before we were leaving!! We got connected with Debbie and she made a potentially overwhelming planning experience seemless and enjoyable! Debbie handled all the back end planning and helped us bring the vision for our dream Paris trip to life! The trip was unbelievable and she was so helpful throughout the entire process
Cruiser
Debbie is so dedicated. Wouldn’t travel without her expertise.
Our trip to Greece
Debbie helped us plan our dream vacation to Greece! It was our first trip to Europe! Not only did she help me get the hotels/amenities we wanted, she was so patient with all my endless questions and emails! She was there for us every step of the way! Even made sure our flights were on time and we checked in! The personal touch Debbie gave us is why I will recommend her to my family and everyone else! 100% satisfied!