Linda Gartner
Luxury Travel and ITALY Specialist
A Tuscan agriturismo outside of Buonconvento.
Linda Gartner – Leisure and Group Travel Consultant Interests: Europe. I began my second chapter of life career as a travel consultant with Prestige Travel of Cincinnati, Ohio in November of 2015. Prior to this new chapter I was a JH choral director at Sycamore Junior High for 34 years!
I have traveled to 12 European countries and over 44 European cities. Additionally, I have visited several destinations within Canada, the Caribbean, Taiwan and Mexico. There are SO many beautiful destinations in our world, but Italy has my heart!
As an agent with Prestige Travel I hope to share my knowledge and passion for travel with you. I will do my absolute best to insure that YOU have a love of travel, too! Thanks to my affiliation with Travel Leaders I can research the best possible pricing, experiences and offerings for you and your family. My varied background in travel also makes me a great resource for you and your group — of any size!
As a former Choral Director, I have taken literally thousands of students, staff members and parents throughout the Mid-West, to Washington D.C, and to 9 countries and 32 cities in Europe. (Group travel is unlike anything you have ever experienced; there is always someone different to talk with at breakfast!)
One of my most favorite group travel memories was taking a group to sing mass at St. Peter’s in Rome – a true highlight of my travel and choral music career. I will forever cherish the memory of leading in song this group of 108—inside the World’s largest cathedral — and then escorting them to sing, once again, for thousands of people on the piazza outside!
Besides leading large groups, I’ve planned trips with my husband and sons to Hawaii, Italy (10 trips!), Spain, France, the UK, Greece, San Francisco, Wine Country, Seattle, the San Juan Islands, the Canadian Rockies, Taiwan, Mexican resorts in Playa del Carmen, Cabo San Lucas and Cancun, on cruises in the Caribbean, and for an extended stay on St. John, USVI.
Because of my varied experiences in trip planning, I would like to help plan your ideal vacation — whether you are a family of two or twenty.
I must share with you about my favorite - ITALIA! Not only have I led choral groups throughout this wonderful country multiple times, but my family has vacationed there four times, as well. One of those great Italian trip memories was a three-week experience that highlighted pasta, wine, cappuccino, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, gelato and, of course, some Italian history! Cities like Bologna and their famed arches, Ravenna and the breathtaking mosaics, Siena with its magnificent cathedral, and Lucca home of the BEST opera composer, Giocomo Puccini, should be included on everyone’s Italian travel list! And, obviously, Rome, Florence, and Venice shouldn’t be missed; but what about Verona the home of Juliet, Sorrento and its football size lemons that soon become Limoncello, Montalcino in the heart of Tuscan vineyards and Orvieto. Do not forget Monopoli a true undiscovered GEM! We’ve had fabulous experiences and made wonderful memories in all of these locations. The Italians are like no other!
In the fall of 2019, I escorted a group of 14 on a Wine and Dine Trip throughout Tuscany and the Lake Como region. We ate, we tasted wine, we ate again. It was another wonderful experience. Group travel!!! Some of the people on the group knew some of the people on the group....! BUT no one knew everyone.....until the END! Lots of laughter, lots of adventure! Have you ever walked the rooftop of the Duomo in Milan? We did! Have you ever had a private tour of the Ferrari museum? We did! Have you ever sat in an Italian garden restaurant where the owner MADE you deposit your cell phone prior to being seated so that we all actually TALKED? We did! GREAT TIMES!
It would truly be my pleasure to help you plan your trip — from the very beginning to the very end of your travels. I will treat your wants as if they were my wants, researching the best possible pricing with the best possible experiences! If you’re on a tight budget, I will help find you the most outstanding experiences available within that budget. If you want a luxury vacation, I will help find you the most sumptuous accommodations and unique adventures.
I look forward to meeting you and helping you learn about the world through travel. Where would you like to go first?
Linda
I Want to Go Back - ALWAYS
Buongiorno! I had to share about my most recent Italian adventure! Yes, I had to return post Covid. The three year wait was definitely worth it! I planned my trip for 6 - three couples. As always, my friends understood that I had to go somewhere that I had never visited. SICILY! Long journey from Cincinnati, OH to Catania, Sicily but well worth it! Taormina, Mt. Etna, wineries, Agrigento, massive Greek Temples, Palermo, incredible cannoli, Cefalu, another winery (!) then off to the mainland, Milan, Como, Bellagio, Bologna, and Florence. I just got back and I'm ready to go again! The Italians are like no other. They are SO happy to have tourists again!!! Hoping you are planning where you want to go now! Don't wait!
Linda
My Areas of Expertise
CERTIFICATES & AWARDS
Related Travel Stories
The Great Road Trip WEST
During our Covid time in the United States, some of us just had to get out of our homes and travel to see the grandchildren. When you live in the Midwest and have little ones in Southern California and are requested to drive instead of fly, that's exactly what you do! There is ... Read more from my The Great Road Trip WEST story.
Tour of Italy
Awesome from start to finish
Amazing Wine and Dine tour through Italy
Grazie mille, Sharon! Traveling with great people is always a winning equation. ....ESPECIALLY in ITALIA! So glad you have wonderful memories! Yes, let's do it again! Kindest regards, Linda
Amazing Trip!
Awesome trip on very short notice.
European Adventure
First Time Abroad
Emily! It was my pleasure helping in your travels to Europe. What a wonderful daughter/sister you are! It is ALWAYS about the memories you make. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your BIG adventure! Stay safe/stay healthy and thank you for being on that front line that we all need so much! Linda
Grazie Mille !
Our unforgettable trip to Italy!
Dear Linda, thank you so much for your kind words. It is always a pleasure working with such NICE people! Ciao e grazie mille! Linda
European family vacation.
Amazing European Adventure
The Best Made Plans
Dear Mike and Patty! Thank you so much for your kind words. They mean so much! One of the greatest perks of this job is having the opportunity to meet so many people. I'm extremely thankful that our paths have crossed and we WILL get you "across the pond" when it is safe to do! Stay safe, stay healthy, travel later! Linda
Flawless!
Dear Len, what a joy it was to plan that trip for both of you! What a memory you now have. Thank you for being a great repeat client!!! I hope to re-create for you when the time is right! With great appreciation! Linda
The trip that will be after Covid-19!
Dear Beth, You are absolutely right - the AFTER Covid 19 trip! It is always so much fun to help people plan their dream trip, especially with their children! We all know that they will not be under our roof forever and the time to make memories is now. I look forward to meeting again and getting this trip on the calendar! Stay safe, stay healthy and you WILL travel later! Kind regards, Linda
Help through Unchartered Territory
Dear Cam and Chloe, Thank YOU for being so wonderful to work with! There WILL be a wedding, there WILL be a honeymoon! I look forward to re-connecting and helping to make many meaningful memories for you. Linda
Trip of a lifetime!
Our dream trip finally realized
A Wonderful European Adventure
Have not been on our cruise yet.
Anita, thank you so much for your kind words. You have not cruised YET but confident that you will. As fast as time is flying by, it will be here before we know it! I look forward to working with you and Paul for many of your future travels! Linda
A trip of a lifetime
It was the best trip ever!
The trip of a lifetime!!
"The 60 year old Birthday Celebration"
What a pleasure to have worked with Linda. We were her first customers,
certainly, we will be back! From the get-go, Linda was very professional and
thorough on all accounts. From Suggestions to solutions, to send off.
All events went perfectly as planned. Our trip was so much fun! The only time I contacted Linda on our excursion, was to send pictures and saying thanks again and again.
We plan to take another trip in the fall of 2017. Linda is already working on it!
Thanks again Linda,
60's and counting.
Europe with Teens
THANKS, Grimes Family! It's so easy to come up with great ideas and great destinations when working with GREAT people! I look forward to working with you again! Linda
Bucket List Trip!
It was the most beautiful trip and one to repeat!
Dear Dana, thank you so much for your kind words about our wonderful Wine and Dine Tuscany trip. Thank goodness for our memories during this covid time. May we have a luxurious future trip with so many wonderful people and sites! Linda
We had a fantastic European vacation!
Dear Anita and Paul, THIRD TIME was the charm! I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time. I always say great clients = great experiences! You both were so much FUN to work with! Here's to many more adventures in Italy and beyond. Thank YOU, for being YOU! Fondly, Linda
The Best Laid Plans:)
The best month of our lives!
We have already recommended Linda and her agency to all of friends who are planning trips, and will absolutely use her again for our own future
Dear D and T! Thank you so much for your kind words! It was MY pleasure working with you. Europe is the BEST especially when sharing it with clients such as yourselves. It is truly all about the memories! So glad you have them with your sons. Will look forward to our next planning adventure! Kindly, Linda
The best family adventure to the Southwest
Our Trip was out of this world!!
Dear Bonita, you both were 5 STAR CLIENTS! Thank you for being so wonderful to work with and so very happy you loved one of my absolute favorite countries! Grazie mille! Linda