Samantha Gagni
Chicago, Illinois Travel Agent
VS1 Travels, LLC, an independent agent with Nexion, LLC, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
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Bucket List Travel Expert
As your personal guide to bucket list travel, I'm here to curate unforgettable experiences tailored specifically to your unique interests. With my deep knowledge of diverse cultures, iconic landmarks, and breathtaking landscapes, I'll accompany you on a transformative journey of discovery that resonates with your heart and soul.
Imagine standing in awe of the pristine wilderness of Antarctica, where towering icebergs create a mesmerizing landscape that few have witnessed firsthand. Envision yourself indulging in the pure bliss of Tahiti's idyllic beaches, where the turquoise waters and warm sun embrace your senses. And picture yourself embarking on an exhilarating African safari, encountering majestic wildlife in their natural habitats, creating memories that will forever hold a special place in your heart.
But it's not just about ticking off destinations. I believe in the power of immersive and meaningful travel, where you connect with local communities, learn about their traditions, and leave a positive impact on the places you visit.
Rest assured, I'll be your trusted source of insider tips and practical advice. I'll secure the best accommodations and transportation options for your Antarctic expedition, recommend hidden gems for unforgettable Polynesian dining experiences in Tahiti, and ensure your African safari includes thrilling game drives that immerse you in the wonders of the wild.
So, let's embark on this extraordinary journey together. With my guidance, we'll unlock the world's wonders and create unforgettable adventures that align perfectly with your dreams and aspirations. Get ready to make memories that will last a lifetime.
My Areas of Expertise
CERTIFICATES & AWARDS
Definitely the best trip of our lives!
Reviewed By David Von - Park Ridge, IL | Traveled to Hawaii Island ~ Hawaii ~ USA
She’s very detail oriented. We’ll definitely use her again for our next travel.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
12 of 19 people found this review helpful
80+ Family reunion at Crystal Mountain in Michigan
Reviewed By Thara - Thompsonville, MI | Traveled to Michigan ~ USA
Samantha was an amazing pleasure to work with! Perfect mix of easy going, enthusiastic and professionalism! She did not hesitate or skip a beat at planning our 80 + attendee family reunion this past June 2022. Sam helped us not only FIND a venue that could accommodate our large group, but also took on the hard task of booking all the appropriate sized townhomes for EACH FAMILY that attended. I was impressed by her use of surveys, excel sheets and even pie charts to help our large group of varying and opiniated family members come to a consensus on multiple topics for our trip. She made planning for this special event stress free. I would HIGHLY recommend her for ANY of your travel needs. Thanks Samantha! =D
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
A perfectly tailored trip
Reviewed By Bhrugu & Ananhita - Newton MA | Traveled to Egypt ~ Africa
The trip to Egypt that Sam curated -- from picking the places to visit to the highly educated and incredibly informative guides -- was really one of the best trips that we have taken. Sam was in touch with us throughout checking in several times a day to make sure that the trip was smooth. We are now planning a personalized group tour with her. Sam's professional yet friendly, prompt yet patient, Really couldn't ask for anything more her.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
BEST TRIP EVER & FIRST ALL-INCLUSIVE!
Reviewed By Amanda - Chicago | Traveled to Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
We have worked with Sam before and choosing to work with her again was the best choice. We loved how she customized our trip and made it so easy for us. Everything we asked for, she delivered. She even gave us suggestions for apps that will help us navigate language barriers and ideas of what is appropriate to tip in a different country. Things that we did not think about she had covered. We always referred back to her itinerary if we questioned anything. All I know is we will continue to use Samantha's services for any trip in the future. Thank you so much for everything. We had the best trip ever because of you, Sam!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Unforgettable honeymoon in Paris, Nice & Cannes!
Reviewed By Jorge & Jillian - Chicago, IL | Traveled to France ~ Europe
Sam is super friendly, well-organized and very knowledgeable! She’s easy to communicate with and addressed any questions we had. Her suggestions and recommendations were thoughtful and made our honeymoon unforgettable.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
6 of 10 people found this review helpful
Meticulously Planned!
Reviewed By Athens, Santorini, Mykonos - CHICAGO | Traveled to Greece ~ Europe
Samantha was a dream to work with! Given the highly regulated pandemic environment it was imperative to work with not only a travel advisor, but this one in particular! From the transfers to and from each hotel to the ferries needed to travel from island to island, Samantha had every detail perfectly ordered. Her follow-up was impeccable (and necessary due to all of the pre-work needed to be completed before entering Greece). I'm definitely planning all of my future travel with Samantha.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
6 of 10 people found this review helpful
Wouldn't have been a great trip without her he
Reviewed By Kayla S. & Andy H. - Des Plaines, IL | Traveled to Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
It was our first time traveling out of the country and we wanted help just to make sure we were doing everything right. Samantha was great help with giving direction and necessary information needed. She found the perfect resort for us that had everything we asked for. She had also provided information that we didn't think about!The best thing about Samantha is that she is very organized and detailed! She provided itineraries and receipts to everything. I am definitely going to reach out to Samantha for future international trips.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Best service
Reviewed By Sha - Chicago, IL | Traveled to Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
Sam has helped planned our honeymoon, anniversary vacation and now one of our first family trips. She made planning a last minute vacation stress free. She sent us a many options based on our preferences and was always quick to respond when we had other requests. Prior to our trip, she checked in frequently to make sure everything was set and to answer any questions. She contacted the resort for us to arrange transportation with car seats and made sure our room was prepared for our kids. We truly only had to pack our bags and leave. I will always reach out to her when planning any trip and will continue to recommended Sam to everyone I know!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Disney World Trip Planning Made Easy!!!
Reviewed By Matt D - Chicago, IL | Traveled to Orlando ~ Florida ~ USA
Sam was such a pleasure to work with. She brought in a Disney World specialist to help us plan our daughter's 5th birthday surprise trip, which was insanely helpful to making our trip smooth...or as smooth as it could be with 3 kids 5 and under. The resort was perfect for kids. The explanation of Disney Genie was great and totally worth the few extra bucks per day. I liked how we were presented different trip options (ie - hotel to stay at, drive or bus, etc) as well, so we really felt like we were part of the planning. Overall, a great trip and we will absolutely be using Sam on future trips! Thanks Sam!! ...and Mike!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Amazing 40th Birthday!
Reviewed By Shonima - Lisle, IL | Traveled to Jamaica ~ Caribbean
Sam was amazing, there was not a single detail missed. She is extremely easy to work with, always makes herself available and follows through on every detail.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Most fun trip for a group of 14!!
Reviewed By RT - Wisonsin | Traveled to Montego Bay ~ Jamaica ~ Caribbean
Good listener, Very helpful and prompt with her tesponses
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Samantha is great!
Reviewed By Toni T. - Atlanta, GA | Traveled to Montego Bay ~ Jamaica ~ Caribbean
Working with Samantha has been great. She is helpful, friendly, and professional. I have already referred her to a few other friends.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Yeah, Mon!
Reviewed By JM - Lombard, IL | Traveled to Jamaica ~ Caribbean
Working with Samantha took away all the typical stressors of trip planning, especially researching hotels and making all the necessary reservations. She researched resorts, gave us options and room types at each resort with pricing, descriptions, and included amenities. Our options were nicely organized in a personalized webpage, making it easy to compare our choices.We ultimately booked an all-inclusive trip to Jamaica. Samantha booked our flights, airport transfers, accommodations, and an excursion. All of the information we needed was communicated via email. She even had a phone app where we could access our trip details and itinerary.
She was always available to answer any questions about our trip and provided a very smooth experience from beginning to end. We will definitely book with her again!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Destination Wedding in Cancun!
Reviewed By Gigi - Chicago, IL | Traveled to Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
I had my destination wedding in Cancun and had over 140 guests so I knew I needed a travel agent to help me get through it! Samantha was fantastic to work with - very communicative and patient on any questions we had or our guests had, extremely organized, and provided us regular reports and updates i.e. which of our guests have booked or not, open items that needed to be addressed, etc. I highly recommend her to any couple planning a destination wedding!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Hassle free booking and the most perfect vacation!
Reviewed By Arusa - Spring, Texas | Traveled to Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
Samantha was a pleasure to work with. She was great about communicating with us not only during the booking process, but even during our vacation when we needed help with anything . She listened to all our requests and her recommendations for our first family vacation did not disappoint! Excited to work with her again for our future travels.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
The most epic 40th birthday trip
Reviewed By Esto - Chicago, IL | Traveled to Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
Samantha was AMAZING... She was very responsive , answered all my annoying questions, had the best recommendations and made booking a trip so easy. My friends and I cannot wait to book another trip with her.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Perfect Honeymoon!
Reviewed By L Fuss - Chicago, IL | Traveled to Africa
Samantha was great to work with! She listened to what we wanted for our Honeymoon and delivered exactly that! Relaxation first in Mauritius (a place we never even heard of before and absolutely loved!), adventure on safari, and shopping/tourism in Cape Town. It was the best! She was always available for any questions and did everything she could to ensure that our Honeymoon was as special as possible. Highly recommend for your next trip!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
Samantha Gagni responded:
So happy that you had a great time on your honeymoon!! It was a pleasure working with you both on planning the perfect trip to celebrate your wedding. Looking forward to helping you with future getaways!!
So happy that you had a great time on your honeymoon!! It was a pleasure working with you both on planning the perfect trip to celebrate your wedding. Looking forward to helping you with future getaways!!
Seven A Lucky Number
Reviewed By Glenn - Elgin, Illinois | Traveled to Antarctica ~ Antarctica
What a professional, Sam lives and breaths travel and would not be surprised she goes to sleep with a carry on bag at her side. The destination, Antartica the 7th continent (February, 2024) on a 12 night expedition cruise on Hurtigruten, now HX. It was one year of planning for our son, my wife and I. Sam organized a video presentation (January, 2023) with a Hurtigruten representative highlighting the expedition. A week later we made the commitment to join VS1's hosted trip. Through out the entire process Sam responded to our questions no matter how minute (sorry) and tempered our concerns. She kept us abreast of recommended items to purchase from clothings to water proof cell phone coverings. November/December proved to be a critical time to provide timely medical information and insurance documentation, Sam shepared us through the process. On February 5, 2024 it was showtime and indeed what a 'once in a lifetime experience'. Thank you Sam and VS1.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
Fabulous family vacation!
Reviewed By JC - Chicago, IL | Traveled to Punta Cana ~ Dominican Republic ~ Caribbean
Very easy to work with, professional, responsive, and went above and beyond to ensure my family was well cared for and taken care of.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
Great Trip to Colorado!
Reviewed By Jason - Chicago, IL | Traveled to Denver ~ Colorado ~ USA
Samantha did an amazing job planning my trip to Colorado. I made it a road trip from Chicago so she helped me book the rental car and place to stay. Will definitely use her for all my upcoming trips! I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
Amazing 2-Week Bespoke Road Trip!
Reviewed By Maggie - Charlotte, NC | Traveled to Washington ~ USA
Sam helped create a totally bespoke trip for my husband and I to do a 2-week road trip down the west coast in a camper van! Her help was critically important, since it was a long trip and pretty complex - finding and booking the van, planning the route, finding and booking campsites, having options for things to stop and see, etc. I ended up getting really busy at work during planning crunch time, and knowing that our trip was planned and easily accessible in an app was a total god-send. She was also available to help through a few things that occurred over the course of the trip, which was really reassuring. Sam is super easy to work with and I would definitely recommend her travel services!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
2 of 4 people found this review helpful