Deb Pentek
Deb Pentek
Specialize in Europe, River Cruises, Family Travel
Based in Illinois, I specialize in creating unforgettable adventures across Europe, Alaska, Egypt, Japan, and beyond. Whether you're dreaming of a family getaway, a scenic river cruise, or an epic solo journey, I've got you covered. My passion lies in curating experiences tailored just for you – from handpicking the perfect European escapade to uncovering hidden gems in far-flung destinations. When you work with me, it's all about crafting personalized trips that suit your style and preferences. Whether you prefer the freedom of independent travel or the ease of an escorted tour, I'll make sure every detail is just right. Thinking about a river cruise? Let's dive into the options together, from enchanting itineraries to must-see excursions, ensuring your voyage is as enriching as it is enjoyable. Let's turn your vacation dreams into reality – and have fun doing it! I can't wait to work with you to create your next unforgettable travel memory.
My Travel Specialties
My Areas of Expertise
CERTIFICATES & AWARDS
My Travel Stories
Which River Cruise Line is Best for You?
Looking to take a river cruise? Viking, AmaWaterways, and Avalon Waterways, are three very popular mid-price river cruise companies. They each offer wonderful travel experiences along various rivers, primarily in Europe, but also select destinations in Asia, Africa, and South America. River cruise ships are essentially the same width and height ... Read more from my Which River Cruise Line is Best for You? story.
Benefits of an Escorted Small Group Tour
Vacations with a customized itinerary, VIP tours and access, private drivers and dedicated guides at every step of the way are luxurious, but they come with a higher price tag. That style of travel may not be affordable for everyone.
Why not consider a well-planned itinerary and unique experiences with a small ... Read more from my Benefits of an Escorted Small Group Tour story.
The most magical vacation
Thank you Katie! I truly enjoyed working with you and your family. I am so happy my insider tips helped you navigate the parks, reduce your line wait times, enjoy great dining, and even secure Rise of the Resistance boarding passes. I look forward to working with you in the future as well!
Fantastic Disney Trip!
Thank you Barb for taking the time to write a review for me. It was a pleasure working with you and your family on your vacation. I am so happy it was magical for you all. I look forward to working with you again on your next vacation!
Excellent vacation to Sweden!
Thank you so much Nedra for taking the time to leave a review! I so enjoyed working with you on your unique vacation to Sweden, and pleased and you were impressed with all elements of your trip. I do strive to treat each of my clients as great friends, with perfect-fit accommodations, detailed travel arrangements, door-to-door instructions, country entry requirements, and more. I appreciate your trust and can’t wait to work with you again! All my best – Deb Pentek
Thanks again Deb for a great Cabo Trip!
Thank you Annette! I really enjoyed working with you on your relaxing get-away to Cabo Mexico. I'm so glad you enjoyed Secrets and it was everything you hoped it would be (and you wished you could stay longer). You were a delight to work with and I look forward to working with you on your next vacation memory! All my best - Deb Pentek
Choose Deb!
Thank you so much Hilary! I absolutely love working with you and making fun and memorable vacations for you and your busy family and friends. Disney, Universal, cruises and international travel - you do it all! I am so pleased I can provide you the support and stress free planning you deserve. Have a great time on your next vacation!
The Best Trip Ever!
Thank you so much Jodi! I absolutely loved working with you and making this a fun and memorable Maui vacation. I'm so glad you enjoyed all the fun excursions, numerous beaches, food, and beautiful Maui. Your pictures are fantastic and I thank you for sharing with me. Your smiling faces on vacation bring me joy, as they will bring you warm memories for years to come. I can't wait to work with you again! Mahalo!
Amazing Greece Honeymoon
Dear Natalia, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. I enjoyed working with you on your very special Honeymoon to Greece! I am very happy you loved the recommendations for Crete, Santorini and Mykonos. You took so many amazing pictures - wow! I very much look forward to working with you and your friends on future vacations. All my best, Deb Pentek
EPIC trip
Dear Karen, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! I loved working with you on this very special trip to Greece! I am happy that my planning, travel tips and more were so useful. I loved seeing your smiling faces with the beautiful Greek islands and sea in the background. Thank you again for reaching out to me. I can't wait to work with you again on your next vacation! All my best, Deb
Trip of a lifetime!!
Lourdes, I absolutely loved working with you on this trip and am so pleased it exceeded your expectations! I just love London and Paris myself so it was easy to share all the highlights and secret bits with you. I loved the pictures you sent and treasure your memories as much as you. Thank you for reaching out to me. I can't wait to work with you again. All my best, Deb
Once in a lifetime trip!!!
Thanks so much Ann for taking the time to post this review! I love to hear how seamless and enjoyable travel can be when its curated and organized professionally. Your group was a delight to work with and I enjoyed making this a perfect family vacation filled with lifetime memories! Enjoy your pictures and I look forward to working with you again soon! All my best - Deb Pentek
Fantastic Senior Spring Break!
Thank you so much! I loved working with you and your group to make this a fun Senior Spring Break. I am so happy my recommendations exceeded your expectations. I look forward to working with you in the future! Deb Pentek
Simply Magical!
Thank you! I really enjoyed planning your family's celebration vacation and ensuring every detail was taken care of for you. I am so pleased this was a wonderful vacation to remember. I look forward to working with you all to create your next vacation memory!
Fantastic Honeymoon!
Thanks so much John for taking the time to leave a review! I absolutely loved planning your honeymoon, especially since you and Mandy are so busy serving our country. Thank you again for your service and sacrifice. I hope my surprise treats added something special to your trip. You were a delight to work with and I wish you many years of love (and vacations)! All my best, Deb Pentek
Wonderful Italy Trip!
Thank you so much, Dayna, for your heartfelt review regarding the Italy trip I planned for you! I am so pleased your 13-day vacation to Florence, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast was enjoyed. I really enjoyed curating your special VIP tours and luxury hotel stays. Your trust in my services is deeply valued, and I look forward to planning your next adventure. Here's to many more unforgettable experiences on the horizon for you both. Thank you again!
Great Europe Trip!
Thanks Winter! I really enjoyed working with you all on your 7 Day Mediterranean cruise, and thrilled you enjoyed Barcelona, Italy, France. I am so pleased that the cruise and tours were enjoyed and you made some wonderful vacation memories together! All my best, Deb
Fantastic Ireland Trip!
Welcome back Ruth! I am so happy to hear your vacation was a wonderful success! Even better that you could spend quality time with your adult children in Ireland and Italy over Thanksgiving. I truly enjoyed working with you! I am glad that the trip app was also very helpful (I love it for my own vacations as well). I do love how it keeps all the details handy for on-the-go travels. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and look forward to working with you on your next vacation plans!
Trip to London, Nice, and Paris
Thank you so much Daneen! I loved creating your custom trip for you and your family to London, Nice and Paris. I am so pleased you were thrilled with how everything went. You were fantastic to work with as well. I hope you have a great time on your next vacation (which we are planning now!). All my best - Deb Pentek
Fantastic Trip to Maui!
Thanks so much Todd! I loved working with your fun family on this vacation! I am so glad you enjoyed all the great activities and tours to make the MOST of your trip. I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review and I look forward to working with you in the future! All my best - Deb Pentek
Fantastic Family Vacation!
She was incredibly helpful, resourceful, and attentive to our family needs. Deb was always responsive and wanted to make sure all of questions were answered and concerns were addressed.
She made the booking process seamless and provided tips for our trip that were immensely helpful.
We highly recommend Deb’s services.
Thanks so much Alma! I very much enjoyed working with you on your Universal Studios family vacation. I am so happy you were pleased with the services I provided (at no extra cost), the seamless booking process and my VIP tips and tricks to help you navigate efficiently. I am thrilled you made some great vacation memories and I hope to work with you again. All my best - Deb Pentek
Fantastic Alaska Cruise!
Hi Dave - I so enjoyed working with you on your Alaska Cruise! There is so much to see and do, it can be overwhelming the choices and trade-offs. I'm so glad you had a fantastic time and I can't wait to work with you again!
Great trip made easy
Thanks Angela - It was great fun planning your family's Disney and Universal trip! I am glad you could relax and let me take care of everything including Fast Pass and restaurant reservations. I look forwards to planning your next trip!
Once in a lifetime trip!!!
We really enjoyed working wtih Deb on our family reunion group trip! She is incredibly knowledgeable, professional and organized. We were traveling to Italy just our group (18 people) and every detail was flawless. We loved our itinerary, our private guide, the food and wine, and all the experiences. Deb understand every request we had and delivered every time. She arranged our group flights, the hotels, sightseeing, transportation and more. I have recommended her to many friends. It was a perfect trip thanks to Deb!!!!
Trip of a lifetime to London and Paris!!
Wow! Amazing, incredible, grateful, lucky and many more words come to mind following our trip to London and Paris! If I could bottle all of it and every so often open it, I would smile, laugh and cry over how wonderful this trip has been and continues to make me feel. Due largely to your efforts, Deb, from Day 1 when we began talking about the idea of Abba in London! You found ways to be cost effective and took into consideration timing and what truly would fit our family dynamics (sometimes even better than I did)! Not one detail was overlooked. I could go on and on and still not describe how thankful and appreciative we all are. Thank you for helping us create memories that will forever be in our hearts. I can't wait to plan our next trip with you.
Amazing Greece Honeymoon!
This trip was the most amazing trip both of us have ever been on. The itinerary was excellent and the digital app made it so easy for us to travel from place to place. Your recommendations were excellent! We LOVED Greece and will most likely go back when we can. So much to see and explore. I'm referring you to all my friends and can't wait to book with you again! Thanks for fantastic honeymoon memories that we will cherish for a lifetime!