Home > Find a Travel Agent > Illinois > Samantha Gagni
https://agentprofiler.travelleaders.com/Common/Handlers/img_handler.ashx?type=agt&id=199826

Samantha Gagni

Chicago, Illinois Travel Agent
If you see the text box to the right do not fill it in
Samantha Gagni

Samantha Gagni

Chicago, Illinois Travel Agent
VS1 Travels, LLC, an independent agent with Nexion, LLC, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
21 Reviews | 100% Recommended
If you see the text box to the right do not fill it in
FacebookLinked InInstagram

Bucket List Agent: Group Travel & Weddings

Going on a vacation creates cherished memories that last a lifetime. However, imagine combining this incredible experience with your wedding, birthday, family reunion, retirement, anniversary, and more! It's the perfect opportunity to go larger than life and check off that #1 spot on your bucket list. VS1 Travels makes these seemingly complex trips feel like a walk in the park.

My Travel Specialties

Destination Wedding & Honeymoons

You’re dreaming of a destination wedding and the gorgeous experience you’ll have as you say “I do” - but the complexity of planning and coordinating all of the travel for you and your guests can start to make that dream a ... Read more from my Destination Wedding & Honeymoons bio.

Luxury Travel Expert

Our mission is to provide you with seamless journeys, impeccable service, and unforgettable memories. With our expertise and global connections, we ensure that every aspect of your luxury travel experience exceeds your expectations. Indulge in a world of opulence, exploration, and ... Read more from my Luxury Travel Expert bio.

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 ... Read more from my Bucket List Travel Expert bio.

Group Travel Specialist

My favorite beach in Thailand - Railay Beach!
I wanted to work for myself. I left the corporate world as a management consultant of nearly a decade to pursue my true dreams and passions, and I want to help you live yours. Today, I’m a licensed real estate agent ... Read more from my Group Travel Specialist bio.

African Safari Travel Agent

Have you been dreaming of taking that African safari?! I'm here to make that dream a reality! Geography: Imagine traversing diverse and awe-inspiring landscapes, where rolling savannahs meet lush rainforests, and towering mountains blend with pristine coastlines. Africa, a continent of ... Read more from my African Safari Travel Agent bio.

Antarctica Bucket List Agent

As your guide and travel advisor, I am here to ignite your wanderlust and help you embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to the southernmost continent on Earth. Geography: Picture yourself surrounded by vast, untouched landscapes that seem plucked from a dream. Antarctica, ... Read more from my Antarctica Bucket List Agent bio.

Tahiti Travel Advisor

Welcome to the tropical paradise of Tahiti, where azure waters, pristine beaches, and Polynesian culture converge to create a dreamlike destination. As your travel advisor, I am here to guide you through this idyllic slice of heaven and help you embark ... Read more from my Tahiti Travel Advisor bio.

All-Inclusive Getaways

From the sun-kissed beaches of Jamaica to the crystal-clear waters of the Dominican Republic, we offer an extensive range of destinations that promise a memorable getaway. Our all-inclusive packages cover everything from flights and accommodations to meals and activities, ensuring that ... Read more from my All-Inclusive Getaways bio.

River Cruise Specialist

Dreaming of experiencing the enchantment of a river cruise? Let's turn that dream into a breathtaking reality! Destination Discovery: Picture yourself drifting along serene waterways, where every bend reveals a new vista of natural splendor and cultural intrigue. Our river cruises traverse ... Read more from my River Cruise Specialist bio.

CERTIFICATES & AWARDS

Certified ASTA Travel Agent
Certified Honeymoon and Wedding Travel Specialist
Honeymoons and Destination Weddings Specialist
Hurtigruten Expeditions Certified Agent
Certified National Geographic Journeys Specialist

My Travel Stories

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
My Travels
Nazare, Portugal
Travel Photos

Top 5 Favorite Moments from my Antarctica Trip!

I had an incredible adventure in Antarctica aboard the MS Fridjtof Nansen with Hurtigruten Expeditions. Sharing this experience with loved ones made it even more special.

Reflecting on the trip, here are my top five favorite moments:

1. Witnessing the breathtaking beauty of Antarctica for the first time as we sailed ... Read more from my Top 5 Favorite Moments from my Antarctica Trip! story.

Our Trip to Patagonia!

I had an unforgettable adventure in Patagonia, where we embarked on the W Trek with G Adventures at the end of January.
Flight map showcasing the breathtaking journey to Patagonia.

Day 0

Departing from the US, we landed in Santiago, Chile, marking my first visit to this vibrant city! After a brief day ... Read more from my Our Trip to Patagonia! story.

6 TIPS FOR YOUR STAY AT BEACHES TURKS & CAICOS

I visited Beaches Turks & Caicos recently and it was a fantastic time! Here are my top 6 tips that I learned firsthand for you to consider when you visit this resort for yourself!

1. There are 45 different room categories!! So.. there are options for all travelers - from small to large ... Read more from my 6 TIPS FOR YOUR STAY AT BEACHES TURKS & CAICOS story.

My Reviews

Rating: 5 21 Reviews | 100% Recommended

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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!!
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

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
Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

My Travel Experience

Places I’ve personally traveled to or destinations I’ve booked for my clients.