Vessela Smith
Vessela Smith
My Story and Professional Expertise
View of Petit Piton in St. Lucia
Hi, I'm Vessy. I was born and raised in Bulgaria, a small but beautiful Eastern European country. I moved to the US when I was 18 years old for college. Currently, my family and I live in Sugar Land, Texas, which is a lovely suburb of Houston.
My original career path was in music, and I have both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in classical piano performance. After playing concerts and teaching piano for a number of years, I went back to school and became an ICU registered nurse.
During all these endeavors, I realized there was always one constant in my life - my great passion for travel. So, I decided to make one more career change and became a travel advisor. Nothing makes me happier than researching destinations, designing dream itineraries for my clients, and exploring the world myself.
MY MEMBERSHIPS & CERTIFICATIONS
Currently, I hold the following professional memberships and certifications:
- Active member of ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors)
- Active member of ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association)
- IATA (International Airlines Travel Agent Network) Accredited Travel Agent
- CTA (Certified Travel Associate) from The Travel Institute
- ASTA-Verified Travel Advisor from ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors)
PERSONAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
My personal travels include trips to China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Colombia, Tahiti and French Polynesia, most of Europe, including numerous visits to Italy, France, Ireland, Switzerland, Turkey, and Greece. I've also explored quite a few of the Caribbean Islands and destinations in Mexico, Canada, and most of the United States. My husband, two daughters and I are avid hikers and skiers. We have hiked in well over half of the US National Parks and skied in a number of resorts throughout the US and Canada.
I'm so excited to hear your travel dreams and looking forward to helping you plan that trip of a lifetime!
My Areas of Expertise
CERTIFICATES & AWARDS
Related Travel Stories
Italy
Thank you so much! So glad I was able to help you out! :)
Best family vacation ever!
Working with Vessy has completely changed our concept of a family vacation. She always asked us the right questions and understood exactly what we needed. She went above and beyond to arrange every detail (like making sure we had a proper child seat in the shuttle from the airport). Unlike our previous vacations, everything went so smoothly this time around, and we are looking forward to getting Vessy’s help again for our next vacation!
Dear Omar, I'm so happy everything went as planned ... And I'm very excited to help you put together your next family vacation!
The Most Amazing Ski Trip...Period!
This truly makes my day! Thank you so much! I had the best time planning your ski trip to Jackson Hole! What a beautiful destination to ski!
The Best Beach Getaway Ever!
Thank you for the kind words, Natalia. I had so much fun planning your dream Jamaican getaway, and I'm really looking forward to working with you again!
Best Caribbean Trip Ever!
I am so thrilled you enjoyed your experience, Matt. It was a pleasure working with you and obsessing over all the details of your Caribbean getaway! Looking forward to planning many more adventures and happy times for you and your family!
The Best National Park Trip Ever!
This time around, we asked Vessy to help us out, and WOW! Vessy took care of everything - our plane tickets, car rental, hotels, as well as the itinerary, which she planned based on our preferences and abilities. Vessy also gave us a link to a phone App, where we could see our itinerary day by day and our booking confirmations. But this was not all! Vessy gave us advice on what to pack, and she recommended specific trails and viewpoints. Frankly, we were astounded by her extensive knowledge of the national parks and all the attractions along the way! For 12 days, we admired the beauty of the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Antelope Canyon, Valley of Fire, and so much more.
Thank you Vessy for this unforgettable experience! We are so excited to see what you will plan for us next!
Dear Mariana, It was such a great pleasure to work with you on this amazing trip. The US National Parks are the love of my life, and I am so happy you got to experience their incredible beauty without all the stress that comes with planning a trip like this. I can't wait to send you exploring again soon! :-)
Punta Cana - Majestic Colonial
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your experience! It will be my great pleasure to work with all of you again! Onto the next adventure! :-)
Holiday Disney- From Overwhelming to AWESOME
Thank you so much, dear Andrea! I had the best time planning and putting together your fun family trip to Disney World. I am so looking forward to hearing all about it and seeing the special moments you have captured!
Vessy is so helpful for your travels!
Thank you so much! It was my pleasure to help plan your fun trip to Istanbul! Looking forward to working with you again soon! :-)
A Trip of a Lifetime to Italy and Greece!
Dear Kevin, I am so happy you enjoyed your experience! It was a great pleasure working with you and putting together this amazing adventure. Looking forward to planning more travels for you soon! :-)
Fantastic Family Trip to Mexico!
Dear Matt, Thank you so much for these kind words, and thank you for entrusting me with your travel plans! I've truly enjoyed working with your family and friends, and I'm most definitely looking forward to working with you again! :-)
The Most Amazing Trip to the South of France
We are so looking forward to planning our next trip with Vessy!
Thank you so much!
Dear Deni, You are so welcome! I am beyond thrilled you enjoyed this beautiful part of the world and decided to stay in one of the most memorable hotels! Looking forward to your next trip for sure! :-)
Amazing Trip to Thailand!
On the day of our departure, our flight was unfortunately cancelled, and Vessy did everything possible to get things resolved and got us going on our honeymoon! She was a rock star, and we will most definitely continue to use her for our future trips!
Dear Vinny & Steph, thank you so much for the kind words! It was such a pleasure and an honor to help you plan this very special trip. I am so happy you got to experience the beauty, the flavors, and the magic of Thailand! I wish you the very best in this new chapter of your life and hope to work with you again soon! :-)
A Travel Agent Who Listens and Cares
Dear Suzanne, Ida and Bob, It was truly a pleasure working with you. Thank you for trusting me with your travel plans! You are always welcome to call, text, and e-mail whenever you need me...Or just to say "hi."
Unforgettable Trip to Turkey & Greece
professional, passionate and accommodated any asks. Our in-country 24/7 support reached out throughout the trip to make sure everything was going well - hot air balloons, sunset cruises, wine tasting, shows, private cruises, key historical sites, great meals and treats - way too much to mention in one
post.
We just got back two weeks ago, and I'm already planning my next trip with Vessy! If you've ever thought twice about using a professional travel planner, don't! Just call Vessy today!
Dear Madelene, I am so thrilled you enjoyed your time in Turkey and Greece. It was truly a pleasure working with you, and I can't wait to hear all about your upcoming adventures! I just LOVE my job! :-)
The Best Trip to Sicily
Vessy advised us on flights - schedules and pricing - and monitored them throughout the five weeks we were gone. She advised us on hotels for a short extension we made to Palermo, since we were already going to be in Sicily. And I must confess, the small boutique hotel Vessy suggested and booked was one of the very nicest we have stayed in throughout a lifetime of travel! She advised and booked a private tour of Palermo for us. The guide was superb and attentive to our needs and schedules. Vessy also arranged for transfers to Caltagirone from Palermo and back with the SAME excellent local driver. ALL of this happened because of her care and professional demeanor. Vessy Smith truly deserves my HIGHEST recommendation!
Dear Tom, Thank you so much for these kind words! It was such a pleasure working on this trip with you and following along on your amazing travels! I am very much looking forward to helping you plan the next adventure! And thank you for sharing your beautiful photos with me! I loved them all! :-)
The Ultimate Travel Agent!
Thank you so much, dear Danis! You are a pleasure to work with, and I'm always thrilled to hear from you! Looking forward to assisting you again soon! Stay well and stay safe out there! :-)
Dream Camino de Santiago Journey
Dear Drew and Thalia, I am so happy to have had the opportunity to work with you again. I truly enjoyed helping you plan this trip then seeing your amazing photos. Thank you for sharing your adventure with me and for trusting me with your travel plans. Looking forward to the next one! :-)
Best trip of our lives :)
I am beyond thrilled you all had a great spring break, Deni! Thank you for taking the time to write this amazing review. I can't wait to start working on your next vacation! :-)
A Life Changing Trip
Thank you so much, dear Audrey! I had a lot of fun working with you on this amazing trip! I'm definitely looking forward to doing it again soon! :-)
Amazing Thailand Honeymoon
Thank you so much for the kind words and support, dear Matt! It would be a pleasure working with you again on another fun trip! :-)
Magical Family Trip to the US
Dear Rory, I'm so grateful for your kind words. It was an absolute pleasure working with you on this fun family trip, and I'm really looking forward to helping you plan your next adventure! Thank you for trusting me with your precious travel plans! :-)
Amazing Trip to Sicily
Dear Andi, It was such a pleasure helping you plan this trip to Sicily and following along on your Sicilian adventures. I'm looking forward to the next time I get to work with you! :-)
Great Family Trip to NYC
Dear Krista, It was truly a pleasure working with you and your family. I am so thrilled to hear you had a great trip to NYC. Thank you for entrusting me with your travel plans. I would be very happy to work with you again in the near future! :-)
Borneo Wildlife Adventure
Dear Oakley, Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm so excited for your trip and so happy I could help make it a reality. It was a pleasure working with you, and I hope we can do it again in the near future! :-)
Amazing Family Trip to Riviera Maya
Thank you so much for stopping by, dear Laura! I really enjoyed putting together your trip and fitting in all the details that were important to you. You are a lovely group, and I'm looking forward to working with you again in the near future! In the meantime, I'm always here to help and answer any questions. :-)
Bari Italy
Thank you so much for these kind words! It was a pleasure working with you on this incredible trip to beautiful Italy!
Unforgettable Trip with Family and Friends
Dear Aaron, I am so thrilled I could help plan this vacation for you. It's what I love to do, and you all have been some of the most enjoyable clients. Thank you for entrusting me with your travel plans! I would be happy to work with you again anytime! :-)