Robert Beukema
Henrico, Virginia Travel Agent
Robert Beukema, an independent agent with Nexion, LLC, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
Email MeEuropean Travel Specialist
Travel is my passion. For 15 years, I have specialized in custom European travel, and have recently added the Caribbean - especially Sandals, Beaches, AMResorts and other all-inclusive resorts, and cruises throughout the world.
I provide custom planned itineraries for any budget, with carefully selected hotel, villa and apartment choices, and transportation that best fits the clients’ needs - from train tickets, to car rentals and the large number of bargain European airlines flying around the continent. I also provide timely help with booking day trips, museum passes, cooking classes and primary attractions in each location. I'll customize your itinerary to meet your needs, making sure you get where you want, and do what you want, at the best price. I work for you, not the travel supplier. My job is to tell you which supplier is best for your needs. I provide convenient one-stop shopping - saving you time and money by handling every aspect of your trip.
Throughout the planning process,I'll inform you about all of your choices, and will provide extensive advice on the quality of the various products. After completing all your travel arrangements, you will receive a packet of information containing the full itinerary, detailing all transportation tickets, vouchers and printouts from your hotels, with copies of all emails to assure your reservations. I will also include some added-value extras such as maps or guidebooks for your destinations.
I'm very proud of my A+ ranking from Better Business Bureau, and also the many wonderful testimonials I've received from previous clients. Thanks for your consideration of my services.
Client References
Chateau Villandry Gardens in Loire Valley, France
August, 2014 - Kate C., Maryland
Thank goodness I found Bob. His input always made complete sense and put us at ease. He took the time (including a phone call and flight booking on a Friday night!) to get to know our family and what locations, accommodation types and transportation choices would work best for us. Bob loves what he does and it shows!
January, 2013, Erin B., New York
If you are looking for a travel agent who will do everything in his power to make your trip as perfect as possible, look no further. We've taken three trips that Bob put together for us and each one was better than before!
My Areas of Expertise
LANGUAGES
English
English
A perfect, carefree trip
Reviewed By JC - San Rafael, CA | Traveled to
Bob made our trip carefree and fun. He took care of the smallest details and we were able to enjoy our time in England, Scotland and Ireland. The lodgings were fantastic. Every place we stayed was special, fitting our needs. The transportation was thought out and convenient. I would recommend Bob to anyone wanting a carefree, fun trip with every detail perfected!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
46 of 79 people found this review helpful
Very knowledgeable and helpful
Reviewed By John F - Minneapolis, MN | Traveled to
Bob helped my wife and me arrange for a trip to Oregon to visit friends, with whom we then traveled to Alaska via cruise ship, with a Denali extension. He was extremely helpful in making the necessary arrangements and very knowledgeable about the details of what we should be prepared for, etc. I've used his services several previous times and have always been very pleased.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
41 of 73 people found this review helpful
Beyond our highest expectations!
Reviewed By M. Nejman - Arlington Heights | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
We had learned about Bob through friends, and we sent him a "wish list" of the ideal Italian tour for us, along with a budget. Within 48 hours, Bob sent us a detailed itinerary with suggested tours and hotels, all of which exceeded our highest expectations! Best of all, he delivered the tour well under budget! The hotels he arranged are some of the best we've ever experienced (my wife Laura and I have traveled extensively around the world), most of provided amazing views from our balconies. He also arranged for private transfers, both car and boat, along with a wide variety of half- and full-day tours. Two weeks before we were set to leave, Bob sent us a package complete with all the information we needed, including a detailed itinerary, train tickets, transfer and hotel vouchers, maps, airline itinerary, a Rick Steves guidebook of Italy, an electrical adapter, and travel packets of Tide! Bob's attention to detail and customer service will ensure that we recommend him to others!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
23 of 42 people found this review helpful
BEST VACATION EVER
Reviewed By BILL - RICHMOND,VA | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
bOB DID AN EXCELLENT JOB WORKING WITH US OVER A 10 MONTH PERIOD FROM FIRST CONTACT TO TRIP EXECUTION. HE WAS PROFESSIONAL, KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE PLACES WE WERE PLANNING TO VISIT AND SELECTED EXCELLENT HOTELS THROUGHOUT ITALY.EVEN AS WE MADE SOME LAST MINUTE CHANGES TO OUR ITINERARY HE WAS VERY UNDERSTANDING AND HELPFUL. HE CLEARLY WORKED IN OUR BEST INTEREST THROUGHOUT EVEN WHEN SOME OF OUR CHANGES WERE NOT IN HIS BEST INTEREST. THAT DEFINES A TRUE PROFESSIONAL WHERE THE CUSTOMER ALWAYS COMES FIRST. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND BOB TO ANYONE WHO READS THIS REVIEW.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
Robert Beukema responded:
Thanks very much, Bill. I also enjoyed working with your family, and really appreciate your kind and generous comments.
Thanks very much, Bill. I also enjoyed working with your family, and really appreciate your kind and generous comments.
27 of 52 people found this review helpful
Bob is amazing! He thinks of everything.
Reviewed By Sandy - Cranford, NJ | Traveled to
I have been working with Bob for several years. I am so grateful to have found him! Like Walt said: Look no further! I agree.
I used his services for Italy and Switzerland. I recommended Bob to a friend and she used his services to help her plan an amazing trip to France last year.
What separates Bob from other travel agents is his attention to detail. Just wait until you receive a trip packet from him with your itinerary. You'll see what I mean.
When I was traveling to Cinque Terra in Italy several years ago, Bob set up the hotel and all the logistics were included within the packet he sent to me. The packet he sends you has all the necessary details based on his extensive and thorough research. Before he booked the hotel, I remember he gave me several options based on my budget.
When I was back in Italy, Bob helped me arrange a weekend in Switzerland with a friend. Hotel, train tickets, and recommendations of restaurants were all included within this packet.
I gave Bob 5 stars for every category because he excels in his profession. He is helpful, extremely knowledgeable, and so easy to work with. I'm about to e-mail Bob for my next trip to Europe.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
26 of 53 people found this review helpful
Trips to Italy and France
Reviewed By Kris - Tampa | Traveled to
Bob is my hero and I hope to never have to plan a trip again without him! Being my first time to travel in Europe, Bob provided assurances, details and arrangements to make my daughter and I feel safe and comfortable. We had an amazing trip both times. I highly recommend Bob and the services he provides!!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
24 of 51 people found this review helpful
No one better!
Reviewed By Stacey - Charlotte, NC | Traveled to
Bob's knowledge and expertise have made every trip that I've planned with him so memorable and worth while. He is the go to agent for memorable experiences that create once in a lifetime memories while staying within your budget. From planning the most awesome excisions for my children's first trip to Europe to providing late night above and beyond service when a workers strike threatened my well crafted plans in Paris - Bob always goes above and beyond to make sure your vacation lives up to your expectations. His level of service and professionalism is rare.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
24 of 51 people found this review helpful
Provided excellent services
Reviewed By Tish - Richmond, VA | Traveled to
Bob arranged several trips for me and a group of friends to France. He listened to what we wanted to do and then made all the arrangements including air, train, lodging, sightseeing tours, rental car - basically the works! Bob is extremely organized, presented a number of hotel options, and kept the trips on budget. He also puts together a trip kit with all travel documents and other useful information - it's very user friendly.
I have recommended Bob to others and several of my co-workers used his services for European trips and were highly satisfied.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
38 of 80 people found this review helpful
Fantastic Journies
Reviewed By Teacher Travelers - Columbia, SC | Traveled to
A group of five of us have used Bob to plan at least five trips. With each vacation, Bob provided detailed itineraries with choices of lodging and excursions. Every situation from transfers to his recommendations, Bob provides the best service in the business.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
26 of 57 people found this review helpful
Trip to Paris
Reviewed By Carole - Ogunquit, Maine | Traveled to
Bob was responsive, buttoned up, on top of all the details and made our vacation worry free. We turned to him again in 2015 when we were planning a trip to Rome...and he handled all the details involving the cancellation of our trip with calm and patience. We look forward to working with Bob again
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
22 of 49 people found this review helpful
Robert Beukema saved me thousands of dollars!
Reviewed By LAD - Richmond, VA | Traveled to
I contacted Bob at the suggestion of a friend after I purchased only one way, nonrefundable airline tickets to Europe. I was panicked when I called Bob, but he quickly found one way return tickets on a carrier not listed on US travel websites. He saved me thousands of dollars. After that scare, I asked him to book hotel and rail tickets using his suggestions for the itinerary. He was awesome. Before working with Bob, I thought travel agents are a thing of the past. But someone knowledgeable like Bob can save time and money when planning foreign travel. I highly recommend him.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
29 of 63 people found this review helpful
Two times a winner
Reviewed By Dianne and Joe - Minneapolis, MN | Traveled to
We have worked with Bob on two different trips, one a three-week driving tour of the UK and the other a two-week tour of northern Italy using public transportation. In both cases we were amazed at Bob's ability to get everything right--never an issue with transportation misunderstandings (planes, trains, boats, cars and busses!!), never a hotel reservation that wasn't where and when it was supposed to be (nice hotels, too), never a tour or excursion that wasn't expecting us and didn't leave exactly when he said it would. The man's organizational skills are remarkable! And the kit he provides to guide you through your trip is great--easy to use, with all documentation and information for each and every aspect of your journey--plus additional helpful information, like Rick Steve's guides. Bob's knowledge of the places we visited and recommendations of what to see and do were invaluable too. I would use Bob again for any trip we plan and I recommend him without hesitation to those I know and those I don't.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
24 of 55 people found this review helpful
Bavaria at its Best! (Southern Germany)
Reviewed By Mark D - Briarcliff Manor, NY | Traveled to
Bob helped me out in a pinch to pull together a last minute trip to Oberammergau to see the Passion Play in 2010. It is an event that sells out a year in advance but that was no problem for Bob! He dug in and did all of the hard work to pull it off including arranging for a wheel chair for my 82 year old mother for free through the German Automobile Club.
Our accommodations were great and Bob provided us with a detailed itinerary, turn by turn Michelin directions for every leg of our trip and a wonderful complimentary guide book with plenty of sights to explore on our own.
Since then I have used Bob for another trip for my Mom and sister to Lourdes, France and for several last minute hotel bookings for New York City overnights.
The service is always great and the rates are fantastic.
For me, Bob is the Best!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
25 of 57 people found this review helpful
Leave the planning to Bob. He's terrific
Reviewed By BT - Athens, GA | Traveled to
Bob was so helpful in arranging our trip. It was great to have the worry of picking the right hotels, getting good flight connections and tours selected taken off our shoulders. He is always responsive and comes up with the best suggestions. He sends adequate materials so that you are totally informed about all the details of your trip. I would recommend him highly.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
25 of 57 people found this review helpful
Traveling was a breeze!
Reviewed By Carolyn - Richmond, VA | Traveled to
Bob helped me plan two trips to England and France. He is experienced enough with those areas that he could make personal recommendations for places to stay and things to do. He booked flights, hotels, and trains and it all went beautifully. He was fine with us choosing our own hotels when we knew something about an area we were visiting.
He made multiple copies of documents that I could carry with me and leave with family, so they could follow my itinerary.
Bob is very patient and listens carefully to what your trip goals are. I really enjoyed working with him. He is so responsive to email and voicemail.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
19 of 45 people found this review helpful
The Consummate Pro
Reviewed By Walt - Boiling Springs, SC | Traveled to
I've traveled the world and finally found a travel agent who listened to what we wanted rather than trying to steer us to his/her preferences. From initial contact to receipt of a 3 ring binder containing everything needed for each destination, working with Bob was a pleasure. Don't look further, just call Bob.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
28 of 64 people found this review helpful
Adventure in Paris
Reviewed By Dave B - Nashville, TN | Traveled to
Bob arranged our two week adventure in France. The first thing he did was find us a nice out of the way hotel in Paris that actually liked having American tourists as guest. (If you have been to Paris you know this is a bonus) Bob got us to St. Michel and to Giverny without a hitch. Hotels in Avignon and Nice were delightful. If you go to France be sure to ride the high speed train. The Marc Chagall museum in Nice was a pleasant surprise. Everything Bob arranged for us came off without a hitch.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
21 of 50 people found this review helpful
Great first experience with a travel agent
Reviewed By Matt - Chicago | Traveled to
Bob was a huge help when I planned my trip to Spain for a wedding. I was traveling with my wife and my parents, so we needed to stay places that were easy to get around and fun for all of us. He made everything easy and was a great resource whenever I had questions. He replied promptly to any emails and generally made me happy I decided to use an agent. I don't think I would have stayed where we stayed or booked the tours we did without his input. Would definitely use his services again!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
25 of 58 people found this review helpful
He considered the needs of all our group
Reviewed By Ellen - Richmod, VA | Traveled to
Bob planned a trip to France for members of our French class. He considered the finances of a study group as well as the travel wishes of those who wanted to experience living in France. He arranged auto rentals and different experiences for the various members. As a matter of face he came with us and drove one of the cars! You can't get any better than that!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
21 of 52 people found this review helpful
Best Agent in biz
Reviewed By Amzo - Boston | Traveled to
Bob planned several trips for us starting with a custom trip to Italy. He worked closely with us to understand our needs and wish list for various sites including finding us boutique hotels. When we had a snafu, Bob was on the phone fixing the problem. We used him again to go to London and have referred him to friends. Incredibly knowledgeable about Europe, I wouldn't use anyone else to book a trip.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
22 of 56 people found this review helpful
Alaska excursion
Reviewed By Kit - Huddleston, VA | Traveled to
Bob- helped make one of my longtime wishes come true! He helped plan a marvelous Alaska excursion for me and my sister- He made sure that all of our must see and dos were taken care of in an easy and no work for us fashion! He stayed on top of all the cruise documents and helped with our airline arrangements making sure all went smoothly. His knowledge and expertise went a long way to insuring that we had the trip of a life time- I would happily recommend him!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
20 of 52 people found this review helpful
With his help, I experienced two trips of a lifetime.
Reviewed By Debra O. - Wisconsin | Traveled to
I had not used a travel agent in years, but contacted Bob when I had a two business trips - one solo to Europe and one with my family to China. I was looking to extend both of them and experience something beyond the usual business/Western tourist experience and Bob made it happen. He took the time to really understand what I was trying to accomplish, and to really listen to just how much "adventure" we would be willing to handle. With his help, I experienced two trips of a lifetime. I will absolutely rely on him in the future and would strongly recommend him to my family and friends.
-- Debra O., Wisconsin
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
13 of 42 people found this review helpful
This was the BEST experience ever!
Reviewed By M&M - Virginia | Traveled to
Bob has been absolutely the BEST from start to finish! Our Viking River Cruise was exceptional thanks to Bob and his fantastic advice. His answers to all of our questions were "spot on." We booked our trip almost 18 months in advance, so Bob had to deal with our concerns for a L-O-N-G time. All our phone calls and emails were met with great patience. We received quick and accurate responses. If Bob did not know the answer to our questions immediately, which seldom happened; he would research the issue and get back to us ASAP. We plan to never book another trip without Bob's assistance!!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
17 of 52 people found this review helpful
Perceptive, Efficient, Genial, the Best!
Reviewed By Meg L - New York, NY | Traveled to
I enjoyed my phone conversations with Bob almost as much as the trips, and my husband and I got to meet him when we stayed in Williamsburg, VA. Bob is very good at getting a sense of what you are interested in and therefore how to tailor a trip just for you. He knows his cities. He was particularly good at finding apartments for us to rent in Paris the two times we stayed there (2011 and 2012), I recommend him highly.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
18 of 56 people found this review helpful
There when we needed him
Reviewed By barb n. - Springfield, OR | Traveled to
Bob booked our airline flights for a Mediterranean cruise. When the flight was cancelled after we'd boarded the plane, and there were only 2 agents to rebook all the passengers, I called Bob in a panic and he found and booked other flights to get us to our destination. When, despite my checking with the new airline before boarding, our luggage did not follow us, we contacted Bob by email from our ship and he worked tirelessly to force the airline to find and ship our suitcases to a port on the cruise. We have used Bob several times, before and after, for booking flights and cruises -- thank goodness we have never had to call him in a panic again! Highly recommend Bob.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
18 of 57 people found this review helpful