Janie BullardJanie Bullard - Owner - Travel Advisor

Janie Bullard, owner of Distinctive Journeys, is a leisure travel advisor of 28 years. Her introduction to travel was as a reservationist for Delta Airlines. She has worked in small leisure agencies, as well as in the vacation department for a large corporate agency. In 2000, Janie founded Distinctive Journeys. Distinctive Journeys is a member of IATAN, CLIA and Virtuoso. Our Virtuoso membership will provide you with many benefits. Through the buying power of Virtuoso, we will now offer the greatest value in leisure travel, with special amenities such as room upgrades, airport transfers, special dining, exclusive shore trips, and custom itineraries. On June 1, 2012, Distinctive Journeys celebrated its 12-Year Anniversary!

Janie Bullard has been recognized as one of the top Travel Advisor in America for the past seven years – 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,  2009, 2010, 2011 and MOST RECENTLY IN 2012 FOR NINE CONSECUTIVE YEARS, by the prestigious magazine for discerning travelers, Travel + Leisure. Magazine. Her specialty is planning customized small groups for serious amateur and professional photographers and other Adventures. Janie is an African specialist and has traveled to Africa 12 times and visited camps and lodges in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Botswana. In May of 2010 she traveled to Rwanda to visit the Mountain Gorillas. Her other areas of expertise are Patagonia, Galapagos and Antarctica. Cruises and Honeymoons are also an area of Specialty.

In 2006 Sir Richard Branson approached Virtuoso to market his new venture  “Virgin Galactic” within the Virtuoso network , Janie was selected as one of 43 original Accredited Space Agents, embarking on a new frontier for Adventure Travel. Janie and the other ASA’s received their training at the Kennedy Space Travel in Cape Canaveral. Janie can send you to Space, or other Worldly destinations!

 

 

Doug Holstein

Doug Holstein

Doug spent many years in the food business that included executive positions in management, sales and marketing. After retiring, Doug and his wife Mary settled in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. He has been photographing for 11 years and has a special interest in nature photography, which has inspired him to travel to many pristine places throughout the world. They include Iceland, Antarctica, The Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Patagonia, The Galapagos Islands, Italy, Africa and numerous destinations within the United States.

He has encountered wonderful people in his travels that have contributed to his personal growth as well as developing his skills in digital photography. Doug has written one book “Bird Encounters” and is close to completion of another on his travels to Antarctica, The Falklands and South Georgia. 

Doug was President of Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association from 2002 – 2008. In 2010 he joined Distinctive Journeys, an international travel advisory organization that planned all of his trips throughout the world. He has studied and photographed with the masters of wildlife and landscape photography – Tom Mangelsen, Jim Brandenburg, David Muench, and Art Morris. Doug has also taken workshops from renowned photographers Art Wolfe and Frans Lanting

He is Director of Marketing & Sales for Distinctive Journeys. You can contact him at Doug@distinctive-Journeys.com.

Frances Hedrick - Disney Specalist

Frances Hedrick is our Disney Specialist. She earned her travel “ears” through the Disney College of Knowledge and is certified to help you with all your Disney travel needs. Whether you are a first time Disney guest or a true Disney fan, she can assist you in making a vacation magical and original for all generations with her firsthand knowledge and extensive resources. She has stayed more than 100 days at the Walt Disney World Resort with her own family and friends. She will put all of her magical experiences to work for you and to make your magical vacation full of pixie dust and Mickey treats.  You can contact her at frances@distinctive-journeys.com or on her cell: 404-414-6198. You can see other magical vacations she’s planned at her Facebook page: Disney Vacations by Distinctive Journeys.

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Kittina Powers - Italy Specialist

Kittina Powers can arrange your dream trip to Italy. She travels to Italy every year, sometimes two or three times a year. Kittina has been a travel consultant for sixteen years – a second career after many years as a cooking teacher.

Each itinerary is unique, designed to fit the client’s interests and budget. Among the services Kittina offers are apartment and villa rentals, hotel accommodations, arrangements such as flights, rail and car rental.

Once the itinerary is established, the interesting aspects of the trip are proposed – an early visit to the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the public, a walk through the Vasari corridor in Florence where Lorenzo the Magnificent once walked, private walking tours in most Italian cities, winery visits, cooking classes, advance museum reservations and restaurant reservations. One of the reasons to go to Italy is to eat and “Kittina’s Favorite Restaurant” lists of every city and region visited have become gastronomically indispensable to her clients. Some clients say they only have a bad meal when they eat off her list.

Although Italy is her first love, Kittina also arranges trips to France, Spain and Australia.

Mary Pyle Peters

Mary Pyle Peters CTC has worked in the travel industry since 1985 as both a travel agent and tour guide.     She is a Certified Travel Counselor, a designation attained only by qualified professionals.  Mary has earned the prestigious award of “Top Travel Specialist” each year from 2002 to 2010 from Condé Nast Traveler for her expertise in Canada.  This former cultural anthropologist tailors custom vacations for clients traveling close to home and around the globe, whether they wish to cruise, tour, or explore independently.  

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Suzy Oberlin

 

Suzy has over 30 years experience in selling worldwide leisure travel and is a former agency owner.  She has a  special affinity for hotels; particularly those which are privately owned and lovingly kept!  The details of a specific     trip are of particular interest to this veteran planner whether it be a honeymoon, special small ship voyage or a plan for several friends or family travelling together.

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Connie Still

Connie is Office Manager for Distinctive Journeys, after working in the Corporate World as an Executive Assistant for over 30 years She brings unique talents and skills that are invaluable to Distinctive Journeys.