Samantha Musso, CTA, VTA, CCC

Profile

Website

www.newdestinationstravel.com

Connect With Me

About Me

Travel Specialization

Adventure Travel, All Inclusive, Faith-Based/Spiritual Travel, Gastronomy, Group Travel, Luxury Travel, Multi-generational Travel, Ocean Cruise, River Cruise

Destination Specialization

Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, Europe, Hawaii, Pacific Islands

Languages Known

English

ASTA Certification

Tagline

Creating experiences by aligning passions with new destinations.

About me

Planning has always been a passion of mine, which I have been fortunate to turn into a career not once, but twice. I spent 25 years in the legal industry, with the last 10 years focusing exclusively on estate planning. I was also a military spouse, coordinating 14 family moves across town or across the country. With each move, I would find myself planning itineraries for our own vacations or for our countless visitors to explore the area. My husband's military retirement and our relocation back to our hometown of New Orleans provided the opportunity to explore another path, leaving the practice of law and turning my travel planning hobby into a career.

In addition to being a member of ASTA, I have obtained my ASTA Verified Travel Advisor certification (VTA). I am also a Certified Travel Associate (CTA) as designated by The Travel Institute, and a Certified Cruise Counselor with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). I have completed training programs with numerous travel suppliers and am constantly adding to this list.

Why I love my job

As a travel advisor, I have the privilege of helping people pursue and plan their dream experiences. I enjoy getting to know my clients and understanding the motivation behind their travels. Of course, I also love traveling myself!

Favorite Destinations

I enjoy visiting Europe the most. There is so much to learn about each destination - the culture, the history, the traditions, the food. I especially love exploring the smaller towns and seeing how the locals live. Italy has been at the top of my favorites list for a long time. But the more European countries I visit, the more crowded that list becomes.

Another top favorite would have to be Alaska. Whether by land or by sea (or both!) the sights are simply breathtaking. There's nothing like seeing Denali out on a clear day, reeling in that 50-lb halibut off of the Kenai peninsula, watching whales bubble net feed, or doing a chilly polar plunge in Glacier Bay. I've done them all and keep going back for more!

About my most memorable vacation

That is a difficult request! So many vacations are memorable for so various reasons. If I had to pick one, I would say my first visit to Italy. It was my first visit to Europe, and planted the seed for my decision to become a travel advisor. I had so much fun planning the two-week adventure, I realized then that this would be my new career. Experiencing the fruits of my labor, and all of the wonders of Italy, sealed my decision. My husband and I had a fantastic time exploring Rome and Florence and Tuscany. Our favorite activity was simply finding a small cafe, enjoying food and wine outdoors, and people-watching. On that trip, I fell in love with Italy, with exploring the world, and my new profession.


Reviewed on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 5:04:44 PM By Samantha Musso, CTA, VTA, CCC on 04 18, 2021 Samantha was a pleasure to work with! The ease of communication with her along with her knowledge of our travel destination made planning our vacation a simple experience. The effort she puts in to helping people plan vacations is obvious from the first communication to the travel package she mailed us prior to our trip with all the details neatly summarized was excellent. In addition, the little things like putting in face masks for myself and my family as well as reusable metal straws and lanyards with waterproof card_room key holders were above and beyond. I would 100% recommend Samantha as a travel agent to friends, family, and anyone else that needs a trip planned with utmost regard to details and the needs of the travelers. We look forward to working with Samantha again on a future trip!
Reviewed on Monday, October 25, 2021 6:00:35 PM By Samantha Musso, CTA, VTA, CCC on 00 25, 2021 Samantha was fantastic!!! She did so much for us. There were many places I wanted to go, and she helped me narrow them down to the perfect vacation. She helped with all the details that I probably would have forgotten, including ensuring the rides to_from the resort_airport were timely, safe, and comfortable. A few things were confusing during our preparations, but she made it easy due to her experience and knowledge. Can_`t wait to work with her again on my next trip. Donna R.
Reviewed on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 8:27:26 AM By Samantha Musso, CTA, VTA, CCC on 27 11, 2022 Samantha was fantastic! I have always wanted to travel out of the country, but was unsure of how to plan everything. Samantha organized a group trip to Ireland and it was the best trip of our lives!!! Samantha handled everything pre-trip from helping me plan our flights, gave us packing tips on how to manage carry-on only, which was such a time saver!! We were so fortunate to also have her suggestions throughout the trip of things to do on our own. We have already booked another group travel with Samantha to Italy and looking forward to annual trips with her!!