Karen Shelton
Waxhaw, NC
Luxury Travel Specialist
As the owner of My Path Unwinding Travel and Luxury Travel PhD, I rely on my extensive travel experience and a global network of travel suppliers to design a hassle-free, memorable vacation for my clients. I understand that trave...
Learn more about me.
As the owner of My Path Unwinding Travel and Luxury Travel PhD, I rely on my extensive travel experience and a global network of travel suppliers to design a hassle-free, memorable vacation for my clients. I understand that travel planning can be time consuming and overwhelming. I provide individualized consultation to understand your expectations and definition of luxury to then craft your itinerary using my expertise and connections.
I specialize in booking the following type of vacations for my clients:
- Family & Romance Travel- You deserve premium service and accommodations for vacations both close to home and across the globe.
- Luxury Hotels and Resorts— I will find the destination that will meet all of your needs and wants.
- Cruises/ Yachts —Whether you are seeking a relaxing Caribbean cruise, an Alaskan cruise adventure, a river cruise, or a private yacht, I can help you select the best options and itinerary for your ultimate vacation on the water.
- Global Destinations- Traveling overseas can be daunting. I work with you and my worldwide suppliers to create a worry-free trip whether it be independent travel or VIP treatment on a guided journey.
Can Be Reached At
1-980-292-1505
Adventures by Disney Specialist
Adventures by Disney Greece
The most luxurious Disney vacation is not in a theme park or on a cruise ship. Adventures by Disney takes guests to destinations around the globe to find the magic in the real world.
You won’t meet Mickey Mouse or Cinderella on your tour (unless you choose the Southern California/Disneyland Adventure). But you’ll be immersed in the local culture. Plus, you will have exclusive insider access to an expertly curated, luxury itinerary. You’ll also have the service and safety you’d expect from traveling with Disney.
Adventures by Disney is now traveling to destinations on all seven continents. Explore our nation’s national parks in Wyoming, Montana, or Alaska. See wild animals on a safari in South Africa, explore castles in Europe; or explore the diverse ecosystems in the Galapagos. Adventures by Disney can take you there on a hassle-free, almost all-inclusive luxury vacation. For travelers looking for the best tour company to hire for a family vacation, Adventures by Disney offers Land Tours (including Short Escapes), Family Friendly Luxury River Cruises, and Expedition Cruises. There are over 40 Adventures across 7 continents! And if you want an amazing vacation without the kids, there are many adult only departures.
Each Adventures by Disney land tour is led by two Adventure Guides (River Cruises and Expedition Cruises will have more guides proportional to group size). One guide is a Disney Cast Member (Adventure Guides are one of the most competitive positions with Disney!), and the other guide is chosen from the local region. The two guides travel with your group to provide unforgettable service. From the moment you arrive, they take care of everything small and big, including luggage transfers, dietary concerns, snacks and drinks on the coach, coins for bathrooms when needed, and anything unexpected that may arise. Catch a cold on your Adventure? Your guides will help you find cold medicine when you can’t read the labels. Your flight got delayed and is now arriving at 2 am? A guide might personally meet you at the airport to take you to the hotel. In addition to your two Adventure Guides, ABD brings in local experts to each stop of your tour. You may hear from a geologist while sitting at the edge of the Grand Canyon, a costumed historical guide on the streets of Bratislava; or a local fisherman in Norway. As one of the best family tour companies in the United States, they provide the opportunity to authentically engage with the local people, cultures, and traditions.
No matter which destination you choose, rest assured Adventures by Disney has selected the highest quality accommodations for you and your family. After you’ve enjoyed the best family tours in the United States and beyond, The Disney name ensures that hotels will provide the best rooms, connecting rooms when available for families, and top-notch service. Many hotels have pools so that the kids (and adults) can have fun during downtime. It’s a great way to make new friends! On some Adventures, you’ll also have unique accommodations — a castle in Ireland or a yurt in Montana, for example. Your guides take care of checking in/out and bring your luggage to your room, so all you have to do is show up.
Most (or all) meals are included in the price of your Adventure, depending on your itinerary. The day begins with a fantastic breakfast in the hotel. Then, you will experience the flavors of local cuisines, usually in a private or semi-private setting with your Adventure group. Those with more adventurous palates will have the opportunity to try new foods unique to a particular culture. And for picky eaters of all ages, there will always be more mainstream options. During free time and meals on your own, the Adventure Guides are great at making recommendations.
As with other Disney destinations, ABD is extremely accommodating of allergies and dietary restrictions. For example, when a fellow Adventurer had an extremely sensitive peanut allergy, the Adventure guides ensured that no peanut products were offered as snacks on the bus. Your guides will work with local restaurants and vendors to ensure they meet all your needs. No wonder many consider this to be the best tour company to hire for a family vacation!
My Reviews
41 of 74 people found this review helpful
And I thought I didn't need a travel agent...
We did our own research for our trip to Disney World, and we knew pretty much where we wanted to stay on property. Why would we need a travel agent?
Karen gave us info about the properties near Epcot that really helped us narrow our decision. We wound up booking concierge level at the Beach Club and loved it, but I am not sure we would have even known about that option or the value it brings if Karen had not presented it to us with some insider tidbits that she had clearly gotten first-hand.
I thought we would play our days in the parks by ear according to what the wait times were, but Karen had fantastic tips for which parks to do on which days in order to minimize the crowds. The Fast Pass thing seems like it changes every time we go, but Karen was up to speed on the latest and we were able to get on all the rides the family wanted. We even scored an extra fast pass two of the days that we didn't think we could get anymore!
It makes sense that now that more information is available to the average consumer, even more information is available to the travel professionals. Karen is that professional, and as Emeril Lagasse likes to say, she really "kicked our vacation up a notch!"
By
Bill L.
from
Hartford, CT
Traveled to
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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38 of 69 people found this review helpful
Planned a dream trip - and then saved it from Winter Storm Jonas!
When my wife let me know her dream 40th birthday present was a winter trip to the Caribbean, I knew exactly who to call. Karen listened carefully to all of our "must haves" and preferences, helped us figure out exactly which island to go to (Aruba -- why would anyone go anywhere else?), found us the perfect all-inclusive beach-front resort with the exact room layout we asked for, got us the dates we wanted, and did it all at a price that blew us away. As the Passover saying goes, "That would have been enough!" But when winter storm Jonas caused our outgoing flight to be cancelled and the resort had no vacancies for us to add days, that's when Karen swung into high gear. She walked us through all of our options, at our request she found us another great resort at a great price for the added days, coached us through the travel insurance process to get us our reimbursement for the missed days at the first resort, thought through every possible snafu and made sure they wouldn't happen - and tirelessly worked to turn what could have been total disaster right back into the vacation we dreamed of. It was clear to us a every step that our vacation was as important to Karen as it was to us. That is something you can't find from an average travel agent. Simply said, Karen is the best! I couldn't recommend working with her any more highly -- and we will be calling on her for our next getaway for sure.
By
Ivan K.
from
Great Barrington, MA
Traveled to
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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41 of 77 people found this review helpful
Very Knowledgeable, Very Passionate
I have known Karen for about 2 years now and I can say, without hesitation, that she is one of the most knowledgeable travel advisors I know. She is passionate and extremely helpful, and will make sure you get the absolute best deal on your vacation or travel plans. I would trust her to arrange every detail of my vacation and be completely at ease, knowing her skills and dedication would provide me with the best possible outcome. If you need help in booking your next trip or vacation, give Karen a try.
By
Thdarragh
from
Lancaster, PA
Traveled to
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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13 of 22 people found this review helpful
Traveling to All Inclusive During Covid
We used Karen for the first time on a 5 day trip to Mexico. We had many questions about traveling during Covid and how the resorts were handling everything. Karen did a great job explaining everything she knew and heard about from other travelers. She was spot on with every detail. We decided to extend the trip a few extra days as there was no change fees with the airline. She made all of the changes very quickly. We will be using her for all future travels.
By
JLussier
from
Raleigh, NC
Traveled to
Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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39 of 74 people found this review helpful
Karen recently helped us plan our first no-kid vacation to the Riviera Maya, Mexico! We had been to Mexico previously and loved the resort, but were looking for something new to try. I love researching and spend lots of time on review sites, but it was Karen who found the PERFECT resort for us! She found a resort that met all of our criteria - in budget, great food and drink options, better than nice accommodations, a nice beach, etc. We booked and her recommendation was spot on - she made our vacation exactly what we were hoping for! She also arranged our shuttle to/from the resort, which was helpful. The whole process was extremely easy and Karen was fantastic to work with!
By
Anna
from
Greenville, SC
Traveled to
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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