Carlene's Story
Born and raised in sunny Southern California, I have always had a deep passion for travel and adventure. I began my journey in the travel industry in 2010 with TravelStore in Los Angeles, while also juggling an exciting career as a red carpet entertainment reporter. My dedication, attention to detail, and knack for creating unforgettable experiences quickly earned a loyal client base through word-of-mouth referrals. My clients deeply appreciate the tailor-made itineraries I have designed for them and know they can count on me to go above and beyond for them.
A little more about me:
I love planning trips with lots of moving parts – planes, trains, automobiles, tours…you name it! – and adding in special experiences to wow my clients.
My most recent trip was to the Four Seasons Tamarindo Mexico. Prior to that I went skiing in Colorado, visited the gorgeous North Shore of Oahu, and soaked in the beauty of Cannes, France.
You may be surprised to hear my favorite meals are not the Michelin stars in Europe, but the ones off the beaten path. I love stumbling upon family-owned restaurants in Rome where Grandma is cooking family recipes in the kitchen. I love passing these kind of tips on to clients.
I love taking the stress out of planning trips for clients and doing things for them that they can’t do themselves. I love being able to add special touches, whether it’s sending a personalized note or surprising them with an upgrade.
Things I love:
- Sushi
- White wine
- Traveling (no surprise there!)
- My family (My husband, Steve, and my 4 kids, ages 13, 11 and twins who are 8)
- Newport Beach, my home base
Fun fact: I started at TravelStore because of my husband. His company was in charge of the TravelStore 401K plan, so he got to know all the employees very well. He suggested that I consider making a career change since I have always loved planning travel. I made an appointment to meet with Katie Cadar – 15 years later, here I am!
