Group Travel Specialist

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Samantha Magante, Travel Agent in Chicago, IL

Samantha Magante

Chicago, IL Travel Agent
Super Agent

Samantha Magante

Chicago, IL · 6 Years of Experience

VS1 Travels, LLC, an independent agent with Nexion, LLC, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
5.0
(29)
100% Recommended
She’s very detail oriented. We’ll definitely use her again for our next travel. Read More >
About
Reviews
Certificates & Awards
My Places
Travel Stories & Media

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Worldwide, Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos Islands

Interests:

Groups, All Inclusive, Destination Weddings, Honeymoons, Bachelorette Parties & Girlfriend Getaways

Suppliers:

Hurtigruten, Funjet Vacations, Virgin Voyages, Inclusive Collection – World of Hyatt, National Geographic Expeditions

About Me

My favorite beach in Thailand - Railay Beach!
My favorite beach in Thailand - Railay Beach!

I wanted to work for myself. I left the corporate world as a management consultant of nearly a decade to pursue my true dreams and passions, and I want to help you live yours. Today, I’m a licensed real estate agent with EXIT Realty and the owner of VS1 Travels, a travel planning company specializing in group travel and destination weddings.

Basically, if you go on vacation and you really like it…I can help you stay there!  

I have experience planning travel in various capacities all over the world, i.e., destination weddings, honeymoons/romance travel, groups, bucket list travel

 FUN FACTS ABOUT ME:

  • I took a gap year in 2017 to travel the world and it was absolutely life changing - I love helping people find their own change through travel!
  • I’ve been to 6 continents, 54 countries and 36 states so far…would love to experience it all - and I love helping others do the same!
  • I started investing in property and currently house hack in my first 4-flat building - let’s talk about creating your own portfolio!
  • I want to help you live the life you want, where you want!

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0
29 reviews
100% Recommended
Your trust is our priority. Every review is submitted by verified travelers after they have booked and completed their trips. Learn more about our review guidelines.
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Showing 29 reviews

Definitely the best trip of our lives!
Reviewed By David Von - Park Ridge, IL | Traveled to Hawaii Island ~ Hawaii ~ USA
She’s very detail oriented. We’ll definitely use her again for our next travel.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
12 of 19 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
80+ Family reunion at Crystal Mountain in Michigan
Reviewed By Thara - Thompsonville, MI | Traveled to Michigan ~ USA
Samantha was an amazing pleasure to work with! Perfect mix of easy going, enthusiastic and professionalism! She did not hesitate or skip a beat at planning our 80 + attendee family reunion this past June 2022. Sam helped us not only FIND a venue that could accommodate our large group, but also took on the hard task of booking all the appropriate sized townhomes for EACH FAMILY that attended. I was impressed by her use of surveys, excel sheets and even pie charts to help our large group of varying and opiniated family members come to a consensus on multiple topics for our trip. She made planning for this special event stress free. I would HIGHLY recommend her for ANY of your travel needs. Thanks Samantha! =D
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
A perfectly tailored trip
Reviewed By Bhrugu & Ananhita - Newton MA | Traveled to Egypt ~ Africa
The trip to Egypt that Sam curated -- from picking the places to visit to the highly educated and incredibly informative guides -- was really one of the best trips that we have taken. Sam was in touch with us throughout checking in several times a day to make sure that the trip was smooth. We are now planning a personalized group tour with her. Sam's professional yet friendly, prompt yet patient, Really couldn't ask for anything more her.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
BEST TRIP EVER & FIRST ALL-INCLUSIVE!
Reviewed By Amanda - Chicago | Traveled to Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
We have worked with Sam before and choosing to work with her again was the best choice. We loved how she customized our trip and made it so easy for us. Everything we asked for, she delivered. She even gave us suggestions for apps that will help us navigate language barriers and ideas of what is appropriate to tip in a different country. Things that we did not think about she had covered. We always referred back to her itinerary if we questioned anything. All I know is we will continue to use Samantha's services for any trip in the future. Thank you so much for everything. We had the best trip ever because of you, Sam!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Unforgettable honeymoon in Paris, Nice & Cannes!
Reviewed By Jorge & Jillian - Chicago, IL | Traveled to France ~ Europe
Sam is super friendly, well-organized and very knowledgeable! She’s easy to communicate with and addressed any questions we had. Her suggestions and recommendations were thoughtful and made our honeymoon unforgettable.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
6 of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

Certifications & Awards

ASTA is the leading global advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public.It is the world's largest association of travel professionals.Our members include travel agents and the companies whose products they sell such as tours, cruises, hotels, car rentals, etc.Expand your world. Go with the pros.
The Book with Confidence logo tells you that this Travel Advisor has direct access to comprehensive resources for safe and healthy travel, available at their discretion for sharing with clients.  This includes vetting the details on the health and safety protocols implemented by each travel provider in order to recommend the ideal itinerary for each client’s unique needs.
Certified Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Specialist: During this certification program Travel Agents study several components including: Understanding the Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Customer, Preferred Destination and Supplier Partner Knowledge, FAM Trip, Research, a Marketing Plan and Sales. This is a three-year study program
Certified Group Travel Specialist: This certification program provides agents with a comprehensive approach to group sales, including planning, selling, marketing and managing group travel.  This is a three year study program that includes a group research project and an educational experience.
Trusted Travel Advisor: A Trusted Travel Advisor credentials, resources and global connections translates to today’s consumer in respectful interactions, confidentiality, knowledge, and client advocacy of travel services provided in parallel with building long lasting client relationships that builds with each interaction.  A Trusted Travel Advisor knows their client better than the client may know themselves and puts those polishing touches on each travel collaboration.
Honeymoons and Destination Weddings Specialist
Hurtigruten Expeditions Certified Agent
Certified National Geographic Journeys Specialist

My Places

When it comes to travel planning, real-world experience makes a huge difference. Check out the map below to see all the places I have personally visited or booked for my clients. I know these destinations well and can give you reliable guidance.

My Travel Stories

Our Trip to Patagonia!

I had an unforgettable adventure in Patagonia, where we embarked on the W Trek with G Adventures at the end of January.Flight map showcasing the breathtaking journey to Patagonia. Day 0 Departing from the US, we landed in Santiago, Chile, marking my first visit to this vibrant city! After a brief day of exploration, we caught...
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Our Family Reunion

We recently returned from our last trip which was in northern Michigan at Crystal Mountain - a 4.5 hour drive from Chicago where we held our Gagni Family Reunion with my extended family on my dad's side. There was about 70 of us Gagni's there - aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews - all celebrating our family and being together. There was so ...
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One Week in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

I was in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for one week, initially to attend one of my good friend’s weddings as a bridesmaid. After seeing it took up a good chunk of points/miles to get there (Chase Ultimate rewards and United miles), I decided to make the trip out there worth it and stay a full week to explore. Below was my itinerary for the week...
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How to Maximize an 8 Hour Layover in Munich

Having layovers may be a pain, but if done the right way, can be turned into a free day trip to explore a new place! And that is exactly what we did during our 8 hour layover in Munich. All you need is the energy to power through to explore after a long flight! From the airport, take the S1 or S8 S-Bahn train to the city center. Get off t...
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Portugal: One or Two Week Itinerary

Portugal! A beautiful country full of history, culture, people, food, and views for days. I was in Portugal for a little over a week and basically hit the major spots a bit too quickly (my German travelmate had limited time and wanted to hit Morocco as soon as possible), but if you have the time, I definitely recommend at least two weeks in Port...
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