Marla Coutu

Victoria, BC Travel Agent

Marla Coutu

Victoria, BC Travel Agent· 13 Years of Experience

Marla at Travel Best Bets, an independent agent with Jubilee Tours & Travel LTD/DBA Travel Best Bets, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency

5 reviews

100% Recommended

13 Years of Experience

5.0

(5)

100% Recommended

We have been booking holidays with Marla exclusively for 4 years now and are very pleased with everything she has done for us. We have... Read More >

About

Reviews

Certificates & Awards

My Places

Travel Stories & Media

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Disneyland, Douro River, Mekong, Danube, Walt Disney World

Interests:

River Cruises, Cruises, All Inclusive, Solo Travel, Theme Parks

Suppliers:

Holland America Line, Princess Cruises®, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Avalon Waterways

About Me

River and Ocean Cruise Specialist

My love of travel has taken me all over the world, and now I would love to assist you in planning an experience of a lifetime.

I give special attention to exactly what you are looking for and what is important to you.

Your River & Ocean Cruise Expert is Here!

If you’ve ever dreamed of floating through storybook towns, sipping wine by a castle, or exploring the heart of a continent without packing and unpacking — river cruising might just be your perfect escape. And lucky for you… I specialize in it!

I’ve sailed some of the world’s most iconic rivers and crafted unforgettable journeys for clients who crave something more immersive than your average trip.I've personally experienced:

1. Vietnam & Cambodia on the Mekong

2. Amsterdam to Budapest on the Danube

3. The stunning Douro Valley in Portugal

4. A charming barge cruise through France

5. The Grand France cruise (including moving visits to Normandy)

6. Croatia to the Black Sea — a hidden gem of a voyage!

I bring firsthand knowledge, insider tips, and partnerships with top cruise lines like Viking, Uniworld, Avalon, AmaWaterways, and more. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or new to river cruising, I’ll guide you every step of the way — from picking the perfect itinerary to making sure your trip is seamless.

Not into river cruises? I also book incredible ocean cruises across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South America, Alaska, and beyond!

Testimonial from a client

Best Way to see Alaska

During our many years travelling, we have booked ourselves, used agencies, relied upon friends and had varied experiences with all. Your generous gift is appreciated so much but…..the most valued gift for us is you. Always going above and beyond in understanding our needs and anticipating our wishes, making our travels stress free and enjoyable from the time we book until we get home. Your dedication to every detail and continued updates are such an important part of your service to us and not a usual or common practice and for this we are grateful. In closing we must not forget to mention your terrific sense of humour while dealing with us “old folk”. THANK YOU MARLA FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND BEING THERE FOR US.

Reviews

Certificates & Awards

My Places

Travel Stories & Media

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Disneyland, Douro River, Mekong, Danube, Walt Disney World

Interests:

River Cruises, Cruises, All Inclusive, Solo Travel, Theme Parks

Suppliers:

Holland America Line, Princess Cruises®, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Avalon Waterways

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0

5 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.

Sort reviews by:

Search reviews:

Showing 5 reviews

Best trip to Greece

Reviewed By Cheryl D - Okanagan BC | Traveled to Greece | Europe

We have been booking holidays with Marla exclusively for 4 years now and are very pleased with everything she has done for us. We have acted on her suggestions many times and never been disappointed in the final outcomes. It ha been a relief to leave the planning and booking to Marla and know the flights and transfers will be smooth. We particularly enjoyed a trip to Greece, where Marla suggested and booked an excursion for us on vintage motorcycle sidecars. That was an amazing way to experience Athens and we would never have thought of that ourselves. Marla is efficient and professional and very good at what she does. Communication is easy and prompt ,whether by email or phone. We have referred several of our friends to her and they have been pleased with their bookings as well. We all enjoy the gifts and perks Marla surprises us with! As senior travelers, we feel more confident when Marla has taken care of the details than when we book on our own. We are loyal and repeat customers and will continue to refer her to family and friends.

✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

All trips booked have been great

Reviewed By Robyn and Mike - Nanaimo BC | Traveled to Australia & New Zealand

Over all was very easy and stress free. Information shared was accurate. Itinerary was spot on, made for very enjoyable travel. We know we will have a great travel experience booking with Marla. Our experience over time was fantastic any issues or questions were taken care of promptly. Worry free travel planning makes everything better. All trips were just as we expected and we were kept up to date through the whole process start to finish. You make us feel more like friends than clients, so we would recommend you to family and friends. Thank you for looking after us, we look forward to booking again.

✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

Working with Marla

Reviewed By Linda - Chemainus BC | Traveled to Europe

I was introduced to my travel agent Marla, by my good friends. Marla has made my trips very enjoyable and smooth with very few issues and when there was she dealt with them with the utmost experience of a amazing travel agent. I have recommended her to family and friends and she has graciously accepted them to help with their travels. I will continue to use Marla as travel agent for my current travel to Alaska, and then to the Mediterranean.

✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

Working with Marla

Reviewed By Elaine - Victoria BC | Traveled to Europe

Working with Marla over multiple trips has made traveling so much easier and far more enjoyable. Every detail is thoughtfully organized, which allows us to relax and focus on the experience instead of worrying about logistics. What keeps us coming back is the consistent level of service, communication, and personal attention we receive. Recommendations are always tailored to our style of travel, and it’s reassuring to know Marla is available to help if plans change or questions come up along the way. Marla has booked us both ocean and river cruises and every trip has felt smooth, well planned, and stress-free. Having a professional advisor has added tremendous value compared to booking on our own — not only through expertise and organization, but also through the peace of mind that comes with knowing someone is looking out for your travel experience from start to finish. I would absolutely recommend Marla to anyone who travels frequently or wants a more personalized and seamless travel experience.

Marla Coutu responded

"Thank you "

✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

Working with Marla

Reviewed By Caren and Marc - Campbell River BC | Traveled to Vietnam | East and Southeast Asia

My husband and I have been booking through Marla Coutu for many years. We have utilized Marla's expertise in a couple of ways. Sometimes we will see a trip on Travel Best Bets and enquire through Marla as to the particulars. Other Times we have asked Marla to keep an eye out for a specific trip and to let us know if she sees something that we may be interested in. We have booked both land based and cruises through Marla. She has definitely made planning easier, with our most memorable trip so far being an Emerald River Cruise on the Mekong River. On another occasion we travelled to the Cook Islands and had some travel delays. Marla was able to sort this out and assist us with travel insurance for lost days. I have referred family and friends to Marla and feel that her value as a travel advisor is important as she is able to troubleshoot and provide advice when issues arise. Thank you Marla! We appreciate what you do.

Marla Coutu responded

"Much appreciated!"

✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

Certifications & Awards

ACTA’s mission is to foster the success and prosperity of our travel agency members. Our most supportive partners, ACTA Corporate Partners, invest their time and resources in order to support ACTA’s vision of a healthy and vibrant retail travel industry where the Travel Agent is recognized as an expert resource. Proud Partners understand that Travel Agents are essential to their success.

Celebrity Learning Certification

Avalon Specialist

Princess cruises Specialist

Disney Knowledge Graduate

Universal Orlando Resort 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.

Disneyland, California, USA

Booked It 20 Times

Been There 5 Times

Working with Marla over multiple trips has made t...
Read more

Walt Disney World, Florida, USA

Been There

My husband and I have been booking through Marla C...
Read more

Australia, Australia & New Zealand

Been There

Over all was very easy and stress free. Informatio...
Read more

New Zealand, Australia & New Zealand

Been There

Over all was very easy and stress free. Informatio...
Read more

Bulgaria, Europe

Booked It

Been There