Russell Vara
Huntersville, NC Travel Agent· 25+ Years of Experience
Maestro Travel, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
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11 reviews
100% Recommended
25+ Years of Experience
5.0
(11)
100% Recommended
I have used Russ for 20 years. He has booked us trips on all 7 continents and over 50 countries. We travel to unusual... Read More >
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Paris, Rome, Athens, Salzburg, LucerneInterests:
Luxury Cruises, River Cruises, Small Ship Cruises, Arts & Culture, Escorted ToursSuppliers:
Oceania Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Celebrity Cruises, Viking, SeabournAbout Me
About Me – Russ Vara, Your Adventure Architect
Luxury Travel Expo 2025 - Croatia
With over 30 incredible years as a travel advisor, I’ve turned my passion for exploring the world into a craft—one that brings dream vacations vividly to life. While I love helping clients discover all corners of the globe, Europe holds a special place in my heart. I like to say I major in Europe and minor in Africa and beyond, and it’s Europe’s rich history, breathtaking architecture, and irresistible charm that truly light my fire—especially in France and Italy. Paris never fails to enchant me, but I’m just as captivated by the vibrant pulse of Istanbul and the charm of hidden gems like Portofino, Dubrovnik, and Rhodes.
I don’t just plan trips—I create experiences. Over the years, I’ve built a premier list of luxury hotels and trusted tour operators that unlock exclusive perks and unique adventures, turning ordinary travel into something truly extraordinary. Every itinerary I craft is personal, carefully tailored to your dreams, and designed with an attention to detail that transforms travel stress into pure excitement.
Cruising is another specialty of mine—especially in the luxury segment. Whether it’s gliding along the romantic rivers of Europe or setting sail on an elegant ocean cruise, I know how to match you with the perfect line, ship, and suite to deliver serenity, style, and incredible destinations. From intimate ships to private-jet-enhanced voyages, luxury cruising offers a unique way to explore the world with comfort at the forefront, and I’m passionate about creating these seamless, indulgent experiences for my clients.
Air travel can be tricky, but that’s where I shine too—I know the ins and outs of routes, alliances, and ticket structures like the back of my hand. That means smooth connections, effortless transitions, and more time for you to soak in those magical moments you’ve been waiting for.
The best part? Hearing my clients come back thrilled, their expectations not just met but wildly exceeded. At Maestro Travel, my goal is simple—turn your travel dreams into unforgettable reality. Ready to embark on your next amazing journey? Let’s make it extraordinary together!
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Paris, Rome, Athens, Salzburg, LucerneInterests:
Luxury Cruises, River Cruises, Small Ship Cruises, Arts & Culture, Escorted ToursSuppliers:
Oceania Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Celebrity Cruises, Viking, SeabournREVIEWS
Rating: 5.0
11 reviews
100% Recommended
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Showing 11 reviews
The best travel agent ever
Reviewed By FLtravelfan - Lutz, FL | Traveled to Saudi Arabia | Middle East
I have used Russ for 20 years. He has booked us trips on all 7 continents and over 50 countries. We travel to unusual places like Myanmar and Bhutan. He always creates the most amazing itineraries. I recently asked Russ to book us a trip to Saudi Arabia. Given that it has only recently opened to general tourism, there isn't a lot of information available on itineraries, etc. Russ knew exactly what to do and how to book the perfect trip. He started by presenting us multiple options and then helped us to narrow down what type of trip we wanted. We added Jordan to the trip and extra days in some places and less days in others. Our trip is completely customized to our desires.
I have multiple friends and relatives that now us Russ because they saw what tremendous trips he has planned for us. Now their friends and families are also using Russ.
Russell Vara responded
"You are so good to me! Thank you and I hope to be sending you to more fun places for years to come!"
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Russ Vara the best agent.
Reviewed By Chuck Elliott - Charlotte, NC | Traveled to Danube | On the River | At Sea
Over the years we have worked with multiple travel agents and have traveled to all 50 states and the 7 continents. Once we found Russ many years ago he became our only agent. His knowledge of all the areas we have traveled has been encyclopedic. His is so easy to work with, knows what we want from each trip, and has guided us to reach the best experience possible. We wouldn’t use anybody else.
Russell Vara responded
"Thank you so much for taking the time to write this! I hope I'll have many more years of travel experiences to arrange for you."
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Curate the Best Trip of your Life with Russ
Reviewed By RetirementTravel - Edmonton AB Canada | Traveled to Italy | Europe
I have never met Russ personally; I don’t even live in the US but was given his name years ago from one of his clients and a friend of mine. This year a group of us decided on Italy but didn’t want to do the research to find the right accommodations, transportation, tours, etc. I’ve never used a travel agent before, but we all decided we needed one as we were going to 4 cities and wanted to do a number of tours, museums etc., in each city. I still had Russ’s number in my contacts so decided to try him out.
I spent approximately 30 minutes on the phone with Russ. Explained to him the cities we wanted to visit, the age range of our group and as best as I could, our particular tastes. We did not want chain hotels. We wanted unique boutique hotels/inns interesting neighborhoods, and comfortable rooms that were within our budget.
For our tours, we wanted art galleries, food tours, Italian cooking classes and wine tours/tasting. In addition, we would need transportation from airlines, trains tickets, and ground transportation.
Russ must have a super powers because all of the hotels and tours he arranged were much more than we could have imagined. I know intellectually it wasn’t a superpowers but hours of painstaking research. Each city’s accommodations were better than the one before. No detail was missed with our train tickets, ground transportation and rendezvousing with our tour guides.
Russ was extremely patient. With four women, it undoubtedly meant we would change our mind frequently. Russ rolled with the punches, was always pleasant and very accommodating.
By the end of the trip, I knew I would never again book a vacation by myself.
I highly recommend Russ to anyone wanting a trip curated to your specific tastes. You will be amazed what he comes up with!
Russell Vara responded
"Thank you so much! Putting together a custom trip like yours is much like assembling a puzzle. Each piece has its own place and when it all comes together, it's a beautiful thing."
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Knowledgeable and Detailed
Reviewed By TheTravelingRealtor1 - Charlotte, NC | Traveled to Alaska | USA
I can’t say enough great things about Russ Vara! He has been helping us plan excellent vacations for some time now. He knows the “inside and outside” of so many different experiences. Anytime we have questions, he is always so fast to get back with answers. Russ’s expertise has helped us choose excellent trips year after year. Not only does he know his products and vacations but he has actually tried them first hand and can give you real reviews on them-even when they are not the best-he keeps me informed and helps me make the BEST decision for me or my group. Russ is always so kind and such a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend reaching out to him and letting him plan your next vacation. From cruises, to weekend getaway’s or trips across the entire world - Russ will make sure every aspect of your vacation is what you want it to be and give you the best tips, tricks and experiences of a lifetime! Traveling solo, with a spouse, family or a large group - RUSS VARA IS YOUR MAN!
Russell Vara responded
"Thank you so much! I'm hoping we'll have many more trips to plan."
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Exceptional Travel Advisor for our family and extended family for over 25 years
Reviewed By cindivanw - Huntersville, NC | Traveled to Bora Bora | French Polynesia | South Pacific
Russ has been our family's travel agent for over 25 years. (We have only lived locally for 25 years, I know before then he was also my partner's parents and siblings travel agent). Prior to us living here I remember hearing about my father-in-law calling Russ in the middle of the night to help with a canceled flight. This was 30ish years ago, probably not something Russ handles now lol, but just demonstrating how he goes above and beyond for his customers.
Our family has personally used him for probably over 40 cruises. He is uber knowledgeable about cruising and super responsive to any questions or changes that might need to be made. Several of our friends also started using him when they were traveling with us, and then continue to use him for their other travel needs.
He has helped us plan many amazing vacations, including booking hotels and tours in several countries, a charter catamaran in the BVIs, and international flight planning. My partner and his brothers have used him annually for about 15 years for some amazing golf trips for that never disappoint.
There are very few people I can recommend without a caveat, but Russ is one of them. You can trust him with your travel needs, and he will not disappoint!!
Russell Vara responded
"Thank you so very much for your kind words! It's been an honor and a privilege to help you and your family for the past 25 years, and I hope to continue for many more!"
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Certifications & Awards
Cosmos Certified Specialist
Globus family of brands Specialist
Oceania Certified Specialist
Oceania Certified Travel Advisor
Princess Commodore Certified
Seabourn Academy Graduate
Viking Expeditions Expert
Viking Expert
Viking Oceans Expert
Viking Rivers Expert
AMA Academy
AmaWaterways Specialist
AMResorts Master Agent
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Celebrity Learning Certification
CLIA Accredited Cruise Counselor
Celebrity Cruises Iconic Advisor
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.