Hawaii, Europe, and Solo Travel Specialist
View My Main Profile
Karen Gutka
Lisle, IL Travel Agent· 3 Years of Experience
Karen with Travels By Danielle, an independent agent with Cruises & Tours, Unlimited, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
5.0
(12)
100% Recommended
Karen was amazing to work with! She made the overwhelming process of our first time leaving the country very easy. We changed our minds a few... Read More >
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Hawaii, United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, Greece, ScotlandInterests:
Adventure, Castles & Cathedrals, Solo Travel, European Culture, Women's TravelSuppliers:
Pleasant Holidays, Virgin Voyages, Railbookers, Insight Vacations, Royal CaribbeanAbout Me
Standing Stones of Scotland
I have been traveling nationally and internationally for the past 25+ years.
I have traveled extensively solo, as a couple, as a family of 5, and with multi-generations on a trip to visit areas of ancestral significance.
My favorite destinations are the Hawaiian Islands, especially the Big Island, Kauai, Maui, and the North Shore of Oahu. Each offers a different atmosphere and I'm happy to advise my clients about the best island or islands for them.
Europe and the UK are also great for cultural and historical trips and you can feel free to ask me about everything from Castle stays in Scotland to Historical sites throughout the UK and Europe.
I have recently been booking lots of rail inclusive trips, cruises, and tours throughout Europe and I will be escorting a private group of 20 through Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in 2026.
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Hawaii, United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, Greece, ScotlandInterests:
Adventure, Castles & Cathedrals, Solo Travel, European Culture, Women's TravelSuppliers:
Pleasant Holidays, Virgin Voyages, Railbookers, Insight Vacations, Royal CaribbeanREVIEWS
Rating: 5.0
12 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.
Search reviews:
Showing 12 reviews
Our Honeymoon was amazing!
Reviewed By Melanie & Josh - St. Louis, Missouri | Traveled to Dominican Republic | Caribbean
Karen was amazing to work with! She made the overwhelming process of our first time leaving the country very easy. We changed our minds a few times on various things and Karen was very quick to respond and find exactly what we wanted. I am so happy with how our honeymoon turned out!
Karen Gutka responded
"It was a pleasure to help you and your spouse plan your honeymoon. I am so happy that the trip was everything that you wanted. I look forward to working with you both again soon!"
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
An amazing vacation!
Reviewed By Kathy - Chicago, IL | Traveled to Punta Cana | Dominican Republic | Caribbean
From start to finish, Karen was there for us. We discussed the budget and said that we wanted to do an all-inclusive plan. Karen came back with two amazing options, and we chose Punta Cana. Karen's communication was excellent, and there was never a point where we did not know exactly what needed to be done regarding international travel. Karen made herself available during the trip should we have any issues (we did not!) We would highly recommend Karen for planning a trip.
Karen Gutka responded
"I am so glad that you were happy with the vacation planning that I provided for you! It was a pleasure to work with you and I enjoyed researching and providing options for resorts that would meet your preferences, which included flights, all-inclusive resort, round trip transfers, and travel protection insurance. I look forward to working with you again in the future when you're ready to plan your next vacation!"
✓ 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
Fabulous trip!!
Reviewed By Blem121 - Park Ridge,IL | Traveled to Punta Cana | Dominican Republic | Caribbean
Couldn’t have been better. Great resort with excellent service!
✓ 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
Fabulous trip!!
Reviewed By Blem121 - Park Ridge,IL | Traveled to Punta Cana | Dominican Republic | Caribbean
Couldn’t have been better. Great resort with excellent service!
Karen Gutka responded
"I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip! It was a pleasure to work with you! Please reach out again for any assistance with any future travel plans."
✓ 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
Great trip!
Reviewed By Rebecca - Boise ID | Traveled to Europe
Karen did a fantastic job of booking a wonderful escape to Europe. The weather was beautiful. The friendships I made were awesome. I can’t wait to book another trip with Karen.
Karen Gutka responded
"Thank you for trusting me to help you with your trip to Europe! I look forward to helping make all of your future travel plans a success!"
✓ 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
Pleasant Premier Ambassador
Seacademy - Gold Certification
Hawaiian Islands Destination Expert
TTC Tour Brands Master
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.
Hawaii, USA
Booked It
Been There 16 Times
Karen was very kind, and quick to respond. I will ...
Read more
Read more
Must Do:
All the Islands have their unique experiences - and I've been to all of them!
Scotland, Europe
Been There
Karen did a fantastic job of booking a wonderful e...
Read more
Read more
Must Do:
Besides the culture of the cities the Highlands and Islands of Scotland are not to be missed! I've spent two weeks exploring Scotland and the outer islands.
Spain, Europe
Booked It
Been There
Karen did a fantastic job of booking a wonderful e...
Read more
Read more
Must Do:
Besides visiting Madrid, I recommend visiting Seville, Salamanca, and Grenada, as well as the south coast!
Mexico, Mexico
Booked It 2 Times
Been There 6 Times
Karen was fantastic! She checked all of the boxes ...
Read more
Read more
Must Do:
Immerse yourself in the culture, sample the food, and dance to the beautiful music, after spending your days in beautiful pools or snorkeling in the ocean.
My Travel Stories
Two weeks in Kaua'i
Returning to regular life in the Chicago area in March after a two week stay in the paradise that is Kaua'i is a very tough adjustment and I do not recommend it. Just be prepared that when you go to Kaua'i you will not want to return to wherever you lived previously.
Although I have been on a few short trips over the past year, t...
Read more
Read more
Client Testimonials
Birthday Vacation to Myself!
I reached out to Karen about a month before my birthday looking for a quick getaway from the Chicago cold in February 2024. Within 24 hours she put together a proposal for a 4 star property that fit my time frame and budget. Airfare, round-trip transfers, insurance and a beautiful all-inclusive resort were included at a very reasonable price. I recommend Karen's services to anyone looking for quick personalized service. She takes the stress out of planning, so you can enjoy yourself.
Sandy P., Chicago, Illinois