Europe, Asia, Africa, Hawaii and Group Travel

View My Main Profile
Jody Richardson, Travel Agent in Kalamazoo, MI

Jody Richardson

Kalamazoo, MI Travel Agent
Super Agent

Jody Richardson

Kalamazoo, MI · 25+ Years of Experience

Just Travel with Jody, an independent agent with Travel Leaders Lansing, MI
5.0
(24)
100% Recommended
jody is a true professional.she is always eager to please and always responds in a timely manner to your questions and concerns.she is easy to talk... Read More >
About
Reviews
Certificates & Awards
My Places
Client Testimonials

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Europe, Hawaii, Ireland, Mediterranean, Italy

Interests:

Historical Sites, River Cruises, Honeymoons, Cruises, Groups

Suppliers:

Avalon Waterways, Princess Cruises®, Tauck, Delta Vacations, CIE Tours

About Me

Discovering Pompeii in 2008
Discovering Pompeii in 2008

With over two decades of experience in the travel industry, I’ve been fortunate to explore the world’s wonders, from the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel in Italy to savoring authentic Chinese cuisine and its Great Wall.   My passion lies in creating unforgettable memories for my clients, friends, and family. While I understand the appeal of booking your own travel online, what you miss out on is the expertise and personal touch that I provide.  You don’t get a do over if you forget something such as selecting the seats for your flights, or knowing what tours to book on your Alaska cruise and when you should book them.As a Certified Leisure Travel Specialist with Travel Leaders, I’ve expanded my horizons not only through education but also getting out from behind the desk and journeying to extraordinary destinations. I firmly believe that there’s no better way to understand a place than by immersing yourself in its culture and connecting with the locals.  In recent years, I’ve added Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands and all of the Scandinavian Countries to my repertoire, leading groups on enriching experiences like Avalon River Cruises and Mediterranean adventures.   I have explored all of the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska for both personal and educational purposes.  What sets me apart is my commitment to creating and cultivating relationships with my clients and travel industry leaders.  While I have yet to travel to every corner of the globe, I’ve personally organized trips to all of the continents, including the remote and awe-inspiring Antarctica.My love for travel has always resonated with the sentiment from the book “Eat, Pray, Love” that, despite any cost or sacrifice, exploring the world is the greatest true love in life. Let’s embark on your next adventure together and just go!

Testimonial

I have worked with Jody for over six years encompassing 8 trips to Europe. She is without a doubt the travel agents TRAVEL AGENT; Jody defines the words “true grit” Jim Osburn Grand Ledge MI

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0
24 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 24 reviews

best trip
Reviewed By cleve - florence,s.c. | Traveled to Jamaica ~ Caribbean
jody is a true professional.she is always eager to please and always responds in a timely manner to your questions and concerns.she is easy to talk with and is always willing to share her travel experiences.jody has arranged three trips for us in the past two years and i will continue to contact her with all my travel needs.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
31 of 50 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Awesome family vacation!
Reviewed By GrandmaG - Boca Raton, FL | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Jody was beyond generous with her time and help in planning every detail of our multigeneration trip to Italy.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
31 of 51 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Scottish Highlands
Reviewed By Teresa - Charlotte | Traveled to Scotland ~ Europe
Jody has worked with me on several trips. She has been great in letting me know what to expect when we arrive with arrangements to hotels.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
28 of 46 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
jody has been stellar, fantastic and fun !
Reviewed By rusty - Portland | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
jody has been a wealth of knowlege on any travel question ever, she will find the answer and get back with you if she dont have it right then and there. she is very concerned that you know all you can beford you go on your trip to her best ability, she will always give you her phone number incase you have any problems while on the trip or before, she wants you to get thde most out of your travels !!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
24 of 40 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Exceptional traveling experiences
Reviewed By Mindy - Charlotte Mi | Traveled to Alaska ~ USA
She has a lot of great advice on traveling. She follows through with what you ask for.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
30 of 52 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

Certifications & Awards

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 Leisure Travel Specialist: During this certification program Travel Agents study several key components including: Sales and Service, Cruise Sales, Destination and Lifestyle Knowledge,  Programs and Preferred Supplier Knowledge. This is a two year study program.
Certified Leisure 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.

Client Testimonials

Alaska Group Travel
It began with an idea to extend an existing trip to the U.S. Open in Seattle. My husband and I decided to add a cruise to Alaska. We knew that Travel Leaders specialized in cruises. When we walked into the Grand Ledge office we were greeted by Jody Carpenter. We hoped we might have 2 or 3 more couples interested in going, but Jody suggested spreading the word. As it turned out, we had 20 additional family members and close friends that joined us. Pleasing a group of 22 people is no small task. After about a year of planning, many telephone calls and e-mails (as most of our group was not from the Grand Ledge area, and a few even out of state), we set sail for an Inside Passage cruise to Alaska! All of the details, including shore excursions, were handled expertly and efficiently by Jody. Everyone was thrilled with the quick and timely responses to all of our questions and concerns. We all will travel in the future, and will not hesitate to call upon Jody again.
Mary and Bob Keller, Grand Ledge MI
From Florida to Europe
Working with Jody has been an incredible experience, she is truly passionate about what she does. As a travel agent, she goes above and beyond to ensure you have the best vacation. She's very caring and very thorough down to the last detail; whether I am flying to Florida or to Europe. She's the best!
Rita Klopfenstein, Parma MI
BESbswy