Discovering Europe One Memory at a Time

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Maria Shepherd, Travel Agent in Syracuse, NY

Maria Shepherd

Syracuse, NY Travel Agent

Maria Shepherd

Syracuse, NY · 3 Years of Experience

Traveling Familia, an independent agent with Inteletravel, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
5.0
(12)
100% Recommended
When my husband and I first considered going to Italy, I was overwhelmed with the idea of planning a trip abroad on our own. We met... Read More >
About
Reviews
My Places

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom

Interests:

Adventure, Bucket List, Celebration Travel, European Culture, Global Travel

About Me

Our B&B near St. Andrews, Scotland
Our B&B near St. Andrews, Scotland

Europe is one of the places that first made me truly fall in love with travel. My passion for European travel began while studying abroad in Spain during college, where I had the incredible opportunity to not only immerse myself in Spanish culture, but also travel extensively throughout Western Europe. Those experiences completely changed the way I saw the world and deepened my love for culture, history, food, architecture, and meaningful travel experiences.

What I love most about Europe is how every country, city, and even small village feels entirely unique. One moment you’re wandering through ancient cobblestone streets surrounded by centuries of history, and the next you’re sitting at a quiet cafe listening to church bells ring in the distance while locals gather for long, relaxed meals together. Europe has a way of slowing you down and inviting you to truly experience a destination instead of simply rushing through it.

Italy will always hold a special place in my heart and remains one of my favorite places in the world. I absolutely fell in love with the culture, the warmth of the people, the incredible food, and the feeling that beauty and history surround you everywhere you go. I loved exploring Rome with its ancient ruins and timeless energy, wandering the charming streets of Florence surrounded by art and history, and experiencing the magic of Venice with its winding canals, glowing evening light, and quiet beauty unlike anywhere else in the world.

I’ve also traveled many times throughout the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, and Ireland, and I continue to be drawn to their rich history, dramatic landscapes, and incredible charm. Ireland’s endless rolling green countryside feels almost dreamlike, while the Scottish Highlands offer breathtaking scenery that feels both peaceful and wild at the same time.

Some of my favorite European memories include experiencing the romance and beauty of Paris, wandering through museums in Berlin, tasting incredible chocolate in Switzerland, and soaking in the vibrant culture and energy throughout Spain. Spain especially feels like a second home to me after spending so much time there. I’ve explored cities including Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, Segovia, Salamanca, and Córdoba, each offering its own distinct culture, architecture, traditions, and atmosphere.

I love helping travelers experience Europe in a way that feels personal, immersive, and meaningful, whether that means sipping wine in a quiet Italian piazza, exploring castles and countryside in the UK and Ireland, enjoying fresh pastries in Paris, or discovering hidden local spots that make a destination feel unforgettable.

Europe is not just about seeing famous landmarks. It’s about the feeling of walking through history, hearing different languages around you, lingering over long meals, breathing in the scent of fresh bread and espresso from nearby cafés, and returning home feeling changed by the experience in the very best way.

Helping couples, families, and travelers experience that magic for themselves is one of my greatest joys as a travel advisor.

Additional Languages
Spanish

REVIEWS

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.
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Showing 12 reviews

An unforgettable trip to Italy.
Reviewed By NoelePug - Syracuse, New York | Traveled to Italy | Europe
When my husband and I first considered going to Italy, I was overwhelmed with the idea of planning a trip abroad on our own. We met with Maria and she helped us break down the trip into segments. She asked us what parts of Italy we'd like to visit and how long we intended to stay. She made a list of our prefernces regarding accomodations and we discussed various ways to travel between cities while in Italy. She also talked to us about tours and excursions we might want to book sooner rather than later. After our first meeting with Maria, I was feeling much better about traveling abroad. Between more meetings, emails and phone calls, Maria was able to help us plan an unforgettable family trip to Italy.
Maria Shepherd responded
"Thank you! I am so happy that you had such an unforgettable vacation with your family. You were so wonderful to work with. I truly appreciate you asking me to help!"
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
Wonderful Ireland, England and Scotland trip
Reviewed By Maria's the best - Traverse City, Michigan | Traveled to Dingle | Ireland | Europe
Maria provided exceptional service for us from start to finish. She was so knowledgeable and responsive. Her expertise for our planes, trains and ground transportation all went seamlessly with her help. She curated beautiful unique hotel options that allowed us to find local experiences that we would not have found on our own. I enjoyed working with her so much that she is currently helping with another trip.
Maria Shepherd responded
"Thank you! I appreciate your kind words. I'm so happy that you all had such a nice time on your special girls trip to the UK! So many special memories made!"
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
Trip of a lifetime
Reviewed By JP - Syracuse NY | Traveled to Italy | Europe
Maria was great in every way and was helpful from start to finish. From suggestions on hotels to guided tours and private excursions. She helped give us all the options available so we could make the best choices. We all have memories of a lifetime
Maria Shepherd responded
"So glad you have memories for a lifetime with your beautiful family! Thanks for asking me to help with this unforgettable family vacation!"
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
Incredible Trip Ran Like Clockwork
Reviewed By jsdispen - Syracuse, NY | Traveled to Nice | France | Europe
We had Maria plan a trip to the French Riviera for my family of five (3 teenagers!!). We had a vague idea of what we wanted to see but nothing concrete. Maria gave us the opportunity to weigh many different options to get a sense of what we wanted. After that she coordinated multiple excursions, all of which had amazing hosts. We also had some last minute changes and she helped coordinate those as well. We left feeling we saw and did all the things we wanted and lots more besides. I would absolutely recommend Maria to plan your trip for you and I will definitely be using her again.
Maria Shepherd responded
"Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so glad that you all had such a fantastic time in the French Riviera! I look forward to many more years of helping your beautiful family travel the world!"
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
Honeymoon
Reviewed By Sarah - Utica, NY | Traveled to Greece | Europe
Maria was absolutely fantastic with every little detail with regard to our honeymoon. We were always in communication via email and had several FaceTime calls throughout the planning process. On these calls and emails we discussed flights, hotels and other modes of transportation that would be available to us while abroad, initial thoughts and ideas for the different locations we wanted to visit and then from there we narrowed it down by the day to day itinerary which was super helpful for keeping us organized. One thing that we found particularly helpful while abroad was that if we ran into a hiccup along the way, after a quick message to Maria she was able to get us back on track. We had run into a transportation issue briefly as well as required new copies of electronic tickets for a local tour; She was able to send us the information we needed to carry on with our scheduled itinerary without delay. When we returned from our trip we were able to meet with Maria in person and recount our whole honeymoon where we got to talk about our favorite parts, not so favorite parts, things that were helpful and suggestions for future travelers that maybe interested in a similar itinerary. We have since had Maria help us plan regional weekend getaways and she is currently helping us plan our Summer 2026 vacation. We highly recommend Maria if you're interested in or need help planning a vacation!
Maria Shepherd responded
"Thanks so much for your kind words. I am so glad that you two had such an amazing honeymoon in Europe! And thank you for coming back to me for more family vacations! You guys are the best!"
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

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.
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