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Amanda Pointer
Minneapolis, MN Travel Agent· 8 Years of Experience
Travel Savvy Agency, an independent agent with Travel Leaders Davis, CA
5.0
(15)
100% Recommended
Amanda was my travel agent for a girls trip on safari. We ended up seeing more elephants than I knew even existed in the wild, and... Read More >
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, TanzaniaInterests:
Adventure, Beach Vacations, Castles & Cathedrals, Coach Tours, Culinary & FoodieAbout Me
Bucket List and Adventure Travel Agent Specialist
I specialize in designing custom travel itineraries for couples planning honeymoons, milestone celebrations, and bucket list adventures. After eight years of full-time travel across six continents and 50+ countries (17 of which I've lived in for a month or more), I bring real, firsthand destination knowledge to every trip I plan. My background is in travel journalism, and I spent seven years working behind the scenes for a travel blog before launching my own itinerary planning business. I design trips that pair adventure with comfort: think a morning hike followed by an afternoon Spritz on a rooftop. I have deep first-hand experience in South Africa, Italy, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Southeast Asia, and I have strong experience planning safaris, road trips through national parks, and multi-city European itineraries. Whether you have a dream trip in mind or just a vague idea of where you want to go, I can turn it into a detailed, day-by-day plan you'll never forget.
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, TanzaniaInterests:
Adventure, Beach Vacations, Castles & Cathedrals, Coach Tours, Culinary & FoodieMy Travel Specialties
Thailand Travel Agent Specialist
▶Thailand Travel Agent Specialist
I spent 6 months living in Thailand back in 2020 (a privilege granted to me by the happenstance of COVID) and got to know certain corners of the country very intimately.
That’s a very different way of knowing a country than a two-week holiday, and it’s why I plan Thailand around how it ac...Read More ▶
Australia Travel Agent Specialist
▶Australia Travel Agent Specialist
I spent a month in Australia, splitting most of my time between Sydney and a week based in Airlie Beach to explore the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsundays. It's a country big enough that no single trip covers all of it, which is exactly why I plan Australia the way I do: deep expertise on what...Read More ▶
New Zealand Travel Agent Expert
▶New Zealand Travel Agent Expert
I've only been to New Zealand once, a South Island road trip through Queenstown and Dunedin that included an overnight boat cruise through Doubtful Sound, but my expertise here comes from more than a single trip.
I spent years researching and writing New Zealand content for a major travel...Read More ▶
Japan Travel Agent Advisor
▶Japan Travel Agent Advisor
I've only been to Japan once, back in college, when I stayed with a local family in Tokyo who showed me around their city from the inside out. But my expertise comes from something different than repeat visits. I spent years as a Content Director for a major travel blog, where I researched and gh...Read More ▶
Morocco Travel Agent Professional
▶Morocco Travel Agent Professional
I spent six weeks traveling through Morocco, and it remains one of the most disorienting, rewarding trips I've ever taken. It's a country that can feel overwhelming at first glance: the medinas, the mountains, the desert and the coast all feel like different worlds, and I plan it for clients with...Read More ▶
Jordan Travel Agent Specialist
▶Jordan Travel Agent Specialist
Jordan surprised me more than almost any country I've visited, and I mean that as someone who's covered a lot of ground. It's a place people assume they know from a single iconic photo of Petra, but the country underneath that photo is layered, hospitable, and genuinely unexpected at nearly every...Read More ▶
Ireland Travel Agent Specialist
▶Ireland Travel Agent Specialist
What struck me most about Ireland wasn't the scenery, though it definitely delivers, it was just how much better this country gets the further you get off the main tourist track and into conversation with the people who actually live there.
My single favorite experience in the country hap...Read More ▶
Iceland Travel Agent Professional
▶Iceland Travel Agent Professional
Iceland is a country I've planned a lot of trips for. While I’ve only visited once myself, I've sent friends and clients off on their own Iceland adventures with routes built from everything I've learned researching this country obsessively.
It's a country I cannot wait to return to mysel...Read More ▶
Peru Travel Agent Advisor
▶Peru Travel Agent Advisor
I've been to Peru twice, most recently for two months, splitting my time living between Lima and Cusco. That kind of extended stay changes how you understand a country, and it's exactly what I bring to every Peru itinerary I build: real, lived familiarity rather than a quick tourist pass.
...Read More ▶
Mauritius Travel Agent Specialist
▶Mauritius Travel Agent Specialist
I spent a full month exploring Mauritius with a friend of mine and it remains one of the more unique island escapes I've experienced. We rented a private villa in Flic en Flac as our home base and had a car for the entire stay to explore the whole island, which gave me a much fuller picture of wh...Read More ▶
Namibia Travel Agent Specialist
▶Namibia Travel Agent Specialist
Namibia is unlike anywhere else I've traveled, and I mean that as someone who has been to over fifty countries. It's got so much diversity packed into one country: towering red dunes, dramatic coastline, wildlife-dense savanna, and eerie ghost towns, all within driving distance of each other. It ...Read More ▶
Tanzania Safari Travel Agent Specialist
▶Tanzania Safari Travel Agent Specialist
After months of research before my first Tanzania safari, I came away with one conclusion I tell every client: this is not a trip you can just wing. Going through a reputable safari company wasn't just easier, it was actually cheaper than trying to piece it together myself, and there were variabl...Read More ▶
Scotland Travel Agent Specialist
▶Scotland Travel Agent Specialist
I spent two weeks road-tripping through Scotland, and it remains one of my favorite trips I've ever taken. Beyond that firsthand experience, I also spent years working in travel content and planning at a blog that specializes in Scotland road trips, so I bring both lived experience and deep desti...Read More ▶
Portugal Travel Agent Specialist
▶Portugal Travel Agent Specialist
Portugal is one of my favorite countries in Europe, and after four visits and months spent living in Lisbon, it's a place I know at a resident's pace rather than a tourist's. I always tell people this is the kind of country where the itinerary matters just as much as the destination: it rewards t...Read More ▶
Croatia Travel Agent Specialist
▶Croatia Travel Agent Specialist
Croatia is one of my favorite countries to recommend to first-time European travelers, and I call it a "soft landing" for a reason. It has everything people picture when they imagine a European vacation: history, beaches, charming old towns, incredible food. Plus it's easy to navigate, English is...Read More ▶
Turkey Travel Agent Expert
▶Turkey Travel Agent Expert
I've been to Turkey five times, adding up to over two months on the ground, and every visit is anchored by something most travelers don't get: a close friend who was born and raised in Istanbul. I spend time with her and her family on every trip, which means my understanding of this country comes...Read More ▶
Italy Travel Agent Specialist
▶Italy Travel Agent Specialist
I've been to Italy six times, and I've stopped counting the months at 6+ because I lost track somewhere around my first extended stint living in Florence. I've traveled this country as a tourist with two weeks and a list, and I've traveled it as someone who actually lived there for over a month a...Read More ▶
Mexico Travel Advisor Specialist
▶Mexico Travel Advisor Specialist
Mexico is the country I know best, outside of the US. I've lived in Playa del Carmen for over two years combined, spent four months based in Mexico City, and another three months in Puerto Vallarta — on top of countless shorter trips all over the country. That firsthand, on-the-ground knowledge i...Read More ▶
South Africa Travel Agent Professional
▶South Africa Travel Agent Professional
Whenever someone asks me my favorite destination in the world, my answer is always the same: South Africa. Cape Town is the only city I've ever experienced where the mountains, the beach, and cosmopolitan city life all exist in one place. Add in easy access to safari, and I'm completely in love.<...Read More ▶
REVIEWS
Rating: 5.0
15 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 15 reviews
She knew all the best travel tips!
Reviewed By SamBForReal - San Francisco | Traveled to Botswana | Africa
Amanda was my travel agent for a girls trip on safari. We ended up seeing more elephants than I knew even existed in the wild, and I feel like the tips she gave us before the trip made being on the trip *that much* more enjoyable. What a 10/10 experience all around!
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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1000x better than if we planned this ourselves
Reviewed By Bennett - Denver, CO | Traveled to South Africa | Africa
We just returned from our honeymoon in South Africa and are giddy! Everything Amanda planned for us was exactly what we were hoping for. We are over the moon about it! Thank you for such an amazing trip we will remember for the rest of our lives.
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Unforgettable from start to finish
Reviewed By Eric - Denver, CO | Traveled to South Africa | Africa
This was my first-ever safari and my first trip to Africa, and Amanda made it unforgettable from start to finish. She planned an incredible trip to South Africa for my family and I, combining a safari with time in Cape Town, and every detail came together perfectly.
On safari, we had the most knowledgeable guide who brought the whole experience to life! One night we had elephants surrounding our safari vehicle in the dark and he spoke to them in Afrikkans to get them to back off (a moment I'll never forget). The lodge was incredible and the staff were wonderful and so kind to our family.
The second half of the trip in Cape Town was just as memorable. We got to experience shark diving (so cool!) and kayaking in the bay alongside whales and dolphins was incredible. We also did a cool wine tour on bicycles and did a cooking class in a local’s home.
Amanda's planning made the whole trip seamless, and I'd recommend her to any family looking to experience South Africa. Thank you, Amanda!
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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The best Ireland road trip!
Reviewed By Bobbi - Minneapolis, MN | Traveled to Ireland | Europe
Amanda planned a road trip through Ireland that was perfect for my travel style — she focused on nature and natural beauty rather than just checking off cities, with plenty of walking and hiking built in. The restaurants and accommodations were total hidden gems I never would have found on my own. We stayed in the cutest B&Bs. She also set us up with truly unique experiences, like the Doolin Cliffs Walk led by the man who actually created the walk back in 2012. He was full of knowledge, and it was such a special way to see the Cliffs of Moher beyond the typical tourist experience. Thank you Amanda for (yet another) trip of a lifetime! We’ll be back for our next one!
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Family memories to last a lifetime!
Reviewed By Jan - Minneapolis, MN | Traveled to Norway | Europe
We'd been planning a family heritage trip to Norway for two years, and when our timeline shifted to make room for our growing family, the pressure felt overwhelming. The moment we handed things over to Amanda, that weight lifted. She coordinated logistics for six adults, a toddler, and an infant, and curated experiences we never would have found ourselves, like a floating sauna and a one-of-a-kind 40th anniversary dinner.
Thank you for the lifetime memories our family shares from this beautiful trip that returned us to our roots and gave us a deeper connection to our heritage! It’s hard to put into words what this means to us!
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Certifications & Awards

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.
My Photo Albums and Videos
Tanzania Safari
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