“You know what’s more important than confidence? Courage.”
Welcome.
I’m so glad you’re here.
Whether you’ve mustered up the courage to say YES to travel or need a little help getting to that point, I’m here to help. LEAP Local is the brainchild of more than a decade of travel experiences, lessons learned, and insight into what makes travel authentic, meaningful and sustainable. With the threat of mass tourism and cookie-cutter trip design heightened by social media influencers and large companies competing for profit, I prefer to take a small but mighty approach.
Over the years I’ve learned from my own travel mistakes so you don’t have to. From staying safe and healthy to protecting your valuables and getting travel insurance, we will navigate the fundamentals beforehand so the focus can be on enjoying the journey. All travel details are hand-picked and focused on providing the most locally-sourced experience possible. With a variety of services for every type of traveler or group of travelers it brings me joy to offer my experiences as a guide for others to take the leap.
Click on the links below or scroll down to learn more about our offerings:
Small Group Trips
For first-timers, solo travelers, wanderlusters, and localvores
If you want to travel but don’t want to travel alone or simply want to experience the world through group travel, LEAP small group trips may be for you. Offering a wide variety of trip destinations, timelines, and experiences allows these group trips to suit every type of traveler. From active adventurers to those that prefer something a bit more mellow, there is truly something for everyone. Unlike other organizations that implement age restrictions or target specific identities, LEAP trips are inclusive and crafted with community in mind. The trips are designed to learn not only from the places we visit but the people we experience those places with.
You won’t find the localities we visit sponsored on Instagram or trending on TikTok. By sourcing ideas and excursions directly from locals, locally-owned businesses, and my personal experiences, we will immerse ourselves in landscapes that are as thoughtful as they are beautiful. I consult personal connections rather than guidebooks, prioritize quality over quantity, and can guarantee we will dive into local culture and context while filling our bellies with the best foods of the region.
By keeping groups small, we will navigate places not accessible by large tourist busses, be able to dine in small, local establishments, and cultivate relationships that will extend far beyond the trip. Through an experiential exploration of place, we will walk, bike, boat, and take local transportation rather than private transport whenever possible. This allows us to be with the locals rather than apart from them.
Each trip is thoughtfully curated to meet the needs and desires of the individuals involved. My experience with trip organization and meticulous planning will give you a full picture of what to expect ahead of time. From pre-trip requirements like passports, vaccinations and what to pack to local customs and how to navigate distinct cultural spaces, you will be prepared before you depart. From our first call to the final take-off, I will be there to answer questions, lead with confidence, and inspire you to leap into the unknown. Ready to explore upcoming trips?
Check out our Group Trips page here.
Custom Travel Planning
For the busy-bees, holiday makers, business travelers, and seekers
Whether you have a destination in mind or are starting from scratch, my custom travel planning services will help you embark on your dream trip with confidence. Whether you’re planning a week-long trip to Greece or an extended jaunt through New Zealand, I’m here to help you set your course. You decide if you want some or all of your itinerary planned. Whether it’s three days or three weeks, this resource will be tailored to your expectations.
From deciding on places to visit (and to avoid) to dining options and where to stay, I will create your detailed itinerary so you can focus on enjoying your holiday. Balancing fun activities and realistic timelines with room for buffer and improvisation, my itinerary planning services will keep stress at bay. And as an expert in finding the best value for the price, I will also help you travel smarter. Want me to take care of your bookings? This optional add-on may be a good fit for you. Importantly, as travel is personal, this service is not one-size-fits-all. We will discuss your wants, needs and must-haves to arrive at a package that feels just right for you.
Private Tours
For families, groups of friends, and those that travel less
Whether you’re planning a family vacation or a bucket list trip with a group of friends, it can be overwhelming to be in charge of both trip planning and execution. No one wants to feel like they need a holiday after their holiday. By hiring me for your private custom tour, I will take care of the planning, booking, and logistics—before the trip and on the ground. I will skillfully take your group from A to B so you can take in your surroundings and fully absorb the precious moments. I will be on top of time management, reservations and local transportation so you can simply show up with ease. It is up to you how involved you want me to be - whether you consider me a personal assistant or a dear friend I will be there to make life easy for you before and during the trip. Together we will navigate your trip of a lifetime without the baggage of tourist traps, avoidable mishaps, and unnecessary stress.
For the recently engaged, soon-to-be married, or just-hitched couples
Honeymooners
You may very well spend 1-2 years planning a dream wedding and then want to experience an epic honeymoon with your partner. Wedding planning fatigue tends to hit hard and the last thing you have time or energy to do is plan your trip of a lifetime. This is where most couples choose all-inclusive luxury vacations in faraway lands without much thought about what they will do when they get there.
What if you could instead choose your dream destination, your favorite activities or bucket list items, maximum budget and actually make it happen? With Honeymoon Holidays, this can be your reality. From our first call, I’ll get a solid foundation for what your dream honeymoon looks like, your must-haves, and how much you’re looking to spend. I take that information, custom-tailor your trip by connecting you to local experiences and excursions, book everything worry-free, and send you off, so you can enjoy, happily ever after.