Trip Designer

If you wanted to sum up Ernesto by conventional standards, you might start by addressing his most pressing job: the owner of a small farm in southern Italy where he works with olive oil. Things start to get more fluid when you add his occasional yoga retreats (all organized by him), six years wandering around Europe as a B&amp;R Guide, his work as a private chef, his fondness for languages (a cool five), his academic training (diplomacy, law and human rights) and perhaps the tip of the hat: his love of solo long-distance biking. Apulia and Southern Italy have always been at the centre of Ernesto’s life, and after many years of world wandering, he decided to return there to organize your unforgettable adventures!

Apulian Explorer

ED Bio's

Testimonials

Top Trips

Blog Posts

Born in a barrel, raised in a big Burgundian family, Eugénie has a natural taste for refinement, authenticity and all things delicious: food &amp; wine top on the list! She is a very caring host who will naturally go above and beyond to ensure you experience everything Burgundy has to offer in the most memorable and fun way.&nbsp;Her sense of curiosity and passion for connection took her around four continents (Oceania, next!). She then settled in the vineyards of Northern California for a few years before returning to her one and only home, the capital of Burgundy wines: Beaune. She has been a part of the B&amp;R family for 15 years after graduating with a Master of Tourism Management, just because she is a perfectionist like that. Her enthusiasm is contagious, so the main risk you are taking is that once on your trip, you will never want to leave. Eugénie doesn’t just know Burgundy. She is Burgundy.

Born-and-Bred Burgundian

A chance encounter with a B&R employee in a Viennese coffee shop prompted Thomas to skip out on a semester of his MBA in favour of life on the slow road. More than a decade, he's still traipsing the globe and distilling his expertise into exceptionally planned adventures as a B&R 
Trip Designer.

Having lived in both mainland France and Italy’s Piemonte region before moving to Corsica, Trip Planner and veteran B&R Guide Marya Valli believes the best way to get in deep and up close in a region is to pick up and move there. The second best way? A B&R trip, of course.

Seattle-born and Corsican-settled, Marya explored Europe high and low (much like her namesake wind) before settling down to craft poetic, resonant trips to let travellers in on the fun. Full-senses fun like sand-sailing Norman beaches, yodelling to Swiss cows, tasting sumptuous Nebbiolos with their humbly brilliant makers or following your nose through the maquis gathering wild herbs for a picnic beside the Med. Dive in!

Europe-Bound from Birth

Notes from the road

— Keith S; North Carolina, US

Marya's suggestions, guidance and overall plan could not have been better. She was incredibly responsive and thoughtful. We ended up in towns off-the-beaten-path that we never would have found without her guidance. 

After growing up on the Texas shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Trip Designer Christine Tucker spent fourteen years working as a means to travel, and then travelling as a means to work. Her experiences are a testament to her approach to life—a subtle mixture of playfulness and seriousness.

When we found out Christine had been to Paris 10+ times and never gone up the Eiffel Tower, we knew she was a keeper. She elevates "the road less travelled" to a religion, plotting eclectic trips from East Africa to Spain.Despite her frequent travels to the continent, Africa remains an endless source of learning for Christine. While her adventure started with a six-month research trip in Nairobi, her latest claim to fame includes launching a photography gallery in Rwanda's gorilla-viewing hub. At the heart of Christine’s travel philosophy is a desire to introduce travellers to places that have the power to positively transform them, where the very energy seems to rise from the ground itself.

Adventurer Extraordinaire

— Bert H; Virginia, USA

Christine Tucker did a phenomenal job planning our trip. Her professionalism, detailed knowledge of the people and places of Tanzania and Rwanda, attention to detail, and her genuine concern for making this a deeply memorable trip were all superb. We have high expectations of Butterfield & Robinson, and Christine exceeded those expectations in every way. Our deep thanks to her and B&R for this amazing experience.

When we found out Christine had been to Paris 10+ times and never gone up the Eiffel Tower, we knew she was a keeper. With an MA in sustainable tourism to draw on, she elevates "the road less travelled" to a religion: plotting eclectic trips everywhere from Spain to Tanzania.

Erin's journey began in our French atelier, as B&amp;R's first female bike mechanic. After guiding B&amp;R trips across Europe, Canada, Africa and Southeast Asia, she found her permanent haven in British Columbia. Beyond biking and hiking, Erin has woven yoga into her narrative, but her ultimate passion centres around guiding travellers toward self-discovery while connecting them deeply with their surroundings. When she isn't crafting life-changing adventures across Canada and the Balkans, you can find Erin playing in the mountains near Revelstoke with her Portuguese water dogs.

Deeper Connections

Between cycling through Spain and South America and navigating the realm of travel management, Ninon’s adventures have shuffled her all over Europe. She still claims her fondest workplace is the bike rental store in Madrid where she first learned about bike mechanics. Suckers for a bike-lover story, we hired her immediately. Ninon started guiding for B&amp;R throughout Spain, Morocco, and France in 2019 and is excited to continue blending her passion for active travel, local culture and creating memorable experiences for B&amp;R travellers along the Camino de Santiago.

The Real Spanish Experience

To say Amanda Gary’s resume is varied would be understating things slightly. Unless, of course, you know someone else who’s CV includes ski patroller, bookkeeper, a stint in a lawyer’s office, Italian tutor, freelance writer and, briefly, sandwich board-wearing empanada saleswoman. Such diversity has been a driving force in Amanda’s career and has translated into her travels. 

Melanie is a New Yorker by birth but has lived for most of her adult life in Tuscany, making her an honorary Italian. A natural icebreaker with a flair for the creative, she’s travelled the world thanks to her personal and professional connections, performing theatre with Bengali people in India, harvesting honey in Malta and snorkelling with locals across the islands of Southern Italy. Her passion for sustainable living and travel has brought her to design personalized trips that allow travellers to savour the world one step, ride and bite at a time.&nbsp;

All the World's a Stage

Melanie is a New Yorker by birth but has lived for most of her adult life in Tuscany, making her an honorary Italian. A natural icebreaker with a flair for the creative, she’s travelled the world thanks to her personal and professional connections, performing theatre with Bengali people in India, harvesting honey in Malta and snorkelling with locals across the islands of Southern Italy. Her passion for sustainable living and travel has brought her to design personalized trips that allow travellers to savour the world one step, ride and bite at a time. 

Edo can ask for a glass of wine in no less than five languages, with the credentials to boot: Chianti-born, he’s also worked for a small family-run winery in his home region. B&R-bred, he's guided trips for our travellers all over the world. Now based in Berlin, Edo crafts his journeys through the Italian Lakes District with a generous sprinkle of insider knowledge and an alluring mix of Alpine and lakeside tranquility.

Edo can ask for a glass of wine in no less than five languages, with the credentials to boot: Chianti-born, he’s also worked for a small family-run winery in his home region. B&amp;R-bred, he's guided trips for our travellers all over the world. Now based in Berlin, Edo crafts his journeys through the Italian Lakes District with a generous sprinkle of insider knowledge and an alluring mix of Alpine and lakeside tranquillity.

DIGGING DEEP IN THE ITALIAN LAKES

— Linda Buttercup; Here, USA

Edo met us with champagne at the top of our last marathon climb—wow! We've done several B&R trips, this may be the best we have enjoyed.

With 12-years in the industry, Edoardo is fully committed to ensuring unforgettable journeys for his travellers.

Edoardo meticulously plans his trips with maximum efficiency, utilizing his keen sense of logistics.

Leveraging his Italian roots, Edoardo offers unique off-the-beaten-path experiences.

Alvaro was bit by the travel bug in his early teens during his first trip abroad to the United Kingdom and never looked back. He ditched his 9-5 as a corporate consultant and followed his wanderlust across Europe, Mexico, Abu Dhabi, Thailand and Indonesia—then found his calling at B&amp;R in 2015. When Alvaro isn’t guiding, you can find him tending to his pistachio trees and vegetable gardens in the Iberian Peninsula.

OUR SOUL-STIRRING SPANIARD

Alvaro has climbed volcanoes in the Azores, visited vineyards in the Douro Valley and biked the hills of Mallorca and historic trails of Menorca to find the very best experiences for B&R travellers. This includes the deliciously hard work of wine and cheese tastings, food tours and farm visits. Someone’s got to do it! With deep connections to local experts, guides and artisans across his regions, his network enables him to offer travellers authentic and exclusive experiences not accessible to other tourists. Alvaro has been with B&R since 2015, first as a guide and now crafting dream trips as an Experience Designer.

When Alvaro isn’t on the road, you can find him tending to his pistachio trees and vegetable gardens in the Iberian Peninsula.

He used to be a corporate consultant before following his wanderlust across Europe and to Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Indonesia.

Trip Designer Annik (pronounced “a knick”) Boulva caught the travel bug the old-fashioned way, when skiing brought her to training camps in France, Argentina, Chile and beyond. Since then, she’s spent the better part of a decade guiding and researching trips through France for B&R.

After years spent guiding throughout France and Southeast Asia, B&R Guide-turned-Trip Designer Chris Litt became enraptured by China's diverse history and majestic landscapes. Never one to skimp on immersion, he up and moved to Mongolia to better absorb the nomadic culture and live alongside the fascinating people. 

Private Trip Designer Tom Abraham spent his childhood staring at depictions of tigers, the Taj Mahal, the Himalayas and many more far-flung corners of the globe. Today... well, today he does pretty much the same thing, but now it's considered "research."

Affectionately known as B&amp;R’s Indiana Jones, Tom has visited 40 countries, lived in six, and has a finely honed sense of how to knock travellers’ socks clean off the continent. Tom’s odysseys (his word, not ours) are known for being 97% life-giving… 3% crazy. (Warning: may reverse ageing.)

40 Countries and Counting

Born behind the Berlin Wall in East Germany, Florian proudly can declare, "Ich bin ein Berliner." Transitioning from a career as a professional swimmer, he uncovered his genuine passions in rock climbing and surfing. Enchanted by the beauty of nature and the rich cultural diversity across Northern and Central Europe, Florian curates experiences for travellers that celebrate these regions and remains unrestricted by any boundaries. He has a knack for opening typically closed doors.&nbsp;

Unlocking Closed Doors

With 25 years of travelling under her belt, Lucy has been a backpacker, worked in luxury hotels, travelled on incredible rail journeys, eaten at the best restaurants as well as the best street food joints. She knows the world of travel upside down and inside out and now she brings that wealth of knowledge to her own back yard, planning exceptional trips throughout the UK, Ireland and Scotland, sharing hidden gems and exciting routes for B&amp;R travellers.

The Ultimate Insider

Trip Designer Orsolya Kako plans experiential and in-depth excursions to locales as varied as Japan, Morocco and Iceland from her home base in Toronto. Her name gets butchered a lot, but she’ll usually respond to “Ursula.”

This lifelong rover's trips—backed by 15 years of experience—have compelled gasps, cries of joy and even the odd proposal (yes, really). Will your Orsolya moment be melt-in-your-mouth sukiyaki in Kyoto? Or aperitifs atop a sunbathed kasbah under the Skoura sky? There's only one way to find out...

Deep Immersion in Exotic Locales

— Julie H; Illinois, US

Excellent service, excellent lodgings and great guides. Everything was as described in advance. Orsolya was excellent in her preparations and attention to detail.

When it comes to local immersion, no one tops Courtney. Pennsylvania-born, she’s now so entrenched in Tuscany that the locals consider her one of their own. At home wherever the Chianti and olive oil flow freely, she’s guided and planned trips across Europe, but Italy remains her truest love.

When it comes to local immersion, no one tops Courtney. Pennsylvania-born, she's spent the past few decades becoming part of la famiglia in Italy, creating long-lasting bonds with scores of charming locals from the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to the rolling hills of Tuscany. Her insider's expertise, along with 20 years of experience in planning memorable Bespoke Trips, has awarded Courtney as a Top Travel Specialist by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. Still, Courtney continues to boost her arsenal of singular offerings by maintaining a thorough exploration of the regions, leaving no stone unturned in the search for impeccable details for your dream vacation. At home in Florence—or wherever the Chianti and olive oil flow freely—she's planned, walked, biked and hiked trips across Europe, but Italy remains her first and truest love.

Italian at Heart

― Denise G; Colorado, USA

Courtney is our new "Go To" whenever we plan a trip to Italy with Butterfield & Robinson. She is gracious, patient and has a wealth of information. It makes all the difference!

Veteran B&R Guide turned Trip Planner Lewis Evans can ask for a coffee in five European languages. And while this often results in him being served a crusty cheese sandwich, he’s terrific at pretending that’s what he ordered.

Picking up a travel book unleashed Steve Wilson's thirst for wanderlust, permanently sidetracking his utterly orthodox career in finance. (Funny how reading finance books never seems to have the reverse effect.) Now a Trip Designer for B&R, he crafts incredible journeys to Latin America and South Asia.

After contracting a severe case of wanderlust, Steve said adios to finance, trekked all over Latin America, and then jumped into the travel industry where he now plans in some of his favourite regions including his own backyard: The British Isles. His specialty? Multi-country exploring and multi-week (or month) stays. His trademark? Every day of exploring—no matter how remote—ends with a great meal (and even better wine).

Unquenchable Thirst for Adventure

ED Bio's 

After contracting a severe case of wanderlust, Steve said adios to finance, trekked all over Latin America, and then jumped into the travel industry. His specialty? Multi-country exploring and multi-week (or month) stays. His trademark? Every day of exploring—no matter how remote—ends with a great meal (and even better wine).

A longtime B&R guide turned Trip Designer, Mario has worn many hats: journalist for the Jakarta Post, a sous-chef in Berlin, and a film producer in his native Germany. When he isn't planning trips, you'll find him hiking around Europe and exploring the world in his 1989 Volkswagen bus.

Mario has prepared for being B&R’s guy in Central Europe all his life—he just didn’t know. As a freelance travel writer, he discovered places worth telling people about.

Mario has prepared for being B&amp;R’s guy in Central Europe all his life—he just didn’t know. As a freelance travel writer, he discovered places worth telling people about. With his film production company, he learned how to orchestrate a group of diverse talent to show the audience their combined best. As a chef, he got the knack of how that extra little pinch makes for a most memorable dish. And in his free time, he zig-zagged the roads of the European continent in his camper van.Somehow he is still wearing all these hats. Except now he’s finding those places for you. He lets his local friends and contacts make their stories come alive for you. And because other—and probably better—chefs now do the cooking, he has even more time to zig, zag, discover and plan.

World Wanderer

Notes from the road 

Testimonial

After guiding more than 100 trips for B&R in his own inimitable way, Nathan Lane transitioned into an award-winning Trip Designer – he was named Vietnam's Top Travel Expert by Condé Nast Traveler. And yes, he knows he shares his name with someone famous (we tease him about it all the time).

Even Peter Pan grows up, and so did Nathan Lane—but not before guiding more than 100 trips for B&amp;R in his own inimitable way. As a Trip Designer, he now crafts the sort of experiences he used to facilitate as a guide. And we aren't the only ones who think so - for many years running he has been named a Top Travel Specialist by Condé Nast Traveler.

Asia Adventurer

Melanie K; Texas, USA

Communication with Nathan was excellent. I knew what to expect. Extremely organized. 

Even Peter Pan grows up, and so did Nathan Lane—but not before guiding more than 100 trips for B&R in his own inimitable way. As a Trip Designer, he now crafts the sort of experiences he used to facilitate as a guide. And we aren't the only ones who think so - for many years running he has been named a Top Travel Specialist by Condé Nast Traveler.

Top Travel Specialist by Condé Nast Traveler.

Nathan loves to talk on the phone about trips, listening to travellers dreams. He believes it to be much more efficient than emails.

Nathan likes to be challenged and do unique things that haven't been done before.

Born and raised in northern Argentina, Ana is a veteran of the travel industry with over a dozen years of experience as a guide, author, public speaker, and trainer. As B&R’s expert in Argentina, she crafts trips that highlight the heart and soul of her home country. This certified Wilderness First Responder and fitness instructor is also an accomplished horsewoman and hiker in her off time.

Rather than ending up at an advertising firm after receiving her degree in communication studies, Steph ended up on a bike—and she wouldn’t have it any other way. After studying in Canada, Spain and France, Steph struck out on the road and she’s kept two wheels planted firmly on it ever since.

After studying in Canada, Spain and France, Steph decided the best way to continue her education was to be constantly on the move. Could she have found a better institute for higher learning than B&amp;R? And her syllabus? Wildly varying. Visually stunning. And positively delicious.

Two Wheels Not-So-Firmly Planted

— Judith Green; California, US 

Stephanie was so wonderful in helping guide us to a wonderful experience. Her recommendation of hotels, advice about the hikes etc., organizing flights and transfers, and planning special experiences that are unique to Butterfield & Robinson made the trip flow perfectly.

Georgia joined B&R in order to spend one summer as a guide before getting a "real" job. That was 20 years ago. Fortunately for us, the allure of Italy outweighed the impulse to do anything even approaching ordinary. Now based in Milan, Georgia is our resident expert on all things Italiano—she's the perfect person to help you and your group live la dolce vita. 

Georgia joined B&amp;R in order to spend one summer as a guide before getting a "real" job. That was 24 years ago. Fortunately for us, the allure of Italy outweighed the impulse to do anything even approaching ordinary. Now based in Milan, with a home in the Dolomites, Georgia is our resident expert on all things Italiano and eager to share the many ways to experience la dolce vita. Recently named Top Travel Specialist for the Dolomites and Sardinia by Condé Nast Traveler, consider yourself in capable hands.

La Dolce Vita

ED Bios

A true gastronome with a deep passion for food and wine, French native Jérôme could hardly have chosen a better home base than the Loire Valley—France's bread basket. He specializes in treating travellers like royalty as he helps them delve deep into both the Loire and Bordeaux.

The question isn't "should I go on a Jérôme-designed trip?" The question is: "How will I return to normal life after?" This native Frenchman's B&amp;R trips are infamous for their passion, decadence and non-stop, shiver-worthy thrills—visual, oenological and gastronomic. Ooh. La. La.

Of Wine and Wanderlust

— Cynthia L; California, USA

Jerome did an outstanding job with our trip. Accommodation, food and wine tastings were incredible, but especially appreciated the help and insight for our pre-trip from Normandy to Bordeaux. All was spot on!

With a guiding and trip-designing career spanning nearly two decades, Dana Quinn has left few stones unturned in Italy, France, Greece, Croatia and beyond. After many years living in Italy, she now makes her home on the Cote D'azur. (Yeah—we're jealous, too.)

With a travel career spanning nearly two decades, expat Dana Quinn has left few stones unturned in Europe. And underneath those stones? Under-the-radar gems like mountain pine grappa and a Sicilian cave that whispers to you.

Digging Deep in Europe

— William G; California, USA

The hikes were magnificent, Dana chose beautiful trails that were not travelled by tourists. 

Dane's worn many hats at B&R over the years. As a trip designer, guide, researcher and photographer, he's made a career out of making magic happen on all corners of the globe, from Chile and Ireland to Myanmar, Newfoundland and more.

Dane’s personal connections are the stuff of legend. (Seriously: this is the guy who got by on the kindness of locals when his credit card was blocked for the duration of a trip across Thailand.) Fortunately, his connections can be yours: all of Dane’s trips are infused with deep cultural immersion.

Multi-Talented Globetrotter

With stints living and working in Myanmar and Thailand before becoming B&R’s resident India expert, Karen MacRae’s resumé racked up nearly as many pages as her passport. After 10 years in Asia, she now distills her passion and knowledge into exceptionally curated experiences as a Trip Designer.

Karen’s love of travel has taken her to over 50 countries. Born in Canada, she spent 16 years living in Thailand, Grand Cayman, and Myanmar. Trading the nomadic life for a fixed address in Toronto, Karen gets ideas out of travellers' heads and into trips of their lifetime. As B&amp;R’s Experience Designer for Thailand, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Myanmar and Indonesia, Karen now does more than wrangle with routine. With over 15 years of guiding and trip planning, she's passionate about injecting the fun and adventure she found in her travels into extraordinary experiences for families, groups of friends, and her favourite – mother and daughter trips. What do you get when you combine extensive travel and a love of culture and exploration? A designer who uses hands-on experience, commitment and personal connections to craft unique journeys that are challenging to plan by yourself.

Asia Aficionado

Karen’s talent is translating ideas from travellers' heads into trips of a lifetime. With more than 20 years of guiding and trip planning to call on, she's passionate about injecting fun and adventure into extraordinary experiences for families, groups of friends and mother-daughter trips. She is a problem solver who can be counted on to address your needs at every point of the planning process.

Karen’s love of travel has taken her to over 50 countries. Born in Canada, she spent 16 years living in Thailand, Grand Cayman, and Myanmar. Trading the nomadic life for a fixed address in Toronto, Karen get ideas out of travellers heads and into trips of their lifetime. As B&amp;R’s trip designer for Thailand, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Myanmar and Indonesia, Karen now does more than wrangle with routine. With over 15 years of guiding, trip planning and - Regional Director for India - she's passionate about injecting the fun and adventure she found in her travels into unique and extraordinary experiences for families, groups of friends, and her favourite – mother and daughter trips. What do you get when you combine extensive travel and a love of culture and exploration? A designer who uses hands on experience, commitment and personal connections to craft unique journeys that are challenging to plan by yourself.

Christina Cain

Christina Cain first crossed paths with B&R a decade ago in Italy, and we haven't let her out of our sights since. She now harnesses the expertise she gained while guiding a couple trips (and by "a couple" we mean about 70) into crafting exceptional adventures as one of our Trip Designers.

If it's off the beaten path, quiet and soul-stirring—it's probably Christina's doing. This Italy aficionado loves to zig when others zag.Christina believes the best way to travel is to experience it like a native, and with that target, she crafts her journeys: A private gallery visit with the owners accompanied by a jazz trio, a paleolithic cave lunch with a million-euro view, stargazing with an astronomist at 2,000+ metres or simply ensuring that you’re treated like family at our favourite boutique lodgings. From Hawaii to her stomping grounds in the Canary Islands, her trips reflect a passion for digging deep in a region to share with our travellers.

Enthusiastic Oenophile

— Robie S; Connecticut, USA

Christina was the best help! So fun, intuitive and interesting to talk with. She gave us wonderful service and knew how to plan the trip of a lifetime for our group.

Christina believes the best way to travel is to experience it like a native, and with that target, she crafts her journeys.

Christina Cain | Butterfield & Robinson

When we can drag him down from the mountain or get him off his bike, Trip Designer Rob Grieve can be found planning and guiding trips that immerse travellers in his native New Zealand and the surrounding region—which explains his (ridiculously charming) accent.

Definitely the B&amp;R Trip Designer with the cutest accent, this native Kiwi loves nothing more than showing off his stomping grounds. He's been our (wildly popular) New Zealand and Australia expert for 11+ years. But beware: Rob's sincere, open, heart-on-sleeve journeys have left many misty-eyed.

Meet The Designers