Gladys Porter Zoo

Brownsville

McAllen

Edinburg

Harlingen

South Padre Island

Fragile Planet Wildlife Park

Bow Champs Exotic Petting Zoo

South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center

Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport

Valley International Airport

McAllen International Airport

Historic Brownsville Museum

Children's Museum of Brownsville

Brownsville Museum of Fine Art

Costumes of the Americas Museum

Stillman House Museum

Brownsville Heritage Museum

Port Isabel Historical Museum

San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum

Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum

Iwo Jima Museum

The Weslaco Museum

Donna Hooks Fletcher Museum

Museum of South Texas History

South Texas Motorcycle Museum

International Museum of Art & Science

McAllen Heritage Museum

Mission Historical Museum

Kelsey Bass Museum

Gelman Stained Glass Museum

Resaca De La Palma State Park

Arroyo Colorado World Birding Center

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park

Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center

Estero Llano Grande State Park

Old Hidalgo Pumphouse Museum & World Birding Center

Quinta Mazatlan

National Butterfly Center

McAllen Nature Center

South Texas EcoTourism Center

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

1912 Cameron County Courthouse

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

Brownsville Historic Battlefield Trail

Palmito Ranch Battlefield State Historic Site

Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site

The History of Mexico & Mankind Mural, by Raúl Esparza

Alamo Museum

La Lomita Mission

Basilica Of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine

Fort Ringgold

SpaceX Launch Facility

Bobz World

The Original Dolphin Watch

Black Dragon Cruises

Sunrise Mall

Valle Vista Mall

Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets

La Plaza Mall

La Plaza at Brownsville Terminal

Northside Transfer Station

Harlingen Bus Station

Island Metro (The Wave) Bus Stop - "Across from La Copa"

McAllen Central Station

Edinburg Transit Terminal

Sea Turtle, Inc.

1931 US Courthouse & Post Office

El Jardin Hotel

Market Square Research Center

La Borde House

Gateway International Bridge 

B&M International Bridge  

Veterans International Bridge

Laureles Ranch House Museum

UTRGV Art Gallery at Rusteberg

ArteVivo Studio

The Livery Gallery

Puente Art Studio

Guerrero Fine Art Gallery

Laguna Madre Art Gallery

Breeden Art Studio

1928 Brownsville Central Fire Station 

Free Trade International Bridge 

Progreso International Bridge

Donna International Bridge

Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge

McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge

Anzalduas International Bridge

Los Ebanos Ferry Crossing 

Rio Grande City-Camargo Bridge 

Roma–Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge

Lake Falcon Dam International Crossing

Guide for locals and travelers to the Rio Grande Valley which is the fifth largest in Texas behind Greater Dallas (aka DFW, Dallas-Fort Worth, or the Metroplex), Greater Houston, Greater San Antonio, and Greater Austin (State Capitol).

What can you find in my guides?
🔴 Airports, Seaports, Spaceports
🟠 Shopping & Outlet Malls
🟡 Fairs, Theme/Amusement & Water Parks
🟢 Zoos, Aquariums & Nature Parks
🔵 Museums, Galleries & Historical Places 
🟣 Bars, Cafes, Casinos & Dining

*not all places will include the above-mentioned

**Contact me for personal guides, I will be making more for other areas around the US and the world.

Edinburg, TX, USA

Brownsville, TX, USA

McAllen, TX, USA

Harlingen, TX, USA

South Padre Island, TX, USA

Río Grande Valley

Houston, TX, USA

I'm Jessie, a certified travel advisor with Fora Travel. We're part of the Virtuoso Network which ensures exclusive access to the best travel partners around the world.

I plan trips all over the world for my clients, but Scotland is my specialty, and I'm a certified ScotsAgent by Scotland's National Tourism Organization.

As a professional travel advisor, I design and plan custom travel experiences that fit within your time, budget, and travel goals.

What's Included?

-Day-by-day itinerary for entire length of trip
-Hotel recommendations and booking management
-Ground Transportation recommendations and booking management
-Tour recommendation and booking management
-Restaurant recommendations
-Recommendations for on-your-own activities
-Online and app-based custom itinerary so you have access to all your important information on the go

The Planning Process:

1. Inquiry:  We discuss your travel style, trip goals, budget, likes/dislikes, must-see/do items.

2. Design:  I research, plan, and design your custom itinerary. You'll review everything and once it looks just right, I'll book everything on your behalf.

3. Travel:  We'll touch base before you take off and you'll be ready to go with all the travel documentation you need. You'll have a direct line to me during your trip for help with anything that comes up along the way.

Trip Costs:

My planning fees start at $250 per trip which includes my time spent researching, planning, booking, and managing your trip for you. It does not include payment toward hotel, transportation, or other trip costs.

I strive to work within a range of budgets and your personal budget determines what you'll spend on your trip overall. 
As a guideline, my clients can expect to spend a minimum of $2,500 per person on a 1 week trip, not including airfare, though costs vary by time of year, length of stay, accommodation & activity choices.

Tell me about your trip - dates, destination(s), number of travelers, any other details?

Is there anything specific you absolutely must see or do on your trip?

What activities are you interested in? (Sightseeing, City/Urban areas, Outdoors/Nature, Beach, Adventure activities, Golf, Nightlife, Cultural, arts and theater, Culinary/Wine, Wellness)

How much of this trip would you like help planning and do you have any parts of your trip booked already?

Travel Style: What kind of vibe are you looking for? (Romantic, Rest and relaxation, Off the beaten path, Party, Local culture, Family friendly, Food and wine, Other)

English

Scotland, UK

Greece

Edinburgh, UK

Jessie West

Austin, TX, USA

Allow me to take the stress of planning a trip off of your shoulders. Based on your style of travel, budget, and interests, I will curate a personalized itinerary to fit your vacation, work trip, bachelorette, etc. I have planned dozens of trips down to the tee, and am passionate about delivering this service professionally and precisely. I will create an itinerary uniquely for you or your group, inquire below!

Are you open to day trips from this location?

How long do you plan on staying at this destination?

Are there any sights, restaurants, or things to do that are a MUST for this trip?

Are you traveling solo or with others? Tell me a little bit about the group:

Spanish

Barcelona, Spain

Bern, Switzerland

Dallas, TX, USA

London, UK

Nice, France

Chile

Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

Copenhagen, Denmark

Stockholm, Sweden

New York, NY, USA

Geneva, Switzerland

Switzerland

Sweden

Italy

France

Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Paris, France

Gdańsk, Poland

Big Bend National Park, TX, USA

Ella Branson

Allow me to make a uniquely personalized recommendations list for you! I have travelled to 20 countries and I will only give the best recommendations for places I have traveled to. 

I currently live in Austin, TX, and have lived long-term in Austin, Dallas, and Stockholm. I studied abroad in Stockholm for a semester while in university and backpacked through western Europe over a summer. I spent 2 weeks in Chile and explored the full length of the country from Santiago to Patagonia. Travel is truly a passion of mine, and by providing detailed, unique, curated recommendations, I can help turn your dream trip into a reality. 

Whether you are a backpacker, luxury seeker, or somewhere in the in between, I can create a list to meet your needs. Check out my packages below!

Is there any activities, foods, sights that are a MUST for you?

Is there anything you know that you are NOT interested in?

I specialize in the NYC area, where I lived for the past 4 years, and Pittsburgh PA where I was born and lived most of my life. However, I have also traveled to over 20 countries and 30 states that I am happy to help you with!

I am also well-versed in day trip, weekend trip, or week long options, including hiking, foodie places, adventures, and more! My favorite part of traveling is immersing myself in the culture and getting a feel for various neighborhoods. If you're wondering what country or city is best for you, what activities you can do in and outside of town, where the favorite food is, or even how long to spend in each destination, let's get together and chat! I am happy to share my insights and give advice about what would be best for you!!

Here are example topics we can discuss:

✨ helping you find where you should travel on your next trip based on your personal preferences (i.e. favorite type of vacations, personality types, what you want to get out of the location, etc)

✨ tips on how to travel mindfully and safely, and what I do to prepare for my next trip

✨ suggesting a quick-look sample trip itinerary

✨ giving advice on where to save and splurge when it comes to your location

If you are staying in either destination for longer than 2 days or at the very beginning of your planning and have a ton of questions, I'd suggest going for the 60 minute option over the 20 or 30 minutes. 

How long is your trip and how many days you'd like me to suggest a plan for you?

Where do you want to go?  (please list the city and country so that it is a rather specific answer)


What have you already booked anything? (ex: accommodations, tours, car rental, restaurant reservations)

What are any specific special needs/wants? (ex: food allergies, specific diet restrictions, personal preferences, accessibility needs, etc)

Anything SPECIFIC you want to do/see on your trip? (ex. my last clients wanted to go on the Hooker Valley Trail in South Island New Zealand) 

What are your favorite things to do on a trip? Here are some examples:

Outdoor (hiking, beaches, boat trips, parks, etc)
Historic (museums, historic spots, architecture, etc)
Day Trips (i.e. places you can reach from your specified city)
Adventure (ziplining, paragliding, more strenuous hikes, etc)
Foodie (top restaurants, cool pastries, local hotspots, etc)

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Ever notice how some people seem to make traveling look easy? More likely than not, it’s because they started with a great itinerary. However, creating the perfect plan starts way before you start packing your duffel bag. The proliferation of phone apps and easy access to travel information makes trip-planning more user-friendly. However, creating a great personalized itinerary requires more than an account of tripIt.com and a desire to travel. It takes a strategy that funnels all that raw data into a plan that can you can execute quickly.

I'll ask you specific questions and details about your past travel experiences. All of which will go into a truly personalized travel experience and ultimately bring unexpected and priceless value to your trip. This process will include:

✨ If you'd like me to plan your entire trip, you'll have your trip plan from when you land to when you leave. If you'd like a specific part of your trip planned that is fine too. 

✨ Logistical details (getting to/from the airport, how to get to/from your day trip, activities listed in recommended order etc.) 

✨ Activities personalized to your interests per day, food options per day, levels of accommodation options, and any additional items you need/want

✨ links to relevant booking information

How long is your trip and how many days you'd like me to plan for you?

Where do you want to go? (please list the city and country so that it is a rather specific answer)


What have you already booked? (ex: accommodations, tours, car rental, restaurant reservations)

Anything SPECIFIC you want to do/see on your trip? (ex. my last clients wanted to do a mixture of hiking and breweries in New England for the fall) 

What are your favorite things to do on a trip? Here are some examples:
Outdoor (hiking, beaches, boat trips, parks, etc)
Historic (museums, historic spots, architecture, etc)
Day Trips (i.e. places you can reach from your specified city)
Adventure (ziplining, paragliding, more strenuous hikes, etc)
Foodie (top restaurants, cool pastries, local hotspots, etc)

Tell me a bit about your past travel experiences (both good and bad)!

Italian

Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

United States

Croatia

Portugal

Spain

New York City, NY, USA

Washington D.C., DC, USA

Lisbon, Portugal

Genoa, Metropolitan City of Genoa, Italy

Germany

Belgium

United Kingdom

New Zealand

Queenstown, New Zealand

Elizabeth Palumbi

I specialize in an array of areas across the USA, Europe, and NZ where I have visited and/or digitally worked in over the past decade.

I love to plan for a day nearby, weekend away, week long getaway, or 2-week trips to far away destinations! My favorite part about traveling is immersing myself into different cultures, jumping into new adventures, and exploring new places. If you're looking for tailored, personalized recommendations and wondering what is right for you, I'd love to help you figure it out! I love finding quaint coffee shops, boutique places to stay, best food spots, and fun adventures. If this sounds like you - let's chat!

Typically the recommendations are in steps, so 10 recs are good for a day or short weekend, 20 recs are for a few days away, and 40 recs are a week or two trip. Just keep in mind when picking the level of recommendations - you'd be surprised at how quickly the recommendations are placed into days. 

Will it be a road trip, rely on public transportation, or be in walking distance?

What is the location you'll be in, how long, and for what time of year?

How many people are traveling? or is it solo?

What do you gravitate towards while traveling? What do you avoid?

Results for Edinburg, TX, USA