Jenn Hilchey arranged what any reasonable person could call a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for my wife and me. The only thing that prevents me from calling it that is the certainty that we’ll do it again!
My wife and I spent 16 days in Athens, Santorini, Rome, and Florence/Tuscany. That may seem like a long vacation in terms of days, but every day was a brand-new adventure, one after another. The occasion was our 40th wedding anniversary—a trip we had planned in our minds since the early days of our marriage. What a fantastic choice we made, both in terms of the trip and the person who arranged it.
Here’s why I’m writing. Jenn spent hours, days, and weeks talking with Leslie and me about what we hoped to accomplish. Our conversations weren’t limited to where we wanted to go but included what, how, and why. One by one, Jenn layered in locations, arts and letters, food, fare and wine, history, and music. There was no interest or objective we articulated that she didn’t respond to with an idea, an option, or a clarifying question. In short—and most importantly—Jenn Hilchey invested in us before she put ideas in front of us. One of the most memorable parts of our trip was seeing the joy in Jenn’s tailored responses as she listened, thought, and proposed.
We talked about high-end options, value, and experiences. We discussed busy times, quiet times, guides, tickets, restaurants, and vineyards. If we spent a week on a conversation and then found an idea elsewhere, Jenn made all the necessary adjustments. The attention to detail upfront guaranteed an excellent experience. We felt comfortable and confident throughout our first trip to Europe.
As much as the planning and idea-sharing mattered, the execution was even better. Cars met our airplanes. Hotels met our cars. Docents and guides met us in hotel lobbies. Museums greeted us. Restaurants and vineyards were ready for us. Jenn checked in regularly—daily. We arrived at hotel rooms to find notes, fruit, and candies. Jenn provides a vacation like a fine tailor: she measures twice, cuts and fits, and checks and refits if necessary. You are connected to her throughout your experience.
Here is an insight I think is important when considering Jenn: she personally knows, and is important to, the men, women, and families whose businesses will serve you when you travel. Imagine what that means for your experience. We used guides and visited wineries where the people and families sought us out to introduce themselves because we were “guests of Jenn.” More than once, other travelers asked, “Who do you know?” The answer: “Jenn Hilchey, of course.”
When you work with Jenn, and the overwhelming network of high-end firms she’s connected to, you feel it from beginning to end. She has an absolute passion for what she does. There is no better reason to associate yourself with someone than that person bringing excellence and passion to your experience.
Once-in-a-lifetime? No way. Can’t wait for round two.
