About the Owner

Hi, I’m Nadia! I am a luxury travel advisor obsessed with going to increasingly remote locations and was aiming to visit 40 countries before age 40 and 50 countries before age 50.

Featured in LA Weekly as one of the “Top 15 Most Incredible Travel Experts for Adventure Lovers Worldwide," I last visited country 56. I love a mix of everything to really experience a destination – although who can say no to a unique luxury hotel? My ideal adventure has a mix of luxury and boutique, nature and city, and remote and well-established. I get the feel for a culture through food, whether that be food tours, cooking classes, gourmet restaurants, market visits, or street food. Once I fall in love with the idea of a country, I can't stop obsessing until I visit it! I always research my destinations (and yours) extensively to make sure I'm not missing out on anything unique. I am based in Orange County, CA and a fur-mom to a (sweet but psycho) rescue dog.

Besst Travels is a luxury travel agency that designs experiential-focused trips. While we plan trips for clients all over the globe, we specialize in bucket-list adventures and luxury adventure travel, such as safaris, Northern Lights viewings, remote nature lodges, ethical animal encounters, and similar. There’s no one that knows more about places in the middle of nowhere! Growing up with a mother who was a flight attendant and a father who was a pilot, I use my travel experience from visiting 55+ countries to inform my clients journeys. I get joy through ensuring my clients never miss out on extraordinary, one-of-a-kind experiences backed with meticulous research and personal travel experience.

Who We Are

  • I believe that travel is an art form, not a checklist. My design philosophy is built on the principles of modern luxury: a shift away from stuffy pretension toward a more intentional, soul-stirring way of seeing the world. That includes the following principles:

    • Quality Over Quantity: The most memorable journeys are those that allow you to breathe. I prioritize thoughtful pacing and deep immersion over "ticking boxes." By focusing on fewer destinations with richer experiences, I ensure you return home feeling inspired, not exhausted.

    • Personalized, Not Popular The "best" hotel isn't the one at the top of a generic award list or the one your neighbor raved about. It’s the one that aligns with your specific story. I curate recommendations based on your unique preferences, ensuring every choice feels like it was made just for you.

    • The Hotel as a Destination In my world, a hotel is never "just a place to sleep." It is the heartbeat of your journey. I select properties that are destinations in themselves, places where the architecture, the service, and the "vibe" are as integral to your memories as the sites you visit.

    • Vetted by Experience My recommendations aren’t based on brochures; they are backed by a career of relentless exploration. Having explored 56 countries and counting, I combine firsthand knowledge with continuous professional training and global conferences to ensure I am always bringing you the world’s most exceptional, up-to-date options.

  • The difference between a booking and a curated journey.

    In an era where everyone is a "traveler," I am a professional advocate. My expertise isn't just a hobby; it’s a rigorous, year-round commitment to the world’s most exceptional experiences. Here is why my clients trust me with their most precious resource: their time.

    • 50+ Countries of Firsthand Insight I don’t just read the brochures; I’ve walked the halls, tested the thread counts, and met the General Managers. Having explored 56 countries (and counting), I can tell you which side of the hotel has the best light, which villa offers the most privacy, and which "hidden gem" is actually worth the detour.

    • The "Inner Circle" Advantage Every year, I travel to global summits and elite industry conferences, from We are Africa in Cape Town to Further East in Bali, Indonesia. This isn't just networking; it’s building the personal relationships that get my clients the "impossible" reservation, the complimentary upgrade, and the "VIP" treatment that a website simply cannot provide.

    • Continuous, Cutting-Edge Training The travel world moves fast. I participate in frequent specialized trainings on everything travel related - from new flight products, emerging wellness retreats, upcoming hotel opening, and everything in between. I stay at the forefront of the industry so you are never a "test case". You will always be the guest of honor.

    • A Research-Driven Approach I handle the "heavy lifting" so you don't have to. I spend hundreds of hours annually researching the fine print, vetting local partners, and monitoring global shifts. My goal is to ensure your itinerary is not just beautiful on paper, but seamless in execution.

  • They say some people are born for the skies. For me, it was literal. Growing up as the daughter of a pilot and a flight attendant, aviation was more than a career path; it was in my blood. My journey began with a singular focus: outer space. I studied Aerospace Engineering with dreams of becoming an astronaut, a goal that led me all the way to a stint at NASA. However, after a humbling realization at Space Camp (turns out, a future astronaut shouldn’t have crippling motion sickness), I pivoted my technical skills to the energy industry, where I spent 15 years mastering the art of complex problem solving.

    While I was navigating the corporate world, I was spending my precious time off exploring the globe. I continued to check off numerous countries and continents, but I quickly learned a vital lesson: high stakes travel requires high level planning.

    I began hiring a travel advisor for the same reason my clients now hire me. I was investing significant time and resources into these journeys, and I did not have the bandwidth to manage the intricate logistics myself. I needed an advocate who understood that luxury is not just about the thread count; it is about the seamlessness of the execution.

    Besst Travels was born when I realized that designing a flight path and designing a life changing itinerary require the exact same DNA: unwavering attention to detail, creative problem solving, and a thirst for firsthand knowledge.

    Today, I apply my engineering brain to crafting itineraries to the world’s most beautiful destinations. Whether I am vetting scuba diving providers for some of the most remote coral reefs in the world or calculating the perfect pacing for a multi stop African safari, I handle the heavy lifting so my clients can focus on the core memories.

    I have traded NASA mission control for travel mission control, ensuring that every journey I design is executed with precision and launched toward a perfect landing.

Besst Travels By The Numbers

56 Countries personally explored

200+ Site inspections conducted

20% of the year spent on the road annually vetting destinations

100+ Hours of annual professional product training

Countless sunsets audited across 6 continents

0% chance of a boring itinerary

As Seen In