Tour Consultants

Must have been the haggis:

Alicia’s first step in traveling the world was studying abroad her junior year in college in Glasgow, Scotland. This experience was a life lesson for her in many ways, and got her hooked on world exploration.

Never too late to go back:

Alicia has since returned to Europe to explore cities she missed out on during her backpacking trip in college including Prague, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Madrid and Rome. Knowing there was more to the world than Europe, she also ventured to Israel and Thailand, one of her favorite destinations.

Travel Tip: The most important travel tip I have learned, (it works when things are going perfectly as well as when those occasional hiccups arise), is to smile—it’s the one thing everyone in the world over can relate to. 

I was thrilled to accept a position at ACIS. I love helping group leaders plan the perfect trip for their participants, students and adults alike, to expose them all to a new environment that will leave each individual forever changed. It’s been a joy to tour with groups in Ireland, Scotland, England, France and Costa Rica and see them make discoveries about themselves as well as the places we explored. - Alicia

From Gator to globetrotter:

By his sophomore year of high school, André became determined to pursue a multi-cultural education. He enrolled himself in Spanish courses, in German courses, and volunteered to host a Hungarian exchange student from Budapest. The following year he participated in an exchange program to Winterburg, Germany, where he spent the summer teaching English and immersing himself in the rich cultural heritage of Bavaria. André attended the University of Florida in Gainesville where he graduated from the honors college with a dual focus in International Economics and Archeology. He would later continue to pursue his studies during a semester abroad in Oxford, England. And, immediately following this, embarked upon a backpacking tour of Europe that would span 15 weeks, carrying him from the fjords of Norway to the Greek Isles. Today, thanks to his now insatiable wanderlust, he is constantly planning his next adventure.

The beautiful game (O jogo belo):

André has already made plans to visit Brazil when they host the next FIFA World Cup in 2014.

Travel Tip:

Pack light! André has traveled to 24 countries on three different continents and he has found that there are only four things you truly need: a passport, a credit card, a toothbrush, and a change of underwear. With these four items (and a solid pair of walking shoes), you’d be surprised how far you can get.

There is a famous adage that says, “You cannot fill a cup which is already full.” I urge you to keep that in mind whenever you travel. It is so important to always keep an open mind, and it probably wouldn’t hurt to keep your eyes and ears open as well!  - André

From student to teacher:

In college, Ariana studied Spanish and Mandarin. Following her junior year, she lived in Beijing, China, where she worked as the Head English teacher at the Chang Ping campus of the GLOBAL IELTS schools in Beijing.

Different cultures, common bonds:

Beijing still remains one of Ariana’s favorite destinations. She enjoyed experiencing first-hand the cultural differences between the US and China—from table manners to driving etiquette to soda flavors—it was an entirely different environment. At the end of her trip, Ariana realized that while we may operate differently, we all value friendship and respect.

Future travel plans:

Next up, Ariana is itching to visit the exotic and adventurous destination of Morocco.

Be willing to try anything and everything. Whether it was eating “grub” from a tree in Ecuador or running a half marathon in Sydney…I could never say, “No, thank you.” The best experiences are never planned, but happen spontaneously. - Ariana

Why be simply a tourist when you can be a teacher?

After completing a study abroad program in Spain, Cara traveled for a few weeks in Europe getting a flavor of the diverse continent. Soon after graduating from college, she ventured further abroad, this time to the Orient where she taught English for a year in Japan. Cara loved experiencing the fascinating tradition-bound yet highly modernized country, and of course, the oishi (delicious) sushi!  

From continent to continent:

Cara’s next international adventure brought her to South America where she spent over 2 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Paraguay. She soon fell in love with the colorful continent and even decided to spend an additional year living and exploring the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Safari bound:

Next on Cara’s travel list is Africa. She hopes to explore this fascinating and unique continent.

Travel Tip: The best way to get an authentic experience in a foreign country is to leave the guidebook at home for a day and wander the area taking in all its sights, smells and sounds, chat with the locals, and get off the beaten path.

There are so many incredible places out there to explore, and I am thrilled to share my passion for travel with others who are open to experiencing new destinations and learning about unique cultures. - Cara

Perpetually packing:

By the time Chad was 16 years old, his family had moved five times and crossed the country on four separate occasions, seeing as many major sights as humanly possible along the way.

Right here in our own backyard:

Chad first fell in love with travel and its ability to bring history to life while living in Virginia and making trips into Washington D.C. to explore the incredible museums and monuments.

Global classroom:

When introduced to a study abroad program in college, Chad realized that studying (and more importantly, traveling) abroad would be a perfect match for him. Enrolling at the University of Brighton, England for a year, he spent his time outside of classes backpacking across mainland Europe, Scandinavia, Egypt and Turkey.

Travel Tip: See Everything, Eat Everything!

It was truly fate that a job that involved my passion [for travel] found me here in Sacramento.  Now I talk travel for a living at ACIS and assist those wanting to bring something awesome and adventurous to their students and friends. - Chad

From Paris with love:

During a visit to Paris at the age of twelve, like so many others, she fell madly in love. Standing before la Tour Eiffel, starry eyed and brace faced, she vowed to learn the French language and someday live in the City of Light. She spent a semester in Paris during her senior year of college, studying The History of Haute Couture, Fashion Illustration, and Oeneology: The History and Business of wine. While abroad, she lived in a dorm for international students. It took time to cultivate a strong sense of the language, and the process had moments of delightful embarrassment. On one occasion, she announced to a large group of residents that she was “hot” for another student while attempting to express physical discomfort with the room temperature. After months of tireless efforts and blushing, she eventually gained meaningful friendships with people from all over the world.

Comedian at heart:

Devin also enjoys performing sketch and improvisational comedy. On her high-school senior trip to London and Rome, she was invited to perform impromptu stand up over the bus speaker system while the tour manager rested. Her classmates will never get back those moments of quiet!

Travel Tip: Be Fearless! You will discover so much more if you turn yourself over to the experience and embrace the unknown. You are an adventurer extraordinaire for stepping on the plane, so dig it up when you land! - Devin

Not just laying on the beach:

Elizabeth has also ventured south to Mexico a few times–and not just for relaxation!  Two her trips to our southern neighbor were to build houses in Juarez, Mexico.

Cultural checkmate:

While backpacking in Geneva, Switzerland, Elizabeth and her friend came upon a giant chess board painted onto the ground in a park, complete with three-foot tall chess pieces, and decided to play. Having never played chess before, Elizabeth’s inexperience was apparent to the many passers-by who stopped to give advice. By the end of the game, a small crowd of Swiss locals had gathered, consulting with each other and with Elizabeth before she would take her turn. With the help of her “team,” Elizabeth ended up winning her very first game of chess!

Amateur tour consultant turned pro:

When Elizabeth was studying abroad she got a reputation as “the planner” among her friends. For all of their weekend trips, she always made all of their reservations, printed out the maps, and was occasionally even known to create customized itineraries for each person coming along (an effort that she got a lot of grief for, but one that her companions secretly loved!). Elizabeth can’t wait to help people plan their ACIS trips, because in her opinion, the planning is half of the fun!

Santiago or Shanghai?

Elizabeth is torn over what to plan for her next travel adventure since there are so many fantastic places that she hasn’t been yet! She would love to do everything from exploring Brazil or Chile (or any South American locale), to visiting the exotic destinations of Asia and India.

Travel Tip: Plan ahead, but also stay very flexible. Some of my best experiences while traveling were spur-of-the-moment activities that I hadn’t originally planned on doing.

Travel is important for everyone to experience, but I think it is especially valuable for teenagers to see a world outside of their own as they start to form their world views as adults. I truly believe in ACIS’ proclamation that 'travel changes lives.' Having had the opportunity to experience educational travel myself, I know how important travel is in obtaining a broadened perspective and a respect for other cultures. It’s very exciting to be working for a company who brings that experience to so many people. - Elizabeth

Don’t forget the fruitcake:

In Heidi’s family it became a tradition to travel over Christmas. Skiing in Utah, riding roller coasters in Disney World, and laying on the beach in the Riviera Maya are how she remembers spending her December vacations.

The Franken family vacation:

With 5 of them packed into a rental car when she was sixteen, Heidi’s family traveled over 2000 miles through the UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, reuniting with old friends in Germany and gaining lots of memories, laughs, and a passport full of stamps!

La bella costa:

Heidi’s favorite destination so far is Italy’s Amalfi Coast. On her visit there, they rented a car and braved the jagged coastline drive for its breathtaking views though Heidi admits that she doesn’t think she ever took her hands off the door handles!

Travel Tip: In the end all you really need is your passport. So pack light, and enjoy your journey!

I began my ACIS career as a client services representative where I fielded thousands of calls and emails from tour participants and parents.  I moved on to work as a tour consultant helping group leaders plan their perfect tour.  I think my favorite part of the job is checking in with group leaders after they return from their trip.  After months of planning, they deserve the perfect trip and I love to hear that is exactly what they experienced! - Heidi

Exploring her roots:

Jenna studied abroad during college in Florence and immediately fell in love with the city and everything about Italy. While there she was able to visit the town from which her family's name comes, Vinci, and felt like it gave her a sense of how her ancestors could have lived. Jenna was so inspired by her experience abroad that she became a mentor the next year to international students studying in the United States.

Always the right time for an adventure:

One of Jenna's most memorable travel experiences occurred when she decided to plan a last minute trip to the Greek islands…in March. Not realizing it was off season, she and a friend arrived at their hostel in Santorini after a long day of travel to find out that they were the only tourists on the island. They were able to personally get to know the family who owned the hostel, play with their kids, and eat with them in their kitchen. The family showed them around the island themselves, bringing them to restaurants that their friends owned where Jenna and her companion could venture right into the kitchen to pick out their meals and watch the preparation. A truly unique and insider traveling experience!

My favorite part about traveling is getting to know the locals, the people who are living their daily lives in the places you are going to visit.  You will enhance your experience and see things you had no idea were there!  Be spontaneous, reach out to the locals, and you will truly have an experience you will never forget.  -Jenna

A love affair with language:

Jessica started her undergrad career as a Russian major and graduated with a degree in Biology! She then spent the next 10+ years working in the non-profit sector. After her 2006 visit to Italy, she decided to pursue a master’s in Italian—only problem—she didn’t speak the language. Jessica spent the next year working during the day and learning Italian in her spare time before entering into a master’s program at Middlebury College in Vermont. After a summer on the Middlebury campus, she journeyed to Florence for the academic year to study at the Universita` di Firenze. Jessica took advantage of her time in Italy—it was the perfect jumping off point to other countries such as England, Spain and Russia!

Forever Firenze:

For its art, its history, its beauty and because it was her home for 10 months, Florence will always be the city of Jessica’s heart–-though Positano ranks a close second!

The generosity of strangers:

The first time Jessica visited Positano, she met a young woman from Bologna. After only a few hours of talking the woman invited Jessica to visit her in Bologna later in her journey. Jessica quickly took her up on her offer and spent the day seeing the city through the eyes of a local—she even got to eat lunch in her apartment! Jessica was amazed by her generosity, though she admits she shouldn’t have been. Since then, she has found that people all over the world are very giving and as interested in learning about her as she is in learning about them.

The real thing:

Jessica fondly remembers a period of about two weeks during her stay in Florence when every time she visited the Piazza della Signoria, she was compelled to make sure the tourists knew that the David in the piazza was not the original by Michelangelo and they needed to go to L’Accademia to see the real thing…Jessica couldn’t help herself!

Travel Tip:

Flexibility and attitude are the keys to a successful trip. Rarely do travel plans go exactly as expected and a positive outlook goes a long way to ensuring a great adventure!

A true wanderlust:

Jill has never been anywhere she hasn’t loved, so choosing her favorite destination almost seems unfair. The world is an amazing place. (Later she admits that she holds quite a fondness for Paris and Tel Aviv!)

From Ireland to Israel and everywhere in between:

Jill graduated from Stonehill College with a degree in International Studies and a minor in French. She’s been studying the French language since she was five so Jill has known for a long time that she was going to have a multi-cultural future. Jill also studied the workings of the EU and NATO in Brussels, spent the fall semester of her junior year of college interning in La Defense, Paris’ business district, and studied Celtic literature, history, and archeology at St. Angela’s College while on a 2-week educational trip to Sligo, Ireland. To top it off, Jill also spent 10 days touring Israel learning about the history of the Jewish culture and its roots in the country.

Star sightings:

You never know who you’ll meet when you’re abroad. Jill met Dustin Hoffman while he was filming Last Chance Harvey in London!

Travel tip:

There’s no such thing as a wrong turn—every step is a new adventure!

Sometimes you just can’t stay away:

After graduating from college, Katie found ACIS (for the first time) and started working as a Tour Consultant. In 2003, she took a few years and continued her graduate studies in the School of Education at DePaul while working at a local college in Chicago. During this detour from ACIS, she had the opportunity to present her graduate research at an International Education Conference hosted in England. While staying at a hotel near the ACIS London office, she ran into an ACIS student group on their tour. At that moment Katie realized it was time for her detour to end, and in 2006 she rejoined the path of international education and travel with ACIS!

It’s the journey, not the destination:

For Katie’s next travel adventure, she hopes to join her sister on one of her annual mission trips–hopefully on a service program to Nairobi, Kenya, where she would have the opportunity to tutor and provide educational services to children in the community there.

Travel Tip: Enjoy the people and spend time making friends abroad.

The country, people and lifestyles in Costa Rica are beautiful. I know my experiences there paved the way for me to cross paths with ACIS. Every day was an adventure, pura vida! The opportunity to travel abroad and learn about other cultures became my passion and I wanted to share this passion with others after graduating from The University of Colorado.  With ACIS I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue the adventure with teachers and students. - Katie

Not your traditional calamari dish:

Italy is Lynne’s favorite destination. Not only does she love the country’s architecture and the way it stands the test of time, influencing the interior and exterior designs of today, but she also loves the Italian food. Lynne’s culinary adventures have gone so far as to try black spaghetti–the pasta and fish dishes made with squid ink found in Venice.   

Travel Tip: Be flexible and travel with a good attitude.

I became interested in educational travel while working at East Central University in Oklahoma. I organized four groups to travel to Europe and quickly realized the value of an organized trip where you visit and learn about all the important sights. Traveling helps us to be more accepting of other people, cultures and world views. - Lynne

A matter of love:

After teaching for seven years, Pat actually “married” into the travel business. Her husband was, at that time, a Vice President of the company with whom she was traveling with her students. She moved to Chicago and began working for ACIS. 

L'enseignant:

Like the ACIS Group Leaders she now assists, Pat was also a teacher (of French), and spent many years organizing and leading her students on tours overseas. She understands what it takes to get a project of this nature off the ground.

Travel Tip: When you travel, the most important thing to take with you is your sense of humor.

My years with ACIS have enabled me to participate on a variety of ACIS itineraries.  This background is so useful when helping many of you plan your own adventures. Each trip has enriched my life.  I am really excited about all of our new destinations and it makes me eager to start planning my next journey. - Pat

High altitude fashion:

Patty took her first airplane ride in 1963.  Back then, flying was glamorous - Flight Attendants were called Stewardesses, and passengers dressed formally to take a plane trip.

Tales from Taunggyi:

Two of Patty’s favorite aunts worked for KLM Airlines and the Foreign Service.  They would dazzle her with stories of trips to Afghanistan and Burma, of postings to Paris and Cameroon.  Envy of their exotic and exciting lives grew into Patty’s lifelong commitment to travel.

Global adventures:

A study abroad program was one of Patty’s top criteria when she was applying to colleges and she put that department into good use with a semester spent in London.  Not content to end her journeys with graduation, post-college Patty dabbled in everything from a three-month backpacking trip around Europe, to a seven-month sojourn in Sydney, Australia.

Travel Tip: You don't have to travel in your Sunday Best anymore - leave room in that suitcase for souvenirs!

My career with ACIS began in Boston 22 years ago. Today I am a transplanted East-Coaster living in Southern California, and each year I try to take a trip to a new destination.  To all my Group Leaders, please keep taking your students on ACIS trips abroad. Every young person needs the maturity and experience gained from travel to foreign places. - Patty

Sunshine state to sunshine sea:

At the age of 6, Tom began a persistent campaign to convince his family to vacation at his grandparents’ in Florida.  Eight years and nine trips later, he had mastered the sunshine state of FLA and had an insatiable desire to see and experience more.  Partial to warm weather and white sand, he and his family toured 6 different Caribbean islands’ beaches in 7 days, falling in love with the new cultures and environments, the pastel-colored houses and the laid-back attitude.

Jungle fever:

Tom’s favorite destination is Montezuma, Costa Rica.

Travel Tip: Always expect the unexpected and be open to change.  Sometimes the best parts of a trip come from spontaneity.  Those are the random moments that you’ll look back on with a smile and be able to say, “Do you remember the time when…”

I couldn’t agree more with the ACIS belief that 'travel changes lives.' I recently backpacked throughout Costa Rica with a friend, and upon my return to the states, I realized that I needed to help other people experience the things that I had.  As fate would have it, I’ve found ACIS.   I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to help others see the world, and I am excited to share my experiences with you and help you plan your next life-changing adventure! - Tom