I design trips for people who want to understand a place, not just check it off a list.

I studied art history and worked in museum education. That taught me how to make complex ideas feel clear and meaningful. Now, I do the same with travel. I help you see not just what to visit, but why it matters. The history behind a neighborhood. The story a building tells. Why locals choose one restaurant over another.

I've spent over a decade designing trips. I focus on Europe because I know it well enough to look past the obvious. I handle the research so you can actually experience the place.



Traveling with my kids showed me what makes a trip matter. It's not about checking off landmarks. It's about understanding what you're seeing, knowing the context and the culture, and learning why something matters. That's the kind of travel that stays with you.

I started Uptown Travel Design for people who want depth in their travels without spending months planning. You know you want something meaningful. You just don't want to sift through endless reviews to get there.



I'm not a booking agent. I design experiences around what matters to you. Maybe that's art, food, peaceful mornings, conversations with locals, or just being somewhere beautiful without feeling like you have to optimize every minute.

I know these places. I handle the complexity: the research, the reservations, the restaurant that only takes phone bookings. You get to focus on what you'll actually remember.



I work best with people who are done researching. You want clarity, not endless choices. You want someone who can handle the details so you can concentrate on connection, beauty, and experiences that will stay with you.

You're not looking to tick off a list. You want travel that seems like it belongs to you.



I'm based in Phoenix but work with clients everywhere. I've traveled to over thirty countries, many of them more than once. Understanding a place well enough to design around it takes more than one visit.

If you'd prefer to trust someone who knows these places than spend another weekend comparing hotels, let's talk.

Meet Rachel