Luxury Travel, Planned in Washington
Certified travel advisors in the Seattle area, planning journeys worldwide from one of the best-connected airports on the West Coast.
Meet Our AdvisorsSt. Peter's Basilica dome seen over the Tiber River and bridge, Italy · Photo by Urtak Hoti (@urtakh) on Unsplash
Washington · Pacific Northwest
A luxury travel agency
serving Washington and the Seattle area
Exquisite Travel Group plans luxury trips for clients across Washington state. We are a registered Washington seller of travel (604-195-854), and our Washington advisors work with families, couples and groups throughout the Puget Sound region and well beyond it.
We do not keep a storefront in Seattle, and we would rather say so than imply one. What we have instead is a team of advisors who live and work in Washington, hold professional certifications that took real study and examinations to earn, and help run the region’s own travel trade organisations.
Certified, not just experienced
Credentials that take real work to earn
Certifications matter because they show that a travel advisor has completed professional training and demonstrated their knowledge of the industry. The Certified Travel Associate and ASTA Verified Travel Advisor credentials reflect that broader expertise. Destination certifications add another layer: they show that an advisor has completed specialized training in a destination and, in many cases, personally experienced its properties.
- CTACertified Travel AssociateThe Travel Institute
Awarded only after a closed-book, proctored exam and at least a year working in the industry, and kept current with ten units of continuing education every year.
- VTAVerified Travel AdvisorAmerican Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA)
ASTA's professional certification: nine courses, each with its own exam, covering the business, ethics and legal side of advising travelers. It must be renewed every two years.
- SpecialistDestination certificationsTourism boards and suppliers
Specialized training in a single country or region and, in many cases, time on the ground in its hotels and resorts. If you are going somewhere one of our advisors is certified in, the advice comes from firsthand knowledge.
Destination specialists
Trained in the places they plan
If you are traveling somewhere one of our advisors has been specifically trained and certified in, you are getting advice informed by firsthand knowledge of the destination: which island, which resort, which room category, and what is worth the money.
Monica Hübinette
Master Japan Specialist · Certified Tahiti Specialist (level two) · Certified Hawaii Destination Expert · Air Tahiti Nui Specialist · 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist · Aussie Specialist
Shawn van der Putten
Italy · French Connoisseur · Certified Brit Agent · Aussie · Japan · New Zealand · Tahiti · Kenya · South Africa, and accreditation with a long list of cruise lines
Seattle to Europe
Nonstop to London, Paris, Rome, Athens, Barcelona, Reykjavik
Seattle to Asia
Nonstop to Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong
Flying out of Seattle
Fewer connections, more of your trip
Seattle-Tacoma International now has nonstop service to 36 international destinations, with Europe and Asia both within a single flight. Where travelers from smaller airports route through a hub and lose a day, you can often go direct, and a trip to Japan, Italy or Greece starts the moment you board.
We plan around that: the right nonstop and cabin, arrival times that suit the first night, and open-jaw routings that fly into one city and home from another. It is one reason a Master Japan Specialist based in Washington is a more useful combination than it sounds. Several routes are seasonal, so your advisor confirms what is flying on your dates.
Meet your Washington advisors
And the local trade they help run
Three of our advisors hold officer positions in the Seattle travel industry’s own organisations. Shawn van der Putten is Secretary and Virginia Mackay is Treasurer of the Greater Seattle Chapter of ASTA, the American Society of Travel Advisors. Monica Hübinette is Secretary and Webmaster of Skål International Seattle. For an agency our size that is unusual, and it is where a good deal of our supplier access and early information comes from.
- Virginia Mackay — Travel AdvisorTreasurer, Greater Seattle Chapter of ASTA
Preferred Partners
Our services
crafted around how you travel
From Disney specialists to destination weddings, cruises, villas, and custom itineraries — discover how our top-tier advisors curate bespoke experiences for travelers across the West Coast and nationwide.
Disney Vacation & Cruise Specialists
Expert planning for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani — timed for parades, dining, and family magic.
Airfare, Rail, Hotel & Car Rentals
Seamless booking for flights, trains, luxury hotels, and ground transportation worldwide — coordinated as one itinerary.
Cruise & Tour Packages
Ocean and river cruises plus guided tours across iconic destinations — matched to ship, cabin, and shore style.
Destination Wedding Planning
End-to-end destination wedding planning — venue, guest travel, welcome events, and the moments that make it yours.
Honeymoon Packages & Registry
Romantic, tailor-made honeymoons with optional travel registries so guests gift experiences instead of duplicates.
Spa & Wellness Getaways
Rejuvenating wellness retreats, luxury spas, and holistic escapes paced for real recovery — not a packed schedule.
Eco Tourism
Sustainable journeys that respect nature and local communities — without sacrificing comfort.
Multi-generational & Family Vacations
Thoughtfully designed trips for mixed ages — connecting rooms, varied pacing, and activities everyone can enjoy.
Luxury Villas
Private luxury villas with exclusivity, staffing options, and space to gather — curated for privacy and comfort.
Custom Itineraries
Fully personalized travel plans crafted around your interests, pace, and lifestyle — not a package template.
Travel Insurance
Travel protection guidance so cancellations, interruptions, and medical events don’t become financial crises.
Testimonials
I could not be happier with how our two week European trip turned out. It was too big of a trip to plan myself. And I am SO HAPPY with all the work Monica put in.
Ingrid B.
Planned with Monica Hübinette
Common questions
From travelers in Washington
Why do travel advisor certifications matter?
They show that an advisor has completed professional training and proven their knowledge, not just booked a lot of trips. The Certified Travel Associate (CTA) from The Travel Institute and ASTA's Verified Travel Advisor (VTA) both require passing exams and keeping the credential current, and they cover the whole profession rather than one product. Destination certifications add a further layer: specialized training in a place and often firsthand experience of its properties.
Who would I be working with in Washington?
Shawn van der Putten, Monica Hübinette, Debi Ivie or Virginia Mackay, depending on where you are going. Shawn is a Certified Travel Associate and an ASTA Verified Travel Advisor covering Italy, France and Australia; Monica is a Master Japan Specialist and a level-two Certified Tahiti Specialist.
Do you have an office in Seattle?
Not in Seattle itself. We have a Pacific Northwest office in Bothell, by appointment rather than a walk-in storefront, and our head office is in Roseville, California. Most Washington planning happens by phone, video and email, with our advisors meeting clients in person where it suits.
Are your advisors involved in the travel industry locally?
Yes, at officer level. Shawn van der Putten is Secretary and Virginia Mackay is Treasurer of the Greater Seattle Chapter of ASTA. Monica Hübinette is Secretary and Webmaster of Skål International Seattle. Three officer positions across both organisations is unusual for an agency our size, and it is where a lot of our supplier relationships come from.
Can I fly nonstop from Seattle to Europe or Asia?
Often, yes. Seattle-Tacoma International has nonstop service to 36 international destinations, including London, Paris, Rome, Athens, Barcelona and Reykjavik in Europe and Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong in Asia. Some routes are seasonal, so your advisor checks what is flying on your dates before building the trip around it.
Do you charge a planning fee?
Yes, on some trips. We charge a planning fee for complex or bespoke itineraries and for airfare. Straightforward bookings usually carry no fee. Your advisor tells you which applies before any work starts, so there is no surprise at the end.
Is it cheaper to book with a travel agent?
Not always cheaper on the headline price, and anyone who promises otherwise is overselling. What you get is access to rates and amenities that are not published publicly, someone who has inspected the property, and a person to call when a flight cancels.
Are you a registered seller of travel?
We are. Our Washington seller of travel registration is 604-195-854.
What does being registered in Washington actually mean for me?
Washington regulates sellers of travel under RCW 19.138, and 604-195-854 is our registration under it. It means client money for travel is handled under that chapter's rules, that you get the written disclosures it requires at the time you pay, and that if something goes wrong you can take it to the Washington State Department of Licensing rather than only to us. It is a consumer-protection registration rather than a mark of quality, and the difference is worth knowing.
Plan your next trip with a Washington advisor
Call (425) 620-0100 or email info@exquisitetravelgroup.com. We serve Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Everett, Tacoma, Olympia, Bellingham, the wider Puget Sound region, and clients across North America.
