A Better View Travel offers luxury, boutique travel consulting. While offering a very hands on high service concierge experience.
A Better View Travel is ready to assist clients traveling anywhere in the world, using a network of experts to design your custom travel experience.
We have in-house expertise and extensive knowledge (having visited more than 30 countries on multiple continents and having visited more than 40 US States) of: Europe, North & South America, The Caribbean and Asia.
We work with you to deliver unique experiences, customized to your want and needs. We have planned trips dedicated to: Art, Architecture, Cruises, Food and Wine, National Parks, Rail Travel, River Cruises and many more!
"Two weeks of luxury, culture, food and wine! A Better View worked with us to create a personalized vacation across Spain, including 4 cities with 5 star hotels, private tours, hiking, museums, and Michelin-rated dining. They were available prior to and throughout our travel to answer any questions and help adapt our itinerary as need. It was true concierge service for stress-free travel. Highly recommend!"
-Kate, Happy Repeat Client
"Fantastic trip! Could not be happier with the personalization, communication and overall experience working with A Better View Travel. Highly recommend."
-JBN, Happy Repeat Client
Melissa Barkalow recently helped plan a summer 11-day vacation to southwest France (the Boardeaux and Dordogne regions) for my husband, mother, aunt, and husband. The trip included an 8-day luxury river cruise on Uniworld, as well as a few days in Toulouse split on either side of the cruise. Melissa was meticulous in her planning — down to providing excellent restaurant recommendations in Toulouse. As our group was quite interested in Roman history and the antiquities, Melissa arranged museum visits and even suggested stops for drinks along the way. Melissa is a thoughtful Travel Advisor who is focused on every last detail — from well before you pack your bags, to the moment you leave your home, and then return — so you can truly relax and savor every moment of your trip. Well before our trip, Melissa provided an organized travel itinerary (available via a helpful app) and was available for any questions up to departure — and she was always just a phone call or text away during the trip to resolve any questions or issues (which provides invaluable peace of mind). This is our third trip planned with Melissa, and we will never not have a major trip arranged without her: It only makes sense to have a professional, subject-matter expert like Melissa help guide and assist you (just as you would want a Financial Advisor to help guide you with such matters). Thank you, Melissa, for yet another amazing luxury vacation!
-SMcW, Happy Repeat Luxury Traveler
This trip was well planned, a day in Denver before getting on the Rocky Mountaineer for the Rockies to Red Rocks train experience. A Better View Travel did a fantastic job of planning every detail, had a wonderful trip.
Happy Traveler
-SLB, happy repeat traveler
I wanted to thank you for helping to organize and plan our vacation - Ireland is a beautiful country!
-Sarah, happy repeat client
I am a Virtuoso travel advisor based in the Washington DC region, who has earned the Certified Travel Advisor (CTA) designation and have a membership with the Cruise Lines Industry Association.
I have a passion for travel, learning about different cultures, foods, history and art. Three study abroads to England, France and Italy. I continue my learning through trips, as I have been fortunate to visit almost every Western European country and several Eastern Countries, over 30 US states, Mexico, Canada and Hong Kong. I have personally visited over 20 countries and have experienced several river cruises.
My clients say I communicate well, listen, am detail orientated and am passionate about what I do.
I love to help clients' travel dreams become reality. As a CTA and Virtuoso travel advisor, I have access to our global network of hotels, tour operators, cruise lines, private guides and more to create personalized, customized trips tailored just for you. If you book through me, I can access Virtuoso exclusive experiences such as private shore excursions or behind-the-scenes tours, plus lots of hotel perks, such as room upgrades, spa and dining credits and free breakfast. I look forward to hearing from you!
CTA Certified, CLIA (Cruise Lines) Member, IATA Member