About Tesa

The travel bug bit me hard when I was a child. I collected stamps, poring over the names and images from foreign lands, dreaming of the day I would visit their shores. This passion runs in my blood. My family owned a travel agency in the Philippines. I was an agent in my 20's before I pursued a career in the fashion industry in New York. Even as a fashion executive, I was always in charge of planning vacations for family and friends. They trusted my taste, enthusiasm and attention to detail. One day, sitting at my computer at my home in Manhattan, researching yet another trip, I told my husband, "I can do this every day of my life." And so Travels with Tesa came to be.

I specialize in affordable luxury travel -- beautiful experiences that won't break the bank. I've kneaded dough with Greek bakers on a windswept isle in the Aegean. I've climbed to the top of Mt. Batur to watch the sun rise over Bali. I've ridden horseback through Viñales' Valley of Silence in Cuba. Throughout, I've dined grandly and stayed in tasteful, stylish quarters. Best of all, I've met fascinating people and made friends across many cultures. 

This is what you can expect from my guided trips: small groups, boutique accommodations, local interaction, history, art, fantastic food... and a little shopping. After all, you can take the girl out of the glamour trade, but you can't take the glamour out of the girl.