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Tully Luxury Travel is dedicated to sharing the world's most inspiring, life-enriching travel experiences with our discerning global clientele. Our expertise comes from first-hand knowledge of the destinations that we sell.
John & Karen
Rich & Bev
Founder & CEO
“The very first employee I hired 27 years ago is still with us today. I believe this speaks volumes about the kind of company we are. ”
Mary Jean Tully, Founder and CEO of Tully Luxury Travel, has been on the cutting edge of luxury travel for years. First established in 1987 as The Cruise Professionals, Tully’s travel agency has recently added African Dreams and Private Travel Designers to its roster of brands. Recognized by Forbes and Condé Nast Traveler, and named one of the most powerful women in travel by Travel Agent Magazine, Tully is renowned for her expertise, philanthropy, and enthusiasm. She sits on the Advisory Board for many leading cruise lines, hotels and travel suppliers, and has received numerous accolades identifying her agency as one of the best luxury travel providers in the world.
Client Testimonials
Mary Jean Tully
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Senior Travel Designer
About Violet Dubeau
Years with Tully Luxury Travel 10 Department Cruise & Private Travel Designers Favorite part of her job It’s about helping to create special memories. Once I know what gets my clients really excited, I can really get into planning a cruise that is going to be the trip of a lifetime. It’s the little things Creating a once in a lifetime experience for people is about listening and finding out what wows them individually. A surprise bottle of champagne can be as exciting as driving a red Ferrari on a road trip in Hawaii. Personal travel highlights I spent 3 weeks in Bali last year - it was amazing. I’ve also been to China a handful of times - the landscapes are beautiful. Dream trip Myanmar. The country offers a glimpse into a past world and a rich cultural history. I would also love to visit the Galapagos Islands for the diverse wildlife and scenery.
Uluwatu is definitely one of the top places on the island to go to for sunset delights, with direct views overlooking the beautiful Indian Ocean and daily Kecak dance performances. Balinese architecture, traditionally-designed gateways, and ancient sculptures – but watch out for the monkeys!! If you are looking for something to soothe the soul – Bali is the place to go.
The time I spent in Bali remains a precious memory; the many temples are so beautiful, one in particular is Uluwatu Temple which is renowned for its magnificent location, perched on top of a steep cliff approximately 70 metres above sea level. This temple also shares the splendid sunset backdrops as that of Tanah Lot Temple, another sea temple located in the island's western shores.
Bali remains as exotic and beautiful as its legends. It is a land of beautiful beaches, flowers and music – and temples in every house and on every corner. The Balinese people are friendly, and have an elegance in their walk and clothing unmatched anywhere else I have ever visited; their religious beliefs (they are Hindu) permeate their lives and they are unfailingly kind to all visitors. The combination of natural beauty and the wonderful people make for a country that welcomes visitors and is a true pleasure to visit.
Favorite part of her job Working with a great team with visionary leadership, and being able to translate travel dreams into memorable experiences. It is great to be able to quite literally make our client's dreams come true!! I love the freedom to explore the world in search of unique and wow experiences and collecting insider knowledge to share with our clients. One thing I have learned is the importance of listening more than speaking when it comes to clients. Everyone has different and unique needs, so it is important to be a good listener. Words to live by "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway". Whether it is taking on a new job, traveling to a new destination, beginning a new relationship, speaking to strangers at a party, or planning a great trip for someone you barely know, we all must overcome the fear and continue to grow throughout our lives and manage many changes and challenges. Personal travel highlights I have travelled to 6 continents and over 70 countries. Somehow, Australia is still on my bucket list. Having travelled throughout North America and Europe many times, in recent years I have turned my travel time to Asia with my favorite countries so far being Japan, Myanmar and India, experiencing each by train, river cruise, and land journeys. At every turn I have tried to enrich myself with the unique and sometimes unusual, and in various levels of comfort and style. Dream destinations Bhutan in conjunction with India Arctic Polar Bear Expedition
Director, Experiences
About Judi Cohen
Staying at the gracious and historic Belmond Governor’s Residence in Yangon, which was my quiet oasis from the amazing craziness on the streets of Yangon during the Annual Water Festival, was an experience I will never forget.
I was drawn in by the timelessness, tranquility and magic of Myanmar. It is like I took a step back in time as I sailed down the Irrawaddy River, stopping in small villages, interacting with the children, visiting several Monasteries, and being completely in awe at the site of thousands of stupas, temples and pagodas as we approached Bagan.
An avid Conservationist, Tully is passionate about the protection of wildlife in Africa, where poaching poses an urgent threat to Elephants, Rhinos, and Big Cats. “Pay it forward” is Tully’s favourite expression. “I’m passionate about Africa, its people, the wildlife, and the conservation of the land. Each day inspires me to help bring about change.” To see the magnificent African animals in their natural environment is absolutely breathtaking. I’m committed to doing all that I can to inspire change and create awareness through my conservation efforts. The senselessness of trophy hunting and poaching must end. I can’t imagine our world without elephants, rhino, and big cats. If you have not traveled to Africa, I encourage you to look through my pictures and stories. Hopefully you will get a sense of this region’s natural beauty and the importance of protecting this magnificent land.”
About Mary Jean Tully
On safari, you will be absolutely amazed when you see the magnificent “big five” in the wild: lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceros. All of the luxury safari camps we work with offer the creature comforts of home, including air conditioning, gourmet cuisine, spa treatments, and wine tastings. Whether you are looking for a quiet getaway to sooth the soul or a thrilling adventure, Africa will change the way you see the world!!
Southern Africa - encompassing Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa - is blessed with spectacular natural landscapes: soaring mountain peaks, serene plains with infinite horizons, ancient forests, and breathtaking beaches. Look down over the highest dunes in the world from a hot air balloon, learn about the nomadic Himba people, spend a few days exploring Cape Town, or just relax and enjoy the big night skies, brilliant with stars.
As the Founder and CEO of Tully Luxury Travel I’ve been extremely lucky to have had many life-changing travel experiences all over the world. But none have touched my heart and inspired me to “pay it forward” like my trips throughout Africa. My involvement in a number of conservation initiatives and strong desire to educate others about the wonders of this extraordinary continent led me to start the African Dreams division of my travel agency.
Years with Tully Luxury Travel 28 Claim to Fame I was Mary Jean’s first employee. I was working at another agency, and Mary Jean called pretending to be a client. She was checking out her competition. We hit it off, and after we hung up, she phoned me back 5 minutes later and told me she was opening her own agency. The rest is history! Department Cruise Favorite part of her job The opportunity to travel the world and the relationships I’ve developed with my clients. What sets us apart The customized travel experiences we create. Depending on what’s important to the client, we can put together any experience, from small group excursions to a private tour guide and car. Personal travel highlights The Galapagos Islands are fabulous. The highlight was kayaking with my husband into a beautiful lagoon, and having sea lions swim all around us. In 1999 I went on safari in Kenya and Nairobi. Since then I’ve done two more safaris and hope to do more. I also went to Tehran in 2010 with Mary Jean. We had the best time. Dream trip Machu Picchu with my husband and children.
About Loretta Darcy
Our itinerary also included visiting an island with the largest colony of Marine Iguanas. From the Zodiac we did a wet landing and as soon as our feet were on land, they were everywhere. Thousands and thousands of Iguanas looking up at you and piled side by side. Quite an interesting sight.
We also had the opportunity to Kayak for an hour which was a highlight. We went into this private lagoon and again the sea lions came out to play and entertain us. They swam around the kayak and then as if they were calling their friends to come out and play, 4 or 5 more showed up from the side lines. The water was crystal clear and we could sit back and watch them play.
My favourite animals were for sure the Sea Lions. We had the opportunity to swim with them and it was like we were in their playground. The younger sea lions would swim around you without any fear or concern. We snorkeled for an hour to 1 ½ hours 5 days of the 7 day cruise. Silverseas provided the equipment.
Years with Tully Luxury Travel 5 Favorite part of her job Getting to know my clients on a personal level and the opportunity to experience destinations I’ve never been to – allowing me to better service my clients and speak from experience. Personal travel highlights I love Bermuda and Italy and would never hesitate to go back to New Orleans! From the people you meet, to the history and music, to the most amazing Southern food you’ll ever eat – it’s hands down my favorite place to be. In terms of life-changing travel, Ethiopia was the biggest eye-opener for me and is an experience I will never forget! Dream destinations To relax and rejuvenate, I’d go to Tahiti. I’d also love to go to more exotic destinations like China, Bali Thailand, Africa & India. Off-hours I enjoy painting, going to the movies, and I also love to cook, especially Mediterranean food as I’m Armenian. Spending time with my family is also important to me, which of course includes my pets Rusty (Yorkshire Terrier/Shih Tzu mix), Sonny (Golden Retriever), Franklin (Tortoise), Echo (African Grey Parrot), Havana & Castro (my 2 Green Cheek Conure Parrots) & Coco the canary.
Travel Designer
About Salpy Naalabandian
Make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes; you’ll be doing a lot of it. Better yet, treat yourself to a nice foot massage after a long day of touring at one of the many masseuse shops right along Canal St., you’ll be glad you did!”
There’s truly something to do for everyone and for all ages. Putting the drinking and party nightlife aside which is expected from a trip to New Orleans, it’s the people; the history, the music, especially for those who are Jazz fans; to their street performers, to the most incredible, wholesome, deliciously mouth-watering Southern food you’ll ever eat, it’s hard not to fall in love with this city and so easy to get around! I loved it so much I went back the following year for Mardi Gras; I just had to see what all the fuss was about after speaking with many tourists like myself and the locals, what an experience.
Favorite part of her job Learning from my colleagues about how to create unique experiences for our clients and how luxury can be defined differently based on each client’s personality and needs. Motto Always say ‘Yes’ to trying something new. Personal travel highlights My highlights are all based on experiences and not necessarily the destinations themselves. I base my travels on the food that I want to taste and the adventures that I can experience and the local people that I can get to know. For adrenaline, I loved skydiving in Queenstown, New Zealand. For learning a new skill, it was taking surf lessons for the first time in Tofino, Canada. I pushed For pushing myself to the limit and fighting through altitude sickness, it was hiking up Mount Kenya. Dream trip Camping and Kayaking in Antarctica to complete my 7th and final continent.
Senior Marketing Coordinator
Julia Wong
Nothing is more exhilarating than successfully standing up on a wobbly surf board for the first time and feeling the power of the waves underneath you. Even though the Pacific is so cold that you need to wear a super thick wet suit to keep you warm, learning to surf is definitely one of my top travel highlights. Now, whenever I travel somewhere that has some good waves, I never miss the opportunity to jump on a surfboard.
The West coast of Canada is a beautiful place to visit for any outdoor enthusiasts. When looking for an adventurous vacation close to home, I always recommend Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Anywhere you look, you can get your daily dose of endorphins anyway you want. I’ve done yoga classes and hiked up rugged mountain trails, but one of most memorable experiences was taking surfing lessons in Tofino, British Colombia.