(40 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Gabrielle Estel

Cedar Rapids, IA
International Travel Leisure Specialist

I live to travel. I’ve invested over 4 years of my life living abroad.

I lived in Taiwan and explored Asia. Then, I moved to Egypt and explore the Mediterranean and the Sahara. From living with a host family in Spain as you...
Learn more about me.

Vietnam Travel Expert

Hanoi Beauty
Hanoi Beauty

I’m thrilled to announce I was invited by Kensington Tours to be a Brand Ambassador and explore Vietnam with them this spring. On our trip, I was accompanied by Kensington’s Midwest Business Development Manager, Asia Destination Lead, and a variety of professional guides to taste the best of all Vietnam has to offer while learning the logistical details of traveling across these two countries.


Living History: Ha Long Bay + Hanoi Hilton


Kayaking through emerald waters, weaving between limestone karsts, and uncovering hidden lagoons was the perfect way to immersed myself in Ha Long Bay’s beauty. Thousands of limestone islands crowned with rainforests make up this historical UNESCO World Heritage site. We also got to see the islands from above in a private seaplane charter. Spending a night on a mega yacht was the perfect place to watch the islands go by with a cocktail in the infinity pool.


Back in Hanoi, we visited with an American Vietnam veteran about his experience in the war and his return to Vietnam to start a program diffusing old war bombs. His organization diffuses about 4 bombs per day and has safely removed over 815,000 bombs since its inception. After our visit, he guided us through Hao Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) and pointed out his own photo and various other moments relating to his journey.


Abundant Culture: Hoi An + Mekong Delta


Hoi An’s Ancient Town has the most adorable small village charm. It has a unique mix of Chinese, Japanese, French, and Vietnamese architecture with a lovely river nearby. We visited all the main sights of Ancient Town (think ornate temples, heritage homes, and museums) while shopping our way through the district! I purchased beautiful paintings on traditional Do paper and customized leather shoes. After an amazing private meal with a chef who worked with Gordan Ramsay, we returned to the river and sent out floating paper wishes in the water.


In Ho Chi Minh City, we experienced the feeling of zipping through traffic and neon signs to the best food places on our Vespa Tour before heading out to the Mekong Delta in the morning. The Mekong Delta was gorgeous and offered a unique way to explore the agriculture of Vietnam from our boat. We visited a coconut farm and tasted coconuts chopped right off the tree, took a bike ride through the countryside, visited two local homes, made fried rice crackers, tried homemade alcohol, and rode a sampan through a thin water inlet.


Planning Your Own Vietnamese Adventure


If reading about my Vietnam journey has ignited your wanderlust, I'd love to chat with you about it! Feel free to reach out to me, and we can discuss all the exciting possibilities and practical tips to make your adventure truly unforgettable.


Whether you're interested in kayaking through Ha Long Bay, shopping through Hoi An, visiting Vietnam War sights, exploring street food, or more, I'm here to help.


 

My Reviews

4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The best experience and best planned trip ever!!
Working with Gabrielle Estel on our first trip to another continent was an absolute pleasure. She is responsible for making this trip to Egypt the best trip my family has ever taken. She was super patient, knowledgeable and kind throughout the planning process. Gabrielle was always there to take my calls before our departure on this elaborate trip. We were a little nervous that everything would work out as planned. The trip was flawless, and Gabrielle made that possible. I called her often during planning and she was always there to answer her phone and she did so cheerfully. My wife and two children had a wonderful time. The resort in Cairo and Luxor were beautiful. The private tour guides were prompt, very accommodating and knowledgeable. The private tour was the best decision we made. Next time we plan a trip, we will be calling Gabrielle for sure!
By  William  from  1376 Hanover Street Yorktown Heights NY 10598
Traveled to  Cairo ~ Egypt ~ Africa
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Gabrielle Estel responded:
Thank you so much for taking time to write this review, William! I had a great time getting to know your family as we planned your perfect trip to Egypt. I look forward to helping your family create many amazing memories during your future travels!

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3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Food and Family Fun in Italy and Greece!
Gabrielle-

We had a great trip. All hotels were perfect. The tours were great and the transportation worked great. I was impressed that even with flight delays they were waiting for us. Greece had an added benefit that both in Athens and Mykonos we were met by a travel representative and driver. The rep gave us a personal number if we needed anything and they were fast to respond. The cooking classes were prefect. It was hot the whole time we were there, but we completed almost everything.

Thanks so much for your hard work!
By  Melinda  from  Iowa City, Iowa
Traveled to  Italy ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Gabrielle Estel responded:
Thank you for your review, Melinda! I loved getting to know your family as we planned your amazing Italy and Greece trip to Rome, Athens, and Mykonos. I hope your daughter has a great experience studying in Greece later this year.

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3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Business travel plus R&R!
Gabrielle is focused on meeting your needs, including budget! What sets her apart are her attention to detail and engaging personality.
By  Iowa Mark  from  Iowa City, IA
Traveled to  Vietnam ~ East and Southeast Asia
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Gabrielle Estel responded:
Thank you for your review, Mark. I had a wonderful time finding the best relaxing spot in Vietnam for you to unwind and explore after your work trip. I look forward to adding personal value to more of your future work trips.

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3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Great trip
We were very happy with the service and planning that Gabrielle provided. Th e trip went smoothly and the one small problem was resolved promptly I would use her services again
By  Mike  from  Washington Iowa
Traveled to  Nuremberg ~ Germany ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Gabrielle Estel responded:
Mike, Thank you for your review! I had a great time hearing about what you learned from the excellent guides in Nuremberg, Prague, and Vienna. I look forward to helping you explore another part of the world soon! Best, Gabrielle

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3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Perfect Options!
Thank you so much for helping with my winter vacation. I was at a real loss on where to go and stay. I really appreciate you finding a wonderful location and given me some options for personal preferences. Your help with lodging, flights, transportation and excursions were on point and made this vacation the best. I will be contacting you again for my next vacation.
By  Curtis  from  Palo, Iowa
Traveled to  Dominican Republic ~ Caribbean
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Gabrielle Estel responded:
I appreciate your time for this review! I had a wonderful time getting to know your family and what makes a vacation perfect for you. I look forward to booking many amazing trips with you in the future!

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Go to my main profile

Destination Expert:

  • Vietnam
  • Hoi An
  • Hanoi
  • Ho Chi Minh City
  • Ha Long Bay

Travel Specialist:

  • Arts & Culture
  • Adventure
  • Independent Travel
  • Culinary & Foodie
  • Historical Sites

Top Travel Partners:

  • Kensington
  • AmaWaterways
  • Avanti Destinations
  • National Geographic Expeditions
  • Backroads

Certifications/Awards:

  • Certified Sandals Specialist
  • CIE Tours' Shamrock (Ireland) Certification
  • Avanti Certified Specialist
  • Aussie Specialist

Industry Affiliations:

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