Viewfinder Travel
Based in Pacifica, California, Viewfinder Travel helps travelers discover France, Hawai'i, Northern California, and other destinations through thoughtfully designed itineraries that celebrate beautiful hotels, great food and wine, local culture, and a slower pace of travel.
OUR TRIPS ARE CURATED WITH LOVE, AS IF THEY WERE OUR OWN.
Many of the places I recommend come from my own travels, while others come through trusted local experts and relationships I have built over the years. Every recommendation is one I would gladly make to my own family and friends.
WHAT IS BOUTIQUE TRAVEL?
Boutique travel is not about spending more, it is about traveling more thoughtfully. It means choosing hotels with character over size, lingering over long lunches instead of rushing between attractions, and returning home with stories rather than a checklist of places you have seen.
WHY USE A TRAVEL ADVISOR?
You are not looking for a packaged vacation. You are seeking something that reflects your style, your pace, and your passions. That might mean wine tasting in a quiet Provençal village, exploring coastal trails in Hawai’i, or staying in a hotel that feels designed for you. For many clients, that includes family travel planning for teens, where independence, shared experiences, and thoughtful pacing all matter.
This is where I come in. I design travel with intention. I ask thoughtful questions, listen closely, and create itineraries that feel personal and effortless.
I spend a great deal of time scouting destinations before I recommend them. I wander neighborhoods, stay in boutique hotels, visit wineries, search for restaurants worth lingering over, and pay attention to the kinds of discoveries that eventually become part of my own guidebook of places I end up recommending again and again. Those discoveries become part of every itinerary I design.
As a Fora travel advisor with access to trusted networks like Virtuoso, Hyatt Privé, and Rosewood Elite, I can offer perks and upgrades that are not available through online booking platforms. More importantly, I help you avoid the overwhelm.
You bring the curiosity. I bring the clarity.
WHAT ARE BOUTIQUE HOTELS?
I have always believed that where you stay matters just as much as where you go. A thoughtfully chosen hotel, a memorable meal, a beautiful walk through a neighborhood, or a conversation with a local often becomes the part of the trip you remember most. Those are the experiences I hope to create for every client.
Boutique hotels are distinct from large chains. They are smaller in size—typically under 100 rooms—and offer a strong sense of place, personalized service, and thoughtful design. Rooms are not uniform; each space often reflects the local culture through unique décor, antique furnishings, or a theme such as art, culinary focus, or wellness. Boutique hotels are often more affordable than traditional luxury properties, but they do not compromise on quality. In fact, their service tends to be more personal, less formal, and more attuned to individual guests.
About JODY
I am someone who is excited by life, by all things creative, and finding the beautiful in the every day.
I run this business with the same values I hold in life: being kind, on time, and helping people however I can.
The idea of planning a trip lights me up!
(Also, ask anyone who knows me, I plan in my sleep!)
OUR TRAVEL NETWORK
Through my partnerships with Fora and trusted luxury hotel programs including Virtuoso, Hyatt Privé, Rosewood Elite and others, I can often provide complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, resort credits, and VIP amenities that are unavailable through public booking sites.
Follow my guides here on Fora or in my Travel Destinations and Ideas section.
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”― Marcel Proust