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Carla | Discover Wanderlust Travel

Hi, I'm Carla, an Virtuoso luxury travel advisor based in Tampa, Florida. I help busy couples alleviate the stress of researching and planning their well-deserved vacations. By personalizing the travel experience according to my clients' travel style, preferred pace, and goals, I help eliminate decision fatigue. My expertise is in crafting unique and personalized itineraries for Italy first-timers, luxury river-cruises with pre and/or post cruise immersions, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as chasing the Northern Lights and Antarctica or Galápagos expeditions. My clients are adventurous or curious at heart and prefer to travel off-the-beaten path, desire small-group and private touring, and appreciate travel as an essential part of living a full life. I help manage the finer details to avoid hiccups along the way. I'm with you as your advocate from the planning stages, during travel, and until you return home. All you need to do is pack! Join my NEW PRIVATE Facebook group to get to know me. It's a fantastic space where curious travelers can ask honest questions, share personal experiences, and tips in a safe space with like-minded travelers. I'll also debunk some travel myths, share industry news, travel tips, insider details and more.

Private Facebook Group
Featured Post

Adventures By Carla: Boutique Europe, Italy, River Cruises & Expeditions Private Facebook Group

My group is called Adventures By Carla: Boutique Europe, Italy, River Cruises & Expeditions. I'd love you to join me there. You can do so by clicking the link below⬇️ 👉🏼 JOIN HERE! 👈🏼 Over the past few months, I decided that I needed a better way to connect with my clients and other travel loving folk who are interested in having deeper conversations about travel. We receive an incessant amount of e-mails these days, and I no longer want to be a part of that nonsense (even though my emails...

World Map Travel

Carla’s Curated Compass Where culture, luxury, and adventure meet to spark your next unforgettable escape. Happy July my travel loving friends! As a Virtuoso Adventure Focused Advisor, I wanted to share some news. Over the past few months, I've been tuning my business to focus more on my adventure travelers who are curious at their core and desire more than just a run-of-the mill cruise. They want more out of their investment in travel, and ultimately want to return home from a transformative...

Woman in natural hot springs

Carla’s Curated Compass Where culture, luxury, and adventure meet to spark your next unforgettable escape. Hi Reader, Hawaii is beautiful, but have you consider The Azores? If Hawaii has been on your bucket list for too long but feels overwhelming, let me introduce you to its European counterpart — the Azores. This Portuguese archipelago, rises dramatically from the mid-Atlantic and offers that same Hawaiian combination of volcanic landscapes, lush tropical greenery, warm hospitality, and...

Lake Bled, Slovenia

Carla’s Curated Compass Where culture, luxury, and adventure meet to spark your next unforgettable escape. Hi Reader, Every month I decide on a destination in which to focus for my newsletter. I choose a destination that I feel offers what I and my clients love most. That is, extraordinary beauty, genuine warmth, and that feeling of discovery. This month, I'm talking about Slovenia. Slovenia is east of Italy, south of Austria, and north of Croatia and offers more than meets the eye. Think...

Lavender fields of Provence, France

Carla’s Curated Compass Where culture, luxury, and adventure meet to spark your next unforgettable escape. Hi Reader, There’s something especially magical about Provence, France when you experience it just outside the peak summer rush. Think rolling lavender fields, sun-drenched vineyards, and charming villages without the crowds. If you love the idea of sipping local wines, wandering quiet countryside markets, and truly soaking in the rhythm of southern France, this is your moment. Spring...

Six Senses Douro Valley - Port Wine Lovers' Paradise

Carla’s Curated Compass Where culture, luxury, and adventure meet to spark your next unforgettable escape. Hi Reader, As winter fades and longer days return, spring is one of the most inspiring times to begin planning your next journey. One destination that quietly captures the imagination this time of year is the breathtaking Douro Valley, paired with the vibrant riverside city of Porto. Here, terraced vineyards cascade down dramatic hillsides toward the Douro River, villages move at a...

woman perusing market in Italy

Carla’s Curated Compass Where culture, luxury, and adventure meet to spark your next unforgettable escape. Hi Reader, In the spirit of February and Valentine's Day, I wanted to share some details of a trip I've been planning for myself and my husband. This summer, we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary with a 17-day trip beginning in Dubrovnik, Croatia before continuing on with nights in Split and Rovinj to explore the Istria peninsula. The second half of our trip includes a stay in Lake...

Virtuoso Featured Property

Carla’s Curated Compass Where culture, luxury, and adventure meet to spark your next unforgettable escape. Happy New Year! It's a new year and time to start thinking about what new destinations to explore this year and start planning if you haven't already. It's never a good idea to wait until the last minute to plan travel. To lock in the most desirable locations on a ship or to assure your spot on a popular tour during peak seasons, its best to plan ahead. Hotel availability can become...

Vienna's Christmas Markets

December 2025 Carla’s Curated CompassWhere culture, luxury, and adventure meet to spark your next unforgettable escape. Hi Reader, The holidays are here and we are in full gear! As I reflect on another spectacular year of travel planning, I am so very grateful to have and work with such wonderful clients. I am thankful for each of you who have trusted me with your investment in travel. There is no better way to experience life than to explore the world, and it brings me so much happiness to...

Cheval Blanc Paris Hotel

Monthly Travel E-NewsletterNovember 2025 Hi Reader, I recently spent a few nights enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation with my husband in Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic. I stayed at the Secrets Resort & Spa, a Hyatt all-inclusive adults-only resort. All-inclusives are not my #1 preferred style of travel, but for a few days to relax and do just about nothing with the most genuinely pleasant and friendly staff attending to our every want and need, I can't honestly say I wouldn't go...