Best Travel Agents in the West for 2010

Of the best travel agents on Conde Nast Traveler’s (CNT) annual list of the top specialist agents, featured in the magazine’s August 2010 issue, 38 agents are located in the Western U.S. Agents were selected by CNT’s consumer news editor, Wendy Perrin, based on high standards of knowledge and firsthand experience in their region, local connections, accessibility and value for money. The following is a list of CNT’s top travel specialists in the Western U.S for 2010.

Arizona
Bruce B. Sawyer, Touch the Southwest Tours, Flagstaff (Southwestern U.S.)

California
James R. Berkeley, Destinations & Adventures International, Beverly Hills (Egypt, Israel and Jordan)
Betty Cox, Travel Concepts, Fountain Valley (Hawaii)
Mary Crowley, Ocean Voyages, Sausalito (Yacht Charters: Worldwide)
Diane Embree, Michael’s Travel Centre, Westlake Village (Bali)
Leslie Fambrini, Personalized Travel Consultants, Los Altos (Small Luxury Ships)
Mindy Gleason, O.A.R.S., Angels Camp (River Rafting)
Kleon Howe, The Art of Travel, San Diego (French Polynesia and the Cook Islands)
Clark Kotula, Geographic Expeditions, San Francisco (Colombia, Ecuador and Peru)
Howard E. Lewis, Protravel International, Beverly Hills (France)
Colombe McCarthy, Destinations & Adventures International, Beverly Hills (France)
Brent Olson, Geographic Expeditions, San Francisco (Bhutan)
Jackie Richmond, Wine Country Concierge, Napa (Northern California Wine Country)
Monique Rodriguez, Cortez Travel & Expeditions, Solana Beach (Madagascar)
Andrea Ross, Journeys Within Tour Company, Truckee (Cambodia, Laos and Thailand)
Sanjay Saxena, Destination Himalaya, Novato (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Tibet)
Rich Snodsmith, Backroads, Berkeley (Bicycle Trips)
Susan D. Tanzman, Martin’s Travel & Tours, Los Angeles (Hawaii)
Lynette Wilson, Destination World, Hermosa Beach (Australia and Fiji)

Colorado
Meg Austin, The Travel Society, Denver (Scuba Diving)
Cherri Briggs, Explore, Steamboat Springs (Safaris: Southern Africa)
Nancy Craft, Esprit Travel & Tours, Telluride (Japan)
Tom Damon, Southwind Adventures, Littleton (Ecuador, Patagonia and Peru)
Jana Emery, Ski.com, Aspen (Skiing and Snowboarding: North and South America)
Joyce Falcone, The Italian Concierge, Aspen (Italy: Walking Tours)

Idaho
Lindsey Wallace, Linara Travel, Eagle (Maldives, United Arab Emirates and Oman)

Montana
Irene Edwards, GreenSpot.travel, Billings (Costa Rica)
Caroline Wood, Brownell, Bozeman (Rocky Mountains)

Nevada
Antonia Neubauer, Myths and Mountains, Incline Village (Nepal)

Oregon
Sylvia and Ted Blishak, Train Travel Consulting at Accent on Travel USA, Klamath Falls (Rail Travel in North America)
Chuck and Lynn Cross, Polar Cruises, Bend (Cruises: Antarctica and the Arctic)
Paul Niskanen, Cruise Masters, Portland (Cruises: Asia and the Baltic Sea)

Texas
Tom Baker, CruiseCenter, Houtson (Large Affordable Ships)
Dorothea Rasser, SkiEurope/Alpine Adventures, Houston (Skiing: Europe)
Leigh Ann Cloutier, Rico Tours, Austin (Costa Rica)
Rudi Steele, Rudi Steele Travel, Dallas (Western Europe)

Washington
Sheri Doyle, Pacific Northwest Journeys, Seattle (Pacific Northwest)
Janet Lanterman, Cruise Specialists, Seattle (World Cruises)
Rita Zawaideh, Caravan-Serai, Seattle (Jordan, Lebanon and Syria)

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