It is often said that to know the person, you need to know their story. So, let me tell you a little of mine.
My name is Avril Winkle, CTA, CTC, CTIE, and I am the founder of Destinations Travel Services, Inc.
I am an entrepreneur with a passion for pushing the boundaries of experiential travel. Travel has been my career for more than 30 years, but my fascination with it began long before it became my profession.
I was born and raised in Northern Ireland, not far from Belfast International Airport. My dad loved airplanes, and on Sundays we would often go to the airport simply to watch the planes come and go. Even as a child, I was mesmerized by the thought of where they were going and what was waiting on the other side of the journey.
Somehow, even then, I think I knew that travel would become part of my story.
At 29, I left Northern Ireland and came to the United States in pursuit of my own version of the American Dream. Since then, I have built a business and a career around something I genuinely love: experiencing the world and helping other people experience it beautifully.
Experience You Can’t Find in a Search Bar
I have travelled extensively throughout the world, and I firmly believe that first-hand experience matters.
I don’t simply want to know what a destination looks like in a brochure or what is trending online. I want to understand how a place feels. I want to know what it is like to arrive, where to stay, what is worth your time, what isn’t, and which experiences will make you stop and think, This is why I came.
I specialize in bespoke journeys throughout Europe, Oceania, and Africa, creating immersive experiences that go far beyond simply checking destinations off a list.
That might mean a life-changing safari in Africa, discovering the “Real Europe” beyond the major tourist sites, wandering the cobblestone streets of a centuries-old village, or watching the sun disappear into the sea from a tiny waterfront taverna with a glass of rosé in your hand.
Perhaps Australia is calling you. Imagine feeding kangaroos at a wildlife sanctuary, floating over the landscape in a hot-air balloon at sunrise, dining beneath an extraordinary night sky, discovering Australia’s incredible food and wine, or learning about Indigenous Australian culture and storytelling.
Those are the moments I want my clients to experience.
Because years from now, you may not remember every hotel room or every transfer.
But you will remember how a journey made you feel.
Travel Is Changing — and I Love That!
Travel today is also about following the things you’re passionate about.
Global sporting events such as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and Formula 1, along with major concerts and entertainment events, are transforming cities into travel destinations of their own.
I’ve experienced this personally. Having travelled for artists including Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Shakira, I understand why people are willing to go the distance for something — or someone — they love.
But why fly somewhere just for the event?
Stay longer. Explore the city. Discover the food. Add another destination. Turn game day or concert night into the centerpiece of an incredible vacation.
That’s where travel becomes a story rather than simply an event.
A Forever Student of the World
Despite more than three decades in this industry, I still consider myself a “forever student.”
Travel changes constantly, and so does the world. My hunger for knowledge, professional education, and first-hand experience allows me to continually evolve — because my clients deserve advice that is current, informed, and relevant.
But knowledge alone isn’t enough.
I believe the greatest value of working with a professional travel advisor comes from something technology cannot easily replicate: knowing you.
I am incredibly proud to have clients who have trusted me with their travels for more than 20 years.
Think about what that means.
Over the years, I learn how they like to travel. I know what they loved, what they didn’t, what matters to them, what makes them comfortable, and sometimes what they will love before they even realize it themselves.
That kind of relationship isn’t created by an algorithm.
Your Trusted Filter in a World of Information
Today, inspiration is everywhere.
TikTok. Instagram. Reddit. YouTube. Facebook. Google. ChatGPT.
Travelers often arrive at my door having done an incredible amount of research — and I welcome it. I love hearing about the hotel someone discovered online, the restaurant they saw on Instagram, or the destination suddenly appearing all over their social media feed.
My job isn’t to dismiss that research.
My job is to bring clarity to it.
I become your trusted filter — separating inspiration from misinformation, explaining what is actually current and accurate, and determining whether something that looks fabulous online is genuinely right for you.
Technology can provide thousands of possibilities.
Experience helps determine which possibility is yours.
Travel With Intention
As a mother of two, I believe deeply that time together and shared experiences are among the most valuable investments we can make.
Travel can expand our horizons, deepen relationships, introduce us to people whose lives are completely different from our own, and sometimes change the way we see the world — and ourselves.
That’s why I design travel intentionally.
I listen.
I ask questions.
I want to understand not only where you want to go, but why you want to go there.
Then I bring together my experience, knowledge, creativity, professional relationships, and attention to detail to create something that feels unmistakably yours.
And once you travel, my responsibility doesn’t disappear.
From our first conversation until you walk back through your own front door, I believe I have a duty of care to my clients. When the unexpected happens, having someone who knows you, knows your journey, and is prepared to advocate for you can make all the difference.
It is often during those moments that professional service proves its true value.
My Definition of Luxury
Luxury isn’t simply a five-star hotel, a private transfer, or a beautiful suite.
Luxury is in the experience.
It’s having the time to sit in that little café you discovered by accident.
It’s meeting someone who gives you a glimpse into a completely different way of life.
It’s watching an African sunset and realizing you’ve gone completely silent.
It’s sharing a meal you’ll still talk about ten years later.
It’s knowing the details have been taken care of, so you can simply arrive and exhale.
I have spent my life exploring this beautiful world, and after more than 30 years in travel, my passion for it hasn’t diminished.
If anything, it has grown stronger.
I still get excited about discovering somewhere new. I still want to learn. And I still feel incredibly fortunate when someone trusts me with something as valuable as their time, their money, and their memories.
The best trips aren’t simply booked. They’re designed — intentionally, personally, and with a genuine understanding of who you are.
So give yourself permission to travel boldly and beautifully.
It’s time to choose your dream and create your own personal travel story.
What does your perfect adventure include?
A Few of Avril’s Favorite Things:
- Favorite Music: I’m an ’80s girl at heart. I loved Queen, was absolutely convinced I’d marry George Michael, and I have a serious soft spot for Latin music—especially Shakira!
- Favorite Drink: A vodka and tonic with lime when I’m watching my waist, but a blackberry mojito is definitely my favorite. I’m also rarely without water—I try to drink about half my body weight in ounces every day. A girl’s got to stay hydrated, especially when traveling!
- Favorite Food: Indian and Thai are firm favorites, and a good bar of Cadbury’s Fruit & Nut chocolate goes a very long way!
Avril’s Travel Tip:
Learn a little of the local lingo—and always pack a change of clothes in your carry-on.
About a month before I travel, I use a language app to learn a handful of useful words and phrases. It’s amazing how far a simple hello, please or thank you can go. I’ve found that people really appreciate it when you make the effort to communicate in their language.
And as for that change of clothes? I learned that one the hard way after an entire tray of Christmas cocktails landed in my lap on a long-haul flight. Eight hours in damp, sticky leggings was all the encouragement I needed.
Lesson learned: the travel advisor now always has a Plan B in her carry-on!