Fran Nelson

It was while studying at Long Island’s Adelphi University that Fran Nelson got her first taste of travel. As a component of the Education program, students could study abroad their junior year. With great excitement and a five-dollar-a-day budget, Fran set off to the University of Exeter.

Although her budget fell a bit short (she had to write home for more money), her travel plans did not. While based in England she was able to easily explore Europe and ventured to Norway, Sweden, France, Italy, Switzerland and the Canary Islands.

Back in the states, Fran graduated from Adelphi and taught elementary school for six years before leaving to start a family. It wasn’t until a move to South Florida in the early 90s that her love for travel could be revisited. She began working as a travel agent and in 2000 joined Unique Travel, where she has called home ever since.

In her more than twenty years as a travel consultant, Fran has developed quite a few favorite places, but her specialties continue to be the Mediterranean, Asia, and South America.  

Whether by land or sea, Fran always encourages a trip to the Med. Italy, France and Spain are the perfect coastal trifecta between the alluring French and Italian Rivieras and the enticing seaside wonders in Barcelona and beyond. If cruising, she recommends including either a pre or post exploration of your departure city to experience a deeper immersion in the culture than a port time allows. Her favorite launching city? Rome and why shouldn’t it be? With the colorful people, magnificent history and delicious food—the city is not short on offerings.

For the adventurous traveler, Fran picks Asia. Her love for the continent stems from a trip in 2007 when she hosted a cruise and was able to spend some quality time in Beijing. Given the opportunity to do some onsite private sightseeing, she gained invaluable knowledge about this gem of a city that she’s excited to share with China-bound clients. A nearby excursion to Xian, where she viewed the Terracotta Warriors proved to be monumental. Fran will tell you it’s reason enough to travel to the other side of the world, but she’s also quite fond of Shanghai and speaks fondly of Thailand’s Chang Mai and Bangkok as well.

Fran describes the Galapagos as, “nature at its most beautiful” and one of her favorite trips in South America to book. Snorkeling with sea lions or watching the mating dance of the Blue-Footed Boobies can be a life transforming experience. She shares that the “watching but no touching” policy adds to the mystique of this pristine paradise.  

Fran specializes in family travel to all of these luxurious destinations, creating picture perfect trips for any group size or age range. Her strength is creating custom trips around her clients’ individual needs and passions and always goes the extra mile to ensure each trip is catered specifically to those traveling. Her job description is, after all, making dreams become reality.