It should come as no surprise that Donna Peterson finds herself in the travel business. As the force behind Travel with Donna LLC, the longtime Ventnor, New Jersey resident always displayed a fascination to see and learn about new places. Even as a child, she enjoyed learning about different cultures and experiencing things outside of everyday life in South Jersey.
Because of her travel curiosity, Peterson quickly became the go-to person that friends and family turned to when they needed vacation planning. She explains how her lifelong passion blossomed into her current business, “The ‘travel agent bug’ really came when friends and family started asking me to help plan their vacations because they knew how much I enjoyed researching destinations, finding great experiences, and organizing every detail. I realized I truly loved helping people create memories, and that passion eventually grew into my business.”
An Eye for Vacation Details
In addition to being good at it, Peterson genuinely enjoys researching restaurants, excursions, transportation, and especially finding hidden vacation gems. In fact, picking the right destination for the right person is a science — carefully selecting and then putting each peg into place. Peterson explains why people entrust their valuable vacation times to her, “I pay attention to details and treat their vacations like they were my own. I also love matching people with experiences that fit their personalities and travel styles, whether it’s a relaxing cruise, a family vacation, or a bucket-list adventure.”
Peterson supports her clients from start to finish by taking time to get to know them and understand what they truly want out of their vacation. Unlike booking online, Travel with Donna clients know they have someone advocating for them before, during, and after their trip.
A recent Travel with Donna client, Deb Knight, thinks the world about Peterson and her services that “stay on top of everything.” After booking a complicated Transpacific Cruise, including flying to Sydney and then sailing for 18 days to Honolulu, Knight was beyond impressed. She explains what draws her to Peterson, “All of the extra things Donna does, without being asked, make all the difference to us when booking. She goes the extra mile and makes sure that everyone is happy and satisfied. You could not ask for a more thorough travel advisor, in my opinion.”
Endless Destination Options
Whether a local trip or an exotic destination, Travel with Donna helps clients navigate vacation planning waters. Throughout the year, Peterson offers bus trips that usually center around seasonal events, holidays, sports, and sightseeing. Popular destinations include New York City, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and a Phillies game, of course. One of her personal favorites is New York City during the Christmas season because the “…energy and decorations make it such a memorable experience.”
For the record, Peterson enjoys booking cruises — one of her many vacation specialties. She makes sure her clients have a smooth and enjoyable experience from the get-go. After talking to a client and getting a feel for their needs, she helps to select the right cruise line, ship, cabin type, excursions, dining options, travel protection, and transportation. She also gives it that extra “Donna touch” by guiding clients with details that many overlook like online check-in, required documentation, onboard apps, and packing tips.
So, what exactly is that “Donna touch”? A recent Travel with Donna client, Barbara Wilt, feels the service is second to none. Wilt explains, “Donna asks a few key questions and then does her magic. All we have to do is tell her where we would like to go and when, or what we would like to do, and she makes sure that it happens.”
By land or sea, Peterson enjoys what she’s good at — finding the right vacation for her clients. She always follows her steadfast mission, “My goal is to reduce stress so clients can focus on enjoying their vacation. I also stay available if issues arise before or during travel.” In addition, clients do not pay for her extra special care. She is paid through the company that she books through, so there is no added expense to use Peterson as your travel advisor.
Upcoming Plans for Travel with Donna
Peterson is always looking to expand and offer new travel experiences for her clients. For example, she is offering a Scandinavian Cruise in May 2027, Alaska in 2028, and Asia in 2029. In the near future, she is planning additional group trips and themed travel experiences, including more escorted tours and specialty cruises. She is also growing the luxury and customized itinerary side of the business, where clients receive more detailed day-by-day planning and personalized travel experiences. Because the travel industry is always evolving, Peterson enjoys finding new destinations and opportunities to share with clients. Like a fearless explorer, Peterson researches and guides travelers. She sums up her goals, “There is no adventure too small. I plan not only for groups but for solos, couples, families, and everything in between.”
