Customized guided and experiential vacations

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Nora Blum, Travel Agent in Minneapolis, MN

Nora Blum

Minneapolis, MN Travel Agent
Super Agent

Nora Blum

Minneapolis, MN · 25+ Years of Experience

A full-service Travel Leaders Associate Agency
5.0
(88)
100% Recommended
Nora has been helping me with my travel arrangements for over 10 years and she is absolutely THE BEST! I can always count on Nora... Read More >
About
Reviews
Certificates & Awards
My Places
Travel Stories & Media
Client Testimonials

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Machu Picchu, Peru, Costa Rica, Europe, England

Interests:

River Cruises, Small Ship Cruises, Couples & Romance, Bespoke Travel, Honeymoons

Suppliers:

AmaWaterways, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Viking, Azamara

About Me

Melk Abbey
Melk Abbey

 

Luxury Travel Advisor | Private Guided Tours & Small Ship Cruise Specialist

With 25+ years crafting worry-free vacations, I specialize in privately guided tours and small ship cruises across Latin America, Europe, and worldwide destinations. My approach is simple: understand your unique travel style, then design personalized itineraries that transform how you see the world.

Private Guided Travel Expertise

Private guided vacations offer unmatched flexibility and local insight. Expert guides eliminate travel hassles while sharing deep cultural and historical knowledge. I arrange private tours worldwide—from European city explorations to Latin American adventures—each customized to your pace and interests.

Small Ship Cruising

Small ship cruises and expedition cruising provide intimate, immersive experiences impossible on large vessels. I specialize in boutique cruise lines that access remote ports and deliver personalized service for discerning travelers.

Personalized Travel Style Matching

Your ideal trip reflects YOUR preferences:

  • Adventure + Luxury: Active daytime excursions paired with five-star hotels and luxury accommodations
  • Sustainable Travel: Eco-friendly hotels and sustainable tourism experiences with farm-to-table dining access
  • Independent Exploration: Solo travel with local host services for authentic insider experiences
  • Cultural Immersion: Private guide-led tours focused on history, art, and local traditions

Specialty Destinations & Experiences

  • Custom Latin America tours and Central America travel
  • European private tours and cultural itineraries
  • Expedition cruises to remote destinations
  • Culinary tourism and food-focused journeys
  • Off-the-beaten-path adventures

Transformative Travel Philosophy

I believe meaningful travel changes you. Whether exploring hidden gems, connecting with local cultures, or discovering unexpected passions, every journey I design enriches your perspective.

As Henry Miller said: "One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things."My goal? You return home from every trip as a different person—more curious, more connected, more alive.

Why Work With Me?

  • 25+ years travel industry experience
  • Personalized service matching your exact preferences
  • Global destination knowledge with regional specialization
  • Stress-free planning from concept to return
  • Access to exclusive experiences and insider connections

Why work with a Travel Specialist?

Working with a knowledgeable adviser gets you advice, creativity and advocacy; those things are hard to come by online. Our expertise and connections are invaluable and in many cases we can help our customers save money and provide you with greater value.  I provide vacation planning advice and help potential travelers overwhelmed by (or just suspicious of) online choices. Together, we explore vacation options that are specifically chosen for you based on vacation goals that you may or may not even know are in the back of your mind.

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0
88 reviews
100% Recommended
Your trust is our priority. Every review is submitted by verified travelers after they have booked and completed their trips. Learn more about our review guidelines.
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Showing 88 reviews

NORA IS THE BEST!!
Reviewed By Kimberly - New Brighton, MN | Traveled to Mexico
Nora has been helping me with my travel arrangements for over 10 years and she is absolutely THE BEST! I can always count on Nora to find the perfect destination with great accommodations - and at a price I can afford. Nora is so helpful and knowledgeable - she definitely knows Mexico and the Caribbean - my favorite places to visit! She always goes above and beyond to make sure everything goes well. And, she also asks for feedback after the trip to make sure everything went as planned. I know people who try to plan their own international trips on the internet, but are very disappointed with how it turns out. I don't have to worry about being disappointed...because Nora helps arrange my trips. She's awesome!!
Nora Blum responded
"Thank you for your kind words. It certainly does help that I've been to many of your favorite places, and I do try to make sure everything goes well on all of our trips."
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
117 of 203 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Fabulous 15th Anniversary Trip!
Reviewed By Merkster - Lakeville, MN. | Traveled to Costa Rica ~ Central America
My husband and I knew we wanted to take a trip of a lifetime for our 15th wedding anniversary and for the first time decided to seek the help of a travel agent. Nora had come recommended and we are so glad we sought her guidance and expertise!

Nora was extremely helpful and knowledgeable during all phases of planning. She was patient when I couldn't make up my mind on hotels and locations and was a steady and calm force offering thoughtful feedback and pro/con arguments for various choices we had to make. She encouraged us to stick with our original Costa Rica plan when we considered alternative destinations, and I'm so glad she offered her genuine advice. She knew what we were looking for in this vacation and made the best recommendation for us.
She also offered sage advice to not fill up our vacation with excess excursions but enjoy the luxurious amenities of our hotels. All along I felt she was trying to provide us exactly the kind of trip we desired and that's what we got! :)
Nora Blum responded
"I'm thrilled your anniversary trip to Costa Rica was so fantastic and I look forward to working with you again on the next one."
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
78 of 129 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Amazing Family Trip
Reviewed By Susan - Macon Missouri | Traveled to Alaska ~ USA
We have worked with Ms. Blum since 2008 . Ms. Blum has helped arrange four trips . Ms. Blum responds to our emails within 24 hours. She has our travel information organized and easy to understand and follow.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
48 of 77 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Dream vacation to Hawaii
Reviewed By Randy - Mendota Heights, MN | Traveled to Honolulu, Oahu ~ Hawaii ~ USA
Our experience with Nora was great! My wife and I finally were able to have our dream vacation to Hawaii. Nora's experience and attention to details made our trip worry free and very enjoyable. Nora's knowledge of the islands made our decision to visit Honolulu, Kauai, & Maui something we will never forget.! I would highly recommend Nora for anyone planning their vacation.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
46 of 75 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
A new adventure in scotland
Reviewed By On the go - Houlton | Traveled to Scotland ~ Europe
Always excellent, plans trips according to her knowledge of site and knowledge of my likes and style
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
55 of 94 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

Certifications & Awards

ASTA is the leading global advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public.It is the world's largest association of travel professionals.Our members include travel agents and the companies whose products they sell such as tours, cruises, hotels, car rentals, etc.Expand your world. Go with the pros.
The Book with Confidence logo tells you that this Travel Advisor has direct access to comprehensive resources for safe and healthy travel, available at their discretion for sharing with clients.  This includes vetting the details on the health and safety protocols implemented by each travel provider in order to recommend the ideal itinerary for each client’s unique needs.
The Luxury Leaders Alliance is a unique networking environment for a carefully selected group of luxury advisors that have common experience, skills and mindset. Through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and educational opportunities, these elite advisors are empowered to provide sophisticated, personalized experiences to luxury travelers.
Certified Leisure Travel Specialist: During this certification program Travel Agents study several key components including: Sales and Service, Cruise Sales, Destination and Lifestyle Knowledge,  Programs and Preferred Supplier Knowledge. This is a two year study program.
Certified Luxury Travel Specialist: During this certification program Travel Agents study several components including: Understanding the Luxury/Experiential Customer, Destination Knowledge, Luxury Travel Experiences, Luxury Programs, Luxury/Experiential Preferred Suppliers, Case Studies and a Marketing Plan. This is a two-year study program.
A Honeymoon Wishes Agent provides the only full service honeymoon registry for couples that expect a higher standard for their wedding.
Certified Travel Industry Executive
2024 Agency of the Year Award
Certified Luxury Specialist
ASTA Verified Travel Advisor
Travel Leaders Certified Specialist

My Places

When it comes to travel planning, real-world experience makes a huge difference. Check out the map below to see all the places I have personally visited or booked for my clients. I know these destinations well and can give you reliable guidance.

My Travel Stories

Lake Morraine in Canadian Rockies

Do More in the Canadian Rockies

I work with local tour companies to curate custom vacation packages in different Canadian Rockies destinations, making it easy to continue exploring using Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper or Vancouver as your base.  These are amazing journeys to add on to your Rocky Mountaineer train journey. Here are four great ideas. 1.     Explore mor...
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Floating Mountains of Pandora

Adventure to Another World

I was lucky enough to experience a preview of Disney's Pandora - The World of Avatar.  Even if you haven't seen the movie Avatar, this new land located within Disney's Animal Kingdom allows visitors to imagine they have been transported across space to Pandora and explore the nature and wilderness of this interstellar planet.  It's not only beau...
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Victoria Falls

Traveling Solo?

There a many opportunities for people who choose to travel solo. Many adventure seekers choose to travel on their own and there are many ways to do so safely and without paying a lot more than other travelers who share their accommodations. Here's just a few reasons why people choose to travel solo. 1. Leaving your comfort zone might be a healt...
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Client Testimonials

Exceeded my hopes and expectations
Hi Nora, The trip was perfect. Exceeded all of my hopes and expectations. We had 2 beautiful days in Machu Picchu...pictures and descriptions simply do not fully capture how amazing it all is. We're still mulling over our next trip, but since this trip was so flawlessly planned...I will be calling you when we decide. Can't thank you enough for setting up such an awesome trip for us! Kelly
Kelly H., MN
Always planning a new adventure
Nora, your expertise and diligence has made it possible for your clients to explore the world, knowing that every aspect of their journey has been reviewed and detailed. I sincerely appreciate every ocean voyage and land excursion, together with the journeys that we have coordinated throughout every continent.. The trips have been fulfilling my gallavanting dreams.... Knowledge brings understanding....and I have learned ''volumes"....
Renee B., Richfield, Minnesota
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