- Home
- Find A Travel Agent
- Illinois
- Randall Self
Randall Self
Chicago, IL Travel Agent· 8 Years of Experience
An independent agent with Avoya Travel, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
5.0
(32)
100% Recommended
He found us a great trip. Read More >
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Portugal, Israel, Paris, Europe, FranceInterests:
Cruises, Escorted Tours, Groups, Religious, River CruisesSuppliers:
AmaWaterways, Tauck, Viking, Avalon Waterways, AzamaraAbout Me
European Travel Specialist
EXPLORE. DISCOVER. EXPERIENCE.
I am a full-time travel consultant focused on European river cruises, ocean cruises, escorted tours, and customized vacations. I will guide you through every step of the process and each detail in planning your dream vacation. No task is too large, no detail is too small.
My greatest joy is to welcome you home from a trip we planned together and be the first to hear the stories you will tell for years to come.
Make use of my expertise to explore the world, discover something new, and enjoy experiences that create lasting memories. Let's get started today!
I have traveled extensively both at home and abroad while visiting every state in the continental United States as well as Portugal, Spain, France, and Brazil.
"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time." - T.S. Eliot
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Portugal, Israel, Paris, Europe, FranceInterests:
Cruises, Escorted Tours, Groups, Religious, River CruisesSuppliers:
AmaWaterways, Tauck, Viking, Avalon Waterways, AzamaraMy Travel Specialties
European Travel Specialist
▶European Travel Specialist
“People don’t take trips—trips take people.” - John Steinbeck.
Europe is a fountain of art, culture, cuisine, wine, music, and history. View Paris from the Eiffel Tower, visit Buckingham Palace, bike through Amsterdam, participate in the wine harvest, explore the Vatican Museums in Rome, a...Read More ▶
Paris - Destination Expert
▶Paris - Destination Expert
"Paris is always a good idea." - Audrey Hepburn.
Paris has a way of romancing visitors with its magnificent views, cobblestone streets, cafe culture, museums, fashion trends, beautiful Seine River, and the sparkling Eiffel Tower. Grab a picnic basket filled with French delights and relax o...Read More ▶
Discover Portugal!
▶Discover Portugal!
With enchanting cities, medieval castles, incredible food and golden beaches, Portugal is a treasure waiting to be discovered. As a Portugal Destination Expert, I have traveled from Lisbon to the northern reaches of the country.
For a small country, about the size of Indiana, there is so m...Read More ▶
AmaWaterways - River Cruise Specialist
▶AmaWaterways - River Cruise Specialist
One of the best ways to explore the European continent is through river cruising. Oceans take you to countries; rivers take you through them. You only need to unpack once while visiting grand capitals and charming villages alike. AmaWaterways wa...Read More ▶
Tauck - Guided Tours & Small Ship Cruising
▶Tauck - Guided Tours & Small Ship Cruising
As a family-owned travel company celebrating 100 years, Tauck's values and vision remain true: always do the right thing and deliver more than what's expected. Tauck has been named to Travel + Leisure's "World's Best" list for 26 consecutive years. With journeys across 7 continents, in over 100 d...Read More ▶
Viking Cruises Specialist
▶Viking Cruises Specialist
Centuries ago, the birth of the Viking Age gave rise to the Norwegian tradition of exploration. Today, Viking proudly carries on this tradition, providing a glimpse into the spirit of Norway with elegant ships built for discovery. Viking has been voted #1 in ocean, river, and expedition cruising ...Read More ▶
Faith-Based Journeys
▶Faith-Based Journeys
Have you ever been to the Holy Land? Have you ever desired to go? Together with ETS, the leader in faith-based travel, we can make those dreams become a reality. The Bible will come alive as you walk in the footsteps of Jesus, sail on the Sea of Galilee, and pray at the Western Wall on these Holy...Read More ▶
REVIEWS
Rating: 5.0
32 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.
Search reviews:
Showing 32 reviews
Greek Pilgrimage
Reviewed By KennyB - Jacksboro, TN | Traveled to Turkey | Europe
He found us a great trip.
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Pleasant and Prompt Service
Reviewed By EBKF - Shallotte, NC | Traveled to Canada
Randall provides prompt service, does his research for the best deals and is easy to work with. I have already shared his info with friends who have also used him for travel plans. We have been working with Randall since 2019.
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Great Trip
Reviewed By Karl - Atlanta, GA | Traveled to Paris | France | Europe
Randall was very helpful and Knowledgeable.
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Family Trip to France
Reviewed By Family Trip to France - Parkland, FL | Traveled to Provence | France | Europe
Randall did a fantastic job helping us plan our trip to France for our family -my husband, 2 young-adult kids & myself. He found a great special for our river cruise, which worked perfectly with our schedule. He also assisted with our air travel, transfers, and train tickets to Paris at the end of the cruise. He was always incredibly responsive and easy to communicate with. We would highly recommend him!!
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Couldn’t Have Done It Without the Help!
Reviewed By Danna - New Braunfels, TX | Traveled to Scotland | Europe
### Randall was amazing to work with! My sister has used him for past trips and recommended I reach out for my Europe trip, and I’m so glad I did. We only had about two months to plan, I wanted to visit three different countries, and our family’s travel plans kept changing. On top of that, I can be pretty picky, which I'm sure made things even more complicated! Despite all of that, Randall pulled everything together perfectly. He gave us advice on what to see and do, handled all the last-minute changes, and made the whole process way smoother than if I had tried to do it on my own. When my parents left and I stayed behind, he continued helping me plan while I was already overseas, which made such a difference. I really appreciated his flexibility, guidance, and support throughout the whole trip to Italy, Republic of Ireland, and Scotland. I’d absolutely recommend working with Randall to anyone planning their next trip, and I’ll definitely be reaching out again in the future!
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Certifications & Awards


Holland America Line Academy Specialist

MSC Masters

NCL University - PHD Degree

Oceania Certified Specialist

Oceania Certified Travel Advisor

Regent Seven Seas Luxury Cruise Expert

Royal Caribbean University - Master of Adventure

Seacademy - Gold Certification

Celebrity Learning Certification

Viking Expert

Viking Oceans Expert

Viking Rivers Expert

World Azamara Academy

AMA Academy

AmaWaterways Specialist
ATA Certified River Cruise Specialist
CLIA Certified Cruise Counselor
ETS Certified Faith-Based Travel Specialist
GoWay Certified Portugal Destination Specialist
TBO Certified Portugal Destination Specialst
$800K in 2024 Sales
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 Photo Albums and Videos
Portugal
View Album
France
View Album
My Travel Stories
My Itineraries
Porto & The Douro Valley
Countries visited
Portugal
Suggested Duration
9 Days
Client Testimonials
Wonderful Planning
Randall Self was wonderful gathering information for me, many options for a only Possible trip. He promptly responded to each question and planned several versions of a trip that each sounded wonderful.
Ginny H.
Excellent Agent
Randall Self was excellent! He answered questions quickly. He also was very knowledgeable about the Oceana cruise lines.
Jean M.
Cancelled Trip
Fantastic customer service. Had problems and spouse couldn’t go and we cancelled. Everything was taken care.
Ronald A.
Full Service Agent
Randall Self has been a very helpful and knowledgeable travel agent. He booked our plane, tour, extra day’s accommodations and transportation. He also sent us links for places to visit on our own while in Rome and Paris. He also booked those excursions for us. It is our second trip booking with Randall and we would definitely use him again.
Michalina J.
Great Deal
Randall Self always goes above and beyond to get me a good deal and help with every aspect of the plans. Recommend him highly.
Linda S.
Hard Worker
Randall Self always works very hard to ensure that we are completely satisfied with our travel arrangements. If your other agents work as hard as he does, I would always recommend Avoya Travel to others. Thank you, Randall, for your hard work.
Nijole J.
Easy Booking
Randall is great and always gives options and not a hard sell.
Karl S.
Lucky Travelers
We are very lucky to do business with Randall Self. He goes beyond and above to make our experience a memorable one. He always takes the time to explain the invoice and to make sure he understands our needs.
Lucille A.
Very Pleased
Promptness and thoroughness. Have been working with Randall Self for a few years now ...trust his suggestions. He researches and finds options that are suitable to our needs.
Rosana E.
Rhine Cruise
Randall was very knowledgeable and informative. No high pressure sales. Very easy and pleasurable to work with.
Dot C.
Pleasurable Cruise
It is a pleasure to work with Randall Self. He takes the stress out of traveling.
Marilyn L.
Rhine River Group
We are working with Randall Self and he has been amazing with all his information. He is very patient with first time river cruise questions.
Patricia B.
Rome to Paris
Randall Self has been a very helpful and knowledgeable travel agent. He booked our plane, tour, extra day’s accommodations and transportation. He also sent us links for places to visit on our own while in Rome and Paris. He also booked those excursions for us. It is our second trip booking with Randall and we would definitely use him again.
Michalina J.
Avalon on the Danube
Randall has been wonderful to work with. He is very patient and listened to us before making any recommendations. Once he understood what our needs were he came back with multiple options and paths for us to choose from. He also was very knowledgeable of the area and what activities had the highest ratings. He even saved us money by booking our local excursions and transportation, so we didn't have to worry about anything. He even helped us during one of our trips by contacting an excursion operator to solve an issue we were having. A++ Service!!
Ray B.
Azamara from Venice
Randall Self went above and beyond to help me make plans for my trip, couldn't have been more pleased with everything he did from booking trip, flights, hotels, transfers.
Ann R.