Bahamas Travel Agent | Islands Expert

View My Main Profile
Steven Callas, Travel Agent in NorthBrook, IL

Steven Callas

NorthBrook, IL Travel Agent
Super Agent

Steven Callas

NorthBrook, IL · 3 Years of Experience

Gilded Travels LLC, an independent agent with Nexion, LLC, a Travel Leaders Network Affiliate Agency
5.0
(18)
100% Recommended
I never would have picked Mallorca as a vacation destination. My wife likes the beach, I like adventure. Gilded Travels created the perfect one-week itinerary that... Read More >
About
Reviews
My Places
Client Testimonials

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Bahamas, Nassau, Bimini Islands, Great Exuma, Paradise Bay

Interests:

Beach Vacations, All Inclusive, Family Vacations, Sailing & Boating, Luxury

About Me

Kiteboarding in the Exumas, Bahamas
Kiteboarding in the Exumas, Bahamas

The Bahamas runs on Eastern Time, accepts U.S. dollars, and clears customs without much hassle. What surprises most people is how much variety exists within that ease. Nassau is big, busy, and full of things to do. Harbour Island is quiet, small, and flat-out beautiful. The Exumas are open water and empty cays. A well-planned Bahamas vacation starts with one question: which version is right for your trip.

WHAT KIND OF BAHAMAS TRIP ARE YOU PLANNING

  • Families with young children: The goal is kids fully occupied while the parents are actually relaxing. Baha Mar on Cable Beach is where I send most families. The Grand Hyatt, SLS, and Rosewood all sit on the same property, so the amenities pool is enormous: water parks, kids' clubs, and supervised marine programs within walking distance of each other. For a day off-resort, I book the Exumas charter: swimming pigs, nurse sharks, a sandbar lunch, and enough variety to keep kids talking about it for years.

  • Couples looking for some peace and quiet: Beautiful beach, small hotels, no resort crowds. Harbour Island is my first call. The whole island moves by golf cart and the pink sand is the real thing. I match couples to the right property: Coral Sands for social, The Rock House for design, Dunmore Beach Club for full quiet. Kamalame Cay on Andros suits couples who want more distance: a small private island, strong bonefishing, and very few other guests.

  • Active and water-focused travelers: Some trips are built around being near the water. This one is built around being in it. Andros has the third-largest barrier reef in the world and the best bonefish flats in the Caribbean. Out of Nassau, I put together day charters covering Big Major Cay, Compass Cay, the Thunderball Grotto, and Allen's Cay: swimming pigs, nurse sharks, and iguanas across one full day on the water.

  • Traveling as a Group: Getting a group trip right means the logistics have to be settled before anyone lands. Albany on New Providence is where I send most larger groups: marina, villa compounds, a Weiskopf-designed golf course, and a dining scene outside the tourist circuit. For full separation, I source private estates in the Abacos with provisioning handled in advance.

WHAT A BAHAMAS TRAVEL AGENT ACTUALLY DOES FOR YOU

The most important call on a Bahamas trip happens before anything gets booked: figuring out which island actually fits the trip. Most people anchor on Nassau by default, and for some clients that is exactly right. For others it is the wrong choice entirely, and the whole trip suffers for it. My supplier relationships at properties like Rosewood Baha Mar and the Four Seasons Bahamas on Paradise Island translate into things a booking engine cannot produce: confirmed room categories, pre-arranged credits, and access to limited inventory that fills fast. For clients who require a higher level of discretion around the full scope of their travel, that is handled privately and structured accordingly from the first conversation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: How do I decide between Nassau and the Out Islands?
A:
Nassau is the right base if you want options: restaurants, water parks, easy airport access, full resort amenities. The Out Islands like Harbour Island, Eleuthera, the Exumas, and Andros are quieter and more scenic, but they add a regional flight or boat leg to your trip. For a first trip with young kids, Nassau is almost always the easier choice.

Q: Is it worth adding another Caribbean stop to a Bahamas trip?
A:
For ten days or more, yes. The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos work well together: same focus, beach, water, relaxed pace. For shorter trips, one destination is usually the better call.

READY TO START YOUR BAHAMAS TRAVEL PLANNING

If you know roughly what you want and you are ready to stop researching and start planning, get in touch. A short conversation is usually enough to build the right itinerary.

Additional Languages
Greek

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0
18 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 18 reviews

A perfect Mallorca experience
Reviewed By Makis S. - Deerfield, IL | Traveled to Balearic Islands ~ Spain ~ Europe
I never would have picked Mallorca as a vacation destination. My wife likes the beach, I like adventure. Gilded Travels created the perfect one-week itinerary that had us exploring the beautiful beaches, hiking through rustic mountain villages, and dining at incredible restaurants on the island. No day felt too full or too empty. It was the perfect balance. Neither of us felt like we needed a "vacation from our vacation." I definitely recommend Steven and Gilded Travels and will be using them again!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
10/10 recommend- WORTH IT!
Reviewed By Tina K - Chicago, IL | Traveled to Patagonia ~ Argentina ~ South America
Steven was amazing to work with. I’m an anxious traveler and he made the process so easy! I’ve always wanted to go to Patagonia but didn’t even know where to start. Steven took control and created an itinerary for me that I could’ve never done myself. We worked together to tweak it a bit and next thing you know I’m climbing a glacier in Argentina! 10/10 recommend his services- WORTH IT!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Dream Trip
Reviewed By LBACE - Mishawaka. IN | Traveled to Greece ~ Europe
My wife and I worked with Steven for a trip of a lifetime in Greece. Steven went out of his way to provide service in recommending destinations, things to do and activities at each island we visited. We enjoyed incredible accommodations while exploring Greek culture, food and beverage. This was a memorable journey, which wouldn't have been so easy without his assistance. we highly recommend Steven for help in planning your getaways!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Trip of a lifetime!
Reviewed By Nancy P. - Arlington Heights, IL | Traveled to Europe
My husband and I planned an ambitious European trip and Steven made it happen. He was able to take our wishes and plan an itinerary which we thoroughly enjoyed. He worked with us as we fine tuned our plans, gave us options to choose from, and answered all of our questions. We were grateful that prior to our trip he checked in to be sure we had taken care of the items we needed to handle. During our trip we experienced a train delay which caused us to miss a connecting train and Steven was able to give us guidance so we could reach our destination. It was a pleasure to work with Steven, he showed real interest in our plans, and checked in once we returned. Thanks Steven!
Steven Callas responded
"It was such a pleasure to help craft this trip for you! Thank you for your kind words. I look forward to planning another trip for you in the future!"
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Gratitude for an excellent experience
Reviewed By Russ H. - Orlando, FL | Traveled to Jordan | Middle East
The balance was perfect; a fantastic mix of planned activities and personal time to explore. The meetings to pre-plan the trip were concise, helpful and relevant. Lots of great moments. Petra and Bethany by the Jordan were both highlights. It exceeded my expectations.
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

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.

Client Testimonials

Steven is your man for Japan!!
Steven was very professional with a great attention to detail. He carefully listened to what we wanted from our first trip to Japan, and he delivered! There were 3 of us traveling and he was able to plan an itinerary that met all our expectations.
Mario H. - Chicago, IL
Dream trip to Greece
My wife and I worked with Steven for a trip of a lifetime in Greece. Steven went out of his way to provide service in recommending destinations, things to do and activities at each island we visited. We enjoyed incredible accommodations while exploring Greek culture, food and beverage. This was a memorable journey, which wouldn't have been so easy without his assistance. We highly recommend Steven for help in planning your getaways!
Larry B. - Mishawaka, IN
Patagonia anniversary success
Steve was great to work with. We planned our trip in late January for November, and he guided us through it all and stayed on top of it following up with us in the fall and even checked in on the trip and after. It was great to have an expert who has traveled there really give us his recommendations. He nailed the whole trip out of the park and was one of the best life changing vacations we have taken. It was extra special because we celebrated our 20th anniversary.
Melissa H. - Riverside, IL
BESbswy