Shelly
Bunge

If you are seeking soft adventures, off the grid destinations and the kind of close encounters with wildlife and non-Western cultures that these locales provide, then I would love to help you chart your course. I have been traveling to remote corners of the globe for decades and am passionate about helping others experience the journeys of their dreams.

Soft Adventure & the Luxury of Seclusion

I am a travel advisor with a unique specialty: I am a remote/exotic destination planner. My passion for travel centers on planning soft adventures, encounters with wildlife & non-Western cultures and super-deluxe retreats in remote parts of the world. For 27 years, I led a dual life. In my professional life, I led the Music Affairs Group at Sony Pictures providing musical content for all of Sony’s film & TV productions. My job was exciting & rewarding and I loved it! But it was also challenging (as was my partner’s job, as she too was a high profile entertainment lawyer). As such, in my personal life, I planned elaborate itineraries to far-flung destinations and as often as we could, we ventured to remote locales where there was often no phone or internet service to immerse ourselves in nature & seclusion to recharge.

We’ve been to all 7 continents at least twice and visited 73 countries. Wherever we go, we seek out ways to engage with culture and nature, whether it’s joining a tribal ceremony in Papua New Guinea or participating in a Lantern Festival in Thailand. We love observing wildlife, both on land & underwater, like scuba diving in Palau, Raja Ampat & the Similan Islands. And of course, we love the Polar Regions, having made 5 Polar journeys to Antarctica, Svalbard, South Georgia & the Canadian High Arctic/ Baffin Island. However, we like to combine our adventures, like swimming with humpbacks in the Silver Bank off the DR or temple exploring in Angkor Wat, with a stay at a remote and exclusive hideaway such as one of the Virtuoso resorts.

Several years ago while cruising in the Kimberley of NW Australia, a region where few Americas visit, we befriended a U.S. travel professional who was surprised to learn about the extent of our travels as well as the many exclusive resorts we’d stayed. She suggested that if I ever wanted to leave the entertainment business, I should consider a position in travel. Last year, when I decided to retire from Sony, I made the switch. Since I was known to my colleagues as the go-to person for advice about adventure trips to exotic locations, it seemed like the next logical step.

Despite the fact that I loved researching my own trips, I knew firsthand the value of a good travel agent & used a trusted advisor to book my travel. Like me, she was well traveled and there was peace of mind knowing she was there for me if I needed help while on a trip. Plus, as a Virtuoso agent, she provided me value-added amenities and VIP recognition that travelers booking on their own cannot secure.

As a lawyer/deal maker, my job was to head off problems before they happened and find solutions that made everyone happy. As a travel advisor, I now apply those same skills and strategic thinking to every trip I plan. I think through every detail so my clients don’t visit a much anticipated city on the day when 5 cruise ships are in port or plan a stargazing evening on the night of a full moon. I may suggest shifting your itinerary slightly to catch a local festival and I know ways to save money and which experiences are worth the splurge. I’ve had some extraordinary travel experiences in my lifetime. Sharing those stories & planning bucket list trips for clients is what excites me about being a travel advisor.