(66 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Nora Blum

Minneapolis, MN
Customized guided and experiential vacations

I have over 25+ years of experience providing safe and worry-free vacations for my customers.  I am a specialist in Latin America and Europe, but never hesitate to search out new vacation experiences around the world for my clients. My specialty i...
Learn more about me.

River Cruising and Guided Vacations

Danube River
Danube River

Having experiencing both River Cruising and Guided Vacations, I will use my experience to match you to the right trip that will meet your vacation desires and wishes. It can be pretty complicated to organize a big European or Latin American adventure and with so many choices it's hard to know what is the right choice for you.


River Cruising


I sincerely enjoyed the ease and relaxed nature of river cruising. Each day was a new adventure in a unique, historic town with ample free time t o explore. I enjoyed the daily guided walks and excursions, and the ease of walking back to our ship and floating peacefully down river to the next adventure in your floating hotel.  What a way to see more of the countryside and historic towns without being rushed.


Guided Touring (Sometimes called Escorted Touring)


With guided touring, you can spend a bit more time in each historic or cultural destination, with all of the logistics handled for you. No worries of driving, or parking, or finding your way in a foreign land. It's all of the fun and pleasure of travel to a new place, with plenty of entertaining and informative sightseeing.  And when choosing the right tour you will have plenty of time to roam on your own for a bit of adventure.  Many trips offer small groups - small enough for you and your family or friends to create a custom bubble trip.


Pre- and Post- Stays


I love working with clients to customize their river cruise or guided tour with extra stays before or after to explore a new area or live like a local for a while.  These trips can be uniquely yours with your specific interests in mind.  Want a cooking class, flea market shopping or following your ancestors on your genealogy tour?  


Privately Guided


And if these options don't quite suit you, I can provide privately guided experiences around the world.  Just ask!

My Reviews

116 of 202 people found this review helpful
NORA IS THE BEST!!
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!!
By  Kimberly  from  New Brighton, MN
Traveled to  Mexico
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

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.

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76 of 127 people found this review helpful
Fabulous 15th Anniversary Trip!
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! :)
By  Merkster  from  Lakeville, MN.
Traveled to  Costa Rica ~ Central America
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

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.

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47 of 76 people found this review helpful
Amazing Family Trip
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.
By  Susan  from  Macon Missouri
Traveled to  Alaska ~ USA
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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46 of 75 people found this review helpful
Dream vacation to Hawaii
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.
By  Randy  from  Mendota Heights, MN
Traveled to  Honolulu, Oahu ~ Hawaii ~ USA
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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55 of 94 people found this review helpful
A new adventure in scotland
Always excellent, plans trips according to her knowledge of site and knowledge of my likes and style
By  On the go  from  Houlton
Traveled to  Scotland ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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Go to my main profile

Destination Expert:

  • Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • South America
  • Peru

Travel Specialist:

  • River Cruises
  • Small Ship Cruises
  • Bespoke Travel
  • Culinary & Foodie
  • Escorted Tours

Top Travel Partners:

  • AmaWaterways
  • Avalon Waterways
  • Insight Vacations
  • Kensington Tours
  • Tauck

Certifications/Awards:

  • CTIE
  • Certified Travel Industry Executive
  • Travel Leaders Certified Specialist
  • Certified Luxury Specialist
  • ASTA Verified Travel Advisor

Industry Affiliations:

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