KRISTEN FUNG TRAVELS

Travel curation for the intentionally curious.

The Story

Travel should delight you. It should lead you down a side street to a shop that partners with artists, introduce you to the restaurant owner who pours her family’s story into her food, and have you stay at the local hotel that connects you to experiences unique to that place. These aren’t the things you’ll find in guidebooks—they’re the moments that happen when you wander into the local neighborhood and when you choose to be curious.

I started Kristen Fung Travels because most travelers want these experiences, but they don’t have the time to find them. They’re drowning in research, overwhelmed by options, trying to separate the authentic from the algorithmic. They want to support small businesses and connect with local culture, but they’re not sure where to start. They know there’s a difference between seeing a city and experiencing it—they just need a reliable guide to show them the way. (Hi👋, I’m Kristen)

I didn’t learn this from a guidebook, but from living it. After years of planning corporate travel for a world-famous museum, I’d mastered the logistics of moving people across continents.

What I Do

I’m a travel advisor who specializes in curating experiences that go beyond the guidebook. Whether you’re planning world travel or looking to see your own city through fresh eyes, I curate itineraries that prioritize local businesses, immerse you in the authentic, and offer experiences that stick in your memory. My services range from fully personalized itineraries to self-guided discovery lists, depending on your needs. No matter the format, every recommendation comes from extensive research, personal exploration, and a network of local connections I’ve built over years of intentional wandering.

I believe the point of travel isn’t efficiency — no one wins their time off by checking boxes — it’s about immersing yourself. 

“Kristen’s recommendations were invaluable for our trip to Barcelona. Her love of food led us to some of the most delicious meals, and her tips (book for dinner on Sunday because many restaurants aren’t open!) made sure we could enjoy the best the city had to offer without a wait or having to miss out. She really dives into a city and gets to know it, so you can be confident that you’re getting the best a place has to offer without winding up in a tourist trap.“-Betsy B.

Who I Work With

I work with travelers who shop at small businesses at home and want to do the same abroad. Who want their travel dollars to support local makers and family-owned spots. Travelers who understand that the best experiences often happen away from the tourist areas, down the quieter streets, and in the neighborhoods.

You want to invest in meaningful travel, but you’re short on time. You want to make sure that where you go and what you do is worth it—that you’re not missing the hidden chocolate shop or the perfect local dinner spot because you didn’t know to look or were fooled by influencer posts.

I’m an Independent Travel Advisor with Fora who believes in the power of small business owners and partners with thousands of brands and experiences.

Why Work With Me

Because I already have the blueprint. 

I’ve spent years exploring cities the way locals do, building relationships, and testing which experiences actually deliver on their promise. I know which neighborhoods to explore, which restaurants and cocktail bars are serving something out of the ordinary, and where to find the art experiences locals recommend to their friends.

When you work with me, you’re not just getting an itinerary—you’re getting my accumulated knowledge, my curiosity, my eye for what makes a place feel unique. You’re getting the shortcuts I’ve earned through extensive travel, so you can skip the research overwhelm and get straight to the good stuff.

Most importantly, you’re getting travel that feels different from home– why travel if it’s just the same experience in a different location? The whole point is to see something new, taste something unexpected, and connect with someone whose story expands your world.

My Values

Curiosity Should Lead You: Every itinerary starts with questions. What makes this place unique? Where do locals go? What stories are hiding in plain sight? I believe travel should challenge your assumptions and introduce you to new perspectives.

Supporting Local Economies: Your money spent is a vote for what kind of world you want to see. I prioritize small businesses, family-owned restaurants, local makers, and independent shops because these are the places that give a city its character.

Authentic Over Algorithmic: The internet has made travel planning both easier and harder. Everyone ends up at the same “hidden gems” that went viral on social media. I dig deeper, leveraging personal connections and on-the-ground research to find experiences that haven’t been optimized for likes.

Time Is Precious: You don’t want to spend your vacation scrolling through reviews or have your planning phase turn into an endless series of open browser tabs. I respect your time by doing the hard work so you can focus on actually experiencing your destination.

You notice that I don’t use the word luxury. I believe that this type of travel is accessible to everyone.

The Experience

Whether you’re planning a two-week European adventure or a weekend staycation in your own city, the goal is the same: to help you see places with new eyes. To connect you with the makers, the culture, and the shop owners whose passion shapes their community. To create a space that is uniquely for you while eliminating the stress of the unknown.

Because at the end of the day, the best travel stories aren’t about where you went—they’re about how the experience changed you.

That’s the kind of travel I plan. 

These are the stories I want you to come home with.

Let’s Work Together