Testimonials:

“My experience in Leon, Spain with Virginia was one of the best travel adventures of my life. Her ability to communicate and coordinate with locals was very impressive. She arranged conversation, tortilla and coffee at cafes, a picnic with frisbee and soccer at a local park, and dinner in a Spanish home. She also organized a private paella party, took us on numerous tours of small cities and museums, and introduced us to many tapas and drinks like caña con limón and tinto de verano. The treatment we received while in her care was not only professional, but also educational and fun. I highly recommend traveling with her!” -Rebecca G., Austin, Texas

“I got to enjoy a month long summer immersion program in León, Spain, under Dr. Talley’s leadership. The planning of the trip was nothing short of elegant; we had four hours of class each day with a break in the middle to enjoy authentic café con leche and tortillas. We had a significant amount of free time to explore the little city of León, and often reconveined as a group to discuss what we experienced with Dr. Talley. She planned educational yet interesting excursions so we could learn a little bit more about the history and culture of where we were, and we took weekend trips to different cities in Spain to get a more nuanced experience of Spain. We ended the experience with a project that Dr. Talley introduced to our school community: the pechacucha. A pechacucha is essentially an oral presentation in which each student speaks to the group about their experience in León, and the slides are only allowed to have pictures. The slides are timed to only a minute long, so when the slide changes, you have to move on to the next idea. Dr. Talley implemented this project because she recognizes that learning a language extends much farther than sitting in a room and taking a test. To be able to speak openly and confidently about one’s experience in an unfamiliar language is the indicator of true mastery, something I didn’t realize until I met Dr. Talley. She has a real gift for leading and for teaching, and I am so blessed to have been her student.” -Brooke S., Austin, Texas

About

Do you prefer to plan your own trips, but feel overwhelmed by the endless information and where to even start your planning? If so, let me take the stress out of your travel with the trip planning services I offer.

The main benefits are:

1) I save you hours and hours of planning because of my extensive knowledge of traveling in Spain, Peru, Chile, and Argentina.

2) I have the insight to recommend the most interesting things to see & do, the best places to stay, and the most unique places to eat & drink so that you make the most of your precious time during your trip.

3) I give you advice to show you the hidden gems rather than the cookie-cutter tour that everyone follows; I help you to customize your trip based on your interests, rather than an impersonal list of recommendations, and I provide ways for you to get off the beaten path & really experience the culture so that you do not just get a surface impression.

If you are interested, get in touch so that we can have a free, initial 30-minute conversation either in person or by phone.

Testimonials:

“We were excited, but anxious, about planning a first trip to Spain. Travel Grackle took ALL the anxiety away for us! We knew we had a few "must-do" items, and Virginia drafted a full itinerary around them. Her thoughtful planning allowed us to relax and enjoy! She even suggested alternate routes for driving through the Pyrenees, one based on time, the second based on views. We LOVED the scenic route! The thorough itinerary had suggested hotels, restaurants, driving times, and don't-miss sights. It was very well researched and thought out--thank you for making our trip so smooth!” -Becca C, Lakemont, Texas

“I met with Virginia to consult about our trip to Spain (Madrid and Granada), and I'm so glad I did! I cannot recommend her enough: not only did Virginia offer great advice on walking routes, restaurants, museums, and shopping, but she also shared some helpful tips on local specialties and how to eat incredibly well on a budget! Virginia is a passionate and experienced traveler, and I will definitely consult with her again before our next trip to Spain . . . or South America!” -Jennifer H., Austin, Texas

“Virginia T. is both a skilled Spanish teacher and a savvy traveler. She helped my son, who is in high school, understand the basics of the Spanish language when his own teacher (who was a first year teacher) was just learning how to reach her students. In addition, Virginia was tutoring my son at the same time I was planning a trip to Spain (this was just before the TG agency was up and running) — and she provided some key tips for our trip that proved to be invaluable. She guided us to see certain sights that we would have missed had we kept to the well worn tourist recommendations and she also advised us about the specific foods and wines we should taste along the way! Since she did this all from Austin, I can imagine how fun it would be to travel with her — on a customized itinerary. She’s amazing! I fully endorse Virginia Talley as a guide or a Spanish tutor.” -Erika B., Austin, Texas

“Dr. Talley led a month-long summer exchange program to León, Spain. Not only was she very clearly knowledgeable about the area and it's culture, but she was patient with us and took great initiative in explaining everything from helpful language tips to historical information. Her enthusiasm for helping us learn combined with her knowledge of Spanish created a wonderful experience for me and the other participants!” -Pria G., Austin, Texas

“I was lucky enough to go on the 2017 trip to León, Spain with Dr. Talley. During the month of July, Dr. Talley took a group of around 15 high schoolers to León -- it was an experience I'll never forget. She arranged museum visits with her own personal tours, dining experiences at the best authentic Spanish restaurants in León, outing experiences to other parts of Spain, and even a private Paella party with some of her Spanish friends. Dr. Talley perfectly organized and coordinated all of these experiences and countless others, all while helping us with our Spanish homework from the classes we took during the program. Through these 4 years, she also served as a strong mentor for all of her students. Dr. Talley's knowledge of Spanish and Spanish speaking countries, travel skills, personal connections, and friendly and kind personality make her an excellent teacher, person, and travel agent. You won't regret working with her.” -Ali S., Austin, Texas