Lesley Bogardis

Supplier training in river cruises · Supplier training in ocean cruises · Supplier training in all-inclusive resorts

  • Saint Martin
  • France
  • Italy
  • Phuket
  • Family Travel
  • Senior Travel
  • River Cruises
  • Ocean Cruises
  • All-Inclusive Resorts
  • Land Tours

About

Lesley Bogardis is an independent travel advisor based in Barrie, Ontario, specializing in family travel, senior travel, river cruises, ocean cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and land tours. With five years of advising experience, over 75 trips planned, and personal travels spanning more than 50 countries, Lesley brings a rare depth of firsthand knowledge to every itinerary — from the dual-culture shores of Saint Martin to the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany, the lavender fields of France, and the tropical beaches of Phuket. She is affiliated with Northstar Travel.

What truly sets Lesley apart is insider access that goes far beyond a brochure. She has worked aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship, giving her an unmatched on-the-ground perspective on Disney Cruise Line vacations. She also teaches yoga each winter at Hyatt Collection resorts across the Caribbean, providing her clients with genuine insider knowledge of those properties. Her destination specialties include Saint Martin, France, Italy, and Phuket — places where she navigates like a local and curates experiences most travelers would never discover on their own.

Lesley's path to travel advising is rooted in thirty years of hospitality industry expertise, combined with running her own personal training business — experience that sharpened both her industry instincts and her ability to build deep, trusting one-on-one client relationships. Her travel philosophy is simple and powerful: Go on an adventure, live your life, and pick a destination that matches your lifestyle. She believes that a truly exceptional trip isn't about a destination — it's about matching the experience to the person, whether that means a quiet afternoon on a beach with a book or a fully organized scuba diving and snorkeling adventure.

Clients consistently praise Lesley for her responsiveness, resourcefulness, and the vivid firsthand travel stories that bring destinations to life before they ever leave home. Families and seniors are her ideal clients — travelers who benefit most from a detail-oriented advisor who is always reachable, always finds the answer, and brings genuine passion and personal experience to every recommendation. Lesley Bogardis doesn't just book trips — she inspires them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Lesley Bogardis?
Lesley Bogardis is an independent travel advisor based in Barrie, Ontario, with five years of advising experience and over 30 years in the hospitality industry. She has personally visited more than 50 countries and specializes in planning trips for families and seniors. Her clients consistently praise her prompt responsiveness, resourcefulness, and firsthand travel stories that bring destinations to life.
What destinations does Lesley Bogardis specialize in?
Lesley Bogardis specializes in Saint Martin, France, Italy, and Phuket, Thailand. She has deep firsthand knowledge of Saint Martin's unique French and Dutch sides, and has personally traveled across France, Italy, and Southeast Asia. Her experience spans the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia, giving her the range to advise clients on a wide variety of destination styles.
What types of travel does Lesley Bogardis plan?
Lesley Bogardis plans family travel, senior travel, river cruises, ocean cruises, all-inclusive resort vacations, and land tours. She has completed supplier training in river cruises, ocean cruises, and all-inclusive resorts, and has firsthand experience with Globus land tours across Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. She is well-equipped to match the right travel style to each client's preferences.
How does Lesley Bogardis approach trip planning?
Lesley Bogardis believes in matching the destination and experience to each traveler's unique lifestyle, summing up her philosophy as: go on an adventure, live your life, and pick a destination that matches who you are. Whether a client wants to relax on a beach or dive into scuba and snorkeling, she tailors every detail accordingly. Her goal is to ensure every trip feels personal, not just planned.
What makes Lesley Bogardis different from other travel advisors?
Lesley Bogardis stands out for her rapid responsiveness — clients never wait long for answers — and her ability to find solutions when questions fall outside her immediate knowledge. She has worked aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship and teaches yoga at Hyatt Collection resorts across the Caribbean, giving her rare insider access to both Disney Cruise Line and Hyatt properties that most advisors simply don't have.
Does Lesley Bogardis have experience with cruises and all-inclusive resorts?
Yes — Lesley Bogardis has completed supplier training in river cruises, ocean cruises, and all-inclusive resorts, and has firsthand experience with both cruise and resort products. She has a direct insider connection to Disney Cruise Line, having worked aboard the Disney Wonder, and teaches yoga at Hyatt Collection resorts in the Caribbean. This lived experience informs the recommendations she makes for clients.
Who is the ideal client for Lesley Bogardis?
Lesley Bogardis works best with families and seniors who want a detail-oriented, highly responsive advisor with genuine firsthand knowledge of their destination. She is especially well-suited for seniors and travelers in their mid-fifties and beyond who are drawn to river cruises, land tours, ocean cruises, or all-inclusive resorts. Clients who value vivid destination storytelling and proactive communication tend to thrive working with her.
How much experience does Lesley Bogardis have as a travel advisor?
Lesley Bogardis has been a travel advisor for five years and has planned between 75 and 100 trips. She brings an additional 30-plus years of hospitality industry experience to her advising practice, along with personal visits to more than 50 countries. Her background gives her a depth of professional and firsthand knowledge that is rare among advisors at any experience level.