Plaza Travel

Plaza Travel, located on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills, presents itself as a long-standing and significant player in the Southern California travel sector. Established in 1985, the company has grown from a small six-person office into a large agency with over 80 agents. This growth, achieved organically by retaining clients rather than through mergers, speaks to a history of customer satisfaction. Today, Plaza Travel operates as part of FROSCH and the Chase Travel Group, and is a member of the prestigious Signature Travel Network, a cooperative of leading travel agencies. This affiliation grants them considerable buying power and access to exclusive amenities for their clients, such as hotel upgrades, complimentary breakfasts, and special credits. For a potential customer, this means that booking through Plaza Travel could unlock a level of service and perks not typically available through direct booking. The agency offers a wide range of services, covering everything from corporate travel and cruises to highly customized leisure vacation packages.

The Strengths: Personalized Service and Expert Support

The most prominent advantage of working with Plaza Travel, as echoed in numerous client testimonials, is the deeply personalized and comprehensive service provided by its team of travel consultants. Several agents are repeatedly praised by name, suggesting a consistent culture of high-quality service across the team. One agent, Denise Schaefer, is described by a client as a “Travel Fairy Godmother” for her ability to orchestrate complex trips with extraordinary detail. For a vacation in Italy, her travel planning went far beyond just booking flights and hotels; she arranged private cooking classes, wine tastings, city tours, and a mix of private drivers and fun local transport to create a fully immersive experience. This level of detail in crafting custom itineraries is a significant differentiator from online booking engines and less experienced agencies.

This dedication is not limited to a single advisor. Another agent, Leslie Wahlgren, is commended for her expertise and enthusiastic attitude, going “overboard to ensure this trip would be memorable.” This indicates a team of passionate professionals who invest themselves in their clients' experiences. Perhaps the most compelling evidence of their commitment to service comes from an account involving agent Colleen. A client facing a major travel problem received a call from her at 6 PM on a Friday to resolve the issue. This after-hours support is invaluable in the unpredictable world of travel, offering a crucial safety net and peace of mind that is a core value proposition of a high-quality travel agency. When flight cancellations, hotel issues, or other emergencies arise, having a dedicated professional ready to assist is a powerful reason to work with a firm like Plaza Travel.

Key Advantages for Travelers:

• Deep Customization: The agency excels at creating unique travel experiences tailored to individual desires, from culinary tours to specific local activities.
• Expert Staff: The team includes multiple highly-rated agents known for their professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiastic approach to planning.
• Problem Resolution: There is clear evidence of agents providing exceptional support, including after-hours assistance, to solve urgent travel issues for their clients.
• Industry Clout: As a member of the Signature Travel Network and part of FROSCH, Plaza Travel offers clients access to exclusive deals, upgrades, and amenities that add significant value to their trips.
• Comprehensive Services: The agency is a full-service travel management company, handling complex arrangements for corporate travel, entertainment industry clients, medical firms, and law firms, in addition to luxury leisure travel.
• Physical Accessibility: The Woodland Hills office has a wheelchair-accessible entrance, ensuring it is welcoming to all clients.

Points of Concern: A Significant Blemish

Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding its travel planning services, a significant concern arises from a customer complaint that is entirely separate from the logistics of booking a trip. A highly negative one-star review details a customer's disgust with the alleged online behavior of an employee, Sandi Ferber-Glade. The reviewer states that the employee made a celebratory and disrespectful comment online regarding the death of a political figure. The customer was so offended by this conduct that they vowed never to use the agency and to inform their friends and family to do the same.

This incident presents a serious consideration for potential clients. While it does not reflect on the agency's ability to plan a vacation, it raises questions about the professionalism and public conduct of its staff. For many customers, the values and behavior of a company's employees are as important as the service they provide. An agent's public commentary, even on personal platforms, can be seen as a reflection of the company they represent. This specific complaint, tied to a named employee, creates a potential values-based conflict for some customers. It is a stark reminder that in today's interconnected world, the actions of a single employee can impact the reputation of the entire business. Prospective clients must weigh the numerous accounts of stellar travel service against this reported lapse in professional conduct. Additionally, the business is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which may be a factor for some consumers who use BBB ratings as a measure of trust.

Final Considerations for Potential Clients

Plaza Travel stands out as a powerful and experienced travel agency with a proven track record of creating exceptional, highly detailed travel experiences. The consistent praise for its agents' dedication, expertise, and problem-solving abilities is a strong endorsement of its core services. For travelers seeking a luxury travel advisor who can handle every detail and provide support when things go wrong, the team at Plaza Travel appears to be exceptionally capable. The benefits derived from their affiliation with the Signature Travel Network further enhance their value proposition.

However, the decision is not entirely straightforward. The serious complaint regarding an employee's public behavior cannot be ignored. It introduces a non-trivial element of risk for clients who prioritize professionalism and expect brand representatives to maintain a certain decorum in all public-facing interactions. Ultimately, a potential customer must decide what they value more: the demonstrated excellence in travel planning and support, or the potential misalignment with the company's perceived culture as represented by one of its employees. For most, the service will likely be outstanding, but for some, the noted controversy could be a deal-breaker.