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Diane MabardiPresident + CEODiane co-founded Great GetAways in 1987 and brings decades of trusted leadership and industry expertise to the business. With a deep understanding of travel operations and long-standing supplier relationships, she is known for her sound judgment, reliability, and calm problem-solving. Clients trust Diane to oversee every detail and ensure their travel is handled with care, experience, and confidence.
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Marie MabardiPresident + Co-FounderMarie co-founded Great GetAways alongside Diane and is a Certified Travel Counselor with advanced industry credentials including CTC, VTA, and CTIE. With decades of hands-on experience, she is trusted for her insight, attention to detail, and ability to guide clients confidently from planning through return. Marie specializes in creating travel experiences that feel seamless, informed, and thoughtfully designed.
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Get to Know Great GetAways
What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled and why?
New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound
It was truly breathtaking and awe inspiring. The scale, the stillness, the beauty. It is one of those places that simply cannot be captured in a photo.
It was truly breathtaking and awe inspiring. The scale, the stillness, the beauty. It is one of those places that simply cannot be captured in a photo.
What’s a travel problem you love solving for clients?
Untangling complex itineraries. When something looks impossible on paper but works seamlessly in real life, that is the sweet spot.
Window seat or aisle?
Both.
Window seat for long international flights. Aisle seat for shorter domestic trips.
Window seat for long international flights. Aisle seat for shorter domestic trips.
What do clients rely on you for most?
Anticipating issues before they happen, advocating for them when it matters, and finding solutions even when everything is sold out.
What’s one item you never travel without?
A copy of my passport and a detailed itinerary with confirmation numbers, addresses, and phone numbers. Phones die, internet drops, apps fail. I also always have Google Translate downloaded.
What’s one travel mistake you help clients avoid all the time?
Booking flights based on price alone. We ask the right questions and look at travel holistically. What seems easy on paper often falls apart in real life once you factor in connections, timing, fatigue, and contingencies.
Early flight or late departure?
Early flight.
As the day goes on, so do the delays.
As the day goes on, so do the delays.
What does “peace of mind” in travel really mean to you?
Peace of mind means every detail has been thoughtfully considered, there is a plan B and a plan C, and someone is actively monitoring the trip, not just booking it. Clients can focus on why they are traveling, knowing they have a trusted person to call, not a call center.
How do you handle things when travel doesn’t go as planned?
Calmly, quickly, and directly. I take ownership, assess options in real time, and resolve the issue while keeping clients informed but never overwhelmed. The goal is always to minimize disruption and keep the experience moving forward.
