McKenzie McCarty

I didn’t plan on being a travel advisor. My mom, Susan, started Susan’s Travel Services before I was born so she could stay home with me.

I spent years in retail management instead. Then COVID hit, I got furloughed, and my mom needed help with the business. I stepped in, fell in love with it, and joined full time in 2021.

Retail taught me more than I expected. I learned how to read people, solve problems on the spot, and hear what someone says and figure out what they actually need. Honestly, that’s most of travel planning.

What keeps me here is watching people light up. When a couple starts talking about their honeymoon, you can see it on their faces. That kind of excitement is rare. The only other places I can think of where people light up like that are weddings and animals.

My mom and I work side by side in the same home office. She’s the logical one (she’s good at math, I am not). I’m the creative one. Between the 2 of us, your trip is covered.

The South Pacific.

Honeymoons and romantic trips are my favorite thing to plan, especially a couple’s first trip to French Polynesia or Fiji. I’m a certified Tahiti Tiare Specialist and Fiji Specialist, and I’m earning my Australia and New Zealand certifications now.

I’ve stayed at The Brando, the St. Regis Bora Bora, Royal Davui, Likuliku, and a long list of properties in between. As a Virtuoso member agency, we work directly with the hotels and partners I trust, and that gets my clients VIP treatment.

And once you trust me with your honeymoon, I’ll plan whatever comes next, anywhere in the world.

• South Pacific: Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, and Tetiaroa in French Polynesia, plus Fiji
• Pacific Islands: Maui and the Big Island in Hawaii
• Mexico: Cancun, Tulum, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta
• Caribbean: Jamaica and the Dominican Republic
• North America: Canada and all over the US

And I’m always adding to it. Melbourne is next, because my best friend lives there.

You’ll never feel lost. I take the reins, then I tell you exactly what I did and why, so you know your itinerary as well as I do.

I handle the details you won’t even know to think about: transfer timing, travel protection, which room you actually want, and which hotels I’d never put you at. I confirm everything directly with your hotels before you arrive.

About 30 days before you go, we get on a call and walk through your whole trip step by step, so you know what’s happening, who to call, and where all your documents are.

My clients tell me I’m easy to work with, a great listener, and fun. I’ll take it.

It all starts with a complimentary consultation, with both of you on the call.

McKenzie really took the time to understand what I wanted out of Fiji and matched me with Royal Davui, which ended up being the perfect resort for me. She was incredibly thorough throughout the planning process and knew the property and destination well enough to tell me when I was trying to pack too much into the trip. I didn’t listen, and she was right! I had an amazing time, but next time I’m taking her advice and slowing down. I’m already ready to go back.

Harry, Fiji

Our honeymoon to Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora was incredible. McKenzie planned the trip so each island, hotel and room felt like an upgrade from the last, ending with an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora that was easily the perfect way to finish our honeymoon. She found a great balance between the things my wife wanted to do and the things I wanted to do, and we even ended up trying experiences neither of us expected to love. The inter-island flights and transfers were seamless, the excursions were amazing, and we never had to worry about what came next.

Devin, honeymoon in Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora

McKenzie helped me plan the perfect proposal in Maui. She arranged a romantic candlelit dinner on the beach and even coordinated a secret photographer to capture the moment I proposed. Everything felt private, thoughtful, and completely seamless. And most importantly, she said yes! It’s a Hawaii memory we’ll have forever.

Jake | Maui, Hawaii

• Can you have a sober honeymoon in French Polynesia?

  I was sober on my honeymoon in French Polynesia, and the mocktails were one of the best surprises of the whole trip! Whether you’re in recovery or just don’t drink, here’s how to plan a honeymoon where you never feel like you’re missing out.

• Moorea or Bora Bora: which island should you choose?

  Moorea or Bora Bora? My answer is almost always both, with Moorea first for adventure and Bora Bora last to unwind in your overwater bungalow. Here’s how the 2 islands compare and why I plan them this way!

• Overwater Bungalow or No Overwater Bungalow?

  How to Decide What’s Right for Your Tahiti Trip Few travel decisions feel as exciting, or as stressful, as choosing whether to stay in an overwater bungalow in Tahiti. For some travelers, it is the entire reason they…

Email: mckenzie@susanstravelservices.com

Phone: 480-360-0309

Cave Creek, Arizona