Boutique Custom Travel Planning
Planning an extraordinary trip takes more than time—it takes judgment. The kind that comes from experience, trusted partnerships, and a network built over years.
Is it better to fly out of Madison or Chicago? The answer is: it depends—and not just on price. As a Madison-based luxury travel advisor, I design seamless, personalized itineraries that reflect your pace, your preferences, and your priorities—while keeping logistical sense in mind, based on the destination, the season, and what truly works best for you.
Whether you're celebrating a milestone, traveling with family, or finally making that long-awaited trip happen, you’ll have expert guidance every step of the way.
With my team of handpicked partners—from Virtuoso icons to on-the-ground experts—we handle the planning, the pivots, and the unexpected so you can travel like you’ve been there, not like a tourist.
"We would never trust our travel plans with anyone else. Our holidays are just too precious to risk with anyone other than Karen who is incredible. She knows the best places to stay, she knows where to go for the best sundowners with the best view. She’ll guide you to world class destinations, fabulous restaurants and share secrets with you that only the locals know! Stop searching and trust Live Large Travel with your travel plans, especially if you value that truly personal touch. We can’t thank her enough for making our dreams come true. "
"I would highly recommend Live Large Travel for any travel needs. Karen was extremely helpful and made our travel plans easy to finalize. Everything in our trip went perfectly. She not only organized all our pickups and dropoffs but also got us the best pricing including tips and beverage service on a Celebrity Cruise. I will definitely use her for all future vacations plans."
"Karen at Live Large Travel has never steered me/us wrong. She is a well traveled person and is well versed in Solo Travel, couple travel and group travel. Her ability to customize trips to any personal needs is uncanny."
"Beyond exceptional. They took care of ALL the planning which meant we could truly enjoy the experience…I can't begin to explain how much anxiety we are NOT experiencing, knowing there is a great team behind the scenes who know how to navigate this much more efficiently than we could!'
"This is our 3rd trip planned by Karen. We have loved all of them. Looking forward to working with her again in the next few months."
"Working with Karen and Live Large Travel was an exceptional experience. Karen was responsive to our needs and changing itinerary. Even after an (independently purchased) flight was cancelled, she stepped in to help find a new set of flights so our vacation was not compromised!"
"Karen was awesome from helping us to select a location, booking the trip, and making plans for the trip. We will definitely be going back to Karen for future vacations."
Featured Travel Inspiration from Virtuoso
With more than five decades of real-world travel — across 48 countries and countless milestones — I’ve learned what it takes to turn bold ideas into beautifully seamless journeys.
At Live Large Travel, I bring together deep destination knowledge, white-glove planning, and a network of trusted partners to craft trips that feel effortless, personal, and quietly elevated. From milestone escapes to once-in-a-lifetime journeys, my clients travel with confidence — because the details are already handled.
Karen Aikman, founder of Live Large Travel — 48 countries, 50+ years of real-world travel experience
Wherever you’re headed—and whoever you’re traveling with—we’ll design an itinerary that reflects your style, pace, and priorities. From milestone escapes to bucket-list adventures, every journey is custom-built from the ground up.
From overwater bungalows to manor houses, European touring to African safaris—no destination is out of reach. We partner with trusted global experts to curate immersive experiences that feel effortless, thoughtful, and entirely your own. Each itinerary includes white-glove support and an unwavering commitment to your comfort and ease.
Let’s plan the kind of trip that feels smooth from the first moment — and unforgettable long after you return.
I work with trusted global partners, offer thoughtful guidance, and handle the details that most travelers never see. When you’re ready to plan a trip with clarity, support, and elevated access — I’d love to help shape the experience.
We’ll guide the planning. You enjoy the journey.
