Leslie Hinshaw
She/Her
Based in Los Angeles
English
Les Journeys
Ask us about
Our Story
I grew up in Los Angeles eating food from every culture imaginable, so the food obsession was pretty much inevitable. Studying abroad in Buenos Aires and Costa Rica is what made me a traveler. I came home knowing I needed to see more of the world, and food was my favorite way to explore it. I've been known to book a restaurant reservation before I have a hotel. People reach out to me for recommendations from cities I've never visited. I built Les Journeys around all of that.
Travel Style
Food always comes first—the Michelin reservation and the hole-in-the-wall, both on the same trip. But I love to learn about a place's culture and history too: the neighborhoods most people don't explore, the museums, and the art. The hotel matters too—boutique, personal, the kind where they'd rather know your name than impress you. I don't overplan trips. I build a journey around a few things worth reserving in advance, pick a pocket of the city to walk each day, and linger wherever it feels right. That's how I travel and how I plan for my clients.
Stay connected
Reviews (14)
Pennapa C.
travel to Seoul
19 days ago
Great recommendation from Leslie. Perfect for what we need.
Lindsie W.
travel to Los Angeles
about 2 months ago
Leslie was a god-send. Having someone local to help us plan this trip for our daughter's 13th birthday was ideal! She helped us prioritize and figure out the best way to make it all happen without being completely exhausted. She was super knowledgeable with traffic flow and timing of getting around town. She is now helping us plan our 25th wedding anniversary trip in the fall overseas!
Brenda K.
travel to Costa Rica
4 months ago
Leslie helped make our planning process for our Costa Rica trip smooth, fun and eliminated the stress of planning! She always got back to us quickly and was willing to do video calls to chat about plans and options. She was knowledgeable about Costa Rica and had good insight about different locations. She was organized with our itinerary and found and booked all of our hotels and excursions and she gave us lots of restaurant recommendations. I would highly recommend working with Leslie to plan your trip!!
Nicole V.
travel to Rome
7 months ago
Leslie did an exceptional job when I asked her to plan my trip to Rome. I told her exactly what I was looking for (i.e being in the City Center and price point) She definitely delivered! Within hours she found a few hotels for me to select from and provided insight when it came to pricing and whether the reservation could be cancelled with a full refund. She also noted which hotel included breakfast and which did not. Additionally, she also took the time to highlight what hotel rates were in US dollars vs. Euros.
I told her I was interested in doing a few private tours. She quickly found tour companies she highly recommended. All of my booked tours were phenomenal.
When I stayed at Il Babuino, she surprised me with personal welcome message, a nice bottle of wine, and a few sweet treats!
Overall, her planning was seamless and perfect. You can rely on her expertise so that your travels a memorable and special.
Arpine H.
travel to Portugal
9 months ago
Leslie was absolutely incredible! From the very beginning, she was so responsive, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in making our trip perfect. She went above and beyond to secure us the best rate and immediately asked about booking experiences, handling everything seamlessly. She even arranged our car service for pickup and drop-off, which made the entire trip completely stress-free.
Because of Leslie, every detail was taken care of - I didn’t have to worry about a single thing. Her care, organization, and attention to detail truly made a difference, and I’m so grateful we worked with her!
Pennapa C.
travel to Seoul
19 days ago
Great recommendation from Leslie. Perfect for what we need.
Lindsie W.
travel to Los Angeles
about 2 months ago
Leslie was a god-send. Having someone local to help us plan this trip for our daughter's 13th birthday was ideal! She helped us prioritize and figure out the best way to make it all happen without being completely exhausted. She was super knowledgeable with traffic flow and timing of getting around town. She is now helping us plan our 25th wedding anniversary trip in the fall overseas!
Brenda K.
travel to Costa Rica
4 months ago
Leslie helped make our planning process for our Costa Rica trip smooth, fun and eliminated the stress of planning! She always got back to us quickly and was willing to do video calls to chat about plans and options. She was knowledgeable about Costa Rica and had good insight about different locations. She was organized with our itinerary and found and booked all of our hotels and excursions and she gave us lots of restaurant recommendations. I would highly recommend working with Leslie to plan your trip!!
Nicole V.
travel to Rome
7 months ago
Leslie did an exceptional job when I asked her to plan my trip to Rome. I told her exactly what I was looking for (i.e being in the City Center and price point) She definitely delivered! Within hours she found a few hotels for me to select from and provided insight when it came to pricing and whether the reservation could be cancelled with a full refund. She also noted which hotel included breakfast and which did not. Additionally, she also took the time to highlight what hotel rates were in US dollars vs. Euros.
I told her I was interested in doing a few private tours. She quickly found tour companies she highly recommended. All of my booked tours were phenomenal.
When I stayed at Il Babuino, she surprised me with personal welcome message, a nice bottle of wine, and a few sweet treats!
Overall, her planning was seamless and perfect. You can rely on her expertise so that your travels a memorable and special.
Travel ideas (2)
The Ultimate Galapagos Bucket List Experience: Aboard Celebrity Flora
The Celebrity Flora is Celebrity’s first and only ship built specifically for the Galapagos. This all-suite, luxury vessel offers a once-in-a-lifetime way to explore one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. You can choose between Inner or Outer Loop itineraries, with options for a 7-night cruise or extended 10- to 16-night journeys that include guided tours in Quito or even Machu Picchu. With just 100 guests onboard and a nearly 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio, the experience feels luxurious yet personal—perfect for your trip to one of the world’s most breathtaking locations.
The Ultimate Galapagos Bucket List Experience: Aboard Celebrity Flora
The Celebrity Flora is Celebrity’s first and only ship built specifically for the Galapagos. This all-suite, luxury vessel offers a once-in-a-lifetime way to explore one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. You can choose between Inner or Outer Loop itineraries, with options for a 7-night cruise or extended 10- to 16-night journeys that include guided tours in Quito or even Machu Picchu. With just 100 guests onboard and a nearly 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio, the experience feels luxurious yet personal—perfect for your trip to one of the world’s most breathtaking locations.
Pura Vida: Off-the-Radar Gems of Guanacaste
Guanacaste, Costa Rica’s western peninsula, is known for its stunning beaches, large resorts and laid-back vibes. But beyond those tourist spots lie local gems that are refreshingly untouched by mass tourism. This guide touches upon some of those serene, lesser-known locales as well as some tried and true places that are consistent hits.
Pura Vida: Off-the-Radar Gems of Guanacaste
Guanacaste, Costa Rica’s western peninsula, is known for its stunning beaches, large resorts and laid-back vibes. But beyond those tourist spots lie local gems that are refreshingly untouched by mass tourism. This guide touches upon some of those serene, lesser-known locales as well as some tried and true places that are consistent hits.
The Ultimate Galapagos Bucket List Experience: Aboard Celebrity Flora
The Celebrity Flora is Celebrity’s first and only ship built specifically for the Galapagos. This all-suite, luxury vessel offers a once-in-a-lifetime way to explore one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. You can choose between Inner or Outer Loop itineraries, with options for a 7-night cruise or extended 10- to 16-night journeys that include guided tours in Quito or even Machu Picchu. With just 100 guests onboard and a nearly 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio, the experience feels luxurious yet personal—perfect for your trip to one of the world’s most breathtaking locations.
The Ultimate Galapagos Bucket List Experience: Aboard Celebrity Flora
The Celebrity Flora is Celebrity’s first and only ship built specifically for the Galapagos. This all-suite, luxury vessel offers a once-in-a-lifetime way to explore one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. You can choose between Inner or Outer Loop itineraries, with options for a 7-night cruise or extended 10- to 16-night journeys that include guided tours in Quito or even Machu Picchu. With just 100 guests onboard and a nearly 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio, the experience feels luxurious yet personal—perfect for your trip to one of the world’s most breathtaking locations.
Pura Vida: Off-the-Radar Gems of Guanacaste
Guanacaste, Costa Rica’s western peninsula, is known for its stunning beaches, large resorts and laid-back vibes. But beyond those tourist spots lie local gems that are refreshingly untouched by mass tourism. This guide touches upon some of those serene, lesser-known locales as well as some tried and true places that are consistent hits.
Pura Vida: Off-the-Radar Gems of Guanacaste
Guanacaste, Costa Rica’s western peninsula, is known for its stunning beaches, large resorts and laid-back vibes. But beyond those tourist spots lie local gems that are refreshingly untouched by mass tourism. This guide touches upon some of those serene, lesser-known locales as well as some tried and true places that are consistent hits.
Travel photos
