Maggie McDonagh | Fora Travel

Ask me about

City Travel

Babymoons

Luxury Travel

Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel

My Story

I’m the founder of Carpe Yolo Travel, an independent travel company affiliated with Fora Travel. Before entering the travel industry, I spent nearly a decade working in finance—a background that shaped my attention to detail, organization, and commitment to thoughtful planning. Travel has always been my greatest inspiration. After years of exploring the world personally, I decided to turn that passion into a profession. There is nothing I enjoy more than designing meaningful trips and seeing clients experience places that leave a lasting impression! I love working with Virtuoso because it elevates every part of the travel experience. From complimentary upgrades and thoughtful amenities to early check-ins after a long-haul flight or late checkouts that allow travelers to savor their final day, these small details make a trip feel seamless and truly special. Some of my favorite stays have been at Villa d’Este on Lake Como and Villa Mara in Carmel-by-the-Sea—properties that perfectly combine beautiful design and exceptional service. I’m particularly drawn to hotels that are thoughtfully designed, where every detail contributes to the overall experience.

At Carpe Yolo Travel, I believe travel should feel effortless, inspiring, and deeply personal. Through trusted partnerships and curated planning, I design journeys that allow travelers to explore the world with confidence and ease. My goal is always to create meaningful experiences and unforgettable memories along the way! Travel well, travel often.

I’m the founder of Carpe Yolo Travel, an independent travel company affiliated with Fora Travel. Before entering the travel industry, I spent nearly a decade working in finance—a background that shaped my attention to detail, organization, and commitment to thoughtful planning. Travel has always been my greatest inspiration. After years of exploring the world personally, I decided to turn that passion into a profession. There is nothing I enjoy more than designing meaningful trips and seeing clients experience places that leave a lasting impression! I love working with Virtuoso because it elevates every part of the travel experience. From complimentary upgrades and thoughtful amenities to early check-ins after a long-haul flight or late checkouts that allow travelers to savor their final day, these small details make a trip feel seamless and truly special. Some of my favorite stays have been at Villa d’Este on Lake Como and Villa Mara in Carmel-by-the-Sea—properties that perfectly combine beautiful design and exceptional service. I’m particularly drawn to hotels that are thoughtfully designed, where every detail contributes to the overall experience.

At Carpe Yolo Travel, I believe travel should feel effortless, inspiring, and deeply personal. Through trusted partnerships and curated planning, I design journeys that allow travelers to explore the world with confidence and ease. My goal is always to create meaningful experiences and unforgettable memories along the way! Travel well, travel often.

Travel Style

My travel style is thoughtful, design-forward, and rooted in the belief that the best trips feel both inspiring and effortless. I’m drawn to places with a strong sense of character—whether that’s a beautifully designed hotel, a restaurant that locals love, or a destination that reveals itself through small details and unexpected detours. I believe travel is one of the greatest sources of connection and self-discovery. Some of my favorite moments happen when a trip slows down just enough to really experience a place—lingering over a long lunch, wandering a neighborhood without a plan, or arriving at a hotel that immediately feels special. Through Carpe Yolo Travel, I focus on creating journeys that feel personal, seamless, and memorable. With trusted partnerships and thoughtful planning, my goal is to make travel feel exciting, enriching, and easy, so clients can simply enjoy the experience!

Stay connected

Reviews (9)

M

Maggie F.

travel to Carmel-by-the-Sea

about 2 months ago

Working with Maggie completely changed the way we travel, I will never book a trip without her again. We used Carpe Yolo Travel for our babymoon, and from start to finish, the experience felt incredibly thoughtful, seamless, and personal. The hotel perks and VIP treatment were beyond anything we’ve ever experienced, but what stood out even more was Maggie’s genuine care and attention to detail.

You can tell she has built authentic relationships within the hospitality world, and it absolutely shows in the way her clients are welcomed and taken care of throughout their trip. Every part of the experience felt intentional, elevated, and stress-free, while still feeling effortless and personal to us.

If you’re someone who cares about the details and the detours, Maggie is the person you want planning your travels. We are officially clients for life and already cannot wait for our next trip with Carpe Yolo Travel!

G

Gavin W.

travel to Jamaica

2 months ago

Maggie was amazing, as always! You can tell how much she cares about making your experience as memorable as possible. She was extremely helpful with the entire process from booking to recommendations throughout the stay. Couldn’t recommend her any higher!

C

Carley D.

travel to New York

5 months ago

Maggie was a pleasure to work with during my travels! She even went out of her way to call so I could get a complimentary upgrade and a room on a higher floor, even though that was not included in the hotel perks. I will definitely be using her again for all future travels.

T

Tessa S.

travel to London

6 months ago

Maggie was absolutely incredible to work with. From the start, she sent over multiple thoughtfully curated options, each with detailed notes and personal insight on what she thought we’d love most, which made the decision so easy. She is insanely responsive and fast. I quite literally sent her a photo of my credit card, and not only was everything booked seamlessly, but she also got us an upgrade and made the stay feel extra special with a handwritten note and treats waiting in our room. Not only was I impressed by all her recommendations and insight, she made the entire process effortless - especially considering I gave her about 24 hours’ notice. She handled everything, anticipated what we needed, and removed all the stress from planning.

If you want someone who truly understands travel, has amazing connections, and makes you feel taken care of every step of the way, Maggie is it. I’ll never plan a trip without her again.

C

Cameron Z.

travel to Cayman Islands

7 months ago

Maggie did a great job! She communicated with us through out our booking and during our stay. She made sure everything was exactly as we expected. Our experience was so much better than if we had book on our own. She took care of all our requests and then some! We will book with Maggie from now on. So lucky to have her as our travel agent.

M

Maggie F.

travel to Carmel-by-the-Sea

about 2 months ago

Working with Maggie completely changed the way we travel, I will never book a trip without her again. We used Carpe Yolo Travel for our babymoon, and from start to finish, the experience felt incredibly thoughtful, seamless, and personal. The hotel perks and VIP treatment were beyond anything we’ve ever experienced, but what stood out even more was Maggie’s genuine care and attention to detail.

You can tell she has built authentic relationships within the hospitality world, and it absolutely shows in the way her clients are welcomed and taken care of throughout their trip. Every part of the experience felt intentional, elevated, and stress-free, while still feeling effortless and personal to us.

If you’re someone who cares about the details and the detours, Maggie is the person you want planning your travels. We are officially clients for life and already cannot wait for our next trip with Carpe Yolo Travel!

G

Gavin W.

travel to Jamaica

2 months ago

Maggie was amazing, as always! You can tell how much she cares about making your experience as memorable as possible. She was extremely helpful with the entire process from booking to recommendations throughout the stay. Couldn’t recommend her any higher!

C

Carley D.

travel to New York

5 months ago

Maggie was a pleasure to work with during my travels! She even went out of her way to call so I could get a complimentary upgrade and a room on a higher floor, even though that was not included in the hotel perks. I will definitely be using her again for all future travels.

T

Tessa S.

travel to London

6 months ago

Maggie was absolutely incredible to work with. From the start, she sent over multiple thoughtfully curated options, each with detailed notes and personal insight on what she thought we’d love most, which made the decision so easy. She is insanely responsive and fast. I quite literally sent her a photo of my credit card, and not only was everything booked seamlessly, but she also got us an upgrade and made the stay feel extra special with a handwritten note and treats waiting in our room. Not only was I impressed by all her recommendations and insight, she made the entire process effortless - especially considering I gave her about 24 hours’ notice. She handled everything, anticipated what we needed, and removed all the stress from planning.

If you want someone who truly understands travel, has amazing connections, and makes you feel taken care of every step of the way, Maggie is it. I’ll never plan a trip without her again.