About
It was clear there was a need, especially in the realm of family travel, for someone with relevant travel experience to share their knowledge and insider intelligence to improve people’s travel experiences. This applies whether we are constructing a bespoke multi-country sabbatical or simply nailing the location that offers all the appropriate amenities for a school break on the beach. Because she is regularly obtaining first-hand experience, very often with 4 children in tow, you can rely on her reviews and suggestions.
As an avid lifetime traveler, Christy was one to painstakingly pour over the details on her own. She then found herself regularly sharing itineraries with friends, family, and colleagues to help them streamline their own planning process.
Why work with Menzies Luxe Retreats?
Connect with Christy
We pay CPAs, financial advisors, lawyers, private coaches, and personal trainers. Executing a plan from an idea takes work and time; let’s strategize together and make the process fun. There is so much to gain from a wonderfully crafted travel experience with those you love the most.
We want to be your trusted advisor, your go to when you have thoughts, questions, or dreams about a destination.
Menzies Luxe Retreats has an entirely different approach to travel planning.
Connect with Christy
She worked in sales on a trading floor for several banks for 10 years. Here she fine tuned her analytical problem solving skills as well as relationship management IQ and understanding the importance of defining each client’s unique proposition while meeting their needs. She now has 4 children from ages 1-7 years old and resides just outside of New York City in Darien, CT where she exists in a perpetual state of planning her family’s next adventure.
Christy (Paluf) Menzies was born in the Midwest and spent what now equates to the first half of her life in Cleveland, OH. Her most treasured memories growing up were her family road trips to the south for spring break. These were highly anticipated and unforgettable. Her competitive nature brought her to Yale University where she was captain of the volleyball team. She used this time as a springboard to truly get out and see the world for the first time studying abroad for a semester in Barcelona. Multiple milestone trips later from all across Europe to New Zealand, Australia, and throughout North America, it was apparent Christy was a travel lover for life.
Meet Christy
Connect with ellie
Ellie’s desire to travel led to a mother/daughter tour of Ireland along with a hiking trip on the Routeburn Trail overlooking the Remarkables in New Zealand, where she and her husband got engaged. Ellie and her husband then honeymooned on Safari in South Africa, enjoyed great food in Cape Town, and witnessed Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. They have also traveled to France and the Amalfi Coast and skied in Park City, Jackson Hole, and Tahoe.
Ellie joins Menzies Luxe Retreats after a dynamic career, first working on Wall Street at a proprietary credit desk, then joining the NYC Teaching Fellows where she obtained her master’s and taught high school math in NYC. For the past eight years, she has been raising her three adorable boys with her husband in Darien, CT. She has a passion for exploring, creating memories with her family, and reading a great book while on the beach as she enjoys a sundowner.
Her love for travel was sparked when she studied abroad in Florence, Italy. During this time, she was able to travel throughout Europe to more than twenty cities. Later that year she also enjoyed a trip to Australia to play lacrosse with her teammates from Notre Dame.
Meet Ellie
Connect with harrison
Upon graduating from the University of Alabama, she spent three summers guiding leadership and service trips for teenagers in Maui, Fiji, and Iceland in between working for a residential interior designer in Atlanta, GA. Through these experiences, she learned how to get the inside scoop as she dove into each new destination. In 2018, she joined the Admissions + Marketing team at Moondance and oversaw family communication and the student experience. Her passion lies in connecting and building relationships with clients while always keeping her calm under pressure. Travel and excellent hospitality run in her blood, and she is excited to bring these passions to Menzies Luxe Retreats!
Harrison Newman hails from Charlotte, NC, but she currently resides in Boulder, CO with her fiancé, Franklin. She has a lifelong passion for travel, connecting with others, and creating meaningful experiences. When not planning or dreaming about travel, she spends her time outdoors hiking, climbing, and trail running on Boulder’s vast network of open space trails, perusing interior design magazines, or visiting her local yarn shop!
Harrison’s deep love for travel began at the age of 16 when she attended a Moondance adventure - participating in a 17-day climbing, backpacking, and white-water rafting trip in Wyoming and Idaho. This sparked a fire to explore the world and seek experiences far outside of her comfort zone. She has found that life’s most meaningful moments happen when we put our phones down and spend time with loved ones or new friends.
Meet Harrison
Connect with dallas
Dallas’s joy of travel advisory began when she became a trip planner for family and friends. At first, travel planning was a hobby while Dallas worked in Corporate Finance in New York. Now, Dallas is a full-time travel designer, focusing on luxury travel for couples and families.
Dallas grew up in Vancouver, Canada, and has since lived in New York, North Carolina, London, where she spent 6 years with her young family, and Connecticut. With extensive knowledge of London, numerous European destinations, the Pacific Northwest, and the Carolinas Dallas has first-hand knowledge of both international and domestic luxury destinations.
After completing a financial engineering degree at Princeton and an MBA at UNC Business School, Dallas’s work experience in Corporate Finance (FP&A) and Strategic Planning provided comprehensive experiences in client relationship management and financial acumen. Dallas brings these skills to travel planning as she strives to plan intelligently and efficiently for her clients. Maintaining quality client relationships is a top priority for Dallas as she ensures your trip planning process is enjoyable and smooth!
Dallas now lives in New Canaan, CT with her husband and 3 young children. Family trip highlights include Sardinia, Copenhagen, Tuscany, South Carolina, Deer Valley and Vancouver Island, and memorable couples’ trips include the Amalfi Coast, Montenegro, Greece, Napa, South Africa, and the Seychelles.
Meet Dallas
Connect with jade
For Jade, travel is more than a passion—it’s a way of life. With a deep love for exotic wildlife, indigenous cultures, and exploring the hidden gems of the world, she’s journeyed across five continents and 23 countries. From the remote Antarctic Peninsula to the ancient wonders of China, and the lush jungles of Indonesia, Jade seeks out experiences that blend adventure with authenticity.
Her travel philosophy is all about finding the perfect balance between sustainable luxury and honoring the local culture and environment. She believes that the best journeys don’t just take you to stunning places, but allow you to connect deeply with the people and landscapes around you. Whether it’s off-the-beaten-path adventures or immersive cultural experiences, Jade crafts each trip with care, ensuring it feels as unique and extraordinary as her clients.
When she’s not planning awe-inspiring travel, Jade calls sunny Orlando, Florida home, where she lives with her partner, cat, and bearded dragon. In her downtime, you’ll find her enjoying Florida’s local theme parks, paddleboarding along scenic waters, or unwinding with a good book on the beach.
Meet Jade
Connect with Glenn
Glenn is originally from Birmingham, Alabama, and attended the University of Alabama, where she studied Marketing. She moved to Dallas, Texas after college where she spent 3 years working in Marketing, before moving to Charleston, SC. In early 2024, she knew she wanted to make a career change, and has always wanted to be part of the travel industry. Fast forward to June 2024, she joined Menzies Luxe Retreats as a Travel Coordinator! She has learned so much already, and is excited to continue learning and growing in this industry.
Meet Glenn
