Travel Expert
Dawn Bartizal | Solo Travel Club
Jean Melcher Travel
Bend, OR | La Jolla, CA
Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday,
9:00am-5:00pm PST and by appointment.
About
Dawn Bartizal is a travel advisor with Jean Melcher Travel, affiliated with Cruise and Travel Experts (CTE), a member of Signature Travel Network. After a successful executive career in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs, Dawn returned to her first professional love — travel — building on experience she gained during an earlier stint in the industry. The precision, attention to detail, and comfort managing complex, multi-party logistics she honed in regulatory affairs now shape the way she plans every trip for her clients — anticipating problems before they arise, tracking every detail, and keeping every moving piece on track from booking to return home. She brings a rare combination of meticulous planning skill and genuine, firsthand wanderlust to every itinerary she creates.
Dawn's specialties reflect the way she herself travels: actively, purposefully, and with curiosity. She has explored New Zealand extensively across multiple visits, including sections of all four major Great Walks, gone on safari across Africa, explored the islands of the South Pacific, and completed the Camino de Santiago — walking 120 kilometers of the Portuguese route. Her love for the water has taken her sailing across the Seychelles, the Greek Islands, Turkey, Tahiti, Tonga, and multiple Caribbean islands, canal boating through the French countryside, and cruising to destinations around the globe. This firsthand experience across so many styles of travel — active, nautical, cultural, and everything in between — gives Dawn an instinct for matching each client to the right trip, not just the right destination. Her passion for wellness and pilgrimage-style travel, active and experiential adventures, and off-the-beaten-path exploration further shapes the kind of trips she loves to design, whether that's a multi-generational family journey, a milestone celebration, or a solo traveler's next great adventure.
Dawn's current projects showcase the range of her work: a multi-family journey to Rome and the Amalfi Coast, and a 12-traveler group trip through Brazil's Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, and the wildlife-rich Pantanal and Bonito regions. She also brings hands-on experience with Nordic sauna culture and a growing specialty in polar and remote expedition cruises.
Dawn also brings a genuine understanding of solo travelers, drawn from her own experience welcoming them into her group trips. She knows that solo travelers often have different needs and priorities — from room configurations to feeling connected within a larger group — and she takes care to plan with those needs in mind. Whether someone is joining a multi-family journey or a larger group adventure on their own, Dawn makes sure they feel just as considered and supported as those traveling with a partner or family.
Based between Bend, Oregon and La Jolla, California, Dawn approaches every client relationship with the same care she brings to her own adventures — asking thoughtful questions, planning down to the logistical details, and staying personally invested in how a trip unfolds. Whether she's arranging a family reunion abroad, a solo traveler's dream itinerary, or a large group expedition, Dawn's goal is the same: to craft travel that's not just well-organized, but genuinely transformative.
Korean K-Beauty & Wellness: A Women’s Journey
9-Day Wellness Journey
October 15, 2027
Rates: $5,680 per solo traveler
Visits: Seoul, Jeju Island, Jeju, Dongmun Market, Hair Spa, Facial Spa, Wellness Centers
Highlights: This 9-day Korean K-Beauty & Wellness journey, priced from US$5,680, is a Solo Women Travel package designed exclusively for women, offering the comfort and privacy of single occupancy accommodation throughout. Travelers wander Seoul's royal palaces, lantern-filled temples, and cherry blossom pathways across South Korea, discovering Korean culture through hanok villages, mother-of-pearl crafts, and a traditional kimchi-making class. The trip includes Seoul's wellness traditions, from Korean facial treatments to hair spa rituals and jjimjilbang relaxation, before heading to Jeju Island to explore volcanic landscapes, Haenyeo diving heritage, green tea plantations, and coastal scenery, with cuisine ranging from Jeju black pork barbecue to bustling markets and authentic street food. The trip is backed by 55 years of expertise in tailor-made travel and an excellent rating based on 5,245 reviews, and it's built around several trip features: iconic landmarks that capture the essence of each destination, empowering solo women's travel experiences, festivals and special cultural events, health and wellness journeys for rejuvenation, and escorted small-group touring.
Includes: Arrival and departure airport transfers in both Seoul and Jeju Island; 5 nights of premium single-occupancy accommodation in Seoul and 3 nights on Jeju Island; transport by private vehicle and public transport depending on group size; an economy-class flight from Seoul to Jeju Island including air taxes; a T-Money card for days using public transportation; and the services of a tour guide throughout Seoul and Jeju Island. Guided sightseeing and experiences include a Seoul Highlights tour visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and Seongsu-dong; a Cherry Blossoms and Traditions of Seoul tour covering Jogyesa Temple, Insadong, a mother-of-pearl craft workshop, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Yeouido Hangang Park; a visit to Ikseon-dong; a Korean hair spa experience; a visit to a traditional Korean jjimjilbang; a facial wellness experience; a visit to Namdaemun Market and Myeongdong; a Korean kimchi-making class; a Jeju Island Coastal Discovery Tour featuring Sunrise Peak, the Jeju Haenyeo Museum, and a Haenyeo dinner experience; a Tea, Skincare & Scenic Jeju Tour including Hallim Park, the O'sulloc Tea Museum, Innisfree Jeju House, and a refined tea omakase experience; and a visit to Dongmun Market. 8 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Book your own hotel room for no solo supplement fee!
AmaWaterways Europe RIvers and Castles
7-Day River Cruise
March 24, 2027 | AmaPrima | Luxembourg to Nuremberg
Rates: $4,778 per solo traveler
Visits: Bernkastel, Cochem, Wertheim, Rothenburg, Wurzburg, Rheingau
Highlights: From the meandering Main to the UNESCO-designated Upper Middle Rhine Valley with its multitude of castles dotting its shores to the vineyard-clad hills of the Moselle, enjoy Europe at its most picturesque.
Includes: All meals, complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, shore excursions, WiFi, tour guides, Cruise Manager and more
Book your own stateroom for no solo supplement fee!
Globus
8-Day Lisbon to Madrid Escape
January 10, 2027
Rates: $1,299 per solo traveler
Visits: Lisbon, Porto, Salamanca, Madrid
Highlights: What could be better than spending eight days in Portugal and Spain? Spending them during the off season when crowds are fewer and travel prices are lower! Begin your European vacation in Lisbon to enjoy guided sightseeing through the Imperial history of the colorful city. In Fátima, hear the story of Our Lady of Fátima at the site where Mary appeared to three shepherd children, then travel to Porto for sightseeing and port-wine tasting. Enjoy a wine tasting at a Salamanca winery and stand before the masterpieces of Goya, El Greco, Rubens, and more, in Madrid’s Prado Museum. Eight days of sumptuous color, cuisine, and culture await you on this guided vacation in Portugal and Spain!
Includes: Tour Guide, Guided Sightseeing, Hotels, Transportation, Some meals and more
Book your own room on this tour with 0% Solo Supplement fee!
Trafalgar Ireland Castles & Manors
8-Day Ireland Tour
June 19, 2027
Rates: $4,005 per solo traveler
Visits: Dublin, Galway, Ashford Castle Estate, Glen Keen Farm, Abbeyglen Castle, Connemara, Cliffs of Moher, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Cashel, Dublin
Highlights: This grand Ireland trip is fit for royalty, including stays in the homes of Irish nobility. You’ll travel to Kildare and learn all about the racehorses of Ireland, visit the Ring of Kerry and watch how delicate crystal is cut in Connemara.
Includes: Seven nights accommodations, all tours, tour guides, transportation 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 4 dinners, and more!
Book your own room on this tour with a 10% Reduced Solo Supplement fee!
Lindblad Expeditions
10-Day Galapagos Islands Expedition
National Geographic Endeavour II | July 2, 2027 |
Rates: $15,450 per solo traveler for solo stateroom
Visits: Quito, Ecuador
Highlights: Adventure by kayak, paddleboard, glass bottom boat, Zodiac, walk among wildlife, snorkel with sea turtles, observe tortoises and more.
Includes: All accommodations, regionally sourced meals, non-alcoholic beverages, daily shore excursions, expert-led lectures, use of exploration gear, open seating dining, and more.
Enjoy a 40% Reduced Solo Supplement on this voyage
Paul Gauguin
11-Night Cook Islands & Society Islands
January 2 or November 6, 2027 | m/s Paul Gauguin | Roundtrip Tahiti (Society Islands)
Rates: $7,930 per solo traveler
Visits: Moorea, Huahine, Taha’a, Bora Bora, Aitutaki, Rarotonga
Highlights: Slow down and let stress float away on secluded Huahine, where relaxation is the only item on your to-do list. Explore the local village on foot. Wander through lush rainforests. Float in crystal-clear lagoons. It's all at your fingertips.
Includes: Gourmet dining, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, gratuities, entertainment, WiFi, watersports marina and more.
Book your own room on this tour with 0% Solo Supplement fee!
Silversea
12-Day Eastern Caribbean Featuring St. Barts & Montserrat
November 18, 2026 | Silver Shadow | Roundtrip Miami
Rates: $8,960 per solo traveler for solo Vista Suite
Visits: 8 Ports: Miami, FL, San Juan, St John, Gustavia, St. Barthelemy, St. John's, Little Bay, Montserrat, St. Kitts (Basseterre), Jost Van Dyke (British Virgin Islands
Highlights: Savour a sun-soaked round-trip from Miami, looping through some of the Caribbean’s most authentic and exclusive treasures. Run your hands through soft white sands, dive with vibrant parrotfish, butterflyfish and angelfish, and hike noisy, jungle-clad trails. Bask in the blotchy blue seas of St. John, shop exclusive boutiques in St. Barts and discover the secluded tranquillity of the Virgin Islands, as you enjoy the intimate Silver Shadow’s unmatched luxury.
Includes: 24-hour gourmet dining, butler service, superb entertainment, and premium beverages, crew gratuities, WiFi and more.
Book your own stateroom with only a 10% solo supplement.
Tauck
8-Day Magnolias, Sweet Tea & Southern Stories: A Women's Only Journey
September 29, 2027 | St. Augustine, FL to Charleston, SC |
Rates: $8,623 per solo traveler
Visits: St. Augustine, Jekyll Island, Savannah, Beaufort, Charleston
Highlights: Follow the graceful coastline of the American South from St. Augustine to Charleston, discovering historic cities, Gilded Age retreats, moss-draped squares, and enduring cultural traditions along the way. Cruise aboard a private catamaran in St. Augustine, explore Savannah's elegant streets before a hands-on Lowcountry culinary experience, and gain meaningful insight into the heritage of the Gullah-Geechee community at the Pin Point Heritage Museum. Shared experiences, including a private horse-drawn carriage ride through Charleston and a farewell dinner at one of the city's most celebrated restaurants, create memorable opportunities to connect with fellow travelers while discovering the warmth, history, and hospitality of the South. An unforgettable trip thorough coastal South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, places reminiscent of long-ago days of gracious Southern living… A rarefied world of 19th-century mansions, magnolias and live oaks hung with Spanish Moss
Includes: Tour Guides, Transportation, Airport and train Transfers, all hotel accommodations, 14 meals, sightseeing, on tour flights, Admission Fees, Special experiences
Book your own room with a 20% reduced single supplement fee!
Uniworld Women's Only Rhine River Cruise
12-Day Scenic Rhine, Paris & The Swiss Alps
July 9, 2027 | Zurich to Paris | S.S. Audrey
Rates: $13,549 per solo traveler
Visits: Zurich, Basel, Breisach, Mannheim, Rudesheim, Winningen, Bernkastel, Luxembourg, Paris
Highlights: Uniworld is thrilled to announce our second women-only river cruise! The cruise portion of this journey will be hosted by none other than Uniworld’s President & CEO, Ellen Bettridge, aboard the newest member of our Super Ship™ fleet: the beautiful S.S. Audrey. Bring your mothers, sisters, adult daughters, best friends, or any special women in your life, or embark on a solo adventure where you’re destined to make new friends.From Moselle Rieslings to Swiss cheeses, and from verdant riverscapes to alpine views, this itinerary is for the connoisseurs of wine, food, and natural beauty. Savor freshly baked bread at a historic flour mill with an unexpected twist: one of the most beautiful private gardens in Germany. Embark on a riverside bike ride through the romantic landscapes along the Rhine River. Hike through the vineyards of Rüdesheim, marvel at Roman ruins in Trier, and immerse yourself in the glamor of Paris.
Includes: All meals onboard, unlimited beverages including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffees and teas, 9 days of excursions, deluxe accommodations, cruise manager, gratuities, onboard local entertainment, free WiFi
Book your own room on this tour with a 50% Solo Supplement fee!
Windstar Cruises
6-Night Moments in Southern Italy & Greece via the Corinth Canal
April 1, 2027 | Rome to Athens | Star Legend
Rates: $3,724 per solo traveler
Visits: Rome, Sorrento, Reggio Calabria, Giardini Naxos, Taranto, Gallipoli, Fiskardo, Galaxidi, Athens
Highlights: Savor extra time to soak up sun-kissed Italian beaches, stroll through charming vineyards, and savor local cuisine with a shortcut through the Corinth Canal—a passage reserved for small ships like ours. Wander the imposing fortifications and archeological revelations of the 15th century Castello Aragonese, then explore countless ancient Greek and Roman relics at a Taranto museum. Drift silently on a small boat into the turquoise glow of Sicily's famous Blue Grotto. Taste rich red wines adjacent to flourishing vineyards growing on the slopes of Mount Etna above Giardini Naxos. Check cruise dates for additional days, stops, and excursions, including the Temple of Apollo in the ruins of Delphi, a speedboat getaway from Fiskardo to remote Kephalonia beaches, and a stop at the walled town of Italy's Gallipoli, where you can master fine dining details of Puglia's cuisine from an expert chef.
Includes: All meals, including specialty restaurants. Sodas, Specialty Coffee’s and Tea. 24-Hour room service. Destination Discovery Events. Entertainment Experiences. Gym and Spa Sauna access. The Marina (complimentary kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and floating islands available on select voyages) and open bridge tours.
Book your own stateroom with no solo supplement!
