About Classic Travel

Joy Thrun opened Classic Travel in 1980 from a rented room in a farmhouse with donated furniture and a vision.
In spite of tremendous challenges facing the travel industry, Classic Travel has continued to succeed and grow.
Today, Classic Travel is a premier full-service travel agency specializing in leisure, corporate, and group travel. Classic Travel has built a strong and loyal client base and continues to demonstrate that experienced, dedicated leadership, a well-trained and devoted staff, the ability to adapt to changing times, and a constant emphasis on customer service are the keys to success.
Meet Our Experts
At Classic Travel, we believe the strength of our company lies in the expertise of our dedicated team members. Discover the faces behind our company and explore the possibilities of working together to tailor your next vacation!
DESTINATION EXPERTISE:
Alaska, Las Vegas, Europe, Africa, The Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Central America, USA
TRAVEL SPECIALTIES:
Honeymoons, Destination Weddings, Romance Travel, Family Travel, Multi-Generational, Ocean Cruises, Guided Vacations, Independent Vacations, River Cruises, Sandals Resorts, Luxury Travel, Groups
DESTINATION EXPERTISE:
Western Europe, Ireland, The Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, USA
TRAVEL SPECIALTIES:
Honeymoons, Romance Travel, Family Travel, Ocean Cruises, River Cruises, Multi-Generational, Guided Vacations, Independent Vacations, Luxury Travel
Katie has always held a passion for travel and helping others create travel memories that will last a lifetime. Katie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Business Management from Michigan State University and is extremely well-versed in many different types of travel. Her destination specialties include Western Europe, The Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Domestic Travel. Some of her favorite travel memories include walking the streets of Rome and the first time she saw the Cliffs of Moher. With an Irish heritage herself, there is no question why Ireland is Katie’s favorite destination. She loves everything from the food, culture and beautiful landscapes. When Katie is not hand-crafting vacations for her clients, she loves writing, walking, watching movies, spending time with friends and family and of course, traveling.
DESTINATION EXPERTISE:
Europe, The Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, South America, Asia, Africa, French Polynesia, Central America, Disney, Australia, New Zealand, USA
TRAVEL SPECIALTIES:
Destination Weddings, Honeymoons, Romance Travel, Family Travel, Ocean Cruises, River Cruises, Multi-Generational, Guided Vacations, Independent Vacations, Luxury Travel, Safaris, Faith Based Travel, Culinary Experiences
With over 30 years in the travel industry, Denise holds a multitude of certifications and designations. She is a Sandals Certified specialist, Jamaica and Hawaii Destination Specialist, and has completed the Disney Master Program to name a few. Denise loves to travel and experience different cultures, Ireland being her favorite destination. In her travels to Ireland, Denise has been mesmerized by the Cliffs of Mohr, kissed the blarney stone, and pub crawling through Dublin. One of her favorite travel memories was her first visit to the Haunted Mansion and receiving a kiss from Eeyore! Her favorite past time is reading and she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. Denise uses her love of travel and years of experience to create dream vacations for her clients.
DESTINATION EXPERTISE:
Europe, The Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Central America, French Polynesia, Portugal, Italy, USA
TRAVEL SPECIALTIES:
Honeymoons, Romance Travel, Family Travel, Ocean Cruises, River Cruises, Multi-Generational, Guided Vacations, Independent Vacations, Luxury Travel
Tanya believes that families that travel together stay together and her family practices just that. She loves sharing her joy of travel with her family and taking them to destinations where they can learn about different cultures. Aside from traveling to new places, Tanya enjoys movies and baking. With over 30 years of experience, Tanya’s heart is with Italy. As a Certified Travel Consultant and with a degree in travel & tourism, Tanya will create the perfect itinerary whether you are looking for a getaway for you and your spouse or plan on taking the whole family.
Hannah’s love for travel and passion for design come together in her role as Next Travel’s Marketing Coordinator. With a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Central Michigan University, she leverages her expertise to create marketing strategies that captivate and inspire future travelers.
Beginning her career as a travel agent, Hannah gained invaluable insights into a wide array of destinations. These experiences deeply inform her work, allowing her to craft campaigns that connect with a diverse audience on a personal level. Her favorite destinations from her personal travels include Greece, New Orleans, the Outer Banks, and Grand Cayman.
When she’s not at work, Hannah enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, indulging in video games, diving into the latest binge-worthy series, and planning her next adventure. Her commitment to creativity and thoughtful marketing ensures that every campaign she develops helps turn travel dreams into reality.
Ava joined Classic Travel in 2024, quickly becoming an integral part of our team. Her role as Travel Support Specialist encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, from warmly greeting customer over the phone and in-person to managing invoicing and travel documents. Her meticulous research skills and attention to detail ensures a smooth and efficient experience for all clients.
Italian Elopement
Katie Gates was a fantastic travel agent. We planned our trip to elope in Italy with her. I appreciated her attention to detail and the amount of care she put in when planning. I also really appreciated her timeliness with communicating. She always responded within a day, sometimes even the same day. All of our accommodations were fantastic. Our rails and transfers from train stations and airports all went off without any hiccups. We also loved being able to book tours through her. The tours were extremely organized and the guides were always knowledgeable and fantastic. We have recommended Katie to several friends and family members and will continue to do so! Grazie mille, Katie!
Alexandria M.
Hawaii Group Trip
Our Marching band goes to Hawaii every 3 years, and this spring break we were able to go thanks to the coordination of Classic Travel. Our group of 99 were well cared for and never had to lift a finger or make any of our own arrangements. Accommodations were great & the transportation was punctual, comfortable, and clean. All our destinations were great and I feel like we truly got to see all of Oahu during our trip. We never thought we would be able to visit Hawaii, but this trip was such a great value we could not turn it down. Well done to Tanya and staff at Classic Travel. We hope to repeat the experience when its our youngest's turn to go in 2028!
Shannon W.
Perfect Portugal
Tanya Thelen from Classic Travel is AMAZING!! She did a wonderful job planning our family trip to Portugal! She picked the best cities for our family to enjoy/explore. She also did an amazing job coordinating the hotels, transportation, and excursions to make sure we had a stress-free trip. We had the best experience in Portugal because of her planning! 🙂
Abby S.
Start Exploring
Your time is valuable, and with so many options to consider when planning your next vacation, we at Classic Travel know that a little help can go a long way. Whether you’re planning to travel across the state, across the country, or across the world, our team of experienced travel professionals are committed to planning a trip that exceeds your expectations. This list is just a glimpse of the destinations we can take you to. The world is vast, and so are the possibilities. Let's explore them together!
Africa
Australia
Hawaii
Ireland
Chile
Greece
Japan
Spain
Disney
Tauck
Viking
Group Travel
- All-Sized Groups
- Site Inspections
- Online Registration
- Negotiations
- Much More!
Planning your group trip with Classic Travel gives you the security of knowing that every detail will be taken care of by a team of dedicated travel professionals. We manage groups of all sizes and will assist with negotiations, online registration, site inspections, and much more. Our group travel offerings include: Multi-Generational Family Gatherings, Destination Weddings, Spring Break, Study Abroad, Corporate Retreats, Continuing Education, And More!
Family Groups
Cruise Groups
Destination Weddings
Active Groups
Our Affiliates



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