• Home
  • About
  • Destinations
    • Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands
    • Argentina
    • Chile
    • Jackson Hole/U.S. West
    • Caribbean
    • Mexico
    • Maldives & Seychelles
    • Portugal
    • Greece
    • Iceland
  • Experiences
    • The Best of Worldwide Fly Fishing
    • The Best of Worldwide Skiing
    • Active Adventures
    • Private Islands, Villas and Estates
    • Hosted Journeys
  • Virtuoso
    • Why Use a Travel Advisor
  • Contact
  • Blog
TIGHT LOOP TRAVEL
  • Home
  • About
  • Destinations
    • Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands
    • Argentina
    • Chile
    • Jackson Hole/U.S. West
    • Caribbean
    • Mexico
    • Maldives & Seychelles
    • Portugal
    • Greece
    • Iceland
  • Experiences
    • The Best of Worldwide Fly Fishing
    • The Best of Worldwide Skiing
    • Active Adventures
    • Private Islands, Villas and Estates
    • Hosted Journeys
  • Virtuoso
    • Why Use a Travel Advisor
  • Contact
  • Blog

​Our Mission 

Picture
Picture
The company mission is simple, and it's all about you - matching you up with the ideal destinations and unforgettable experiences you've been dreaming about.

How do we do that? Through collaboration, listening to you, understanding how you feel, sharing insights, so that we can make the best recommendations for you and your special journey. An advantage we have with our years of extensive travel experience is that we can offer you the chance to connect with our unrivaled network of premiere travel partners.
 
From the beginning, we focused not only on building relationships with you, our guests, but on creating trust and confidence in working with our travel partners. With our fly-fishing roots, we made it a priority to meet and work with the best guides at every location. We developed our own network of fly fishing guides worldwide, nurtured those relationships, expanded them, and today many of those guides are life-long friends. We carried that same unshakable purpose into the larger adventure and luxury tourism arenas - find and work with the best wine guides, city hosts, local concierges, gauchos, artists, river and mountain guides, all people we love spending time with, and in turn, sending our many guests to spend time with as well.
 
In today’s world there are many 5 star destinations with luxury amenities, and spectacular natural locations that inspire awe, but the difference in the most exceptional experiences comes down to the people you share it with, including your guides, drivers, lodge and hotel staff, and others who are an integral part of creating the most memorable human connections.
 
We love designing amazing vacations, and we couldn’t do it without our many friends and travel partners around the globe, all people who share our passion for providing journeys that strive to exceed your expectations. 


At Tight Loop Travel we offer a turnkey approach to your tailor-made vacation, which means you have a reliable friend you can trust to facilitate every aspect of your journey from the time we begin planning your special experience, to the time you return home. 

Who We Are
​
Purpose-driven - ​Sustainable Travel

"Some people just love adventure, exploring, trying new things. That's us. And we love doing it together."

​It's a way of thinking, dreaming, and we think about travel all the time -- about people, places and culture, skiing powder, fishing a sparkling flat, savoring a fine meal, sipping a full-bodied Malbec, watching the sky explode with color at sunset. And then we talk it over and it always turns out that we think about all the ways our guests might want to experience those things too.

From our first day as professional fly fishing guides, we instinctively knew that establishing a connection with, and building long-lasting relationships with our clients, was the most important thing we would ever do in this business. And the same was true for our colleagues and providers - from guides, to lodge owners, drivers, restaurant and winery owners, and many others.

We started Westbank Anglers in Jackson Hole in 1986 with a great partner who shared our passion, and very soon we were off and running with our travel business. And trust us, we didn't have a plan. It was just, hey, where do we want to go next? It was a special time, when so much of the world was relatively unexplored by fly fishers, especially the world of saltwater. 

Our guide service in the Jackson Hole and Yellowstone region gave us a great base, and the beginning of a loyal group of guests. Then one day an Argentine outfitter we didn’t know just showed up at our shop and invited us to visit his country for a month. How could we say no? 
 
We first visited Argentina in 1989, babes in the woods, but the trip was a success, the outfitter and his guides became our friends, and we began sending our anglers to fish the best rivers and lakes from San Martin de Los Andes to Cholila and Esquel. We rarely saw another angler. Every day was a new marvel. Over the following ten years, our tailor-made fly-fishing tourism business grew to cover the length of the country, from Tierra del Fuego, to Patagonia, Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Corrientes and Salta.
 
But Argentina was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. We began exploring the world in search of the finest fly-fishing destinations for our blossoming clientele; everywhere from the Bahamas and the Caribbean, to Alaska, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, Costa Rica, the Seychelles, and points in-between. 
 
Along the way the Bahamas became a second home, which led us to become the authors of The Bahamas Fly-Fishing Guide. And truth be known, the research for the book was off-the-charts fun, and we have our Bahamian friends to thank for the final result.

After selling Westbank Anglers in 2002, we had more time to renew our passion for Argentina, and to branch off into wine and adventure tourism based out of Mendoza. Our travel just snowballed from there, taking us around the globe a number of times to see and experience so many fascinating destinations, but one thing never changed -- our favorite thing -- talking with our friends and guests, sharing our excitement about how we could arrange trips to those places for you all. 

For over 30 years now, we have been international travel industry leaders with specialties in fly-fishing, skiing, beach vacations, and luxury adventure tourism. Most recently, we joined up with Protravel International and Virtuoso, a natural progression of seeking to work with the best of the best.
 
That has afforded us the opportunity to further build and nurture our extensive connections to the finest sporting lodges, luxury and boutique hotels and adventure program providers around the globe. And that makes it possible for us to guarantee each of our guests the chance to receive a unique local experience at every destination, with caring service and the finest in lodging, cuisine, and professionally guided activities.
​
Based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Mendoza, Argentina, along with our team we are dedicated to designing and customizing itineraries to suit the individual desires of each of our guests. And this is not really work for us, it never has been; it's a passion we live to share with you all. We invite you to be in touch and put our expertise to work for you.

 Let’s keep dreaming together!

 Stephen and Kim Vletas

​
​

T H E   T E A M

Meet Our Founders

Picture
Stephen Vletas
Destination Development
Travel Advisor
Picture
Kim Vletas
President and CEO
​Travel Advisor
Picture
Hanging out in Nassau at Baha Mar - Costa Restaurant, one of our favorites
We salute our exceptional travel partners

​From the beginning, we focused not only on building relationships with you, our guests, but on creating trust and confidence in working with our travel partners.

With our fly-fishing roots, we made it a priority to meet and work with the best guides at every location. We developed our own network of guides worldwide, nurtured those relationships, expanded them, and today many of those guides are life-long friends.

We carried that same unshakable ideal into the larger adventure and luxury tourism arenas - find and work with the best wine guides, private chefs, city hosts, local concierges, gauchos, artists, river and mountain guides, all people we love spending time with, and in turn, sending our many guests to spend time with as well.

​
TLT Signature Destinations...

...Are selected based on our first-hand experiences at locations we love, and on feedback from thousands of satisfied clients and guests who have traveled with us over the years. At these special places you will enjoy welcoming accommodations, authentic cuisine, and unparalleled professional service in idyllic settings where a respect for natural resources is paramount.

We learned long ago that part of our job had to be helping you choose that special vacation, that experience that would exceed your expectations, and that would make you feel like the time you spent was something to be treasured and remembered. And after 30 plus years of exploring this amazing and mysterious planet of ours, we believe this more than ever.

 

Why Use a Travel Advisor?

Customized Experiences - This is where it all comes together, where we listen, collaborate and design your dream vacation adventure.
Knowledge is Power -  Our first-hand experience at every destination we represent makes the difference between a good trip and an exceptional trip. 
Insider Information - We are in constant contact with our travel partners to have the local scoop, plus any cool new recommendations at the ready for when you arrive at your destination. 
We save you time - Our TLT Signature Destinations and other recommendations present you with the best of the best; no need to wade through the chaff.
We have your back - 24/7 service from the time you depart to when you return home. 

Preferential Treatment and Exclusive Perks - Best pricing, upgrades, special amenities and VIP treatment from beginning to end.
Let's Chat

Our Travel Partners
We are delighted to work with these partners, among others, who all strive to provide an unmatched dedication to your travel experience.

Protravel International - Tight Loop Travel, LLC is an independent affiliate of Protravel International, the most respected agency in the industry, holding the highest standards for personal leisure and corporate travel planning since 1984. Protravel is Virtuoso’s top US travel agency producer for 15 consecutive years; the winner of over 25 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards and home to numerous prestigious Travel + Leisure A-List Travel Advisors. The recognition and accolades Protravel has earned from across the luxury travel industry are a direct reflection of the quality of the agency and their unrelenting pursuit of perfection.
Virtuoso - Specialists in the Art of Travel -  Virtuoso is the leading global network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel. Less than one percent of travel advisors in the United States are accepted for membership in this elite organization. Our affiliation with Virtuoso enables us to offer our guests unique experiences, rare access, complimentary perks, special amenities, and VIP treatment at top hotels and resorts around the world. 
Four Seasons Preferred Partner - We highly value our preferred status with Four Seasons, which allows us to offer you exclusive benefits and perks at hotels, resorts, residences and private homes, along with customized itineraries on the Four Seasons private jet, an experience of unmatched luxury in the travel industry. Some of our favorite Four Seasons destinations include: our home base here in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Surf Club; Punta Mita, Mexico; The Ocean Club, Paradise Island Bahamas; Nevis; Bora Bora; Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills; Madrid, Spain; Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
Marriott Stars and Luminous - We are proud to be Hotel Excellence certified with Marriott's premium Stars and Luminous properties, including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Bulgari, Edition, Luxury Collection, W, JW Marriott, and The Autograph Collection. Some of our favorite destinations include: Ritz-Carlton Santiago, Chile; W Hotel Santiago, Chile; Ritz-Carlton, Ft. Lauderdale; W South Beach; W Ft. Lauderdale; St. Regis Punta Mita, Mexico; Zadun Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Mexico; St. Regis Puerto Rico; and St. Regis Bora Bora Resort. Please ask us about exclusive benefits and perks at these and other Marriott properties.

Rosewood Elite - A reliable partner dedicated to the highest level of service, accommodations and experiences. We are happy to be part of an exclusive group of advisors in the Elite program that provides special benefits to our guests. We have been long-time fans of Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Cabo San Lucas, plus we especially enjoy Villa Magna in Madrid, Spain; Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen Mexico; Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas; Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas; and Hotel de Crillon in Paris.
Aman Resorts - Extraordinary destinations worldwide. Our Aman friends built there first United States resort, Amangani, in our backyard; Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It's a spectacular small luxury property that sits atop the West Gros Ventre Butte, with stunning views of the valley all the way to Yellowstone. Amangiri in southern Utah has become a world-class desert retreat. Some of our other favorite Aman's include Amanyara in Turks & Caicos; Amanera in Dominican Republic, Amanzoe in Greece; Amandari in Bali, and Amanpulo in the Philippines. 
Accor - The parent company name may not be well-known, but their top luxury brands are some of our favorite hotels in the world, brands led by the Fairmont, SLS, Raffles, Sofitel, Faena, Delano and Banyan Tree, plus one of the best private home and villa management teams at One Fine Stay. Some of our favorite Fairmont Hotels in the U.S. and Canada include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Maui, Banff, Lake Louise, and Whistler. In Europe we enjoy staying at Fairmont properties in London, Geneva and Barcelona. For the SLS Hotels, we are crazy about Miami South Beach, and Baha Mar, Bahamas, so much fun! And for something cool and edgy, hard to bean the Faena in Buenos Aires or in Miami South Beach. 

&Beyond - Premiere travel operators and partners in Africa, Asia and South America, operating 29 luxury lodges (28 in Africa) and camps perfectly situated to showcase the very best of Africa’s iconic safari and island destinations. Each with its own style and character, which harmoniously blend with their respective region’s pristine surrounds, their accommodation options offer an authentic safari and beach experience that is graciously complemented by warm and engaging local staff and expert guides. Some of our favorite destinations include: Phinda Private Game Reserve (Mountain Lodge, Rock Lodge, Homestead private villa); Benguerra Island, Mozambique Indian Ocean; Ngala Safari Lodge and Private Game Reserve, Kruger National Park; Vira Vira Lodge, Chilean Lake District.
Remote Lands - One of our go to partners for all Asia travel, from the finest accommodations to tailor-made experiences. Discover sides of Asia you never knew existed, revealed by people who know every facet. Find serenity in a journey that flows at your pace and follows your path, effortlessly accommodating any diversion. And one of our favorite resort companies, Aman, has a number of their best properties in Asia. Remote Lands operates a signature private jet Aman experience, by far the most exclusive way to see this spectacular part of the world. Remote also works their magic with a number of our other preferred partners, including Four Seasons, Rosewood, Como Resorts, Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula, Belmond, and Anantara.  
Eclectic Greece - Our great friends and amazing partners for all things Greece. There is nothing that trumps local knowledge when it comes to creating authentic experiences, and Eclectic Greece does this better than anyone in this unique country that offers unrivaled culture and ancient history, stunning islands and beaches, romance, adventure, and warm welcoming hospitality. Eclectic's dedicated team works with us (with your input) to design custom-made itineraries that will show you the best of Greece in all its glory. 

COMO Hotels and Resorts - Elegant properties worldwide, including private homes and villas, each individually curated to reflect its location. We especially love Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos, and Maalifushi Thaa Atoll in the Maldives. World-class saltwater flats fly fishing at both locations. Excellent reef and offshore fishing as well.
One & Only Resorts - A favorite partner of ours for many years, dedicated to outstanding service, fine accommodations, great food and wine, and unique experiences. The first hotel we ever represented in Mexico was the Palmilla, before they were One & Only, and now the Palmilla is better than ever with a prime Sea of Cortez location between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Some of our other favorites include: The Palm, Dubai; Reethi Rah, Maldives; and the Mandarina, Mexico, a new resort just north of Punta Mita. 

Relais & Chateaux - Another long-time favorite partner, renowned for fine resorts, hotels, gourmet restaurants, and customized experiences. We especially enjoy Triple Creek Ranch in Montana for one of the best guest ranch experiences in the Rocky Mountains. Super fly fishing, horseback riding, fine dining and an award-winning wine cellar. Some of our other favorites include: Cavas Wine Lodge, Mendoza, Argentina; House of Jasmines, Salta, Argentina; Awasi Iguazu Falls, Argentina; Awasi Atacama, Chile; Awasi Patagonia, Chile; Clos Apalta Hotel and Winery, Chile; Secret Bay, Dominica; Le Toiny, St. Barts; and Eden Roc Cap Cana, Dominican Republic.
Belmond/Bellini Club - Celebrating local tradition, community and cuisine across the globe, Belmond creates luxury experiences that are as authentic as they are unique. And while Belmond offers luxury hotels, resorts and private homes around the globe, of course we have our favorites. The experiences offered in Peru, including the elegant Hiram Bingham train journey to Machu Picchu, are unmatched and are a must on any bucket list. Some of our other favorites include: Cap Juluca, Anguilla; La Semana, St. Martin; Maroma, Riviera Maya; and Hotel Das Cataratas, Iguazu Falls, Brazil. 
Dorchester Collection - Some of the world's most iconic hotels. We love them all, but we are special fans of The Beverly Hills Hotel; Hotel Bel-Air; The Dorchester London; and Le Meurice, Paris.
Tahiti Nui Travel - French Polynesia/Tahiti has long been one of our favorite island destinations, and why not, with the perfect combination of natural beauty, fine accommodations and culinary delights. And if you are looking for remote privacy, there are more options than you can imagine, including private villas and private island. Our partner Tahiti Nui puts it all together for guests in seamless fashion. And if you are wondering about flats fly fishing? Yes, its not talked about much, but there are fantastic spots to catch bonefish, trevally and more.
Hyatt and Park Hyatt - We've worked closely with the Park Hyatt brand for many years, beginning with our favorites; The Park Hyatt Mendoza and the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, Argentina. We also enjoy the locations in Beaver Creek; Mallorca, Spain; Melbourne and Sydney Australia; Auckland, New Zealand, and the Maldives. Hyatt has now added the luxury brand 7Pines Hotels and Resorts, great people, with premiere locations on the islands of Ibiza, Spain and Sardinia, Italy.
Hilton Hotels Luxury Brands - With the Conrad and Waldorf Astoria brands our friends at Hilton have created a world of luxury and style that is still easily accessible and comfortable, places you can feel at home. We especially enjoy the Conrad Algarve in Portugal; The Conrad Punta Mita, Mexico; The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island; The Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia, Italy;  The Conrad Ft. Lauderdale Beach; The Conrad Bora Bora Nui; 
The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos, Mexico; The Waldorf Astoria Panama; The Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri, Italy; and the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.
Abercrombie & Kent - A top partner around the globe with the highest quality on-site teams to take care of all details of our guests' itineraries. A&K also offers private jet itineraries and some of our favorite private villa experiences.

Peninsula Hotels and Experiences - One of the top brands in luxury hotels, and in fact, they have led the way in luxury technology in their hotels to provide guests with user-friendly services throughout their properties. The Peninsula also focuses on overall guest experiences - culinary, wellness, art and culture as examples, and luxury transportation to connect guests seamlessly to and from their destinations. Of course the Peninsula is famous in Asia, but we love the U.S. properties in New York, Chicago, and Beverly Hills.
LET'S START PLANNING YOUR DREAM VACATION
Picture
Proud independent affiliate of Protravel International a Virtuoso Member Agency
Picture
Picture

Top Destinations

Bahamas - Fly Fishing Sun & Sea
Turks & Caicos ​- Beach Adventure
Skiing 2022/23 - Luxury Adventure
Jackson Hole/Yellowstone
Private Villas - Luxury Adventure
Argentina - Fly Fishing and Adventure
​Chile - Fly Fishing and Adventure


    Join Our Mailing List - Stay informed and be inspired

Subscribe to Newsletter

Start Planning

Call: 307-690-7472 or 307-690-2839
Jackson Hole, WY - Mountain Time
Email: Stephen Vletas or Kim Vletas

Resources

About Us
Contact Us
COVID - 19 Resources/Notice
​Travel Protection
​FAQ
​Conservation


Proudly powered by Weebly
Copyright 2020 -  K&S Luxury Adventure Travel, LLC/Tight Loop Travel, LLC 
Privacy and Cookie Policy
Terms of Use
  • Home
  • About
  • Destinations
    • Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands
    • Argentina
    • Chile
    • Jackson Hole/U.S. West
    • Caribbean
    • Mexico
    • Maldives & Seychelles
    • Portugal
    • Greece
    • Iceland
  • Experiences
    • The Best of Worldwide Fly Fishing
    • The Best of Worldwide Skiing
    • Active Adventures
    • Private Islands, Villas and Estates
    • Hosted Journeys
  • Virtuoso
    • Why Use a Travel Advisor
  • Contact
  • Blog