Hi, I'm Gretchen!
Gretchen Ode founded Silicon Valley Travel in San Jose, California to plan Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, cruise, and Germany trips for Bay Area families and couples. Gretchen holds Signature Travel Network Expert status and 35+ supplier certifications through Vincent Vacations.
Why Gretchen Started Silicon Valley Travel
Gretchen Ode watched too many Bay Area travelers spend six weekends researching a Hawaii trip and still board a plane to the wrong island. Silicon Valley Travel exists to reverse that pattern. Gretchen matches Bay Area travelers to destinations, resorts, and routes that fit the actual trip they want, not the trip a booking engine sells them.
Silicon Valley Travel operates as an independent contractor under Vincent Vacations, one of the largest host agencies in the country. That relationship gives Gretchen direct supplier contracts with Viking, AmaWaterways, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, Disney Cruises, Outrigger Hotels, and the Marriott Impressions by Secrets brand.
Gretchen has traveled personally to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, Bora Bora, Moorea, Fiji's Mamanuca Islands, the Rhine, the Danube, Bavaria, and the Caribbean. Every destination page on this site reflects a route Gretchen has flown and a property Gretchen has walked through.
Gretchen's credentials include Signature Travel Network Expert certification, Vincent Vacations host agency membership, and more than 35 supplier-specific certifications from cruise lines, resort brands, and country tourism boards including Tourism Fiji, Tahiti Tourisme, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Germany.travel, and ENIT for Italy.
Real Trips, Real Feedback
Her vast knowledge of locations, resorts and excursions makes her a huge asset when planning travel. She also communicated with us during and after to make sure our experience was everything it should be.
I told her what I was looking for and she found it! She got us GREAT deals on our trip. She was upfront with pricing and costs for everything! Airfare, hotel and cruise! She took care of it all!!
We've worked with Gretchen for two different trips, one domestic and one international. She has made everything so easy for us and thinks of all the little things that perhaps we would've forgotten.
Why Work With Me
Online prices rarely include hidden fees, and they never include the perks, or the person on the other end of the phone when something goes wrong.
Firsthand Knowledge
Gretchen has personally traveled from the South Pacific to Europe and the Caribbean, and she is always adding new destinations. Her recommendations come from experience, not brochures.
The Right Fit
Gretchen asks what you want to feel on your trip before she suggests a single resort. That is why 90% of her clients come back for their next vacation.
Reachable 24/7
When flights get canceled mid-trip, you call Gretchen directly, not a 1-800 hold line. She has rebooked flights and secured overnight hotels for stranded clients on the spot.
Exclusive Perks
Through the Signature Travel Network and 60+ supplier relationships, Gretchen unlocks upgrades, resort credits, and VIP amenities you cannot get booking on your own.
Total Transparency
Hidden fees, pre-booking requirements at all-inclusives, transfer costs: Gretchen tells you everything upfront so your budget is real and your trip is what you expected.
Complimentary Service
Gretchen's planning services are free to you. She is paid by travel partners, not by her clients, and you often get better value than booking direct.
35+ Industry Certifications
Every certification represents in-depth training directly from tourism boards, cruise lines, and resort partners. This means insider knowledge about the best room views, hidden excursion gems, and how to avoid common booking mistakes.
Part of the Signature Travel Network
As a member of the Signature Travel Network, one of the world's most prestigious travel consortia, Gretchen has access to exclusive perks, room upgrades, resort credits, and VIP amenities that are not available through online booking sites. Combined with relationships with over 60 trusted suppliers, you get access and value that booking direct simply cannot match.
Plan Your Next Trip with Gretchen
Book a free 30-minute consultation. Silicon Valley Travel planning is complimentary because suppliers pay commission, so the trip costs the same whether you book direct or through Gretchen.