Nolie Barnes
Founder & Partner
Having spent the better part of her career in healthcare, Nolie had an epiphany in 2014 after a long vacation to Greece. While her work in healthcare was both interesting and rewarding, it left her with little time to pursue her passion: travel. This passion came long ago when she took her first trip to Italy in 8th grade. The sense of freedom and wonder for adventure that she gained on that trip never left her and she always enjoyed planning detailed trip itineraries for family and friends.
In 2017 she started by organizing European escapades for her and her girl friends. As these trips grew in popularity, Nolie was off traveling more and more frequently, with her family and friends always wondering “where was she off galavanting to next?” It was through these luxurious ladies' trips filled with adventure, friendship and lots of wine that Galavant Travels was born. While the enterprise has grown to become a full-fledged, luxury travel consultancy, the roots of “galavanting” remain as strong as ever. Galavant aims to provide its clients with a luxury, bespoke travel experience that maintains a feeling of adventure and approachability.
Alexandra Barnes
Managing Director & Partner
After graduating in 2017 from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, Alex began a career as a Product Manager, building software products at a number of tech companies including Twitter and Coinbase. With her background in business, skills in technology and passion for travel, she always dreamed of building her own business centered around travel. Excited by the business Nolie was building with Galavant, Alex saw an opportunity to scale the custom trip planning side of the business while Nolie continued to lead Galavants all over the world. Alex joined Galavant as a Partner & Managing Director, leading the custom travel side of the business.
Sara Manners
Travel Consultant & Guide
Sara developed an early love for travel as her parents took her on trips across the world. This love turned into a passion when she traveled to 16 European countries in 18 months. From the Swiss Alps to the waters of the Mediterranean, the vibrant tulip fields in the Netherlands to the rolling hills of Ireland, Sara reveled in the beauty and diversity of each destination. She immersed herself in the cultures of cities like Paris and Barcelona, and discovered hidden gems like quiet vineyards in Tuscany.
As her passion for travel grew, so did her appetite for adventure, exploring places like Africa, Hong Kong, Hawaii, and the Caribbean.
Sara's meticulous attention to detail, honed through her background in accounting brings peace of mind to travelers embarking on new adventures. Inspired by her own travel experiences, she is eager to use her knowledge and expertise to create the perfect itinerary tailored to your preferences.
Niki Scott
travel Consultant & guide
After a successful mortgage banking career, Niki was offered the chance to retire early. She quickly found herself looking for opportunities beyond the corporate world and in this period of exploration, she decided to go on a ladies Galavant with Nolie. She quickly realized that working in the travel industry would be the perfect way to spend her retirement.
With a keen eye for detail and a natural leadership and charm, Niki found her perfect match in designing and leading trips for Galavant. She takes great care in crafting exceptional itineraries that encompass both familiar and undiscovered experiences, ensuring each journey is nothing short of extraordinary.
Sarah Jordaan
Travel Coordinator
Sarah grew up in the UK, but was always going on exciting adventures around Europe and enjoyed many vacations to South Africa to visit her extended family. After graduating from a degree in Education, she decided to venture into the world of remote working and has been able to transfer all the skills you learn in classroom management, such as communication, attention to detail, and multitasking, into supporting and planning exciting trips with the Galavant team.
Hannah Cable
Travel assistant
Having grown up in the UK and being a part of a family that loves to travel, Hannah has always loved seeing the wonders of the world. Now living in South Africa, Hannah is in her final year of studying for her education degree. With a big spirit for adventure and being someone who enjoys taking the road less travelled, Hannah is excited to work with the Galavant team to give people the opportunity to see and experience the beauty of this world.
