About

Personal Experience. Professional Planning.

Eric Bender is the founder of Luxury Travel Connection, LLC and a luxury travel advisor independently affiliated with Fora Travel — one of the most respected host agencies in the industry.

Eric Bender — Luxury Travel Advisor

Eric Bender

Luxury Travel Advisor · Founder, Luxury Travel Connection, LLC · Affiliate of Fora Travel

He works with individuals, couples, families, and groups to design custom luxury vacations, cruises, safari journeys, active adventures, and milestone travel experiences worldwide. Browse the full experiences overview or the travel guides for destination inspiration. His approach combines thoughtful planning, genuine curiosity about how people want to travel, and a network of partnerships that allows him to deliver experiences most travelers can't access on their own.

Travel Story & Philosophy

A Passion Refined into a Craft

Travel has been a defining part of Eric's life — not only as a passion but as a craft he has spent years refining. He has traveled extensively throughout his life, both personally and professionally, visiting destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, and the Americas. That firsthand experience informs every recommendation he makes.

Whether the goal is a seamless honeymoon, a multi-generational family trip, a bucket-list safari, or a perfectly timed sports event journey, the focus is always on creating travel that feels effortless, personal, and memorable.

Why Fora Travel

What the Fora Affiliation Means for You

As an independent affiliate of Fora Travel, Eric has access to preferred partnerships with the world's finest hotels, cruise lines, and travel suppliers. These relationships translate directly into tangible benefits for clients — room upgrades, resort credits, complimentary breakfast, early check-in and late checkout, and priority access — at no additional cost, and with inclusions most clients are unable to attain if arranging on their own.

Booking through a Fora-affiliated advisor such as Eric's Luxury Travel Connection gives clients more for the same price, backed by a dedicated professional who is personally invested in the outcome of every trip.

Certifications & Specialties

Formal Training. Deep Supplier Relationships.

Backroads Travel SpecialistActive Adventure & Cycling
Viking Rivers Certified ExpertRiver Cruising
Royal Caribbean MasterOcean Cruising
AmaWaterwaysRiver Cruising
Princess CruisesOcean Cruising
ExploraLuxury Ocean Cruising

These certifications and associated courses reflect formal training and deep supplier relationships — not just familiarity. As a Backroads Specialist, Eric has direct access to Backroads' full trip portfolio and specialist support. As a Royal Caribbean Master, he has completed the highest level of Royal Caribbean's advisor training program. As a Viking Rivers Certified Expert, he is qualified to guide clients through Viking's full river cruise lineup with confidence. Not only for these lines, but for all cruise lines.

How It Works

Simple, Personal, and Designed Around You

01

Start the conversation

Reach out through the inquiry form, directly by email, or schedule a detailed call or meeting. Share your destination ideas, timing, and what kind of experience you're looking for.

02

Review your options

Eric handles the research, the options, and the details — presenting recommendations tailored to your pace, priorities, and budget. No generic packages.

03

Travel with confidence

Once everything is in place, you arrive informed, prepared, and able to simply enjoy the trip you planned — with ongoing support from planning through departure.

Ready to start planning?

Share your trip ideas and I'll come back with options designed around how you want to travel.

Plan Your Trip