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Rosedale Travel - Premier Luxury Travel Agency
Backroads
Ski
Backroads
Ski
We help pull together group travel for a friends or family reunion, and make the most of a milestone birthday or anniversary.
Groups
Homes and Villas
Owner
Kirsten Billhardt
Kirsten came to travel after 10 year plus runs at General Motors in Michigan and Dell, Inc in Texas. After years of planning trips for family and friends, she jumped at the opportunity to build a business doing something she loves.
Kirsten brings an engineer’s love of precision and a marketer’s love of flair to every trip she designs. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband and three sons. Kirsten loves a good biography, the end of a long run and, of course, traveling around the world.
Advisor
Denise Hollywood
Denise Hollywood has lived, worked, and traveled the globe for the past three decades. From a young age, having a parent from a foreign country (Ireland) inspired a desire to travel and see new places. A United States military veteran, serving her country in assignments around the world further fueled Denise’s passion for travel, tourism and experiencing new cultures.
Denise holds a Masters in Sustainable Tourism from George Washington University, loves travel to adventurous places like Africa and Patagonia, and has an extensive bucket list of places she’d like to visit in the future.
Owner
Kirsten Billhardt
Kirsten came to travel after 10 year plus runs at General Motors in Michigan and Dell, Inc in Texas. After years of planning trips for family and friends, she jumped at the opportunity to build a business doing something she loves.
Kirsten brings an engineer’s love of precision and a marketer’s love of flair to every trip she designs. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband and three sons. Kirsten loves a good biography, the end of a long run and, of course, traveling around the world.
Advisor
Denise Hollywood
Denise Hollywood has lived, worked, and traveled the globe for the past three decades. From a young age, having a parent from a foreign country (Ireland) inspired a desire to travel and see new places. A United States military veteran, serving her country in assignments around the world further fueled Denise’s passion for travel, tourism and experiencing new cultures.
Denise holds a Masters in Sustainable Tourism from George Washington University, loves travel to adventurous places like Africa and Patagonia, and has an extensive bucket list of places she’d like to visit in the future.
Luxury Travel Designed with Precision and Flair
Rosedale Travel is a full service, luxury travel planning agency specializing in family adventures, group celebrations, and customized itineraries.
All reviews are from confirmed guests sharing exclusive insights
Kirsten Billhardt
Owner
Kirsten came to travel after 10 year plus runs at General Motors in Michigan and Dell, Inc in Texas.....
Mollie Romness
Travel Advisor Mollie is a long-time lover of travel and culture, and is excited to be joining Rosedale Travel. For years, she has curated.....
Mendy Black
Travel Advisor Mendy Black is a global event strategist and travel expert known for crafting unforgettable experiences that blend ....
Rachel Baumgartner
Travel Advisor
Rachel Baumgartner is a retired Corporate Accountant who has always loved planning trips as much as taking them....
Khadija (Pipi) Tayabali
Travel Advisor Originally from Kenya and now based in Houston, TX, Khadija (you can call her Pipi) Tayabali brings a unique and deeply.....
Laura Spagnolo
Travel Advisor Laura Spagnolo is a passionate travel enthusiast originally from Argentina, now residing in Austin, Texas with her ......
Katie Kinzy
Travel Advisor Katie brings over 25 years of global travel-planning experience to Rosedale Travel. Having explored 28 (and counting!) countries,.....
Travel Advisor
Rachel Baumgartner
Rachel Baumgartner is a retired Corporate Accountant who has always loved planning trips as much as taking them. After becoming an empty nester, she decided to turn her passion for travel into a new career.
Traveling strengthens connections and relationships and Rachel loves to design trips with that in mind. She creates a diverse itinerary so all travelers have memories that last a lifetime. Rachel lives in the Austin area with her husband and has two grown children who are her favorite travel companions. She enjoys doing puzzles, organizing and improving processes and traveling the world. She’s also a master Carry-On Packer!
Travel Advisor
Mollie Romness
Mollie is a long-time lover of travel and culture, and is excited to be joining Rosedale Travel. For years, she has curated trips big and small for her family and friends. She is now looking forward to helping take away the stress of trip planning and making travel easy for her clients. A thoughtful itinerary creator, Mollie has a passion for mapping out customized trips enjoyed by travelers of all ages.
Over the winter holidays, Mollie and her family spent time in England visiting London, Liverpool, and Oxford. A few highlights of the trip were seeing the ancient wonder of Stonehenge, taking in an English Premier League soccer game, and seeing the English towns beautifully decorated for the holiday season. The months of November and December are Mollie’s favorites to visit European destinations, where she seeks out Christmas markets, winter carnivals for her children, and absorbs the festive décor of a magical European holiday.
Mollie lives in the Dallas area with her husband and two children. When not researching travel ideas (which is rare), Mollie loves playing tennis and spending time with her family. Two destinations that she has not yet visited, but hopes to someday, are Argentina and New Zealand. Currently, Mollie is working on several client travel plans to destinations including Australia, Hawaii and the United Kingdom.
Travel Advisor
Laura Spagnolo
Laura Spagnolo is a passionate travel enthusiast originally from Argentina, now residing in Austin, Texas with her husband and three children. She studied International Relations from 1996 to 2000, sparking an early fascination with global affairs. In 2003, she moved to Austin to pursue a Ph.D. in Public Policy at the LBJ School, which she completed in 2011. Afterward, she returned to Argentina, where she worked at the Ministry of Labor and took part in the G20, the global economic forum. In 2022, she once again made Austin her home, determined to transform her love for organizing trips for friends and family into a professional endeavor.
For the past years, Laura has managed guest relations at her family’s estate, Estancia Candonga, located in Córdoba, Argentina. This colonial estate offers a unique blend of history and hospitality, providing guests with memorable experiences in a serene setting.
Laura’s deep-rooted passion for soccer has led her to attend three World Cups: Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, and Brazil 2014. Most recently, she shared this passion with her family, following Argentina through the Copa América 2024 in the United States. She is eager to extend her expertise in combining tourism and soccer, curating unique travel experiences for her clients that blend the excitement of the sport with cultural exploration.
As an Argentine native, Laura possesses extensive knowledge of South America’s diverse offerings, with a particular focus on Argentina’s rich
landscapes and attractions. From the breathtaking Patagonia and the majestic Iguazu Falls to the renowned wine routes of Mendoza, celebrated for its Malbec, and the high-altitude vineyards of Salta, Laura is well-versed in crafting personalized itineraries. Whether it’s skiing in Patagonia, exploring golf courses, embarking on dove hunting adventures, or organizing cruises to the Antarctic region, she is dedicated to creating unforgettable journeys tailored to her clients’ interests.
Laura’s unique blend of cultural insight, event management experience, and personal passion for travel positions her as an exceptional guide for those seeking authentic and enriching experiences in South America and beyond.
Travel Advisor
Mendy Black
Mendy Black is a global event strategist and travel expert known for crafting unforgettable experiences that blend precision, creativity, and heart. Based in Austin, Texas, she holds a degree in Biology from the University of Texas.
Her journey into events didn’t start in a ballroom or boardroom – it started in a lab. After six years in neuroscience research, fascinated by how the human mind works, she found herself increasingly drawn to something else: bringing people together through the magic of live experiences and meaningful travel.
She has led global event strategy for brands like BBC Maestro, MasterClass, Wiley, and Insights, a Scotland-based company with operations spanning over 40 countries. This work has taken her across continents, developing an intimate understanding of what makes destinations truly special. Outside the U.S., she’s particularly known for her expertise in the UK – especially Scotland, a country she’s visited 14 times. While she’s explored 17 other countries, she keeps returning to Scotland for its wild beauty, warm people, and timeless charm.
Whether she’s climbing the Ciudad Perdida “Lost City” trek in Colombia, sourcing hidden gems in the Italian countryside, or testing out the best all-inclusives in Cancun, Mendy approaches every experience with the same goal: to make the journey just as extraordinary as the destination.
Travel Advisor
Khadija (Pipi) Tayabali
Originally from Kenya and now based in Houston, TX, Khadija (you can call her Pipi) Tayabali brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to curating luxury African travel experiences.
After completing her medical training at the University of Nairobi, Khadija relocated to the United States where she currently works as an Infectious Disease Physician. Her professional path has taken her across continents, but her love for Africa (its landscapes and the people) remains at the heart of her work.
Inspired by a lifelong passion for travel and a deep love for planning unique getaways for friends and family, Khadija eventually decided to pursue a career in travel consulting. Her goal has always been to share the Africa she knows and loves—authentic, warm, and full of hidden gems, with those seeking truly meaningful journeys.
She channels her expertise into creating bespoke African itineraries for discerning travelers: Whether it’s a luxury safari through the Maasai Mara, a serene beach retreat in Zanzibar, or a cultural immersion in Cape Town, each experience is not only elevated in comfort but rich in authenticity and local connection. With her, your trip will feel both exclusive and deeply personal.
Khadija’s dual perspective—both as a native of Kenya and a longtime U.S. resident enables her to bridge the gap many North American travelers face: the desire for a meaningful African adventure, but uncertainty about where to begin. She offers tailored support every step of the way, combining the logistical precision of a seasoned consultant with the warmth of someone who calls Africa home.
Advisor
Rachel Baumgartner
Mollie is a long-time lover of travel and culture, and is excited to be joining Rosedale Travel. For years, she has curated trips big and small for her family and friends. She is now looking forward to helping take away the stress of trip planning and making travel easy for her clients. A thoughtful itinerary creator, Mollie has a passion for mapping out customized trips enjoyed by travelers of all ages.
Over the winter holidays, Mollie and her family spent time in England visiting London, Liverpool, and Oxford. A few highlights of the trip were seeing the ancient wonder of Stonehenge, taking in an English Premier League soccer game, and seeing the English towns beautifully decorated for the holiday season. The months of November and December are Mollie’s favorites to visit European destinations, where she seeks out Christmas markets, winter carnivals for her children, and absorbs the festive décor of a magical European holiday.
Mollie lives in the Dallas area with her husband and two children. When not researching travel ideas (which is rare), Mollie loves playing tennis and spending time with her family. Two destinations that she has not yet visited, but hopes to someday, are Argentina and New Zealand. Currently, Mollie is working on several client travel plans to destinations including Australia, Hawaii and the United Kingdom.
Advisor
Rachel Baumgartner
Rachel Baumgartner is a retired Corporate Accountant who has always loved planning trips as much as taking them. After becoming an empty nester, she decided to turn her passion for travel into a new career.
Traveling strengthens connections and relationships and Rachel loves to design trips with that in mind. She creates a diverse itinerary so all travelers have memories that last a lifetime. Rachel lives in the Austin area with her husband and has two grown children who are her favorite travel companions. She enjoys doing puzzles, organizing and improving processes and traveling the world. She’s also a master Carry-On Packer!