Meet Anneke Marchese, VTA
Since founding AM|FM Luxury + Adventure Travel in 2014, I've believed that extraordinary travel begins with understanding the person taking the journey.
With firsthand experience throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, Hawaiʻi, and beyond, I design personalized journeys that balance beautiful accommodations, meaningful cultural experiences, and thoughtful attention to every detail.
Travel beautifully. Live deeply.
Founder, Sole Owner & Chief Travel Designer
ASTA Verified Travel Advisor®
Experience, Expertise + Recognition
Professional credentials, firsthand destination knowledge + industry recognition
ASTA Verified Travel Advisor®
A professional credential recognizing travel industry knowledge, experience, and commitment to continued education.
Award-Winning Travel Design
Named among the world's Top 100 Travel Agencies & Tour Operators by Luxury Lifestyle Awards in both 2025 and 2026.
Bespoke Luxury Recognition
Selected as Best Bespoke Luxury Travel Agency 2027 – Oregon in LUXlife Magazine's Leaders in Luxury Awards, honoring AM|FM's approach to personalized luxury travel design.
The World, Explored + Expertly Designed
Africa + Safaris
From the wildlife-rich landscapes of Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa to the wonders of Egypt, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, my firsthand experiences and trusted local relationships shape the private safaris and immersive African journeys I design.
Hawaiʻi + Island Luxury
The most extraordinary journeys begin with understanding. My travel recommendations draw on firsthand exploration, years of designing personalized itineraries, and trusted relationships with destination specialists around the world. Whether I've experienced a destination personally or collaborated with exceptional local experts, every journey is thoughtfully designed around the traveler.
With approximately 30 visits across all six major Hawaiian Islands, I bring exceptional firsthand knowledge of luxury resorts, local experiences, and each island's distinctive character to the personalized Hawaiʻi vacations I design.
Europe + Culture
With more than 100 custom Italian journeys designed and extensive firsthand experience throughout Greece, Croatia, France, and beyond, I create personalized European itineraries rich in culture, meaningful experiences, and thoughtful luxury.
Caribbean + Escapes
From St. Lucia and Barbados to Jamaica, the Bahamas, and beyond, my Caribbean travels inform personalized island escapes featuring exceptional resorts, beautiful coastlines, and opportunities to experience each destination beyond the beach.
Asia + Discovery
From vibrant Bangkok to the tropical beauty of Koh Samui, Krabi, and Phuket, my firsthand experiences in Thailand and trusted local partnerships inspire personalized Asian journeys rich in culture, discovery, and thoughtful luxury.
Australia + New Zealand
Through years of designing customized journeys and collaborating with trusted destination specialists, I help travelers explore Australia and New Zealand through remarkable landscapes, wildlife encounters, distinctive accommodations, and unforgettable adventures.
A World I Never Imagined
Travel was part of my childhood, but I never imagined just how much of my adult life it would eventually shape.
Growing up in California and Wisconsin, I traveled throughout the United States. Yet venturing farther from home, particularly overseas, felt intimidating. After September 11, those fears only grew. I once told my husband, Felix, that I would never be the kind of person who traveled to Hawaiʻi, much less explored the other side of the world.
Life, however, has a wonderful way of surprising us.
Becoming a mother profoundly changed my perspective. It reminded me how precious our time is and how important it is to embrace life rather than continually postponing the experiences that make it extraordinary.
Over time, my curiosity began to outweigh my hesitation.
And over the past decade, travel has become one of the greatest passions of my life. I've explored destinations throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas, returned to Hawaiʻi approximately 30 times, and developed relationships with extraordinary people around the world.
What once seemed intimidating has become something I can't imagine living without.
That transformation shapes the way I approach travel planning today. I understand that every traveler brings different dreams, comfort levels, and curiosities. Some are ready for their next great adventure, while others are discovering the confidence to take that first big leap.
My role is to listen, understand, and design journeys that feel genuinely personal, combining thoughtful planning, firsthand knowledge, and experiences that stay with you long after you've returned home.
And as my own life continues to evolve, so does my desire to explore. There are still countless places I want to discover, cultures I want to experience, and journeys waiting to unfold.
The world is extraordinary, and I'm nowhere near finished exploring it.
Travel Beautifully. Live Deeply.