(37 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Michael Santalucia

Hamburg, NY
Advisor Specializing in Hawaii, Alaska & Europe

When my wife and I opened SantaLucia Travel, LLC our primary ambition was to help people see the world while making memories with the people they love. Whatever your travel dreams, we put our expertise and passion for the industry to good use, pla...
Learn more about me.

Advisor Specializing in Hawaii, Alaska & Europe

Ka Iwi Scenic Shoreline, Oahu
Ka Iwi Scenic Shoreline, Oahu

When my wife and I opened SantaLucia Travel, LLC our primary ambition was to help people see the world while making memories with the people they love. Whatever your travel dreams, we put our expertise and passion for the industry to good use, planning hassle-free vacations you'll remember for years to come.


I've traveled to over 60 countries and experienced over 300 days at sea on dozens of ocean and river cruises, visiting a diverse line up of destinations in the South Pacific, Caribbean, North/South/Central America, Europe and the spectacular Down Under of Australia.


I've immersed myself in the culture and history of everywhere we've traveled, criss-crossing the globe from Estonia to New Zealand. Each journey creating memorable experiences that bring first hand personal knowledge of some of the top destinations in the world, including multiple trips to Europe visiting countries such as the Ireland, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, and even Russia!  Ireland and Scotland in particular have a special place in our hearts. Both are outstanding countries rich with Celtic history as well as Kelly's ancestry which jumped back and forth between the two countries! We specialize in both Ireland and Scotland for guided or self-drive tours.  

Domestically, there is no place I love more than the sun-kissed shores of Hawaii. A cruise is an efficient and streamlined way to see all 4 major islands in just 7 nights, but as a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a Hawaii Destination Specialist, I can create a specialized itinerary that gives each client a chance to explore the hidden gems far outside the crowded tourist zones. Explore a piece of Hollywood history at Oahu's Kualoa Ranch, sip on barrister-brewed coffee at Koloa Mills in Kauai, see the majestic humpback whales off the coast of Maui, or hike to see Kilauea’s flowing lava on The Big Island of Hawaii. From active adventures like snorkeling with Manta Rays to simply kicking back with a cold cocktail and watching the waves, the incredible Hawaiian Islands have something for everyone, and I'm here to help you discover it all.

The unrivaled beauty and serenity of Alaska is a close second to our love of Hawaii domestically. Our 49th state has over 322 million acres of public land consisting of diverse landscapes with rugged mountains, coastal rainforests, and artic tundra. Among these vast public lands is the largest park system of all 50 states with over 56 million acres in 8 national parks. Alaska is home to roughly 60% of the United States total national park lands, including spectacular Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve! Cruising is a great way to experience the coast lines of the Inside Passage, but rail, coach or car are best to explore the interior. Cruisetours are a fantastic way to experience both the coastal Inside Passage as well as the interior from Anchorage to Fairbanks or beyond depending on your interests. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line are two of the leading cruise lines for Alaska, both having deep roots in the state and considered by many (including myself). Each having their own lodges in the parks and decades of experience operating Cruisetours.  Alaska is the perfect destination for multi-generational family cruises with a perfect mix of relaxation, stunning scenery and adventure for all!

Our experience with family and group travel makes us uniquely qualified to help craft personalized itineraries for families and groups and put together trips that will satisfy everyone's needs and desires.



  • Immerse yourself into the culture and beauty of Europe on a River Cruise
      

  • Tour the castles, cathedrals, history and spectacular scenery of Ireland and Scotland


  • Live out your dream honeymoon in the Tahiti's Society Islands and explore the deep blue waters of Bora Bora! 


  • Experience the Aloha of the islands of Hawaii


  • Head north to Alaska and soar in a helicopter to the awe-inspiring Norris Glacier, where you can experience dog sledding on a glacier!


  • Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set and enjoy a banquet feast served inside Thhe Green Dragon Inn in New Zealand.


  • Hug a Koala in Australia


  • Create lifelong multi-generational memories with grandparents, cousins and friends on an ocean cruise.


  • Recapture your inner child at Walt Disney World and/or Universal Studios


Among many other notable industry achievements, I'm a graduate of The Travel Institute's Certified Travel Associate (CTA) program, in addition to the Cruise Line Industry Association's (CLIA) certification programs as an Elite Cruise Counsellor (ECC) and Luxury Cruise Specialist (LCS), as well as other numerous additional industry certifications with destinations and suppliers. In 2012 I was honored to be appointed by top Norwegian Cruise Line executives to serve for 2 years on their inaugural NCLU Advisory Board.

Ready to plan your next vacation? Let’s get started!

What our clients are saying...

My husband and I just returned from a trip to Barcelona, Spain which we took to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Although my husband has previously traveled extensively in Europe for business, this was my first trip there. Mike was amazing; he made suggestions which we didn't even know were available and that made our trip much more pleasant. The hotel in Barcelona was one of the nicest I've ever stayed in, I truly didn't want to come home. Mike was extremely attentive to all of the details and was very fast and efficient in his service. He also added personal touches that are rare these days. He truly did help to make our second honeymoon all that we had hoped for, actually, in many ways it was better than our 1st!

My Travel Albums

Hawaiian Islands Highlights
Cheif's Luau

My Travel Stories

Experiencing the world through film and television

Film Tourism has become one of the top reasons for many guests to experience places they may not have considered venturing off to.  Exotic destinations often are home to some incredible film and movie sites.

Did you know that New Zealand was the exclusive home to the filming...Read more.

My Reviews

29 of 45 people found this review helpful
Four girls in the Emerald Isle.
Mike SantaLucia organized our family trip to Ireland and did a superb job. He kept our interests in mind when planning out everything. His guidance and suggestions as to the choice of airlines, the hotel accommodations and places of interest to see helped us make the most out of our trip. He even recommended alternate activities if the weather was unsuitable on a particular day. We will definitely use him again.
By  Lynne  from  Hamburg, NY
Traveled to  Ireland ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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33 of 53 people found this review helpful
Best trip of our lives
Mike was extremely helpful. He helped us plan our honeymoon to meet our specific needs, and found us the perfect vacation spot. He was always prompt in getting back to us to answer our questions, and touched base with us several times leading up to the trip with specific advice to make our travel easier. He also took the time to set up a package for our honeymoon that made it extra special. We were referred to Mike through a mutual friend, and we're glad we went through Mike to book our trip because it far exceeded our expectations and truly was the best trip of our lives.
By  Anthony and Viviana  from  Telford
Traveled to  Playa Mujeres ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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20 of 31 people found this review helpful
Best Travel Agent Ever
Mike goes above and beyond. He's not finished with his job helping you enjoy a great vacation, until your home again.
By  Patty  from  Orchard Park, NY
Traveled to  Caribbean Sea ~ At Sea ~ At Sea
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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31 of 53 people found this review helpful
Wonderful visit to Ireland
Hi Mike,
Our trip to Ireland was great. As you know, Ireland is a wonderful place. We enjoyed many beautiful sights, exhibits and museums. We spent time walking around touristy areas as well as non- touristy neighborhoods and loved them all.

I especially want to thank you for your suggestion for me to purchase additional car insurance to cover the wheels, mirrors and glass. While filing out the paperwork, I listened to several Hertz employees tell costumers that the extra insurance was available, but “not really necessary”. Once on the roads, it was very obvious that the extra insurance is important! And, by the way, to my relief, the inspector upon my returning the car did not mention the new scratches, and neither did I!!

The first Hotel we stayed in, the Granville Hotel, was lovely. Everything about it was wonderful. The room was pretty, comfortable and the hotel restaurant pub was equally lovely and the food was great. All the staff was eager to do anything to make our
By  Mom K  from  Elma, NY
Traveled to  Ireland ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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35 of 61 people found this review helpful
knows cruise industry inside out, and lots of tricks to make my experience the best!
I cant say enough good things about SantaLucia travel. Mike will bend over backwords to get thing done and knows his business better than any agent I have ever dealt with (any I travel A LOT, and have very high standards!). Mike even took time away from this years Suberbowl to ensure I could get in on a cruise special that was expiring that night! Mikes customer service and travel knowledge is truly outstanding!!! He works very hard at what he does, and is very dedicated!!
By  Pete  from  orchard park, NY
Traveled to  
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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Go to my main profile

Destination Expert:

  • Hawaii
  • Europe
  • Ireland
  • Scotland
  • Alaska

Travel Specialist:

  • River Cruises
  • Luxury Cruises
  • Independent Travel
  • Coach Tours
  • Cruises

Top Travel Partners:

  • AmaWaterways
  • Globus
  • CIE Tours
  • Holland America Line
  • Tauck

Certifications/Awards:

  • CTA
  • Certified Travel Associate (CTA)
  • CLIA Elite Cruise Counsellor (ECC)
  • Luxury Cruise Specialist (LCS)
  • Hawaii Destination Specialist
  • Alaska Specialist

Industry Affiliations:

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