About Us » Meet the Staff » Tour Consultants » Marla Bowman- Tour Consultant

Marla Bowman- Tour Consultant

Marla Bowman | Student travel agency Travel Adventures for student group travel

Phone: 800-688-0403
Email: mbowman@traveladventures.com

Marla has traveled to 49 states and has traveled internationally to Greece, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and many parts of Canada. She has been to many of our country’s National Parks, expanding her knowledge of science.

Marla has a Bachelor’s in Mathematics, with minors in Physics, Chemistry and Astronomy and a Master’s in Astrophysics from Michigan State. She brings her expertise to our science offerings for students.

After a successful career working with museums and directing two planetariums, Marla decided to follow her passion for travel by attending the International Tour Management Institute and became a certified Tour Director. At a symposium, she met a Travel Adventures employee, and the rest is history!

Marla spent 3 years as a Tour Director for Travel Adventures before accepting a full time position as a Tour Consultant in 2004. Having traveled with over 6500 students of all ages and disciplines, she is very familiar with what excites and motivates students.

Marla’s extensive experience in travel and education make her the perfect person to help your school’s next tour.

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Testimonials

Jim Bohnwagner - Memorial Elementary
“ We have used other travel companies in the past and Travel Adventures blows them away with the remarkable communication and organization of the Washington DC trip! ”
Debbie Hodges - Holy Redeemer
“ Taking students on class trips is an excellent education opportunity! The only way I would take these trips is by using Travel Adventures as my travel agent. Everything is well organized. I have recommended Travel Adventures to every educator I know! ”
Eva Nadeau - College Hill Middle School
“ This is by far the greatest company I have ever worked with. Everyone was always helpful, friendly, and seemed as excited about our trip as we were! Thanks for helping us make this such a wonderful experience. ”
Wayne Street - Petaluma High School
“ This trip was priceless. I appreciate how Travel Adventures took me through step by step and showed great patience with my many questions. I have no reason to use another travel company ever in the future. ”
Alfred Bacon - North Harris College
“ TA is amazing! Thank you for making this trip a success. The students really enjoyed it. ”
Barbara Koning - Grand Rapids Montessori
“ We have used Travel Adventures for a long time. I wouldn't even consider going with anyone else. They are always there for you and the students and help to make things go well. ”
Tammy Williams - Odenville Middle School
“ I highly recommend Travel Adventures for student travel! They go above and beyond to make sure your trip is a memorable one! ”
Trish Andrew - Tyler Elementary
“ You guys really are great at this. The trip went so well and it is so comforting to get on the bus and know that everything is taken care of for me!! Thanks so much for a great trip and all your effort! ”
Shann Baker - Mt Morris High School
“ Travel Adventures takes the time to ensure the safety of students, makes opportunities available at a cost the kids can afford and works with the teachers individually to make the best trip for your students needs. Way to go!!! ”
Linda Ayers - Holy Rosary
“ I would never take a class trip without the help and guidance of Travel Adventures. ”
Cindy Armstrong - Fort Gratiot
“ I wouldn't choose any other travel agency. I have used TA for the past 14 years and it keeps getting better every year! ”
Rekkai Steed - TT Knight
“ This is an outstanding Tour company for kids! We had outstanding service and first class accommodations. Don't consider another company. Pick Travel Adventures, Inc. ”
Janet Wade - Washington Township
“ TA made my part of the trip stress-free. All I needed to be concerned with was the music my students needed to perform and their behavior. It was great not having to be concerned with trip details. I am so glad we had a tour director with us and security at the hotel. Thanks for all you did to make our trip safe, fun and memorable! ”
Trish Andrew - Tyler Elementary
“ I am amazed at just how smoothly things run. The trip is wonderful and so well planned and organized. The students and parents were all impressed. ”
Marie Wheaton - Traverse City West High school
“ Thank you! My kids are very excited and can't wait to come back. I will highly recommend TA in the future. The structure that you provide allowed me to relax and enjoy being with the students instead of being overly concerned with details. ”
Jeannie Johnson - Lapeer East
“ The entire trip was super! The Fiesta was high energy and totally enjoyed by all. The Nelson Sosa Trio and Paola were both entertaining and education. Again, nighttime security is a gift to the chaperons! ”
Margarita Chav - Edsel Ford HIgh School
“ We enjoy the trip so much that we have made it part of our Spanish Program. It is a great enrichment to the class. Keep on doing what you are doing. ”
Deb Knarian - Bad Axe High School
“ Travel Adventures lives up to its name-our trip was a true adventure. Your staff went above and beyond to make our trip a success. We truly appreciate it! Thanks ”
Erin Kidman - Milwood Magnet
“ This was a very easy trip to organize and we did all of the things that we specifically wanted to do. This company is great to book tours with and I will be doing it again the future! ”
John Hill - Sherman Middle School
“ Travel Adventures is a good company run by great people - After 9 years of TA trips I couldn't imagine traveling with my bands any other way. Thank you!! ”
Trish Andrew - Tyler Elementary
“ Travel Adventures offers a wonderful, educational trip that is enjoyable for both students and parents. Travel Adventures has an amazing staff that accommodates all of our trip needs, making it as easy as possible on the sponsor. The vendors used by the company are always top notch and the trip is organized to perfection. ”
Eric Cummins - Scripps
“ Our trip to Chicago was extremely well-planned. It allowed me to focus on my students and their music. The online enrollment and billing made things much easier. ”
Thomas Weessis - Monroe High School
“ We have traveled with Travel Adventures for the last 14 years. Each trip has been a complete success and students and parents alike have felt safe and confident that all issues encountered would be handled by competent staff. We cannot recommend Travel Adventures enough. Thanks for everything you have done to make our trips the memories of a lifetime. ”
Carol Roehrich - Traverse City East. Jr. High
“ Travel Adventures put a great trip together for us in a very short amount of time! I would highly recommend using them for your student travel needs. ”
Ray Rickert - Thornapple Kellogg High School
“ Travel Adventures has been great to work with. They have taken us to Virginia Beach, Florida, and Chicago. I have been extremely satisfied with their services, their communication, their personnel, and their ability to come up with a positive, meaningful trip experience given our window and budget for travel. ”
Nancy Robison - Coleman Middle School
“ Travel Adventures has always given Coleman Middle School a wonderful experience. We have always been satisfied with everything involved in planning our trip. I would recommend anyone wanting to take students on a trip to use Travel Adventures, you will not be disappointed! ”
Kathy Cunningham - Gladwin High School Choir and Band
“ Travel Adventures and their staff are wonderfully knowledgeable, flexible, fair, caring, fun and amazing in so many ways. I've tried other companies prior that made us feel like a number. TA completes the tour that suits every school's needs, financially and artistically. They are the WAY to tour with your choir or band! ”
Sandy Wolfinger - Grass Lake Middle School
“ I have been traveling with Travel Adventures for 8 years. They taught me everything I needed to know to bring me up to speed and continued to answer questions before I even knew I needed an answer. I really can't imagine traveling with anyone else. As we all do, I get offers several times a year to "beat the price" of my current company, but I just can't imagine replacing the services I receive. ”
Nancy Empkie - North Huron
“ When planning a school trip, Travel Adventures knows what they are doing and covers all of the bases. I appreciate all they have done to help me plan a great trip for our eighth grade class every year for the past nine years. ”
Dan Graham - Oakwood Middle School
“ I have been using TA for a long time and have come to trust the opinions and suggestions of your staff. They really try to make our students have the best travel experience possible. ”
Sonja Bennett - East Detroit High School
“ Travel Adventures will always be our company of choice. They provide us with an exciting trip, and their concern with safety is appreciated. They are willing to make the trip fit our needs and our budget. ”
Elizabeth Hering - Churchill High School
“ This was one of our smoothest trips. Loved the ease of the online registration and payment. ”
Joan Baert - Oak Valley Middle School
“ Very easy enrollment process and spectacular accounting services. I had fewer questions from families with Travel Adventures than ever before. ”
Kevin Meinka - Bendle High School
“ This was a fantastic trip and Travel Adventures really bent over backwards to help the planning of this trip. Without their willingness to be flexible and really accommodate our financial and time line needs for this trip it would never have happened. I would not hesitate to deal with Travel Adventures any time I am planning an activity in the future. ”
Linda Schoener - Genesee High School
“ We had a great trip to Chicago. It was fun, educational and well planned out. What a great experience for the students! ”
Michael Moore - Stephen T. Badin High School
“ The Travel Adventures staff knew exactly what our group would and would not enjoy doing and seeing. Their experience and familiarity with the sites made our trip smooth, easy and very memorable. Our Tour Director was as much a highlight of the trip as any of the sites or performance venues. We will definitely use Travel Adventures again! ”
Dawn Stark - Everett High School
“ After having taken several student groups on trips arranged by Travel Adventures, I wouldn't do it another way. It allows the sponsor and chaperons to enjoy the students and the experiences. We adults don't spend all of our time worrying about the details, like paying the tabs and ensuring that attractions that we visited were ready for us. We were also able to get a good night sleep, knowing that there was night time security monitoring the rooms. ”
David Howard - Forest Hills Northern High School
“ This trip was a great way to spend our mid-winter break. The organization of the event was excellent and our students (and staff) learned so much! It was a great education experience!! Thanks for all of your hard work! ”
Tara Rolle - Branham High School
“ Thank you so much. What a tremendous opportunity! What an incredible experience. I've told everyone I know! ”
R. Scott Adams - Kettering High School
“ Our Travel Adventures Tour Directors were the best we have ever had on a music trip! They were outstanding from beginning to end and were always attentive to the group needs as well as those of individuals. Thank you for an awesome trip! ”
Doug Gaertner - Mendon High School
“ Travel Adventures continues to meet and exceed my expectations for educational travel. I have taken three trips now with Travel Adventures and continue to marvel at the services they offer. Thanks for making this trip as magical as the others. ”
Lee Morrison - St. John's Jesuit High School
“ If you are seriously considering traveling with your group, you need to go with Travel Adventures. They go above and beyond in every aspect of the trip. From large scale concepts of what my group wanted to small, picky details, Travel Adventures' service was golden. Our trip was highly valuable from an education perspective, and the kids had a great time too. The expertise & experience that the Travel Adventures staff had coupled with their ability to plan activities that met our goals for the trip made it a perfect and unforgettable event. Travel Adventures gets an A+ in my grade book, and we will be utilizing their services again. ”
Caren Cates - North Harris
“ Travel Adventures' attention to detail on this trip was a huge stress reliever. The best comment from a student "I can't wait to get my education so that I can bring my family here"...that is what Upward Bound is all about, opening up the world of possibilities. ”
Ann Staunton - Job Link
“ Travel Adventures provided 'top-notch' service for our students. They were extremely professional throughout, responding to our trip needs before and during the trip. Travel Adventures being a full service company allowed us to concentrate on the students, knowing the trip details were being taken care. We are looking forward to working with Travel Adventures next year. ”
Peggy Filyaw - Christian Academy of Knowxville School
“ I have used Travel Adventures several times during my teaching tenure. I am always pleased by their services. Their attention to detail is appreciated when traveling with students. Thank you for your professionalism! ”
Cindy Ohrt - Lake Shore High School Choir
“ Thank you--once again--for an outstanding competition trip! I appreciate your cooperation and understanding. ”
Susan Higgins - Mar Lee School
“ This was a great experience for the students and their parents. This has really enriched our social studies curriculum because it brought the class room and the historical locations together. Many of our discussion have brought up our experiences on our trip. Thank you for a wonderful trip! ”
Amy Burton - Creative Tech
“ This was an amazing trip for our classes. Everyone involved LOVED the trip. We thought the trip was well worth the money. It was the most organized trip I have ever been on. ”
Amy Romanowski - Hillside Elementary
“ This trip was by far the best educational experience our students could have to connect their learning. The amount of information our students learned in that 14 hour day was unbelievable! Most of my students said they would turn around and go again the next day because they enjoyed themselves so much! I can't wait to book again for next year! Thanks Travel Adventures for a wonderful trip! ”
Jan Alderton - Bridgeport Spaulding Schools
“ If anyone is hesitant about planning an overnight trip for their students, Travel Adventures will erase any fears you have. The planning and availability of people to answer questions makes trip planning very easy. My students did not have one negative comment about their trip to Mackinac Island. It was an awesome experience!!!! ”
Elaine Schweller-Snyder - Lehman Catholic High School
“ We love TA! ”
Nancy Lange - Grand Ledge High School
“ This is the fourth trip I've taken with TA. I value their understanding of education as part of the trip and their willingness to accommodate our requests. The Broadway actor session and NY local guide were amazing. The students really have a feel for the city and its people. ”
Judith Taylor - Central Dauphin Middle School
“ Travel Adventures experience in planning trips can not be outdone by anyone. They know more about NYC than any other travel group I have contacted. ”
Clif Jones - Greater Atlanta Christian School
“ A wonderful theatrical experience for our students. Every workshop was filled with things they could take with them. Highly recommended. ”
Sherri Ballard - Centerburg Elementary
“ We had a wonderful trip to the Cincinnati area this year. Taking fifth graders on charter buses is always an experience and the Freedom Center/Aquarium are perfect places for historical info and hands-on learning. Travel Adventures did a wonderful job of tailoring our trip for our needs and supporting us through every detail of the trip. It is also vital to book in advance to ensure you get the dates you want for your trip. The best part about it is that they get everything organized so I can teach. Wonderful! ”
Debbie Truba - Job Link Career Center
“ We would like to thank TA for planning and organizing our college tour. We had an awesome time and really enjoyed the attractions that we visited. Our TC, Bob Keast, was very nice, resourceful and accommodating. The bus driver made sure we were very comfortable with the temperature and bathroom stops. It was nice to know that we were in good hands and being well taken care of in such a special way. Therefore, The JobLink Career Center would highly recommend your services to additional educational programs and facilities and we look forward to working with you in the near future. ”
Tina Jackson - Macon State College Trio
“ Our itinerary was perfect and fell in order nicely each day we toured the city. We even modified (extended) our activities from time to time because we were enjoying a specific activity and wanted more experiential time. ”
Lindsay Linke - Eastwood Middle School
“ Travel Adventures has handled our trip to Washington, D.C. for nine years now. We always look forward to a well-organized educational experience for our students! We know we are in good hands with Travel Adventures! ”
Tim Grothaus - St. John Lutheran
“ We have just completed our ninth year with Travel Adventure and our class trip to Washington DC. TA could not make planning and executing a class trip easier. From the office staff to the tour directors and the auto payment plan to the website anyone can make a trip like this happen. This years trip was so perfect that I might accuse them of arranging the weather! ”
Stephanie Woods - Lincoln Middle School
“ This company has helped our school go on the trip for almost 20 years. In a struggling economy we appreciate Travel Adventures keeping our trip cost effective. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. ”
Gloria Schade - Sterling Heights High School
“ Your manual was the most important resource and I used it often. The Nighttime Security guard and 24 hour emergency number were great sources of comfort for both parents and chaperons. As coordinator, I appreciated the constant updates from your company. ”
Laura Dell - Sheboyan Falls
“ Travel Adventures provided my students with a Latin experience close to home! The Chicago trip has helped reinforce the need for the Spanish language and understanding of Latin culture right here in this country as well as abroad. ”
Sarah Wheeler - Brown County Junior High
“ My students thoroughly enjoyed the Fiesta Latina. In coming back to school, I saw increased enthusiasm for using Spanish and an improved cultural frame of reference when relating to the Spanish-speaking world. ”
Mark Drey - Alpha Omega Players
“ As I have said throughout, this has been my best travel experience ever! Every detail was taken care of, even things that I had not thought about. If I did have a question, someone was there to answer it. It met and in every case exceeded my needs. I gave the trip an A +++++ Can't wait to do it again!! ”
Larry Madrigal - St. Joseph High School
“ Overall, this was an excellent experience for the entire group of AP biology students and the their parents as well. In my grade book Travel Adventures get an A+. ”
Juan Arrastia - Dance Gallery
“ I love the fact that payments were done directly through Travel Adventures. This took TONS of paperwork and responsibility off my already HUGE to-do list. It was great! ”
Kate McElliott - The Holly Theatre
“ This was our second trip with Travel Adventures. Both of our trips were amazing experiences for our kids. I feel comfortable signing up kids as young as elementary aged through to our High School students with Travel Adventures, because I know they will really take care of us! I know that both of our experiences... first the Junior Theater Festival and now the National Performing Arts Festival... created memories that our kids-- and our chaperons and directors... will NEVER forget! They also provided tremendous opportunities for our kids that are planning on going into the performing arts that they could not have gotten, I can safely say, ANYWHERE else! ”
Alyssa Passey - Thomas A. Edison High School
“ I just completed my first Travel Adventures trip to Walt Disney World. My theatre students were able to perform at Disney and play at Disney-- it was a fun trip for all the kids and chaperons. I highly recommend Travel Adventures. ”
Tim Herman - Marymount School
“ The entire experience was invaluable. Every moment was exciting and educational. I know my students returned to school feeling accomplished and proud. They also returned as stronger singers/dancers/actors. Thank you Travel Adventures. ”
Shawn Mincik - Cape Fear High School
“ Cape Fear High School shined on Broadway thanks to Travel Adventures! Their professionalism and positive spirit allows for creativity and the development of great character. ”
Tina Jackson - Macon State College TRIO
“ Everything was outstanding! This trip was life-changing for our students and leaders! ”
Carlene Morris - Haskell Indian Nations University
“ Travel Adventures did a great job in planning and arranging the trip to St. Louis for my Upward Bound group. I didn't have to worry about anything it was all taken care down to last detail. This was a great worry free trip that I had with my students. I plan on using them again next year for our end of the year trip. Many thanks to Travel Adventure! ”
Geraldine Graham - Oakland University
“ I can always depend on TA to help our Upward Bound program to economically provide positive academic, social, cultural, and career enrichment experiences for participants. ”
Carol Binggeyser - Scripps Middle School
“ I have shopped around and our school is pleased to stay with Travel Adventures. The value and service cannot be matched by other tour companies. ”
Tracy Carroll - Hoover Middle School
“ Travel Adventures has provided us with excellent service over the past five years. The students this year could not stop telling the adults on the trip how awesome this trip was and how cool every place we went was. Chicago has been a great place to take our 8th grade students and they are still talking about the trip when they are seniors! ”

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