My partner and I have just returned from Pamela Darling’s latest trip, “Private Paris & Beyond”. “Beyond” is a key element as the experience with Pamela once again went way beyond any expectations we may have had before our trip. This was our third trip with Pamela. Our first was her excursion to Naples, Pompeii, etc. AMAZING. Our second was our visit with her was to Morocco. AMAZING. So, it was a given that when you (ICAA) announced her trip to Paris, we were on board— and she certainly didn’t disappoint! Once again, she AMAZED.

Her deep dedication to providing a life-changing experience for her delegates is unparalleled. From our private visit to Versailles (on the day it’s closed to the public), to elegant and very generous (and glamourous) lunches and dinners with our various hosts, to the thoughtful and incredibly knowledgeable guides that assist her—and educate us, it’s beyond compare. The ICAA is very lucky indeed to work with Pamela– as we are very lucky to travel with her. We also made some great new friends along the way—a bonus that we’ve enjoyed on all of her trips. It’s no wonder that we’ve run into several familiar faces on the trips—once you experience a journey with her, you’re hooked. If there’s any downside—and there really isn’t a realistic one—just a fantasy, really—is that she’s managed to ruin imagining experiencing any great city without her!

I’ve mused with my friends (and Pamela) about what it would be like to create a “fantasy” trip of similar quality, privacy, and awe (a la Pamela) here in my own hometown of Los Angeles. No one can even come close…period.

I have recently returned from Pamela Huntington Darling’s 2017 travel program “Private Paris & Beyond”. As the only architect on the tour along with several interior designers, I must say it was intellectually compelling and engaging in every way. The privileged access to major monuments, private homes, prized art collections, and less celebrated but noteworthy sites around Paris were unparalleled. Overall the tour was exceptionally rewarding and of immense value to me professionally.

“Dear Ms. Darling,
We are so thrilled to be able to offer your exclusive and amazing tours in France. I have heard such great things about them from the participants – and I hope one day to be able to be among them. It is a pleasure to chair the ICA&CA travel committee and to work with the committee to come up with such a diverse and enlightening selection of tours. Many thanks for your creativity, dedication and vision.”

“The cultural tours that Pamela Huntington Darling creates are very exclusive, extremely well organized and beautifully orchestrated. I have attended two of her unique tours; the first time, upon the recommendation of a friend, during the Biennale des Antiquaires, the Paris Antiques & Fine Arts Fair. Recently, I asked Pamela to organize for a group of friends a special program within the French historic time frame, “Monarchy to Empire”. For this special tour, Pamela offered us access to amazing sites, most inaccessible to the public or others closed to the public the day we went, lead by experts. It was fun, informative, and very exclusive.

Obviously, there was a great deal of thought and effort put into our special request to make for a terrific trip. We are all soaking up the memories. It was just wonderful.”

“An enthusiast of art, architecture, culture and international travel, I have been privileged to participate in two extraordinary, prestigious, and unforgettable cultural travel programs organized by Pamela Huntington Darling. One of the tours was in April 2008 in Paris and surroundings sponsored by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America, of which I am a member, and the other was in May 2009 in Venice and the Veneto.

Pamela Darling’s exclusive programs are extremely well organized, the lecturers are admirable, and the presentation could not be better. Mrs. Darling has a wide range of highly impressive contacts and privileged access to outstanding public and private institutions as well as private residences with extraordinary art collections and décor. She combines years of knowledge and relations in a remarkable way that results in the most significant programs offering the finest in organization, exclusive access to privileged sites, and encounters with high-level hosts, dignitaries and experts, resulting in outstanding and memorable cultural travel programs.

Additionally Mrs. Darling has a wonderful understanding of the host culture of the countries where she offers programs, and she conveys a sense of being a genuine member of the culture being presented. Each and every day of the itinerary is planned with extreme care, precision and the utmost thought to detail and to her attendees.

Pamela Darling’s programs are the best that I have ever experienced, and I look forward to travelling with her again. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

“Thank you again for a wonderful Parisian experience. All of your efforts and contacts paid off handsomely for those of us fortunate enough to have partaken in your in your exclusive cultural travel program. I would highly recommend your programs to anyone considering participating.

We are getting setttled into our routine here in Carmel and getting back to a somewhat normal life. But what is normal after all the fabulous things and places we experienced and the incredible people we were fortunate to meet through your good offices!

Your tour is the highlight of all our travel experiences!!”

“As former president of the Biennale des Antiquaires Communications Commission, I take pleasure in expressing my gratitude for the seven-day cultural program offered by the Syndicat National des Antiquaires to its guests that you created and organized for our +120 VIP participants—directors, curators, trustees and benefactors of American museums as well as the most important American interior designers. The cultural program was, as described by the participants, a great achievement made with top level of professional expertise and efficiency”.

You worked diligently to establish what has been referred to by our guests as “the best ever” cultural program. The access to the prestigious historical sites that you were able to secure, including exclusive private residences, the high level of prominent officials who hosted these prestigious events, including the Minister of Culture, the Joint Mayor of Paris, the Ambassadors residing in the most beautiful residences in France, all contributed to its success.

It is a pleasure for me to once again recommend you as a talented, devoted, and trustworthy professional. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and your associates.”

“ This is the third time that the New Orleans Museum of Art has been honored to participate in the Syndicat National des Antiquaires’ Cultural Program on the occasion of the Biennale des Antiquaires. While the previous two Programs have been outstanding, the Program for the XXIInd Biennale will be the best ever, with an extraordinary schedule of visits to historic buildings, private collections and museums.

As in the past, Pamela Huntington Darling has created and organized the Program with the highest level of professional expertise and efficiency.”

“On behalf of the members of the Los Angeles County Museum’s Decorative Arts Council that had the rare opportunity to participate in the cultural program which you so competently organized, I wish to thank you again for planning such an outstanding program.”

“The success of Ernest & Julio Gallo’s first and second year as official sponsor of the Deauville American Film Festival is thanks to the public relations program that you created and implemented for us. All of us at E. & J. Gallo Winery France express our sincere gratitude for your professionalism, creativity, perfect organization, and relentless commitment to assuring full satisfaction of our guests, 300 VIP’s invited over a ten-day period, for a program of prestigious events.

As well, you created and assured our internationally renowned gala evening in homage to the actors and producers honored by the Festival. It was recognized as the most successful gala during the Festival. We look forward to our future collaboration for other public relations events.”

“I would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for all that you did to assure the success of our board of directors’ (5-day) program in and around Paris. Not only did you work at maximum intensity for a very long period of time, but also your good taste and judgment resulted in a program that could not have been surpassed by anyone else. Our Directors have been full of praise for the entire trip.”

“Pamela Darling is a true and trusted professional who has continuously demonstrated top level and extremely effective skills in all aspects of public relations, VIP travel programs and event management. We praise her for her outstanding service.”

“We faced a very tough crowd, yet your creativity, your tireless devotion, your ability to handle the public relations aspects resulted in an event that was outstanding in its conception, execution, and impact.”

“I support you with my highest possible recommendation. I have seldom had the pleasure of dealing with a team that does its work as well, as efficiently, and as cost effectively with the client’s best interests in mind. We gave you an incredibly short time frame; what you accomplished was a “tour de force”…”