Hi, I’m Matthew Gabriel!

I’m the owner and travel advisor behind Suitcase Dream Adventures, and for me, travel has always been about much more than simply going somewhere new. It’s about the experiences we share, the people we share them with, and the memories we bring home with us.

My wife, Kimberly, and I especially love traveling together, and cruising has definitely become one of our favorite ways to vacation. We’ve sailed to destinations throughout the Caribbean, including Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Honduras; and Nassau, Bahamas. You could also say we’re a little “Loyal to Royal!” when it comes to Royal Caribbean!

For us, though, the adventure starts before we ever step aboard the ship. When cruising from Florida, we enjoy arriving early and spending time in places like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Port Canaveral, where part of the fun is finding a new restaurant and enjoying the area before embarkation day.

Our travels together have also taken us closer to home and around the Southeast. We've enjoyed the North Georgia mountains in Helen, Blue Ridge, and Cleveland, beach trips to Panama City Beach and Destin, visits to Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island—two places that are especially meaningful to me because I lived on both islands as a young child—and trips to Athens to cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs. We've also experienced the magic of Walt Disney World during Christmas, which gave us a completely different kind of vacation experience.

My own travels have taken me even farther, including Daytona Beach, Tampa, Cocoa Beach, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, San Antonio, Austin, and Lynchburg, where I visited the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Work has also given me opportunities to travel to places such as Winchester and Lexington, Kentucky, and Rochester, New York, and whenever possible, I've tried to make time to explore the area rather than simply seeing the inside of a hotel room.

How Suitcase Dream Adventures Began

My journey as a travel advisor actually started because of family. Kimberly's cousin, who shares our love of cruising and travel, became a travel advisor himself. Knowing how much Kimberly and I enjoyed traveling, he got me interested in learning more about the industry.

The more I looked into it, the more I realized how much there was to learn—not only about cruising, but about destinations, resorts, theme parks, different cruise lines, and all the little decisions that can make a good vacation even better. I decided I wanted to turn something Kimberly and I already loved into an opportunity to help other people experience that same excitement.

And that's really what Suitcase Dream Adventures is about.

There's something special about helping someone find a vacation they'll genuinely enjoy and then watching their excitement grow as departure gets closer. I love knowing that I had a part in helping a couple, family, or group of friends create memories they'll hopefully talk about for years to come.

Always Learning, Always Exploring

Cruising is currently my primary area of focus and where I have the most personal experience, but I'm continually expanding my knowledge.

I've earned Commodore status with Princess Cruises and am continuing my training in other areas of travel, including Disney destinations and Disney Cruise Line. One of the exciting benefits of completing my Princess training is the opportunity to experience the product firsthand. Kimberly, my mother-in-law, and I will soon be sailing aboard Regal Princess, giving me another opportunity to experience a different cruise line from the same perspective as the clients I serve.

Even though we may be “Loyal to Royal” personally, part of my responsibility as a travel advisor is understanding that the best vacation isn't necessarily my favorite vacation—it's the one that's right for you.

Someone in Your Corner

When you work with me, I don't want you to feel like you're simply making a reservation. I want you to feel like you have someone in your corner.

I'll be there from the beginning of the planning process through the excitement leading up to your departure—and I'll still be there when you return home.

My experience and continued training allow me to help answer the questions that can make travel planning feel overwhelming. Which cruise line? Which ship? What type of cabin? Should you arrive the day before? What should you do in port? What documents do you need? What options make the most sense for your family and your budget?

You can certainly book a vacation online yourself. My role is to help you make informed choices, avoid unnecessary headaches, and get more out of the vacation you're investing your time and money in.

I'm a South Georgia guy who values faith, family, friendship, and treating people the way I'd want my own family to be treated. That's the approach I bring to Suitcase Dream Adventures. I want my clients to feel comfortable asking questions, reaching out when they're unsure about something, and knowing there's a real person on the other side who cares about their trip.

Whether you're considering your first cruise, your tenth cruise, a Disney vacation, a family getaway, or an adventure somewhere you've always dreamed of visiting, I'd love the opportunity to help you get there.

Because at the end of the day, the best thing you bring home from a vacation isn't something that fits inside your suitcase.

It's the memories you made along the way.

Suitcase Dream Adventures
Your adventure. Your dream. Your suitcase.