Riza Ayson, VTA

Travel Advisor
3104918834
riza@epicaway.com

Epic Away Travel

Newport Beach, CA

United States

About

Originally from Pensacola, Florida, I spent 15 vibrant years in New Orleans after graduating from Loyola University and now call San Clemente, California home. I believe travel has the power to change lives and the world, which is why I specialize in planning trips that focus on cultural immersion, local connection, sustainability, and a spirit of adventure. As an avid scuba diver and former member of Scuba Diving Magazine's Fintest Team, I’ve tested gear for major dive brands and even spent time as a diver and naturalist in the Caribbean Tunnel exhibit at the New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas. I’m also a former fitness entrepreneur — I owned a kickboxing gym for 10 years and helped people transform their lives through health and movement. Now, I help people transform their lives through travel. From curating unforgettable journeys to supporting women-owned and local businesses across the globe, I bring intention and heart to every itinerary I create. Beyond travel, I’m a fitness enthusiast, museum lover, music festival fan, and guitar player who’s always seeking that elusive work-life balance. Life is an adventure — let’s plan yours together.

Travel Specialization

Active Adventure, Beach Vacation, River Cruise, Group Travel, Luxury Travel

Destination Specialization

Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico

Chapters

Orange County

reviews (6)

Reviewed on 2025-03-25T19:01:57

Excellent service!!

I recently worked with Riza to plan my family vacation to Hawaii. What stood out the most was the personalized attention. From the very beginning, Riza was incredibly helpful and attentive, taking the time to understand what we were looking for in our trip. She provided us with multiple options for activities, always ensuring we were getting the best deals without sacrificing quality.Not only did Riza book everything seamlessly, but she also went above and beyond to provide us with valuable information about local attractions, restaurants, and must-visit spots in Oahu, Hawaii.

on Mar 25, 2025
Reviewed on 2025-03-25T23:37:05

Not the normal first trip for Japan

I’ve worked with Epic Away before and am now planning our family’s summer trip to Japan with Riza. I tend to be a last-minute planner due to my kids' schedules, but this time, I’m actually a little ahead—and I’m so glad to have Riza guiding the process! I’m a bit of a control freak, but with so many choices online, making decisions can be overwhelming. From the start, Riza took the time to understand exactly what we wanted. I didn’t want the traditional Golden Route itinerary, and she has been fantastic at tailoring the trip to fit our interests, especially with two active teenage boys. She’s incredibly organized, responsive, and thoughtful in her recommendations, curating unique experiences—like a sumo wrestling dinner, taiko drumming, and a local baseball game—that we wouldn’t have found on our own. She even coordinated private transfers, trains and mobile wifi. Whether it’s striking the right balance between adventure and downtime or making sure logistics run seamlessly, she has made planning truly stress-free. If you’re looking for a travel planner who listens, pays attention to detail, and customizes your trip to perfection, I highly recommend Riza!

on Mar 25, 2025
Reviewed on 2025-03-25T23:33:18

JAPAN NOVEMBER 2024

JAPAN NOVEMBER 2024 A complete trip of a lifetime! Riza tailored a Japan trip for me and my family (2 adults and 4 teenagers ) for our first time to Japan over the Thanksgiving Holiday. We had 13 memorable days covering cities in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. From the beginning months before the trip, she listened to what my interests were and suggested and guided me to what excursions would be best for the group and my budget. We had everything arranged for us by Riza, the accommodations, the transportations (including private cars and multiple trains) all of our excursions (group activities to private tours and dinners) and our wifi needs and any entry paperwork - were covered. She made a digital itinerary that was amazingly detailed and easy to follow and was shared via text, so that, my entire family had the trip info at their fingertips. This is GOLD - such a next level of trip organization (all your needs in one place, confirmation numbers, directions, cultural info to each city, train times..etc). The stress/anxiety in planning such a big trip abroad was alleviated with grace and experience by Riza. I knew we were in great hands and her opinions and advice were extremely valuable. My family will never forget this trip, our Thanksgiving where we were in Japan cooking ramen form scratch with Japanese chefs for our Thanksgiving feast. Our next vacation will be planned with Riza. I know she gets me and understands my taste level in what I want to experience and knows how to tailor that into creating the best adventures abroad. With great appreciation - Arigato!!! Cynthia Daley and Family

on Mar 25, 2025
Reviewed on 2025-03-25T21:27:37

Amazing Service

Riza has been an outstanding advisor. She is so knowledgeable and really helped us navigate the all the ins & outs of the trip, pricing, add-ons, deals, etc. And she gave us white glove personal service - truly topnotch.

on Mar 25, 2025
Reviewed on 2025-03-26T16:48:00

She is amazing

Riza was an amazing asset to our trip. She made sure that everything was taken care of and we had an absolutely fabulous time. I will continue to use her on all my trips. I highly advise using Riza as your travel agent.

on Mar 26, 2025
Reviewed on 2025-03-25T19:09:20

An Unforgettable Safari

We just got back from a fantastic two week in Safari in Africa, and we’re immensely grateful to Riza for helping us plan it all. She not only listened carefully to our preferences, but was also extremely patient with our numerous questions, offering knowledgeable insights that put us at ease. Her expertise made sure we had an amazing vacation, filled with unforgettable moments and memories we’ll treasure forever. We are so impressed with her service that we are already looking to have her arrange our river cruise for next year. We highly recommend her!!

on Mar 25, 2025

 

 


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