The Island Hopper is a luxury adventure company which hosts Inspired Adventures on three continents. We joyfully host women’s creative retreats/adventures in Lucca, Italy; Gstaad, Switzerland, and Dorset, Vermont. We also enthusiastically host co-ed safari adventures in Kenya.

The Island Hopper got its beginning as a travel blog created by founder Tricia Heaton while she was moving between the islands of Boca Grande and Vero Beach. It very quickly became much more. One afternoon while on vacation in Lucca, Tricia dreamed up the idea of taking women traveling in Tuscany. Tricia and her husband Donald left that vacation in Lucca and jumped on plane to a

catamaran in the Greek islands with Tricia’s university friends, including college roommate Jenny, a career sales and hospitality expert. Together over coffee one morning while sailing the Ionian Sea the two college roommates drafted the idea for the Island Hopper trips on a paper towel while their Brad Pitt lookalike Serbian sea captain Nemo egged them on.

Tricia’s youngest daughter Courteney quickly jumped on board to create The Island Hopper with her mother. Together these two travel the world with their wonderful Island Hopper guests.

This business has become a dream come true for Tricia and Courteney.

Our Guest profile

The majority of our guests do not know each other before they arrive. Fifty percent of our Island Hopper guests are solo travelers. The other fifty percent of guests come with a friend or relative. Our average guests are between the ages of 40-80. All of our International traveling guests are active and able to participate in the physical needs of solo international adventures. The women who come on these trips like adventure and are thrilled to meet other women from around the world.

Our divine Locations

Each location is hand selected by The Island Hopper team. We host trips in places we love dearly and with partners we trust to support our guests’ needs. We are currently hosting trips in Lucca, Italy; Gstaad, Switzerland; Dorset Vermont and Kenya.

Our Group trip service

Our trips are thoughtfully planned out with our guests in mind. We have scouted out the best locations, restaurants, shops, museums, and more. We provide a full agenda of activities for you to choose from. When available we bring in additional providers like masseuses, chefs, artistians, etc.. This is the perfect chance for you to leave all the work of planning a trip behind and let us provide you with the opportunities and guide you through them.

Female Centric TRAVEL

A great deal of thought has been put into building a brand which supports women. We are focused on communication with our guests, providing comfort while traveling alone, and building a community of creative women who like to adventure together. Every detail of our trips has been considered from supporting airport transportation, meal planning, our support staff, and the comforts of our accommodations.

the joyfulness

When creative women leave home and join other creative women on adventure, the experience is magical. The thoughtful intellectual conversations and sharing of ideas creates a dreamy experience for all. The most joyful surprise of this business is the incredible connections and friendships which are formed on these trips.

The optimal life balance of fun and quiet time

Our guests are encouraged to read their own barometers and find the beautiful balance of joy and peacefulness. Each guest is encouraged to put themselves and their wellness first. There will be companionship and activites available in the group areas, and there is the opportunity for quiet time, napping, meditating, reading and journaling in quiet indoor and outdoor spaces. Our goals is that our guests go home feeling their very best selves. We trust in our guests to find the balance which works for them while on our trips.

1.

Lucca, ITaly May 2025 SOLD OUT

La Dolce Vita “the good life”. We will stay in a large beautiful villa in Lucca and explore Tuscany together. Boat ride in Cinque Terra, Swimming in the Mediterranean, exploring Forte dei Marmi, Pietrasanta, vineyards, villas and more!

2.

Dorset, Vermont July 2025

Creative summer camp in the Green Mountains of Vermont for grown women!! Is there anything more fun than that?!! We will take creativity classes, explore Vermont, visit a world class art museum, and much, much more! 8 spots are left for this trip. Be sure to join the newsletter sign up because more wonderful updates on this trip are coming soon!  Please fill out the form below to receive the catalog.

3.

Lucca, Italy September 2025 SOLD OUT

La Dolce Vita “the good life”. We will stay in a large beautiful villa in Lucca and explore Tuscany together. Boat ride in Cinque Terra, Swimming in the Mediterranean, exploring Forte dei Marmi, Pietrasanta, vineyards, villas and more!

4.

Dorset, Vt Septembr 2025

Fall in Vermont has been the topic of movies, television shows, and songs since the beginning of time. Adventure in the mountains with creative women awaits. We have 4 spots left on this trip. Fill out the form below to receive the catalog.

5.

Gstaad, Switzerland Oct 2025 SOLD OUT

Our inaugural trip to SWITZERLAND! Our home will be a chalet style hotel in the hills above Gstaad. We will adventure all over the area while enjoying every second of Swiss culture! and Fondue! and Raclette!

6.

Kenya, Co-Ed Safari, October 2025

The catalog for this very special trip is coming soon.

This trip is back by popular demand! We will go on safari in both northern and southern Kenya and visit our friends in rural Kenya, one of the most amazing places on earth. Fill out the form below to receive the catalog soon as it comes out.