August 25, 2008 (BIRMINGHAM, AL) Brownell Travel Advisors Meg North, Marion Harbison, Margret Propper, Caroline Wood, and Linda Allen have been named as best in their travel area of expertise by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, the leading consumer travel publication in the industry. According to Conde Nast, these travel consultants have "unrivaled connections and destination savvy. For customized excellence, no online site can match them."

More Travel Advisors were selected as "tops" from Brownell than from any other travel agency in the world! This is the seventh consecutive year that Brownell has enjoyed that honor. Read below for a transcription of the article which appeared in the August issue of Conde Nast.

Meg McGriff North: Panama
Conde Nast had this to say about Meg: "North, who can pull strings with Panama's top resorts and inns, enjoys arranging exclusive experiences such as an 'up close and personal' view of the ships transiting the Panama Canal's locks-including a private tutorial on how the giant gates are controlled-and a visit to a family-owned coffee farm where you can enjoy a brew that North calls 'the best coffee in the world'." (205-414-1653; megn@brownelltravel.com)

Marion Harbison: Germany
Conde Nast had this to say about Marion: "Harbison spends two weeks a year in her native Germany, where she used to be a travel agent. Not only can she point you toward the country's less-visited castles, regional specialty snacks, and colorful small-town festivals, but she can get you into private wineries and local events you won't find on the Internet." (423-894-9001; marionh@sterlingtvl.com)

Margret Propper: Alaska and European River Cruises
Conde Nast awarded Margret in two categories. They had this to say about her Alaska travel expertise: "She's been to Alaska 42 times--and in every season of the year. She's driven the back roads, taken the scenic trains, flown on bush planes to remote Eskimo villages, sussed out the most atmospheric lodges and B&Bs, and tested a wide range of local adventure outfitters (for glacier dog-sledding, kayaking among the whales, hot-air ballooning, etc.) to determine which offer the most authentic experiences at the lowest price. She's also cruised on ships large and small, taken every shore excursion, and figured out the best ways to combine days at sea with days on land."

Conde Nast had this to say about her European river cruising experience: "Propper, who once lived within walking distance of the Danube and is fluent in German, has spent the past decade cruising all of Europe's great rivers, from the Douro in Portugal to the Volga in Russia. She can find the waterway and boat best suited to your needs, advise you on how to spend days on land, and arrange unusual shore excursions, such as a visit to a private dacha in Russia." (800-999-3960; margretp@brownelltravel.com)

Caroline Wood: Rocky Mountains
Conde Nast had this to say about Caroline: "Having grown up in Yellowstone National Park with a dad who is still a seasoned ranger for the Park Service, Wood has incomparable knowledge of the driving routes, the lodges and ranches (and their views, beds, and meals), and the best locales and outfitters for horseback riding, white-water rafting, ballooning, or whatever other activities you've got in mind in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming." (406-624-6976; carolinewood@brownelltravel.com)

Linda Allen: Large Affordable Ships
Conde Nast had this to say about Linda: "Stretching your dollar as far as it can go is Allen's priority. What we love most is her honesty about potential drawbacks of each ship and her nifty tips for minimizing these and for saving money on board. Use Allen for Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess, and Royal Caribbean sailings." (800-422-3445; cruisesbylinda@cox.net)