Taking the landscape of Scotland by storm, Betty Barnett is the travel agent to call on for your customized Scotch-Irish vacation. From golf trips to genealogy tours, her 34 years in the travel industry give her expertise and exclusive experiences to craft an unforgettable gaelic experience.

“I know Scotland very well and I can do an excellent job at putting together trips that my clients really enjoy,” said Barnett, who has been to Scotland about 20 times over the years.

Her knowledge of the business is quite evident on her Arkansas- based gaelicadventures.com website, originating after working in the government, which then led to her early years as a travel professional selling airline tickets and occasional tours before airline companies cut back on their commissions in 1995.

To enhance her skills, Barnett acquired the necessary measures to become a Scots Master and a certified travel counselor (CTC), as well as venturing on a FAM with an airline.  This comes in quite handy when connecting her travelers to their roots on genealogy tours, allowing her to acknowledge the important role family plays in enhancing the vacation experience — especially for her clients who wanted to return their father’s ashes to his homeland.

“Most people who go through the genealogy tours may know what area their relatives are from. I have clients who just want to know more about their family ties, especially when most of their family members are gone.”

Although she does not perform the research, Barnett does guide them on exclusive and emotional tours through the majesty of Scotland. Using their clues like what ships their family members may have emigrated on, she directs them to the registry of Edinburgh, Scotland, which dates back to the 1400, and their road to discovery takes off from there. 

Barnett also highlights Edinburgh’s Military Tattoo Festival, a three-week event in August that attracts 10,000 revelers a night, as well as the 150 pristine golf courses dotted along Scotland’s picturesque landscape for her travelers. 

“I hope I give them something they never thought about, a taste of other people and places, and insight on other lifestyles.  There are a lot of places to see and different cultures to learn about, which provide a great opportunity for all of us," said Barnett.