Designed Vacations- Achouaq Kokubo

Dani Lonkey
2 days ago
3 min read

Meet Achouaq Kokubo

Nichole Pierce is the founder of Designed Vacations, built the business around a simple but powerful idea: travel should never feel generic. Achouaq Kokubo, a travel advisor on the team, shares this philosophy and specializes in creating high-end, personalized travel experiences for clients across the globe.

Achouaq says, “Hi, I’m Achouaq Kokubo, a travel advisor based in Michigan, focused on crafting refined and personalized travel experiences. I’ve been in the travel industry for about a year, but my passion for planning and curating unforgettable trips started long before that. What drew me in was the opportunity to transform an ordinary trip into something intentional, seamless, and truly memorable.” With a background in dental surgery, Achouaq developed precision, discipline, and an eye for detail, skills she now applies to designing seamless travel experiences. Having lived internationally, she has a deep appreciation for culture, atmosphere, and the feeling of a place, and she brings that perspective to every itinerary she creates.

When she’s not designing trips, Achouaq enjoys painting, cooking and baking, hosting gatherings, traveling herself, and learning languages. She balances her personal life in Michigan with her love for travel, continuously building her career while exploring new cultures and experiences.

About The Business

Designed Vacations officially launched just 6 years ago, but its roots run deeper. Achouaq explains, “I’ve always been the person planning trips for those around me. Over time, I realized that what I love isn’t just booking trips, but truly curating experiences that people remember. Joining Designed Vacations allowed me to focus on the full journey, from the first idea to the final memory and make travel an intentional, elevated experience for each client.” Based in Clarkston, Michigan, Designed Vacations is growing quickly, attracting clients who value luxury, personalization, and attention to detail. The business is committed to helping travelers not just see a place, but feel it. Achouaq emphasizes, “Anyone can generate an itinerary, not everyone can design an experience. We think about every detail, from the flow of each day to the atmosphere and energy of each destination, to create trips that feel effortless, memorable, and uniquely yours.”

Services Offered

Designed Vacations focuses on creating travel experiences that are personalized, seamless, and unforgettable. Every service is designed around the client’s vision, ensuring that each trip feels unique and thoughtfully planned.

Their services include:

Personalized Travel Planning: From start to finish, trips are tailored to the client’s interests, balancing activities, relaxation, and exploration.
Luxury and Boutique Hotels: Curated accommodations that enhance the experience, offering comfort, style, and a sense of place.
International Travel and Custom Itineraries: Thoughtfully designed global itineraries that ensure seamless logistics and memorable experiences.
Cruises and All-Inclusive Resorts: Carefully selected options that combine relaxation, luxury, and curated excursions.
Cultural, Relaxation, and Experience-Based Travel: Activities and experiences that immerse travelers in culture, provide relaxation, or create lasting memories.

Their most popular offering is custom-designed international trips and elevated getaways, where every detail, from flights to accommodations to personal touches, is planned for a smooth, memorable journey. Achouaq shares, “We don’t just create itineraries; we design experiences that feel effortless, personalized, and unforgettable.”

Why Travel With Designed Vacations?

What truly sets Designed Vacations apart is the attention to the full experience. Achouaq explains, “I focus on the full journey, not just where you go, but how it feels. Every detail is considered so that the trip flows effortlessly from beginning to end. From transportation and accommodations to dining and cultural experiences, everything is thoughtfully planned so that clients can relax, enjoy, and fully immerse themselves in their journey.”

While the travel industry can be competitive, Achouaq sees it as an opportunity to continuously refine her approach and build client trust. The team is currently expanding into more elevated, curated travel experiences, focusing on luxury and personalized travel for clients who want more than just a generic trip. Her favorite part of the work? “Knowing that I’m helping create moments that people will remember forever, while making the entire planning process stress-free and enjoyable for them. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a client experience the trip they’ve always dreamed of, knowing we helped bring it to life.”

Upcoming Plans & Goals

Looking ahead, Designed Vacations is focused on growth and expanding its reach within the luxury and personalized travel space. Achouaq shares, “We’re planning to introduce even more curated experiences, designed for travelers who want something beyond the standard vacation. Our goal is to continue creating trips that feel elevated, unique, and completely tailored to each client’s vision.” The team is also working on building a stronger presence in international markets and offering new services that enhance client convenience and experience. Whether it’s adding exclusive destination partnerships, expanding cultural immersion opportunities, or designing multi-generational family trips, Designed Vacations is committed to evolving with their clients’ desires and trends in luxury travel.