Our Team
Vanessa Nichols
Founder & Travel Designer
My love for travel started when I was in my early 20's, when I visited Costa Rica for the first time. Now, 20-some years later, I am wildly passionate about creating the best possible vacation itineraries for my clients. I am an expert on Costa Rica travel but expanding my travel knowledge everyday, exploring this world with my son, so my clients can sit back and relax, leaving the planning process to me, no matter the destination. Read more about my story and how Lucky Compass came to be!
Planning specialties: Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean
Office: 1.312.620.4480
Valentina Negri
Travel Designer
Born and raised in Milan, my love for travel sparked early and has only grown stronger over the years. In my early twenties, I set out to explore the world—venturing across the Americas, Asia, Europe, and beyond. With every new place I discovered, I realized something beautiful: the more you travel, the more you understand how much there is still to learn.
These days, I’m not just a globe-trotter, but also a proud mom to a little explorer-in-the-making. Together, we’re learning to see the world with open hearts, curious minds, and deep respect for every culture we encounter.
I’m here to help you turn your travel dreams into stories worth telling. Whether you're craving adventure, relaxation, or something in between , I’m here to make the process easy, personal, and full of joy. Let’s create something amazing together!
Planning specialties: Costa Rica, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, the UK, Peru, New Zealand and Morocco
Office: 1.312.620.4811
Emily Hall
Operations manager
Emily is a Texas native who first came to Costa Rica to work as an English teacher- and never left! After meeting her now husband and building a lift together, Emily now calls the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica home, where she has spent the last 15 years of her life. Emily is a mom of 3 adventurous boys and loves good adventures herself. Whether hiking to hidden waterfalls, discovering a new beach, or wandering through local markets, Emily loves exploring every corner the the country she calls home!
Alexia vargas
Marketing Assistant + operations support
Alexia was born and raised in Costa Rica so she knows this country as both a local and as a travel professional. Alexia has been in tourism for the last several years and she knows that small details matter when creating special travel experiences. She connects with people who are dreaming about visiting Costa Rica. She's bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English. In addition to travel, Alexia is passionate about yoga and wellness. She is a certified yoga teacher and this shapes the way she thinks about travel: logistics are important but it's also a time to rest and truly enjoy who you are.
