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Julie Currier Arbelaez

About the Chief Frog (Peace Frogs Travel)

What’s your connection to Charlottesville?

My father grew up here and my grandparents lived here, then I went to UVA (I grew up in NoVA) from 1988-1992 left for a year to travel and then when I returned wanted to come back to Charlottesville and fill a niche in the travel market that I thought was not being filled.

Why Charlottesville?

I love the people here, the insular feeling of the town but the access to the world and I love my business. It has always felt like a special place to be and it definitely feels like ‘me’. I love all the entrepreneurs here (and wish the growth wouldn’t bring in so many national retailers/builders/restaurants, etc.). Lots of my friends have businesses or are branching out into areas that are unique and interesting. I feel it’s a community of educated people looking to better themselves and the world we live in. It’s a very active place. Lots of natural beauty and access to it… I love the outdoors. It’s a wonderful city in which to grow a garden and eat organically and go to an authentic city market and feel like you’re part of something personal and intimate. The festivals here are pretty cool…film, book, music.

What are your hobbies?

Travelling! Gardening, photography, writing.

What are your hopes and aspirations for Peace Frogs Travel? Peace Frogs Outfitters?

We’ve been in business for 12 years now and I think my hopes and dreams have been realized, reinvented and realized again a dozen times! I would like to be the premier agency in town for specialized vacations, honeymoons and trips that require knowledge and expertise beyond what anyone wants to research on the web and that my agents can continue to step up to that challenge. It’s a constant process of redefining what the traveling public wants and needs from a human being rather than the internet. My job is to try and stay ahead of that curve. I believe there will always be people that prefer to work with a professional in order to plan a perfect trip. Someone that finds value in working with a consultant that might find them that perfect view, perfect pool, perfect beach…someone who understands the intricacies of different types of travel and helps make plans accordingly.

Peace Frogs Outfitters is an extension of the travel experience and I want to continue to add product that helps make traveling easier, safer and more stylish and glamorous. Great luggage just adds to the excitement of a trip. Also, we provide passport photos and some travel necessities that make us a one stop travel shop.

Category: People