Round Travel is an independent travel agency, that will be celebrating 40 years of business in 2026.
Based in Eltham, the Staff at Round Travel can handle all your travel requirements.
We can organise Domestic and International Travel from Economy to First Class, including Airfares, Accommodation, Transfers, Day Trips, Cruise’s, Car Hire, Rail Travel, Entry Tickets into Major Tourist Sights, All types of touring from comfort to Adventure, Small, Independent or Larger Groups and also advise and issue your Travel Insurance. We can assist you in Visa information and assist you in obtaining your Visa’s. We have a number of Corporate Clients that we service and organise travel for all their staff and have organised travel for their corporate events arranging travel for large groups Including Airfares, Accommodation and Transfer to the events. Over the years we have also arranged travel for Sporting Groups.
We have association with Airlines and Wholesalers, who regularly update us on their latest deals.
All trips are personalised to the traveller’s personal request. We pay attention to detail to ensure that your holiday runs smoothly. We try and befriend our customers on Social Media Platforms, so access to us is Easy in an Emergency, and ensure that we have passengers contact details whilst they are away.
There have been so many changes in the Travel Industry over the almost 40 years that Round Travel has been operating. The biggest of late being the deregulation of the travel industry. Round Travel has been a member of AFTA (the Australian Federation of Travel Agents) and is now also an accredited member of ATAS Scheme that sets benchmarks of quality in the travel industry.
Round Travel has aligned itself with the Independent Travel Group. This allows us to get great prices for Airfares, Tours, Accommodation and Special Holiday Packages. They also offer us professional support and guidance.
Round Travel is Owned and run by Maria Vavala, who has been consulting for almost 40 years. Maria is helped by Despina (Desi) Agelakis as a Travel Consultant who works remotely from Barham NSW with over 20 years of experience.
Holly Meneghini has joined the team and is in training to become a Travel Consultant under the close guidance of Maria and Despina.
Maria Vavala
I arrived in Australia aged 5 from my hometown in Sicily Italy. As a child of an immigrant family, I longed for my family in Sicily and have always dreamt of returning. This made me aware of other countries, cultures, and destinations. I worked out that planes can take you from your comfortable home to all corners of the world.
In 1986 after the birth of my first child, I was asked to book a trip for a friend’s mum. It was at this point that I decided to open my own agency Round Travel and started working from home.
In 2012, the workload became too much for one person. I moved to Suite 6 / 23 Dudley Street Eltham, where I was able to employ staff to assist me with bookings.
Post Covid-19 Round Travel is now located downstairs at Suite 8b / 23 Dudley Street, Eltham.
My main core of business was always word of mouth referrals and passengers always came back to me for their next holiday. Happy with the price and service that was received from Round Travel. Many of my customers have been travelling with me for over 20 years and have passed my number on to their friends and associates.
My love and passion has always been Italy, but over my career, I have organised trips to many destinations world-wide – Europe – Russia – Scandinavian Countries – Asia – Middle East – Africa - Pacific Islands– Unites States – Mexico – South America. I have been Lucky enough to Visit many of these places myself – Italy including Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi Coast, Calabria, and Sicily. Then also France, Spain, Malta, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Dubai, USA, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bali, Thailand, Fiji, Cruising the great Barrier Reef and the Fijian Islands, and of course Many places in Australia. I can offer clients firsthand knowledge and experience.
I am an honest, experienced consultant who pays attention to detail to ensure that your holidays are perfect for you.
Despina Agelakis
Born in Broken Hill, far west NSW to Greek migrant parents, my siblings and I were taken to Greece to meet our Yiayia’s and Papou when I was about 7 years old. We shared our time between 2 islands Evia and Kalymnos.
I have many fond memories of my 2 years mainly on the Island of Kalymnos located in the southeastern Aegean Sea amongst the Dodecanese Islands, a group of 12 Island, but there are 15 larger Islands plus 150 smaller islands, but only 26 of these islands are inhabited.
We returned to Australia in 1977 and settled back in Broken Hill, mum and dad started up a Fish and Chips shop and my life began to resemble “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” working the family business but wanting to do my own thing and work in a travel agency, I started in the travel industry in October 1988 and the rest is history.
My love of helping people, has put me in the best position in putting together itineraries and assisting my clients tick off their bucket list destinations, wherever that might be. My motto is, “Travel while YOU can!”
Some of my favourite holiday experiences have been on board a European River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest as well as Mekong River Cruise from Siem Reap (Prek’kdam) to Ho Chi Minh City, in which I had taken 16 – 21 clients with me. I had also arranged an escorted tour to the Island of Kalymnos to celebrate Greek Easter on this special Island. This tour was sold out within days of being released. Unfortunately, the pandemic had shut down the world and this was cancelled. I am hoping to put another group tour together in 2026, so keep an eye out or let me know if you are interested in joining.
Like Maria, having been in the travel industry for quite some time giving good old-fashioned, professional service that delivers a great holiday experience.
I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t love it!
Holly-Mae Meneghini
I enjoy discovering new places, experiencing various cultures, and learning about the history of other countries. Over the years I have been lucky enough to travel to England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Greece, Indonesia and Vietnam.
My passion for travel began after gaining access to long service leave at the age of 24, resulting in a 3-month trip to Europe with some friends. We had arranged our flights, Croatia Sail tour and travel insurance through a travel consultant, the rest of the trip we had planned ourselves along the way.
From riding bicycles around Amsterdam, eating the finest chocolate in Brugges, hiking trough the Isle of Skye and walking around century old castles in Scotland, enjoying a glass of wine in Paris near the Eiffel Tower just in time to watch the illuminating light show, to hiring a campervan in France and driving it through Spain and returning it to Barcelona. By morning we were fortunate enough to wake up to beautiful vineyards in Bordeaux and by night were having dinner by the pristine ocean views in San Sebastian. The list of exciting experiences I had is endless, I could go on forever.
Upon my return to Australia, I decided to enroll in a course to complete my certificate III in travel and tourism. I feel so privileged to be a part of the team at Round Travel. I am looking forward to organising our clients dream holidays and turning them into reality.