Happy summer Reader!

When I say I am a travel advisor, the first thing people ask is, “Are people traveling right now?”

I know that a lot of the news is scary right now, and there is so much more that we need to think about as travel advisors and as travelers—running out of fuel, being stranded in no-fly zones, and the Hantavirus.

For me, people are traveling.

Right now, I have clients in Rome & Florence, others on a road trip, a client soon departing for a tour of Scotland, and a series of clients going to Vancouver, Tokyo, and Montreal.

They aren’t stopping for the unknown.

If you are nervous, I see that many of you reside in the United States. This is a beautiful country to explore, from the tropical beaches of Key West to the frigid glaciers of Alaska. (I leave my newsletter about the Coast Starlight here for inspiration.)

If you want to talk about an upcoming trip, I am just a reply away. If you have travel concerns I am also a reply button away,

Back to what I planned last year for clients. This is a bit of a departure. The trip I planned in April of last year was a learning experience.

Spring Break In Palm Springs

I didn’t book anything for this trip, and I want to explain why I included it.

This is a longer story of working with a client who wasn’t sure what they wanted. The number of attendees started with a possible multi-family group booking, then moved to the immediate family of 4, then 6, research across several different countries, and a fluctuating budget. We started planning in September 2024, and a decision wasn’t made until March of 2025. (6 months)

I sent over a dozen hotels and properties from Central America, the Caribbean, and California. In the end, they settled on Palm Springs (A town I love). They had found their dream home & villa* property, BUT an extended stay discount was not available to me as a travel advisor, and booking it on their own would save them hundreds of dollars.

If it doesn't make sense for me to book it, I will let you know. It's probably not the best way to make money as a travel advisor, but it didn't make sense for them to pay more for my benefit.

What it cost my clients to work with me: $133 (If you sign the contract and I do the research and you don’t book anything, I keep the $79.50 deposit.) I also have a $ 30-per-person fee beyond the two complimentary guests. See my services and rates, and why I charge what I do. (I had researched villas, connecting rooms, family suites and teen clubs)

I missed out on a sizeable commission on this trip-$1000+. Sometimes that is the reality of being a travel advisor.

This was a learning experience for sure. Since then, I have made a few changes, and so has my host company.

• I won't work with a client that doesn't want to fill out my inquiry form or do a scope call with me
• I've developed more questions to match the person to their desired location
• I now have a deposit that I need up front when the contract is signed.

My host company has made big changes too. I love being able to send bookable quotes that you can book 24/7 when I am not available 24/7. I also love the price drop function on our platform — I will get you a better rate if the room rate changes in your favor after you book, saving you $$$.

I think my clients would love this!

Earlier this year, I conducted market research on my dream clients. The more I talked to people, the more I was reminded how much information I just keep in my head. This is a company I'd love to match you with.

Roads & Kingdoms

​Roads & Kingdoms is a food magazine co-founded by Matt Goulding, Andrés, and the late Anthony Bourdain. They get to the heart of why you should travel: storytelling, not with what is hot on social media. In the past three years, they have added tours to foodie locations—both known and unknown—that include transportation, lodging, food, and knowledgeable guides.

I can get you to them and plan any pre- or post-tour days.

Deals

Your Travel Advisor Definition: *Home & Villa Property—This is also known as a vacation rental—AirBNB, VRBO, etc.

Last issue: New Orleans​

Coming up next: Chicago

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