Why I Became a Travel Advisor

If you had told me ten years ago that I would someday become a travel advisor, I probably would have laughed.

Not because I didn't love travel. I've always loved travel. I've loved planning trips, researching destinations, comparing options, and figuring out how to stretch a budget into an adventure. What I didn't love was the idea of sales.

In my mind, travel agents were expensive. They sat behind desks in fancy offices, booked luxury vacations, and somehow always seemed connected to an uncomfortable sales pitch. I assumed there were consultation fees involved, hidden costs I didn't understand, and an expectation that once you asked for help, you were somehow committed. As somebody who hates awkward sales conversations and struggles to say no, the entire thing felt intimidating. It almost felt like one wrong question would land me in a timeshare presentation where I would leave with a free tote bag, three brochures, and a vacation package I never intended to buy.

As it turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.

One of the funniest parts about becoming a travel advisor is realizing that many of the questions people ask me today are the exact same questions I used to ask myself.

What does a travel advisor actually do?

Does it cost me anything?

Can't I just book everything online?

Am I obligated to use you if I ask for help?

Those are fair questions because they were my questions too.

What surprised me most was discovering that being a travel advisor had very little to do with selling travel and a whole lot to do with helping people navigate what has become an overwhelming number of choices.

Think about planning a trip for a minute. First you have to decide where you want to go. Then you need to figure out what part of that destination makes the most sense. What neighborhood should you stay in? What type of hotel fits your style? Should you rent a car or use public transportation? Would you enjoy a guided tour, a cruise, or complete independence? What time of year is best? What should you avoid? What experiences are worth prioritizing?

The truth is that most people don't struggle because there aren't enough options. They struggle because there are too many.

That is the part I love.

My day-to-day career is built around analyzing information, solving problems, and figuring out how lots of moving pieces fit together to create the best possible outcome. The more I started helping people with travel, the more I realized I approach vacations exactly the same way.

People often come to me with an idea rather than a fully formed plan. They know they want to celebrate an anniversary, take a family vacation, finally visit Europe, relax on a beach, or check something off their bucket list. What they don't always know is where they should stay, how much time they need, what destination is the best fit, or what experiences will actually deliver the trip they're imagining.

That is where I get excited.

The more I started helping people, the more I realized I wasn't really booking trips. I was taking a collection of dreams, priorities, budgets, concerns, and wish lists and helping build something that fit the person sitting across from me. If I'm being honest, travel architect often feels like a better description than travel advisor. A travel advisor sounds like someone who gives advice. A travel architect sounds like someone who helps design an experience that fits the traveler, and that feels much closer to what I enjoy doing.

One of the biggest surprises for me was learning that helping people doesn't cost them anything extra.

For years, I assumed there had to be a catch. Surely somebody was paying for all of that research and assistance. What I eventually learned is that when someone books through me, they aren't paying extra for my help. The hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and travel suppliers compensate me for connecting travelers with their products and services. My clients pay the same price they would have paid if they booked on their own, while also getting my research, guidance, support, and far too many hours spent comparing options so they don't have to.

That model is one of the reasons I love this business so much. It allows me to focus on helping people instead of selling to them. If someone asks questions and decides not to book, that's okay. If their plans change, that's okay. If they decide another option is a better fit, that's okay too. I never want anyone to feel like the meter is running or that they are somehow wasting my time by exploring possibilities.

In fact, one of my favorite things about Together We Trek is that people can engage however they are comfortable. Some people browse the deals on the website and book something that catches their eye. Some people read a blog post and get inspiration for their own adventure. Some people reach out with a dozen questions and want help every step of the way. There isn't a right or wrong way to do it. My goal has always been to meet people where they are and help in whatever way makes sense for them.

Over the years, people have told me I should sell everything from Mary Kay to Tupperware to Pampered Chef. I love talking to people. I love presenting information. I genuinely enjoy helping others. On paper, I probably look like the ideal salesperson.

The reality is that I would be terrible at it.

Convincing people to buy things they don't need has never interested me. Helping people find experiences that genuinely fit what they're looking for absolutely does.

At the end of the day, I became a travel advisor for the same reason I became a traveler in the first place. I love discovering places, learning about people, and helping connect someone with an experience they might never have found on their own. The fact that I get to spend my time helping people do that without charging them extra for my help still feels pretty amazing to me.

It turns out I never wanted to be a salesperson. I just wanted to help people travel.

together we trek