Observation
One of my favorite Travel Show hosts to watch was always Anthony Bourdain.
I’m not a big foodie, but I loved his honesty, his curiosity, and his ability to be present with different cultures in such a way where his own biases and beliefs didn’t take away from the experience. He was open minded, and he saw the beauty in everything in a very gritty way.
I aspire to travel like that.
To see things the way they are and not try to impose. But to still speak and write with honesty.
Ruins we found in Mexico, that I wish I had more time to explore…
Today is Travel Advisor Appreciation Day, and I thought I’d make a blog and a podcast about what travel advisors do, or why you should work with one, but the biggest thing I struggle with is the sales part of being a travel advisor. And writing on that topic just seemed like another “sales” pitch…
And I’m truly trying to avoid the icky sales pitches, because I want to use my voice and I want to be genuine.
And to be really honest… I’m not a good salesperson…. which is unfortunate because I need the money a really good salesperson makes lol. My kids have (a very expensive) summer camp coming up, and I’ve got groceries and goals to pay for.
Anyways, where am I going with all this?
I was thinking about Travel Advisor Appreciation Day, my personal travel goals, and my goals as a human being, all while driving home from grocery shopping today.
How can I share my travel experiences with the world and inspire connection? And how can I do it in a way that is an observation of beauty, without ignoring the grit?
And how do I get people to see I’m genuine and this blog and podcast is not just a huge sales pitch? (I mean, again, please book with me lol, I do have a family to support, and this is my full-time job right now)
I’ve had a desire to “change the world,” for quite some time now, especially through kindness in memory of my son Elijah, but what if to change the world, we must be a part of the world?
I feel like travel helps us be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We are thrusted out of our comfort zones, to places where we can observe with curiosity, open our minds, and feel with our hearts.
And it all sounds so corny, but it’s really not. It’s actually quite deep to allow these moments into your life.
Part of an Mayan village we visited on a family cruise to Mexico.
I don’t know. I just hope you see me as someone who genuinely cares, and loves travel, and believes in the importance of it. Because I do.
And maybe one day I’ll travel the globe and just be a travel writer and podcaster… but for now, I love that I can help people book their travel for my “job.” It’s so much fun to cheer you on and wish you well on your journey!
My son Julien. This was the first trip out of the country for my kids and myself. I know it was on a cruise, and some people are travel snobs about that, but it was still a HUGE moment for us, and I am NOT a travel snob and will always treasure this trip.
Ok, it’s 9:13pm, and I’m exhausted because I spent a whole day grocery shopping (an hour away to save money … wild huh?) and “food prepping.'“ So, maybe I am a foodie after all? HA… not even close lol. Ask my kids how many hotel breakfasts, Costco pizzas, and sandwiches they have on their vacations when we travel anywhere but Six Flags … (i will blog on Six Flags soon I promise).
It’s time for me to wrap this day off, and go to bed.
Appreciate your travel advisor, I promise they do a lot of work you don’t see. And they really care about you and your travels.
Bond Voyage!
Kelly Airhart
kelly.airhart@fora.travel
So... What Does a Travel Advisor Even Do? (Happy Travel Advisor Appreciation Day!)
Hey friend 👋
Today is Travel Advisor Appreciation Day — and if you’ve ever wondered what travel advisors actually do (besides posting beach pics and talking about roller coasters 😜), buckle up.
Because being a travel advisor is a lot more than booking flights and hotels. It’s troubleshooting delayed flights while cooking dinner. It’s staying up-to-date on every resort's fine print and cancellation policy so you don’t have to. It’s finding that perfect kid-friendly hotel with a lazy river, free breakfast, and a door that closes between you and your children. (You know, for... boundaries. 😂)
It’s also answering texts at 10 PM because your airport shuttle ghosted you.
It’s recommending hidden gems that aren’t in your Google search history yet.
It’s caring. Deeply. About your vacation. Your budget. Your family’s energy. Your joy.
💡And here’s the real deal: Travel advisors don’t charge you extra (in most cases — and I’m up front when I do). We get paid commission from suppliers after you travel. Which means when you ghost us, cancel, or book elsewhere… we’ve worked for free. Ouch.
We work hard. We research constantly. We don’t just click buttons — we advocate for your experience. And if you've ever said, “I didn’t know people still used travel agents,” that’s okay. Now you do. 😉
So here’s your Travel Advisor Appreciation Day challenge:
👉 If you have a travel advisor — thank them.
👉 If you need a travel advisor — hi, I'm right here.
👉 If you’ve used Google to plan your last trip and felt overwhelmed — let’s make the next one smoother.
Because whether you’re dreaming of Disney, craving a cruise, or just need a hotel where your teen won’t complain — I’m your person.
💛 Happy Travel Advisor Appreciation Day. Let’s go somewhere.
#TravelAdvisor #TravelWithHeart #FamilyVacations #BondVoyageTravels #TravelPlanningMadeEasy
