04/12/2026
As I start wrapping up another busy winter season (my 14th… or 12th if we pretend the COVID years don’t count 😅), I’m already well into bookings for year 15… FIFTEEN?! I honestly can’t believe it.
Every year around this time, I catch myself reflecting on *why* I keep doing this—especially in the middle of the winter travel chaos. Helping people escape Canadian winters for sunshine, sand, and maybe a visit with a pretty famous mouse sounds pretty dreamy… but behind the scenes, it’s not always as smooth as it looks.
As a home-based agent, I don’t have traditional office hours. I also work full-time outside of my travel business, so most of this happens in the evenings and on weekends—quotes, bookings, invoices, and a whole lot of research. Staying on top of destinations, resorts, deals, and travel advisories is basically a job in itself.
From the outside, this industry can look glamorous—and for some agents who truly hustle, it can be. And yes, there are perks and opportunities to travel so I can better serve my clients. But the reality is, I don’t have unlimited time to take advantage of them. What I *do* have is a deep commitment to every single trip I plan.
I put my whole heart into this. I’ve lost sleep over situations completely out of my control. I stalk flights like no other (especially those YQY 0500 departures 😅). I take my clients’ experiences personally—probably more than I should—but it’s because I know how hard people work to afford these trips. Vacations aren’t just trips… they’re memories, resets, and something everyone deserves.
Travel costs have changed a lot over the years, and I completely understand wanting the best deal. But sometimes, cheaper isn’t better. Third-party bookings can get tricky when things don’t go as planned. And while I’ve never charged a service fee (even though, truthfully, there are times I probably should have), it can be tough spending hours planning—only to have someone book elsewhere.
There are also times I won’t sell certain resorts. If it doesn’t meet the standard I want for my clients, I simply won’t recommend it. Your experience matters too much.
I’m commission-based, and I can promise you—this isn’t making anyone rich. If I were doing this just for the money, I would have walked away years ago. I do it because of the relationships I’ve built, the trust my clients place in me, and the referrals from friends and family who come my way.
So why do I keep coming back every winter, despite the stress, the long hours, and yes… probably way too much caffeine?
Because I truly LOVE it.
I love seeing your vacation photos. I love hearing your stories when you get home. I love knowing I played even a small part in helping you make those memories.
That’s my “why.”
(And I may need to come back and read this again next February when I start questioning everything again 😂)
Whether you’ve been with me from the beginning, joined along the way, or are brand new—I appreciate every single one of you. You make this possible (and maybe responsible for a few extra grey hairs 😉).
From the bottom of my heart, thank you ❤️
Now… bring on year 15 ✈️🌴
