Maison Voyage - Alexa Geno

06/07/2025

"I don't know what I don't know. I don't even know what questions to ask. I am totally in over my head."

This past weekend wasn't the first time I had a client reach out to me and say something to this effect. In fact, this weekend I had TWO new clients reach out to me and express the same frustration and overwhelm in navigating their own travel plans.

Like most of my other clients that have expressed the same sentiments, these clients are people who have historically planned their own travel experiences and nimbly and efficiently navigate booking websites and busy itineraries. But now that they're going to a foreign country, that same swagger and ease once defining their roles as the "family travel planner" has totally disappeared.

My most favorite clients to work with are the ones who are brand new to working with travel advisors- individuals who appreciate that a lot of work goes into curating the *perfect* vacation. Individuals who can swallow their pride and admit (out loud, to a stranger) "I don't know what I'm doing."

And no, it isn't because of some weird ego boost I get from a client needing or wanting my assistance, but because I get so much enjoyment out of meeting my clients where they're at. My heart soars when I can get on their level and take their hand as we stroll through the travel planning journey *together*.

During each and every consultation call, I tell my prospective clients "This is a collaborative relationship. We work together to realize what you're envisioning so that your vacation feels unparalleled and so explicitly *you*."

As a travel advisor, I wear many hats. In no particular order, some are....
1. Educator
2. Consultant
3. Strategist
4. Concierge
5. Therapist
6. Researcher
7. Problem-Solver
8. Advocate
9. Friend (my favorite!!!)

My job can be described a lot of ways and can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but each role or description has one thing in common -- I am here to empower you.

I am not here to crap on your ideas. I am not here to dump my travel bucket list on you. I'm not here to force you into a box, assuming travel to any particular destination can only be done one way.

I am here to help you find a little more meaning in your trips. I am here to match you with experiences that teach you something new about yourself. I am here to help guide you to places that unleash something powerful within you.

So when a client comes to me and says "I just don't know where to begin", I lace up my boots and begin a relationship full of empathy, mystique, understanding, and love - one to help calm the storm in your mind and help you embark on your next journey with clear goals and principles, with plenty of room left in your suitcase for souvenirs and memories.

So when you find yourself feeling like 4-year old Alexa, donned in your Minnie Mouse costume, absolutely frustrated and defeated beyond comfort, let's talk. Won't you take my hand and set sail on this journey together?

29/06/2025

This was the moment my life changed for good.

The first picture I ever took in Peru. Astonished? Amused? Horrified? Overwhelmed with emotions✅

“But they don’t know how to drive and this seems unsafe and I’m already regretting my decision!!”, I thought to myself.

And out of all the transportation experiences I’d have during my year abroad, this was probably the most calm.

I was robbed in a taxi. I hung on by my fingertips out of a mini-bus (“micro”) bursting with other Peruvians trying to get to their day’s responsibilities (this was more of a delay occurance). I got in taxis off the street driven by strangers and negotiated my fare with nothing but the hope the driver would keep his promise to take me from A to B (alive, safe, and for less than $1 USD).

And yet all these experiences, stumbling around Peru like a giant newborn baby, helped heal something within me. It taught me I was actually WAY more competent and intelligent than I had ever believed myself to be. It also taught me to have more of an obligation to other people. A previously self-centered teenager, I now took global issues (and local ones!) to heart a lot more seriously.

It’s like going to Peru was the equivalent of taking all aspects of my life and putting them in a giant pressure cooker.

Coming home after a year abroad, something within me was never satisfied (and still isn’t). I have this deep desire to connect with others and with parts of the world I have yet to visit. It’s more than “wanderlust” or a “travel bug” — it’s an overwhelming desire to knit myself in the fibers of the globe. It’s a desire to be present. It’s a desire of mindfulness.

And so when a client comes to me and brings fresh ideas (or maybe lifelong dreams) of a trip and they are ready to get something more out of their vacations, 16 year old me drives the bus.

21/06/2025

NYC Travel Tip: Don’t Let Your Dream Trip Get Shut Down 🚫🗽

New laws in the “City That Never Sleeps” could leave you SCRAMBLING for somewhere to sleep.

Thinking of booking a “charming NYC apartment” for your next trip? Be careful—what looks like a great deal on websites like Booking.com or Airbnb could actually be illegal.

🛑 Here’s the law: In New York City and all five boroughs, short-term apartment rentals (under 30 days) are banned unless the host lives in the unit and only two guests are staying. Anything else? It can be shut down by the city—with no refund.

These online booking sites often list illegal rentals without warning you. That “cute loft in SoHo”? Might be gone before you land. And your money? Also gone.

✨ When you book through a trusted travel advisor (hi, that’s me!), you get:
✔️ Verified, legal accommodations
✔️ Guidance on local laws and best practices
✔️ Peace of mind—no surprise cancellations or legal messes

📍NYC is magical, but don’t let your vacation turn into a cautionary tale. Travel smart. Ask questions. And when in doubt? Work with someone who’s got your back.

Bonus Tip — If you’re looking for apartment-style accommodations, check out Sonder by Marriott.

19/06/2025

✨ The #1 Italy travel hack that no one is telling you?
👉 Stop Googling like a tourist.

If you’re searching “best restaurants in Rome” or “what to do in Florence,” congrats—you’re getting the same tired list as every other American in linen pants and a wide-brimmed hat. 🙃

Want to find the real stuff?
🍝 The locals-only trattorias
🚆 Early warnings about train strikes
🖼️ Hidden museums and off-the-radar events?

Search in ITALIAN.
Let Google Translate do its thing. Just type in:
👉 “ristoranti tipici Roma”
👉 “cosa vedere a Firenze”
👉 “sciopero treni domani”

Trust me—it’s like unlocking secret Italy.

Drop a 🇮🇹 below and I’ll send you my favorite go-to Italian search terms!
Because Google doesn’t speak tourist… and neither should you. 😉

19/06/2025

The numbers tell one story. But they don’t tell the whole story.

Yes, I’m proud to be a top producer in my agency. Month after month, I’m among the highest sellers. I’ve built a business that performs, that grows, and that provides real value to my clients.

But here’s the thing:
It’s never just about the sales.

It’s about the family who trusted me with their once-in-a-lifetime trip and came back with tears in their eyes.
It’s about the couple who got engaged in front of the castle—because I made sure they had the perfect photographer waiting.
It’s about the hours I spend behind the scenes problem-solving, advocating, planning, re-planning, and obsessing over the smallest details that no one ever sees.

Top producer? Yes.
But also: top listener.
Top researcher.
Top worrier (let’s be honest).
Top cheerleader for every single client’s dream.

So here’s to my fellow agents—the ones staying up late quoting, rebooking, holding hands (virtually), and pouring your hearts into this business. We know it’s more than just the numbers.

Success is measured in magic made—not just commissions earned. ✨

12/06/2025

When it comes to bucket list travel, it's easy to want to save where you can. After all, costs keep rising but the value or quality of all the experiences we're after do not always match the price tag. Here are my thoughts on why travelers need to stop "cheaping out" on their vacations -- you're not pulling one over on the hotel by finding a dirt-cheap rate on Booking or Kayak. They may be pulling one over on YOU by overpromising and underdelivering.

When it comes to travel, everyone loves a good deal. But when you start cutting corners on something meant to be unforgettable, you may end up paying a higher price — in stress, disappointment, and lost experiences.

10/06/2025

✨ Experience Switzerland Like a Local ✨

Go beyond the chocolate box. Live the charm, taste the culture, and explore the beauty of Switzerland—just like the locals do.

If your dream of Switzerland includes more than snapshots of the Matterhorn and souvenir shops in Lucerne, this journey is for you. I design custom Swiss itineraries that connect you to the heart of the country—its people, traditions, flavors, and quiet wonders.

Forget the tourist crowds. Experience Switzerland the way locals love it.

🏡 Stay Where Stories Live

Wake up in a sun-drenched chalet perched above a misty valley. Or check into a cozy guesthouse in a centuries-old alpine village where your hosts treat you like family. These are the places where real Swiss life unfolds—far from cookie-cutter hotels and tour buses.

🚞 Travel the Swiss Way

Hop aboard legendary scenic trains, glide across turquoise lakes, or climb winding mountain roads on a bright yellow PostBus. You’ll use the Swiss Travel Pass like a native—effortless, seamless, and endlessly scenic.

🧀 Taste Switzerland

Cheese that’s still warm from the vat. Chocolate handcrafted in a mountain hamlet. Hearty rösti at a tavern where menus are handwritten and locals linger over lunch. This isn’t dining. It’s an invitation to savor the land, the seasons, and the stories behind every bite.

🥾 Hike, Bike & Breathe

Swim in crystal-clear alpine lakes, wander wildflower-strewn trails, or cycle quiet vineyard routes overlooking Lake Geneva. In Switzerland, nature isn’t an activity—it’s a lifestyle. And you’ll live it like a local.

🎭 Culture in the Quiet Moments

Join a yodeling festival. Sip wine with a fourth-generation vintner. Watch a woodcarver bring a story to life. Or simply listen to church bells echo through a car-free village square at sunset. These are the experiences that can’t be Googled—and I’ll help you find them.

Your Swiss Life, Curated

Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, this isn’t just a vacation. It’s a slower, richer, more meaningful way to travel. I’ll handle all the details so you can sink into the soul of Switzerland—without stress, crowds, or second-guessing.

Ready to experience Switzerland like a local?
Let’s design the kind of journey that will stay with you long after your boots are unpacked.

📩 DM me to start planning.

09/06/2025

What the whole trip was centered around … C meeting a koala 🐨

Your dreams. Your bucket list items. YOUR vacation YOUR way.

The W Family is in the middle of their puddle-jumping South Pacific adventure — Fiji —> Australia —> New Zealand.

05/06/2025

When your clients send a photo like this from their hotel in Athens… you know the planning paid off. 🏛️✨

Every detail of their trip was taken care of—from flights and transfers to handpicked hotels with unforgettable views. All they had to do was show up and enjoy.

Upon arrival at the airport and as they met with their private driver, I got a text saying “The transfer to the hotel was perfect. They were right where you said they would be!”

That’s the magic of working with a travel advisor: less stress, more wow.

📍Athens, Greece
🧳 Stress-free travel, start to finish

25/05/2025

When you go to Disney, work with a Disney expert so you can end your trip feeling like this ❤️

15/04/2025

You could spend 30+ hours researching your vacation…
or you could let me design a personalized itinerary in a fraction of the time, with better results.

Think of me as your travel project manager:
• One point of contact
• One curated experience
• No stress, no guessing

Let’s make your dream trip effortless.