Patrick McGill Travel

11/09/2026

LinkedIn ranked travel advisor the fifth fastest-growing career in the US in 2025, and it’s still in the top 25 this year.

That would have surprised me in 2017. That year, I planned a trip to England for the British Grand Prix and went looking for a travel advisor. I called three. None returned my call. A fourth tried to sell me exactly what I said I didn’t want.

That experience is a big part of why I became one. But in 2019, when I told friends and colleagues I was becoming a travel advisor, I heard the same question over and over: “Is that still a thing?”

It is.

So why are more people turning to advisors, even in the age of AI? I think it comes down to two things.

First, we don’t know what we don’t know. There are parts of a trip most people never think about until they need them, like travel insurance. An advisor looks at the whole trip, not just the pieces you can see.

Second, a “deal” isn’t always a deal. I’ll always look for promotions. But that hotel in Rome that’s hundreds of dollars cheaper deserves a careful look. Where is it? What does it offer? What are you giving up for that price?

Being a travel advisor today isn’t just booking a flight and a hotel. Many clients now come to me with an itinerary they built with AI. That’s a good starting point. I review it for practicality, completeness, and accuracy, and recommend alternatives that better fit how they like to travel. Once the plan is complete, we begin making reservations. And I follow the trip through to the end.

Many people entering the profession today bring strong professional backgrounds in law, finance, and accounting. Mine was 43 years in operations, supply chain, and financial management for international companies. It taught me that the details are where trips go right or wrong.

Have you ever worked with a travel advisor? What made the difference for you?

11/07/2026

Holiday travel is one of the busiest and most unpredictable times to be on the move. Here’s why having a travel advisor matters. 👇

✈️ A real person to call when plans change. Flight delays, cancellations, and missed connections happen. Instead of spending hours on hold, your advisor helps find solutions and get you back to your holiday plans.
📅 From Thanksgiving weekend to the holiday rush, an advisor helps you plan around the busiest travel days and avoid common headaches.
🏨 Hotels, tours, and flights can sell out months in advance. An advisor helps you secure the best options early.
📋 Every detail organized, checked, and ready to go. Passports, connections, travel insurance, confirmations, and itineraries.
🎄 Spend less time worrying about logistics and more time enjoying the trip.

Ready to start planning? Contact me today and let’s make your holiday travel easier.

11/06/2026

Ireland is calling... and now is the perfect time to answer. 🍀

With Black Friday Early Access from CIE Tours, you can start planning your Irish adventure before the holiday rush begins. ✨ 🇮🇪

Plan with me, and let's find the perfect CIE Tours itinerary for your Ireland adventure.

Save up to $3,000 per couple on Europe Tours

11/04/2026

To wrap up my series on our trip to England and Scotland, I want to recap my favorite experiences, and some of the things I learned.

Attending an Evensong service in England has been something I have been interested in doing for quite some time. To attend a servicee that has occurred almost daily for hundreds of years in churches that in some cases are over a millenia in age is truly special. The setting and acoustics cannot be matched in a modern building. These services are held in cathedrals and churches throughout the UK.

And York is itself a step back in time. To have dinner in pubs and inns that date back to the 1500's and 1600's is an experience in itself.

Of all the things we did, being at a prehistoric stone circle at sunset, and walking along the border of the Roman Empire were probably my two most favorite. Along with our sunset stop in the Yorkshire Dales, you not only have the history, but also the peace and quiet.

I was pleasantly surprised with our trip into the Scottsh Borders. This area does not get the same level of attention as the Highlands. That is understandable, and the Highlands is a "must see" when visiting Scotland. But, the Borders region should not be overlooked.

And of course, Edinburgh is also a "must see". There is so much to see and do here.

What I learned and what this trip reinforced for me:

Planning and logistics is especially important. Getting to some of these locations can take some careful planning, and including the right people to get you there. We would have missed some of these experiences had we arranged them differently.

And, picking the right hotel is essential. To come back to a traditional Scottish hotel after a day of exploring, and to have a "wee dram", while looking out at Edinburgh Castle, just adds to the experience.

Lastly, the season when you go here can add to the trip. Going in the fall, when the mist hangs over the landscape and the castle and abbey ruins enhances the experience.

So that's the trip. Now, let's create an experience for you.

11/03/2026

On our last full day in Edinburgh, we went to the Scottish National Museum. We had actually planned to take a day trip that day to Kilchurn and Doune Castles, but to be honest we were wanting to take a break from another day of riding in a vehicle, and there were some significant storms due to hit Scotland the next day, and since we were scheduled to fly back to the US that day, I wanted to be in a place where, if we had to move quickly to fly out, then we could do so.

So we went to the Scottish National Museum instead. The museum is excellent, covering Scotland from pre-historic times all the way to mondern day. The images here include Dolly the Sheep, who was the first cloned mammal. That was done in the 1990's locally at the Roslin Institute. In the main area of the museum, they have these full size airplanes suspended from the ceiling, Lastly, if you go to the rooftop terrace of the museum, you can get excellent views of Edinburgh.

11/02/2026

Sir Walter Scott was one of the most famous writers from Scotland. His works include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, and Waverley. There is a monument dedicated to him along Princes Street in Edinburgh, and it's no coincidence that the name of the Edinburgh train station is named Waverley Station.

I don't think there are a lot of people that would immediately want to visit his home on a trip to Scotland. Honestly, it was not something that I had on my list, but the the company I work with in the UK suggested it.

And I am glad they did. Abbotsford House is about an hour out of Edinburgh by car. Ironically, it is also very near the place where we went flyfishing on our first trip to Scotland, on the banks of the River Tweed.

Near his home is the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey. This was one of his favorite places to visit, and as he would travel there, he would stop at a place now known as Scott's View. He and his family were eventually laid to rest at Dryburgh Abbey.

Not far away is Rosslyn Chapel. It was originally built in the 1400's. The church was pretty much abandoned, but Scott took an interest in the church. After a visit by Queen Elizabeth, the church was restored and reactivated in 1862. The church is still a working church, so pictures of inside the church were not permitted. However, visitors are welcome.

11/01/2026

After visiting York, we headed back north to Edinburgh.

We had a choice to make here. We could have taken the train back to Edinburgh, and it would have been a very comfortable trip. But I also wanted to visit Hadrian's Wall, and this is where it got to be a choice: Do we take the train back to Edinburgh, and then take a day trip from there backtracking to Hadrian's Wall, or do we have Neil take us back to Edinburgh by car, stopping at Hadrian's Wall on the way?

We ultimately decided to have Neil drive us back, and I am glad we did. This not only gave us more time in Edinburgh, but Neil knows this country well, and we got to see some parts of it that we would not otherwise get to see.

Hadrian's Wall is best known as the northernmost border of the Roman Empire. Construction began in 122 AD.

In this area, there are the remains of two Roman forts - Vindolanda and Housesteads. Vindolanda was first established in 85 AD. This site is still an active archaeological site, and some of the things they have found there are pretty amazing. There is a museum on site that will show some of their finds. Housesteads was established later, around 122 AD. Both sites were abondoned around 400 AD, when the Roman Empire began to fail.

A couple of things will strike you when you are here. First, the wall is only a couple of feet tall, and in some areas is wide enough to drive a cart on top of it. Second, the Romans had a very specific layout for these forts. And last, you will see some pretty ingenious systems like a forced air under floor heating system for warmth.

This was without a doubt, one of my favorite places to visit. The experience of walking in a place that had been constructed almost at the time of Christ, in an amazing landscape is one that will stay with me.

11/01/2026

From dining together to splashing in the pools, every moment onboard is designed for families. 🍴💦 🎭

All included, all unforgettable, our family adventure starts here.

Ready to plan your trip? Contact me today and let’s make it happen.

10/31/2026

Trick or Trip? 🎃 👻

This Halloween, we're choosing the trip. From legendary castles to mysterious streets and hauntingly beautiful destinations, these places deserve a spot on every Halloween travel list.

Which one would you visit first? Contact me to start planning your spooky adventure. 🦇

10/30/2026