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My journey to becoming a Travel Agent was unexpectedly intertwined with my personal "love story" and destination wedding in Jamaica. In this 8 part series, I reflect on the memorable moments from the wedding and how they set me on my path to becoming the Travel Agent I am today.
Part 1: The Wedding & Engagement
Traveling has always been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I used to find myself randomly captured in daydreams of whisking away to a beautiful beach or tropical destination I’ve never been to. When I first met my husband in Los Angeles, we quickly discovered similarities between us that would become the foundation of our lifelong friendship and eventual marriage in 2018. We were both passionate about good eats, spontaneous experiences, our respective football teams (me a lifelong Eagles fan and he a devout Steelers fan), and of course, traveling. In the spirit of my blog chronicles, I wanted to share my personal “travel agent love story” that catapulted me from destination daydreamer to travel enthusiast and owner of a travel agency.
My “travel agent love story” starts where one would typically find an abundance of love; a wedding. My older brother got married in Delaware in April of 2017 and I had the honor of being one of the bridesmaids. The wedding was filled with family, friends, laughter and all the things you’d typically see at any celebration of love…with a twist. Unbeknownst to me, my then-boyfriend Rob was plotting behind my back! He received my father’s blessing to ask for my hand in marriage and he got my brother's blessing to pop the big question at the end of the wedding reception. Towards the end of the reception there was a couple’s dance so everyone paired up and began swaying effortlessly to the music. I don’t remember Rob’s exact line of questioning, but I do remember it being about our life together, our 4 month old son, family, future, etc. Whatever he was asking, it was distracting enough that I didn’t realize everyone else on the dance floor stopped dancing and formed a perfect circle around Rob and I.
Just then, Rob pulled a microphone from his back pocket like a savvy street magician, delivered a beautiful proclamation of his love for me and our budding family, and dropped to one knee to ask me to marry him. I OBVIOUSLY said yes and the wedding reception got a second breath of life as the DJ turned up the music and allowed us to celebrate a bit.
Part 2: Destination? Jamaica!
As the celebration waned down, questions related to our wedding plans started flying left and right. “When?” “Where?” “What color?” etc. Rob and I were perfectly fine with a simple courthouse wedding and/or a very intimate wedding so we could put the emphasis on our honeymoon and “do it big” as the kids say. We wanted to tie the knot on August 13th just 4 months after our engagement so our anniversary could be in line with our parents. My parents' wedding anniversary is on August 15th and Rob’s parents' anniversary is on August 14th. While our families loved the idea and inspiration of the August 13th date, they were not-so-in-love with the 4 month timeline we initially had in mind. Our families wanted to partake in our wedding experience and we were hearing 4 months was just too little time to put everything together.
Reluctantly, Rob and I heeded the advice and set our sites on August 13th of 2018. Now that the wedding was more than a year off, we had time to think and plan. Not for our families or our friends, but for us and what we thought would be our perfect wedding. We eventually arrived at a destination wedding concept. Having a destination wedding was perfect in my mind because I would finally have the opportunity to travel abroad, and I would get the chance to do so with my family and closest friends. Now all I had to do was find the right place that worked with our dates and budget and pull it all together in time. No pressure!
I knew almost immediately that I wanted to get married in Jamaica. From the culture to the music to the food (and of course the rum), it was the only destination that came to mind and checked all our boxes. With the location and date locked in, we were finally ready to get the word out so people could RSVP. When word first broke of our destination wedding everyone and their mother wanted to come. However, people started dropping like flies when the details were formally announced and it was time to put money down for deposits. Although our confirmed wedding attendees were fewer than expected, we were still very optimistic and excited for our big day.
The first few weeks after my brother’s wedding were tough to say the least. I’ve always had a knack for planning and organizing trips such as romantic weekend getaways with Rob, but this was on an entirely different level. I had my hands full working at Cedars-Sinai, taking care of our newborn son, and trying to coordinate a wedding over 2,700 miles away. On top of all that, I also needed to figure out the actual travel accommodations for the confirmed attendees. At the time I was in over my head in the “accommodation” department so I decided to hire a travel agent.
I didn’t know what to expect when I hired a travel agent, but I quickly came to appreciate having Tenisha on “Team Kenesha”. Working with her was a breeze! All I had to do was pass her contact info to my family and friends and she took it from there. Little did I know, working with Tenisha would seal my fate and set me on a path to eventually become the travel agent you know and love today.
Part 3: Walking On The Moon
They say time flies when you’re having fun, but whoever said that must've never planned a destination wedding! The months ahead of our departure to Jamaica went by quicker than any other period in my life or so it felt. “Team Kenesha” was in full swing and we were making it happen one way or another. I was in California, most of my bridesmaids were in Philadelphia, and my wedding planner was in Jamaica. We couldn’t do the traditional “girls trip” to the bridal dress stores, so FaceTime was critical in terms of coordinating our wedding color pallet, dress selection, and dress alterations. Tenisha the Travel Agent was doing her thing ensuring everyone got their trip paid off in time and travel accommodations secured. My “boots on the ground” unit in Jamaica aka Ayana the on-site wedding coordinator was my eyes, ears, and everything in between in terms of making sure my wedding would go off without a hitch (more on her later).
Fast Forward a bit and we are somehow days away from heading to Jamaica. We planned to arrive on August 7th, just a few days ahead of everyone else who was scheduled to land on August 11th. Now all I had to do was pack. The challenge: figure out a way to pack wedding clothes, swimsuits, activity clothes, dinner outfits, shoes, accessories, electronics, etc for three people PLUS itineraries, bridesmaids gifts, and all the tidbits needed for my hangover kits and welcome bags. The clothing worked out fine after some heavy negotiation with Rob and his overpacking self. I convinced him to remove two pairs of shoes and there were at least another two in the suitcase that wouldn’t see the outside of the suitcase until we returned home. Packing the tidbits and knick knacks proved to be the toughest, so I was glad I did them last. By the time it was all said and done, I couldn’t help thinking what would happen if I were to get stopped by customs when we arrived. I could’ve restocked a small CVS with all the Vitamin C, Advil, Alka-seltzer, mints, bandaids, baggies, flip flops, door hangers, fans, kleenex, bubbles, and sunglasses I had crammed in there. Eventually we got everything loaded in the car and the nerves creeped up on me as I laid down for sleep that night. We were off to Jamaica in the morning!
Two rather quick and uneventful flights later, we landed in Montego Bay, Jamaica with our trove of luggage; a number of multi-colored suitcases and backpacks plus a stroller and a carseat. Our final destination was Moon Palace in Ocho Rios roughly 2 hours east from Montego Bay. After locating our transportation we set off and before we knew it we were at the gates of Moon Palace. Butterflies awoke and fluttered about internally at the thought of finally making it to the place I’d only seen in photos to this point. So much planning and thinking and imagining and now we were just a few minutes removed from taking it all in.
Moon Palace Jamaica was simply breathtaking. It was nestled nicely in a cove and the resort itself was positioned so that almost every view looked out over the bay. From our room you could look down at the pools and courtyards of the resort as well as the sandy beaches spotted with oversized umbrellas and carrot-colored lounge chairs. It was truly a slice of paradise. My plans to arrive earlier than the group rewarded us tenfold and to this day are some of my favorite memories from traveling abroad. We got to witness live entertainment on a nightly basis including a local steel drum band, planned a family photoshoot, swam with dolphins (well Rob did), spent a day at the Mystic Mountain Adventure Park, and ate some of the most delicious food you can imagine. It was great having a few days to play the average Jamaican tourist, but it was almost time to snap out of it. I had bigger (ackee and salt)fish to fry such as putting a wedding together and had to keep my eye on the prize, regardless of how beautiful the surroundings were. It was finally time to meet my beloved Ayana in person and finalize our plans for the perfect wedding day.
Part 4: A Familiar First Encounter
Meeting Ayana in real life was a surreal experience. On one hand she was someone who lived half a world away that I never met in the flesh before. On the other, she was someone I had come to communicate with almost daily in the last month or so leading up to our arrival. When we finally met in the resort lobby, it felt like reconnecting with a distant relative instead of meeting someone for the first time. After some light small talk Ayana said “well let’s get to it” and we proceeded to her office.
I already knew Ayana was next level from working with her over the past few months, but what went down in her office took my admiration and appreciation for her to the next level. We went top to bottom over every meticulous detail for everything and I mean EVERYTHING that involved my wedding and the itinerary we had drawn up before I arrived. All white welcome party setup - check. Ensure my carefully crafted Welcome Bags made their way to each of my guests’ rooms - check. Finalized floral decor and cuisine for the wedding itself - check. Review timeline of events for day of wedding - check. Go over legal paperwork for marriage in a foreign country - check. Confirm DJ and musical genres to be played at reception - check. Every little question, comment, or concern I had was immediately met with answers, informed opinions, and well thought out recommendations. At one point I remember thinking “is this my wedding or hers?” because of how on top of it she was.
After a few hours of running through everything, Ayana took me to see the location where the ceremony would be held. At this point we were roughly 48 hours away from the wedding day and I’d spent so much time imagining what it would look like that I could almost see it. The venue itself was a quaint little gazebo at the end of a man-made peninsula that pushed just slightly past the beach and into the shallows of the bay. There was space in front of the gazebo for chairs to be placed and a stone walkway that ran from the base of the gazebo to one of the resort paths near the beach, splitting the seating area into even halves. If you were to stand at the gazebo and look back at the resort, you’d see the bustle of tourists and resort staff in the distance maneuvering about from point a to point b and so on. However, it was a completely different story if you were to stand at the gazebo and turn your site towards the bay. The scene was astonishing and gave immediate validation that we selected the right spot. Hues of green and dark blue from the bay clashed gently with the vibrant layers of blue from the horizon off in the distance. It was a picture-perfect background framed by the white frame of the gazebo and the surrounding fences. I allowed myself a moment to be captured by the scene and the thought that I would be getting married tomorrow; a notion accompanied with a burst of emotions.
Twas the night before the wedding, so I hunkered down in my room with my cousins and Rob went to stay with his brother. It was crazy thinking the next time I’d see him would be at the fairy tale gazebo, watching me walk down the “aisle”. I awoke on my wedding day to a sound that no bride wants to hear, especially if she’s getting married outside. RAIN! Heavy, consistent, unexpected rain. For a brief moment my eyes matched the transparent panes of the glass patio doors. Tears streamed down my face with the thought of my perfect wedding being washed away by the heavy downpour. After a minor emotional lapse, I sucked it up and my mind kicked in to overdrive thinking through solutions.
Part 5: The Rainy Day Wedding
The time for tears was over. Despite Mother Nature not cooperating with me, I was grounded in the realization that I had a busy day ahead before my “big day” would actually begin. Timing and geography were also on my side, at least for the moment. It was barely 9AM and the ceremony was at 4PM which gave me some solace. I got another dose of comfort in remembering where I was at. In Jamaica (as with most of the Caribbean), it could rain cats and dogs one minute and be a blistering heat wave the next. “It’s gonna be ok” I said to myself as I whirled away from the patio door and began chanting the morning itinerary. “Breakfast. Mani. Pedi. Hair. Makeup. Prep. Breakfast. Mani. Pedi. Hair. Makeup. Prep”. My focus was snapped by an unexpected knock at the door. It was none other than Ayana.
She had an umbrella in one hand, clipboard in the other, and was draped in a transparent poncho coated with beads of water; further evidence of the small tsunami falling from the sky. Distraught at the reminder of the weather, my eyes met Ayana’s and we exchanged a moment of sadness and empathy that didn’t require words. We took a deep breath almost in unison and before I could utter a word she said “Let’s go". We have venues to look at and no time to waste!” Immediately I flashed back to the CIA-level briefing Ayana and I had less than 48 hours ago. In the event of inclement weather, Ayana had a shortlist of backup venues that we’d be able to use. I slid on my flip flops and off we went to salvage the day. Breakfast would have to wait.
The backup venues were fighting an uphill battle and so far they were not up to the task. I couldn’t shake the mental snapshot I had of the outdoor gazebo on the peninsula and every venue fell short in one way or another in comparison. Too small. Too dim. Too big. Too…not what I wanted for my wedding day. After seeing and rejecting 2 or 3 alternates, I was left with a tough decision. I could either move the wedding to one of the backup locations, or I could gamble with Mother Nature and keep my plans set on the outdoor gazebo. The rain lessened a degree by this point, but was still far from an ideal wedding forecast. With a heavy sigh I placed my wager on the outdoor gazebo and whisked off to the resort spa.
One quality mani-pedi later I was back in the room with the wedding party playing music and tuning our energy for the ceremony that was inching closer and closer. Hair was to be done first and then my makeup. My mom helped in a big way by styling my hair and making sure my dress was giving what it was supposed to give. By the time my makeup was done the weather outside began to match the energy inside the suite. The rain subsided and clouds parted to display the Jamaican sun high in the sky. Time continued to be on our side because just as the weather broke, the resort photographers showed up to take the pre-wedding photos.
After a few kodak moments, we were off to the meeting point where the path to the gazebo began. Me in front in all white like a mother swan, the bridal party behind me like coral pink cygnets. As excited as I was, I felt my anxiousness rising when I looked at the time. It was precisely 4PM and we were still en route. My distaste for tardiness started rearing its head and drove me to walk faster than anyone should attempt when in heels and a full-length gown. Once we reached the path, I saw my dad and the beaming smile I inherited from him. Less than 6 months ago, his attendance was in grave jeopardy. He required open heart surgery and was determined to recover and follow all the necessary protocols to be in the exact spot he was standing. He was just as stubborn as I was and told me on more than one occasion “if anyone is gonna walk my baby girl down the aisle, it’s gonna be me”. I never doubted him for a second and was elated when he was cleared to make the trip. We embraced and my dad rubbed his eyes profusely, refusing to let the overflow of joy pour on to his face. I took my dad’s arm and watched the rest of the party pair up; the men and their navy blue suits on one side, my bridal party and their vibrant coral pink on the other. It was finally time to walk down the aisle.
Part 6: Aisle Of Love
Time moves differently when you’re getting married. Or at least, time moves differently when you’re running late to get married. Each second that ticked past 4PM felt like an hour. Each passing minute its own taste of eternity. As someone who doesn’t deal well with tardiness, my nerves were on edge waiting for the ceremony to begin. The wedding party pairs were linked at the arm and appeared ready to go, yet nobody was moving. It was now almost 20 minutes past our intended start time and my mounting nerves were stirring up an emotional storm of indecision. Should I stand firm and just wait it out, or should I break formation and go investigate? My irritation was escalated by the unexpected gusts of wind that blew my veil all over leaving my face uncovered. My dad must have sensed the brewing conflict and placed a reassuring hand on top of mine while tucking the bottom of the veil into my dress to stay in place. Just then, Perfect by Ed Sheeran started playing over the speakers nearest the gazebo, snapping everyone to a militarian attention. We were about to make our way down the aisle. FINALLY.
Two by two the wedding party pairs went, each group spaced perfectly as if they were bound with invisible rope. The first pair in our party were the family matriarchs; my mom on one side and Rob’s on the other. They were followed by the matron of honor and maid of honor who had to carry Robbin our “ring bearer” because he refused to walk down by himself. The pairs nearest me began to thin as each waited their turn before they made the rhythmic march toward the gazebo. The pairs split apart in perfect synchronization when they reached the base and peeled off toward their designated sides. Before long, there was only one pair in front of my dad and I. It took everything in me to gulp and force my pounding heart back to its proper location. As the final pair departed, I had an almost perfect line of sight to the gazebo and could see just about everything leading up to the base where the wedding parties were divided. I squinted and began analyzing every little detail in a near robotic fashion. Were the flowers in the right place? Is everyone seated where they’re supposed to be? Where’s the photographer? What’s Mother Nature doing with this stupid wind? Before it could register, my dad and I had already taken half a dozen steps toward the gazebo and I snapped back into the moment as the music changed to Giving Myself by Jennifer Hudson, one of my all-time favorites and the most perfect song I could think of for walking into my wedding.
Walking down the aisle was everything I imagined. I had high expectations for how I envisioned the moment and was pleased to see they were all met to the precision Ayana and I talked through. By now I was in sight of the wedding attendees, their smiles as bright and warm as the sun fading toward the horizon. The robotic analysis of everything faded to an afterthought and I allowed myself to be captured in the moment. This magical moment that took 18 months of planning, sacrifice, and dedication from so many of the people now smiling at me in unison. At my final destination stood Rob, looking handsome and happy as ever in his navy blue suit next to the small flight of stairs entering the gazebo. I pondered what he might’ve been thinking behind the flare of excitement in his eyes and a smile that matched the one I projected back towards him. For me, it was reflecting on the 6 years of beautiful memories we created together that got us here, combined with me pivoting my energy between smiling and containing any tears of happiness from emerging. “Protect the makeup, Kenesha. Protect the makeup” I thought to myself.
Rob and my dad embraced each other and exchanged affections before my dad hugged me once more and proceeded to take his seat next to my mom. Rob took my hand gently and aided me up the stairs entering the gazebo. In doing so he leaned toward me and said “you look absolutely gorgeous Wifey”, words that got those pesky butterflies swirling about. We turned to face each other and as we did I peaked over his shoulder to see half the resort community frozen in place and transfixed on us. Everyone loves a wedding right?
My gaze returned to Rob’s and for a minute everything fell silent and drifted into the distance. The Pastor interrupted our eye contact and had us read the vows we wrote for each other. I mistakenly went the old fashioned route and wrote my vows on a piece of paper, a decision that didn’t pair with the persistent gusts of wind flowing toward us. Rob gave me a hand (literally) by holding the sheets of paper while I held the microphone and read through them. I was prepared to reciprocate the favor, but Rob pragmatically wrote his vows in his phone. When we finished, the Pastor proceeded through the ceremony and closed with the classic “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!”. Rob then swung his hand around my waist and pulled me toward him for the kiss of all kisses. When we parted the Pastor proclaimed “I now present to you Mr. and Mrs Robert Travis!” and the attendees erupted in celebratory cheers. Resort guests in the distance joined in, showering us with their own volley of handclaps and praises.
Champagne was passed around to the wedding party and eligible wedding attendees and we raised a collective toast to the nuptials. The champagne coursed down my throat washing away all flavors of tension and any other pessimistic notions I felt leading up to the wedding. I was officially a married woman and it was time to celebrate!
Part 7: Roller Coasters & Boat Hops
My enthusiastic stride towards the reception area was suddenly brought to a lethargic saunter. Ayana stood roughly 10 feet in front of us, opposing our progress. She purposely gestured an arm and all 5 fingers toward a footpath off the stone walkway like a veteran traffic cop. Memory preceded my compliance as I remembered the wedding party photoshoot that we had to attend before we could head to the reception. I felt like I was on a roller coaster. The first drop…the scariest part of today’s wild ride…was over, but there was still an entire coaster of curves and corkscrews to navigate. Just then, my stomach erupted in protest as my momentum and focus shifted toward the photoshoot. The air was lightly doused in the aroma of food that was prepared for the reception and was an agonizing reminder that I didn’t eat anything all day.
The footpath opened to a secluded field connected to a gazebo nearly identical to the one we just wed at. This particular gazebo had an opening that led to an even more secluded portion of the beach connected to the resort. A perfect place to shoot some photos. By now all feelings and conceptions of time were gone and the lighthearted mood reflected itself in some of our most memorable photos. We shuffled about in different groupings we wanted the photographer to immortalize. When the groomsmen decided to get together I decided to ingratiate their photo with an impromptu photobomb which resulted in Rob joyously chasing after me. Laughter and good vibes filled the air and before we knew it the photoshoot concluded for the wedding party. They departed towards the reception while Rob and I headed to the beach to capture a few more bride-and-groom moments. One of the most endearing qualities of my relationship/marriage was how Rob and I always knew how to have a good time with one another, regardless of what we were doing. Our photoshoot on the beach was a confection of love, laughter, and everything in between. I was enjoying myself, but my stomach clearly wasn’t as another eruption of hunger pains rang out from my belly. We wrapped the shoot and made a devoted b-line toward the reception, moving swiftly through the compliments and congratulatory statements from resort guests we passed by.
If you didn’t know where the reception area was, it would’ve looked like we were walking towards a dead-end. The path we were on took us past the wedding gazebo and eventually hooked around the building where the wedding party gathered before the ceremony. Past a slender opening was a vast courtyard nestled secretly on the side of the aforementioned building. The right side of the courtyard was flanked by the rear of the resort building, the left exposed to a breathtaking panoramic view of the Caribbean sea topped with puffy clusters of clouds pasted over the fading blue-sky canvas. We entered to a formal announcement by the DJ followed by applauds, whistles, and praise from our wedding attendees. I was wearing a smile as big as the one during the wedding ceremony, mainly because I knew I was mere moments away from finally getting something to eat.
We spent the rest of the evening dancing, singing, drinking, and of course…eating. Everyone was having what appeared to be the time of their lives and it felt like we were the only people in the whole resort. After taking a series of photos, I had a brief moment to sit on the concrete wall facing the open Caribbean sea before turning to survey the reception and its attendees. It was such a gratifying sensation to witness the group together. For some, it was their first trip out of the country. For most, it was the first trip where they were part of such a large group, regardless of destination. Our time in Jamaica created a sense of community and more importantly, unity. I etched the scene and associated sensations in my memory and made a personal commitment to recreate this experience come hell or high water. I then rejoined the festivities and partied the night away.
Our time in Jamaica was coming to an end, but we were committed to going out with a bang. The very next day we were up early for an excursion to Konoko Falls that was packed with so many experiences, we’d need a whole series to detail them all. Just know, if you’re in Jamaica GO TO KONOKO FALLS. After Konoko, we came back to the resort and boarded an afternoon Catamaran party boat that took us up and down the coast. At one point, the boat anchored for a spell and allowed the adventurous passengers to jump into the sea. As someone who can’t swim and is most comfortable out of water, I had less than zero intentions of making the attempt. Unfortunately, I just married a very adventurous man in Rob who had other plans. He came over to me and said “let’s jump in together”. I had to bite my tongue to prevent my first reaction which was loaded off instinct and packed with all types of “you crazy as hell’s” and “you go do that wild sh*# yourself”.
For some reason, Rob asking me to jump off that boat in the middle of the Caribbean sea took on more meaning than simply conquering my fears. It felt comparable to Rob asking for my hand in marriage all over again with the leap overboard representing the combination of excitement, fear, and commitment I experienced leading up to the wedding day. As scared as I was, I felt foreign confidence that it would be ok as long as Rob was there. Just as my courage reached a flashpoint, Rob fanned my foolish bravery by saying “c’mon wifey". Let’s do it. I got you.” That damned wifey again. Without further hesitation I grabbed my husband's hand, walked up to the ledge and jumped off, squeezing as hard as I could. One day in and marriage was already off to a wild start.
Part 8: Lessons For Future Travel
The saddest part of vacation by far is saying goodbye. After more than 2 weeks in Ocho Rios, the reality of our limited time on the isle always seemed so far off. So far that when our final day came, the persistent Jamaican sun was veiled with a layer of disappointment. We soaked in every “last” we could and braced for the cold shock of reality that awaited us in less than 24 hours. Our experience leaving Moon Palace Jamaica was the perfect footnote to our stay in Jamaica. As we exited, what felt like the entire staff at the resort bid us farewell, conveyed well wishes on our marriage, and expressed excitement at our return as if we were leaving home as opposed to heading towards it. I boarded the transport and began our journey home a changed woman. I was officially married, yes, but that wasn’t it. I was changed in that I was deeply inspired by every aspect of traveling abroad and was already hooked on the idea of my next international adventure.
Little did I know, life had unexpected plans besides traveling. A few short months after our return I found out I was pregnant with my second child. With our family expanding, we wanted to plant roots for our budding family and spent the remainder of 2018 and 2019 house hunting and welcoming my beautiful daughter Reza to the world. Throughout this time my desire to travel internationally evolved to outright motivation and led me to a blatant conclusion; I wanted to become a Travel Agent. I already had a fondness for traveling and experience planning eventful trips; albeit domestic trips for only Rob and I. And thanks to Jamaica, I had a firsthand taste of the elation others felt when participating in a well-planned international experience. The notion of doing something I so thoroughly enjoyed paired with the happiness I knew it could bring completely swept me off my feet. The fact that I could do all of the above AND make money doing so locked me in a cell of commitment and before I knew it, Reza’s Road Travel Agency was founded.
It was now early 2020 and I was a certified travel agent, my heart set on fulfilling the promise I made to myself back in 2018 in Jamaica. My inaugural group trip was going to be in Mexico and I spent a great deal of time researching potential resort options. I knew I wanted something different and outside the typical Cancun or Mexico City getaways. Something that would be outside the norm, but still within a reasonable budget. Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres checked all my instinctive boxes and became my destination of choice. I was excited to plan and execute my first non-wedding related group trip, however that excitement was nullified to a degree with the sudden and rapid onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The pandemic had a devastating impact on a number of interpersonal industries, travel being one of the more severe examples. The ripple effect played out across almost every facet of planning a trip, and while planning around a pandemic magnified the complexity, it equally magnified the essential lessons I learned and still benefit from today. Lesson #1 was the toughest pill to swallow, especially for my very first trip. I learned almost instantly that cancellations occur on every trip, regardless of destination. As the pandemic took a turn for the worse, people naturally decided to cancel their reservation and postpone any international travel. In doing so, I watched 40 booked rooms dwindle to 11. It was one of the tougher lessons I learned, but braced me for future group trips which are always prone to unexpected cancellations.
Ironically, the swell of cancellations brought me face-first with Lesson #2 - always always ALWAYS get travel insurance. I’ve always considered insurance (travel, life, etc) as something you’d rather have and not need vs. need and not have. I know many people, my husband included, that feel differently, but for me travel insurance is as essential to traveling as the flight or the resort reservation. A good majority of my would-be travelers heeded my advice and were able to recoup their payments, but there were also a few who opted out of insurance and got nothing back. Word to the wise: ALWAYS GET THE TRAVEL INSURANCE.
Despite all the curveballs and concerns and cancellations, my group of willing travelers persisted forward and the results were truly special. Grand Palladium did a fabulous job responding to COVID protocols and immediately adapted to persistent sanitation protocols that were enforced consistently throughout our stay. They were also restricted from filling the resort above 30% capacity which resulted in our group of 30+ travelers being the largest single group at the resort. Everywhere I went, no matter when, I’d see 1 or 2 people from my party; a warming surprise I enjoyed throughout our stay. On top of having the proverbial run of the resort, we also experienced unexpected benefits when it came to flying to and from Mexico. COVID had limited the airport capacity significantly. So much so that we had entire rows to ourselves on the flights and we breezed through customs unimpeded. The “ah ha” moment of the final lesson became clear as I watched the Mexican landscape sprint past the window of the airplane during takeoff.
What’s Lesson #3 you ask? It’s simple - Trust. Your. Instincts. I dealt with so much doubt and uncertainty leading up to Costa Mujeres. Planning this first trip, let alone planning this trip during a pandemic, taught me to really trust my instincts. As a travel agent I soon found out I’d often be put in situations where I have to use my experience as both a travel enthusiast and travel planner to make the best decision possible for my clients. Those decisions aren’t always easy nor transparently clear, so trusting your instincts can pay dividends regardless of your profession…and it goes a LONG way, pun intended.
Fast forward to today and these three lessons have been at the forefront of my success thus far as a travel agent. To-date, I’ve sent over 200 clients to 7 countries and have personally traveled with my close friends and fam group to resorts throughout Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica…all of which accomplished during the current pandemic. Thank you so much for reading through my “travel agent love story” series and allowing Rob and I to relive these moments. We’d love for you to join us on future group trips! Comment below or send me a DM if you’d like details on where we’re headed next!
I love it❤❤❤