mindholiday: august edit

Summer isn't over! Plus answering your travel questions and my 2025 travel wishlist

A late summer moodboard, if you will…

Hello readers!

Welcome to the the monthly MindHoliday list, the corner of the internet where I share my newest finds and favorites, what’s next on my list, recent travel bookings, and other tidbits that serve as a well needed vacation for your brain.

A quick reminder: summer isn’t over, despite everyone holding a funeral for it like it’s dead and gone. I know that plenty of people are eager for fall, but I prefer to hold on to summer and the summer state of mind until my hands are callused and bleeding.

I’m working on trying not to attach so much of my happiness to the weather, but sunny, long days and bare feet really do it for me, and anything that threatens either of these is a big no no.

A month ago, I asked my Substack readers to submit any travel advisor related questions they had. I’ve decided to answer a few today, since these have been sitting in my notifications collecting dust…

How I got started as an advisor

I got into the industry after I quit my previous job, feeling burnt out and ready for something new and exciting. Travel has always been a passion of mine, and over the years, I had managed to plan some wonderful trips for myself and family, while constantly sending recommendations to friends along the way.

I decided to become a travel advisor part time, to dip my toes in the water and see if it was something I really wanted to commit to. Most of my clients have come via word-of-mouth, and this involved a lot of shameless self promotion — to friends, family, over LinkedIn, Instagram, and harassing people over email.

Over time, clients that had hired me passed my info along to their network, and as my business grew, I decided to launch my own boutique agency and build my own website. I feel like this gave me the legitimacy I really needed to break into the industry.

My predictions for the travel advisor industry over the next 5 years

Over the next five years, I believe that the travel advisor industry will focus on personalization and sustainability. Advisors who deliver ultra-tailored experiences and eco-conscious options will thrive. AI will continue to help advisors streamline planning, but personal touch will remain an essential part of the process. Experiential luxury — focused on unique, rare adventures over opulence — will define high-end travel. Those who master these trends will stay ahead.

My biggest challenge so far

My biggest challenge so far has definitely been self-promotion and worrying less of what others think about what I do and how I do it. It’s my business, it brings me joy, and I’ve found my purpose in life, so why not lean in?

I’ve been really enjoying planning honeymoons that have a balance of outdoor adventure and relaxation. I’m the type of person who needs a balance of both! Locations I’d recommend are The Azores, Switzerland, Iceland, Patagonia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Cuixmala.

Fire Island, Provincetown, New York City, San Diego, Amsterdam/The Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Iceland, Puerto Vallarta, Germany, and Spain are beautiful, queer friendly destinations for LGBTQIA+ couples and families alike.

Fora also has a ton of advisors that specialize in LGBTQIA+ travel!

Latest Finds and Favorites:

1. Fire Island. After hearing people rave about it for years, I went for a week in late August, and my time there was nothing short of transformative. Less than 2 hours from Brooklyn, no snobby Hamptons crowd, zero cars and children running wild and free, and gorgeous beaches for miles and miles??? A dream come true. I’ll be doing a whole post dedicated to Fire Island soon!

2. What a time to be alive and living in Fort Greene. Thea, from the Theodora and Miss Ada team, just opened up, and all of their pastries and lunch grab and go stuff is incredible. This is my new favorite spot for grabbing coffee, reading, and people watching.

3. The burger at Swoony’s is the best in Brooklyn. It’s the closest thing I’ve experienced to the religious experience of ordering a perfect drunk McDonald’s burger, without the stomachache and regret the next day. It lived up to the hype, unlike the burger at Long Island Bar, which was a solid 5/10 and straight up SAD.

4. I recently joined *club skin cancer* and had to become a hat person, after years of kicking and screaming and feeling like a fraud wearing anything with a brim. This is the only hat I’ve managed to find decently attractive, and doesn’t make me look like I just got back from Burning Man. I may look like Bindi Erwin, but if that stops the dermatologist from cutting another crater out of my face, so be it. It doesn’t wrinkle or get bent out of shape easily, meaning it’s perfect for travel.

5. This unbelievable hike I did with friends while visiting Montana. I love Glacier National Park, but the main attractions can be so so busy and parking can be a nightmare. The hike to No Name lake was empty, and didn’t require a car reservation like most hikes in the park do!

6. I devoured this book whole on a five hour flight recently. I’ve been chasing the high of A Little Life and Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow for years, but had failed to find anything as devastating and beautiful until now.

What’s Next on my List:

I’m finally starting to think about what destinations I want to prioritize for my own travel in 2025…

1. Oaxaca/Puerto Escondido! Known for rugged beaches, excellent surf spots, and delicious food/mezcal, it seems like the perfect area to spend a week, soaking it all in.

2. Playa Viva in Mexico also looks incredible and I’ve heard wonderful things! It’s supposedly a great place to disconnect and it’s an eco-conscious resort dedicated to sustainability practices.

3. Peru and Machu Picchu have been on my list for years. The absolute dream would be doing so via the Belmond train.

4. I’ve never been to Asia, and I am positively dying to visit Thailand! Thai food has always been my favorite, and the beaches look unbeatable.

What I’ve booked:

For Me:

Austin Proper - We’re heading to ATX for a long weekend in November for Seismic Dance Event with friends! We figured that if we planned on dancing for hours on end, a hotel with a nice spa for recovery would be essential.

For clients:

Hotel Santa Caterina - I have clients headed to Italy for a work conference, and after, they wanted somewhere to chill and drink Aperol Spritzes that was kid friendly..

Hermitage Lake Lucerne and St. Ermin's Hotel - I have clients headed to Lake Como for a wedding, and they wanted to tack on a belated honeymoon in Switzerland and London. One of them has never been to Europe, so I am excited to hear how it goes!