“Why would I pay someone to plan a trip when I enjoy doing it and can do it myself?”
I hear this ALL the time. And I love this question, because I’m very much a “let me figure it out myself” person. A little over a year into running The Wistful Wayfarer, there’s one thing I want people to understand: working with me doesn’t mean giving up the parts of planning you love. Please send me the hotel you’ve been stalking. Show me the restaurants. Tell me why you’re absolutely going to need a balcony. Let me know what cute IG spots you’ve seen. I want to know what you’re excited about.
And if you’re wondering why you’d pay for help with something you’re perfectly capable of doing, I get it. I had the same conversation with myself before hiring someone to clean our house. Never in a million years did I think I’d pay for that. I’m a pretty clean person, we keep our house in good shape, and I know perfectly well how to clean a bathroom, operate a vacuum, and keep a tidy space (thanks momma). But I also work a new full-time job, run a business, and occasionally would like to sit the hell down. Coming home to a clean house that I didn’t have to spend my Saturday cleaning? Okay. I get it now. Please, take my money.
Same reason I get my hair done, my nails did, and my oil changed at the dealership. Sonny hits up doggy daycare. We get takeout sometimes. Could I handle more of that myself? Sure. But I like sitting down with my girl Chi, catching up, and letting her give me ideas. I enjoy doing my nails, but she’s a professional. She knows things I don’t, and sometimes I leave with a color I wouldn’t have picked and end up loving. I appreciate her perspective. I also appreciate being able to sit there and relax while someone else does the work. Both can be true.
I know I’m fortunate to have those options. Haden and I are DINKs, we both have good jobs, and I have my business. I’m grateful for that. But when I decide where to spend my money, someone lightening my VERY heavy load is worth paying for. I have enough things to think about. If dinner can occasionally come in a bag and Sonny can go spend the day with his furry friends, wonderful. Everybody wins.
That’s how I want you to think about travel planning. You can love it and still want help. Maybe researching hotels is fun for you. Figuring out which ferry gets you to the next island, whether you need a car when you get there, and how early you should leave to make your flight home? Less fun. Maybe you’ve saved so many options that you now have analysis paralysis and are pulling your hair out. Or maybe you know exactly what you want and would just like someone to pull it together.
Bring it to me. Seriously. I enjoy talking through this stuff. Tell me what caught your eye and why. We might keep the hotel you found. I might show you another one that fits you better. We might realize you’re trying to fit four destinations into seven days, and I’m going to lovingly suggest that you unpack at some point. I want you to have an incredible trip, but I also want you to enjoy being on it.
There’s a lot that happens between “I want to go there” and actually having a trip booked. I research, compare options, work with suppliers, think through the route, and help you decide what’s worth spending on. I’m looking at how your choices affect the rest of the trip, too. A less expensive hotel can stop feeling like a deal when you’re paying to get everywhere. A beautiful destination deserves enough time to enjoy it. Those are the conversations we have, and you still get a say in all of it.
I posted a meme recently that said, “You can book your own trip without a travel agent. You can also cut your own hair. I don’t recommend either.” The woman’s haircut was, er, rough. Funny, but rough. And yes, plenty of people plan great trips themselves. You might be one of them. I’m not asking you to admit defeat and surrender your laptop. I’m asking you to consider that having someone who does this professionally might make something you already enjoy a little easier.
Whether you’re planning an anniversary, a birthday, a honeymoon, or finally taking that trip you’ve talked about for years, hit me up. The consultation is complimentary. We can talk about your ideas, what you need help with, and whether we’d work well together. If we chat and you decide it’s not for you, you don’t have to book. You can say, “Thanks, Kasyah,” and carry on with your day. I’ll survive.
But give me a chance to lighten the load a little. You might still love planning your trip. You just won’t have to do all of it yourself.