Honest tips from someone who actually does this stuff.
Three years of full-time travel will teach you things no guidebook covers. Here's some of it.
From Rachel
Why I became a travel advisor after three years of planning my own trips
When people find out I live in an RV and travel full time, they always ask the same thing: how do you plan all of it? The honest answer is that I got good at it out of necessity and then realized I loved it.
Planning a trip well takes time. Real time. Hours of comparing options, reading reviews, figuring out which hotel photos are lying to you, timing things around seasons and crowds and daylight. Most people don't want to do all that. They just want to go.
That's the gap I fill. I do the work so you get the trip without the homework. And because I've actually been to a lot of these places, stayed in these kinds of properties, and sailed on these ships, I can tell you what's worth it and what isn't from real experience, not just a star rating.
5 min read · Rachel Conners
Cruises
Why I tell cruise skeptics to try Virgin Voyages first
Adults-only, no buffets, no formal nights, and a vibe that feels more like a boutique hotel than a floating theme park. Here's why it converts people.
The number one thing I hear from people who have never cruised is that they don't want to feel like they're on a cruise. I get it completely. Most people picture giant ships, crowded pools, and a schedule that leaves no room to breathe.
Virgin Voyages is different enough that I use it as my go-to recommendation for skeptics. As a certified specialist I've sailed with them and know the product well. If you're cruise-curious but couldn't get past the clichés, let's talk. There's a good chance it's actually your kind of trip.
National Parks
The one thing most people get wrong about national parks
They show up at the wrong time of day. Here's how timing your visit changes everything.
Most visitors roll into a national park around 10am, which is exactly when everyone else does. Parking lots are full, viewpoints are packed, and the animals have already retreated into shade.
The magic happens early. I'm talking 6am early. Wildlife is active, the light is incredible, and you sometimes have an entire overlook to yourself. I build all my national park itineraries around this. It requires an early alarm, but it's always worth it.
RV Travel
What nobody tells you before your first RV trip
Three years in, here are the things I wish I'd known and what I make sure every client knows before they hit the road.
Campground reservations at popular parks can book out six months in advance. Cell service disappears in the places you most want to go. Drive days are longer than they look on a map. None of this is a dealbreaker. It just requires planning ahead.
When I build an RV itinerary, I account for all of it: realistic drive times, backup campsite options, and offline maps. The goal is that you feel ready, not stressed, before you even leave the driveway.
Group Travel
How to plan a group trip without losing your mind (or your friends)
Group travel is one of my favorite things to plan and one of the easiest to get wrong. The honest guide.
The mistake most groups make is trying to please everyone equally, which results in an itinerary nobody loves. My approach: find the two or three things everyone agrees on, build around those, and leave room for people to do their own thing.
The other thing that actually helps is having one decision-maker. When there's a single point of contact instead of a group chat with seventeen opinions, things get booked. That's usually me, working closely with whoever's organizing on your end.
