No More Waiting: How I Finally Chose to Travel—and Help Others Do the Same

I’ve always had a love for travel. It was something my mother instilled in me early on. We had one amazing international trip together when I was in high school—my German class trip to Europe. It was supposed to be the first of many.

But then life happened.

Marriage. Babies. The day-to-day.

We always said we’d resume our travels once she retired and my young ones were grown. But my mom passed away far too young. I was just 31. We never got those future trips. That chapter closed before it ever began.

Then, years later, my brother told me, “When my girls get out of college, then I’ll go.” He died suddenly of a massive heart attack when his youngest was a senior in high school.

That moment hit me hard.

If I kept putting off travel, I might not ever go either. And that wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.

So I went.

No tour group. No safety net. Just me, some advice from Facebook travel groups, and a deep determination to start living the life I kept saying was “someday.”

From One Trip to Many

From there, it snowballed. I met amazing people in the travel industry. I became friends with local guides. Then one day, a woman I met in a travel group said, “Could you plan a tour of Italy for me?”

I said yes. And just like that, we were four women on a two-week whirlwind through Italy.

That trip taught me so much—not just about logistics or planning, but about how people want to travel vs. how they need to.

Planning with Real People in Mind

We all want to see everything. But when you’re not in your 20s anymore, walking 20 miles a day just isn’t realistic. So I plan with that in mind.

I listen. I learn from the travel questions I see people ask every day—like:

• Can I use US dollars in France?

• Will my phone charger work in Italy?

• Do I need to validate my train ticket?

Those may seem like simple things, but they’re real concerns. That’s why I meet with every group over Zoom several times before a trip. We talk through TSA, how to validate train tickets, and everything in between.

Even though I’ll be there in person, I want every traveler to feel confident. My goal is to make this the first of many trips, not just a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Building In the Best Parts of Travel

My itineraries blend must-see highlights with free time—because sometimes the best moments happen when you’re:

• Lost in a little alley

• Sipping espresso at a café

• Chatting with locals in a piazza

That’s the magic.

Making Travel Affordable and Accessible

I’ve also learned how to stretch a budget without sacrificing experience. I know the trick of researching on Viator and Booking.com, but booking directly. I’ve got a system for reviewing hotels to ensure they’re near public transportation and in safe, walkable areas.

I live for the research—it’s half the fun!

And it’s been an easy transition, because travel is what I love. It lets me live richly, even on a modest salary. I’m not doing this to get rich—I just want to break even and keep going.

With six weeks of vacation and a remote-friendly job, I can keep chasing this dream while helping others start theirs.

No More Waiting

Travel has changed my life. And now, I get to help other women—especially those who’ve spent years waiting for the right time—realize that the time is now.

No more waiting. So We Travel.