Hey Reader.

This week, despite my resistance, I’m finally testing out some paid advertising. It’s hard to hand a big corporation my hard-earned dollars, and I don’t like it! But I keep thinking about being able to help more people have the trips they deserve, and knowing I might reach the right people is getting me through it.

Which reminds me of this popular piece of advice in the travel world.

"Travel should get you out of your comfort zone."

Which begs the question…is that really true?

To which I say: not necessarily.

Some of the most transformative trips I've ever taken have happened in extraordinary comfort. I've experienced French history from my palatial hotel suite that was originally commissioned by Louis XV; sat at a chef's table in Italy for a meal I'll describe to people for the next decade; and hand-picked vintage Tuareg silver pieces in Morocco with a local guide who knew every corner of the market.

None of that required roughing it. It just required intention.

Now…don’t get me wrong. When I first started planning luxury travel for clients, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the options, the investment, and the pressure to get it right. And it took a lot of research, a lot of relationships with the right folks, and more than a few humbling Q&A sessions with my mentor to really get into the swing of things.

But now that I’ve seen the results - clients taking trips they felt intimidated by, newlyweds receiving their perfect honeymoon, retirees taking a trip they had always put off - I am not overwhelmed anymore. I'm just excited.

I want to encourage you to start small - just start with one trip. Not a "someday" trip. An actual date on the calendar, a destination that's been living in the back of your mind, and a real budget you're willing to invest in the experience.

You don't have to figure it out alone. That's exactly what I'm here for.

You can take that trip. I believe in you, Reader.

-Carolyn