Goofy Getaways Podcast

It's easy to fall for the idea of being a Travel Advisor. It's harder to ask an agency how your commissions get paid, or what happens to your clients if you ever leave.

In this minisode from our "So You Want to Be a Travel Advisor" Part 2 conversation, Amy Blades and Travel Advisors Jessica Hobart-Collis and Lauren Levesque cover the practical side of joining an agency, along with the team culture that makes the hard parts easier.

In this minisode, you'll learn:

• How the Goofy Getaways Strategic Council works, and why Jess went from terrified of the change to loving it
• The questions to ask about fees, commissions, lost commissions, and exit plans before you sign
• Why an agency that ties your income to recruiting is a red flag, and why booking one or two trips a year isn't worth it
• What Jess and Lauren wish they'd known before starting, from constant emails to guests who become friends

Thinking about becoming a Travel Advisor? Learn more about joining Goofy Getaways at https://www.goofygetaways.com/join-our-team. Looking for someone to plan your next trip? Meet our advisors at https://goofygetaways.com/meet-your-advisors.

Want the whole conversation? Listen to the full episode here: https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/red-flags-green-flags-amp-the-contract-nobody-reads-so-you-want-to-be-a-travel-advisor-part-2

Find the shownotes for this minisode at https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/taking-off-the-rose-colored-glasses

When you're choosing an agency, you're also choosing who you'll answer to. So what should that person owe you?

In this minisode from our "So You Want to Be a Travel Advisor" Part 2 conversation, Amy Blades opens up about how she leads Goofy Getaways, with Travel Advisors Jessica Hobart-Collis and Lauren Levesque weighing in on what that looks like from their side.

In this minisode, you'll learn:

• How Goofy Getaways keeps a team with very different views a safe, respectful place to work
• Why Lauren and Jess were free to grow beyond Disney, including Jess's move into international travel
• The questions to ask any agency about training, support, and whether you can talk to its other advisors
• How mentoring Lauren taught Amy to slow down, get to know her advisors as people, and treat repeat questions as her own signal to explain things better

Thinking about becoming a Travel Advisor? Learn more about joining Goofy Getaways at https://www.goofygetaways.com/join-our-team. Looking for someone to plan your next trip? Meet our advisors at https://goofygetaways.com/meet-your-advisors.

Want the whole conversation? Listen to the full episode here: https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/red-flags-green-flags-amp-the-contract-nobody-reads-so-you-want-to-be-a-travel-advisor-part-2

Find the shownotes for this minisode at https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/the-leader-id-want-to-work-for

Love travel and dreaming of turning it into a career? Before you sign with any agency, it helps to know who this job is a hard fit for, and what support should look like when it isn't easy.

In this minisode from our "So You Want to Be a Travel Advisor" Part 2 conversation, Amy Blades is joined by Travel Advisors Jessica Hobart-Collis and Lauren Levesque. They talk about why every Goofy Getaways advisor runs their own business, what the agency gives them to do it, and what happens when the workload gets heavy.

In this minisode, you'll learn:

• Why anyone hoping for discounted travel should look elsewhere
• What "independence meets real support" means day to day, from Canva templates to a team you can message when you're stuck
• How Lauren went from "Amy, I'm out" to a business with real boundaries
• Why Amy refuses to build Goofy Getaways around recruitment or downlines, and why the agency doesn't get paid until its advisors are

Thinking about becoming a Travel Advisor? Learn more about joining Goofy Getaways at https://www.goofygetaways.com/join-our-team. Looking for someone to plan your next trip? Meet our advisors at https://goofygetaways.com/meet-your-advisors.

Want the whole conversation? Listen to the full episode here: https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/red-flags-green-flags-amp-the-contract-nobody-reads-so-you-want-to-be-a-travel-advisor-part-2

Find the shownotes for this minisode at https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/independence-meets-real-support-what-makes-an-agency-worth-staying-with

You already know what a Travel Advisor's day looks like. Now comes the harder decision: which agency do you trust to build your business with, and how do you spot one that's going to cost you?

This episode picks up where our "So You Want to Be a Travel Advisor" conversation left off. Amy Blades is joined by two more Goofy Getaways Travel Advisors. Jessica Hobart-Collis has been with the agency since October 2023 and is a big reason we now plan so much international travel. Lauren Levesque joined in spring 2024 and plans for families with little ones and sensory needs. None of it is rehearsed, including the part where Lauren admits she called Amy more than once ready to quit.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Who is not a good fit for this job, starting with anyone who thinks it comes with discounted travel
• What a good agency should explain about onboarding, training, and support before you ever sign
• Why an agency that won't let you talk to its other advisors is a red flag (Amy learned that one at her very first agency)
• How fees, commissions, and lost-commission claims should be handled, and why you need to read the contract
• What happens to your bookings and your client relationships if you ever leave an agency
• Why Amy refuses to run Goofy Getaways on a recruitment or downline model
• The two-week, self-drive Ireland trip Jess is proudest of, castle hotels included

This one is for anyone seriously weighing a career as a Travel Advisor, whether you end up with us or somewhere else. Amy says it on the recording: there are incredible agencies out there, and the goal is to help you ask the right questions. If you're a client who's curious about the team behind your trip, you'll also get a candid look at how we support our advisors.

Thinking about becoming a Travel Advisor? Learn more about joining Goofy Getaways at https://www.goofygetaways.com/join-our-team. Looking for someone to plan your next trip? Meet our advisors at https://goofygetaways.com/meet-your-advisors.

Subscribe wherever you listen so you don't miss an episode, and find the full shownotes at https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/red-flags-green-flags-amp-the-contract-nobody-reads-so-you-want-to-be-a-travel-advisor-part-2

Every job has a best part and a hardest part. For a Travel Advisor, both of them might surprise you.

This is Minisode 3 of 3, pulled from Episode 2.8 of the Goofy Getaways Podcast, "So You Want to Be a Travel Advisor." Amy Blades wraps the conversation with Amanda Worsley, Noddea Skidmore, and Aaron Guest with the most candid part of the episode: what actually makes the job worth it, what actually makes it hard, and how each of them really built their business.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The genuinely rewarding moments that keep advisors doing this job, from milestone trips to clients who come back years later
• The realistic hard parts: high-volume communication, tight deadlines, and getting blamed for problems that aren't the advisor's fault
• The single biggest misconception about becoming a Travel Advisor, straight from someone who hears it constantly
• What advisors actually earn in year one, and why you don't get paid until your client travels
• How Amanda, Noddea, and Aaron each built their own client base from nothing, through referral programs, local community investment, and a strong personal brand

Curious what it looks like to build a travel business with Goofy Getaways? Visit https://www.goofygetaways.com/join-our-team to learn more about our team and training. Looking for an advisor of your own instead? Head to https://goofygetaways.com/meet-your-advisors and we'll connect you with the right person.

Subscribe to the Goofy Getaways Podcast for expert travel planning tips, destination insights, and real conversations about what it takes to build a career in this industry.

You can find the full show notes for this episode here: https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/what-nobody-tells-you-about-becoming-a-travel-advisor-goofy-getaways-podcast-episode-2-11

Think hitting "confirm" on a trip is the finish line? Ask any Travel Advisor, and they'll tell you that's actually where the real work starts.

This is Minisode 2 of 3, pulled from Episode 2.8 of the Goofy Getaways Podcast, "So You Want to Be a Travel Advisor." Amy Blades continues the conversation with Amanda Worsley, Noddea Skidmore, and Aaron Guest — this time on everything that happens after a client books.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why "the booking is just the beginning," and what advisors are still doing behind the scenes for months (or years) after
• The kind of work clients never see: destination and supplier training, staying current on ever-changing policies, and learning entirely new booking systems
• Why a good advisor should have real travel experience of their own, and how advisors lean on each other's firsthand trips to fill in the gaps
• Why the most trustworthy advice includes the honest parts of a destination, not just the highlight reel

Curious what it looks like to build a travel business with Goofy Getaways? Visit https://www.goofygetaways.com/join-our-team to learn more about our team and training. Looking for an advisor of your own instead? Head to https://goofygetaways.com/meet-your-advisors and we'll connect you with the right person.

Subscribe to the Goofy Getaways Podcast for expert travel planning tips, destination insights, and real conversations about what it takes to build a career in this industry.

You can find the full show notes for this episode here: https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/the-booking-is-just-the-beginning-goofy-getaways-podcast-episode-2-10

What does a "typical day" even look like for someone who plans vacations for a living? Spoiler: there isn't one.

This is Minisode 1 of 3, pulled from Episode 2.8 of the Goofy Getaways Podcast, "So You Want to Be a Travel Advisor." Amy Blades sits down with three of our own Travel Advisors — Amanda Worsley, Noddea Skidmore, and Aaron Guest — and asks them to walk through what an actual workday looks like, start to finish.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why three advisors with the same job can have three completely different daily schedules — from a 5:30 a.m. promotion check to client calls that don't start until 10 p.m.
• What the "planning and preparation" phase of a trip really involves, beyond picking a resort
• Why the initial consultation call is the part advisors take the most seriously, and why some insist on it
• The moment each advisor realized loving Disney and running a Disney-focused business are two very different things

Curious what it looks like to build a travel business with Goofy Getaways? Visit https://www.goofygetaways.com/join-our-team to learn more about our team and training. Looking for an advisor of your own instead? Head to https://goofygetaways.com/meet-your-advisors and we'll connect you with the right person.

Subscribe to the Goofy Getaways Podcast for expert travel planning tips, destination insights, and real conversations about what it takes to build a career in this industry.

You can find the full show notes for this episode here: https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/what-a-travel-advisors-day-actually-looks-like-goofy-getaways-podcast-episode-2-9

What does it actually take to become a travel advisor — and is the job anything like what it looks like from the outside?

In Episode 2.8 of the Goofy Getaways Podcast, we're answering one of the questions we hear more than almost any other: "How do I become a travel advisor?" And more specifically — is it as fun, and as easy, as it looks?

Join Amy Blades alongside three of our own Travel Advisors — Amanda Worsley, Noddea Skidmore, and Aaron Guest — for a candid, unscripted conversation about what this job really involves once the excitement of "I get to plan Disney trips for a living" wears off. Between the three of them, they've built businesses ranging from eleven years in to just two, and their day-to-day looks nothing alike. But they agree on one thing without hesitation: loving Disney is not the same as running a travel business.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What a Travel Advisor's day-to-day really looks like, from the first consultation call to long after a client gets home
• Why "the booking is just the beginning" — and what advisors are still doing behind the scenes after a trip is confirmed
• The work clients never see: destination training, supplier relationships, policy changes, and the fine print someone has to read
• The single biggest misconception about becoming a Travel Advisor, straight from three people who hear it constantly
• Why advisors aren't paid until their clients travel, and what that really means for your first year in the business
• How Amanda, Noddea, and Aaron each built their own client base from nothing — through referral programs, local community investment, and a strong personal brand
• Why friends and family not booking with you can be one of the hardest lessons in this job
• The honest questions to ask yourself before deciding if this is the right move for you right now

This episode is for anyone who's ever thought, "I already plan every trip for my friends and family — maybe I should get paid for it." But it's also for our clients: if you've ever wondered what really goes on behind the quote you receive, this conversation walks through the whole process, start to finish.

Curious what it looks like to build a travel business with Goofy Getaways? Visit https://www.goofygetaways.com/join-our-team to learn more about our team, our training, and what becoming an advisor with us really looks like. Not ready to make that jump yourself, but ready to start planning your own next trip? Head to https://goofygetaways.com/meet-your-advisors and we'll connect you with the right advisor for you.

Subscribe to the Goofy Getaways Podcast for expert travel planning tips, destination insights, and real conversations — including what it takes to build a career, not just a vacation, around this industry.

You can find the full show notes for this episode here: https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/so-you-want-to-be-a-travel-advisor-goofy-getaways-podcast-episode-2-8

Are vacation deals really about getting the lowest possible price—and does waiting for a promotion actually save you money?

In this mini-episode of the Goofy Getaways Podcast, Amy Blades and the Goofy Getaways team take a closer look at how vacation pricing and promotions actually work, and why the idea of simply "waiting for a deal" isn't always the best strategy.

Promotions exist for a reason. Destinations and travel suppliers use them to help fill unsold rooms and cabins, encourage travel during slower periods, and drive bookings when demand isn't as high. But that doesn't mean every room, cabin, or travel date will eventually receive a discount.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why vacation promotions exist in the first place
• How supply, demand, and inventory can impact pricing
• Why the room or cabin you want may not be available when a promotion is released
• How booking early can give you more options and flexibility
• Why pricing can increase as demand and inventory change
• How to think about promotions without assuming a discount is guaranteed
• The difference between finding the lowest price and getting the best value for the vacation you actually want

The goal isn't to scare you into booking early or tell you that waiting is always a bad idea. In some situations, waiting can absolutely work. The key is understanding what you're potentially giving up while you wait—and knowing how pricing, promotions, and availability work together.

Whether you're planning a Disney vacation, cruise, family getaway, or another dream trip, this conversation will help you look at vacation pricing from a more informed perspective.

Subscribe to the Goofy Getaways Podcast for expert vacation planning advice, travel tips, and destination insights designed to help you travel with confidence.

You can find the full show notes for this episode here: https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/the-truth-about-pricing-promotions-and-price-increases-goofy-getaways-podcast-2-7

Want help understanding when to book your specific destination? Our Travel Advisors stay on top of pricing trends, promotions, and availability so you don't have to. Visit goofygetaways.com/bookyourtrip or use the link in the description to get started.

When should you book your vacation—and is waiting for a last-minute deal actually the best way to save money?

In this mini-episode of the Goofy Getaways Podcast, Amy Blades and the Goofy Getaways team break down the pros and cons of booking early versus waiting until the last minute.

While waiting for a deal can sometimes pay off, last-minute booking also comes with tradeoffs that travelers don't always consider. From resort and room availability to cruise cabins, dining reservations, flight options, and overall flexibility, waiting can mean giving up access to the vacation you actually wanted.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The biggest advantages of booking your vacation early
• Why more availability can mean better value—not just more choices
• How booking early can make budgeting and payments easier
• When last-minute deals can make sense
• Why discounts are never guaranteed
• The "discount trap" and how waiting for a deal can sometimes cost you more
• What happens when popular Disney resorts and cruise cabins start to fill up
• The most important question to ask before deciding whether to wait

One of the biggest takeaways? A discount doesn't always mean the lowest price. Sometimes, waiting for a promotion means the room, cabin, or itinerary that was actually the best value is no longer available.

Whether you're planning a Disney vacation, cruise, family getaway, or another dream trip, this conversation will help you think beyond simply asking, "Will there be a deal?" and instead consider what you're willing to give up while waiting.

Subscribe to the Goofy Getaways Podcast for expert vacation planning advice, travel tips, and destination insights designed to help you travel with confidence.

You can find the full show notes for this episode here: https://goofygetaways.com/podcast/early-booking-vs-last-minute-booking-goofy-getaways-podcast-2-6

Ready to figure out when you should book? Our Travel Advisors can help you compare your options and build a strategy that fits your vacation goals. Visit goofygetaways.com/bookyourtrip or use the link in the description to get started.