Working in Travel
Messy Beginnings
My career path has been anything but conventional. In my early twenties, I strived to build a respectable resume, but I often found myself at odds with various aspects of my jobs—be it the working environment, colleagues, or the role itself. It was undoubtedly a personal struggle, a "me" problem, and I never quite felt like I fit in. As a result, I changed jobs frequently, slowly trying to figure out what felt right for me. Before I knew it, I was pushing 30, and my life was far from the carefully curated portfolio I had envisioned for myself. In fact, I was still grappling with what I truly wanted. However, looking back on my professional journey, I realise it's not as disjointed as it might seem at first glance.
Broadly speaking, my career has revolved around one industry: food. From working as front-of-house staff and in cafes to being a chef in bustling kitchens, and even moving up the supply chain to work on farms and deal with raw ingredients—food has been the common thread. Each role, in its own way, prepared me for the next, albeit not in the linear fashion that society often expects.
So when I saw my most recent role coming to the end of its lifecycle for me, I found myself at yet another crossroads. I wasn't sure if I had wanted to remain in the food industry, or pivot into a different field.
Planning for the Great Yucatan Adventure
In June of 2024, my husband and I, along with two other friends, visited Los Angeles to attend his friend's wedding. In planning for that trip, we thought to take this opportunity to visit Central America since it was so closeby. I did some research and decided on a route that started from Merida in Mexico that headed east towards Chichen Itza, Tulum and finally ending in Cancun.
There were a few reasons for choosing this route:
We loved food, and Merida was known as the gastronomic capital of the Yucatan Peninsula
We wanted to see the pyramids
We wanted to do a freediving course
While I had a clear vision of our activities from extensive desktop research, the logistical challenges of navigating an unfamiliar region remained. My go-to strategy for trip planning involves seeking out local tour operators specialising in the area, and a Google Maps search for "tour" in the Yucatan led me to a gem among the sea of options: Lawson's Original Yucatan Adventures.
Despite having fewer reviews than some competitors, Lawson's stood out for the personal and unique nature of their feedback. Their website was a breath of fresh air—clean, intuitive, and brimming with character. The passionate copywriting convinced me to reach out, a decision that would prove invaluable to our Yucatan experience, and change my perspective on guided tours.
This approach to travel planning—focusing on experiences and local expertise rather than just destinations—is a topic I'll explore further in my upcoming series, "Travelling for X". For now, let's dive into our Mexican adventure, or more accurately, our exploration of the captivating Yucatan Peninsula.
How one small business guided my next course in life
I emailed to inquire about a cenote tour, hoping to customise it over two days. Ralf, the owner, promptly responded with all the details, including upfront quotes. There was something about his approach that instilled trust, so I took a leap of faith and paid a deposit.
The experience exceeded all expectations. On day one, our driver-guide, Daniel, arrived early at our hotel. We made several stops for local food before exploring three distinct cenotes at our own pace. They also had a cooler stocked with ice-cold water, beers, and even tequila!
The next day, Daniel whisked us off to Chichén Itzá. I've heard some call it "overrated," but I suspect they simply didn't have the right guide. Sure, you can wander the grounds alone, maybe googling facts as you go. But having someone like Daniel, who’s a great storyteller with a strong interest in history, brought the ancient Mayan world to life before our eyes. As someone with a selective interest in history, I was amazed to find that two hours under the scorching sun flew by.
After our Yucatan adventure, Ralf kept in touch, sharing details about an upcoming Amazon expedition in Brazil planned for 2025/26. As I reflected on our interactions, a realisation struck me: I wanted to follow in his footsteps. The prospect of working in travel, sharing experiences, and connecting with like-minded individuals suddenly became an aspiration.
This serendipitous encounter had set me on a new path, one where I'm working on now not just as a traveller but as a curator of experiences, much like he is. The travel industry, with its myriad of opportunities to share the world's wonders, suddenly seemed like the perfect arena to channel my energy. And that, kids, is how I got into the travel business.
