A weekend getaway to Mexico's Guadalupe Wine Valley became the moment I realized I needed to make travel my life's work.
Ten years ago, I was working a frontline customer service job, counting down the days until my next paid time off. My husband and I decided to book a short Princess Cruise out of Los Angeles, just a four or five day escape to reset. I had no idea that this simple long weekend getaway would completely reshape my future.
We sailed to Ensenada and San Diego, a quick itinerary that promised relaxation and a chance to decompress. I had already done somewhere between ten to fifteen Princess Cruises at that point, so I knew the product well. But this cruise felt different. Something shifted.
The Guadalupe Valley Revelation
When we docked in Ensenada, we ventured out to the Guadalupe Wine Valley. We were tasting wine, eating delicious food, and simply being present. There was no one to report to. Just freedom.
I had this moment of clarity. I knew I didn't want to spend my life working that frontline job anymore. I wanted more of this. More travel, more experiences, more cruises. I wanted to see more and do more. The question became: how do I make this my life instead of just my occasional escape?
From Passenger to Advisor
That's when I realized that becoming a travel advisor was the path forward. It started part time at first, a way to combine my genuine passion for travel with the firsthand experience I had accumulated over all those Princess voyages. I understood the nuances of cruising because I had lived them. I knew which ships felt right for which travelers, how the onboard experience differed across cruise lines, what made certain itineraries truly special versus merely adequate.
What I learned from that weekend cruise, and really from all those years of sailing before I ever became an advisor, is that travel is about so much more than the destination. It's about how you feel when you're there. That sense of freedom I experienced in the Guadalupe Valley, the joy of a perfect meal paired with excellent wine, the simple pleasure of having nothing to do but enjoy the moment. That's what I want to create for my clients.
Who This Kind of Travel Is For
This experience is perfect for travelers who want to truly decompress. Couples looking for a romantic getaway that combines the ease of cruising with incredible shore excursions. Wine lovers who want to explore regions like the Guadalupe Valley without worrying about logistics. Anyone who understands that the best trips are the ones where you can completely let go.
I've spent nearly ten years as a travel advisor. When I plan a cruise now, I'm drawing on all those years of personal experience, from that life-changing weekend in Ensenada to every voyage since. I truly felt something shift on that trip, and I've dedicated my career to helping others find that same sense of freedom and joy.
