oh hello, my jet-setting friend!
Planning a trip can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already juggling a demanding career and a busy personal life. The hours of research, endless options, and fear of missing out on the perfect experience can quickly turn excitement into stress. Trust me, I get it—I’ve been in your shoes before, too.
So, let’s rewind a bit and travel back in time to when my journey first began...
"Travel agents still exist?"
— me, circa 2017
I cringe every time someone asks me that now, but truthfully, that was exactly what I was thinking when I met our soon-to-be travel agent at a bridal expo. And if you’re reading this, you might be just as surprised as I was back then.
My fiancé and I knew we didn’t want the typical sun-and-fun honeymoon. We were dreaming of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Once we set our sights on New Zealand, I couldn’t wait to dive into planning. I’ve always loved the thrill of the hunt… finding hidden gems, scoring the best deals, and piecing together the perfect itinerary. So why would planning our honeymoon be any different?
Then reality hit. Between working full-time and juggling wedding planning, I quickly realized that mapping out a 12-day, adventure-packed international trip was way beyond my Googling skills. At that point, I hadn’t even left North America — so yeah, you could say planning a trip to an island on the opposite end of the world was a little outside my comfort zone. Which led me to do something I never imagined I would… I hired a travel agent. [cue audible gasp for extra dramatic effect]
I immediately felt the weight lift off my shoulders. Finally, I had someone in my corner to handle all the behind-the-scenes logistics while I focused on the parts of travel planning that are actually fun. We spent weeks fine-tuning every detail of our itinerary. I was picky, opinionated, and borderline obsessive about getting it just right (in true Type-A fashion). But instead of being annoyed, my travel agent looked at me one day and said, “You’d be amazing at this if you ever wanted to try it.”
That one sentence stuck with me.
Our honeymoon sparked a fire I couldn’t ignore. I came home with a full heart, a fierce case of wanderlust, and the realization that my career in logistics was no longer fulfilling. I started dreaming of a life where I could help others experience the same kind of unforgettable escape our travel agent had created for us.
So, just a few months later in January 2019, I took the leap and launched Escapes by Kait. What started as a passion for planning my own escape plans quickly turned into the best decision I’ve ever made. Several years (and one worldwide pandemic) later, I’m still out here doin’ the damn thing—proving that travel agents DO still exist... and even the savviest travelers benefit from choosing the right one to help design their next getaway.
These days, you can often find me wandering off to new destinations so you don’t have to wonder where to go, what to do, or how you ever traveled without me in your corner. Curious why my clients swear they’ll never plan a trip without me again? There’s only one way to find out. It’s time to break up with Expedia, Costco, and all those “other guys”… they’ll never care about your vacay like I do, bestie.
