by Matt Wahlgren:Travel Advisor, Agency Owner, and Avid Traveler...  Matt sailing on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady for New Year's 2023 There's a lot to remember before heading out on your next adventure. That's why I always use a checklist to remind myself of all the things I need to pack before I embark on my next trip. Keep reading to discover the three must-have items you need while traveling! Click here for a handy packing list to make sure you are prepared for all of your traveling needs! After all the packing is done and just before I head to the airport, I double-check to make sure I have these three things on me. Without these items, I may not even make it to my destination, or at a minimum, my traveling experience will be considerably more difficult. If all I have are these three things, I'll be able to get by and can always purchase anything else I need. #1. Don't forget your passport If you're traveling internationally, you won't even make it on the plane without your passport. Even if you somehow manage to slip through all the check points and make it to your destination, they’ll put you on the next flight home as soon as you land. I've seen it happen a number of times. The traveler who forgets their passport has to go back home to get it, no exceptions. Their travel plans are delayed, plus they incur stiff fees from the airline to re-book their airfare. Bonus Tip: Make sure your passport doesn't expire until six months after the date you return home, or they might not let you go abroad. #2. Don't forget your money/credit card I was pickpocketed while traveling once. They took my wallet with all my money and credit cards. They were so talented that I didn't even realize it until the next day! The worst part? I was only halfway through my month-long journey. I begged my parents to send money via Western Union at each new city I went to so I didn't have to come home early. Thankfully, they agreed, but it was quite the process. The time difference between us was about 10 hours, which made communication while traveling extremely difficult. I wasn't sure how much money I needed for the rest of the trip and typos in my name made it difficult to collect the cash. All-in-all, lesson learned: do not forget your money or credit cards while traveling! #3. Don't forget your phone With the world’s shift from paper to digital almost complete, your most important travel information is now on your phone. Plus, your family and friends expect to hear from you frequently while you travel to make sure you're alive and well. We've grown so dependent on our smart phones, it's hard to travel without them. To top it off, many of us no longer use a physical camera; it's now just an app on our phone. Can you imagine traveling to all these beautiful sites and not being able to take pictures of any of your food? Lame! Before you leave for your next trip, double-check to make sure you didn't forget your three most important travel items: your passport, money and phone.  Hobbiton This year marks the 10th anniversary of Matt Travel, and often when I explain what I do, people are surprised to learn that Travel Advisors are far from extinct! Curious minds typically ask how I ventured into this exhilarating field. Well, it all began with my partner Jason, who was already dabbling in travel advising. He received an invitation to a travel seminar aboard the Carnival Imagination, and I decided to tag along. Not only was it my very first cruise, but it was also the catalyst for my career as a Travel Advisor. Don’t tell anyone, but initially I secretly used Jason’s credentials to book trips for clients—definitely not recommended! It wasn’t long before I officially entered the field, and the rest, as they say, is history. Four years into my newfound passion, I bid farewell to my traditional job and embraced guiding people through their travel adventures full-time.
The realization that working in travel was my calling happened quite swiftly. My first journey abroad was immediately after college during a period of intense self-questioning about my future. The typical 9-to-5 office job just didn't appeal to me. After exploring various paths with my father, I felt a strong pull towards the Peace Corps—it just clicked mentally. Soon after, I found myself living in Bulgaria for two years, where the travel bug firmly took hold. Returning home with a fierce determination to integrate travel into my career, I scoured the internet for travel-related jobs. Despite considering roles from flight attendant to travel blogger, none resonated with me. At one point, I even secured a job managing a boutique hotel in Rome, but the visa limitations made it impractical. Several years later, it was Jason’s connection to a travel agency that opened the door to the world of travel advising. Joining the agency felt as right as joining the Peace Corps had years before. Now, a decade later, I can’t envision myself in any other industry. Travel advising is not just what I do—it's a crucial part of who I am. Here at Matt Travel, we don't just plan trips; we create gateways to global discovery and lifelong memories. |
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(408) 718-4872
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Click here to schedule a free consultation about your next trip!
(408) 718-4872
[email protected]
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California Seller of Travel Registration # 2089491-50. Registration as a seller of travel in California does not constitute the state's approval. Agent is not a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. Florida Seller of Travel Registration # ST37113. Hawaii Seller of Travel License # TAR 7231. Washington Seller of Travel UBI # 602 775122.
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