Get up at 5:45 am. Get in the shower. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. Beautify myself for the 8:00 am – 4:15 pm workday. Drive a half hour to work. Pour a cup of coffee. Travel to work. Sit at my cubicle for 8 hours. Maybe take a nap… you get the picture. Something had to give. I was made for more than this and then my pink slip came. I had been laid off. At first I was devastated and then I came to grips with it. Truly, it was the best thing that could happen to me.
What am I Going to do About it?
I would be forced to look at my life goals and make some changes. I knew I didn’t want to sit at a desk from Monday to Friday for 8 hours a day. What did I want to do? What could I do that was different? How could I utilize the skills I had? I love to cook but also didn’t want to stand on my feet all day. I love being outside and I love to travel. That’s it! A career in the tourism industry! What a perfect fit.
Getting Started in Travel and Tourism
How do I get started? How do I establish a presence in the travel industry and make connections? After searching the internet for travel and tourism opportunities, I came across a diploma program at SAIT in Calgary for Travel & Tourism. I couldn’t believe it. I did not know that such a thing existed. My husband, (Darryl) and I went to an information night and I decided to enrol. It was either take a 2 year program or spend another 20 years doing something I no longer wanted to do. 2 years or 20 years… It was an easy choice.
A Bright Future for Travel
We packed up and moved our family to a town south of Calgary called Okotoks. Almost 2 years later and it has been quite the journey. Furthermore, I’ve made some great friends at school and have gained some valuable insights into the travel industry. Now, here I am, ready to embark on my travel writing career. Life as I knew it is gone, and for that, I am grateful. It was time to move on. It is going to be a life changing year to come. I cannot wait to taste new foods, see new sights and meet new people. I cannot wait to report on the exciting vacation real estate trends and markets we see. Finally, I cannot wait for the end of April 2018 because that is when the real journey begins.
All pictures in this post are taken by Charlotte, yours truly, as always, unless otherwise stated.
Pick up my Published Travel Memoir for Inspiration
Roam Free is a deeply personal and often hilarious travel memoir that pulls you in to the wild and woolly ride of my epic travel adventures. If you loved Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence, you’ll delight in Roam Free’s sweetly innocent deep dive into a life of untethered long-term travel. Get your copy on Amazon and become inspired today.
“I just finished your book and I wrote a great review on Amazon. Congratulations on your book, your blogging career, and mostly on your courage to step out of the box then burn the damn box!! Your book is inspiring. Bravo.” – Irene Cabay
Book Your Flight and Car Rental
Find cheap transportation by using Kiwi.com. This search engine combs websites and airlines around the globe to become the ultimate travel hack.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book hotels, apartments, resorts, villas, B&Bs and guest houses at Booking.com! They consistently return the most economical rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Like surprises? Try Hotwire.com and Save up to 60% off 4+ Star Hot Rate Hotels!
Always been curious about Airbnb but afraid to try? Now you can check them out and earn up to $62 CAD off your first trip!
Check out our world recommendations page on Where to Stay!
Book Your Small-Group Tour, Activities and Attractions
For the best small-group tours check out G Adventures’ Insanely affordable tours!
Viator is another great option so don’t miss out! Guaranteed lowest prices on tours and activities.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. We like World Nomads because they have great rates and cover a range of adventurous activities.
P.S. – If you’ve found our website helpful, please consider booking your next trip through the links on our Resources Page. We have personally used the companies listed there in our own travels. By booking through these links, the small commission we earn helps us keep the content up to date, expand our resources, and keep the website community supported.
