Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Smith.
Hi Susie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always been someone who enjoys traveling. When I began my career as an educator, I quickly discovered that travel was more than just a vacation for me, it became a way to relax, release stress, reset, and return to everyday life refreshed and ready to take on whatever came next.
My perspective on travel really shifted when I had the opportunity to help a group of my students travel internationally to France, Switzerland, and Italy as part of an educational travel experience. Watching my students experience different cultures, explore new places, and step outside of what was familiar to them was incredibly rewarding. It also opened my eyes to how much planning, preparation, and support people need to feel confident when traveling, particularly when it is their first international trip.
That experience planted the seed for what would eventually become Exploring with Estell. I wanted to create a travel business that not only helped people get to amazing destinations, but also helped them feel informed, prepared, and confident throughout the process. I believe travel should be exciting and memorable, not overwhelming because you don’t know what to expect.
Today, Exploring with Estell helps travelers from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life plan meaningful experiences around the world. Group travel, particularly to Caribbean destinations, has become one of my specialties, but I work with travelers across a wide range of destinations and travel styles.
One thing that continues to set Exploring with Estell apart is that I am not simply selling destinations, I continue to travel myself. Many of the places my clients choose are destinations I have personally experienced, which allows me to bring real-world insight to the planning process. I can share what I have learned as a traveler and use those experiences to help my clients make informed decisions and have a smoother, more enjoyable trip.
For me, Exploring with Estell is really about more than booking a vacation. It is about helping people discover the world, create memories, experience cultures beyond their own, and realize that there is so much more out there to explore.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. There have been ups and downs, unexpected challenges, and plenty of lessons along the way. But I’ve learned to view each experience as an opportunity to learn, grow, and become better at what I do.
Exploring with Estell launched in 2019, and one of my first major partnerships was with The CURE (The Couples Ultimate Refresh Experience). I partnered with Beyond the Happy and Purposely Inspired Creations to create an experience designed to help committed couples refresh and strengthen their relationships through group counseling sessions, an international travel experience, and curated VIP experiences both before and during the trip.
Our first experience was planned for July 2020 in Riviera Maya, Mexico. We had couples who had committed to the experience months before COVID-19 was even on our radar. Then, as we were deep into the planning process, the world changed.
COVID presented challenges that none of us could have anticipated. It forced me to learn very quickly about changing travel policies, vendor relationships, cancellations, rebooking, communication, and—most importantly—the true meaning of customer service. I had to learn how to navigate circumstances that were completely outside of my control while still making sure my clients felt supported and taken care of.
Some of our clients ultimately decided that they were not comfortable taking the risk, and we worked with our vendors to find the best solutions available for them. Fortunately, Cancun and the surrounding region began reopening around the time of our planned travel, and the couples who chose to attend were able to have an incredible experience.
Looking back, that experience taught me one of the most important lessons in this business: a travel advisor’s value isn’t just in finding a destination or booking a reservation. It is in being there when things don’t go according to plan. Travel will always come with variables, but having someone who can help you navigate those challenges can make all the difference.
That experience strengthened my commitment to providing clients with not only great travel experiences, but also preparation, communication, and support throughout the entire journey. It also taught me that some of the greatest growth in business comes from the moments you never planned for.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Exploring with Estell is a travel agency that helps people turn their ideas about travel into experiences they can actually enjoy and remember. I work with travelers of different ages, backgrounds, and travel styles, helping them plan everything from individual vacations and couples’ getaways to group trips and international adventures.
Group travel and Caribbean destinations have become areas I especially enjoy working in. I love helping groups take an idea, whether it’s a birthday celebration, girls’ trip, couples’ getaway, or simply a group of people who want to experience something together, and turn it into a well-planned travel experience. I also enjoy helping people who may be traveling internationally for the first time because there can be so many questions and things to consider when traveling outside of the country.
What sets Exploring with Estell apart is that I don’t believe in simply booking a trip and sending someone on their way. I want my clients to understand what they are booking, know what to expect, and feel prepared before they leave home. I pay attention to the details that can make a trip easier and more enjoyable, and I’m there to help my clients navigate the unexpected when things don’t go exactly as planned.
I’m also proud that I continue to travel myself. I don’t want my knowledge of a destination to only come from a brochure or a website. When I have personally experienced a destination, resort, excursion, or travel experience, I can bring that perspective to my clients. I can say, “This is what I experienced,” and help them make decisions based on more than just a pretty picture online.
One of the things I’m most proud of about the Exploring with Estell brand is that it has grown into something that reflects my own belief that travel is for everyone. You don’t have to be an experienced traveler, and you don’t have to have traveled all over the world to start exploring. My goal is to make travel feel more approachable, while giving my clients the information, preparation, and support they need to enjoy the journey.
Ultimately, I want people to know that when they work with Exploring with Estell, they are getting more than someone who books their hotel or flight. They are getting a travel advisor who genuinely wants them to have a great experience and who believes there is a whole world out there waiting to be explored.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are several ways people can work with and support Exploring with Estell. For clients, it’s really easy to get started. They can reach out to me through my website, social media, email, or phone, whether they are ready to plan a personal vacation, a couples’ getaway, a group trip, or an international travel experience. From there, I work with them to understand what they are looking for and help bring the trip together.
I’m also open to collaborations and partnerships. I would love to work with businesses, organizations, churches, educators, community groups, and other entrepreneurs to create travel experiences or travel-related offerings for their clients, employees, members, or communities. I believe there are so many opportunities to use travel as a way to bring people together, celebrate milestones, build relationships, and create experiences outside of our everyday environments.
And honestly, one of the simplest ways people can support Exploring with Estell is by sharing the brand with someone they know. If you have enjoyed working with me, have traveled with me, or simply believe in what I’m building, telling someone else about Exploring with Estell means a lot. Referrals have been a big part of how my business has grown, and I’m excited to continue expanding that reach.
At the heart of it, I’m always open to opportunities that allow Exploring with Estell to connect people to new destinations, new experiences, and new possibilities. Whether someone is booking a trip, partnering with me, referring a friend, or simply following and engaging with the brand, there is a place for everyone to be part of the journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.exploringwithestell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estellexplores
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExploringWithEstell
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@exploringWestell
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@explorewestell
