Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Bates.
Hi Kristen, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My best friend and I planned an annual friends vacation. It grew out of control one year, with many people and personalities. It took all the fun out of vacationing with our friends. We were sitting on a beach swing in Caye Caulker, Belize, and I told my friend, “I’m never doing this again.” She replied, “What if we made it a business?” One year later, we returned to the same island to host our first Legit Trip as a real business!
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road, but we’ve enjoyed it nonetheless. It helps to work alongside your best friend. We have miscalculated taxes and lost money on trips. We’ve had utility strikes blocking the way to our destination. We ran an international travel business through the covid pandemic. There have certainly been days when one of us has wanted to give up, but having a business partner helps a lot when one person needs a few days off to bounce back. I could never imagine going down this road alone.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Legit Trips curates epic journeys of culture, community, and connection. Our hand-crafted small-group trips help travelers discover the world together. The joy of travel is magnified when shared, and we are proud to host highly personalized group travel. We help you go like a traveler, not a tourist. No coach busses or name tags here! Some group travel companies specialize in solo travel, women-only travel, etc. We’re proud to welcome solo travelers, couples, friend groups, and all genders on our tours. We like the mix that naturally happens when different types of people travel together.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Optimism. We always believe that something great is about to happen. We always hope for the best. Our travelers also feel this way and are patient, curious, optimistic guests. The second is expertise. We’ve been doing this for nearly a decade now, and we can offer a guaranteed good time with the depth of our knowledge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://legittrips.com/
- Instagram: @Legit_Trips
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legittrips
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LegitTrips
