Tales of a Travel Agent

We’ve officially made it to ONE YEAR of Tales of a Travel Agent 🎉 – and what better way to celebrate than… accidentally turning this episode into a ski training course (sort of). This week, Jake and Becky mark their 52nd episode by reflecting on how the podcast has somehow outlasted most others (despite the chaos), before diving into the weird and wonderful world of ski jargon – the stuff custome...

This week’s episode kicks off in absolute chaos (standard) with ASMR confusion, Easter chat, and a controversial take on why Easter egg chocolate just hits different 🍫 But amongst the madness, there’s actually a very real and important conversation happening… ✈️ In this episode: The truth about leaving a travel agency – why it’s not as simple as people think Breaking down host agencies vs franchi...

This week, we kick things off in completely normal fashion… by debating whether “ahoy” should replace hello (it absolutely should). Becky’s gearing up for her boxing match (and mentally preparing for at least one black eye), while Jake shares his brutally honest take on what’s  actually  happening in the travel industry right now… and why some of the headlines you’re seeing are, frankly,...

This week on Tales of a Travel Agent , Becky returns from an 11 day river cruise adventure with plenty to report. From unexpected luxury on board to the realities of “market research” eating, the pair dive into the highs, the hilarity and the questionable calories of life on the water. But it would not be this podcast without the conversation taking a sharp turn into the bizarre. Becky brings an u...

In this episode of Tales of a Travel Agent , Jake and Becky dive straight into the biggest topic shaking the industry right now: the disruption in the UAE and the ripple effects it’s had across bookings, customers and travel agents everywhere. From crisis managing stranded clients to the real risks of dynamic packaging, it’s an honest look at what happens when things go wrong in travel. Along the...

This week on Tales of a Travel Agent , we prove once again that we’re absolutely elite at travel… and absolutely useless at everything else. From polyphonic ringtones and Woolworths pick ‘n’ mix nostalgia to £70 cinema trips and the death of February sales, we’re asking the big questions… is January actually 5,000 days long? And why did February just quietly pack up and leave? We dive into the ind...

After a rogue technical glitch (Jake’s fault, obviously), we’re back — and this one is chaos in the best way. This week on Tales of a Travel Agent 🎙️: ❄️ Ski school wins, heli-ski delusions & why white ski suits are a terrible idea 🛫 Absolute airport carnage at Bristol and Verona (including being LAST called onto the plane 😳) 🚨 Border control shambles and why you should always go through ea...

🎙️ This week on Tales of a Travel Agent … From dating disasters and stalker stories to birthday surprises and skiing dreams, Jake and Becky are back with chaos, confessions, and zero filter 😅 They dive into the real truth about price parity, why travel agents are sick of working for pennies, and how the industry needs to change the way it sells travel 💸✈️ Expect brutal honesty, industry tea, and...

In this episode, Jake and Becky dive into chaos, confessions, and a surprisingly musical moment from one very talented listener. From podcast jingles that nearly end friendships, to dating app dilemmas, boxing nerves, and prize draw drama at travel events, this episode is packed with unfiltered opinions and classic Tales of a Travel Agent energy. Expect discussions about: ✈️ Listener-created podca...

January might be over, but not before Becky and Jake get  everything  off their chests. From why January feels approximately 5,000 days long, to reality TV near-misses, surprise trips to Madrid, and the unnecessary early return of Mini Eggs — nothing is safe. This episode covers a  lot : Becky’s very random (and very boujee) last-minute trip to Madrid Jake’s questionable logic when...

🎙️ This week on Tales of a Travel Agent… Jake and Becky are deep in Peaks chaos and feeling everything that comes with it — the bookings, the burnout, the pressure, the incentives, and the stats obsession that comes with January in travel. From debating whether Peaks really matters anymore, to agents discounting holidays just to hit targets, the pair unpack the real impact of Peaks on homeworkers,...

t’s just Jake and Becky this week, no guests, no plan… and absolutely no filter. From January burnout, insane workloads and sleep deprivation, to the things travel agents  actually  sacrifice behind the scenes, this episode is a brutally honest look at life in the industry when peak season hits hard. Becky reflects on the opportunities she’s missed from years of being constantly on the m...

In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Tales of a Travel Agent , Becky finally tells her story. From being bullied at school, to becoming a senior librarian nerd, to living and working in eight different countries , Becky opens up about a decade spent as a professional nanny for high-profile families, travelling the world, living a life most people never see… and constantly being asked “w...

We’re kicking off the new year by heading to the coldest, wildest corners of the planet as we’re joined by Akvile , co-founder of the Expedition Cruise Network , to talk all things expedition cruising . From her unexpected start in the travel industry to spending a decade at Silversea, Akvile shares how expedition cruising went from a niche product to one of the fastest-growing sectors in travel —...

From Antarctica to Mexico, Becky and Jake catch up on two very different trips — one involving icebergs, penguins, polar plunges and a life-changing expedition, the other featuring sunshine, butlers and all-inclusive luxury. Becky shares why Antarctica completely blew her mind (and mildly traumatised her), while Jake explains how Mexico has officially ruined normal holidays for him. Along the way,...

It’s the most wonderful (and chaotic) time of the year, because Becky’s birthday and Christmas collide into one glorious celebration. In this very special episode, Jake turns the mic firmly onto Becky as they celebrate all things Bex – whether she likes it or not. Expect birthday messages, questionable gifts (including a Grow Your Own Boyfriend ), a quiz designed to humble even the most confident...

n this episode, Becky and Jake catch up on December life, the quiet weeks before peaks, and plans for their upcoming consumer travel show. They read a new listener email that sparks the idea of a “Becky vs Jake” itinerary challenge — and put out a call for any suppliers brave enough to host it. Becky talks through her recent trip to Egypt, including visiting the pyramids, exploring Cairo, and what...

This week, we’re joined by Bruce from Travel Gossip. We dive into how a tiny Facebook group became one of the most chaotic, powerful and downright addictive corners of the travel industry. From fam trip scandals to keyboard warriors, from award nights to who’s on the amber list … we get into it all. We play This or That , talk about what really happens behind the scenes of the trade, and Bruce fac...

It’s the 1st of December, and Becky and Jake are getting festive—well, sort of. From the realities of being a travel agent during the quiet pre-Christmas lull to budgeting tips (and confessions of blowing it all), this episode dives into the highs and lows of the holiday season. Jake reveals why big ship cruising just isn’t for him, Becky shares a wild story from her days cliff jumping with strang...

This week, Becky and Jake are back with another hilarious mix of travel tales, rants, and revelations! Becky kicks things off with her latest book obsession before the pair dive into flight frustrations — from kids without headphones to people yanking on the seat in front. Jake shares a side-splitting story about accidentally smuggling a tin of beans through airport security, and Becky reveals how...

Becky and Jake are back with another laugh-out-loud episode of The Becky Show , diving headfirst into the realities of expat life and what it’s really like living abroad. From dodgy drama teachers to expat horror stories, the duo share personal tales, play an airport code guessing game, and swap mind-bending travel trivia. Expect chaos, candid confessions, and some truly wild stories—from hostel l...

In this week’s episode of Tales of a Travel Agent , Jake and Becky are joined by the incredible Claire Brighton , Head of the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (ATAS) . Known as the “Queen of Adventure Travel,” Claire shares her fascinating journey from failing her A-levels to leading one of travel’s most exciting sectors. The trio dive into everything from the growth of touring and a...

This one lives up to the name. Jake and Becky kick off with a hotel horror that turns from sleepless night to full-blown x-rated chaos before diving into travel agent life — from refund nightmares and quoting tools to the hidden costs of subscriptions. Expect rants, revelations, and way too many jokes about nuts. Oh, and a wild uni trip story that proves Becky’s lived about nine lives. It’s explic...

In this hilariously chaotic episode, Becky and Jake kick off with some unexpected compliments, supplier shoutouts, and a chat about why Jetset deserves more love. The duo debate airport-themed travel shops (bad idea), the future of group travel, and why travel agents should be thinking like influencers. Jake shares his upcoming BBC radio appearance to talk work uniforms, while Becky recounts a ter...

In this laugh-out-loud episode, Jake and Becky dive into everything from The Devil Wears Prada 2 to near-death “fun,” ethical safaris, and why conservation isn’t always what it seems. Becky shares her latest book obsession, her run-in with Tanzanian police (and a suspicious roll of cash), and a terrifying standoff with a London fox. Meanwhile, Jake admits to a newfound fear of flying and rants abo...