Tales of a Travel Agent

A listener email sparks a big conversation about how to choose the right host agency — from spotting MLM-style traps to finding genuine support and community. Plus, the rivalry continues with an all-important poll: Who would you rather travel with — Becky or Jake? It’s a fun, unfiltered, and laugh-out-loud look at travel life, industry truths, and total nonsense in between. Hosted on Acast. See ac...

In this episode, Becky returns from the Expedition Cruise Network Conference with wild stories — including being dragged on stage for The Price is Right to win a £22k Antarctic cruise cabin! Jake and Becky dive into the collapse of Classic Collection and share what really happened while Jake was in Marbella with the team when the news broke. The pair also tackle the upcoming Entry/Exit System chao...

We're back with a jam-packed episode! Jake and Becky celebrate six months of the podcast with plenty of laughs, rants, and travel chaos. From Ryanair’s brutally savage tweets to low-cost airline disasters, baggage claim frustrations, and why people STILL can’t remember their seat numbers — we cover it all. Becky shares a wild story from Bangkok involving a ping pong show gone very, very wrong 😳,...

In this jam-packed episode, Jake and Becky dive into the world of ski holidays — from beginner-friendly slopes to luxury resorts, insider tips on selling ski packages, and why travel agents shouldn’t be afraid of the jargon. They also discuss the rise of niche travel markets, including a fascinating listener email from a U.S. agent helping plus-size travellers navigate cruises, theme parks, and th...

In this episode of Tales of a Travel Agent , Jake and Becky are back with a jam-packed catch-up full of cruise adventures, fam trip chaos, and hilarious industry stories. Becky shares tales from her luxurious Windstar yacht experience, complete with endless food, cliff jumping, and a passport mishap, while Jake reflects on his villa getaway and why he’s officially “done” with all-inclusive resorts...

This week, Becky and Jake are joined by their very first guest — Lorna Willis Edwards from TIPTO! 🎉 Get ready for a jam-packed episode as Lorna shares her 29-year journey in the travel industry, spills insider secrets about planning epic events, and reveals the wildest requests she’s ever had (yes, someone really only eats chips and bread!). From hotel horror stories and tips for networking to wh...

In this week’s episode of Tales of a Travel Agent , Jake and Becky dive into wild travel tales, bizarre customer requests, and incredible adventures around the world. Becky shares her authentic trekking experience with the Hmong people in Vietnam’s Sapa Mountains, spills the secrets behind Tanzania’s Maasai tribes, and gives her review of the jaw-dropping book The White Masai . Plus, the Fake News...

This week, we dive into everything from manifestation myths and goal setting to ridiculous client requests (yes, someone really complained about too much sea mist 🫠). Jake shares his full journey into the travel industry — from his early Thomas Cook days to becoming CEO of The Good Travel Agent — and Becky has plenty to say about Below Deck, dating apps for travel pros, and customers who want Wim...

Becky and Jake dive into one of the biggest questions for new travel agents—should you have a niche from the start, or keep things broad? They share their top do’s and don’ts for beginners, debate the role of social media and referrals, and give honest advice on building confidence in the industry. Plus, listener questions spark some lively discussion, Becky reveals her wrecking-ball bar story, Ja...

It’s been a week of pure travel mayhem, and Jake and Becky are here to unpack it all. From chasing down a last-minute villa request for a Monday departure, rescuing stranded holidaymakers after an airport shutdown, and juggling urgent seat bookings from the side of the road, to frantically packing for cruises and family getaways – it’s peak travel agent chaos. But that’s not all. The pair dive int...

This episode is an unfiltered rollercoaster—from deep chats to laugh-out-loud chaos, Jake and Becky cover it all. Kicking off with a candid talk about mental health and why a flat tyre doesn't mean a bad day, things quickly veer into darkly hilarious territory when Becky reveals Jake is now listed in her "death document." (Yep, really.) As always, the duo dig into the wild world of travel. Becky s...

This week’s episode is a wild ride through the highs and lows of travel life — from red carpet recognition to flat tyres and collapsing wardrobes. Becky kicks things off with the full, unfiltered story of how she took home a prestigious CLIA Master Award (yes, she’s now officially award-winning ), complete with a surprise announcement, hair commentary from strangers, and a near miss with a gravy-s...

In this laugh-out-loud and painfully relatable episode, Becky and Jake tackle one of the most controversial topics in the travel trade — are friends and family actually the worst people to book holidays for? From being ghosted after sending quotes, to awkward “can you match this screenshot from On the Beach?” requests, they discuss why those closest to us often make the most difficult clients — an...

Becky and Jake are back—and melting in a windowless London studio before glamming up for the Agent Achievement Awards. This episode dives into some of the weirdest travel stories yet, including a poop-filled cruise disaster, customers bringing toasters on holiday, solar-powered suitcases, and someone trying to train it to the Maldives. They also tackle a hot topic from a listener: should travel ag...

We're back and buzzing – Becky’s off to the Triple A’s as a finalist (no big deal 👀) and we’re talking all things travel agent life, awards night glam, and... the absolute daylight robbery that is school holiday pricing. Seriously, why is it double the price to go skiing just because it's February half term?! We dive into the parent struggle of deciding whether to take the fine or fork out thousa...

In this episode, Becky and Jake get fired up about the growing trend of hotels undercutting travel agents with direct booking offers — and share their frustrations about losing loyal clients to cheeky 30% discounts. They dive deep into the ongoing debate around consultation fees: should travel agents be charging for their time, and if so, how do you actually make it work without scaring off client...

In this no-holds-barred episode of Tales of a Travel Agent , Jake and Becky are back with a hilarious and heartfelt deep dive into all things travel—from awkward uniforms and stand-up airplane seating to the unexpected perks of networking. Jake vents about the outdated world of travel agent dress codes while sweating over a 30-degree day at Ascot. Becky recounts a whirlwind eight days involving a...

In this powerful episode of Tales of a Travel Agent , we open up about the realities of working from home in the travel industry and the impact it can have on mental health. From feelings of isolation to setting boundaries between work and life, we share honest insights and advice for looking after yourself when you’re flying solo. Jake finally gets his sweet revenge on Becky after last week’s air...

In Episode 10 of Tales of a Travel Agent , Becky puts Jake to the test with a fun (and surprisingly tricky) airport code quiz—how many can he really get right? We also dive into a more serious conversation about the lack of accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities in the travel industry, discussing where the sector is falling short and what needs to change. Plus, we share stories f...

In Episode 9 of Tales of a Travel Agent , we’re blasting off into the world of social media hacks, cyber safety, and intergalactic popstars. Jake shares a game-changing Facebook trick that's skyrocketed his engagement – and no, it doesn’t involve dancing. We chat about the importance of cyber security in travel, how Katy Perry’s space flight has us howling, and unleash a passionate rant about why...

It’s been a while… so in this episode, Jake and Becky catch up on everything and anything! From recent travels to hilarious stories, it's a relaxed (and slightly chaotic) chat full of laughs. We dive into the importance of the ‘lates’ period in the travel industry and share our top tips for creating urgency with clients. Plus, we hit a major milestone – 1,000 listeners! Join us for the banter, the...

This week, we dive into the highs and lows of adventure travel —from scaling mountains to navigating hotel room nightmares. Becky shares her incredible story of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, while Jake vents about the ongoing struggle of finding accessible and genuinely disabled-friendly accommodation. Expect laughs, frustration, and inspiration in equal measure as we explore the challenges and triu...

In this episode, we dive into the world of supplier relationships, why they matter, how they can make or break your bookings, and what you really gain from attending supplier events (spoiler: it’s more than just a free pen). We also break down the elusive world of fam trips: how to get invited, what suppliers are looking for, and why those trips aren't just a holiday in disguise. Whether you’re ne...

In this episode, Jake and Becky dive into some of the world’s most famous sights and play a game of "Overwhelming or Underwhelming"—sharing their hot takes on whether these iconic locations live up to the hype. Plus, Becky stumbles across a hilarious Reddit thread filled with bizarre and funny customer requests that will have you in stitches. Tune in for a mix of travel insights and plenty of laug...

In this episode of Tales of a Travel Agent , Jake and Becky dive into the world of solo travel—the perks, the pitfalls, and the unexpected adventures that come with exploring alone. They also tackle the topic of sustainability in travel, sharing tips on how to be a more eco-conscious explorer. And finally, Jake recounts the bizarre yet hilarious tale of the time he unknowingly booked a holiday for...