Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Smith.
Hi Lindsay, We are so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I had a great job in commercial property management with coworkers that I loved. I worked in uptown Charlotte for 12 years, but those 12 years brought a lot of life changes – moving from my 20s to my 30s and adding 2 amazing, active boys to our family. As many families do, we took our first son to Walt Disney World when he was 3, which reignited my love for the theme parks and the joy I felt when visiting. Soon, we began yearly visits, and family and friends started asking me for help planning their vacations. Around this same time, I began to feel the struggle of the work/life balance. We had a second child, and as he entered kindergarten, I realized I didn’t want the “corporate” life anymore. I wanted more time with my boys – but I still wanted to do something I found fulfilling and contribute to the family finances. At my husband’s suggestion, I started as an independent contractor with Marvelous Mouse Travels, doing what I could do best and planning Disney vacations. Now, almost 6 years later, I am running my own travel business, selling over 1 million $ in vacations each year across various brands – theme parks, all-inclusive, major cruise lines, etc. I’ve also traveled more than I ever thought possible and opened up new travel experiences for my family. Best of all, I set my schedule, and my office is wherever I need it to be – at home, in a coffee shop, and most days, in the car rider line for school pickup! I never imagined I could call myself a small business owner, and I’m so glad I leaped!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a challenging road, for sure. I had to build my business from the ground up, and the learning curve was large when I started to branch out to brands other than Disney. It took a lot of time to invest in training and travel. I don’t get paid to travel, and when you see photos of my travels on my social media pages, those are trips that I have personally invested in so I can become more familiar with a destination or a brand. And, while I set my office hours, my clients continue traveling after 5 p.m. and they don’t call a call center when they need assistance in-travel. I’m their single point of contact and that sets me apart from an online booking engine. I actually care just as much about your vacation as you do!
As you know, we’re big fans of Lindsay Smith – Marvelous Mouse Travels. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
I am an independent travel planner with Marvelous Mouse Travels, specializing in concierge-level planning services across various destinations. I specialize in Disney Destinations, Universal Orlando, Sandals and Beaches, all-inclusive vacations, Hawaii, major cruise lines, river cruising, and more! All of my planning services are complimentary when travelers book their vacations with me, and I am involved in the planning process from the moment we start planning to when you return home from your vacation. I am constantly training and traveling to offer the best travel advice possible. And I’m incredibly enthusiastic about travel, so don’t be surprised when you see many exclamation points in our email correspondences! I understand that travel can be a big investment, and it makes a huge difference when you partner with someone who understands your travel needs and wants to help you create the best memories!
What are your plans for the future?
My business grows yearly from client referrals, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m always keeping the work/life balance in check because that was why I wanted to embark on this adventure. I always want to travel more – there are so many places on my list that I want to check off, which helps me bring more authentic travel experiences to my clients. As my kids get older, they also develop a passion for travel, so who knows – I may have two new assistants to add to the family travel business!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lindsay-marvelousmousetravels.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsayknowstravel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindsayknowstravel/
Image Credits
Main Photo (with suitcase and passport) – Three Loves Photography – Charlotte, NC
