Tales of a Travel Agent

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, nonsense.We get into:✈️ The reality of bookings dropping and why agents everywhere are feeling it📉 Why the industry needs to stop pretending everything’s fine🔥 Why this could lead to a HUGE late booking surge🌍 The real value of booking with a travel agent (with some very real examples)Plus, there’s chaos as always:🥂 A disappointing afternoon tea review🎭 A full breakdown of The Traitors live experience (and why it will ruin friendships)📺 Excitement for Race Across the World’s new series🧠 A brutally unfair geography quiz that exposes Jake’s knowledge of Asia… or lack of it🤖 Becky’s rant of the week: possibly the worst AI training platform ever createdAnd of course, we wrap things up with more nonsense, questionable life choices, and Becky revealing her boxing ring name…If you’ve ever wondered what travel agents are really thinking right now – this one’s for you.📩 Got a story, rant, or ridiculous customer request?Email us: talesofatravelagent@gmail.com

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 update on the world of swinging cruises (yes, they exist and yes, they are sold out for years), which sparks a very serious discussion about bedding, theatres and whether the two hosts should book a cabin purely for “research purposes”.Jake also highlights an important side of the travel industry that is rarely talked about: agent wellbeing during major travel disruptions, including a shout out to the ABTA Lifeline and why support for agents matters just as much as looking after customers.Meanwhile Becky shares stories from the River Cruise Conference, including surprising discoveries about a cruise line she did not expect to love, meeting listeners of the podcast in real life, and accidentally winning a luxury fam trip.The episode wraps up with a practical discussion for travel agents about exhibiting at events and wedding fairs, why so many agents are scared to do it, and why just getting out there can transform your business.In this episode:• The reality of swinging cruises and why they sell out years in advance • Becky’s 11 day river cruise tour and the ships that impressed her most • Why food is such an important part of the cruise experience • Getting recognised by podcast listeners in the wild • Winning a luxury river cruise fam trip • Why agent mental health matters during travel disruptions • How travel agents can use exhibitions and events to grow their businessGot a funny travel story or industry experience to share?Email us: talesofatravelagent@gmail.com

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 way there are plenty of rants, a few laughs and some brutally honest industry truths.In this episode:Becky’s mum has officially joined Team Jake (and is now buying him chocolate)The UAE disruption and how travel agents handled the chaosThe real risks of dynamic packaging when things hit the fanWhy some travel agent social posts went a bit too farThe shocking knowledge gaps around package travel regulationsA hotel in New York charging for WiFi in 2026…A random solo travel moment in Germany that proves how small the world isJake’s trip to the Geordie Ball and a table full of wineA shout out to The Good Travel Agent bootcamp partnersBecky’s boxing match for charity and a plea for donationsAs always, expect industry gossip, real travel stories and the kind of conversations only travel agents truly understand.Got a story or travel nightmare to share?Email talesofatravelagent@gmail.com and it might feature in a future episode. ✈️

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 industry chatter about “February being the new January” (spoiler: it wasn’t), the pressure of peak season, and why stable business beats chaotic spikes every time.Then it’s event season chaos… Sticker name badges that attack your hair. Standing buffet disasters. The stinky man saga. Competitive quiz drama that nearly ended in victory (until someone interfered 😤).There’s talk of insane Australia prizes, two dreamy nights at Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort, and why Ras Al Khaimah might just be the UAE’s best-kept secret… complete with the world’s longest zipline.We also debate solo fam trips, the heartbreak of missing Jamaica Carnival, and whether we’re emotionally stable enough to attend Carnival without a guided tourist board babysitter.Oh… and apparently the post office in Antarctica is hiring. No showers. No proper toilets. Six months of penguin neighbours. Apply now.As always, it’s industry insight, unfiltered opinions, and the kind of chaos only travel agents truly understand.

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 early 📦 Why travel agents are impeccable for clients… and chaotic for themselves 🥊 Becky’s upcoming boxing match drama (weight classes optional apparently?!) 💚 A heartfelt visit to the incredible Reuben's Retreat and the powerful reason behind the punchesPlus — Becky once dated a sponsored skier who referred to himself as a “sad kitty.” Yes. Really.It’s travel industry reality, unfiltered — the glamour, the graft, and the gate number panic.Listen now and if you’ve ever been last called at an airport while wearing your company hoodie… this one’s for you. 😅

🎙️ 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 the kind of conversations every travel agent has had but rarely says out loud…If you’ve ever wondered why clients still try to DIY their holidays, why price matching drives agents mad, or why travel agents deserve more credit than they get, this episode is for you 👀🎧 Listen now to Tales of a Travel Agent

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 podcast jingles (and the battle over who really runs the show)🥊 Becky’s terrifying boxing match training and fundraising plea💌 Dating apps as a travel agent marketing strategy (yes, really)🎁 The ethics of prize draws and luxury travel giveaways🎤 Meeting podcast listeners in real life🏋️‍♂️ High Rocks, cruises, and niche travel trends🧳 Travel events, airport refurbishments, and industry gossipAs always, it’s honest, chaotic, and very relatable for anyone working in travel — or anyone who’s ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes.🎧 Tune in for laughs, rants, and the kind of conversations that definitely shouldn’t be edited out.

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 MadridJake’s questionable logic when applying for reality TV showsA full Facebook clear-out and why most people are doing social media wrongRyanair Tweets return (yes, again — and yes, they’re still brutal)Ridiculous client enquiries that made January even longerWhy finding travel clients isn’t about Instagram followers — and what actually worksIt’s ranty, honest, chaotic, and painfully relatable for anyone in travel… or anyone who survived January.🎧 Tales of a Travel Agent — the podcast by travel agents, for travel agents.

🎙️ 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, retail agents and agency owners alike — and whether all those £5 vouchers are actually worth it.Along the way, they cover:✈️ The return of “traditional” Peaks and why this year feels different💸 Margin vs volume and why desperation discounting is dangerous🎁 Supplier incentives, reward trips and why fam trips aren’t always educational🧠 Burnout, sleep scores and why Jake is absolutely shattered🍰 A VERY civilised industry afternoon tea (with elite scones)🎭 A theatre trip that went… slightly off script📺 Travel TV chat including Accidental Tourist and shows that genuinely inspire travel🎶 A call-out for listeners to finally make them some jinglesIt’s honest, opinionated, funny and a little bit unhinged — exactly what January in travel feels like.If you’ve ever questioned Peaks pressure, incentives, or why everyone suddenly wants to talk about data… this one’s for you.