Oh hi, I’m Bess!
and It’s my honor to help you plan your european vacation
I have been an avid traveler all my life.
Both my father and my husband were career military pilots and I have moved more times than I care to count. A real positive coming out of that lifestyle was an appreciation for the uniqueness and value to be found in every place I lived. My parents instilled that in me at an early age. When we lived in Montana, they took us to Glacier and Yellowstone National Park. While living in northern California we rode the train from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Once we moved to Germany, Europe became our playground, and I will always be thankful for high school trips to the former Soviet Union and East Berlin (before the wall came down).
It wasn’t just the tourist sites either.
My parents were all about exploring the backroads and finding hidden jewels in small towns and throughout the countryside. To this day, I like to include time to wander and explore when I design travel itineraries.
Flash forward to today.
I’ve been a travel professional since March of 2016. I am currently working for an international travel company and book upscale trips for individuals and small groups. My niche is European countries although I love to book a great Alaska adventure. I still travel a good deal myself, often with friends and extended family. I believe the memories we share after a wonderful trip together are priceless.
And that’s exactly what the Uncompromising Traveler is all about.
The Uncompromising Traveler was NOT created to promote my work selling travel. This site is a result of years of working in service to others and wanting to share my experiences with them.
So what brought me to this point?
Sense of service
One thing that many military families carry with them is the sense of service to others. In my time as a military daughter and then wife-I always felt part of a family in which members proactively reached out to others who could use some help. That sense of service is still with me. I have always been active in local and national non-profit organizations which are so important to our communities. I have worked at the grass roots level and all the way up to Chairman of the Board. Groups I’ve served have ranged from Girl Scouts to the Arts Council to several church and service organizations, and even to a college president’s advisory council.
Transfer that to the working world
Most of my adult work experience involved working with the Dept. of Defense in areas of personnel and military quality of life issues. I worked with clients individually and taught classes. It was at this time that my understanding of “teaching a man to fish” took hold. I was great at “doing” things for people, but I realized the greatest gift I could give them was the ability to take control of their own future.
Jump to The Uncompromising Traveler
Most of my clients come to me for help booking that special trip overseas. Many are seasoned travelers who want to customize a more unique trip to Europe. Others are first time travelers who just don’t know where to start. Almost all of them are computer savvy and would have cut out the “middleman” (travel agent) if they just thought they could plan their own trip with a reasonable amount of time and effort.
The Uncompromising Traveler can enable you to do just that.
This new business is designed to give you a little…or a lot of help…so you can be your own agent. I am designing several offerings (free and for purchase) which will teach you the tips of the trade.
Keep in mind that not all trips are easily or safely done without an agent…but like any other field, there are so-so, great, and even fabulous agents. What you learn from my business is either how to do it yourself –or what you need to know when working with an agent. I will not be able to share travel agent phone numbers to companies or offer you special rates through this website, but I will provide information that may well lead you to discounted travel options.
I wish you all the best as you plan your future journeys.
Bess
