ES Travel

Your Travel Assistants

PO Box 5062 Glenferrie South VIC 3122

+61 (0) 416 118 057

Phone stolen in the middle of nowhere PNG; stuck in Europe during 2010 Volcano Ash cloud; day before travel, realised passport has expired; broken leg on ski fields of Aspen; unable to return home due to snow storm in Christchurch; stuck in Manhattan after Hurricane Sandy...  These are all experiences of our staff or our clients over the years, and in each one we have had a part, helping get them where they want to be as soon as possible, and helping with the insurance claims.

 

Being a travel agent is not as easy as people think! We use years of experience: our personal travel experiences, information gained through our clients’ travel and industry colleagues and newsletters: to put together a trip that is perfect just for you, whether you are traveling for work, leisure, family or some other reason. 

 

In this day and age it’s easy to go online and book accommodation and flights yourself, and at face value it can seem cheaper.  But using a travel agent is about ease, experience and economy …

 

The ease of telling someone what you want and having them find the best options for you.  Putting your mind at ease, by knowing that in times of trouble there is someone you can call no matter when or where, and minimising the chance of trouble.  Using our experience to give you the best experience, understanding that everyone wants the most economic option, as, no matter what class of travel or reason, value for money is a priority.

 

So EST. are YOUR TRAVEL ASSISTANTS, assisting you to have amazing travel experiences from the minute you start researching to the moment you put your photo book on the coffee table. 

 

EST. is a division of World Wide Travel

About Me

How did you get into travel?

I say it was by chance, or destiny.  I love/d travel and other cultures after living for 2 years in an international community in PNG.  Then my travel agent, who was a long-time friend of my sisters, offered me an administration role at her agency.  The rest, they say, is history…


What’s your favourite part of being a travel agent?

I have two…

1. My clients: it amazes me the range of clients I have and the number who come back and refer me on.  I love being a part of their trips but also their lives, family, pets, new restaurant experiences all that stuff...

2. The challenge: sometimes the middle of the night calls get to me, but I love problem solving.  So whether at 2 am or 2pm I like to find the answer to the problem I’m faced with.  Whether it be a new destination - how to get there, what to do, where to stay - or a misadventure caused by nature, a travel company or the traveller. 


And the frustrations…

Sticking to the rules!  So often I wish I could do more or make things different for my clients, but I can’t change flight times, or cancellation fees, or departure dates of tours… or the rules the suppliers put on every booking. 


What type of clients do you deal with?

Anyone who travels!  I have experience with a range of clients, small corporates, doctors, conference participants, business owners, crane owners/manufacturers/dealers, and CFOs of multi-million dollar companies. 

I assist backpackers, retirees, 5* luxury, adventurers and honeymooners. 

They all present their own enjoyment and challenge.


A lot of people say travel agents are extinct, what do you say to that?

I think a good travel agent is not extinct.  Travel Agents these days need to go further, push harder, and do more than they ever did before.  I see myself more as a personal assistant to a traveller, doing the research, taking care of the little things, and minimising the chance of issues arising.

I often say you don’t know the value of a travel agent until you’ve been stuck in an unforeseen circumstance while away…

 

Where’s your favourite place to travel to?

PNG is the obvious one, but all of the South Pacific is high on the list; there’s something about the people!  I love Germany; I can’t put my finger on why, but it may have something to do with the beer!


What kind of traveller are you?

An over packer!  I am always pushing the limit on my luggage allowance, no matter what it is! 


What’s the best advice you’ve been given? 

You will achieve more and be better if you focus on one thing at a time.  Multitasking seems time profitable but often ends up taking longer as you miss things or make mistakes.


What about travel advice?

Is it wrong that I give myself this advice?  When you get into the car to leave home, check you have your passport, ticket and credit card and then breathe.  Everything else will figure itself out.


If you didn’t work in travel what would you do?

I think I’d probably be a PA or EA - I’m an attention to detail person.  I would love to be a travel writer, but that’s one of those roles thousands of people would love to do, but only a small few have the luxury of doing it.


Where have you always wanted to travel to?

Anywhere I can see the Aurora Borealis.  I went to northern Finland and survived -22oC to see them, and they were over Alaska.  So I just want to go anywhere I can see them; don’t mind the cold as long as I get to see my lights!


The craziest thing you’ve done on a holiday?

12 days driving from Las Vegas to New York, via the Grand Canyon, Dallas, New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis, Smoky Mountains, Washington DC and Pennsylvania.  Sleeping in the car, swapping driving shifts, visiting amazing sites in the middle of the night.


If you won a million dollars what would you do?

Travel! I’d do the responsible thing and buy a house, and donate a portion to a project I’m working on in PNG (more about that another time), but what I’d most want to do is take six months or a year and travel the world.  Or maybe do it by continent with ‘work breaks’ in between.  


If you could be someone else for the day who would you be?

Oprah Winfrey (pre-retirement) or Ellen Degeneres.  They meet fascinating individuals, help deserving people, share a bit of joy, live luxurious lives, and get their hair, wardrobe and make-up done for them daily.