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-soaked trophy. Jake dishes on what it was like witnessing the moment, and how Becky accidentally became the Lara Croft of travel.

We dive deep into the chaos of awards nights — six-hour ceremonies, slightly disappointing celebrity acts, candle wax disasters, and yes, someone actually straddled Ashley Banjo. Becky gets serenaded by singing waiters at a Tipto event, and the duo campaign to ban cruise ship magicians in favour of mentalists.

But it’s not all glitz and glamour — Becky’s post-awards week has been pure disaster: flat tyres, car breakdowns on roundabouts, tow trucks at 1am, and a wardrobe that literally fell off the wall. Meanwhile, Jake reintroduces us to the timeless brilliance of Benidorm, and both hosts rant about the sheer audacity of some recent customer requests — including someone wanting to cruise to Japan from Southampton with a three-week holiday allowance.

They also call out travel agents who no-show on fam trips, remind everyone that visas require real passport numbers (shocking, we know), and celebrate the rise of listeners recognising Becky just by her voice.

It’s unfiltered, funny, full of travel truths, and proof that even award-winning travel agents still deal with chaos.

💌 Got a tale, rant, or ridiculous customer request? Send it to: talesofatravelagent@gmail.com

🎧 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, rate, and share — and let’s start that campaign for Best Travel Podcast 2025 while we’re at it!

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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 — and how to set boundaries early on.

But it’s not all complaints! They also dive deep into the difference between being a travel agent versus just being a transactional booker. Jake shares how asking the right questions and recommending based on true insight builds long-term relationships, while Becky gives top tips on adding thoughtful touches, like personalized gifts and clever follow-up strategies, to keep customers coming back year after year.

Plus, the pair chat cruise advice (of course), the ethics of animal encounters on holiday, how to make use of all those branded freebies from supplier events, and the shocking realisation that Becky has miscounted her visited countries for years. Spoiler alert: she’s actually been to 54, not 49.

Expect mini-rants, real talk, and the kind of insider stories only travel agents can truly appreciate. If you've ever questioned your career after quoting for your cousin’s dream holiday only for them to book it themselves — this one’s for you.

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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 agents ask for reviews, and how do you do it without feeling pushy? Spoiler alert: you absolutely should—Jake’s got some pro tips! Plus, a good old-fashioned rant about bare feet on planes (ew), Crocs, and the horror of fake lagoon views.

Prepare to laugh, cringe, and question humanity. Just another day in the life of a travel agent.

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