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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We're back and buzzing – Becky’s off to the Triple A’s as a finalist (no big deal 👀) and we’re talking all things travel agent life, awards night glam, and... the absolute daylight robbery that is school holiday pricing. Seriously, why is it double the price to go skiing just because it's February half term?! We dive into the parent struggle of deciding whether to take the fine or fork out thousands more for a family holiday – and whether schools should be a bit more chill if the kids are off learning about the world on a tour of Sri Lanka.

Then we get into the age-old travel agent dilemma: high value, low volume vs. low value, high volume. Which clients are more work? Which ones are worth the drama? Spoiler: the £299 all-inclusives are not always as “easy” as they seem. We also chat about what a luxury client really looks like – and no, it’s not always the one with the Gucci belt.

And because we love a challenge, Jake’s back on the airport code game – with a score to beat and Becky out for redemption.

Plus, we tease something a little different for next week’s episode… 👀 so hit follow and stay tuned!

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In this episode, Becky and Jake get fired up about the growing trend of hotels undercutting travel agents with direct booking offers — and share their frustrations about losing loyal clients to cheeky 30% discounts. They dive deep into the ongoing debate around consultation fees: should travel agents be charging for their time, and if so, how do you actually make it work without scaring off clients?

There’s also a big conversation about protection — ATOL, ABTA, and why clients still don’t get what it all really means (even though it could save them thousands). Jake breaks down a £15k booking gone right, and Becky shares her take on marketing the value of booking with a pro.

They also tackle some cruise misconceptions, especially about Fred Olsen (is it really a waiting room at sea?), why more agents should be selling expedition trips, and how LinkedIn is an untapped goldmine for luxury enquiries.

Oh — and as if that wasn’t enough — Becky tells the story of the time she almost got arrested on a jet ski in Boston with two Mexican friends. Sirens, megaphones, and a very confused river police officer included.

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In this no-holds-barred episode of Tales of a Travel Agent, Jake and Becky are back with a hilarious and heartfelt deep dive into all things travel—from awkward uniforms and stand-up airplane seating to the unexpected perks of networking.

Jake vents about the outdated world of travel agent dress codes while sweating over a 30-degree day at Ascot. Becky recounts a whirlwind eight days involving a trip to Iceland (with a silent disco and mocktail in hand), a fitness expo, and a hilariously tragic tollgate error. They get real about missed flight connections, customer complaints, and why geography might not be their strong suit after all.

But it’s not all laughs, Becky shares her powerful story of working with a grassroots education and period poverty project in Tanzania, reminding us of the true impact of travel when it's used for good.

Expect banter, honest confessions, brilliant networking tips, and some serious inspiration - Listener discretion advised, this one’s full of strong opinions and stronger laughs.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.