Working from home

[areweindisneyyet]

Oh AreweinDisneyyet, yippee, I am not alone!!! I always feared that, if people knew what I do, they might think I came on here to scope out info for my clients so had never mentioned it before (although Franrose knows). However I couldnt answer Battymum's question properly without spilling the beans Coming on here with clients in mind couldnt be further from the truth because, like you I'm sure, I come on here for a release from planning other people's trips and to dream about my own trips!

That is exactly what I thought, you were so brave so could not let you go through it alone I totally agree, this is where I get to be Mia - The Traveler not Mia the Travel Planner

The advice I give to fellow Dis'ers is what my clients pay for so all my Disfriends get it for free from their friend.

 

[Andona]

Ummm, Andona, when you say web design, can I have some more info on exactly what you focus on? What type of clients etc?

I mainly work with small businesses, but not in any particular industry. I've done websites for meat wholesalers, artists, professionals and retailers! I've done several for craft-related small businesses because I got my first break in that area and so picked up several more clients in the field through word-of-mouth recommendations.

I have a confession to make, I too am a Travel Planner! and come here for my own sick Disney pleasure like everyone else and not for work. I am so glad that you have come out with your little secret Travelmum. Since you have been so honest, I feel that I should be too! I so love spending time with people who get my crazy addiction which I have turned into a job as it is what makes me truly happy.

Hey, that's cool! I envy you your jobs - I have so much fun planning my own holidays to the nth degree, it must be wonderful to plan holidays for a living.

Andona

 

[StaciStaci]

Many of you have mentioned working from home, if you don't mind sharing, can I ask what you do.
I work three days per week but wouldn't mind supplementing the income somewhat.

I enroll people into an EBook of the month club. It's all done via internet.

 

[battymum]

ooh, Travel mum, I knew you were up to something...

You did let a couple of hints slip, travelling to Universal Singapore, viewing the ANZ skycouch, Thailand, a couple of ships,.etc

So tell me, who pays you?

This is my general mistrust of TA's I believe that they push you toward the resort, flight whatever that gives them the biggest kick.

Although I guess there is a bunch of people out there who dont really care for all this research and intense planning.

I find its just so easy these days to do all the planning yourself.

But dont worry, I wont hold it against you!!

 

[Caroline NZ]

. Now it's a problem though because my broker work and family life leaves me hardly any time to spend on maintaining or growing the website As a result, I don't tell anyone about it anymore so don't any of you go looking for it!!!

QUOTE]

Hehe, well ofcourse we are going to go looking, wasn't hard to find

 

[shushh]

Travel Mum, I started thinking about being a Travel Agent because I was frustrated with how difficult it was to organise things for 5 people eg. accomodation...and the TAs that I dealt with at that time just were not helpful at all. I ended up doing all the research anyway because they did not offer any assistance in any way.

This is for both you and Areweindisneyyet, may I contact you both to ask about being a travel planner/agent/broker in detail? I am fortunate in that I don't need to generate a certain amount of income, so long as I don't make a loss my DH tells me...

 

[Franrose]

Oh AreweinDisneyyet, yippee, I am not alone!!! I always feared that, if people knew what I do, they might think I came on here to scope out info for my clients so had never mentioned it before (although Franrose knows). H

Honestly, TM, in my books it gives you extra kudos as you have insider knowledge and know how stuff "works"! I value your opinion highly.


I've never had anything but good experiences with TAs, so I don't have any issue anyway. I do book most of my own travel though purely because I am a massive CONTROL FREAK ha ha. But our last trip to Fiji was booked through a TA, she was able to save me $600 vs booking myself and it was all done online, awesome service. I love to do my homework regardless (as that's part of the fun) but also happy to save myself some money - that's what the homework is for in the first place - and use the services of someone who's got connections I don't! I'm just going for quotes for DL and WDW now and it's funny because I've already priced it up (for my own figuring out, kwim) and so the prices they're getting me are exactly what I already know, down to the cents. But they have that ability to sort discounts easier than I do, and there are a few little extras being thrown in... in some ways it's no different to booking direct with the hotel really. The other non-Disney parts of the holiday I think I'll do myself similarly to last year since that's not what they do.

 

[Franrose]

Travel Mum, I started thinking about being a Travel Agent because I was frustrated with how difficult it was to organise things for 5 people eg. accomodation...and the TAs that I dealt with at that time just were not helpful at all. I ended up doing all the research anyway because they did not offer any assistance in any way.

Talking to many many families I know, a TA who specialised in travel for families of 5 or larger here in Aus would be run off their feet with work I reckon. It is something many have difficulty with and if you're not travel-savvy, trying to figure out options can make the whole thing too hard .

Travel with Kids is somewhere I always check out for tips/tricks TM! I didn't really think of approaching you for Castaway. Duh lol.

 

[Franrose]

...And hey, you've got pictures of Lekima and (?)Alisi? on your website!

 

[Travel Mum]

ooh, Travel mum, I knew you were up to something...

You did let a couple of hints slip, travelling to Universal Singapore, viewing the ANZ skycouch, Thailand, a couple of ships,.etc

Oh Battymum, I did wonder if anyone would suspect when I started mentioning my travel experience. I didn't need to mention it but, as we all began to become online "friends" rather than just people planning their trips communicating with each other, it felt right to share more about my life. By the way, you have a good memory but I suspect it's because you and I read each other's posts with great interest

So tell me, who pays you?

This is my general mistrust of TA's I believe that they push you toward the resort, flight whatever that gives them the biggest kick.

Although I guess there is a bunch of people out there who dont really care for all this research and intense planning.

I find its just so easy these days to do all the planning yourself.

But dont worry, I wont hold it against you!!

We get paid commision by the airlines (hardly anything anymore though hence have to charge a booking fee) hotels, tour companies, cruise companies etc

Probably some agents do push towards certain suppliers but I'm probably not a very financially savy one really because I quote and book the suppliers who best match my clients needs. Although the Travel Broker company that I contact to does arrange preferred supplier agreements for us, the beauty of being a broker (and I'm sure the same for Mia as an independent) is that I have free rein to book with whoever I want which, to me, means I can do the best for my client.

Remember that the nature of people joining this Aussie forum is that we are all natural born travel planners and have a passion for doing it. However, there certainly are still lots of people in the world who don't want to do it themselves whether due to lack of time, lack of interest or lack of confidence. Those are the people that I help

 

[Travel Mum]

Travel Mum, I started thinking about being a Travel Agent because I was frustrated with how difficult it was to organise things for 5 people eg. accomodation...and the TAs that I dealt with at that time just were not helpful at all. I ended up doing all the research anyway because they did not offer any assistance in any way.

This is for both you and Areweindisneyyet, may I contact you both to ask about being a travel planner/agent/broker in detail? I am fortunate in that I don't need to generate a certain amount of income, so long as I don't make a loss my DH tells me...

Sure Shushh, feel free to PM me. Oh and yes, don't hold out hope of earning much as you really have to do this job for the love of it

 

[Travel Mum]

Hehe, well ofcourse we are going to go looking, wasn't hard to find

Oh cripes, you found it!

Honestly, TM, in my books it gives you extra kudos as you have insider knowledge and know how stuff "works"! I value your opinion highly. .

Thanks so much Franrose, that is lovely to know

Travel with Kids is somewhere I always check out for tips/tricks TM! I didn't really think of approaching you for Castaway. Duh lol.

Oh Franrose, please always look at the bottom of each page to see when it was last updated as I'm really ashamed of my website now that I was once so proud of!

...And hey, you've got pictures of Lekima and (?)Alisi? on your website!

Well, you won't be surprised to know that, with my undying love of Castaway, the Castaway profile was the very first resort page to be loaded on my website and it's the first one I update when I get round to doing updates

 

[battymum]

Oh Battymum, I did wonder if anyone would suspect when I started mentioning my travel experience. I didn't need to mention it but, as we all began to become online "friends" rather than just people planning their trips communicating with each other, it felt right to share more about my life. By the way, you have a good memory but I suspect it's because you and I read each other's posts with great interest

We get paid commision by the airlines (hardly anything anymore though hence have to charge a booking fee) hotels, tour companies, cruise companies etc

Probably some agents do push towards certain suppliers but I'm probably not a very financially savy one really because I quote and book the suppliers who best match my clients needs. Although the Travel Broker company that I contact to does arrange preferred supplier agreements for us, the beauty of being a broker (and I'm sure the same for Mia as an independent) is that I have free rein to book with whoever I want which, to me, means I can do the best for my client.

Remember that the nature of people joining this Aussie forum is that we are all natural born travel planners and have a passion for doing it. However, there certainly are still lots of people in the world who don't want to do it themselves whether due to lack of time, lack of interest or lack of confidence. Those are the people that I help

Oh yeah I forgot those people exist! I am sorry travel mum, that I forced your hand and now the cat is out of the bag.

Seriously, if I had paid a ta for all the time that was put into planning my trip, I would be very broke. That's the control freak in me!

Our trip last year was the first overseas holiday for my children, before that, I hadn't even entertained the idea as I knew it would be so much more difficult with a family of five. We always holidayed domestically, staying in self contained apartments or holiday houses - and we had some great trips.

You don't know how many times people would mention to me "oh I saw an ad in the paper, kids stay free in Fiji (or wherever), it's really cheap" I used to get really frustrated about having to explain the whole three children thing.

Now, as for Japan, I am really not motivated to plan that one, I have the accommodation sorted, and that's about it!

 

[5ofus]

Ohhhh, I've been to your website! I haven't had to book anywhere for the five is us yet as DS3 isn't even 2 yet, it was all just research. How funny that that is your site!

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Travel Mum, I started thinking about being a Travel Agent because I was frustrated with how difficult it was to organise things for 5 people eg. accomodation...and the TAs that I dealt with at that time just were not helpful at all. I ended up doing all the research anyway because they did not offer any assistance in any way.

This is for both you and Areweindisneyyet, may I contact you both to ask about being a travel planner/agent/broker in detail? I am fortunate in that I don't need to generate a certain amount of income, so long as I don't make a loss my DH tells me...

Hi Shushh

PM away with any questions. No problem at all. I love my job because I am always planning a holiday to somewhere, and for my clients they get the same attention to detail that I put into my own holidays.