Podcast Archives - Erica James Travel Agency

22Nov 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva No Comments

Episode 69: Are You a Member of the No Vacation Nation?

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[podcast_subscribe id="715"] Did you know that in 2018 there were 768 million days of vacation that were just not taken in the US alone? 236 million of those days didn’t carry over to 2019. That’s $65.5 Billion in benefits just thrown away. This is what the No Vacation Nation looks like – just giving away vacation days, and for what? Are you expecting an award for perfect attendance? Do you live in the No Vacation Nation? Let’s talk about this: [03:48] You need those days. Firstly, if you don’t take those vacation days, you’re losing an average of $600 (roughly one to two weeks) worth of paid time off. How long can you function optimally with no time off? You need those days to unplug and take care of your wellbeing.…

15Nov 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva No Comments

Episode 68: My Atlanta Birthday

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[podcast_subscribe id="715"] It was my birthday recently. #VirgoFTW For my birthday, I went to Atlanta with a few friends. Atlanta is where I would go twice a year for my travels, before I did any of my international trips, so going back there for my birthday was pure nostalgia. I was invited to Atlanta for a bachelorette party, and because it was my birthday, we decided to take that weekend and turn up all over Atlanta. Here’s how that went: [03:06] Black Hollywood. Atlanta has it all. It has all sorts of restaurants, a great nightlife, concert halls, art galleries, and everything else you could possibly imagine. If you’re looking for a good time, it’s only a couple of hours drive from Nashville, so there’s no excuse for not turning up,…

08Nov 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva No Comments

Episode 67: Be Intentional with Your Life

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[podcast_subscribe id="715"] Let me just ask you: are you living your best life? It might seem like a straightforward question, but have you really thought about the answer? Today’s episode is going to be some more travel motivation, but you can really apply these tips to any part of your life. Whatever your best life looks like, whether it’s traveling the world, skydiving, climbing mountains, or searching for the greatest French fries in the world, you need to ask yourself the right questions to get you started on that journey, and then you need to make it happen intentionally – without excuses. Let’s get into this episode: [02:15] What do you want your experience to be? Whether it’s joyful or stressful, average or wonderful, you need to make the decision to…

01Nov 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva 1 Comment

Episode 66: How to Manage Expectations when Traveling

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[podcast_subscribe id="715"] I don’t know if any of you have noticed, but we’re in the middle of a pandemic. Destinations have restrictions on travel, and these restrictions are constantly changing. If you’re expecting a smooth travel experience, now is not the time to look for it. You can, however, take whichever situation you’re in, lower your expectations, and find happiness in the parts that are going well. Today, I have some tips on how to manage that expectation when you’re on a vacation. Here are the tips: [03:41] Change your mindset. Covid has brought many changes to the way things happen. Destinations are limiting travel, events, and certain activities. Many people still have the expectation that the trave experience has to be what it was pre-Covid, and then get worked up…

25Oct 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva No Comments

Episode 65: You Are Responsible for Your Own Happiness

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[podcast_subscribe id="715"] Like the last episode, today’s episode is about happiness. More specifically, it’s about being responsible for your own happiness. Are you taking responsibility for your happiness? When was the last time someone gave you a look that you didn’t appreciate, and did you get upset about it? If you did, you’ve given that person control over your happiness. Today, I’m going to give you the things that you can do in order to reclaim your power over your own happiness on vacation, and in your life. Let’s go: [02:04] You are responsible for your own happiness. This was the theme of the trip that I spoke about in the previous episode, but the more I thought about it, the more real it became. You are responsible for your happiness.…

18Oct 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva No Comments

Episode 64: Being Happy is a Choice

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[podcast_subscribe id="715"] Today, I need to talk about happiness. I just came back from a group trip, and having to adjust to different people’s personalities, moods, needs, and wants can sometimes be a bit tiring, especially when there are people with a permanent bad vibe. If you are a naturally happy, fun-loving person, you know that you don’t want those negative vibes to rub off on you. Neither do I. No one wants it. So, today’s episode is going to be about finding your happiness if you’re one of those people who always find something wrong going on around you, whether it’s the weather or a waiter looked at you funny. If you find yourself at a luxury location, and you’ve got a stank look on your face 24/7, you…

11Oct 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva 2 Comments

Episode 63: You Got This Girl: A Tale of Triumph

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[podcast_subscribe id="715"] I have an amazing story about one of my clients that I have to share with you all today. She thought she couldn’t travel by herself. She was determined not to get on the plane on her own. This is the story of so many travellers who reach the gate and panic, and then decide to ditch their plans because of their fears. In the end, she went on her trip. She got on that plane and she went on her vacation, and I could not be more proud of someone for overcoming her fears. Her story inspired this episode, and I’m going to be giving some tips to help those out there who are struggling with their own travel anxiety, so that we can all grab the…

04Oct 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva No Comments

Episode 62: How to Work with a Travel Agent

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[podcast_subscribe id="715"] Today’s episode is all about how to work with a travel agent. Planning a vacation can be stressful, and you shouldn’t have to try to do it on your own. Travel agents are the solution – we can ensure that you have the perfect vacation while keeping your pockets satisfied. As a travel agent myself, there are a few pointers that I can give you to ensure that the travel planning, and eventually the traveling itself, goes as smoothly as possible, and that you end up exactly where you never knew you wanted to go. Here are a few tips: [01:25] How do you envision your trip? Before you even call your travel agent, you need to think about how you want your trip to go. You need to…

27Sep 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva No Comments

Episode 61: How to Budget for Vacation

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[podcast_subscribe id="715"] In today’s episode, I need to talk about vacation budgets. If you don’t know how to budget properly, it can have serious consequences on your finances. Not everyone’s money has no limits, and the thought of a more-than-average vacation could seem out of reach for many people. As a travel agent, I start things off by asking about my clients’ budgets. Why? So that I can make that budget work for the kind of vacation that you want to have. I’m not here to max out your budget, trust me. But it’s also about being realistic. You need to know your money. Today, I’m going to give you the tips and tricks that you need to implement in your vacation planning so that you can have that luxury…

20Sep 2021 by EJtheTravelDiva No Comments

Episode 60: Travel Talk with Karen Gershowitz

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[podcast_subscribe id="715"] Episode 60 is here! There are so many interesting people in the world, and today’s guest is certainly one of those interesting people. Today, I’m talking to Karen Gershowitz. She’s a recently-retired successful businesswoman, author, and mentor. Plus, while holding down a full-time job, she traveled to over 90 countries. If you ever need an example of what is possible, Karen’s whole life is that example. In this episode, you will get to hear about her fascinating life of travel, career, and adventure, and she will show you how you can take advantage of every opportunity to have the kinds of experiences that most will only dream of. Let’s get into it: [02:35] Getting into travel. As a child in New York, Karen’s mom would take her to museums,…