The Departure Lounge: Trip Planning and Travel Stories from Travels with Kirstie

Welcome to The Departure Lounge, the blog home of Travels with Kirstie. If you've found your way here, you're probably somewhere between "I want to travel more" and "I have no idea where to start." That's exactly the gap this space is meant to fill.

Why This Blog Exists

I became a travel advisor for the love of travel, plain and simple. I love it, and I honestly can't stop planning. Strategizing is in my blood: I've spent almost two decades in event and tradeshow planning, managing hotel room blocks, running registration for thousands of attendees and exhibitors, and executing trade show booths from start to finish, all while coordinating travel for co-workers along the way. That love of research, attention to detail, and organization translated easily into planning travel. For years, I helped family, friends, and co-workers plan their best trips, sharing the tips and tricks I'd picked up along the way, until I finally decided to jump in head first and turn that passion into a career.

Travels with Kirstie is my travel agency, and The Departure Lounge is the blog for it: the place where I cover all things travel and highlight real-world experiences from exploring the world. Trip planning is full of small decisions that can quietly derail a trip: which neighborhood to book in, whether that layover is actually workable, and what to pack for a place with three different climates in one week. This blog is where I work through those decisions, so the planning process is a little less overwhelming for you. I've created all kinds of resources for you to use: whether it's a cruise or a land-based all-inclusive resort, I've got you covered.

Why I Love Travel

A pretty picture of a beautiful island is nice, but that's not what travel is about for me. At its core, travel is about stepping out of my comfort zone, and that's exactly what keeps me coming back for more. I've traveled the world by car, bus, train, ship, and airplane, and stayed in every kind of accommodation along the way, always chasing that feeling of landing somewhere new: trying foods I can't pronounce, discovering new music, and letting the place surprise me.

Digging into the history and culture of a city or country I've never visited turns a trip into something more than sightseeing; it becomes an education. I always walk away with a newfound respect for that region, its people, and the way they see the world, a little changed myself, for the better. That's the kind of travel I want to help you find, too.

What You'll Find Here

Trip planning guides: itineraries, budgeting breakdowns, packing lists, and the logistics that make a trip run smoothly (or the lessons learned when they didn't).

Destination deep dives: honest takes on places I've visited, including the parts that don't usually make it into a highlight reel.

Travel stories: the moments, mishaps, and unexpected turns that happen once the planning is done and the trip actually begins, plus the moments looking back afterward: what worked, what didn't, and what I'd tell a friend before they went.

Practical tips: the kind of advice that comes from having made the mistake already, so you don't have to.

How I Can Help

Whether you're into ocean cruising, river cruising, all-inclusive resorts, or hotel stays, I can help make your next travel dream come true. My goal is to guide you through planning your trip and equip you with the tools to do it well, drawing on what I've learned along the way so your travels are that much smoother.

Who It's For

Whether you're plotting your first solo trip, trying to make the most of a short vacation, or just enjoy reading about places you might visit one day, The Departure Lounge is built for curious travelers who want real information, not just polished photos.

Let's Get Started

Grab a seat, settle in, and take a look around. New posts will cover everything from destination guides to the practical nuts and bolts of planning, and I'm glad you're here for it.

Safe travels, Kirstie