Travel Consultant Tuesday: Adriana Sanchez

In this week’s edition of Travel Consultant Tuesday, we interviewed Adriana Sanchez. With 27 countries visited (and counting), her passion for travel is contagious.

Did you travel a lot as a child?
Travel was a major part of my upbringing. My father is from Spain, so from diapers, I was on a plane. We would take trips at least once a year to visit family. We’d typically stay in Europe for the whole summer and venture to different areas of Spain and Portugal.

Watch our full interview with Adriana here:

Even as a kid, I was fascinated by being in the airport. I thought it was like a mall for travel. In my mind, you could walk up to any of the desks or kiosks and sign right up to go to a new destination. I loved the idea of traveling somewhere completely different from what I was used to.

Growing up, I had a map above my bed. Instead of story time, we would do map time. My parents would show me where my family lived or where we’d been or if we had friends that had moved, we’d put a pin on the map marking those spots. Seeing all the pins on my wall just made the world feel small, like I could explore it all.

Did you always know you’d become a travel consultant?
My path took a couple of turns before I landed in this career. When I was 18-years old, I decided to be an international relations major. Then after college, I got an opportunity to become a corporate flight attendant. I was able to travel the world which was an amazing opportunity. Sometimes it was two weeks in St. Maarten and other times it was 24-hours in Edinburgh which made for a crazy schedule.

Coffee was my best friend in those days! I may have only had one day to explore a new country, but I was always determined to get a taste of a destination. Ultimately, the job wasn’t the right fit for me long-term, but my eyes were definitely opened by the experience. When I was looking for something to transition into, I found the role with Synergy International Travels and I knew it was meant to be.

How many countries have you been to?
I’ve been to 27 countries so far! In May, I’ll be adding three more to my list with a trip to Switzerland, Austria and Germany alongside my boyfriend. We love exploring new places together. I’m really detail-oriented when laying out our itineraries, including routes to hike and of course, spots to eat! I treat my clients’ trips with the same level of attention to detail. It’s as I would if it were my own trip because I truly care about every aspect of their experience. I imagine anything they may encounter along the way and help them anticipate what to expect to maximize their vacation.

What kind of traveler are you?
I love adventure travel. Oftentimes, these are the types of trips that are better done on a tour. I recently went to Sri Lanka and it was worth the long hours of travel because it was something completely different and new for me. Having a tour guide in Sri Lanka made all the difference! If I had navigated it on my own, I probably would have missed a lot of the things our guide suggested to our group.

Do you have any airport hacks?
After spending a few years as a flight attendant, I definitely have some airport hacks. My number one tip is to never put anything inside the backseat pocket that you’d be upset if you lost. It’s a really easy spot to forget to retrieve your personal items! I also recommend that people bring an empty refillable water bottle. This way, you can be ecologically conscious and have water easily accessible once you’re on board.

What is one of the misconceptions about your services as a travel consultant?
I think that a lot of people would be surprised to learn that we do not charge anything additional for our services. So my recommendations, suggestions and expertise on a specific destination do not cost you anything extra. By booking with me or another one of Synergy International Travels 's consultants, you save so much time. We're here for you before, during and after your vacation.

Why do you believe vacations count?
Vacations count because whether it’s a long weekend in Antigua or a week-and-a-half in Switzerland, you come back feeling recharged and refreshed. You’re ready to approach a new project with a whole new perspective and energy.

Where can travelers connect with you to start planning their next vacation?
For those in the Bergen County area, I'd love to schedule a complimentary in-person consultation in our River Edge office. Otherwise, you can reach me via email at SanchezA@Synergy travel.com or phone at 201-489-8300. I can't wait to help plan your next adventure!