As the holidays approach you may be thinking of what gift you can give to yourself or a loved one. Maybe you want to go somewhere tropical and dance to the beat of an island vibe or maybe you just want to visit a foreign destination and create new holiday memories; either way renowned travel agent Issia Lee has just the plan for you. Recently Issia sat down with FEMI to discuss how to travel safely solo.
FEMI (Mo Clark): What made you get into the traveling business?
During COVID I was sick at home with nothing to do. I saw an advertisement about starting your own travel agency for $69 and decided to see what it was all about. I went ahead and spent the money. After taking the course, I got a certificate, and at first, I didn’t do anything with it for a few months. Then after the New Year (2021) it was time for a change. I wanted to see how I could add to the skills that I already had. I made a post about my trip to Las Vegas, showing people what they could do there and it blew up and went viral. From there, everything took off and the travel company became my new business venture. The rest is history.
FEMI: What have you found to be most rewarding about doing what you do?
ISSIA LEE: The perks and the benefits. Owning a traveling agency, being a model, and a content creator, I used my entrepreneurial mindset and found ways to tie everything together. I was able to showcase the business, enhance the experience for potential customers, and build my personal brand all in one. I promoted deals and because I was traveling, I also benefited from the perks and was able to share with my customers so they could also reap the benefits.
FEMI: As the holidays are approaching, a lot of people will be traveling. What are some popular destinations you would recommend this year?
ISSIA: Mexico City and El Salvador. It’s time to step outside of the typical travel destinations that everyone goes to like Cancun, Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. I encourage people to explore different areas where they aren’t doing the same thing. Everyone is doing ziplining, ATV riding, and jet skiing. There are other opportunities to tap into new cities, new countries, and new cultural experiences. There’s more to travel than just staying at popular resorts for a luxury experience where you don’t get the true feel of a destination.
FEMI: I’ve always wanted to travel out of the country, however when I was younger, I watched ‘Brokendown Palace’ and it caused me to have anxiety about traveling. How do you navigate through that as I am sure you’ve had clients with this fear as well?
ISSIA: I make sure that I do my research. It is important to know that what you do in some countries you can’t do in other countries. There are different cultures, rules, and regulations that you have to respect. Also, keep in mind that you can’t travel everywhere with everyone. Your Mexico friends might not be your Thailand or Greece friends. Every city is not a club city. Find the purpose and the vibe and go along with it.
FEMI: While embarking on your journey, what’s something that you learned about the travel industry that you didn’t know before starting out?
ISSIA: Each country, each state, and each place has something different to offer. If you have been snorkeling once, do something different. You don’t have to go snorkeling every single place you go. Also, I realized traveling is not as expensive as I previously thought. You don’t always have to plan months in advance. Being a solo traveler, there is more flexibility and you don’t have to be limited to what other people want to do. I believe being a solo traveler broadens the experience in so many different ways, more so than group travel.
FEMI: Is there anywhere that you’ve always wanted to travel that you haven’t been to yet?
ISSIA: Japan. I am going to Tokyo, Japan in January 2024 and I am so excited to go.
FEMI: We’ve all probably wanted to plan a trip or travel somewhere but didn’t move forward because we would be traveling alone. What would you recommend for traveling alone?
ISSIA: Again, always do your research when planning a trip to a place you are unfamiliar with. I recommend starting small and keeping yourself busy to keep the anxiety down and the fear of being alone. Book group tours and cultural tours. I like to do that on the first day of my trip to help set the tone. Also, try to adapt to their culture while you are there. For example, as a woman, there are clothes that I wouldn’t wear in other countries that I wear at home.
FEMI: What do you feel is the most exciting thing about what you do when planning trips for others? What’s up next for you?
ISSIA: Broadening their horizons and letting them know the options they have. If you have a budget for $1,200 you don’t have to go to Miami. You can go to Costa Rica. I love to share my experiences with them so they can feel more comfortable because I have done it myself.
As far as what’s next, I’m working on building my travel community, sharing my experiences, and learning from the experiences of others. Although I am an “expert”, I like to call myself a beginner expert because there is still so much I have not done. I can learn from people and they can learn from me. In this space, there are so many people who would rather tear down a solo traveler than build them up. We can support each other. I want to put that into the community and into the atmosphere.
Well, who’s ready to pack their bags and unwrap a trip for the holidays? Make sure you follow Issia Lee and take those trips. Learning new things and new cultures can be both educating and captivating, especially around the holidays. Do yourself a favor and book that trip you’ve always wanted to. Make sure to take plenty of pics and save those digital memories. Happy Travels!
Connect with Issia Lee on Instagram @Issia.Lee and Facebook. Don’t forget to stay inspired with trip ideas on her YouTube!
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