TRAVEL-WELL
A TRAVEL CONSULTANCY
OUR STORY
TRAVEL-WELL
The whole time I worked in corporate America I was in the hole for vacation hours. I traveled all the time and when I wasn't on a trip, I was day-dreaming about the next trip or planning a trip, either for us or for friends who wanted to travel like the Beesons. I have a superpower. I have synesthesia- a spectrumy sort of ability to visualize geographies, maps, drainages, beaches, hotels, restaurants and everything that goes into travel. I catalog each input and am able to recall, synthesize and communicate the benefits, values and pros and cons of all of it. I am a travel savant and I can talk about it for hours on end. I am a nerd- a travel nerd.
I wanted to leverage my travel talent and combine it with my natural leadership skills, and my work as a Guide to empower people to go further, reach higher, travel- better. We have worked really hard to whittle the germ of the idea of Travel-Well into what it is today- an elegant, multi-media platform for crafting unique and unforgettable active- luxury travel. I honestly, deeply care about what we do and about the idea of our clients enjoying moments of laughter and joy with their family- because we crafted the best opportunity for then to find a moment in time that they will remember forever.
A M.O.E IS A MOMENT OF EUPHORIA AND IT IS WHAT WE SEEK. ONE NIGHT MY WIFE AND I WERE WALKING ON A BEACH IN THE SEYCHELLES. THE SAND WAS HARD-PACKED. THE MOON DANCED ON THE WATER AS IT QUIETLY LAPPED ONTO THE SAND. FRUIT BATS FLEW IN FORMATION BACK TO THE MOUNTAINS AFTER HUNTING INSECTS FOR THE NIGHT. I PULSED HER HAND AND SAID, "THIS IS A MOMENT. I FEEL EUPHORIC. "SHE REPLIED- IT IS A MOMENT OF EUPHORIA." THAT WAS THE NIGHT WE CAME UP WITH M.O.E AND FOREVER SINCE, WE HAVE SOUGHT OUT MOMENTS OF EUPHORIA.
ON WEDNESDAYS IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK, THE BACKCOUNTRY RANGERS DID A HALF DAY OF TRAINING. WE LEARNED HIGH ANGLE LITTER RESCUES, HOW TO STAUNCH BLEEDING IN A BEAR EVENT, WE LEARNED KNOTS AND HOW TO SELF ARREST. WE DID SHOTGUN TRAINING AND SPRAYED BEAR SPRAY INTO AN ONCOMING WIND. IT WAS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE DAY BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS GOING TO LEARN SOMETHING AND I WOULD BE BETTER ON THURSDAY THAN I WAS ON TUESDAY.
AN IMPORTANT LESSON WE LEARNED WAS HOW TO GUIDE. WE WERE TAUGHT THAT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO PUSH THAN TO PULL AND IT IS BETTER TO PROVIDE OPTIONS THAN TO GIVE DIRECTION. THE KERNAL THAT RESONATED MOST WITH ME WAS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH CLIENTS SAFELY OUTSIDE THEIR COMFORT ZONE BECAUE IT IS IN THESE AREAS THAT LIFE IS AFFIRMED AND SOMETIMES CHANGED.
ONE WEDNESDAY WE SAT AT A PICNIC TABLE. OUR LEADER, DENNIS KNUCKLES, THE SUB-DISTRICT RANGER, SAID- "WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A MISSION STATEMENT." WE TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES AND TOSSED A FEW THINGS AROUND. I CAME UP WITH WHAT WE WOULD SUBMIT.
"OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND INTERPRET THE LAND AND TO HELP THOSE THAT NEED HELP, BE THE LEGS FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE TO WALK, THE EYES FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T SEE AS FAR AND THE HEART FOR THOSE WHO, THUS FAR, ARE NOT ABLE TO FEEL SO DEEPLY."
I STILL FEEL THAT WAY SO MANY YEARS LATER, AND SINCE I CAME UP WITH IT, I CONTINUE TO USE THAT MISSION STATEMENT TODAY.
WE SEEK GELATO EVERYWHERE- IT IS A CORE VALUE!
OUR VALUES
IF I COULD DESIGN LIFE, WE WOULD ONLY EVER DO WORK THAT FULFILLS US, MAKE THE AMOUNT WE DESIRE, WORK THE HOURS WE WANT.... AND THEN, WE WOULD PLAY WITH DOGS, FLY-FISH, SURF, READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF EVERY BEST BOOK, EAT THE LAST BITE OF CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM CONES, MAKE LOVE, LAUGH, HAVE OUR FAVORITE BAND PLAY A 5 SONG ENCORE, EAT TACOS, TEACH A CHILD A LESSON THAT TURNS THEIR LIFE AROUND, CLIFF JUMP AND HAVE A COCKTAIL LOOKING OUT AT THE SEA. I JUST LOVE TO HAVE FUN!
1. TO HAVE FUN
2. TO LAUGH- IT IS ALL JUST A GRAND KABUKI SHOW ANYWAY
3. TO DO GOOD
4. TO CONNECT WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND BE SOLVERS
5. TO HELP LOCAL ENVIRONMENTS AND DO NO HARM
6. TO SEEK TRANQUILITY
7. TO TRAVEL TO THE BEAT OF MY DRUM AND HELP OTHERS TO DO SO
8. TO REWARD INDEPENDENCE AND SOUL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
9. TO BE IN SERVICE. NOT TO SERVE
10. TO ONLY HAVE ONE DIRECTION. FORWARD
11. TO HELP OTHERS TO SEE FURTHER AND FEEL DEEPER
My Grandparents brought me home a silk shirt with seahorses on it from a steamer trip to Asia. I wore it until it went threadbare and have searched the earth for one just like it ever since. Listening to them recount their travels set something deep in me to travel as much and as far as I could. It is my Raison detre' and I want to share that passion with you.
FAQ
Q: HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT?
A: WE SEEK LOCATIONS AND LODGING THAT ARE UNIQUE, DIFFERENT, INTERESTING AND OFFER A SMARTER EXPERIENCE. WE THEN CRAFT UNIQUE EXPERIENCES THAT WILL CREATE GREATER AND MORE DEFINED MEMORIES. WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE- ONE THAT IS A BIT MORE CHIC, DESIGNER AND IRREVERENT. SIMPLY STATED, WE JUST HAVE BETTER TASTE AND A NOSE FOR WHAT IS REALLY FUN AND NOT THE NORM.
Q: CAN I AFFORD TRAVEL-WELL?
A: YOU CAN. WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT SERVICE LEVELS. THE FIRST PACKAGE IS FREE. WE MAKE OUR MONEY FROM THE LODGING COMMISSION. WE SEEK VALUE AND ALWAYS BOOK AT THE LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE. WE HAVE A FINANCIAL DUTY TO OUR CLIENTS TO PROVIDE THE GREATEST VALUE, BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW WE MAKE OUR MONEY AND COME IN AT A VALUE. WE ALSO SAVE YOU SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT. I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT A FAMILY OF 4 WILL SPEND 299 ON A DINNER OUT BUT WON'T SPEND THAT TO HAVE US DESIGN A MEMORY THAT WILL LAST THEM A LIFETIME.
Q: WE PLAN OUR TRAVEL OURSELVES AND DON'T NEED ANY HELP.
A:GREAT! ENJOY YOUR TRIP. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. THERE ARE POEPLE WHO MANAGE THEIR OWN WEALTH AND THOSE WHO DO THEIR OWN TAXES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE COUNCIL AND DESIGN FROM EXPERTS TO CRAFT SOMETHING UNIQUE OR DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU USUALLY DO, AND YOU CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE COLLABORATING OR LETTING GO A BIT... WE PROMISE A BETTER PRODUCT AT A GREATER VALUE.
Q: WHY WOULD I USE TRAVEL-WELL?
A: WE HAVE A UNIQUE SKILL. WE CAN FIND REALLY INTERESTING AND COOL LODGING, RESTAURANTS, EXPERIENCES, TRAILS, GARDENS, SHOPS, LIVE MUSIC, MUSEUMS, SPAS AND ALL SORTS OF REALLY FUN THINGS TO DO.... THAT ARE ALL JUST THINGS THAT YOU WILL SAY- OH, WOW- COOL! I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE FOUND THAT! OUR BIGGEST SELLING POINT IS THAT WE HAVE REALLY REALLY GREAT TASTE. AND WE USE OUR GREAT TASTE TO FIND UNDERSTATED, UNIQUE AND CLASSY STUFF ALL OVER THE WORLD.
Q. WHAT DO I GET?
A: A LOCATION/DESTINATION CONSULT. LODGING CHOICES. DINING AND CULINARY IDEAS. EXPERIENCES AND EXCURSIONS IDEAS. SPA, FITNESS AND WELLNESS IDEAS. WE WRAP IT ALL IN A SIMPLE AND EASY TO USE APP FOR YOU TO ACCESS FROM ANY DEVICE. DEPENDING ON YOUR PACKAGE- WE ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU THE WHOLE PLANNING AND TRAVEL PROCESS.
MEET OUR TEAM
This is our Team but we are growing quickly and will be hiring more people this year to keep up with demand. Our goal is to stay small, boutique, high-touch and quality. That takes balance. Just as in everything we do, we will only work with the sharpest, kindest, brightest, most energetic and fun people on earth.
DYLAN BEESON
FOUNDER AND CEO
STACY BEESON RD, LD.
TRAVEL COMPANION, DIRECTOR OF DIETETICS, MODEL, BEST FRIEND.
SUNNY CROCKET
CHIEF PUPPER IN CHARGE
JANELLE WESLOH, MBA.
DIRECTOR, TRAVEL-WELL ASPIRE DIVISION
EMILY LAVELLE
WELLNESS/FITNESS LIAISON
CRISTA WESLOH
DIRECTOR: RESERVATIONS AND LOGISTICS
DEBORAH LEE
YOGA DIRECTOR
