Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Morgan.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
All my life, I’ve traveled. I didn’t see it that way when I was a kid — the road trips we took to Florida from Missouri were for practical reasons, not vacation. In college, I drove to Arizona for two summers to work at a summer camp, and those road trips were out of necessity too.
Looking back, I know those trips to Arizona sparked the travel bug in me. Before I left, my mom found a bunch of Arizona-themed magazines, and I earmarked them and made a list of places I had to see while I was out West. That habit of researching where I’m going hasn’t left me.
My first business trip was to San Francisco in 2014; I had never been there, and I had plans for what I wanted to see and where I wanted to eat that was within walking distance of my hotel. It was an amazing experience, and really instilled in me my love of seeing new places and trying new things. Since then, I’ve traveled all over the US for work — Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, South Beach, Baltimore. And, thanks to an internet community, I’ve also traveled to visit friends — St. Louis, Detroit, Chattanooga, Atlanta.
My 2022 has been heavy with personal travel, with three cruises to the Caribbean (and more planned for next year!). My love of the details, of finding excursions and learning about the ships, and the excitement I get from those details, led me to decide to become a travel advisor. I want to help people plan amazing trips in the US or on a cruise and for them to have the same excitement I have.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m just getting started as a travel advisor; however, after the last 2 years of pandemic, I’m glad to be traveling again and getting to help others travel as well.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
All Bodies Travel focuses, for now, on cruises departing the US and travel within the US, with a particular focus on plus-sized people. As a plus-sized person myself, I know the difficulties and obstacles that can arise when traveling, and I want to ease the way for my fellow plus-sized folk. We face a lot of challenges, from space in the cabin bathrooms to not knowing if there will be a seat for us at a restaurant that doesn’t have arms to being able to find a spot to take a breather at a museum. I want to be able to provide people with the knowledge they need to be able to plan ahead. I want to smooth the way for plus-sized travelers so that they don’t feel they need to shrink themselves to be able to see the world. All bodies are travel bodies, and I want my clients to embrace the adventure that comes with traveling.
One of the main questions I get is, what does a travel advisor do, exactly? Well, I book travel. I can do the research and find a cruise on a line that suits you. I can find a hotel within your price range. I can put together an itinerary that allows you to explore a destination within your physical limitations if any. I can create vacation packages, including flights, hotel, rentals, and activities. For most of this, there is no fee associated with my work. I’m paid on commission from the provider, so the price my clients pay is the price they’d pay anyway — if not less.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I’ve lived in Durham for 8 years now, and I love it more with each passing year. I love the thriving food scene, the quirky bars, and the walkable downtown. I also love the wealth of hiking spots around here; when I first moved here, that’s how I got acquainted with the area.
What I like least about Durham is the housing. We keep getting personality-less condos and apartment buildings, and it feels less like “Dirty Durm” and more like a generic city.
Contact Info:
- Website: allbodiestravel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allbodiestravel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087269091796
