ESKYSTUDIO / SHUTTERSTOCK
On his vacation time , he went all over Europe ; to Greece , Romania and Istanbul — twice . “ It was amazing ,” he says . “ I just love that city .”
After his Peace Corps assignment was over , he took a Close of Service trip , which is a common practice for Peace Corps volunteers . “ I hung around for a month after my service ended and went all over Europe . So that informs how I approach my travel business because well … guess what I ’ m an expert in ? Europe !”
Becoming a Good Travels Advisor Wahlgren ’ s time in the Peace Corps not only sparked his ambitions to get into the travel industry , but it continued to influence him as he grew his business and inspired him to become a certified Good Travels Advisor .
The Good Travels Advisor certification is an online training platform launched in 2016 through Tourism Cares , an organization dedicated to maximizing travel ’ s potential to be a global force for good . The certification gives travel advisors the knowledge and tools to support travelers interested in giving and volunteering . “ I decided to sign up for that when they first launched it because I felt like it dovetailed with my Peace Corps experience , and I wanted to have that certification so my clients know that I ’ m thoughtful about traveling ,” Wahlgren says . “ When I go somewhere new where I don ’ t know the culture , I ’ m always a little bit nervous . I want to be respectful ; I want to make sure I ’ m not doing anything that would harm anyone . The Good Travels Advisor program has different components and one of them is being as environmentally sustainable as you can when you ’ re traveling and also making sure you ’ re not doing anything when you ’ re there that would harm the locals .
“ We have to be mindful of that ,” Wahlgren says .
What ’ s in Matt ’ s Carry-On ?
MATT SHARES WHAT HE CAN ’ T TRAVEL WITHOUT .
“ I have this little comfort kit that I put together in a little drawstring bag — that bag from Crown Royal — I save those and if I give one to clients , I put a little bottle of Crown Royal in it . When I make them for myself , I put [ in ] some earplugs , headphones , towelettes , a little toothbrush , and toothpaste , a lotion , definitely some breath strips , some playing cards . It ’ s a little different every time . I put a little snack in there of some sort and I just bring it with me on the plane . It ’ s got everything I need in there to freshen up .
“ Do you ever feel a little funky after you ’ ve been on a plane for a while ? I use these deodorizing wipes to wipe down your clothes , to freshen up . About an hour before the plane lands , I go in the bathroom and brush my teeth , freshen up . I tend to give one to whoever is traveling with me too , just to make the ride a little more enjoyable . I don ’ t fly first class , so that ’ s my own version of those first-class kits , but better .”
BELLE HUNG / SHUTTERSTOCK . COM
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