Today we’d like to introduce you to Annabelle Bragalone.
Hi Annabelle, 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?
I’ve always had a passion for travel and learning about different places and cultures. I never realized I could turn my very expensive hobby into a career until my family worked with a travel advisor for a safari a few years ago. That trip showed me how much impact the right planning and connections can have.
When I got home, I immediately started looking into how I could get involved in the industry. I started as an assistant, learned the ropes, and figured out how the business really works. After gaining experience and confidence in the role, I launched my own travel business and have been building it ever since.
Now I help clients plan intentional, elevated trips around the world, and I genuinely love what I do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a straight line. The thing about travel advising is that there’s no one-size-fits-all path. I don’t have a boss or a set structure – everything is up to me. How I run my business, how I make money, how I find clients, what trips or events I invest in… there’s no playbook.
Because it’s just me running the business, there’s a huge amount of self-motivation involved. No one is setting deadlines or telling me what to prioritize. I’ve built all my own systems, learned the industry from the inside out, and kept myself moving even on the days when things feel unclear or confusing.
It can be challenging, but those challenges are also what have allowed me to take ownership of where I want my business to go.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I run a boutique travel agency where I design intentional, elevated trips for clients around the world. I focus on high-touch, customized planning.
I work one-on-one with each client to build trips that match their style, pace, and priorities. Most clients come to me when they want something personal, seamless, and curated rather than a generic itinerary. I also partner closely with trusted hotels and on-the-ground teams, which gives travelers access to upgrades, amenities, and experiences they wouldn’t find on their own.
What sets my brand apart is the level of care and personalization behind everything I do. I take the time to understand each traveler’s preferences and build trips that reflect that. I’m proud that my business feels warm and human, not transactional.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I don’t think of myself as a big risk-taker in the traditional sense, but starting and growing my own business has required plenty of personal and professional risk. In travel advising, there’s no guaranteed paycheck, no built-in structure, and no clear roadmap. Choosing to rely entirely on myself – my effort, my consistency, my relationships – was a huge risk on its own.
The biggest risk I’ve taken was deciding to pursue this career full-time and build something from the ground up. There was no moment where someone told me “this will work” or “here’s exactly what to do.” I had to trust my instincts, bet on my ability to learn quickly, and move forward even when things felt uncertain.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gotravelle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curatedtravelle/
