Escape Magazine- Autumn 2025_Spreads

MEET... CAITLYN PEARCE CHELTENHAM SHOP MANAGER 10 years down and counting! Caitlyn’s incredible journey with Travelbag stretches a full decade, and come November, she’ll hit the big 1-1!

WHAT’S NEXT ON YOUR PERSONAL TRAVEL BUCKET LIST?

IS THERE A TRIP YOU’VE HELPED PLAN THAT YOU STILL THINK ABOUT YEARS LATER? I never tire of helping people with Canada itineraries that involve Rocky Mountaineer and conclude with an Alaska cruise. WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE WHEN ON HOLIDAY? I love a magnet…or 10! My fridge gives that away. WHAT’S YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT FROM YOUR 10 YEARS AT TRAVELBAG? It has to be coming back to Cheltenham as the Branch Manager, 10 years after starting here as a sales consultant.

I was planning to go to Mexico for the Day of the Dead festival in November – I’m fascinated!

WHAT’S THE MOST SPONTANEOUS THING YOU’VE EVER DONE ON A TRIP? Probably a skydive in New Zealand, which they tried to cancel a few times due to the heavy winds. We went anyway and I loved it – I couldn’t understand why everyone was so scared. WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH JET LAG? I haven’t figured that out yet - it knocks me dead every time!

OF ALL THE PLACES YOU’VE BEEN, WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVOURITE? My favourite place is Antigua, as I had the opportunity to swim with stingrays – they are so mischievous and cute! The beaches are beautiful too. There are 365, one for every day of the year. WHAT’S CHANGED THE MOST IN TRAVEL SINCE YOU STARTED? It’s now much more accessible to everyone. When I started, there were only a small percentage of people taking big, long-haul trips – now we see travellers of all ages, which I love!

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST BOOKING? WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU ALWAYS PACK, NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO? I’m always listening to music on my headphones. My first booking was a twin-centre trip to Las Vegas and San Francisco, and I remember being baffled when the client mentioned playing golf in Vegas - who knew that was a thing?

34

35

CALL 020 4586 2615 | VISIT YOUR LOCAL TRAVELBAG SHOP | VISIT TRAVELBAG.CO.UK

Skydive in New Zealand