Chapter 134: Introducing Lotus Wellness Travel!
Hello Lovely Readers,
For some reason I feel compelled to start this with “You keep me young. I love you so much!” as Amy Poehler said best.
After sharing my recent Spot update, I have been flooded with love, hope, and support from so many of you - THANK YOU. I feel it working. Damn Spot is shrinking already.
Despite an uncertain future, I’ve been busy building a side business that has been a dream of mine for years. I love to travel. Since my diagnosis of incurable brain cancer 6 years ago, I have traveled to more than 20 countries, some multiple times! Booking a trip for the future is a mental trick that makes me believe, “I will be healthy” or, sometimes, “I have to be healthy- that trip is nonrefundable!” So far, it’s working quite well.
Now, I am very aware that this kind of frequent international travel is not possible for everyone, but I also think travel is much more possible than some people dare to dream.
In the cancer community and in my own patients, I meet so many people who want to talk about travel. But, I hear too often, “I wish I could travel” followed by any number of reasons: I wish I could travel, but…I’m too worried…I have a bad knee, my mobility is limited, I can’t risk being away from my doctor, I don’t know how I’d get medical care abroad, I’m scared to travel alone, I can’t find a place my kids would like, it’s too expensive to go anywhere” etc etc.
Yes, there are endless reasons not to travel. But what if there are also endless reason to travel?
What if travel can bring you a fresh perspective of hope, opportunity, and inspiration? What if travel can remind you that you are strong, independent, capable, youthful, and vibrant? What if travel can show you that, despite all odds, you are still alive and thriving?
I want that for you! I want that for everyone!
Travel brings me joy, new perspective, and hope. I truly believe it’s one of the best and most underrated “supplements” for wellbeing.
My mission in creating a travel advisory was simple: make meaningful travel accessible to everyone.
I started Lotus Wellness Travel, a boutique physician-founded travel advisory because I believe safety, dignity, and beautiful experiences can exist in the same itinerary.
Lotus Wellness Travel is designed for all people — with or without health-related accessibility needs. It’s a travel platform designed to thoughtfully curate safe, personalized travel experiences with everyone’s unique needs in mind.
As a cancer survivor and physician, I understand the “what ifs” of travel both professionally and personally. I’ve traveled after brain surgery and navigated unexpected health scares far from home. I’ve been there, and those experiences shape how I plan trips for others.
I’ve been hospitalized in Thailand and coordinated a medical flight home through travel insurance. This was a challenging, but also hilarious process.
I’ve been stranded in another state without access to prescription medication and realized how overwhelming that would feel without a medical license that allowed me to refill my own Rx.
I’ve navigated rabies exposure decisions after a close call with a very cute dog in Nepal. Yes, I always pet the stray dogs…No, I do not medically recommend this!
I’ve designed safe experiences for my own solo travel with access to private drivers, medical care, and contingency plans in multiple countries.
Lotus Wellness Travel is a wellness and accessible travel advisory service built by a physician, but designed for everyone.
If you are someone interested in travel but hesitant to do so, I want to help. If you are concerned about traveling solo, finding medical care abroad, picking the right travel insurance, facing jetlag, pacing to maintain energy, dealing with mobility limitations, or simply want someone else to take the work of planning off your busy schedule, LWT is for you.
I love to plan trips. I truly love to make itineraries, meticulously research costs, read endless hotel reviews, and curate experiences to make people smile. I do this for my family and friends. I want to do this for others too!
I’ll be honest, I had never used a travel advisor before starting this business. I figured- why would I pay someone to plan my travel when I can do it myself? Here’s the secret I learned:
Using a travel advisor doesn’t cost more- often, it gets you more.
Hotels frequently offer added perks to guests who book through advisors like me. Whether you’re booking a new or modifying an existing stay, I can often secure benefits you wouldn’t receive on your own, like free room upgrades, breakfast, spa credits, and more.
Through preferred partnerships with 5,000+ hotels worldwide- from boutique stays to luxury wellness retreats- I’m able to advocate for you at no additional cost.
You pay the same. You travel with more care, flexibility, and benefits.
How do travel agents make money? Hotels/experiences/cruises pay agents a direct commission (just as they would to Expedia, etc). The commission is usually smaller than big companies like Expedia, meaning hotels save money which is used for those free perks. For more extensive travel planning, I do charge a small fee. I mean, I still need to keep my piggy bank full for my own trips!
I feel very odd using this blog as a sort of update combined with a sales pitch, but I can’t really get my passion project up and running without some clients. I’ve booked for a few clients who have lived to tell the tale, so you can feel reassured. Now, I need help expanding!
Help me use this stupid brain cancer diagnosis for something good- something to help others live their best lives every damn day.
Find more at https://www.lotuswellnesstravel.com/ and spread the word!
Readers, you rock.
Fondly,
Courtney
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