About

Hi there! I'm Chelsea,
luxury travel advisor and founder of Passport to Friday

A true Cancer, hotel-slipper-obsessed gal whose IG Explore page is full of dogs & luxury hotels.

Once upon a time

I was in event management in Texas traveling over 250 days per year. It felt like a dream. Until it wasn't.

I grew up on the sunny coast of beautiful San Diego, where I attended San Diego State University and received my Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management, with an emphasis on Meetings & Events Operations & Management. During that time, I studied abroad in Florence where my passion for travel really began to take hold. In 2014, I moved to Austin, Texas and worked as an event planner for 5 years where I began traveling over 250 days per year managing corporate meetings & incentive travel. 


Then I finally found my purpose, helping others find joy in discovering the world's beauty

By 2016, my love of travel had grown too strong to ignore. I knew I had to turn this passion into a business, so I made the leap to the luxury leisure market and founded Passport to Friday, an affiliate of EMBARK Beyond, a Virtuoso agency.

In 2019, I made the exciting move to New York City, where I've been loving life ever since. That same year, I was nominated for the “Most Innovative Advisor” award at Virtuoso Travel Week and also achieved Marriott International Luxury Brands’ “STARS Celestial Club” status. In 2022, I joined the team at Knightsbridge Circle as their Head of North America as well.

It's been the most incredible adventure, and the travel industry continues to amaze and surprise me every day. I can't wait to see what else is in store in this wonderful career.

Top: Safari-ready in Tanzania
Left: Bamboo forest stroll in Kyoto
Right: Hot air balloon sunrise in Turkey

My really official bio,
the TL:DR Version

Chelsea is a luxury travel advisor and the founder of Passport to Friday. She spends more nights per year in a hotel bed than her own. And she hopes to share her passion for travel by helping couples and families plan the bespoke vacation of their dreams.

04

My mom started her own business which gave me the courage & inspiration to start my own right out of college - love you Mom!

03

I love reading and belong to a book club (shoutout West Village Book Club!)

02

I am a total Francophile and spent a month in Paris in 2022 (but my French still needs work...)

01

I have been to 57 countries, and that list is constantly growing!

Super fun

Facts

now for the important stuff

Tacos!

Usually Craving

Texting/WhatsApp to talk with my nearest & dearest

Can't live without

Emily in Paris. Take me back please.

Favorite Show to Binge

Impossible choice, but my CA heart says beach

Beach vs Mountains

Mexican Martini, IYKYK

Drink of Choice

Tanzania & Rwanda will forever hold a special place in my heart

Favorite Place I've been

Running a ranch rescuing dogs

Alternate Universe Job

Gelato

Guilty Pleasure

Reese Witherspoon. Or Taylor Swift.

Celeb I'd love to meet

A day spent walking around with no plan

Favorite Indulgence

The Quiz

Your at-a-glance guide to where I stand on all the truly important things.

Also on the team

Meet Amber Watkins,
my associate and right hand 

Amber is my one-woman support team based in Dallas, TX! She came to me with a background in the airline industry and a deep passion for traveling the world. She recently married the love of her life in a beautiful, intimate ceremony on Maui. She spends her free time running her wedding photography business, traveling, playing with her pups, getting outside, painting, listening to music, or relaxing with her hubby, a movie, and a glass of red wine.

Newlywed, dog mom, photographer and lover of travel, art, music, and the ocean

Instagram

@passporttofriday

California bred, NYC based, always en route
Follow along on my adventures!