My WISE Travel Journey

Hi, I’m Julie!

As I've traveled around the world, I've always loved connecting with people and learning about different cultures. This passion for travel and cultural experiences led me to a 20-year career in international education where I helped students and faculty have incredible, life-changing experiences abroad, and now I use this knowledge and experience to help female solo and group travelers do the same!

I've lived and worked in France, South Korea, and Portugal, and speak Spanish, French, and a bit of Portuguese. I've traveled extensively, including solo travel, and continue to explore new destinations. I've also been a vegetarian for over 30 years and now follow a mostly vegan lifestyle.

I'm committed to helping women seek more intentional, sustainable, and experiential (WISE) travel, promoting sustainable travel practices that prioritize environmental and cultural preservation as a result of the increasing negative impacts of irresponsible tourism and overtourism on communities and the environment. I hope you'll join me on this WISE travel journey!

Image of woman holding tray of homemade pasta

Mission and Core Values

Our mission is to support female travelers and those they travel with while contributing to the well-being of the environment, communities, and cultures through sustainable tourism best practices.

We conduct business with high standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity.

We value and support diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and treat everyone with respect, dignity, and fairness.

We are committed to your interests, goals, and needs, providing excellent customer service from start to finish.

Travel Manifesto

Focus on doing good, not harm.

Practice responsible travel that sustains communities and the environment.

Travel with intention.

Focus on a more mindful, intentional approach for more purposeful travel.

Strive for balance.

Don’t pack too much, try to do too much, or expect too much.

Stay open-minded.

Resist the urge to judge and remain open to the beauty of difference.

Value quality over quantity.

Take the time to get to know and appreciate the people, culture, and community you’re visiting.

Give back.

Consider what you can do to show support and boost the local economy.

Experience something new.

Learn a local craft, explore some of the local cuisine, or try a new outdoor activity.

Practice kindness and respect.

Leave every place you visit as good as or better than when you arrived.

Sustainability Goals

By supporting responsible tourism, we strive to make a meaningful contribution to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Responsible Consumption and Production

What We Do & Don’t Support:

We will always honor your preferences with regard to your sustainability comfort level. Because we support positive impact travel, we encourage you to consider destinations that are not over-touristed, where a sustainable focus and infrastructure are in place.

We also encourage you to explore local experiences that you will not only enjoy and benefit from, but will also benefit the local community. If you’d like to incorporate a guided tour into your itinerary, rest assured that we work with responsible travel guides and tours.

It is also important to note that while we do support sustainable ships and other sailing opportunities, we do not book mainstream cruise line travel as a result of the harm caused to communities as well as the environment. We also do not support animal encounters that involve unhealthy practices and the mistreatment of animals.

Memberships

Mindful Explorer Travel is a member of the following professional organizations:

American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA)

Sustainable Travel International