Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Patil.
Hi Samantha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The idea for Well Traveled was born out of a personal pain point. It’s no secret that finding relevant, trustworthy travel recommendations is both frustrating and time-consuming. After one particularly frustrating afternoon spent scouring the internet for feedback from travelers I could actually relate to and coming up empty, I realized that the tools I was using were not designed for me. In fact, they were built more than 20 years ago (by a bunch of dudes) and haven’t really changed much since. Yet how we travel, what we prioritize when we travel, and even where we travel has changed so dramatically (especially in the past year!).
It’s also worth noting that today’s travelers make decisions based on their friends and social network, yet the world’s largest travel companies don’t seem to understand this. So I decided to do something about it. Well Traveled is a members-only social platform built for modern travelers. We make it easier to find recommendations from fellow travelers who share your personal tastes, preferences, and budget, with real reviews from fellow foodies, tastemakers, and adventure seekers. We also offer members a personalized booking service where we provide unmatched benefits and exclusive perks at thousands of hotel properties around the world.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has not been smooth but it has been worthwhile. I don’t mind the bumps in the road, in fact I tend to think that means you’re really onto something… One of my favorite quotes on this topic is from John Foley (founder of Peloton) when asked what he felt were the most important traits in an entrepreneur and he said “the spirit of loving adversity and loving a challenge” — I think that’s pretty spot on.
We actually launched Well Traveled’s beta in 2020, in the midst of the global pandemic. To be honest, we weren’t sure whether we should launch given everything that was going on, but after a lot of careful consideration, we soft-launched with an open, honest and heartfelt message to our community and it turned out to absolutely be the right thing for us to do. Thinking about where we are now and our thriving community, it’s clear looking back we made the right decision and I’m so proud of our team for how far we’ve come!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Well Traveled?
Well Traveled is a members-only social platform built for modern travelers. We’re a female-founded company that’s reimagining how people discover, plan and book experiences by tapping into the power of community and human connection. Designed for a new generation of travelers, foodies and adventure seekers, we’re making it easier to uncover places you actually want to go, vetted by a community you can trust.
We’re on a mission to build a travel company for those who are not being served by the current travel ecosystem. We’re building Well Traveled for conscious travelers who work hard and want to enjoy life but also care deeply about where and how they’re spending their hard-earned cash and time. We’re making it easier for you to discover, plan and book incredible trips.
How do you think about happiness?
One of the most rewarding parts of what I do is without a doubt, the comments we get from our members. Seth Godin once said “People do not buy goods and services. People buy relations, stories, and magic.” Helping our members create magical experiences and memories that will last a lifetime is so rewarding.
Personally, I of course love to travel. Some of my favorite places include Zermatt, London and Tulum. One day I hope to plan a ski trip to Japan. I’d also love to visit Mexico City and Costa Rica. I’m always thinking about where I’m heading next!
When I’m not on the go (which I often am), I love a snuggly Sunday on a Fall afternoon, with my husband and pup, watching a good movie (probably Harry Potter ha!), baking something or reading a book.
Pricing:
- Well Traveled membership is priced at $150, annually.
- Membership includes access to Well Traveled’s community, trip planning tools, personalized booking service and exclusive member perks.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://welltraveledclub.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welltraveledclub/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/welltraveledco
Image Credits:
Well Traveled
