Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Castellanos.
Angel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in El Monte, California and while my parents traveled, I had five older brothers, so I had to wait until it was my turn to travel with them. My first international trip was at an early age with my parents on a journey that lasted three months through the American Southwest, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Moved by my passion for art, music, history and architecture, I studied abroad in Europe in college. This lead to my love of Europe and travel. I have returned to Europe every year of my adult life.
I knew that if I liked traveling in Europe so much, I needed to see more of the world. Travel started to become my life’s work and my Ph.D in Life. Eventually, I branched out to other places and continents, now traveling to over 85 countries on five continents. I started my travel companies to allow me to share my passion, leverage my expertise and develop various revenue streams that would allow me travel more and have a business. I learned so much about myself and the world that I wanted to help others experience the same.
Building a business based on your passion for traveling is incredible. We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Any entrepreneur will tell you that they devout countless hours to their business. Your business is your baby, meal ticket, the love of your life and sometimes your enemy. This is compounded when you are pioneering and inventing a career and business from scratch. I knew I wanted to travel the world and get paid for it. I started giving my travel talks to leverage my expertise in very humble small retail travel stores with sometimes nobody showing up.
Once my brand grew, I eventually was asked to speak on the national level at some pretty big travel shows with some big-time travel names like Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, Rick Steves, Samantha Brown…and my name was in the tiniest print at the bottom of the program. Today, I’m happy to say that I’m a keynote speaker at some of these national travel shows. The same thing goes for my website and the ability to gain contracts as an ambassador to various travel brands. At first, hardly anyone would give me the time of day. But with enough persistence, planning, and experience, I now have worked with some pretty big brands in the travel industry.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Travel Ambassador was started in order for me to execute my business plan and develop several streams of revenue in the travel industry. My website became the notes from my travel talks and trips to help people travel smarter and better. I get out and meet my readers at various travel talks and meetups. I give over 90 travel talks per year and travel 12-14 weeks internationally. I also share it on social media.
I am known for sharing my passion for travel, giving practical travel tips and having an authentic voice about my experiences. I’m not a beautiful girl taking the most epic Instagram photo, but the guy next door who tells you the tips and secrets about this incredible trip he was on. My goal is always to help fellow travelers make their next trip “the next best trip of their life” and to teach “Smart Travel” and equip travelers with the skills they need to make travel easy and enjoyable. I’m all about the travel tips and sharing the info that helps people travel better and smarter.
I am most proud that I am considered a travel expert by media that allows me to spread my message a little further. I am now a multi-media travel personality and travel expert that has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Fox News, CBS, Univision, Frommers Radio, USA Today & Travel & Adventure Show and New York Times Travel Show.
I’m also known as an ambassador for slow-travel, sustainable travel and represent some of the top brands in the travel industry. What sets me apart is that I’m authentic, I’m an independent traveler, and I’m transparent with my audience and readers.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck. It’s all about hard work and putting in the time and effort. Life and business isn’t perfect by any means, but I do believe that it’s how you react to situations that do matter. Make your own luck and don’t wait around for your passion to find you. Go find it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.angelstravellounge.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angels_travels/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetravelambassador/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/angelstravels
Image Credit:
All photos by Angel Castellanos, Travel Ambassador Inc
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