We recently connected with Addie Krug and have shared our conversation below.
Addie, appreciate you joining us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?
You might think this is a useless question to ask a travel agent, but I actually bring people’s vacations home to them.
So my answer to this question is yes and no. Here’s why.
My name is Addie Krug and I am the Founder of Custom Carolina Travel. I create itineraries that are North Carolina based so Carolina locals and neighbors can experience travel-worthy destinations in their own backyard. Our itineraries solve the problem of planning your trip yourself, spending more than what you want traveling abroad, and squeezing time into your busy schedule for an excursion.
I was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. The I77 traffic hasn’t chased me away yet! When I think about the best memories of my life I think about camping in Asheville with my family, hiking in Boone to see the sunset to clear my head, and taking my iced coffee down to the beach in Wilmington. The best part is no hyperventilating on an airplane was required to achieve any of this! The fulfillment I have experienced in this state inspired me to pack that joy into a plan for others.
Not only am I a business owner, but also a college student. We all know what that schedule and budget looks like, which is why I so passionately chase the feeling of travel, but locally. I know many others are in situations where time and money aren’t allowing for big vacations, which led to a major push for me to bring people’s vacations home to them.
Vacations are a joy in life, but I really feel like they only are when they don’t bring additional stress. That’s why I vacation, reimagined, and help people like you do the same.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Addie Krug and I am the Founder of Custom Carolina Travel. I am a born and raised North Carolina local and my best memories are in this state.
When I hear some people discuss their travel plans, I often hear big, creative, and very far away ideas. Every time I hear it I think of how much we overlook right in front of us.
That shift changed everything for me. I went on a mission to gather the best memories I have in NC and pack that joy into a plan to bring these big vacation ideas home to people.
Not only am I a business owner, but also a college student. I know myself and many others want to travel but don’t always have the time and money to do so. This idea fueled my fire even more.
My locally curated North Carolina itineraries are made to bring vacations home to Carolina locals and neighbors, which eliminates the stress of breaking the bank, finding the time, and planning big trips.
Travel creates so much joy. Distance, time, and money no longer stop it.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
People close to me have always seen me plan, almost a bit too much, and the love I have for this state. I began finding interested clients from the people that have seen my interest in skill in creating itineraries and their wonderful kindness of sending referrals my way.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I have found that there is a common pattern of choosing jobs by skill not by passion, and ending up hating it. I have always been unsettled by this idea. I originally went to school for English and thought I would apply somewhere to write something. Not very direct or exciting, but everyone said it was normal to dislike your job. I wasn’t okay with that.
I knew that if I wanted passion and purpose to drive my work, not comfort in money or success, I needed to take the risk of paving the path myself. I needed to let go of the shore to swim out into the ocean and I am grateful every day that I did.
I like to blend in and not have attention on myself, and starting a business by myself was completely letting go of that. Sacrificing comfort temporarily to have joy permanently is a sacrifice I am willing to make no matter how “out there” it may be.
Your passions should speak louder than your fears. Your desire for happiness and impact should outweigh your desire for comfort and success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://customcarolinatravel.com
- Instagram: customcarolinatravel
- Linkedin: Addie-krug
- Other: TikTok: customcarolinatravel
