We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Apryl Shue. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Apryl below.
Apryl, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?
If I could go back in time, I would start my business sooner.
For a long time, fear held me back. Living with a disability that includes chronic and unpredictable health symptoms can be an incredibly vulnerable place to be. I am also, by nature, a very Type A, detail driven planner who carries a lot of anxiety about getting everything “right.” I worried deeply about letting clients down if my symptoms flared and I became unexpectedly bed bound. I questioned whether clients would truly see the value I could offer.
What finally shifted for me was the constant encouragement from my family, friends, and my therapist. They pushed me to lean into what I do well and reminded me that I already had meaningful skills people would appreciate. I am thoughtful, honest, and deeply invested in the people I work with. I am logical and efficient, and I genuinely enjoy finding the smartest path from point A to point B. I know where it makes sense to save money and where a splurge actually enhances the experience.
Most importantly, I had already been planning trips for friends and family for years. The foundation for this business was already there. I simply didn’t trust myself enough to step into it.
Looking back, I wish I had believed in myself sooner.
Apryl, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Apryl Shue, and I am the owner of Traveling Shues.
I provide complimentary, full service travel planning for nearly every type of trip you can imagine. I work with families, individuals, school groups, sports teams, and corporate clients. My bookings range from theme parks, cruise lines, and all inclusive resorts to business travel, boutique properties, and local staycations.
My role is to remove the stress, overwhelm, and time consuming research from travel planning. I help clients navigate destinations, compare options, understand promotions, and avoid costly mistakes. Because I partner with a wide range of suppliers, from major brands to smaller boutique companies, I can tailor each trip instead of forcing every client into the same type of vacation.
What truly sets me apart, though, is how personal my planning process is.
I live with a permanent disability and chronic health challenges, which has completely reshaped how I approach travel. I understand firsthand how many extra layers of planning are required when accessibility, medical needs, fatigue, or sensory concerns are part of the picture. I know how important it is to consider proximity, transportation, mobility needs, rest opportunities, and backup plans before a trip ever begins.
I specialize in building trips that are realistic, accessible, and flexible without sacrificing fun or meaningful experiences. Whether a family is traveling with a disability, navigating food allergies, coordinating a large group, or simply feeling overwhelmed by too many choices, I design travel that works for real life.
What I am most proud of is creating a business that allows people to feel confident, supported, and excited instead of anxious about their travel. I want clients to know that they are never just a booking number to me. I care deeply about their experience, their comfort, and their peace of mind.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2013, I was working as a special education teacher at my neighborhood high school. I was also a faculty sponsor for the Class of 2016 and for Key Club. It was truly my dream job at my dream school.
Everything changed in a single moment.
One afternoon, I was in the cafeteria after school during a Key Club meeting. Several student groups were gathered throughout the space, and two students nearby were tossing a ball back and forth while waiting for lacrosse practice. I wasn’t paying attention to them.
Suddenly, I felt an intense, overwhelming pain in my head. I remember very little after that.
I later learned that the ball had been missed and struck me directly in my left temple. I suffered a closed skull traumatic brain injury that resulted in a permanent disability.
I could no longer perform the job I loved. I was in constant pain and dealing with a wide range of neurological and physical symptoms. The injury did not affect only me. My children were very young at the time and do not remember me before my disability. They have only ever known a version of me that must carefully manage chronic illness. My husband unexpectedly became not only my partner, but also my primary caregivers.
Travel, something our family loved, became much more complicated. I began researching local medical facilities at destinations, identifying nearby pharmacies, confirming accessible lodging, evaluating transportation options, and carefully reviewing activities for physical and sensory accessibility. I worried constantly about becoming a burden to my family if symptoms flared. I worried about whether my mobility devices or service dog would draw unwanted attention or embarrassment.
At the same time, travel also became one of the few places where I could briefly feel normal again. I could enjoy experiences without being reduced to a diagnosis.
That contrast is exactly why I now specialize in supporting families and travelers with disabilities and medical complexities. I understand the emotional weight, the extra planning, and the vulnerability that come with those trips. I know how important it is to protect both the joy of travel and the safety of the traveler.
It took years of medical treatment, therapy, and major changes to my daily life to reach the stability I have today. Although my disability is often invisible, it affects how I move through the world, how I am perceived, and how I plan every aspect of my life.
That pivot, away from the classroom and toward building a travel business, ultimately allowed me to turn a life altering experience into meaningful, practical support for others navigating similar challenges.
How’d you meet your business partner?
In late 2019, my husband and I were preparing our house to go on the market while also planning a trip to Walt Disney World for a cheerleading competition. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement.
My husband encouraged me to reach out to a friend who worked as a travel advisor. At first, I was hesitant. This trip was my pride and joy. I had spent countless hours studying park maps, menus, and building a fully color coded spreadsheet. I didn’t want anyone coming in and “messing it up.”
Eventually, I reached out and was very honest with her. I explained how stressed I was and how difficult it felt to give up control, but I also admitted that I needed help before I reached complete burnout. She was added to my spreadsheet, and together we refined and finalized every detail of the trip.
While we were traveling, COVID 19 began unfolding and the parks suddenly closed. My friend became an absolute lifeline. She kept us updated on changing procedures, helped rebook dining reservations as locations shut down, and made sure we had accurate information about what was happening back home. Her support during such an uncertain time completely changed how I viewed the role of a travel advisor.
Over the next four years, I continued working with her for all of our family travel. She never tried to take over my planning style. Instead, she embraced my spreadsheets, shared my excitement for details, and supported my need for structure.
Eventually, she began encouraging me to consider becoming a travel advisor myself. It took nearly a year and a half of reassurance before I finally believed I could do it. After researching host agencies, I chose MainStreet Travel Agency, the same host company she was part of. I had seen firsthand the quality of training, support, and professionalism she received, and I knew it would be the right environment for me.
Today, we remain close friends and professional collaborators. We do not view each other as competition. We share resources, ideas, and encouragement, and that spirit of collaboration continues across the entire MainStreet community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TravelingShues.com
- Instagram: @TravelingShues
- Facebook: @TravelingShues
