Debra Westbrooks - Debra's Travel Adventures

10/07/2026

Travel has taught me a lot about trusting my own path.

Not every journey has to look like someone else’s. You don’t have to travel where everyone else is going, do what everyone else is doing, or look for someone else’s validation before taking that next step.

Sometimes you simply have to trust yourself.
And sometimes trusting yourself is nothing more than putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward—even when you don’t have everything figured out.

Travel has taught me that there are things we carry with us that we eventually need to put down: fear, doubt, other people’s expectations, and the need to explain our choices.

Your journey belongs to you.

Choose your path. Trust yourself. Keep moving forward.

And for the things you can’t control?

Let them. 💜

— Debra’s Travel Adventures

✨ AI-generated image created from my original concept.

10/04/2026

🚢 Three more days!

I’m getting excited for my 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise with Holland America, sailing round-trip from San Diego!

Although I’ve sailed with Holland America many times, I always enjoy experiencing the ships again. Cruise lines continue to make changes and updates, and as a travel advisor, I think it’s important to experience those changes firsthand.

I’ll be exploring the ship, checking out the dining and entertainment, and sharing plenty of photos along the way. I’ll also show you my ocean-view stateroom and take you around the ship during some of my favorite quiet early-morning hours. ☕🌅

And this time, there’s another bonus—I can sail right from home in San Diego. No airport required!

Three more days! ⚓️💜
Debra’s Travel Adventures


Holland America Line

10/03/2026

🚢 The countdown is on — only 4 more days!
In four days, I’ll be boarding Holland America for a little relaxation AND a chance to bring you along for another firsthand look at a cruise ship.

I originally booked an inside cabin, but when an ocean-view upgrade became available for a very reasonable price, it was decided to take it! I’ve seen Holland America’s ocean-view staterooms before, but it looks like there have been a few changes, so I’ll show you around.

And you know my routine! I’ll be up early, before most people are out and about, walking through the ship and showing you the different areas onboard. 🚢📸

Our ports have changed a little, as cruise lines sometimes need to make adjustments. Cabo is still on the itinerary, along with two other stops. I haven’t chosen my excursions yet — this time I may wait until I’m onboard and simply see what I feel like doing.

I’ll be enjoying the cruise, relaxing a bit, taking LOTS of pictures, and learning everything I can so I can share the experience with you.

4 more days! Holland America, here I come! 🌊🚢

Debra’s Travel Adventures

10/02/2026

Another story has been sent out into the world. 💜✈️

Tonight I submitted my second travel story to a magazine, this time about an adventure in Costa Rica.

But I realized tonight that this is about more than writing.

A year ago, I might not have done this. I would have worried too much about other people's opinions. I've even been told that I'm not a writer, and at one time I might have allowed those words to decide whether I should try.

I'm learning not to do that anymore.

Ryan Leak's Chasing Failure has helped me see the value in being willing to try even when failure is possible. And my mentor and teacher Kha Ly has reminded me that I can't live my life trying to please everyone else. I have to trust myself and pursue the things that matter to me.

My first magazine pitch wasn't a fit. I still believe in that story, and it will find another place to go.
So tonight I sent the next one.

Travel has taught me many things, but perhaps one of the biggest is this: you don't have to stop being afraid before you move forward.

Sometimes you just have to pick up the paddle—or hit the send button—and go. 💜

Debra's Travel Adventures

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

Today was a good day. 💜

I started my morning with meetings and then finished up the final details for a client’s Rocky Mountaineer journey. Once she booked her flights, I was able to arrange her transfer from Banff to the Calgary airport, and now she’s all set! I think it’s going to be an absolutely beautiful trip. Banff is one of those places I hope to experience myself one day—and eventually, I will. 🏔️🚆

I also had lunch with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. It was wonderful to simply sit, talk, and enjoy each other’s company.

After coming home, I finished up a few things, read an email that another story for TravelStore's October spooky story contest will be posted, and shared. It's titled "The Lost Souls of Gastown- a walking tour of Vancouver's Darker Past.
And tonight, I finished working on another travel story—this one for a magazine pitch. Will they accept it? I don’t know. But I’m going to send it and find out.

And if they don’t? I have plenty more stories where that one came from. 😊

Ryan Leak’s book Chasing Failure has helped remind me that failure doesn’t have to be the end of something. Sometimes it’s simply part of growing.

So I’ll keep writing. I’ll keep pitching. I’ll keep learning. I’ll keep traveling. And I’ll keep being the teller of stories. 💜

09/28/2026

I hope everyone had a wonderful day! 💜

Mine was a good and productive one. I spent quite a bit of time working on the centerpieces for PATA Cruise Night, but I also managed to get a lot accomplished around the house.

Tomorrow will be another busy day with a doctor’s appointment, some necessary follow-ups, training, and a quote to work on.

One of the first things I want to do, though, is call the wonderful person who helped me with Rocky Mountaineer. I have one small adjustment to make, but more importantly, I want to personally thank her. She was an absolute pleasure to work with and did a fantastic job.

Being a travel advisor involves working with so many people behind the scenes, and I believe it’s important to let people know when their dedication and hard work are appreciated. I have a couple of other thank-you calls to make as well.

Tonight, I’m one happy and grateful travel advisor. 💜✈️

And I’ve also been researching my next magazine pitch! I think I’ve found where I’d like to submit next, so that will be another project for the coming week.

There’s always something new on the horizon!

09/27/2026

✍️ Well, I did it!

Today I submitted my first pitch to a travel magazine.

Will they accept it? I have no idea—and today, that really isn’t the point.

Travel has given me so many stories and experiences over the years, and I’ve realized how much I enjoy not only helping others plan their journeys, but also writing and telling the stories behind my own.

So today I took another step. I put my story out there and pressed Submit.

Whatever happens, I’ll keep writing, keep learning, and keep sharing the incredible ways travel can change us.

Here’s to trying something new—and not letting fear make the decision for me. 💜✈️✍️

09/26/2026

My contest entry for the company I'm an affiliate for...TravelStore. Thank you Jackie Shearn and marketing team for a beautiful job putting it together for my page.

During our TravelStore site inspection, we had the opportunity to see different guest rooms and areas of the resort, learn about its history, and enjoy lunch together. I was impressed not only by the beauty of the property and its wonderful service, but also by the care being taken to preserve what....

09/25/2026

Today was busy, productive, and filled with reasons to be grateful. 💜

A friend and client booked a stay at the Hilton in Del Mar, and I’m really happy with the choice. I had originally been looking at another hotel for her, but I think she’ll be much happier with this one.

I also had lunch with another client and helped make sure all of her information was entered correctly into an app. Those little details may not be the glamorous part of being a travel advisor, but they matter!

And I finally finished the special welcome-home gift for my clients who just returned from Japan. I get to give it to them tomorrow, and then I’ll finally be able to share what I’ve been working on. 😊

Lately, travel has also brought me back to something else I’ve always loved—writing.
I’ve enjoyed writing since college and am actually a published poet. Journalism helped me develop my writing skills, but Kha Ly has really inspired me to think differently about storytelling. He taught me to notice the sights, sounds, lighting, atmosphere and, most importantly, how an experience makes you feel. Those details are what allow you to bring someone else into a moment.

I recently wrote a spooky Hotel del Coronado story for TravelStore that will be shared and entered into a writing contest. I also wrote about a fascinating and slightly creepy historical walking tour I took through Gastown in Vancouver, British Columbia.

And now I’m taking another chance—I’m preparing to pitch one of my travel stories to a travel magazine. I’m not sharing the name just yet. Will they be interested? I have no idea. But I’m going to try.

Ryan Leaf’s Chasing Failure has reminded me that failure requires trying in the first place—and if one direction doesn’t work, you learn and try another.

So I’ll keep traveling, keep learning, keep writing and keep telling the stories I find along the way.
And tomorrow? Back to Costa Rica! 🇨🇷 I have a new trip to work on and hopefully some wonderful options to present to my clients.

Travel keeps giving me stories to tell. 💜



AI generated image 💜