Vacationer of the Week: Kelli Carpenter
We, at Vacationer, try to make sure our Vacationer of the Week franchise highlights different people beyond travel influencers and content creators; so, this week we’re excited to introduce you to Kelli Carpenter, the co-founder of KelliGregg Travel and R Family Vacations.
Carpenter says she’s a proud Cajun girl born and raised in Baton Rouge, La that currently lives in Jersey City, New Jersey. We caught up with her as she and her business partner Gregg Kaminsky prepare to reveal the rebranding of their travel agency.
We’ll brief you on the details soon, but for VOW, Carpenter reveals what sparked her passion for travel, trending travel destinations for queer travelers, the reason she encourages the use of a travel advisor, and what genre of music is always on her playlist when traveling with her wife, Anne.
Vacationer Magazine: At what age did you receive your first passport? What was your first trip?
Kelli Carpenter: As a kid, I remember traveling on a cruise every year with my family. It was our annual family trip for many years. It really was a wonderful family trip for the kids because we felt free to explore on our own and feel a sense of independence.
My first international trip without my family was across Europe with a high school group between my junior and senior years. I’m guessing that this was when I acquired my first passport.
What trip or travel experience sparked your passion for travel?
When I traveled to Europe for the first time, I understood how much larger the world was from my small-town perspective. I fell in love with the history, the different languages, and the diversity of the cultures. I knew that travel was always going to be an invaluable part of my life. What I did not know at the time and for many years later is that it would become such a central part of my everyday life.
What inspires you to travel?
Every part of it! The idea of exploring a new place is so exciting. I love doing the research to be sure I see everything and experience the culture on a unique level. One of my favorite ways to explore a new place is doing a food tour. Not only do you learn so much about the history of a city, but you get a deep dive into local foods.
I also get inspired by going back to locations that I have already visited and fallen in love with. After you visit a place once and it touches your heart, I love going back and further exploring the local culture of a city.
What sparked your decision to start your own travel business?
I had left my career as a marketing executive at Nickelodeon to become a full-time mom. As my kids started to get a little older, we traveled to Provincetown, Mass., and saw other LGBTQ families during Family Week there. It was an emotional game changer for me as I saw a vacancy in the LGBTQ travel industry for gay families. My friend, Gregg Kaminsky, who had been working in the gay travel marketplace for a number of years, was with me on that trip. That is where the idea of R Family Vacations was created. We were the first and only LGBTQ travel company that provided vacations for families, and extended families, and it was run by both a gay man and a lesbian. We will be celebrating our 20th Anniversary next year!
Following the launch of that company, our trips expanded to include adult-only trips such as river cruises and tours. We also do a significant number of individual travel work offering our services as travel advisors to all of our clients. We have relaunched the name of our company to KelliGregg Travel to include all of the many services and products that we offer.
I absolutely love what I do and to share a passion for travel with my clients is truly the best job ever.
Why do you think it’s important to consult a travel advisor when planning a trip?
A travel advisor will help you navigate all of the options out there for your dream vacation. They come with a knowledge base and support system that the average traveler or computer algorithm does not have. Also, in this post-pandemic world, there are many logistics that your travel advisor can assist with that allow you to travel with more ease.
What domestic and international destinations have been popular travel destinations for LGBTQ+ people so far?
Greece, Italy, Thailand, Croatia, and Israel, just to name a few. Cruising and river cruising are quite popular also.
What are some experiences that you would recommend to LGBTQ+ people?
We do a couple of Uniworld River Cruise charters each year and those are incredible. We have seen so much of Europe on these luxury floating boutique hotels and the experience is like no other. We have a Bordeaux sailing in May 2023, and then in 2024, we are going to Egypt and the Netherlands. There is no better way to venture to new places.
What’s the best tip or advice you’ve offered to your clients?
Work with a travel advisor and do your research for your upcoming travel plans. It is expensive to travel, and they can help ensure that you will be getting the vacation of your dreams. Also, post-pandemic, things are not moving as quickly as they used to. Be patient and kind to your flight crew, your hotel team, and anyone else that might be operating short-staffed.
Please tell us how you identify yourself on the LGBTQIA spectrum. Tell us if how you identify influences the way your travel. If so, how?
I identify as a lesbian and have since I was a teenager. As far as how it influences how I travel with my wife, it does quite a bit. My wife, Anne, is a touring singer and I work in the travel business, so we both travel quite a bit. When we are traveling with just the two of us, we make decisions on where we stay and what we do based on the fact that we are two women who are often traveling to new destinations. If we are in a place that we are unfamiliar with, we try to select a hotel in a safe neighborhood and not explore at night, but during the day. This issue is not unique to lesbian travelers but to women traveling all over the world.
Is there a travel destination that most queer travelers would think isn’t safe to visit, but you’ve visited and enjoyed it? If so, where? What made it a memorable experience?
I am fortunate to sit on the LGBTQ Advisory Board for Belmond. Our last board meeting was at the stunning Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro. Many of my friends had strong feelings about Brazil and we worried for our safety. Anne and I traveled to Sao Paulo first and had an amazing experience there before going to Rio. I felt quite safe as I took the measures listed above into our planning and had a wonderful time.
What are your top three favorite places to visit?
Mykonos, Florence, Provincetown. If not there, I prefer to be on a cruise to see many places!
What three places are still on your bucket list to visit?
Iceland, South Africa, and Ireland… which I am doing this fall!
What’s one thing you never forget to pack in your suitcase?
International electrical power strip
You’re going on a road trip. What singer or band is always on your playlist?
I always love a good 80’s playlist! And I just did a road trip with Anne and yacht rock was living all of our road trip dreams!
What travel trend or travel industry shift are you most excited about?
With everyone being couped up for over two years with this pandemic, I love seeing such a strong desire to travel again to far away and exotic places. Sometimes we do not understand how important something like travel is until we can no longer do it. I am excited to see the passion behind the travel industry ignited again!
