✈️Behind the Itinerary
✨How We Find the Magic, One Beer Bath, Elephant and Over The Top Hotel at a Time
Let’s be honest, anyone can book a flight and a hotel. We’ve been doing it for ages and it’s part of the reason two middle aged broads decided one day this summer to build a travel business from scratch.
And while to some it may seem like we started Unchecked Baggage on a whim, we actually put a lot of thought and effort into this dream of ours and we do the same for the trips we build! We don’t want you to just take a vacation with us, we’re here to create an experience! You know, one that makes you laugh so hard you pee a little. One that takes you somewhere that you are gobsmacked by the view, or the food, or the service at a 5 star hotel. One that may include champagne toasts, wheat grass shots, or a red beer, depending on the day, our mood and the vibe.
So HOW do we find these once-in-a-lifetime experiences? Spoiler: it’s equal parts research, intuition, and a little bit of “well, I WANT to DO that, so let’s go.”
🏰 Step One: Hotels With a Story
We’re allergic to boring. If the hotel description starts with “conveniently located” or “modern amenities,” we start snoring.
We look for places that feel like characters in their own right. A Victorian hunting lodge turned hotel in Scotland, a former palace in Budapest, or a boutique spa resort in Thailand that hands you a cocktail at check-in.
When we test a hotel, we ask the hard-hitting questions:
Is it photo-worthy enough for a “main character moment”?
Are the sheets the kind that make you text your group chat about how soft they are?
Can we picture our ladies clinking glasses here at sunset and feeling like absolute queens?
If the answer’s yes, it goes on the list.
🥂 Step Two: Cocktails (and Everything That Goes with Them)
Wine tastings are great. But wine experiences? That’s our lane.
We’re talking about sipping Egri Bikavér in a centuries-old Hungarian cellar, warming our bones with a smoky whisky by the fire in Pitlochry as autumn in the Highlands blows our mind, or giggling our way through vineyards in Italy, as we map our way to the Prosecco vending machine. Oh yes, it exists! And it's on the bucket list, Trust us!
We choose experiences where the stories flow easily, led by local guides who know their grapes and their gossip. Because you don’t just remember what you drank, you remember who poured it and what inappropriate story was told!
👯♂️ Step Three: Add the Unchecked Baggage Twist
Here’s where the magic happens. Every trip needs that thing, the one experience that makes everyone say, “We’re doing WHAT?” That thing that we would do whether you come with us or not!
That’s how we end up:
Soaking in beer baths in Budapest (with frothy steins in hand, obviously).
Spending the day with rescued elephants in Chiang Mai and ugly-crying with joy.
Learning to make hats in Kentucky because, well, Derby! FYI, that’s a little 2027 easter egg 😉
Having a spiritual awakening in Sedona with your ancestors during a sacred tobacco and cacao ceremony.
We pick activities that balance fun, the occasional ridiculous moment and even a few life changing experiences because travel should feed your soul and your sense of humor.
💬 Step Four: We Ask Ourselves, “Would We Do This With Our Besties?”
If it doesn’t pass the “Anna & Tori test”, it’s out.
We’ve built Unchecked Baggage for women who crave connection, laughter and maybe a side of chaos to go with your carefully curated adventure.
So every detail, from the Instagram-able coffee spot to the final farewell dinner, to the built-in free days with secret surprise recommendations (cuz we know every bag lady needs a break and maybe a wild night at Szimpla Kert), is chosen with that in mind.
Because at the end of the day, the best trips aren’t about where you go.
They’re about the women beside you, the cocktails in front of you, and the memories that follow you home. The kind of moments you’ll still be talking about long after the bags are unpacked.
Ready to See It for Yourself?
Join us on one of our upcoming adventures. Whether you’re soaking in a beer spa, feeding elephants, or just finding yourself again somewhere far from home, we’ve got the itinerary (and the cocktails) covered.
