How to Actually Use a Travel Advisor: Corey Cook’s Playbook

51min | 09/24/2026

Description

Corey Cook has been planning trips professionally for years, from teen adventures in Morocco to African safaris to the multi-family ski weeks that used to be reserved for the ultra wealthy. Leslie sits down with her old friend (nicknamed Quad since their boarding school days) to find out what a travel advisor actually does, and why so many people are finally using one.

Corey walks through the questions she asks every client before planning a trip, her favorite family and teen destinations right now (Morocco, Portugal, Costa Rica, London, Paris), and why a growing number of Americans are flying to the Alps to ski instead of paying Telluride prices. She also breaks down how to survive the most expensive week of the year to travel, the hacks she uses to get clients into Prague, Budapest, and South America instead of getting priced out of the Caribbean, and the simple rule that guides everything she does for a client: always ask.

Find Corey Cook at Fifi and Hop.

(00:00:00) Intro and welcome, Corey's "Quad" origin story
(00:03:00) From travel blog to travel advisor, Corey's background
(00:05:00) Best family and teen destinations, Morocco, California, dude ranches
(00:14:00) Costa Rica, London and Paris for teens
(00:18:00) The case for Portugal, Lisbon, Porto, the Douro Valley, Madeira
(00:21:00) Budget friendly picks, Vietnam, Thailand, Montenegro and Croatia
(00:23:00) Ski trips, Telluride versus skiing in Europe
(00:26:00) Ski and city combos, the Dolomites and Venice, Japan
(00:28:00) Surviving holiday travel pricing
(00:31:00) South America for the holidays, Argentina, Cartagena and Baru
(00:40:00) Insider tips, booking direct, always ask, hotel preferences
(00:45:00) The questions Corey asks every client before planning a trip
(00:46:00) Corey's pricing model and making travel advising accessible
(00:49:00) Corey's favorite trip ever, African safari
(00:50:00) Outro and teaser for a future couples travel episode

Thanks so much for listening! If you loved this conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it really does help other listeners find the show. For more from Leslie, including exclusive essays and behind-the-scenes takes on every episode, subscribe to the Duologue Substack.

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Description

Corey Cook has been planning trips professionally for years, from teen adventures in Morocco to African safaris to the multi-family ski weeks that used to be reserved for the ultra wealthy. Leslie sits down with her old friend (nicknamed Quad since their boarding school days) to find out what a travel advisor actually does, and why so many people are finally using one.

Corey walks through the questions she asks every client before planning a trip, her favorite family and teen destinations right now (Morocco, Portugal, Costa Rica, London, Paris), and why a growing number of Americans are flying to the Alps to ski instead of paying Telluride prices. She also breaks down how to survive the most expensive week of the year to travel, the hacks she uses to get clients into Prague, Budapest, and South America instead of getting priced out of the Caribbean, and the simple rule that guides everything she does for a client: always ask.

Find Corey Cook at Fifi and Hop.

(00:00:00) Intro and welcome, Corey's "Quad" origin story
(00:03:00) From travel blog to travel advisor, Corey's background
(00:05:00) Best family and teen destinations, Morocco, California, dude ranches
(00:14:00) Costa Rica, London and Paris for teens
(00:18:00) The case for Portugal, Lisbon, Porto, the Douro Valley, Madeira
(00:21:00) Budget friendly picks, Vietnam, Thailand, Montenegro and Croatia
(00:23:00) Ski trips, Telluride versus skiing in Europe
(00:26:00) Ski and city combos, the Dolomites and Venice, Japan
(00:28:00) Surviving holiday travel pricing
(00:31:00) South America for the holidays, Argentina, Cartagena and Baru
(00:40:00) Insider tips, booking direct, always ask, hotel preferences
(00:45:00) The questions Corey asks every client before planning a trip
(00:46:00) Corey's pricing model and making travel advising accessible
(00:49:00) Corey's favorite trip ever, African safari
(00:50:00) Outro and teaser for a future couples travel episode

Thanks so much for listening! If you loved this conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it really does help other listeners find the show. For more from Leslie, including exclusive essays and behind-the-scenes takes on every episode, subscribe to the Duologue Substack.