Lindsay Bideaux, founder of Palm Tree Travel
Lindsay Bideaux doesn’t just find her clients a hotel on a beach or book an airline ticket for a set date. Instead, Bideaux provides her clients a travel experience so perfectly customized that only an expert could have made it happen.
Bideaux founded her travel agency, Palm Tree Travel, eight years ago and was just recently recognized for an Omaha World-Herald People’s Choice Award. And it’s no wonder why.
“I show up for my clients and advocate for them around the world, creating experiences for them that involve more than just going to the destination,” said Bideaux. “I’m the behind-the-scenes navigator for each one of my clients to ensure they have the most personalized experience.”
Those experiences can translate into anything from ensuring margaritas are provided in the transfer car from airport to hotel, to meeting on-site with the local wedding coordinator for a beach wedding. If a client wants something decorated for a birthday or other celebratory event, Bideaux can make it happen.
“These are the things that definitely take your experience to the next level. I can’t say it enough, but the benefits to having a travel agent who has firsthand knowledge about a destination is crucial,” she said. “Whatever is going on in the world, whether it’s a pandemic, political protests, bad weather, you name it, when you have a personal travel agent, it’s easy to pivot. You are not stuck.
“Travel can be messy and so many things can go wrong, even for expert travelers,” she said. “Knowing you have a trusted travel agent working with you makes these instances so much more manageable.”
Bideaux said she truly is an advocate for her clients. And, she’s real.
“I’m not AI. I’m not an internet search,” she said. “And believe me, I’ve run into people who have booked trips based on AI recommendations only to find the hotels they booked with had been closed for two years.”
Bideaux said she pours her heart and soul into the relationships she establishes with her clients.
“I treat every one of my clients as family. And when you book with my company, you are supporting a family in return,” said Bideaux, who has a 7-year-old daughter. “I grew up in a small town and my parents — who are both from big families and always valued time together — the first time they took me on a trip as a little girl, I just fell in love with travel. I just want everyone to experience their trips as much as I enjoy mine.”
Bideaux is on call 24/7 and personally handles all the logistics. While she specializes in destination weddings, romantic honeymoons, unforgettable group getaways and corporate events in Mexico and the Caribbean, she also books travel for customers worldwide.
Through the years, she has established relationships with luxury brands to offer exclusive perks and credits to clients. Nearly one week each month, she is visiting various travel markets, making connections with locals and expanding her network of in-market contacts that add to any visitor’s trip.
Her advice to someone contemplating a trip is just do it now.
“Don’t wait for the perfect time to travel,” she said. “We tend to believe there will always be more time or a better moment. But life doesn’t always follow our plans, and the memories we make are often our greatest investment.”
For more information on Palm Tree Travel or to book a trip, please visit palmtreetraveling.com. Email Lindsay at lindsay@palmtreetraveling.com for your next vacation.
