Courtnie Nichols

Courtnie Nichols: Travel Entrepreneur By Age 30

Story by: Jacki Donaldson

Courtnie Nichols records all of her goals in a planner. When she was 21, she wrote that she would own a business by age 30. And sure enough, she did. Now 31, Courtnie is the proud owner and travel architect of TravelBash, a travel boutique she started in late 2016 and launched in January 2017. Courtnie specializes in romance travel and girls getaways and retreats in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.

TravelBash is not the typical travel agency of years past. “I don’t consider myself a travel agency,” Courtnie said. “I do more than book travel. Booking travel is transactional. I am more of a personal travel concierge.” Courtnie takes care of all the details during an excursion. If you want rum and not vodka in your hotel mini fridge, Courtnie makes it happen. If you have a food allergy, Courtnie communicates your dietary needs to the hotel staff. If you end up stuck in Nairobi, Kenya, you call Courtnie. If you just want to show up and enjoy yourself while someone else handles all of the details, Courtnie, with her young, vibrant, passionate personality, is your girl.

Courtnie’s attention to clients is what makes her stand out. So does her vast travel experience. “Ever since I was little, my parents exposed me to travel,” Courtnie said. “My dad took me to Greece for two weeks when I was in high school. I have been on five cruises. I lived overseas with my husband when he played professional basketball.”

Courtnie’s husband, Darris Nichols, whom she met in college, is an Assistant Coach on the University of Florida Men’s Basketball staff, and the couple has moved five times for coaching jobs. “This is the first time we’ve been with a program for more than two years,” Courtnie, who is often on the road supporting the Gators, said. “I am a natural-born traveler.”

A self-proclaimed city girl from St. Louis, Courtnie has always loved experiencing new cultures, and because people always ask her for travel advice, starting a travel business was a natural move. Courtnie, who has a professional background in development and fundraising, started her travel business as a passion project and has developed it into a full-blown venture that keeps her plenty busy. She employs one parttime virtual admin who lives in UK (a friend from West Virginia University, where her husband played basketball); one UF intern; and one part-time digital guy, also a UF alum, who lives in Los Angeles.

Courtnie and her team do not offer domestic travel services, but Courtnie does create travel guides and eBooks to help folks navigate that process. Courtnie is very niche focused. “I can’t be the expert at everything if I want to be the best,” she said.

Most of Courtnie’s business comes from referrals, and she partners with local businesses and advertises on social media. She is also part of a group called Femcity, a professional women’s business network that helps female entrepreneurs. Courtnie works by appointment only every day except Sunday, and she is happy to consult with clients in person or electronically. “I don’t have to see people to book them,” she said. “I can meet with them in a coffee shop or on Skype.”

Courtnie’s advice for those interested in traveling is to avoid touristy areas. “Become a local. Don’t be a tourist,” she said. “Immerse yourself in a culture to truly appreciate it. Try something new just one time.”