My name is Sara and I am a New York City-based business owner, author, and certified meeting planner who loves to explore the world. With over 13 years of experience in destination and strategic events, I have expanded my company, STW Planning™ to include full-service travel planning. Our mission is to empower others to experience new cultures and gain independence through travel.
In addition to owning STW Planning™, I am the host of the Solo Travel Woman podcast and the author of The Ultimate Solo Travel Woman guide.
My Story:
Growing up, my father always told me to never wait for anyone when it came to following my dreams.
We didn’t travel much as a family when I was younger so, as I became an adult it was always something I dreamed of doing. However, I never had anyone to go with, and funding such trips proved to be quite difficult.
When I started my career in corporate events, I was thrilled to learn of all the opportunities it would give me to travel. What started off as just exploring other cities and states within the US eventually grew to me managing destination events in other countries. Finally, I had a reason to get my passport and travel. As much as this was amazing and I felt so blessed, I was missing out on the experience of traveling for fun and immersing myself in other cultures.
Finally, for my 30th birthday in 2015, I did it. I embarked on my first solo trip to Greece and Turkey. This experience completely changed my life and grew my passion for traveling…solo.
After that, I was constantly taking trips by myself. No one telling me where to go, what to do, when to do things. I was free to experience the world and new cultures how and when I wanted. It was amazing. I started to think if I struggled with getting started traveling I am sure there are many others like me. How can I empower and inspire others to start their travel journies?
In 2017, after a couple of years of traveling and growing my passion, my father who always believed in and inspired me passed away. That is when I decided to start the Solo Travel Woman movement. I wanted to inspire other women to travel without anything holding them back as he did with me.
It started as just a simple blog. I would share my travel stories, some tips I had and that was really all I thought it would ever be.
Well, fast forward a few years and with the push and constant support of my family and some pretty amazing friends, Solo Travel Woman has grown into so much more.
Although solo travel will always be my passion and where my wanderlust came from, STW Planning™ was created to inspire everyone to experience and fall in love with the world the way I did years ago.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a solo travel woman, like me, or one who likes to take your adventures with a group of friends. As long as you are open-minded, have a passion to explore, experience new cultures, and live the life you have always dreamed of – you are in the right place.
And don’t worry, I still love events and didn’t forget about them. STW Planning™ also includes destination event services. As a certified meeting professional in both live and virtual events, I will work with you to develop an event that integrates your destination’s culture, engages, and inspires those who attend, and allows you to focus your energies on what is necessary – your guests, presentation, meetings, ceremony … whatever it may be!
So, I invite you to take a look at everything STW Planning™ offers and reach out should you need help planning your next vacation or destination event.
Happy planning,
Sara Straw, CMP, VEMM
Instagram: @solotravelwoman