Alyson’s passion for adventure, taste for diverse cultures, and knack for crafting personalized travel experiences have made her a guru for all things travel-related.
Alyson Sohigian joined SmartFlyer as a way to help friends and family plan their vacations. Years later, Jetaway Guru serves as a culmination of her passion for creating immersive and memorable travel experiences. Being based in New York City for the past decade in addition to some time as a digital nomad, Aly’s interest in other cultures, people, and food only continues to grow. She finds traveling to be one of the most life-affirming acts throughout her trips to over 70 countries and all seven continents! Her extensive travel experiences paired with her passion for hospitality and background in design, allow her to tailor travel itineraries to her clients.
Aly mindfully designs each itinerary to cater specifically to every client she works alongside. She has found success in getting to know each of her clients so that every moment of their vacation–whether a one-day staycation or a three-week excursion–is perfectly planned according to their unique needs and interests. She ensures every booking and reservation is handled with care to ensure her clients’ vacations are as relaxing as humanly – or divinely – possible.
When she’s not traveling the world, she is doing her part to care for it, as she heads her own environmental nonprofit. The Kay Pacha Initiative carries the name of the physical realm of the world we reside in, in the Incan belief of the three realms, or pachas. The Kay Pacha Initiative aims to provide assistance during emergencies caused by climate change.
There are several destinations I return to again and again. Africa is a magically diverse continent, where vibrant cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and resilient people are enchanting every time I return. It’s also relatively easy to get to the Maldives when visiting Africa, and I love to couple the two. The Maldives has pristine turquoise waters and a vibrant marine life – which I particularly enjoy since I have my PADI certification. Also, the white sandy beaches and luxurious resorts offer a lovely respite!
If I’m looking for both an escape and a bustling city, I venture to Thailand. There are megacities like Bangkok, adorned with ornate temples but also pristine beaches, lush jungles, and mouth-watering cuisine can be found everywhere. My list would be incomplete if I didn’t mention Italy, where I love diving into the history, art, culture, and cuisine.
As a last-minute packer, I may be ready-ing my suitcase the night before my flight, but I always stay up to date on travel requirements well in advance of departure! I always have my passport on me and ready to go, with six months of lee-way until expiration as most countries require. I also make sure I am up to date on visas and vaccines as well as any purchasing travel insurance.
Keep up with the places that deserve more than a bookmark, but a check-in.
