Today we’d like to introduce you to Deirdre Pernell.
Hi Deirdre , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love for travel started long before I ever imagined owning a travel business.
I was just 8 years old when I boarded my first Delta Airlines flight to Alabama. I still remember the excitement of getting on that plane and going somewhere different. That experience sparked a curiosity about the world that never left me.
At 21, I took my first international trip to Costa Rica, and that changed everything. Experiencing another country, its culture, food, and way of life opened my eyes to how much of the world there was to see. Travel became more than something I enjoyed—it became part of who I am.
After years of building my career in corporate America, I decided it was time to turn that lifelong passion into something of my own. In 2019, I became a Cruise Planners franchise owner and launched my travel business, Travel Chicks.
Through Travel Chicks, I’ve had the opportunity to help clients experience everything from cruises and Caribbean escapes to milestone celebrations, group vacations, and luxury getaways. What I love most is helping people create memories they will talk about long after they return home.
My journey hasn’t been a straight line. I’ve built my business while working full-time, earning my MBA in Organizational Leadership, navigating career changes, relocating across states, and experiencing one of the greatest losses of my life—the passing of my mother.
Those experiences changed my perspective on life. They reminded me that tomorrow isn’t promised and that we can spend so much time working, planning, and taking care of everyone else that we continuously postpone our own joy.
That realization also changed the direction of my business.
I started thinking about the busy professional woman who wants to travel but doesn’t always have seven days of PTO available. The woman who keeps saying, “I’ll go when I have more time,” or who is waiting for someone else to be ready.
That’s where Passport Weekends was born.
Passport Weekends is an extension of my vision for Travel Chicks, focused on intentional weekend experiences that allow people to see the world without always needing a week away. Sometimes a Friday-through-Monday getaway is exactly what you need to reset, reconnect, celebrate yourself, and come home refreshed.
Today, I’m continuing to grow Travel Chicks while building Passport Weekends into a community and lifestyle centered around making travel more intentional and attainable.
When I look back, I can trace so much of this journey to that 8-year-old little girl boarding her first Delta flight. She had no idea that one experience would eventually become a passion, a business, and part of her purpose.
And after all these years, my philosophy remains simple:
We create experiences, not just vacations.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road\. I’ve built Travel Chicks while working a full\-time corporate career, navigating major life changes, relocating, and learning how to turn my passion into a profitable business\.
After losing my mother in December 2025, I stepped away for a while\. I needed time to grieve, reset, and rediscover what I wanted for myself and my business\.
But I came back stronger than ever—with more clarity, purpose, and determination\. I’ve learned that sometimes stepping away isn’t giving up; it’s preparing for your comeback\.
**So, to the woman who feels like she’s behind: your story isn’t over\. Take the time you need, then get back up and go after what still has your name on it\.**
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Smart Chicks, LLC d/b/a Travel Chicks in Stilettos?
Smart Chicks, LLC d/b/a Travel Chicks in Stilettos is a full-service travel agency and Cruise Planners franchise specializing in creating experiences, not just vacations.
We plan cruises, international getaways, group travel, celebrations, romantic escapes, and customized vacations. What sets us apart is the personal experience. I don’t believe travel should be one-size-fits-all. I take the time to understand how my clients actually want to travel—their lifestyle, budget, expectations, and the experience they want to have when they arrive.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the evolution of my brand and the creation of Passport Weekends, a concept centered around intentional, elevated weekend travel. I realized there are so many busy professionals who want to see the world but don’t always have seven days of PTO. My philosophy is simple: sometimes you don’t need seven days—you need a really good Friday through Monday.
That same philosophy inspired my upcoming book, #Where2Next: More Travel. Same PTO. The book breaks down how to strategically turn two weeks of PTO into a month or more of travel opportunities by combining vacation days with weekends, holidays, and intentional planning. I created it for busy professionals who want to see more of the world without waiting until they have unlimited time off. The message is simple: you may not need more PTO—you just need to know how to maximize the time you already have.
I want readers to know that you don’t have to wait for retirement, the perfect travel partner, or “someday” to see the world. Whether it’s your first passport stamp, a weekend reset, a cruise, or the trip you’ve dreamed about for years, we’re here to help make it happen.
Travel Chicks is where the journey began. Passport Weekends is where the vision is going. #Where2Next is the next chapter. And through it all, we create experiences, not just vacations.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t really call it luck—I call it faith and favor. Some of the doors I prayed would open did, and others stayed closed. Looking back, I realize those closed doors were often God’s protection and redirection.
I’ve learned to do the work, trust the process, and keep my faith even when I can’t see what’s next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.travelchicksinstilettos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelchicksinstilettos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EujdXdNdp/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-chicks-in-stilettos/
