EP 345: From Timeshares To Top 150: A Travel Pro’s Journey And Why Service Beats DIY

What Makes Lillian Dikovitzky with Vacation is Easy a Good Neighbor?

Searching for a vacation that actually feels like a vacation? We sit down with Lillian Dikovitzky, owner of Vacation is Easy and a top-150 advisor among 11,000 peers, to reveal how a modern travel advisor turns messy logistics into smooth, memorable trips. From first spark to welcome-home, Lillian acts as a personal concierge across flights, hotels, transfers, cruises, rail journeys, and travel protection—backed by a powerful host agency, trusted supplier relationships, and the kind of destination intel you can’t get from a search bar.

Lillian shares how a career in manufacturing and quality control sharpened her process-driven approach to planning. She covers the biggest myths—like “advisors cost more”—and explains why clients usually pay the same price they’d see online while gaining a dedicated advocate to solve problems fast. No generic call centers, no endless holds, and certainly no 1-800-ChatGPT. We dive into her specialties, from family and adventure travel to Europe, along with recent trips to Fiji, Costa Rica, Alaska, and Canada that keep her insights current and practical.

You’ll hear how education sets true professionals apart: over 100 training certificates, a Certified Travel Associate credential, and a strong network that opens doors to exclusive offers, perks, and reliable operators. Lillian also previews an upcoming National Geographic Journeys small-group safari to South Africa and Zimbabwe, highlighting why small, expertly led groups can elevate comfort and depth without losing the thrill of discovery. If you’ve wondered whether planning with a pro is worth it, this conversation shows how service, safety, and value align when the right advisor is in your corner.

Ready to travel smarter and with less stress? Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs a real break, and leave a review to tell us where you’d go first with a pro by your side.

To learn more about Vacation is Easy, go to
 🔗https://vacationiseasy.com/

Vacation Is Easy

469-222-8738

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place

(00:02):
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

SPEAKER_01 (00:10):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a traveladvisor?
Well, one might be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor,
Lillian Dikovitzky, withVacation is Easy.
Lillian, how are you today?
I'm great.

SPEAKER_02 (00:27):
How about you?

SPEAKER_01 (00:28):
I'm great too.
Now we're excited to learn allabout you and your business.
Can you start off by telling ourlisteners just a little bit
about your company?

SPEAKER_02 (00:38):
Well, I'm a proud independent contractor partnered
with one of the largest and mostrespected host agencies in the
country with over 11,000 traveladvisors nationwide.
They provide the tools,technology, and connections that
let me focus on what I do best,creating amazing travel
experiences for my clients.

(00:59):
And just last week, I wasthrilled to find out that I
ranked in the top 150 in salesfor the month of September out
of these 11,000 advisors.
That is something I'm very proudof.
At Vacation is Easy, I serve asyour personal travel concierge,
guiding you from the very firstspark of an idea until you

(01:19):
return home.
I plan international anddomestic travel, river, ocean,
expedition and yacht cruises,rail journeys, all-inclusive
resorts, flights, hotels,transfers, travel protection,
and more.
Basically, if it involvestravel, I handle it.

SPEAKER_01 (01:40):
Wow, Lillian, now how did you get into this
business?

SPEAKER_02 (01:44):
Well, I've always had a deep love for travel.
Years ago, I bought a timeshare,and that's really where the
passion started.
Then I discovered travelhacking, using credit card
points and airline miles totravel smarter.
That just fueled the fire evenmore.
After working more than 30 yearsin manufacturing and quality
control, I decided it was timeto follow my passion and see

(02:07):
where it would take me to becomea travel advisor.
That was a little over fouryears ago, and honestly, I
haven't looked back since.
Nothing tops helping people makelifelong memories with their
families and friends.
That's the part that I lovemost.

SPEAKER_01 (02:24):
100%.
Now, what is the most commonmyth or misconception you come
across in the travel industry?
Oh, there are a few big ones.

SPEAKER_02 (02:34):
First, people sometimes think that travel
advisors don't exist anymore.
That's not true at all.
While you may not see as manystorefront agencies these days,
there's a huge network ofexperienced home-based advisors,
myself included, selling somefive, some selling five to six
million dollars in travel everyyear.

(02:56):
Second, if you book your tripthrough Airbnb, VRBO, Expedia,
Costco, or ChatGPT, who do youcall if something goes wrong?
There's no ChatGPT 1-800 number.
How many hours will you be onhold if there is a number to

(03:17):
call?
When you book through me, you'regetting real service.
Someone who's got your backbefore, during, and after your
trip.
If an issue comes up, I'm theone handling it, while you keep
sipping margaritas and enjoyingyour vacation.
And third, people often thinkusing a travel advisor costs

(03:38):
more.
Actually, it doesn't.
I'm paid commission by thetravel partner, whether it's a
cruise line, resort, or tourcompany.
You'd pay the same price if youbooked directly.
The only difference is when youbook directly, that company just
keeps the commission instead ofyou supporting a small business
like mine.

(03:59):
And just to clarify, I currentlydon't charge planning or
consulting fees, even thoughmany advisors, probably over
60%, now do charge those fees.
And here's something else mostpeople don't realize.
I don't get paid commissionuntil about 30 days after you
return home.

(04:19):
So if someone picks my brain,books elsewhere, or cancels,
I've invested my time for free.
It's truly a labor of loveunless you book with me.
That's why this business isbuilt on trust, service, and
relationships.

SPEAKER_01 (04:36):
Wow, that is all so important, especially building
on the relationships.
Now we know marketing is theheart of every business.
Who are your target customers,clients, or audience?
And in terms of marketing today,how do you attract them?

SPEAKER_02 (04:55):
Uh I use social media a lot for attracting
customers.
And I would say I I'm prettymuch I book anything uh except
I'm not real big on Disney ordestination weddings, uh, but I
book a lot of Europe.
Um, so my target clients arefamilies.
I like doing adventure travel.

(05:18):
Um, and that's been a lot offun.

SPEAKER_01 (05:22):
Wow.
Now, have you ever thought abouthaving your having your podcast
before?
My own have you ever thoughtabout having your own podcast
before?

SPEAKER_02 (05:34):
No, I haven't.
I know some travel advisors do.

SPEAKER_01 (05:40):
Now, outside of work, what do you like to do for
fun?

SPEAKER_02 (05:44):
I like spending time with family and grandkids.
It's always number one.
And of course, I love to travel.
So far this year, I've been toFiji, Costa Rica, Cabo San
Lucas, Alaska, Canada's Alberta,and British Columbia.
Next up in November, I'm goingon a Danube river cruise from
Budapest to Prague, then inDecember to Machu Picchu in

(06:05):
Peru, and then Branson, and thenin January, I'm going to Israel.
And just to clear something up,no travel advisors don't travel
for free.
I pay for my trips just like myclients do.
Looking ahead, I'm leading aNational Geographic Journey
small group safari trip to SouthAfrica and Zimbabwe in September
of 2026.
And I love for listeners to joinme.

(06:27):
These National GeographicJourneys trips are incredible.
I've already experienced theirjourneys in Jordan, Iceland,
Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Alaska.
And every journey has beenamazing.

SPEAKER_01 (06:41):
Well, life's too short to live it all in one
place, right?

SPEAKER_02 (06:44):
Right.

SPEAKER_01 (06:47):
Now, Lillian, I know we've covered a lot of ground
today, but what is one thing youwould like our listeners today
to take away from learning aboutvacation is easy.

SPEAKER_02 (06:58):
I wish more travelers understood the value
of working with a professionaladvisor.
Our recent study found that onlyone in five families use a
travel advisor, and that's sucha missed opportunity.
We have access to exclusiveoffers, insider resources,
up-to-the-minute powerful traveltools, and destination
intelligence that make tripplanning smoother and safer.

(07:22):
Travelers can access, can'taccess these on their own.
Even though I'm a small solobusiness owner, I'm part of a
massive professional networkwith trusted colleagues who have
been there, done that all overthe world.
I'm also very education focused.
I hold over 100 trainingcertificates, and I'm a

(07:42):
certified travel associate, aCTA through the Travel
Institute.
All of my certificates areposted on my LinkedIn if you'd
like to take a peek.

And one word of caution (07:51):
there are some MLM or multi-level
marketing travel agencies thatrecruit people with promises of
cheap or free travel and providevery little training for their
advisors.
So be careful who you select.
But real travel advising takesongoing training, experience,

(08:11):
and dedication.
Nothing about this industry isfree or easy.
And that's exactly why clientsappreciate working with a true
professional.

SPEAKER_01 (08:21):
Well, Lillian, what our listeners really want to
know today is where can they goto learn more about vacation is
easy?

SPEAKER_02 (08:32):
I would love to help listeners plan their next
adventure.
The easiest way is through mywebsite, vacationiseasy.com.
On the top of the webpage, clickHelp Plan My Travel.
There's a button up at the top,and that'll take you to my
calendar link so you canschedule a quick Zoom
consultation call on mycalendar.

(08:52):
You can also email me at LillianL-I-L-L-I-A-N at
vacationiseasy.com or check outmy link tree, Vacation is Easy.
It has all my social medialinks, including Facebook,
Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok,Pinterest, my blog, testimonials

(09:12):
from my previous clients, andupcoming group trips.
And I'd love for you to join myprivate Facebook community for
insider tips and updates.
That is Vacation is Easy,Cruise, Land, Rail, Luxury,
Group Travel.
Thanks so much for listening andfor supporting my small
businesses like mine.

(09:33):
Remember, when you let me planyour trip, vacation truly is
easy.

SPEAKER_01 (09:39):
Well, Lillian, I really appreciate you being on
the show, and we wish you andyour business the best moving
forward.
Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_00 (09:48):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to GNP Frisco dot com.
That's GNP Frisco dot com orcall four six nine two two two
two one nine three four five.