Meet Swift Getaways: Personalized Travel Planning with Alexa Straws
Alexa Straws | Certified Travel Professional®
You have been planning this trip in your head for months. You have a rough idea of the dates. You know the general destination. Then you open your laptop, start searching, and two hours later you have seventeen tabs open, a mild headache, and no idea which option is actually right for you.
That moment is exactly why Swift Getaways exists.
I am Alexa Straws, owner and Travel Advisor at Swift Getaways. I help travelers plan Disney vacations, cruises, all-inclusive getaways, and other special trips with clarity, structure, and real support, so the planning process feels as good as the trip itself.
If you have been thinking about working with a travel advisor but were not sure what that actually looks like, this is your introduction.
How This All Started
Travel has always been something I naturally gravitated toward.
Growing up, I was the one sitting at the computer building out Disney trips and vacation packages just for fun. I would piece together flights, hotels, and itineraries to see how everything worked and what made a trip come together. Not because anyone asked me to. Just because I genuinely loved figuring it out.
As I got older, that turned into planning real trips. I coordinated travel for a family of seven, managing every detail that comes with getting a group of people somewhere comfortably and without chaos. I became the go-to person in my circle for helping friends decide where to stay, what to do, and how to stop feeling overwhelmed by all the options.
Over time, I realized this was not just something I enjoyed. It was something I was genuinely good at.
So I decided to turn it into something more.
What It Means to Be a Certified Travel Professional®
I am a Certified Travel Professional®, a designation that reflects advanced training in travel planning, client experience, and industry best practices.
What does that mean for you? It means your trip is being planned by someone who approaches the work with structure, attention to detail, and a real commitment to doing this well. Not someone who just loves to travel. Someone who has put in the work to understand the industry, the process, and what actually makes a trip come together.
I am also a member of Travel Leaders Network, which gives me access to trusted travel partners, industry resources, and ongoing education. That means more informed recommendations and a higher level of support throughout your planning experience.
Working with a travel advisor is not just about having someone else do the searching for you. It is about having someone in your corner who knows the right questions to ask and can guide you toward options that actually fit your trip, not just the ones that rank highest in a search engine.
Why Accessibility and Thoughtful Planning Matter to Me
This part is important to me, and I want to share it honestly.
I have a close family member with severe mobility challenges and other disabilities. Planning travel around those needs is something I have navigated personally, and it shaped the way I think about every trip I plan.
Accessibility planning is not just about requesting an accessible room. It is about thinking through transportation from the moment you leave home. It is about understanding the layout of a resort or ship and knowing which areas require a lot of walking. It is about room location, bathroom setup, dining options, pacing, rest time, and having a realistic plan that actually works for the people on the trip.
That perspective is a large part of why I started Swift Getaways. I wanted to create a planning experience where travelers with mobility needs, health considerations, or other unique circumstances do not have to fight to have those needs taken seriously. They should be part of the plan from the very beginning.
The same applies to inclusive travel. Whether you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, a family with specific cultural considerations, or a traveler who simply wants to feel welcomed at every step of the trip, thoughtful planning should account for who you are. That is not a special category. It is just good planning.
What Swift Getaways Helps You Plan
Swift Getaways specializes in:
Disney vacations, including Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and beyond
Cruises, including first-time cruisers and families navigating a ship for the first time
All-inclusive resort stays, where choosing the right property makes all the difference
Accessible travel, planned with real care and real knowledge of what that requires
LGBTQIA+ inclusive travel, designed with your comfort, safety, and experience in mind
Special trips and milestone travel for couples, families, solo travelers, and groups
No matter what kind of trip you are planning, the goal is the same: help you move forward with clarity and confidence, knowing the details are handled.
How the Planning Process Works
Step 1: Schedule a Planning Call
Visit swift-getaways.com to schedule a consultation and fill out a simple inquiry form. This gives me the details I need to understand your trip before we even talk.
Step 2: Choose Your Service Level
Swift Getaways offers three planning options: Itinerary Design, Essential Planning, and Full-Service Planning. Each one is designed to meet you where you are, based on how much support you need and how involved you want to be in the process.
We will talk through which option fits your trip during the consultation call.
Step 3: Pay Your Planning Fee
Once your service level is confirmed, your planning fee is paid before research begins. This keeps the process organized and gives your trip the time and attention it deserves.
Step 4: Proposal, Revisions, and Final Itinerary
I create personalized recommendations based on your trip details and preferences. You review, provide feedback, and we refine from there. Depending on your service level, you will receive a digital itinerary, electronic travel documents, planning resources, and support leading up to your departure.
Who Swift Getaways Is a Good Fit For
Swift Getaways is for anyone who wants their trip to feel personal.
If you have ever opened seventeen tabs trying to plan a trip and closed them all feeling more lost than when you started, you are in the right place.
Swift Getaways might be a strong fit if you are:
Planning a Disney trip and feeling overwhelmed by resort options, tickets, dining, and logistics
Looking at cruises for the first time and not sure where to begin
Trying to find an all-inclusive resort that actually fits your travel style and budget
Planning travel with accessibility needs and want someone who takes that seriously from the start
Someone who has tried to plan online and ended up more confused than when you started
If that sounds like you, you are in the right place.
A Little More About Me
Since we are going to be planning something together, it seems only fair you know a little more about who you are working with.
My go-to Disney snack is the churro toffee square at Disneyland (if you know, you know). Outside of travel, I am an avid reader and book lover with over 15 years at my local library. I take my coffee very seriously (cold brew, moka pot, and a good espresso machine are all in regular rotation), and my non-negotiable carry-on item is my Nintendo Switch.
One destination I will never get tired of visiting is Memphis, TN. And if you want to talk about breakfast spots or local brunch favorites wherever you are traveling, I am genuinely here for that conversation.
All of this is to say: I am a real person who genuinely loves this work. I care about the trips I plan because I understand what it means to want a vacation to go well, especially when you are traveling with people you love or navigating details that feel high-stakes.
Ready to Start Planning?
Swift Getaways was built for travelers who want their trips to feel worth looking forward to, not overwhelming to plan. Whether you are in the early stages of dreaming or you have a trip in mind and just need help getting it organized, the next step is simple.
Schedule a consultation at swift-getaways.com and let's talk about your trip.