From Nurse to Travel Expert: How My Journey Led to Maison d’Amies and Solo Female Travel in France

If you had told me years ago that I’d be running women-only luxury retreats in France, I probably would have laughed. My career path didn’t start in hospitality or tourism, it started in scrubs. I've spent years as a nurse, caring for patients, managing that crazy night shift in the emergency department, and perfecting my gallows humor in what some might call an unhealthy coping mechanism. Nursing was and is incredibly fulfilling for me (I'm still a licensed nurse, just no longer working at the bedside). But there was always something else pulling at my heart: travel.

How a Side Hustle Became My Calling

Quite a few years ago, while still waiting my turn at the Pyxis machine, I started planning trips on the side. First for myself and friends, then for family, and then professionally when I took on a part-time job as a travel planner. Turns out the same skills that made (make) me such a great nurse, work just as well when you're planning travel: paying attention to details, anticipating what someone needs before they need it, and keeping people calm and comfortable when things to off the rails. And I loved it. The more trips I planned, the more I noticed something...women always commented on how brave I was to travel alone. And I realized there was a huge gap out there. Women, despite all of our progress, still didn't feel comfortable traveling alone. The longer I sat with that gap, the harder it got to ignore.

Bringing a Caregiver’s Touch to Luxury Travel for Women

After almost 20 years as a nurse, one thing is crystal clear: nursing teaches you how to care for people, especially in moments when they might feel vulnerable. For many people, landing in a country where you don't speak the language and you're severely jet-lagged can also be a vulnerable experience. Turned out, the same instinct I have to care for people translated easily to building and hosting retreats. When a woman books with Maison d'Amies, she's not just booking a trip. She's stepping into something I've already tested myself, into a home that can become hers for a week, and pulling up a chair at a table where she's surrounded by new friends. There will also be cheese, because I'm pretty sure it can feed your soul.

Why Maison d’Amies is Different

There’s no shortage of retreats in France. What makes mine different is that I actually design each one myself instead of just running the same itinerary year after year. I want you to feel like you live there for a week, not like you're just checking landmarks off a list. That might mean a private wine tasting at a family run vineyard, a cooking class with a local chef, or an afternoon in a village tourists never find on their own.

More Than a Getaway: A Community for Solo Female Travelers

Here's another thing nursing gave me...I know what it means to be part of a team you can actually count on. And that's exactly what I've tried to build here. My retreats aren't just about seeing France, they're about the women you meet along the way. The friendships that start over a glass of wine and are still going a year later.

Come See for Yourself

If you want a trip that's part luxury, part culture, and part connection, I'd love to have you. You deserve more than a vacation you forget about in a month. Come join me in France this year or next. I just know we're going to be friends.