Meet Ellie Friese-Cave | Luxury Travel Designer & Adventurer
We had the good fortune of connecting with Ellie Friese-Cave and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ellie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had traveled in both 2017 and 2019 to Europe and experienced a sense of freedom and empowerment that I had never felt before. Since then, the only thing I could think about was traveling and experiencing new cultures, learning about history, and delving into new cuisines. I had a knack for organization, research, and planning and thought “how can I monetize this?” Hence, Ellie’s Travel Bug was born.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Ellie’s Travel Bug is my most favorite and challenging on-going project I have ever started. I created this business to give me more freedom in my life while also pursuing something that I was absolutely passionate about. This is one of the things that sets me apart in my industry is the force of passion I have behind my work. No entrepreneur will tell you that their experience has been easy. Trial and error, mistakes, long days and nights, frustration and tears, hurt feelings, etc. Owning a small business is extremely personal, however, this is one of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn is that I am not the perfect fit for everyone. Setting boundaries with clients has been my biggest personal obstacle, other than the daily grind of building my client base and expanding my book of business. Learning how to set boundaries is something I believe comes with time, experience, and a good mentor to help you along the way. I approach every client trip with verve; excitement and enthusiasm. I feel as if I am traveling right along side with you. Ellie’s Travel Bug was built on the thirst for adventure and built to serve YOU.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
To give out of town guests a good overview of Atlanta and the surround area, I would start our day with breakfast at The Flying Biscuit Cafe, known for its Southern-inspired breakfast dishes and then enjoy Ponce City Market, a vibrant food hall with a variety of dining options and small shops. The next day, possibly visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, which includes his childhood home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the King Center. For lunch we could grab a bite at Mary Mac’s Tea Room, a Southern-style dining spot known for its comfort food and hospitality. We of course would have to stroll Piedmont park and then have dinner atThe Optimist, a seafood-focused restaurant known for its fresh catches and nautical ambiance. Other can’t miss activities and sites are the Coca Cola Museum, Botanical Gardens, Belt Line, and Krog Street Market. To end the visit, an evening at the Fox Theatre would perfect wrap up our time together!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My success is owed to both my Dad and my travel industry mentor, Heather Christopher of HC Travel Firm. I grew up in an entrepreneurial family and I was destined to be one myself. Watching and learning from the work ethic of my father absolutely transpired into myself and what I wanted for my own life. My dad, Carl Friese, owner of The Village Corner restaurant, bakery, and tavern in Stone Mountain is the hardest working man I know and the jack of all trades. His dedication and perseverance to constantly learn is admirable. My business would also not be what it is today without my mentor, colleague, and friend, Heather Christopher. She is avidly open about her experience being a business owner; good, bad, easy, and hard. Heather has guided me from day one to teach me the ins and outs of not only running a travel business but how to grow, leverage, and excel in the industry. She is an absolute force of a woman in all aspects of business and life and I am so grateful to have her in my corner.
Website: https://www.elliestravelbug.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellies_travelbug/?hl=en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile
Image Credits
All photos are mine
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