There aren’t too many places in the world Gina Storey hasn’t been to.
Listening to her rattle off the list certainly gives you itchy feet.
The Tamborine Mountain resident’s love of travel blossomed from a young age as her father’s job took the family around the world.
Gina was born in the United Kingdom and grew up in Nigeria as well as New Zealand, Australia, the United States and then as an adult settled in London.
“I started travelling when I was two weeks old and have never really stopped,” the travel agent laughed.
In London Gina worked for British Airways as Product Development Manager which again took her around the world.
However, in 1991 she came to visit her parents, Matt and Trixie, who had retired to the mountain, and decided to stay.
“I landed here and thought, what I will do, so I moved into retail travel,” she said.
Thus, Travelling Places was born 31 years ago.
“If anyone had told me then I would here now, I’d have told them they were nuts, but actually it’s been great,” Gina said.
“It’s a lovely community to work in and I’ve had great local staff. Locals have really supported us.
“The first day I opened someone came in, booked an around the world trip, and I thought, great this is going to work.”
Gina describes herself as a workaholic. Even during COVID, which said was the hardest time she’s known since being in business, she kept the doors open every day.
“I don’t have a favourite place in the world because the last place I travelled is always amazing,” she shared.
Having just returned from Spain and Portugal and before that Morrocco, she’s about to jet off again with a small group she’s organised to off the beaten track Italy.
“My passion is sharing the insider knowledge of having been to these places,” she explained.
“My motivation for travel is history, culture, the arts, food and wine. I love getting under the skin of places and doing it slowly if I can; immersive travel.”
“I like the village atmosphere on the mountain. I’m either a small village person or I’d live in the centre of New York or London. I love the whole community feel up here and its easy access to places such as Brisbane and the Gold Coast and it’s easy to hop on a plane.”
