A Note From AwayBug’s Founder, Angie Fanning

“The best trips, like the best love affairs, never end.” — Pico Iyer

The quote above is one of my favorites, because it perfectly encapsulates why I’m so drawn to—really, so passionate about—planning travel. 

But that’s only part of the quote. Here’s the rest:

“If travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed.”

At the end of the day, that’s what AwayBug delivers—a heightened state of awareness. A transformation.

Yes, you get seamless service, from the moment you reach out to us to the moment we phone you when you get home.Yes, you get all the amazing perks, upgrades, and amenities we can provide, thanks to our industry connections. 

But the MOST important thing you get—the thing I’m most proud of as a travel advisor—are the immersive, heightened experiences, the kind that plunge you right into the heart of what defines your destination as a place that can transform travelers, if they know where to look.

And, after spending several years living abroad—including stints in South Africa, London, and Ireland—I know exactly what a difference having an “in” makes to how you experience a destination.

That’s why I have my very favorite on-the-ground guides on speed dial, ready to craft custom tours, hands-on activities, and exhilarating excursions that show my clients what’s truly possible.

Whether that’s mucking around in the Alaskan mud at the foot of a massive glacier, or mixing up a craft cocktail behind the bar of a legendary literary haunt, you get a vacation that never just skims the surface.

And you’ll return home transformed, changed forever by what you saw.   

That’s the AwayBug promise. 

So I invite you to discover what’s possible when you plan your vacation with AwayBug—let us design a tailored experience that thrills you every leg of your journey. 

– Angie Fanning

Founder, AwayBug Travel

Angie’s 5 Fast Facts

  • I volunteered in South Africa for 3 months right after college, living with a local host family—which really allowed me to immerse myself in the culture
  • I also lived in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, where I volunteered at the peace and reconciliation organization Corrymeela
  • I discovered my knack for planning travel when I planned my own destination wedding to Costa Rica
  • Favorite vacation destination: Europe—France in particular (my husband and I both love French wine!)
  • Still on my bucket list: Chile and Argentina—I plan a ton of client trips there and can’t wait to go myself

Meet the AwayBug Team

Meet Cheryl Sloan, Client Care Coordinator

I grew up with an Air Force Dad so moving around and traveling started at a very early age!  In the 60’s we lived in the Philippines for 3 years and I was fortunate enough to visit so many of the nearby popular destinations and islands!  With my Dad being a pilot we were jet set from the beginning!  After Dad retired from the Air Force we moved permanently to Wilmington, NC where I graduated high school, attended UNCW then ended up starting my career in 1982 at Carolina Power & Light’s Nuclear Plant in Southport NC.

I relocated to the Southport/Oak Island area when I began my career and found myself going to school in the evenings at Brunswick Community College graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration.  In 1999 I took a leap of faith and changed careers which actually had me traveling and working with the Power Industry in several states.  In 2001 I was fortunate enough to take my first trip to Europe and spent time in Paris and London!  I was hooked!!

Over the years as I worked on different assignments, I loved exploring new places and planning my next adventures. It would be 2013 before I would travel to Europe again going to Nice, France!  What a place!  Then in 2017, I went on a trip of a lifetime with great friends on a Uniworld river cruise from Amsterdam to Switzerland!  Wow what a trip!  This was when I met Angie!  The trip was booked through AwayBug and she took such great care of us!  In 2019 I booked an Alaskan Cruise with Angie and started adding to my list of adventures I must do! 

Today, I assist Angie with keeping the back office running smoothly and ensure our clients are happy, paying special attention to all the tailored trip details. It’s an honor to work alongside Angie to help create the trip of your dreams!