Today we’d like to introduce you to Anses Rancalv.
Anses, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and from a young age, I learned the importance of resilience, adaptability, and building opportunities for yourself. I moved out of my home early and started using social media as a tool to support myself, which eventually became the foundation for a lot of what I do today.
Professionally, my background is actually in healthcare and education. I’m a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and I spent years working closely with children and families, helping create individualized plans and supporting people through high-stress situations with structure, empathy, and organization. That experience has deeply influenced the way I approach both business and client relationships.
As my social media presence grew, people naturally started coming to me for travel recommendations, trip planning advice, and destination guidance. What began casually evolved into a career that combined so many of my strengths: communication, organization, personalization, and content creation.
I officially entered the travel industry in 2023, specializing in romance travel, destination weddings, honeymoons, and group experiences. Since then, I’ve built a rapidly growing business driven primarily through social media and referrals. Along the way, I’ve been recognized as one of the Top 40 Most Influential and Inspirational Travel Advisors Under 40 in the U.S., featured in USA Today Magazine, nominated for Rookie of the Year within my first few months at my host agency, and later received the Represent Award.
What means the most to me, though, is the trust my clients place in me during some of the most important moments of their lives. Whether that’s planning a destination wedding, a honeymoon, or a meaningful family experience. I’ve also been able to combine my passion for education and travel through projects like BCBAs at Sea, which brings professional learning and travel together in a unique way.
Today, I see myself as someone who helps create experiences and memories that people will carry with them for a lifetime.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. I think one of the biggest misconceptions about social media-driven businesses is that people only see the highlight reel. What they don’t see is the amount of consistency, uncertainty, and pressure that happens behind the scenes.
When I entered the travel industry, I was essentially building from scratch while also balancing a full-time career as a BCBA. I had to learn an entirely new industry very quickly — supplier systems, contracts, destinations, sales, client management — while also figuring out how to turn an audience into a sustainable business.
Another challenge was learning how to establish boundaries and structure around my business as it grew. Because my business grew heavily through social media and referrals, people often had direct access to me at all hours of the day. I had to learn how to transition from being constantly available to creating processes, policies, and systems that protected both my clients’ experience and my own well-being.
I also think there are unique challenges that come with building a bilingual business and serving both Hispanic and English-speaking communities. Sometimes that means navigating different expectations, communication styles, and even representation within the industry itself. But at the same time, that has become one of the parts of my business I’m most proud of.
Personally, there were definitely moments where I questioned whether I could successfully balance everything — healthcare, entrepreneurship, content creation, travel, and my personal life. But every challenge pushed me to become more organized, more intentional, and more confident in what I was building.
Looking back, I’m actually grateful it wasn’t a smooth road, because those experiences shaped the way I lead my business today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a travel advisor and the face behind Tu Vacation Planner, where I specialize in romance travel — primarily destination weddings, honeymoons, and curated group experiences. A large part of my work involves helping couples navigate some of the biggest and most emotional milestones in their lives, while making the planning process feel exciting, organized, and stress-free.
I’m especially known for my work with destination weddings and groups because I focus heavily on the overall experience, not just the booking itself. I help clients identify the right destination and resort based on their vision, priorities, guest experience, and budget, while also managing the logistics behind the scenes — from contracts and room blocks to guest communication and travel coordination.
Beyond romance travel, I also work with luxury vacations, cruises, family travel, and educational group experiences like BCBAs at Sea, which combines continuing education with travel in a way that feels meaningful and community-driven.
I think what sets me apart is the combination of strategy, personalization, and modern marketing. My background as a BCBA has given me strong organizational and problem-solving skills, but it has also taught me how to truly listen to people and understand what matters most to them. I bring that into every client interaction.
I’m also very proud of the way I’ve built my business through social media. Instead of using it only to sell, I’ve focused on education, storytelling, and building trust. That approach has allowed me to grow a loyal audience and create a business that feels both personal and scalable.
What I’m most proud of, though, is the impact. There’s something incredibly special about knowing you played a role in memories that people will talk about for the rest of their lives — whether it’s a wedding day, a honeymoon, a family trip, or a professional event that brings people together in a meaningful way.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about the Houston area is the diversity and sense of community. There’s something really special about being surrounded by people from so many different cultures and backgrounds, and I think that has influenced both my personal life and the way I connect with clients.
As someone who works in travel and spends a lot of time connecting with people, I appreciate how dynamic and internationally connected Houston is. There’s always something happening, amazing food, and opportunities to meet people from all walks of life.
What I like least? Definitely the traffic. I think anyone in the Houston area would probably say the same. Between the distance between places and how unpredictable traffic can be, it definitely requires patience and planning.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tuvacationplanner.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/tuvacationplanner
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/tuvacationplanner
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/tuvacationplanner
