Thinking about launching a tiny, fully-remote travel consultancy focused on the Caribbean and Latin America (think custom island-hopping, eco-lodges, dive trips, remote-workcations). Has anyone here done something similar as a solo digital nomad? I’m trying to map a simple, compliant setup I can run from a laptop, maybe under a brand like “Caribbean & Latin Travel Consultant Ltd,” and would love advice on: Legal and licensing: If I’m not US-based but have US/EU clients, do I still need seller-of-travel registrations or bonds? Any countries in the Caribbean/LatAm where agents need a local license even if you’re selling remotely? Any “working while on a tourist visa” traps if I’m on a nomad visa there? Structure: Best jurisdiction for a one-person agency (UK LTD, US LLC, BVI/Belize/Barbados IBC, Panama, etc.) to balance liability, banking, taxes, and insurance availability. Accreditation path: Start under a host agency (to leverage IATA/ARC/CLIA and better commission) vs. going independent later. Any host agencies friendly to non-US residents and nomads who move around? Payments: PSPs that actually tolerate travel risk as a small agency (Stripe alternatives, rolling reserves, multi-currency). Do you use client trust/escrow accounts? How do you handle VAT/IVA when packaging components across multiple countries? Insurance: E&O/professional liability that covers multi-jurisdiction trips and hurricanes/force majeure. Any brokers who understand tiny remote agencies? Supplier vetting: How do you vet small island operators and avoid prepay risk? DMC partnerships you trust in places like the ABC islands, Roatán, San Blas, Azores-like offbeat spots in LatAm? Ops while nomading: 24/7 emergency coverage with spotty island internet-backup comms (dual eSIMs, call forwarding, answering services, sat messenger), SLAs, and tools you rely on (CRM/itinerary builders, waiver tools). Niche and margins: Which niches in this region offer sane commissions and fewer chargebacks (small-ship cruises, liveaboards, boutique all-inclusives, surf/dive lodges)? Typical ranges you see? Data/privacy: Managing client PII across borders (GDPR/LGPD), especially if using VA support in another country. Visas: If I’m on, say, Barbados/Costa Rica digital nomad visas, is selling trips into that same country considered local work? Biggest “wish I’d known” before you started? Tool stacks, host recommendations, and any red flags to avoid would be amazing.

Caribbean And Latin Travel Consultant Ltd

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Thinking about launching a tiny, fully-remote travel consultancy focused on the Caribbean and Latin America (think custom island-hopping, eco-lodges, dive trips, remote-workcations). Has anyone here done something similar as a solo digital nomad?

I’m trying to map a simple, compliant setup I can run from a laptop, maybe under a brand like “Caribbean & Latin Travel Consultant Ltd,” and would love advice on:

Legal and licensing: If I’m not US-based but have US/EU clients, do I still need seller-of-travel registrations or bonds? Any countries in the Caribbean/LatAm where agents need a local license even if you’re selling remotely? Any “working while on a tourist visa” traps if I’m on a nomad visa there?
Structure: Best jurisdiction for a one-person agency (UK LTD, US LLC, BVI/Belize/Barbados IBC, Panama, etc.) to balance liability, banking, taxes, and insurance availability.
Accreditation path: Start under a host agency (to leverage IATA/ARC/CLIA and better commission) vs. going independent later. Any host agencies friendly to non-US residents and nomads who move around?
Payments: PSPs that actually tolerate travel risk as a small agency (Stripe alternatives, rolling reserves, multi-currency). Do you use client trust/escrow accounts? How do you handle VAT/IVA when packaging components across multiple countries?
Insurance: E&O/professional liability that covers multi-jurisdiction trips and hurricanes/force majeure. Any brokers who understand tiny remote agencies?
Supplier vetting: How do you vet small island operators and avoid prepay risk? DMC partnerships you trust in places like the ABC islands, Roatán, San Blas, Azores-like offbeat spots in LatAm?
Ops while nomading: 24/7 emergency coverage with spotty island internet-backup comms (dual eSIMs, call forwarding, answering services, sat messenger), SLAs, and tools you rely on (CRM/itinerary builders, waiver tools).
Niche and margins: Which niches in this region offer sane commissions and fewer chargebacks (small-ship cruises, liveaboards, boutique all-inclusives, surf/dive lodges)? Typical ranges you see?
Data/privacy: Managing client PII across borders (GDPR/LGPD), especially if using VA support in another country.
Visas: If I’m on, say, Barbados/Costa Rica digital nomad visas, is selling trips into that same country considered local work?

Biggest “wish I’d known” before you started? Tool stacks, host recommendations, and any red flags to avoid would be amazing.