About
Meet Mary Plousha
Mary Plousha is the founder of La Semilla Travel, a boutique travel agency based in Carlsbad, California. She plans custom group journeys and hosts small-group trips for travelers who want culture, connection and ease — with a signature specialty in women’s group travel and additional expertise in river cruises, Bali and Vietnam.
Serving travelers throughout Carlsbad, San Diego County and beyond.
Why I created it
Why I Created La Semilla Travel
I created La Semilla Travel because I believe travel has a way of bringing us back to ourselves.
We move through so many seasons. We care for our families, build careers, support the people we love, and often put our own dreams on hold. Travel gives us a chance to pause, breathe, reconnect, and remember what lights us up.
My hope is that everyone who joins a La Semilla Travel journey feels welcomed, cared for and inspired — whether you arrive with a friend or come on your own.
Philosophy
The Kind of Travel I Believe In
I believe the best trips are the ones where you get to be present. That means the logistics are handled before you land, the pace leaves room to breathe, and the experiences connect you to the place and the people rather than moving you past them.
It also means small groups. A smaller group means real conversation, more flexibility, and the kind of friendships that keep going long after everyone flies home.
Expertise
What I Specialize In
Alongside these, I plan multigenerational family travel, milestone celebrations, private yacht and small-ship experiences, and journeys built around a shared interest.
First-hand
Why First-Hand Experience Matters
I travel the destinations I sell. Walking a hotel’s hallways, meeting the guides, eating in the restaurants and learning how a place actually moves is what turns a brochure itinerary into a trip that works for real travelers.
[MARY INPUT NEEDED] — the destinations you have personally traveled and the year(s) you visited, so this section can name them specifically instead of speaking generally.
Working together
How I Work With Travelers
We start with a conversation — who is traveling, what you’re hoping to experience, and roughly when. From there I put options together, refine them with you, and handle the bookings, payment timelines, rooming arrangements and pre-trip communication.
If something changes or goes sideways while you’re traveling, you have someone to call. That’s the part travelers tell me they value most.
“I didn’t have to worry or bother my parents with the details. Mary just took care of it.”
Credentials
Professional Affiliations & Training
[MARY INPUT NEEDED] — host agency or consortium affiliation, supplier certifications or specialist training, professional memberships, and your California Seller of Travel registration number. Nothing is listed here until you confirm it, so no credential is claimed that isn’t verified.
Industry
Professional Affiliations
Trusted industry relationships. Professional expertise. Personalized travel planning.
La Semilla Travel is proud to maintain professional affiliations with respected organizations within the travel industry. These relationships provide access to industry education, resources, supplier connections and travel expertise that help me better serve my clients throughout every stage of their journey.
IATA
International Air Transport Association
CLIA
Cruise Lines International Association
ASTA
American Society of Travel Advisors
Professional connections matter—but so does personal service. La Semilla Travel combines industry resources and trusted travel partnerships with the hands-on care of an independent travel agent who is personally invested in every journey.
Next step
Start Planning With Mary
Whether you have a group of your own or you’d like to join one of our hosted journeys, the next step is a conversation.