Tag: q&a

Globetrotters- Mackinaw Road

This weeks Globetrotter is the Michigan gal Marta from Mackinaw Road.

I’ve never been to Michigan but reading Mackinaw Road’s about me page I could just tell it is somewhere special! I’ve been perusing all over their site reading up on what I can and found two places in Michigan that are on my hit list. Leland reminded me of the small fishing style villages of the British South Coast just more American (obvs). Charlevoix looks like a beautiful area with so many gorgeous boutique shops which I could spend alot of time and money in.

You will notice in the two posts above that design and shopping is included in their posts and also in reference to where is on the bucket list below (no spoilers here- you’ll need to read on) that traveling and design go hand in hand. We’ve recently written about collecting things (not just moments) when traveling and this really plays into Mackinaw Roads way of thinking in that picking on designs and items when traveling can help shape your home and daily life.

When checking out their site you’ll find as mentioned above Michigan Must visit and Travel inspired design but you’ll also find travel inspired menus, Island travel series, travel tips and lots of adventures in between. I would also recommend checking them out on Instagram the way Marta has travel inspired design and travel posts interwoven together just creates on fine looking Instagram feed!

So let me hand you over to Marta from Mackinaw Road

Hi, I am a Michigan girl with a big passion for travel. I am filled with fond memories of warm spring break vacations and summer road trips to the East Coast with my family. While I love where I am from I get a huge sense of restlessness if haven’t traveled in a while. I just love the feeling arriving in a new city, getting settled, discussing what to do, and wandering. It’s also just as fascinating to return to a place you once visited only to find so many aspects the same yet so many new things to discover?
To find out a bit more about us click here for our About me page
http://www.mackinawroad.com/about-me/

What do you enjoy most about traveling?
Traveling brings about a sense of rejuvenation and relaxation. I love learning about places when actually in the location- that kind of accidental information is the best.

Why do you think traveling is important?
Traveling helps us step outside our routines and see how others live. It helps us see what a tiny yet important role our lives play in the grand scheme of the world population.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?


My favorite photo to date is actually taken only about 45 minutes from our residence. It is of my children playing at sunset on the beach and represents the carefree feeling I always hope for when traveling.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVKWKZRBMV6/?taken-by=mackinawroad

Do you have a pre travel ritual? If so what?
Does scrambling and taking a million trips to Target count?

Who do you usually travel with?
Almost always my husband, most of the time it includes our children, and yearly at least one of our extended families.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Spend at least one day exploring without guides or Pinterest suggestions—just discover what you discover.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
Banff, Canada. I almost didn’t go and now know what a mistake that would have been. It has something for everyone- I can’t think of one person that I know that I wouldn’t recommend Banff too.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
Grand Cayman. We had been to multiple islands in the area, several of which we would readily return to but this just isn’t one of them.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
I’m slightly obsessed with the Norwegian way of life and would love to visit to really feel what it is like there.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
Aside from my husband and family, I haven’t gone on a trip without my Moment Lens for my camera. It is so much easier than lugging a big camera around (especially when I will inevitably end up carrying one of my children also) and takes great photos.

What can readers find on your blog?
Mackinaw Road (www.mackinawroad.com) has a little bit of everything- traveling with and without children, travel-inspired design, and travel-inspired recipes.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?
I don’t have a favorite blog post- I just can’t pick a favorite because they all feel unique and special in their own ways. I’ve enjoyed completing my Island Travel Interview series and learning about islands that I have not yet been to. I’ve also found it to be incredibly fun to collaborate on various posts with other bloggers/friends for travel, food, and drink. I think that someday it will be fun to look back on the travel posts to relive stories and remember aspects of the trip that I may have forgotten.

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Globetrotters- Nomad by Trade

I just love the tag line Kris from Nomad by Trade has –  ‘A travel blog for the kid at heart’. It just draws you in to want to find out more about her blog! We all just want to be a kid at heart, don’t we?

From featuring posts of her interstate travels to international adventures to exploring Disney. There is something for everyone on Nomad by Trade. I really like how everything is categorised on the site- Leisure travel, Evening tourist, Tips, Disney and Michigan Love. Really mixes it up and is a nice change from having everything listed as destinations. It also makes you want to find the gems of information listed in these categories.

I’ve mentioned more times than I can remember that Iceland has long been on my bucket list and it seems every Globetrotter we’ve had recently has been to Iceland. Cue – huge amounts of jealousy!  Kris has recently explored this magical country so has so much Iceland content that I’ve been scouring her blog for lots of insight and planning advice for when I do finally get myself over there. My favourite post (there was sooooo many to choose from), however, was this one as a huge photography lover and someone who would sell her left arm to see the Northern Lights it is such practical advice to make sure you get that dream capture of this beautiful phenomenon.  Her amazing picture of herself, mum and sister is a winner and you’ll get to see it below.

Reading Kris’s answers I love how open she is especially when describing her blog. She knows her voice, what to share and what she wants to say which is so important when creating your own space in the blogosphere.  We can all get a bit bogged down in comparing ourselves to others especially other travel bloggers who seem to have it all travelling the world.   But like Theodore Roosevelt once said  ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’. To know yourself and be true to yourself is what every blogger should do. Kris epitomises this and is something I really respect.

All links to Kris’s blog and social channels will be listed below and I can’t recommend enough that you head on over to check them out.

Let me hand you over to Kris


I’m Kris and as a frequent business traveller, I hop from one city to another throughout the United States. As a lifelong traveller, I’ve been to five continents and 45 US states with a goal to hit them all someday. When I’m not travelling, I’m likely to be on Pinterest planning another trip or cuddling my dog, Artoo.

What do you enjoy most about travelling? 

I love exploring new places more than anything else. There’s no better feeling than stepping out of an airport in a new city full of things to do, foods to try, and sights to see.

Why do you think travelling is important? 

I think travelling is the best way to create positive global relationships. Going out and seeing other countries and meeting their residents firsthand is the best way to eliminate misconceptions and ignorant stereotypes. You learn so much about other cultures as well as your own that it’s hard not to come back wiser.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?  

I love this shot of my mom, sister and me in front of the Northern Lights that I took with a mini tripod and self-timer in Iceland. The Lights were spectacular that night and I got the idea to have us stand really still in front of them. We’re a little blurry because I was using a long exposure, but it was just SO cool.

Do you have a pre travel ritual? If so what?

I’m an obsessive planner. I spend weeks or months researching attractions down to their opening hours, admission fees, and addresses. I also try to learn as much as possible about the place I’m visiting ahead of time. If it’s somewhere where another language is spoken, I’ll learn a few useful phrases (“Do you speak English?” is key), figure out the exchange rate, and research driving laws and road signs if I’m renting a car.

Who  do you usually travel with? 

I travel by myself a lot for work, so I have a lot of adventures on my own. Lately, I’ve been travelling with my mom and sister a bunch because they actually get vacation/break time. I’ve also taken a couple of really fun trips with my boyfriend the last couple of years.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?

Just do it. Whether you’re going for a weekend trip somewhere close or booking a month abroad, it will be worthwhile. Set a budget for yourself and save if you need to, but make it happen. I promise that the new experiences will be more worthwhile than a new pair of jeans or shoes.

Tell us the funniest story or a miss hap from one of your adventures?

When I was in Iceland a few months ago, my mom made the car rental reservation and I never looked at the booking. She’d rented a small SUV for the week and said it was only about $400. That seemed fairly reasonable since I usually get weekly rates when I’m renting cars for work and they’re a touch under $200. We rented the car, had a blast on the trip, and returned it to the airport before our flight. The problem was that when she made the booking, she somehow only did it for one day. The daily rate was $400. we’d had the car for seven days at that point. I was a little queasy since I was supposed to be sharing the cost. Luckily, they negotiated with us and only wanted an additional $900 on top of the $400 we’d already paid, but it was still staggering. I’m still baffled by the fact that they hadn’t tried to contact us (or the police) when we kept the car for an extra six days, but I guess they figured we couldn’t take it very far on a relatively small island.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?

Probably Iceland. Despite the mishap described above, I absolutely adored every corner of the country. I’ve never seen so much natural beauty in such a small area. Every corner seemed to be more beautiful than the last, and our days and nights were filled with incredible sights. If Iceland isn’t on your bucket list already, it should be.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype? 

Nassau, Bahamas was pretty disappointing, as well as the whole cruise we were on. I love exploring new places and learning about the local culture and trying new foods, but Nassau felt just like a run-down American beach town. Our ship docked at the same time as two other huge cruise ships, so just getting off of the dock was an ordeal. We spent the day on the beach right next to the cruise docks with a commercial shipping centre to our left and a scraggly sandbar in front of us. It was far from the picturesque Caribbean scene I had imagined, and we ended up re-boarding the ship way earlier than expected.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list? 

I’ve been wanting to go to New Zealand for the longest time. Every picture I see there seems gorgeous and I love exploring nature. It just seems like the kind of place that I would love.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without? 

Aside from the obvious socks and underwear kind of stuff, my main necessity is my camera. I’ve always taken tonnes of pictures and I love trying to snap unique shots.

What can readers find on your blog? 

Lots of fun stuff! I’m really just an overgrown kid, so I try to write posts for grown-ups who like the same kind of goofy fun stuff that I do. I’m never going to be the picture-perfect travel blogger or Instagram star, but I love writing about things like ridiculous ice creams and posting pictures of my head on a giant Pez dispenser. It took me a while to find my voice, but now that I’ve figured out who I’m writing for (and it helps that my target audience is also myself) it’s a lot more fun.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?

It’s hard to pick just one, but I really like my post called “25 Pictures to Put Iceland on Your Winter Bucket List” It was nice to get a chance to show off some of my photography, and it’s one of my most viewed posts. I’m also really fond of a couple of Disney posts that I wrote. One is about visiting the parks solo, which I’ve done on numerous trips, and another about my favourite fireworks show that ended its 13-year run last month.

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Globetrotters – Fill My Passport

Cupcakes for breakfast – um yes, please!! This is something this week’s Globetrotter Janine from Fill My Passport loves and seriously what a way to celebrate the most important meal of the day. I’m sold!

Janine has an awesome blog Fill My Passport- which includes Fly Away Friday link ups (every other Friday), alternative guides of what to do that is a little different to the standard destination guides, Disney Guides, traveller stories, honeymoon planner and travel shop. It’s a one-stop shop for everything from inspiration through to booking. Also how cute is the name!!

We both share a passion for finding and telling untold stories from across the globe so I love that I’ve been able to include her within this series. We learn so much from each other and reading her answers below I love her take on her favourite place in that she has to do it by continents. I’ve not ever had anyone answer it like before and it’s an awesome way, to sum up your favourite places. Every continent is so different so it makes complete sense!

I’ve always wanted to go to Niagra Falls and loved this post with highlights of things to see and do. I always hear the discussion of which side is best to view the falls and from this post, the Canadian side sounds like a winner to me. https://www.fillmypassport.net/love-weekends-niagara-falls-ontario-reasons/ . It just looks like the most amazing place to see nature at its finest.

Let me hand over to Janine from Fill My Passport and all links to the blog and social channels can be found below.


Hi, I’m Janine and I am an active traveller who enjoys writing about my travels, uncovering untold stories worldwide, and eating cupcakes for breakfast. After being to 40 countries, this travel journalist felt it was time to put her adventures in writing to educate and assist fellow travellers. I currently live in Toronto Canada with my Aussie husband whom I met along the Seine in Paris while travelling, busily planning my next epic holiday in California this November.

Fill My Passport is a one-stop resource for travel guides, tips, tricks, Disney planning advice, and inspiration. We are currently morphing our niche further into a romantic getaway platform combined with alternative honeymoon destinations for that adventurous couple wishing more than an all-inclusive resort to celebrate their sacred commitment.
We hope our forum will inspire, appeal and encourage you to stretch your palate, book a ticket, sport the Mickey ears, and Fill YOUR Passport with as many stamps as possible.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
I love uncovering untold stories and having life experiences unlike anything else. Every country has a story to tell; built history to learn; mysteries to discover. This is the joy of being on the go. Not to mention the sense of freedom away from the drudge of reality.

Why do you think travelling is important?
I think it is important for people to look and think outside the box/their community bubble to learn and become educated on the outside world. Cultures and people bring a variety of thoughts, rituals, fears, emotions to the world table and in order to understand the planet to which you live, you must immerse yourself with others different from yourself to truly understand differences from you and your life.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels.



This photo is of me walking across the death-defying rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede Northern Ireland. I was scared out of my wits, especially when the dorks on the bridge thought it was fun to shake the sides or ignore the safety precautions of 15 MAX individuals at a time, but in the end, I did it, and have the experience under my belt to prove it!

Who do you usually travel with?
I travel mostly with my hubby. He is the best travel companion as he is so much fun, hilarious, and my safety blanket when I cry through rough turbulence.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Be open-minded to everywhere and everyone you meet on the journey. They were placed on this path for a reason. When you must sleep on a dirty overnight train, think of it as a part of the adventure. When you see that woman at the café sipping a latte looking gorgeous and perfect for that inner photographer in you, take a chance and ask her to pose. Life is so short. Take the chances as if it were your last day.

Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?
For some reason, luggage does not like me. I seem to go through it like dirty socks. The latest incident took place in Istanbul. My husband being a gentleman offered to carry my suitcase up the street across the cobblestones which are terrible for wheeled luggage. The handle snapped making it difficult to manoeuvre from then on. We searched and searched in Istanbul for a new luggage, resulting in dodgy encounters in the Grand Bazaar and terribly overpriced knock-offs. In the end, after a scary incident, I continued my journey with the broken luggage until reaching London where I splurged with a Kipling duffel that endured heavy travel until its demise a year later.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
This is a tough question as I firmly believe that no continent can be compared. I will answer this the way I usually do- by continent J

Asia – China all the way. The Great Wall took my breath away
Europe – Other than England where I lived for 2 years, I adored Vienna. I could eat Sacher Torte for the rest of my life while listening to Mozart’s minuet in the background.
Oceania – tough call, but I have a soft spot for Australia seeing how my hubby is from there.
North America – Ottawa, NYC, and Orlando as I’m a huge Disney nerd.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
Thailand. I think because I got into a life-threatening accident tubing that it tainted my experience. Everyone raves about Thailand and it being the top nation for travel, but I was on the fence about it and don’t need to return. If I were heading back to Southeast Asia, I would rather seek new adventures in places like Borneo, Laos, and Cambodia.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
Oh boy, what do I choose to divulge? My list is growing every day! I would have to say a trip through South America. I would love to see the Galapagos, the Bolivia Salt Flats, Inca Trail, and Uruguay. That’s my goal for my 40th birthday which is in (cringe…) a year and a half…

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without.
I am a dental hygiene freak! I just cannot travel without floss, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. I just saw my dad go through hell losing his teeth and I am trying to prevent this fate along with expensive dental bills for as long as possible!
On another note, I CANNOT travel without my Fraggles. Fraggle Rock from the 1980’s was one of my favourite shows created by Jim Henson and they just bring me joy and photobomb many of my pics!

What can readers find on your blog?
Fill My Passport brings city guides, romance tips, and Disney planning help to its readers. We are set to launch a product line soon which we hope will be a helpful resource for travellers and writers alike.

We give truthful accounts from experience and bring fusions of taste, romance and travel to our following. We strive to bring our romantic getaway niche to our forum as well as a detailed top-notch Disney planning section.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?
I am very proud of my blog post “15 Reasons You Need to Visit Midland Ontario for Canada 150” as it is my stepdad’s hometown and truly resonated with the locals. It felt like every business shared the post and was passionate about the content! This article was so popular that they even mentioned that I needed to do the second installment so that post is coming soon to the blog J I am proud of it as a small town nearly 2 hours North of Toronto probably has not had much media exposure and responded so highly and passionately about my coverage of their hometown.

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Globetrotters- Wanderers Hub

Travelling is pretty awesome especially when you get to experience it with the person you love most in the world. Prerna and Harsh from the Wanderers Hub get to do just that. Lucky sods!

I love their answer regarding why travelling is important and how it not only rejuvenates the soul but also makes you more tolerant. If only more people opened their mind to travelling and seeing new cultures, meeting people from different walks of life and seeing the world from a different viewpoint to what they are used to. This is a message we all need to get out there.

One of my favourite posts from them isn’t a destination post as you would expect but a post about interesting wanderlust words. Most of these I’d never heard of! Have a read here and see if you’ve heard of them. I’m going to see how many I can get into conversation this week. Now for the destination link I loved reading about the beautiful Bhutan which has long been on my bucket list. Check out the post here and don’t blame me for the wanderlust that will entail.

So happy Sunday all and let me introduce you to Prerna and Harsh …

Hi we are Prerna and Harsh and we are Indian travel bloggers, who run a travel blog called Wanderers Hub. We met in school, fell in love, dated for years, and then got married in 2015. Despite Harsh having a full-time job and Prerna being an entrepreneur, we both fetch time from our busy lives to travel as much as possible. With our itchy feet we are always on the hunt for offbeat places which we can present with an interesting series of photos. In fact, we focus on making a genuine connection with our audience rather than just cluttering the internet space.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?

Travel helps build and strengthen relationships. A quick sun-and-sand getaway or a week-long beach break helps ignite the spark that lasts long even after we are back home. Then there is this feeling of conquering a new territory. The idea of trying new food, watching the sun set from a different zone and sleeping in a different world – it gives a sense of accomplishment.

Why do you think travelling is important?

Travelling changes our conceptions of conventional. It’s so amazing to see the world from a unique perspective. Simply put, travelling is an eye-opener. Getting a free new take on life by seeing how people in the other part of the world live is simply fascinating. Plus you are able to leave all worries back at home and step out of your comfort zone. Travelling rejuvenates the soul and makes a person more tolerant.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels.

This one kind of makes us nostalgic about encountering the most romantic sunset of our lives together. It gives us warm fuzzies! 🙂

Which is your favourite type of travel/holiday- sun, snow, sea, city, mountains, country?

We both love beach holidays!

Who do you usually travel with?

We travel with each other and no one else. Rarely, do we go for family trips as our parents themselves are keen on exploring the world at their own pace.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?

Travel often; travel with an open mind and an open heart. That will help you experience different cultures, religions and people in the best manner. Celebrate life and don’t forget to strike conversations with random people you meet on the go.

Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?

It happened during Tigers Nest trek in Bhutan when the weather got changed drastically and it perhaps started raining. Since the slope was extremely steep, we couldn’t move properly. It got worse when the entire stretch became muddy and we could see so many people slipping here and there. We took our chances and started trekking down slowly, much to our dismay. I slipped really bad the first time and in a fit of rage, threw the bottle I had in my hand, which landed on another person’s head. That was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. But I slipped again and again and again! Needless to say, I was a dirt sack by the end of the trek. Now when we think of it, we have a big laugh about the entire episode.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?

So far Bhutan. That country can have a numbing impact on your senses – it’ll leave you awestruck!

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?

Dubai was a bit overhyped, I believe.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?

I have heard a lot about Fiji and it definitely is on our bucket list. We’re looking forward to exploring Varanasi next week and Switzerland in August this year.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without.

Sunscreen, for sure!

What can readers find on your blog?

Readers can find a perfect melange of travel and lifestyle on our blog. We’ll take them through the exciting journey of finding offbeat places, secluded beaches, and all those hidden streets in a country they’d love exploring.

Find more from Wanderers Hub here

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Globetrotters- Wanderlusting Hippie

Anyone that has a stuffed toy as a travelling buddy gets a big yes from me. Christina is the face behind the Wanderlusting Hippie and was kind enough to share her travel insight for this week’s Globetrotters.

The Wanderlusting Hippie is a blog for young travellers on a budget. As you will read below Christina’s goal is to show people you don’t have to be rich to travel the world and follow your dreams. I recently read this article Heartbreak you’re not a traveller without ithttps://wanderlustinghippie.com/2017/04/05/heartbreak-youre-not-a-traveler-without-it/ and straight away I knew this was a blog I wanted to follow. I could TOTALLY relate. Then reading through Christina;s answers below I could see the passion she has for travelling and for people to see the world I couldn’t wait to share with you all.

The fun part about these Q&A’s is learning more about everyone’s journeys where they have been, their bucket lists, where was good and where wasn’t so good. Whilst it was a little hard to hear my homeland didn’t live up to the hype it just reminds me that the places that didn’t live up to the hype for me could have been the best place for adventures for somewhere else. By connecting with others and hearing stories from other people just keeps opening up the world even further and I think that’s amazing.

I’m sure you are going to love following Wanderlusting Hippie as much as I do and be sure to check her blog for travel tips and inspiration and follow on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date with where she is in the world. I’ve put all the links below so you get there in one easy click.

You are in for a treat. Let me introduce you to Christina,

Originally hailing from Florida, I’m a beach girl at heart, but have been suffering from an incurable case of gypsy fever for the last 5 years. I’ve worked in marketing for many different companies across the US before making the decision to go global. I’m also the author of Wanderlusting Hippie, a travel blog for 20-something solo budget travellers.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?

The part I love most about travelling is getting to see and explore new cultures that I was clueless to before. I love learning other customs and traditions and how other communities of people interact. I also love when foreigners get so excited to practice their English with me. It feels amazing to help someone master a skill like learning a new language!

Why do you think travelling is important? 

Travel is SO important because it helps you grow as a person. It teaches you to value what you have and it unlocks a part of yourself that you may not have been able to access if you stayed in the same little hometown you grew up in. If I would have stayed in Niceville, the little Florida town I was raised in, I would probably spend my time complaining about an Uber driver talking to me too much when I didn’t feel like talking. Since I have taken the opportunity to travel and see other cultures, I realise how truly lucky we are to even have something like Uber exist in our everyday lives. Perspective.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?

This photo was taken at my one of my favourite spots in Bali. I’ve always been a big fan of hookah, and there was an Italian cafe across the street from my guesthouse in Seminyak that had hookah for about $2 US. I lived in that guesthouse for 3 weeks, and I would walk over to get hookah and a coffee every day…and just people watch. They had an outside patio that faced all the action, and I loved taking my laptop there to work. It got to the point that they started to get my favourite hookah flavour ready when they saw me walking up! So this photo brings back amazing memories of the energy of the city that I got to sit and watch every day.

Which is your favourite type of travel/holiday- sun, snow, sea, city, mountains, country?

Being from Florida, I prefer to stick to my mermaid roots and be by the sea. Although I do love getting to experience new terrain with every new adventure! I love city life too, the energy of a city really motivates me…so when there is a destination that has both, you’ll be sure to find me there.

Who do you usually travel with?

Journey. This is my travel buddy! I’ve had him since last year and he’s been everywhere with me!

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?

Always pack a backup change of clothes in your carry on! At least one pair of undies, clean shirt, pants, and a toothbrush. You never know what issues you might run into.

Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?

When I was in Italy (inland from Venice) I waited at the bus stop for an hour…in the middle of December! It was about 30 degrees (-1 celsius) and I was shivering like crazy. Finally, a young guy came along and had to explain to me, all in Italian, that the bus was in fact not running that day. He spoke NO English and I knew NO Italian…but we made it work!

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?

Although I fell in love with the spirit of Venice, Italy the one place I would love to go back to is Bali. There is something about the sunshine (told you I’m a beach lover) that just brings such a happy energy to the community!

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?

I hate to say it…but Australia was a bit of a letdown for me. I did only get to experience Cairns, so I’m sure other parts of AUS are amazing. When I travel, though, my goal is to experience cultures very unlike what we have in the US. Australia is very similar culturally, so it was not exactly all that I was looking for in my travels. I could, however, see myself living there one day…since it’s not SO wildly different.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?

Portugal has been a recurring theme in my life as of late, so I definitely want to go there. Ibiza is also towards the top of my list.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?

I try to not become too attached to “things” as I know they can be gone in an instant. But there is a book that I always try to have 2 copies of at any given time. It’s called, “Many Lives, Many Masters” and it’s a book that is very meaningful to me. I’ve met quite a few people along the way who the book could positively impact as well. I love to give away my extra copy when I inevitably run into the person who needs to read it.

What can readers find on your blog?
Wanderlusting Hippie is a blog full of tips and inspiration for 20-something solo travellers on a budget.

Click to find and follow Christina

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Globetrotters – Old School Traveller

Woohoo it’s Sunday so that means it’s time to introduce you to another Globetrotter.

The first blog post I read from the Old School Traveller was the first of their 5 part series called A Singular Honeymoon. I loved it! Why do you need to be married if you want the honeymoon experience now? It reminded me of when Carrie ‘married herself’ and gift registered for herself in Sex in The City after spending me a $ on engagement presents, wedding presents, baby showers and baby gifts. Whilst this wasn’t the thinking behind having a singular honeymoon  it was more about having that experience even if a honeymoon wasn’t in the near future. What I also liked was that he set himself the rule that he wasn’t allowed to say no to anything. I personally think all adventures should be like this.  The Old School Traveller is now married and his wife has a style section on the blog.

On the blog, you will find help with travel booking, restaurant guides, travel inspo, travel stories and the new addition of the style section. Links will be below to the blog and social channel so you can see for yourself.

The imagery of his words, the quality content, the images all just convey a beautiful sense of  an old school romance for travelling and seeing the world- so let me hand you over to The Old School Traveller.


A little bit about me, I trained in Fine Art as an Oil Painter, which I still am, but soon moved into photography and became a ‘Celebrity’ shooter for postcard and poster printers in the 80’s. After a bit of a mishap, I moved home to Wales and got into the hospitality industry, running a pub in Wales where I was also the chef, cellar man and host, and then ran a 22 bedroom hotel near Cambridge in England. Here, my cooking levels increased as did my interest in both food and wine. After this, I became an actor and comedy writer in Bristol, before moving to Australia to become a Television Executive. Due to the unbearable type of people I was meeting I got out and set up my own graphics business and started to travel extensively back and forth to Europe in particular but also to Asia and America. I am well past 1 million airmails and with three trips to Europe a year from Brisbane, I can’t see that slowing down anytime soon. During the last year or so, I have decided to put my travel experiences, my love of food and wine, my back catalogue of photographs and my sense of humour to better use, and I’m now focussing on travel/food blogging…. and here I am, OST.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
Having spent the first half of my life in Europe and the second in Australia, I love going home. Australia is it’s own paradise but I find I need to get my fix of the ever changing face of architecture, art, cuisine, dialect and scenery that Europe offers. I’m a Europhile no doubt. Ultimately I love beauty, whether it be in scenery, in the joy of wonderful food and wine or simply the smell of wild thyme on a Greek hillside. Ultimately though, seeing the joy on my partner’s face when she experiences something incredible and that she never thought she would be part of, makes everything worthwhile. It’s these images that stay with me – of her, my, our happiness. It’s something I’ve noticed out there in ‘blogland’; the sheer lack of true happiness in the images. More a postcard than a love letter.

Why do you think travelling is important?
Travelling broadens the mind for sure, but I feel it’s truly about finding your home from home. Those places that just welcome you and make you feel as if you truly belong. I’m not after wild adventure, I’ve had enough of that in my life. I’m more interested in happiness, relaxation and the understanding of inner self. I find that the older you become, the more you appreciate that that’s being lost and the desire to just .. be.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?



That’s a tough one as I have about 200,000 to choose from, but I think this one from Folegandros. I just woke up from an afternoon nap and took it from bed. The light and composition and that it’s also fairly unusual, speaks to me quite a lot.

Which is your favourite – sun, snow, sea, city, mountains, country?
Sun – Greece. The ever-changing light, bright colours, the beautiful Aegean, the crisp whites and hospitality. Snow – The Swiss Alps. They just know how to do it and everything works perfectly under extreme conditions. You need ‘reliable’ when travelling through Winter. Sea – Italy. The whole coast of Italy is a delight, including some wonderfully islands, both secluded and popular. And again, that light, especially around the bay of Naples.

Who do you usually travel with?
I spent pretty much 15 years travelling on my own but now with my wife. She is an incredible traveller. Easy going, happy to do other things (shop) while I write or take my photos, or to just join in. She came late to European travel and has embraced my love for it with open arms, and it’s truly a sharing experience now. Each trip is usually one of my favourite places that I want us to share, one that she, Kati, wants to see, and one that’s new to both of us. It works.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?

Save as much money as you can on flights and hotels to be able to spend the money on luxuries elsewhere. The Airport transfer, for example, is something that I couldn’t afford when I was younger but is now crucial to a relaxing trip. Lugging baggage around, waiting for buses, taxi’s etc and not knowing where you’re going cause a lot of stress between travelling couples. For example, getting to Naples airport from Positano. Paying for the private transfer allowed us to experience the incredible coastal road, we got to stop off at Pompeii for two hours with our luggage safely in the car and then on to catch our flight. No stress and it meant that we didn’t have to go out and back to Pompeii and use up a whole day getting there and back. So airport transfers…… and earplugs on flights. Crucial. Even keep them in when watching movies. Eradicates white noise and fellow travellers and you arrive so much more refreshed, less tired, less stressed and less prone to jet lag.

Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?
You’ll have to read that here.  It involved Ouzo and a boat load of Honeymooners.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
Right now, Milos Island in the Cyclades. It’s our secret. It’s a wonderfully small and unspoilt little gem. Like the Greek Islands used to be before the ‘too big’ cruise ships and tourism ruined the more obvious islands. It’s like they have seen how the other islands have been spoiled and have laid the groundwork for a great trip as was. Empty beaches, old school Tavernas, wonderful seafood, great geology, amazing sunsets, friendly locals, pristine and about a quarter of the price of Mykonos/Santorini… It has everything, and it’s the reason that we fell in love with the Greek Islands all those years ago. It is truly a magical place that I thought had gone….and very much Old School Traveller.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
The next trip, always. Seville, Jerez and Cadiz have always been on the list and I finally get to cross them off, but we’re also going to Bologna, and as true foodie and cook, my grin will be the widest there. Italy after all, is my spiritual home and if Italy’s stomach doesn’t bring the widest smile to my face, nowhere will.

To see more from The Old School Traveller you can find them here

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