Hi, my name is Laura and I am a travel addict.
Ever since I was a little kid I have loved to travel. After all, my first flight was when I was only one month old! I grew up in the Hawaiian Islands, went to high school in Austin, TX and currently reside in Miami Beach and New York City.
From that tiny island of Oahu, I have already visited 50 countries and counting…
When were you first bit by the travel bug?
The first big trip I remember was a cruise through Southeast Asia with my family. I got to basically take a month off of school and write in a journal to share my experience with my classmates when I returned home.
The thing I remember most was just how different daily life was there and made me appreciate all the things I had in my life at such a young age.
What’s your travel style? Why do you prefer this style of travel?
I would classify my travel style as “Business Class Backpacker”. This means that I seek the very best, but value is the highest decision factor when planning my adventures.
Using points, research, and contacts to stretch my trips to the absolute maximum in terms of culture, cuisine, accommodation, and transportation within a budget to gain experiences.
How do you fund your travels?
This is an expensive hobby! People ask me all the time how I can afford to travel so much. How I carve out the time and money to go to the far corners of the world…and why? Most people will say that I am just extremely lucky that can travel the world.
Yes, I have been very blessed in my life, but you can be too! I am a firm believer that you control your own destiny and you will quickly learn tips to maximize your budget.
What first inspired you to start Business Class Backpacker?
When I traveled to India, I knew I had to share my story with the world. Too many people miss out on life experiences for material things and I hope to inspire people to shift their budgets a little bit in the other direction.
What’s been your most popular blog post? Why do you think this blog post resonated with your audience?
All my travel tips and travel guides that show real-life experiences of exactly what I did. I have received beautiful emails from people all over the world telling me that they followed my guides and had experiences they would have never thought to have or a trip was made possible by the budget they were able to maintain.
What’s been your favorite destination city and why?
It’s really too hard to choose!
What picture have you taken during your travels that you’d consider to be your favorite and why?
I used to hate taking photos when I travelled. I thought it was vain and as I got older I realized that photos help you remember!
Photos that capture a reflective period or a travel goal accomplished are always my favorite photos.
Have you eaten anything during your travels that absolutely blew your mind? What was it and where?
Yes, I’m going to write a post about my favorite dining experiences shortly so stay tuned!
Tell us about one of your greatest experiences during your travels.
I recently returned from the Philippines, where my Mom grew up as a child. It was amazing to see how happy the families that live in these small villages were without any real modern “conveniences” and just made me so happy to unplug and unwind playing soccer with the kids on the beach.
I hadn’t heard laughter that genuine in a long time.
Tell us about one of your worst experiences during your travels.
I really try to make every experience enjoyable and find the good in any bad situation!
What has surprised you the most about traveling?
I’m surprised that I’m not sick of it yet! The more I travel, the more places, sights, and adventures I want to add to my list.
What’s one thing you seek out in every city you visit no matter what?
I love to wander.
It’s not something I necessarily seek out, but to find out what daily life is like by wandering neighborhoods and non-touristy areas always tend to be the most memorable experiences for me.
Do you have a favorite travel hack or best piece of travel advice?
Airfare and accommodations are always the most expensive item of any trip. Sign up for points programs, follow brands you like on twitter, and do your research ahead of time before you burn money on these big ticket items.
Any future travel plans?
Yes, heading to Ethiopia next week and then Italy in August!
Favorite travel quote?
It has to be
“Not all those who wander are lost” by J. R. R. Tolkien.
What has travel taught you?
The more I travel, the more I realize how big the world is and how wonderful life can be. With all the turmoil going on in the world, I think that travel is even more important to understand different cultures and the daily struggles of people all around the world.
Special thanks to Laura of Business Class Backpacker for taking part in our Good Travel Interview series. Leave a comment below with your thoughts on the interview.
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