Introducing Christie, our featured vivid traveller for the month of January.

Christie Guttridge is a retired accountant from Colorado, USA. In her 73 years she has visited 44 countries with her last trip being to Oman. Christie will next be off to South Africa. You can reach Christie at guttridge960@gmail.com

1. Why do you travel?

I travel because it's in my genes. I was born a Sagittarius - born to explore - I have been doing this all my life of 73 years. I love to visit different countries and cultures and make new friendships.

2. Tell us your favourite: a place to visit, mode of transport and source to get travel info.

Place: My favourite place to visit is outdoor adventures involving walking to see local culture. My favourite country so far is Bhutan.

Mode of transport: Driving and walking is my favourite mode of transportation.

Source for travel info: My sources come from different travel companies and acquaintances along the way. I have done several Country Walker trips (the agency is in Vermont, USA) and also use Showaround (UK website to hire local guides) when not with a tour group.

3. What is your favourite travel memory?

​My favourite travel memory is hiking up to the Tigers Nest Monastery near Paro, Bhutan, and meditating in their shrine. I have done this twice on two separate trips.

4. What's the most important thing you've learned while travelling?

The most important thing I've learned while travelling is that all mankind has one goal: to be loved and share with others.

5. Who would you love to sit next to on your next flight?

I would love to sit next to the 14th Dalai Lama.

6. What's your best money-saving tip to travel?

My best money-saving trip was to Spain. I booked hotels online, took the train, and used local guides. The food was very cheap in Spain.

7. How do you deal with the post-holiday blues?

I don't get holiday blues — no time for that.

8. What's one thing you like to do in every place you visit?

Talk to local people to see how they live and what is important to them. Most often, this information comes from local guides.

9. Travelling can leave a big environmental footprint, how do you minimise yours?

I minimise my footprint by not eating meat or buying animal products, I do not discard trash outdoors & do recycle if available. I try to use fewer paper products, especially in toilet areas.

10. Plan an around the world trip for us, stopping in one city only on each continent.

Around the world: North America- Denver, Colorado > Europe -Iceland, Reykjavik > Asia - China, Xian > Australia - Sydney > Africa - Cairo, Egypt > South America - Cusco, Peru.

Thanks, Christie. You have motivated me to start planning and book my trip to Bhutan. Meditating in the Tigers Nest shrine sounds terrific.

If you would like to read other traveller profiles we have featured, click here.

Each month an enthusiastic traveller will share with us their personal stories from their adventures around the world. If you would like to be featured in the upcoming months, then please drop us a note below…