Traveller Profile - Michelle
For the month of February, I would like to introduce you to our featured traveller Michelle.
Michelle is a veterinary nurse and currently resides in Ireland. As of Oct 2019, she has travelled to 13 countries, mainly in Europe but has ventured as far as Canada and to the Middle East. Her last trip was to Oman in October 2019 and her next destination...who knows! She would like to visit the US and New Zealand which is definitely on her bucket list.
1. Why do you travel?
The world is a big place with such a variety of cultures and customs. I love learning about all of the different lifestyles and getting to explore the landscapes, being adventurous and stepping outside my comfort zone to experience something unique and different.
It’s an escape and a great way to meet people.
2. Tell us your favourite: a place to visit, mode of transport and source to get travel info.
Place: While I still have a lot of places to visit, my favourite country to have visited so far would have to be Oman. While there, the contrast of cultures was such a stark reminder of how every place you visit is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a different walk of life and be open to trying new things. The fact that this country has so far managed to escape mass tourism and a lot of its natural beauty remains made it such an interesting place to be.
Mode of transport: Transport wise, depending on the destination, I try to walk as much as possible. I think that you can see a lot more this way, as oppose to being stuck on a bus or train, you may be missing out. If I had to choose, I would pick a bus and have found a lot of places I have visited have good systems in place.
Source for travel info: My number one source for travel info is online. Sites like TripAdvisor can give so much information about all the best places to stay and what to see. Google Maps is essential for any traveller and you can learn a lot about any country in the world so you feel a bit prepared for what lies ahead.
3. What is your favourite travel memory?
I decided to travel to Iceland in 2017. Having never travelled outside the country by myself before, I remember sitting on the plane waiting to take off and the realization hit me that I was flying to a country where I knew no- one, didn’t speak the language or have any idea what was waiting for me on the other side. Instead of feeling scared and anxious, I remember feeling brave and empowered and ready to take whatever was thrown at me. I still get that feeling every time I travel solo but I embrace it.
4. What's the most important thing you've learned while travelling?
Research before you go! I will always do as much research as I can so I have an idea of what lies ahead. If you are only visiting somewhere for a short period of time, you want to make the most of your time there. Knowing what you want to see and do ahead of time makes me feel prepared and I can make decisions of what I want to see and the places I would love to go.
5. Who would you love to sit next to on your next flight?
My best friend! We have known each other since we were four and have always talked about travelling together but have just not been able to make it happen. Maybe one day...
6. What's your best money-saving tip to travel?
Try to set an amount of money to spend each day or have a budget to stick to. I try to stay away from the high-end places to eat, look to where the locals eat. A lot of places will have free attractions to go and see.
7. How do you deal with the post-holiday blues?
Book another trip! It’s my favourite thing to do when I get back so I have something to look forward to. I also print out my favourite photos from the trip and look over them from time to time to remind myself how much I love to travel.
8. What's one thing you like to do in every place you visit?
I love to see at least one of the top tourist attractions, the must-see, wherever I go. I try to avoid the tourist traps and go to the lesser-known places as much as I can as well to get a good balance and feel for where I am.
9. Travelling can leave a big environmental footprint, how do you minimise yours?
Not everywhere you travel will be mindful of its environmental impact on the world. I try to recycle as much as possible and reuse plastic bottles for shampoos, etc for many trips. I also bring a reusable rucksack that folds up and takes up minimal space so I can carry anything, no need for plastic bags. I will always walk if it’s an option, cycle or take public transport as opposed to taxis for lower emissions. It’s not difficult to be a responsible traveller!
10. Plan an around the world trip for us, stopping in one city only on each continent.
There are so many to choose from!
Africa - Marrakech
Australia - Melbourne
North/ South America- Philadelphia
Eurasia- Baku
I picked each of these for various reasons but mainly the historical evolution of each city, with a mix of high populated to a bit off the map.
Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks, Michelle.
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…
To read past traveller profiles; click here.
We have featured Christie, Frank, Riana, Nadine and Matt.