I never travel without my ...
Swimmers! Even on a wintery trip there might be hot springs, thermal pools or heated hotel pools for a dip!
My top travel tip is...
ALWAYS have a spare change of clothes in your carryon luggage. Don’t let a missing or delayed suitcase impact on the start of your trip!
My favourite trip?
Wow, this is impossible! I'd have to say one of my favourites was our 15th wedding anniversary trip to Indochina. We took our kids with us (then aged 10 and 5). We started in Hanoi in Vietnam and literally ate our way around the city! We did an amazing street food tour with a chef and had one of THE most amazing meals I have had anywhere in the world – and it cost about $2! We then flew to Luang Prabang in Laos, set right on the banks of the Mekong River. The town is full of temples and the monks walk through the streets each morning to collect alms. We took the kids to a bear sanctuary and had this incredible behind-the-scenes experience where we hid food around the enclosure and then watched the bears forage for their meal.
Our final stop was Siem Reap in Cambodia, and it absolutely blew us away. I literally cried seeing Angkor Wat. Again we had some special moments away from the crowds which made this trip truly memorable. Eight years on and we still talk about this trip regularly as a family.
If you had to choose only one, would you rather travel: solo? as a couple? with friends or family?
Yes to all of them. I’m not sure I can only choose one, because for me all types of travel are important and I enjoy all them. I love travelling with my kids, but I also love spending one-on-one time with my partner. However, I am very comfortable travelling solo, but also love adventures with my friends. I can’t pick!
What motivates you to travel?
Immersing myself in a different culture. I love hearing different languages, seeing how people live, connecting with locals, eating different food – especially street food. That was what I missed most during the pandemic – I loved discovering more of Australia but really missed different cultures.