WSGT Travel Influencer: Rachelle Lucas of @TravelBlggr

 

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WSGT’s next interview is with Rachelle Lucas of @TravelBlggr and The Travel Bite, a food and travel blog with the aim of inspiring active culinary vacations. 

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1.)Where was the first place that you traveled that made you think WOW—travel is amazing (think history book come to life or …..)

It was actually in college, I spent a summer as a camp counselor in North Carolina.  We went hiking and white water rafting and exploring small towns like Asheville.  It was during one of our excursions were we had stopped in the middle of nowhere at a roadside stand to grab some fruit and snacks, and found the most amazing fresh-picked peaches.  I remember thinking, I have to find a job after college that gives me more of these opportunities to travel and experience new things.

2.)If you had unlimited resources, where would you go and what would you do?

I would probably volunteer on a farm stay in South America.  I love being on a farm, and having the opportunity and resources to give back and lend a helping hand, I think that would be a fun learning experience.

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3.)What were you afraid to do and how did you find the courage to overcome it?

I was afraid to travel to Jordan, and overcame that fear on my flight there.  It’s a pretty long story, but you can read about it here:  http://thetravelbite.com/travel_and_food_blog/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-jordan/

I also used to be deathly afraid of public speaking.  Toastmasters helped a lot with that.

4.)What apps do you use regularly that make your life easier?

TripIt, Delta’s App, and Evernote are my three life savers.  Tripit is great for keeping my travel schedule at my finger tips.  Evernote is useful for organizing my notes and important things I might need on-the-go, and Delta’s app is fab whenever I fly with them.  Love that I can change my seats, check-in, download my boarding pass, and track my luggage all on my phone.

rachelle5.)What place do you wish more people have seen?

Croatia.  I think it’s an up and coming destination, and a gorgeous one at that.  The cities there, such as Split and Dubrovnik, feel more like ancient Rome to me than even Rome itself.  I can see why it was so popular as a location for filming Game of Thrones.

6.)Best advice you have been given and by whom?

I think it’s a common quote, but always pack less clothes and twice as much money.  LOL.
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7.)What inspired you to travel for extended periods of time or live in a new country?

I think you really get immersed in a culture when you’re able to stay their long-term.  I stayed in Bologna, Italy, for two summers in a row through their Blogville program.  Living downtown, walking to the market for groceries and cooking in a tiny apartment kitchen, stumbling upon local events like music festivals and movies in the main piazza — it all made me feel much more immersed in the culture there than I would have staying in a hotel.

8.)I travel because…

it makes me feel alive.

As a former innkeeper, Rachelle learned to cook by practicing with chefs she met while spending 3 years managing social media marketing for multiple bed & breakfasts. Since then, she’s also had the opportunity to work with Visit Florida, the Travel Channel, HSN and the syndicated morning show, Daytime TV.

Rachelle’s been recognized 5 times as one of FoodBuzz.com’s Top 9 Featured Publishers, was named one of the Top 50 Most Influential People In Travel on Twitter, and Axis Magazine named her one of the Top 20 Coolest People in Orlando.  She was also named one of the 13 Twitter Personalities to follow in 2013 by Elliot.org.

Stay up-to-date with Rachelle through her website and social media outlets:

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

Youtube

Our next Travel Influencer interview will be up in a week, follow the series here.

Stay up-to-date with WSGT via our blogFacebookTwitter, Instagram and Youtube channel

Caitlyn O'Brien

Caitlyn is a 26-year-old Canadian with a passion for travel, futbol, and more recently kayaking in her new Patagonian home: Futaleufú. She teaches English at a local school and loves turning her daily experiences into stories.

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