Interview With Kasia Writes

I’m definitely not a backpacker. While I admire people who can travel for an extended period with a backpack, that’s never appealed to me. I don’t necessarily need a five-star accommodation, but I do enjoy the comforts of a nice room, a private bathroom, and a suitcase. I’ve traveled quite extensively for the last 20 years, both for leisure and for business, ranging from a few days to a stretch of over a month in length. I consider myself a frequent traveler even though it’s not my full-time job. My husband and I try to fit as much as we can into our trips so we usually do frequent multi-destination vacations.

I travel at minimum two times a year, but that varies. This year, I’ve traveled once for work and three times for leisure. That covered six countries and 10 cities. We decided a long time ago to spend our money on travel instead of buying gifts, which makes things easier. We both are also fortunate to have jobs that pay us enough to travel each year.

My first trip alone was when I was in my early 20s. I went to Paris, France for three glorious weeks. I’ve read a lot of books set in Paris and I was a history major so naturally, the fascination with France and Paris was instilled in me from a very early age. I was very excited to see the places I’ve read so much about and actually visit the sites of historical importance I learned about in school. It was a defining trip for me because not only did it spark my love for travel, but also because it gave me a taste for learning about new cultures, discovering new places and seeking new experiences. It really changed me as a person.

Over the years, there have been a few blunders and mishaps that I’ve experienced while traveling. Some of them were of my own doing, some not. Those range from things like missing flights, scheduling things wrong or getting sick. I have also had so negative experiences with lodging from having a dirty room upon check-in and a mouse running in the bar area of a hotel in London, to a dirty bathroom in our Airbnb in Barcelona or a stinky flatmate in Amsterdam. These were unpleasant, but not life-threatening. In general, all these situations have forced me to think on my feet, become adaptable and solve all kinds of problems I wasn’t prepared for.

Wow, the best is definitely going to be difficult! I’ve been to many amazing places to visit so it’s hard to narrow down that list. I think the best places for me will have to be Iceland, Paris, London and of course, Italy. Iceland is unlike any other place I’ve been to and it feels like a totally different planet. I’ve visited twice and both times I felt really drawn and amazed by it. The other three hold a special place in my heart due to their historical significance. As I mentioned before, I love history and these places enabled me to walk in the footsteps of history. It was very profound for me to visit each one.

The worst places for me have to be Barcelona, Prague, and Macau. All three were underwhelming, disappointing and I felt let down by them. Many others have had an amazing time there, so my experience isn’t necessarily the standard.

Every time I go to a place that I’ve learned or read about, it makes me positively giddy. I remember walking through the Roman forum and feeling so amazed at being in such an old place. Stepping into the cell where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned was like going back through time. I recently visited the tower of London, which was a very poignant moment for me, due to the significant role the tower has played in Britain's history. I love visiting places with historical importance and I will never get tired of that. If I could do that all the time I would be in heaven

For me, it’s always about being flexible in adjusting my schedule. Sometimes we plan a holiday with a destination in mind and then we change/adjust it based on available flights or other factors. I also like to learn more about the places we plan to visit, be that through guidebooks, blogs or Instagram. I love seeing places through other people’s eyes as it gives me an idea of what to look for while there. Planning and preparation are always good must-haves for any trip.

I think everyone should travel at least once as it really expands your world and gives you a different perspective. I do realize that it’s not always accessible for everyone, but if it is something that is important to you, find a way to stop dreaming and actually do it. I see people every day who waste money on unnecessary things, then sit around, and complain about not being able to go anywhere. Just like anything else, if something is a priority then it’s easier to achieve it. If you want to go to Italy for example, plan to go off-season when things are cheaper and there are fewer people plan to see one or two places, not the whole country. Smaller things are easier to achieve.

Be open-minded and don’t expect everything to be the same as it is at home. This is especially important if going to a place that is very different then where you come from. If you don’t speak their language, don’t get upset if they don’t speak yours. People are generally very nice if you at least try using some words in their language. It goes a long way and can make or break your experience.

I love visiting museums, historical residences like palaces, theatres and any types of ruins. The older the better. I love wandering the streets and taking photos of the places around me. I love architecture so being in places with a variety of old buildings is always a dream. I also love finding great restaurants, bonus points if they have patios where we can enjoy some cold beverages.

I find planes to be the quickest way to travel as long as there are no delays, but I actually don’t love flying. I get sea-sick so ferries and boats are not my first choices. When it comes down to it, I do enjoy a good road trip in a car or a train.

I’ve been planning to visit Machu Picchu for as long as I can remember. It’s definitely a must on my list and I’m hoping to get there soon. Of course, there are so many places that I want to go which makes planning a trip always fun. I’ve yet to make it to many places, but I haven’t run out of places to go yet!

I would be amiss if I didn’t say Canada. There are a lot of other more glamorous, sophisticated and historical places out there that might be more obvious as a destination, but there is something awesome about Canada that everyone should experience. As the second largest country in the world, Canada has many different landscapes from stunning coastlines, lakes, forests, and mountains to small towns, urban centers and everything in between.

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