Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.
Name: Gabe Saglie
Occupation: Senior Editor, Travelzoo
Hometown: Oslo, Norway, then Santiago, Chile, then Pacific Palisades, CA.
Residence: Carpinteria, CA
College: UCLA for undergrad, USC for grad
College major: English/pre-med major at UCLA, Broadcast Journalism M.A. at USC
Website: travelzoo.com & gabesaglie.blogspot.com
Twitter: @GabeSaglie & @Travelzoo
Facebook: Gabe Saglie & Travelzoo
Short bio: Gabe Saglie is a leading expert on travel deals, travel tips and trends. Gabe helps viewers uncover hundreds of valuable travel deals and has become an authority on topics such as tips for finding great travel deals, family travel, golf getaways, culinary vacations, cruises, island adventures, gaming vacations and ski getaways. He has appeared on dozens of highly-rated national and local news programs including CNN, NBC’s Today Show, CNBC’s On the Money, and ABCNewsNow, as well as numerous affiliate stations in major markets around the country including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, and many others.
Gabe has an extensive journalistic background. He earned a Master’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from USC in Southern California, and then worked as a news writer and field producer for KGTV (ABC) in San Diego and as anchor and weathercaster for KEYT (ABC) in Santa Barbara. Gabe resides with his wife Renee and sons Gabriel and Greyson in Santa Barbara.
How often do you fly? Weekly, because I usually fly out of SBA (unless the fare is such that it makes more fiscal sense to drive down to L.A.), a roundtrip flight means 4 flights…so it’s not uncommon to get on 4 to 8 flights a week.
How many countries have you been to? 20
How many continents have you been to? 3
Earliest travel memory: I was born in Norway to Chilean parents and moved to Chile when I was 3…My earliest travel memories are regular road trips out of Santiago…weekend jaunts to ski in the Andes, visit the lake regions in the south of Chile, etc…My first vivid flight was in 1981, when I was 8—We were leaving Chile to move to the U.S. (my dad was tapped to come teach and do research at UCLA)…daunting at first, but California soon became home!
Favorite American city: NYC.
Favorite international city: Florence, Italy.
Least favorite country: No such thing.
Friendliest people in the world: USA.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: A tie between Canada and USA.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Statue of Liberty.
Favorite airline: United.
Aisle or window: Aisle!
Favorite airport lounge: Still hunting for one.
Favorite U.S. airport: SBA.
Favorite international airport: YVR.
Favorite hotel: Whichever hotel I check into with my wife. Otherwise, a 3-way tie: Adare Manor in Adare Village, Ireland…the Muse in NYC, a Kimpton Hotel…the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui.
Favorite travel credit card: Chase United.
Favorite island: Maui.
Favorite beach: Carpinteria, CA.
Favorite fancy restaurant: Sante at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Jacques Imo’s, New Orleans.
Favorite bar: The one that pours local wines by the glass.
Favorite fruit: Banana.
Favorite food: Italian.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Wine.
Favorite travel movie(s): Sideways. Up in the Air.
Favorite travel show(s): Globe Trekker. Amazing Race. No Reservations.
Favorite travel book(s): “DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to USA.”
Right now I am reading: “Killing Patton” by Bill O’Reilly.
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: TravelSkills, Afar, National Geographic Traveler.
Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! Travelzoo.com.
5 things you bring on a plane: iPad w/headphones, hand sanitizer, almonds, laptop, he Superman Lego toy my boys made for me.
What do you always seem to forget? My business cards.
What do you like least about travel? Being away from my wife and kids.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Irish whiskey.
Favorite travel app(s): Travelzoo.
Most embarrassing travel moment: When my own snoring woke me up from a snooze, and everyone around me was staring.
What’s your dream destination? Italy.
Favorite travel charity: Open Arms Malawi.
Best travel tip: Travel often.