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: Jennifer Zivic, The Adventure Travel Gal
Occupation: Marketing & Sales Executive for RAW Travel TV, Adventure Travel Blogger
Hometown: Northport, New York (Long Island)
Residence: Denver, Colorado
College: Hofstra University, MBA & SUNY Oswego, BS
College major: Business Administration/Marketing
Website: adventuretravelgal.com
Twitter: @JenniferZivic
Facebook: Adventure Travel Gal
Pinterest: The Adventure Travel Gal
Google+: The Adventure Travel Gal
Instagram: besttraveltips
YouTube: Jennifer Zivic
Short bio: I have spent over 19 years in the children’s consumer products industry working at companies such as Mattel Toys, HIT Entertainment and The Licensing Company. My areas of expertise include Marketing/Branding, Sales/Retail, Licensing & Product Development. Some of the brands I have played a key role developing are Barbie, Sesame Street, Thomas the Tank Engine, Jeep, Fiat, Dodge, Ram, Hershey’s, Jelly Belly, and Budweiser across multiple categories including toys/games, apparel, fashion accessories, footwear, stationery, home goods, electronic accessories, and health & beauty aids.
In addition, I earned my MBA in Marketing at Hofstra University and have taught as an adjunct professor at the Metropolitan College of New York and been a guest speaker at various universities. As a member of the Licensing Industry Merchandiser’s Association (LIMA), I have also taken part in outdoor mountaineering experiences internationally that have raised over $65,000 for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation in my father’s name successfully tying in career interests & personal passions.
I have a crazy zest for life and want to share it with others. Travel and the outdoors are my greatest sources of fuel in this crazy world. Seeing six continents and countless cities & amazing cultures in foreign lands with the plan to keep seeing & doing & climbing has led me to create my blog space and be a part of the travel & climbing community.
How often do you fly? 2 trips per month.
How many countries have you been to? Over 60.
How many continents have you been to? 6, hoping for Antarctica soon!
Earliest travel memory: Flying from New York to San Francisco by myself in the 5th grade to see my aunt. The thing I remember most was they served me duck on the plane and I was stunned because I had never had duck before! Now you don’t even get a meal!
Favorite American city: New York City
Favorite international city: Paris, cliché but I love it!
Least favorite country: I have not been to one I didn’t like for one reason or another. But I will say parts of the Middle East do not interest me right now based on recent history.
I have no desire to go to: Iran or Iraq.
Friendliest people in the world: Laotian people!
Country with the meanest immigration officers: Russia, but it just could have been the day or an isolated incident. I don’t like to put a large group of people in one bucket because of one person.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Angkor Wat and The Great Barrier Reef.
Favorite airline: American and Cathay.
Favorite aircraft type: 747 so I can sit in the upstairs.
Aisle or window: Aisle.
Favorite U.S. airport: San Francisco.
Favorite international airport: Hong Kong.
Favorite hotel: I like Boutique Hotels over chains. I like to find new places to go by getting to know the staff. I like the personality these finds have to offer. If I had to pick a chain, I love myself some Westin and the Heavenly Bed.
Favorite cruise line: Not a cruise person but am very interested in Fathom Travel trips that are operated through Carnival as a part of that portfolio.
Favorite travel credit card: American Airlines AAdvantage MasterCard
Favorite island: Kauai, Hawaii.
Favorite beach: Whitsunday, Australia for its pristine untouched quality. Bondi Beach, Australia to watch the surfers. Crane Beach, Barbados for beauty. Silver Sands, Barbados for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Favorite fancy restaurant: My recent favorite is Rioja which I discovered in my new hometown of Denver.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Chez Michel, a quaint café in Paris good for lobster anything. Uncle, in Denver, Colorado for the best ramen.
Favorite bar: Any small shack located on a beach where the locals like having you there. Any après ski spot with sun on the deck.
Favorite fruit: Anything I have not had before. Or just raspberries.
Favorite food: Alaskan King Crab legs.
Least favorite food: Sauerkraut, it smells and I like my hot dogs naked.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): I love a smooth vodka, a dry Riesling or a tasty cider from a local brewery.
Favorite travel movie(s): Lost in Translation.
Favorite travel show(s): RAW Travel.
Favorite travel book(s): “A Path Appears,” Kristof and WuDunn.
Right now I am reading: “To Hellholes and Back; Bribes, Lies and the Art of Extreme Tourism.”
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: NatGeo, Yonder, Outside, Afar, Suitcase Entrepreneur.
Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! Jungles in Paris, 12hrs, EatingAsia, Sidetracked, Fathom.
5 things you bring on a plane: Snacks, books, magazines, my iPhone, headphones.
What do you always seem to forget? Something warm for when the plane is cold.
What do you like least about travel? Jetlag.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? European chocolate.
Favorite travel app(s): TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Airbnb, Yonder, Padi.
Most embarrassing travel moment: Waking up on the floor near my gate in the airport and wandering into the men’s bathroom instead of the ladies because I was half asleep.
I’m embarrassed but I haven’t been to: Montana, it is my last of the states to visit.
Worst travel moment: Being alone in Rio and realizing that every traveler I met had been mugged on their trip. Realizing how awful Reno, Nevada was.
What’s your dream destination? Antarctica.
Favorite travel charity: Pencils of Promise.
Best travel tip: Ziplock bags, baby wipes and take the biz card of where you are staying to give to taxi drivers in.
Love this bio. She is so well versed in so many areas. A real plus to the the travel community