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: Keith Jenkins
Occupation: Travel blogger and travel blogging/social media consultant
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Residence: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Website: VelvetEscape.com
Twitter: @velvetescape
Facebook: /VelvetEscape
Pinterest: /VelvetEscape
Short Bio: Keith Jenkins is the Founder and Publisher of the Velvet Escape luxury travel blog. Based in Amsterdam, Keith left his ten-year investment banking career to travel the world and carve out a new career as a travel blogger and social media advocate. He has visited more than 70 countries across six continents. In addition to being a travel blogger, Keith often speaks at travel and social media conferences, and offers social media consultancy and marketing services via iambassador.net. He is also the co-founder of the Global Bloggers Network, a community of more than 1,600 individual and corporate travel bloggers that helps its members grow and monetise their blogs. Keith’s highlight of 2012 was presenting his story on TEDxTalk.
How often do you fly: 40-50 flights a year.
How many countries have you been to: 74
How many continents have you been to: six (just Antarctica remaining. Top of my bucket list!)
Favorite American city: New Orleans
Favorite international city: Amsterdam – where I live!
Least favorite country: Any country where women’s and gay rights are laughed at.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Angkor Wat
Favorite airline: Singapore Airlines
Favorite aircraft type: A380
Aisle or window: Window! I have a whole photo series on my blog dedicated to photos taken from plane windows called ‘Plane Views’. (see: http://velvetescape.com/tag/plane-views/).
Favorite international airport: Amsterdam Schiphol and Singapore’s Changi
Do you unpack into the dresser/closet? Or live out of your suitcase? Suitcase. Each time I decide to unpack into the closet, I leave things behind!
Favorite island: Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Favorite fancy restaurant: El Celler de Can Roca in Girona (recently voted as the world’s best)
Favorite fruit: Mango
Favorite food: Malaysian
Least favorite food: Fast food
Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground): Wine
Right now I am reading: The latest edition of National Geographic Traveler
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: National Geographic Traveler, Wild Junket Magazine, Inside the Travel Lab blog
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: Traveldudes.org, Lonely Planet.com, Google.com – I do all my travel research via Google.
Five things you bring on a plane:
- iPhone
- Moleskin notepad
- Pen
- laptop
- Noise-canceling earphones (when I get a new pair. My old pair broke L)
Favorite travel iPhone app(s): Plane Finder (I’m an aviation geek!), Whatsapp, Line (for free calls), Uber, Camera+ and Snapseed.
Most embarrassing travel moment: When the lady at the gate asked me for my ID and I showed her my iPhone. I was VERY jetlagged! ;-)
Worst travel moment: When I nearly drowned while out snorkelling in the Red Sea.
What’s your dream destination: Madagascar
Favorite travel charity: Passports with Purpose
Best travel tip: Leave all judgements at home and travel with an open mind.
