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: Kristin Addis
Occupation: Travel blogger, influencer, and author
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Residence: Mainly out of my suitcase and occasionally Berlin, Germany
College: UCSB
College major: International economics and politics
Website: bemytravelmuse.com
Twitter: @bemytravelmuse
Facebook: Be My Travel Muse
Pinterest: Be My Travel Muse
Instagram: bemytravelmuse
YouTube: Be My Travel Muse
Short bio: Kristin Addis is the solo female traveler behind BeMyTravelMuse.com, a website for off-the-beaten-path adventures. For the past three years, she’s traveled the world alone, hitchhiking in China, sleeping in a tent for over a month in Africa, and learning how to say “I love you” in 12 Asian languages. She just authored the guidebook for solo female travelers, “Conquering Mountains: How to Solo Travel the World Fearlessly.” She was selected by USA Today as a top vagabonding blogger and has been featured in Business Insider, Inc., Daily Mail, and BuzzFeed, among others.
How often do you fly? At least 20 times per year.
How many countries have you been to? I just counted the other day! Just under 40 because I tend to spend a month or longer in each place I travel to. I like to immerse myself rather than just ticking boxes.
How many continents have you been to? 5
Earliest travel memory: I didn’t travel internationally until I was 20, so my first memory is landing in Madrid with my sister and being so impressed with the architecture in Spain in general.
Favorite American city: Los Angeles.
Favorite international city: Berlin.
Least favorite country: Philippines.
I have no desire to go to: Saudi Arabia—I just don’t think it’s a great place to be a woman.
Friendliest people in the world: Zambians.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: United Kingdom.
Favorite World Heritage Site: The Drakensburg in South Africa.
Favorite airline: Etihad.
Favorite aircraft type: Boeing 777.
Aisle or window: Window every time!
Favorite airport lounge: Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong.
Favorite U.S. airport: LAX.
Favorite international airport: Changi in Singapore.
Favorite hotel: Intercontinental in Hong Kong.
Favorite cruise line: I don’t cruise.
Favorite travel credit card: American Express Delta.
Favorite island: Iceland.
Favorite beach: Vilanculos in Mozambique.
Favorite fancy restaurant: I’m not really the fancy restaurant type.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Any street food stall in Chiang Mai, Thailand or Bangkok, Thailand.
Favorite bar: Berghain—it’s a nightclub in Berlin.
Favorite fruit: Passionfruit.
Favorite food: Venison steak.
Least favorite food: Lobster.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Moscow Mule or a nice German or Belgian beer.
Favorite travel movie(s): Up.
Favorite travel show(s): No Reservations.
Favorite travel book(s): Anything Jack Kerouac.
Right now I am reading: “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown.
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: wanderingearl.com, nomadicmatt.com, waitbutwhy.com’s travel stories.
5 things you bring on a plane: Kindle, headphones, eye mask, computer, toothbrush.
What do you always seem to forget? I am the queen of leaving my adapters in the outlets.
What do you like least about travel? Long-haul plane flights and associated delays.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Some nice whiskey.
Favorite travel app(s): TripIt.
Most embarrassing travel moment: How can I even count? There have been many! Probably getting huffy at a bus attendant when I thought he was trying to overcharge me, only to realize I’d just misunderstood what he said.
I’m embarrassed but I haven’t been to: The Grand Canyon considering I’m from California.
Worst travel moment: When it took me 24 hours to travel and I had to avoid scam after scam.
What’s your dream destination? Antarctica or the moon.
Favorite travel charity: The Lonely Road foundation—founded by locals to help locals in the most empowering ways possible.
Best travel tip: Get a local SIM card. It has saved me more times than I can count whether by using it as a GPS or making a call when I needed to be picked up from the middle of nowhere.