Lindsay Spolan Pinchuk
Lindsay Spolan Pinchuk

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: Lindsay Spolan Pinchuk 

Occupation: Founder + CEO of Bump Club and Beyond, one of the nation’s largest parenting communities both on and offline

Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan

Residence: Chicago, IL

College: University of Michigan for Undergrad/Northwestern University for Grad School

College major: Sports Management and Communications for Undergrad/Integrated Marketing Communications for Grad School

Website: bumpclubandbeyond.com

Twitter: @bumpclubbeyond

Facebook: Bump Club and Beyond

Instagram: bumpclubandbeyond

Short bio: While I always have LOVED to travel, I never thought my career would take me to as many places as it has in the last eight years. In 2010, while newly pregnant, I founded Bump Club and Beyond, which is now one of the nation’s top parenting resources. Our mission is to connect parents and parents-to-be with the best information, resources, products and each other both online and through dozens of premier events. This career shift came on the heels of starting a family, and followed a decade working in publishing, advertising, and marketing at Hearst Magazines, MTV Networks, The Tribune Company and Time Inc.

While I LOVE to travel for fun, I also am so fortunate to travel the country throughout the year bringing the mission of Bump Club and Beyond to parents and parents-to-be everywhere. Through events and TV/media appearances, my goal is to bring our knowledge to as many parents as I can across North America. With a combined personal and work network of over 300,000 parents and parents-to-be, it is my passion to help others navigate the world of parenthood with as much ease as possible. I currently live outside of Chicago with my husband, two amazing daughters (ages four and seven) and the best dog in the world, Cooper.

How often do you fly? 2-4x per month.

How many countries have you been to? 22

How many continents have you been to? 4

Earliest travel memory: Going to Florida to visit my grandparents when I was a little kid and meeting Mickey Mouse at Epcot Center with my grandma.

Favorite American city: Toss-up between Austin and Portland—I love keeping it weird…and fun.

Favorite international city: Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Least favorite country: I don’t think I have one.

I have no desire to go to: India—largely because I would have nothing to eat.

Friendliest people in the world: Canadians—hands down.

Country with the meanest immigration officers: Oddly the meanest immigration officer I have ever came across was in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Contradicts the above I suppose.)

Favorite World Heritage Site: I’ve been to many and have too many favorites to list, but some of them include: Old City of Dubrovnik, Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina, Old City of Jerusalem, and Yosemite National Park.

Favorite airline: Virgin Atlantic (can you say personal Super Mario Brothers at your seat?!) but I most always fly American Airlines.

Favorite aircraft type: I don’t have one. A plane is a plane to me.

Aisle or window: Window.

Favorite airport lounge: I’m honestly not a big lounger but had a blast in the lounge recently getting ready for my redeye from LAS.

Favorite U.S. airport: SFO.

Favorite international airport: BKK and LHR.

Favorite hotel: The Parker, Palm Springs, for its completely campy and retro vibe.

Favorite cruise line: I’ve been on two and didn’t like the experience enough to say I have a favorite.

Favorite travel credit card: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®

Favorite island: Kauai and Hvar.

Favorite beach: Siesta Beach on Siesta Key, FL. The fine white sand is like nothing else anywhere in the world—and it stays cold. Big bonus.

Favorite National Park: Mt. Rainier National Park, Yosemite National Park and Zion National Park. I’ve been to over a dozen and I simply cannot pick just one.

Favorite fancy restaurant: I prefer GOOD food vs. fancy food. Does that make sense? I don’t need a fancy shmancy restaurant to enjoy a good meal. Some of my favorite restaurants in Chicago include Gather, Boka, Roister, Kai Zan, Blackbird, and Bavette’s. I could go on and on about food.

Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Leo’s Coney Island or Honey Tree Coney Island outside of Detroit. Greek salad with burnt onions and grilled chicken is the best.

Favorite dessert: Cookies from Summer House Santa Monica in Chicago, IL (my favorite thing to eat EVER and tho not a vegan, the vegan chocolate chip is to DIE FOR).

Favorite airport restaurant: Lemonade in LAX (it’s one of my faves outside of the airport too)—but I never find my flight flying out of that terminal.

Favorite bar: For a girls night out, InnJoy in Wicker Park. Can’t beat it.

Favorite fruit: Grapes.

Favorite food: Sushi.

Least favorite food: Indian food.

Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Right now, mezcal margarita or a glass of pinot noir. Changes with the seasons.

Favorite travel movie(s): National Lampoon’s European Vacation.

Right now I am reading: The backs of my eyelids. When I have time to read I usually fall asleep.

Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! TravelandLeisure.com, I have always found it very aspirational.

5 things you bring on a plane: Headphones, my laptop, Babyganics hand sanitizer and lip balm, my Swell water bottle, my Twelve Little Camo Foldover Backpack to put it all in.

What do you always seem to forget? To fill up my water bottle before I get on the plane. Half the time it’s because there is no water fountain to be found in the terminal.

What do you like least about travel? Delays and missed connections.

What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? A good pair of sunglasses. Loving these Ray-Bans right now.

Favorite travel app(s): Hotel Tonight—I use it all the time as I always forget to book my hotels. I’ve gotten some great deals at some amazing places last-minute.

Most embarrassing travel moment: Can’t really say here, but it involves late-night Broadway karaoke in NYC with one of my oldest and dearest friends.

I’m embarrassed I haven’t been to: Dublin—I lived in London for six months and for some reason never made it over. Dying to go.

Worst travel moment: When my daughter freaked out on an airplane. Like really freaked out. The pilot wouldn’t take off and returned her and my husband to the gate from the tarmac. They had to get off the plane and drive home from Montreal to Chicago. She has not been on a plane since and that was about a year-and-a-half ago. We’re working on it. I want nothing more than to get her back on a plane so we can travel again as a family.

What’s your dream destination? Changes often, but currently Iceland or the Patagonia Region of Chile. I want to see Torres del Paine National Park. 

Best travel tip: Carry on. There is simply no need to check baggage…ever.

 

Leave a Reply

Required fields are marked *