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: Melody Pittman
Occupation: Travel Blogger/Digital Influencer
Hometown: Charleston, West Virginia
Residence: Vero Beach, Florida
College: Marshall University
College major: Communications
Website: whereverimayroamblog.com
Twitter: @melodytravels
Facebook: Whereverimayroamblog
Instagram: wherever_i_mayroamblog
Pinterest: Wherever I May Roam Blog
Google+: Melody Travels
Short bio: Melody and daughter Taylor are luxury travel, culture, and food bloggers with a side of smart spending. They love cruising, theme parks, Broadway, theater, concerts, and small towns. Melody is a member of TBIN, NATJA, and C2C, and writes as Southern Traveling Mom for the #TMOM group. She resides in Vero Beach, Florida, as well as part-time in the mountains of Boquete, Panama. She and husband Eddie have been married 25 years. Melody’s life-long goal is to travel to as many countries as she is years old. One short of reaching her goal at this time.
How often do you fly? Monthly, but often weekly.
How many countries have you been to? 47
How many continents have you been to? 3
Earliest travel memory: My family had a lakefront campsite at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. That was our special place to spend long weekends and summer vacations enjoying fishing and our two boats.
Favorite American city: I absolutely love Texas and couldn’t possibly narrow it down so I’ll just go with anywhere in Texas!
Favorite international city: It’s a tie between Tallinn, Estonia, and Strasbourg, France.
Least favorite country: Jamaica.
I have no desire to go to: Australia.
Friendliest people in the world: Greece.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: Haha. Russia.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Ancient city of Nessebar in Bulgaria. It was spectacular! Meteora and Delos in Greece were runners-up.
Favorite airline: KLM or British Airways.
Favorite aircraft type: Boeing 777.
Aisle or window: Aisle.
Favorite airport lounge: Delta—any will due.
Favorite U.S. airport: Detroit.
Favorite international airport: Heathrow.
Favorite hotel: The Greenbrier, WV.
Favorite cruise line: Viking (river) or Princess (ocean) BUT I’m headed on two Disney cruises in the next two months so that could very well change!
Favorite travel credit card: No preference.
Favorite island: Santorini, Greece.
Favorite beach: Provo, Turks & Caicos (Grace Bay).
Favorite National Park: Grand Teton National Park.
Favorite fancy restaurant: Cenacolo, Cancun, Mexico (not really fancy, but fabulous).
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Mustard’s Last Stand, Melbourne, FL.
Favorite airport restaurant: Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Houston.
Favorite bar: Funky Pirate, New Orleans.
Favorite fruit: Strawberries.
Favorite food: Indian cuisine.
Least favorite food: Pizza.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Coke Zero.
Favorite travel movie(s): Love Actually (well, it sort of has travel).
Favorite travel show(s): Rick Steves Europe and pretty sure Samantha Brown has been a part of my life for 25 years.
Favorite travel book(s): I’m a sucker for the “Off the Beaten Path” books.
Right now I am reading: Travel/destination brochures from the past 10 trips I’ve been on.
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: Travelgirl, Where, Porthole Cruise Magazine.
Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! 10Best.com.
5 things you bring on a plane: Phone, magazines, snacks, tissues, paper/pen (I do my best writing on planes).
What do you always seem to forget? Toothpaste!
What do you like least about travel? Carrying bags.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Absolutely nothing!
Favorite travel app(s): A super simple one, Uber—life-changing!
Most embarrassing travel moment: I can roll with the punches so nothing too bad; however, I did show up for an intimate concert with Jody Watley in the early 90s at a private supper club with two different colored shoes on.
I’m embarrassed I haven’t been to: Asheville, NC.
Worst travel moment: My husband had a jetski accident in Aruba when our daughters were very young (and on the jet skis with us). I had to leave him stuck in the ferocious ocean and my eight-year-old sitting on the jetski scared to death while I took the youngest daughter and me back to shore for help. It was miles. Dropped youngest kid off on a floating dock in the middle of the ocean, by herself, to go back to help the other two. The eight-year-old had to fight the waves and drive the jetski back to the dock. Then my husband swam all through and around coral so he was in bad shape. Ugh, it was horrible but we survived.
What’s your dream destination? World cruise, also my #1 bucket list.
Favorite travel charity: I love many but Operation Smile is so special.
Best travel tip: Plan a lot but save time for those unexpected surprises, they are sometimes the best!