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: Tim Blight
Occupation: Travel writer and English teacher
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Residence: Lahore, Pakistan
College: University of Sydney
College major: History, The Arab World and Islam, Mass Communication
Website: urbanduniya.com
Twitter: @urbanduniya
Facebook: UrbanDuniya
Instagram: urbanduniya
Pinterest: UrbanDuniya
Google+: UrbanDuniya
YouTube: UrbanDuniya
Short bio: I’m a travel writer and English teacher based in Lahore, Pakistan and Melbourne, Australia! Originally from Sydney, I split my time between these two cities. I love visiting off-the-beaten-track destinations, and showing other people how accessible they are. I started my blog in 2013, and have written two books—a travel guide to Pakistan, and a recipe book with recipes from my travels.
How often do you fly? I fly at least three times a year—to Sydney, and between Australia and Pakistan.
How many countries have you been to? 47…so far!
How many continents have you been to? I’ve been to four continents—Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe.
Earliest travel memory: Sitting on my mother’s lap on a plane when I was really young.
Favorite American city: I’ve never been to America! But I think I’d love to go to New Orleans or New York.
Favorite international city: Lahore, Pakistan. I love it so much I decided to call it home!
Least favorite country: This is a difficult one. I didn’t have a great time in Austria—I got ripped off and fell sick…but I don’t know if I could blame the whole country for that. I didn’t really enjoy Hong Kong either—I thought it was a bit boring.
I have no desire to go to: Disneyland.
Friendliest people in the world: Afghanis. I’ve never been to Afghanistan, but all the Afghanis I meet seem to be delightful.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: Tough one again. Australian immigration officials are quite rude, but I don’t know if I just have to deal with them too much.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Lord Howe Island, Australia or the Taj Mahal, India.
Favorite airline: Emirates.
Favorite aircraft type: Airbus A380.
Aisle or window: Aisle—so I can stretch my legs out after the meal service!
Favorite airport lounge: Emirates’ business lounge in Dubai Airport.
Favorite U.S. airport: I’ve never been to the US, but from what I’ve heard it wouldn’t be LAX!!
Favorite international airport: Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Good food, not too big to navigate, lots of places to spend time relaxing and big windows to watch the places.
Favorite hotel: I recently stayed in the Prince Gallery in Tokyo—that was amazing! But otherwise, anything with a view of the city/beach/mountains and I’m happy!
Favorite travel credit card: None. There are so many places that don’t take credit cards, so I just use cash wherever possible.
Favorite island: Fesdu Island (W Resort and Spa), Maldives.
Favorite beach: Unawatuna, Sri Lanka, or Kata Beach, Phuket, Thailand.
Favorite National Park: Lamington National Park, Australia.
Favorite fancy restaurant: I can’t think of just one! I had an amazing tepanyaki experience at the Westin Hotel in Tokyo once!
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: RMB Cafe in Melbourne, Australia.
Favorite airport restaurant: Anything affordable. Airport food is so often overpriced and unnecessarily fancy—when I’m travelling I just want comfort food.
Favorite bar: Section 8, Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne, Australia.
Favorite fruit: Pakistani or Indian mangoes!
Favorite food: So many! Pad Thai, Mutton Karahi or pizza.
Least favorite food: Banana. It’s a bana-NO from me.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Ginger beer or dry ginger ale in the air. Lemon squash on the ground. Or coffee—always coffee.
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: Three favourite blogs—etramping.com, Lost With Purpose and Voyager for Life.
Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree forum—it’s a great resource.
5 things you bring on a plane: Empty water bottle, my headphones, my phone, motion sickness medication, moisturising eye drops.
What do you always seem to forget? Electricity adaptors for countries which don’t take the European plug.
What do you like least about travel? Flying—everything about it. All the waiting, jet lag, boredom. I just want to get there!
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Milka Chocolate! Lots of it!
Favorite travel app(s): Uber, XE.com, Google Maps and Airbnb.
Most embarrassing travel moment: Drunk dancing with someone in a hotel lobby in Jordan—only to find out my dance partner was the hotel manager’s life partner. I checked out the next morning.
I’m embarrassed I haven’t been to: Northern or Central Australia.
Worst travel moment: Getting sick beyond belief in Multan, Pakistan in 2006.
What’s your dream destination? Afghanistan—I fear it may remain a dream of mine.
Favorite travel charity: I’m not sure, but I always try to give my spare change to the UNICEF envelopes on the plane when they come around.
Best travel tip: Just go. As long as the place you’re going isn’t a war zone, just go. You might regret not going, but I can’t think of anyone who regrets having been there and knowing for themselves.