Check out the video above for our whole conversation and below for his abbreviated answers and please subscribe to my YouTube Channel!
Short bio: Former Washington Post investigative reporter & columnist; contributing editor with National Geographic Traveler; hosted “The Savvy Traveler” on public radio; hosted & executive producer 98 episodes on the world’s great destinations for public television; host, “I Was Just Thinking . . .” webcast
Occupation: Travel journalist
Website: RudyMaxasWorld
Hometown: Washington, D.C. (but born in Cleveland, OH)
Residence: St. Paul, MN
College: Ohio University
College major: Journalism. Minor in Economics
Earliest travel memory: Being on a cruise ship from the US to Europe as a kid and having to drink warm milk
How many countries have you been to? Lost count but over 70
How many continents have you been to? 6
Favorite American city: Los Angeles, CA
Favorite international city: Paris, London, Bangkok…
Friendliest people in the world: Eastern Europe (Georgia) and Uzbekistan
I have no desire to go to: Machu Picchu
Country with the meanest immigration officers: Russia
Favorite airline: Any Asian carrier
Favorite aircraft type: widebody
Aisle or window: Aisle
Sat next to any famous celebs: Many: Howard Stern, James Earl Jones, Queen Noor (of Jordan), CIA Director William Colby, Jane Seymour, Larry Flynt
Favorite airport lounge: Cathay Pacific in HKG
Favorite U.S. airport: Norfolk and Charlotte
Favorite international airport: Singapore
Favorite hotel: Oberoi in India
Favorite travel credit card: Amex Plat (Read our American Express Platinum review here)
Favorite island: Necker Island
Favorite beach: Cap Ferret, France
Favorite fancy restaurant: Eleven Madison Park, NYC
Favorite fruit: Mango
Favorite food: Fish, oysters
Craziest thing you’ve eaten: An eyeball of a lamb in Jordan
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Burgundy wine
Favorite travel movie(s): Up in The Air
Favorite travel show(s): Bizarre Foods
Favorite travel book(s): Most of Pico Iyer’s
Favorite travel app: Delta
What do you always seem to forget? Baseball cap
Worst travel moment: Camel experience in Uzbekistan
Most embarrassing travel moment: Shooting a TV show in Shanghai in front of a crowd of locals who applauded every time I blew my lines
What’s your dream destination? Mauritius
Best travel tip: Make a reservation at Le Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower so you don’t have to wait in line for the elevator to go to the top.
