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: Erin Michelson
Occupation: Adventure Philanthropist
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Residence: World Nomad
Website: www.GoErinGo.com
Twitter: @GoErinGo
Facebook: Go Erin Go
Pinterest: n/a
YouTube: GoErinGo1
Short Bio: Erin Michelson is a social entrepreneur and world traveler. Having left the world of corporate finance to work with nonprofit organizations, she built a successful consulting firm helping nonprofit organizations achieve exponential growth. Now as an Adventure Philanthropist, Erin has embarked on a 2-year global giving adventure called Erin Goes Global. Starting in Fiji on New Year’s Day 2011, Erin Michelson is travelling to more than 70 counties on 7 continents during 2011-2012. Along the way, she is volunteering with non-profit organizations, including building wells in Uganda and tutoring young girls in Vietnam. She has donated $25,000 and is holding monthly polls to see which worthy global nonprofits receive the grants. A lover of adventure sports, Erin is a daredevil in both the sporting arena and the field of philanthropy.
How often do you fly: At least once a month – usually long-haul flights
How many countries have you been to: 84
How many continents have you been to: 6
Favorite American city: NYC
Favorite international city: Istanbul
Least favorite country: Any country where women are systematically oppressed.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Angkor Wat
Favorite airline: Etihad
Favorite aircraft type: dunno
Aisle or window: window
Favorite airport lounge: airport lounge – what’s that?!
Favorite U.S. airport: Atlanta
Favorite international airport: O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) in Johannesburg
Favorite hotel: Mandarin Oriental
Favorite cruise line: Seabourne
Favorite island: Zanzibar
Favorite fancy restaurant: Spruce, San Francisco
Favorite hole in the wall: Burma Superstar, tucked away on Clement Street in San Francisco
Favorite fruit: Fresh coconuts
Favorite food: Lebanese
Least favorite food: Laotian
Drink of choice : Spite (air) / 3-olive Martini
Favorite travel movie(s): War Photographer
Favorite travel show(s): Locked Up Abroad
Favorite travel book(s): Down Under
Right now I am reading: Michael Ondaatje’s Anil’s Ghost
Five things you bring on a plane: Kindle, iPod, inflatable travel pillow, Ibprofen, hand wipes with disinfectant
What do you always seem to forget: Where the bathroom is! I average a new country every 10 days, and each night I have a small panic attack just before I fall asleep about finding the bathroom in the dark.
Favorite travel iPhone app(s): CNNGo
Most embarrassing/worst travel moment: Pick one! Kenyan Airways flight with one engine out, head-on collision with a truck in Ethiopia, jumping from a moving car in Malawi, run over by a motorbike in Hanoi…
What’s your dream destination: Colombia’s Lost City
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: TripAdvisor
Best travel tip: Register with the U.S. State Department (https://step.state.gov/step/) before traveling to receive in-country travel alerts and invitations to consulate events.
