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: Colleen Kelly
Occupation: Television Host/Executive Producer
Hometown: Chicago and Houston
Residence: Chicago
College: University of Texas at Austin (undergraduate) Roosevelt University Chicago (masters)
College major: Bachelor of Journalism
Website: FamilyTravelCK.com
Twitter: @FamilyTravelCK
Facebook: Family Travel with Colleen Kelly
Instagram: familytravelck
Pinterest: Family Travel wth Colleen Kelly
YouTube: Family Travel
Short bio: I am a host of the national PBS television series Family Travel with Colleen Kelly, airing on 94% (366 stations) of the USA and abroad in Europe and Asia on American Public Television Worldwide (PBS). I am also a national speaker, freelance journalist, and media influencer. In 2015 I reached over 50 million HH impressions. I am regularly featured as a travel expert on news and magazine shows and interviewed for my travel advice for countless magazines, online, and newspapers nationally and internationally. We worked with Tourism Quebec in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and filmed three shows for our national PBS series, Family Travel.
How often do you fly? Monthly.
How many countries have you been to? 32
How many continents have you been to? 3
Earliest travel memory: Grand Canyon with my parents and sister.
Favorite American city: New Orleans.
Favorite international city: Salzburg, Austria.
Least favorite country: Turkey.
I have no desire to go to: Antarctica (too cold!).
Friendliest people in the world: Ireland and Scotland.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: n/a
Favorite World Heritage Site: Switzerland.
Favorite airline: American.
Favorite aircraft type: Boeing 747.
Aisle or window: Window.
Favorite airport lounge: Anything international.
Favorite U.S. airport: O’Hare in Chicago.
Favorite international airport: Shannon Airport, Ireland.
Favorite hotel: Sacher Hotel in Salzburg, Austria.
Favorite cruise line: Silversea Cruises.
Favorite travel credit card: American Airlines Platinum.
Favorite island: Amelia Island, Florida.
Favorite beach: The Keys, Florida and Cannes, France.
Favorite fancy restaurant: Cafe des Artistes in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Wieners Circle in Chicago.
Favorite bar: The bar at Chicago Cut Steakhouse.
Favorite fruit: Blueberries.
Favorite food: Crab legs.
Least favorite food: Cooked carrots.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Wine and water.
Favorite travel movie(s): Under the Tuscan Sun.
Favorite travel show(s): Besides my own? Anything with Peter Greenberg, Samantha Brown or Rick Steves as the host!
Favorite travel book(s): Every book on travel that I can get my hands on!
Right now I am reading: Several Joel Osteen books.
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: Travel & Leisure, Afar, and FamilyFun magazine.
Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! FamilyTravelCK.com and RickSteves.com.
5 things you bring on a plane: My mophie, a shall, laptop, an extra change of clothes, makeup.
What do you always seem to forget? I bring so much stuff, I never seem to forget anything!
What do you like least about travel? Crabby travelers.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Perfume.
Favorite travel app(s): Waze. It uses GPS to help you navigate around unfamiliar cities and find the quickest way to your destination.
Most embarrassing travel moment: One time, my crew was hungry before a flight, so I went to get them food, and ended up missing the flight!
I’m embarrassed I haven’t been to: China.
Worst travel moment: Anytime I don’t get to use TSA PreCheck.
What’s your dream destination? Australia and New Zealand.
Favorite travel charity: St. Jude.
Best travel tip: Get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry card if you travel a lot!
