David Hoffmann
David Hoffmann

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: David Hoffmann

Occupation: Travel Content Producer 

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Residence: USA

College: University of Miami

College major: Entrepreneurship

Website: davidsbeenhere.com

Twitter: @davidsbeenhere 

Facebook: davidsbeenhere.com

Instagram: davidsbeenhere

Pinterest: Davidsbeenhere1.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Davidsbeenhere/featured

Short bio: David Hoffmann is an entrepreneur, husband, father, and foodie who is addicted to traveling the world, exploring off the beaten path, and having authentic, one-of-a-kind local experiences. In the last 11 years, he has immersed himself in the cultures of over 1,000 cities in 73 countries. He documents his travels to inspire others to explore beyond their backyards and leave their mark on the world.

How often do you fly? I travel 100 days a year (once a month for 10 days on average).

How many countries have you been to? 73

How many continents have you been to? 6

Earliest travel memory: Traveling to Venezuela when I was five-years old to visit family.

Favorite American city: Miami—my hometown!

Favorite international city: Barcelona—I lived there for two years and I have to say it has everything: food, culture and history. Plus it’s perfectly connected to travel around Europe.

Least favorite country: None! I can’t say I have a least favorite. They are all unique in their own ways.

I have no desire to go to: I want to go everywhere, but to answer this question I would say anywhere that is in a war.

Friendliest people in the world: Thailand—the best people on the planet!

Country with the meanest immigration officers: USA—even though I am American, I always have the worst luck here.

Favorite World Heritage Site: The Colosseum (I tattooed it on my arm).

Favorite airline: Qatar Airways.

Favorite aircraft type: 787 Dreamliner.

Aisle or window: Window.

Favorite airport lounge: Al Mourjan Business Lounge at Doha Airport. Every time I travel to Asia or Africa, I fly through Qatar, and luckily, my status gets me in. The place feels like it’s made of gold!

Favorite U.S. airport: Miami International Airport. It’s my second home.

Favorite international airport: Changi Airport in Singapore.

Favorite hotel: Above Blue Suites in Santorini, Greece. I could wake up to that view every day!

Favorite cruise line: Viking Cruises. I have only taken three cruises in my life, but the Viking River Cruises have to be the best. They give you enough time to explore small towns and big cities in Europe. Plus the food is outstanding!

Favorite travel credit card: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Favorite island: Kalymnos, Greece. This is my wife’s father’s island, and I literally fell in love with it. The seafood is unreal! Lots of beautiful rocky beaches and tons of history.

Favorite beach: Zlatni Rat, Croatia. It’s the most unique beach I have ever been to but it’s super windy!

Favorite National Park: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Trekking up the national park to see the mountain Gorillas is probably the best wildlife experience of my life. It ain’t cheap but it’s so worth it!

Favorite fancy restaurant: Anitca Pesa in Rome. By far, my favorite restaurant in Italy. They have a tasting menu for 80 euro that is like eating Roman-style 2,000 years ago.

Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Bollywood Masala. It’s the local Indian restaurant in my neighborhood of South Miami. The food here is the same as, if even better than the food in India. Love the goat curry!

Favorite airport restaurant: No preferences. I just like to eat local food wherever I travel. 

Favorite bar: Yard House in Miami. Because they have the world’s largest selection of draft beer.

Favorite fruit: Mango.

Favorite food: Indian. After three trips to India I have to say this is the ultimate cuisine on the planet. Every 50km you travel in India the spices change, and that makes all the difference!

Least favorite food: Rice and beans.

Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Brown ale.

Favorite travel movie(s): The Beach.

Favorite travel show(s): Best Ever Food Review Show.

Favorite travel podcast(s): “India Travel Podcast.”

Favorite travel book(s): “The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World.”

Right now I am reading: “The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need.”

Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: National Geographic Traveler, Afar, Conde Nast Traveler.

Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! migrationology.com

5 things you bring on a plane: Camera, carry-on, airpods, iPhone and travel pillow.

What do you always seem to forget? ZzzQuil.

What do you like least about travel? Jetlag.

What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Chocolate.

Favorite travel app(s): XE.

Most embarrassing travel moment: I drank some well water in the Sahara Desert, that wasn’t fun!

I’m embarrassed I haven’t been to: Brazil.

Worst travel moment: Getting my camera gear seized at the airport in Casablanca, Morocco.

What’s your dream destination? Namibia.

Favorite travel charity: World Wildlife Fund.

Best travel tip: I recommend adding an extra day or two on any trip because most the times I get recommended to visit or see something I didn’t know existed but my times are always maxed out. If I had an extra 24-48 hours I would be able to see and do something that I would have never known of before.

Fill in the blank: I’d love to see Mike Corey answer these same questions.

 

Leave a Reply

Required fields are marked *