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: Jairek & Amanda Robbins
Occupation: Jairek: Author, Performance Coach and Lifestyle Entrepreneur | Amanda: Business Growth & Marketing Strategist
Hometown: San Diego & Detroit
Residence: Tampa, FL
College: University of San Diego | Michigan State University
College major: Psychology | Business
Website: JairekRobbins.com | StrategicGoldHQ.com
Twitter: @JairekRobbins | @handstandchamp
Facebook: Jairek Robbins Companies
Instagram: jairekrobbins | peaceloveandgummiworms
YouTube: Jairek Robbins
How often do you fly? 2-5x per month.
How many countries have you been to? 40+
How many continents have you been to? 6
Earliest travel memory: Waiting for my dad to pick me up in his helicopter at Bracket Airport in Los Angeles to take me back to his house. I used to tell friends in class that my dad was a GIANT who lived in a castle and was flying in his helicopter to come pick me up after school. My mom got called in for a parent teacher conference to discuss the fact that I was obviously lying to all my classmates. When my dad (6’7″) walked in my teacher blurted out…he really is a giant!
Favorite American city: San Diego.
Favorite international city: Savu Savu, Fiji.
Least favorite country: Haven’t been to one I didn’t love yet.
I have no desire to go to: Not sure, so far I am still wildly curious to continue to explore every location I can get to.
Friendliest people in the world: Savu Savu, Fiji.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: France—They always take my toothpaste!
Favorite World Heritage Site: Machu Picchu.
Favorite airline: JetSmarter.com (not sure if they qualify as an airline but they are definitely my favorite!), Air Singapore.
Favorite aircraft type: Split between a Global Express XRS and Challenger 300.
Aisle or window: Aisle.
Favorite airport lounge: Abu Dhabi Etihad First Class Lounge.
Favorite U.S. airport: San Diego—smells like home.
Favorite international airport: Savu Savu, Fiji (it’s Tiny but soooo special).
Favorite hotel: NamaleFiji.com.
Favorite cruise line: SemesterAtSea.com.
Favorite travel credit card: American Express Delta Gold, American Express Starwood Preferred.
Favorite island: Fiji Islands.
Favorite beach: Mission Beach in San Diego & Provo.
Favorite National Park: Yosemite.
Favorite fancy restaurant: Seasons 52.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Thai Kitchen in Mission Beach San Diego.
Favorite airport restaurant: Pret A Manger.
Favorite bar: Any rooftop with a beautiful view.
Favorite fruit: Avocado/kiwi.
Favorite food: Salmon & broccoli.
Least favorite food: Dairy.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Fiji water.
Favorite travel movie(s): New release section always catches my attention.
Favorite travel show(s): Animal Planet.
Favorite travel book(s): “The Alchemist.”
Right now I am reading: “Unshakeable.”
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: ThePointsGuy.com, JohnnyJet.com, TravelPirates.com.
Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! JohnnyJet.com, ThirdHome.com, TravelPirates.com, JetSmarter.com.
5 things you bring on a plane: A great book, my passport, my wife (adventure buddies for life!), snacks, cellphone (I generally store all my travel info in it) | Headphones, laptop, Jairek :), passport (you never know when a great international flight will pop up!), cellphone/camera.
What do you always seem to forget? To show up early! We are normally sprinting to make our flights! | True.
What do you like least about travel? That more people are not doing it. It’s amazing that so many people in the US and around the world don’t have or use a passport. Travel is life-changing and should be something that all take time to do in their lives.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? A postcard from everywhere she goes with a love note written on it :)
Favorite travel app(s): Pzizz (power naps to regenerate while traveling), Starwood Hotels, JetSmarter, Uber, World Time Buddy, HotelTonight, Google Translate, FlightAware.
Most embarrassing travel moment: My very first solo flight…I got scared and ran back off the plane and told my mom I wasn’t going. Don’t think they got a refund for those tickets. | Getting busted for sneaking up to 1st class.
I’m embarrassed I haven’t been to: Learned more languages yet.
Worst travel moment: British Airways lost my bag on a three-day trip to Tanzania/Kenya/Rwanda…ended up wearing the same one outfit on safari, hiking to go see the mountain gorillas and for 23+ hours of travel. I felt horrible for the people sitting next to me (I smelled).
What’s your dream destination? Hiking in Nepal | Currently, Nepal, New Zealand, Tahiti, Bora Bora, South Africa, SE Africa, Mongolia, Iceland, Poland, India, so so many.
Favorite travel charity: PencilsOfPromise.com (building schools around the globe) | Operation Underground Railroad (dedicated to end sex trafficking around the world).
Best travel tip: Travel as much and often as you possibly can and soak in all that the world has to offer. Do your best to bring back and apply the magic you soak in from around the globe and find a way to pay forward the lessons to others around you to enrich their life as well! | Collect memories, not things.
