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: Rob Lloyd
Occupation: Entrepreneur / Blogger
Hometown: I’m from Ottawa, Canada.
Residence: Nowhere but I recently bought a humble plot on a small Caribbean Island called Little Corn about 50 miles off the coast of Nicaragua. I plan on building a “Caribbean Compound” and making it my WHQ where I eat lobster and lounge.
Website: Stop Having a Boring Life
Twitter: @Bloggeries
Facebook: Stop Having a Boring Life
Short Bio: I’m a gregarious gentleman who travels and blogs. I used to work in government relations and was the youngest in Canada to receive the professional designation in my field. The problem was, it bored me. As a result I liquidated my assets, bought a one way ticket and have been blogging like the wind ever since…
How often do you fly: Varies from every few days to every few months
How many countries have you been to: 50ish
How many continents have you been to: 4
Favorite American city: Las Vegas as it’s truly unique and the rest remind me of Canada only bigger in every which way.
Favorite international city: Bangkok always feels like home, it’s so weird there that your creative juices really flow. It also has countless interesting characters to mingle with and amazing food. What’s not to like!?
Least favorite country: Drawing a blank, I’ve had great experiences everywhere.
Favorite World Heritage Site: The Rideau Canal in Ottawa of course as it’s the world’s longest skating rink and it seriously has some of the best urban fishing out there. We live in a fascinating world, couldn’t even begin to narrow down which spots I like most regardless if they are a heritage site or not.
Favorite airline: Aeroflot, just kidding I don’t have one.
Favorite aircraft type: The A380 is pretty cool but I don’t concern myself with such things.
Aisle or window: Window or emergency exit
Favorite airport lounge: I typically don’t hang out in lounges. I used to when I traveled with work but none of them were particularly inspiring, just places to get some free finger food and lay back in a comfy chair.
Favorite U.S. airport: Anywhere but Minneapolis.
Favorite international airport: Anywhere with wifi.
Favorite hotel: The Oyster Box in Durban, South Africa. They have the most amazing library that just inspires you to do great things or pass out with a good book overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Favorite cruise line: Never been on a cruise but can see myself loving them.
Favorite island: Little Corn Island, Nicaragua.
Favorite fancy restaurant: Carnivore in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Favorite hole in the wall: I never get the names but lots of good ones.
Favorite fruit: Mango
Favorite food: Sushi
Least favorite food: Desserts, I don’t like sweets.
Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground) Long Island Iced Tea, Vodka Soda or just a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Favorite travel movie(s): Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Favorite travel show(s): I don’t watch much television and by that I mean none.
Favorite travel book(s): I typically only read classics so I’d say Count of Monte Cristo as he sure gets around. I once read half of “On the Road” by Kerouac and found it boring. The Rum Diaries was pretty cool while we’re on the topic.
Right now I am reading: Bleak House by Charles Dickens.
Five things you bring on a plane: I do very little on planes. As a highly charged type-a individual, I enjoy the fact I can’t do much and find it Zen like. I sit there as though on sedatives in a mental asylum with a smile on my face and a blank stare when I’m not sleeping or looking out the window. I also enjoy getting to know my neighbors & look forward to the uninspired food they serve, often having seconds.
What do you always seem to forget: Random t-shirts I soon after forget about.
Favorite travel iPhone app(s): Instagram
Most embarrassing/worst travel moment: There are far too many embarrassing moments to even begin discussing so we’ll go with worst. It’s a tossup between a compound frontal lobe fracture in Vietnam or the crazy cocktail of malaria, dysentery & relapsing fever all at once in Tanzania.
What’s your dream destination: I don’t have one; I just go with the flow.
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: When I’m not busy writing or strolling the streets chatting with strangers I usually check into Blonde Gypsy, Pommie Travels, Pause The Moment, Expert Vagabond, and It’s My Life 365 to see what they are up to.
Best travel tip: Get your vaccines and GO! Also avoid guidebooks like the plague, they lead you to all the most played out, overpriced locations with the most uninspiring souls, gasp!
Hi Rob,
I picked up some info regarding your travels and appreciate your lifestyle. I am a semi retired guy, 62 in good health and want to try the expat life this summer. I have lived for yrs in s. Fl and have been to Costa R, Thailand, Mexico, Dominican R., all over the US and Canada.
Leon Nica seems interesting as a university town, little number of gringos and basically safe and warm and the beach not far. Any current info about a conservative cost of living for a single guy, 1 bedroom apt and a basic budget monthly in Leon you can provide would be appreciated.
I always wanted to backpack out of the US when I was 20 or so and did not so now is my chance this summer to exit the US, save some dinero monthy living conservatively but an upper middle class life in a place Nicaragua possible. I lifk Asia but it is a long way from the US.