Here’s our interview with Leah little Travel & Fashion. Leah is a travel blogger from Michigan, USA who is passionate about Travel and Fashion.
We( Achu and Unni of Couple Travel Tales) recently participated in a couple of travel interviews and that’s when we realised how exciting this whole concept was. That’s what inspired us to start a travel interview series on our website. We truly believe that travel Interviews are an excellent means to share ideas between travel bloggers and the readers. It is also a great means to get to know more about travel bloggers from around the world. Hence, we’ll be featuring few handful of our favourite travel Bloggers from across the globe. Subscribe to their website for great content!
Questions for the Interview
1) Introduce yourself and your blog to our readers.
Hi! My name is Leah, and I am the creator of Leah Little Travel & Fashion at leahlittletravelfashion. I started this blog 4 months ago after experiencing an “aha!” moment. Travel and fashion have been two of my greatest passions for as long as I can remember.
Since the beginning of social media, I have loved following blogs and accounts of both travel and fashion bloggers, writers, and influencers. Before that, I loved National Geographic and Vogue. Then one day, truly out of the blue, I had the thought “Wait a minute…I like to write! I travel a lot! My friends and family always ask me for style advice! Why don’t I start a blog!” It truly had never occurred to me before that moment that if other people can do it, then so could I.
So, I started this journey of curating content for Instagram and creating a blog website so that I can share my love of travel and fashion. I work full time as a social worker (and so does my husband) so we are far from being independently wealthy, or digital nomads. Despite limitations of work and finances, I stubbornly insist on enjoying the best of travel and fashion. I have learned so many valuable tips and tricks for traveling the world and dressing in fabulous clothes while staying on a budget. I hope to help others enjoy champagne taste in travel in fashion, but on a beer budget.
I enjoy a good balance of relaxation and exploration while traveling. Most of my travels have been to tropical locations staying in All Inclusive resorts that really allow one to relax. Sitting on the beach, dips in the pool, buffets and cocktails all day are what All-Inclusive vacationing is all about. But once I get my fill of the lazy days soaking in the sun (usually after 3 days or so) I like to get out and explore. While staying in All-Inclusive resorts, I always leave the property to do excursions. While in other cities, like Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Rome I love aimlessly walking around and getting lost. I may stop at a touristy site-seeing location, but I prefer to find hidden gems myself off the beaten path. Always ask taxi drivers and locals for food and drink recommendations!
3)Which place are you from? What are the top 3 must visit places in your city?
I live in Michigan, USA between Detroit and Ann Arbor. In Detroit, my favorite thing to do is to visit Eastern Market, where you can get flowers, fresh produce, local artisanal soaps, and handmade clothing depending on the day of the week! Once you are finished shopping, you can wander around and see incredible street art and murals around every corner completed by world famous and local unknown artists. In Ann Arbor, there are really two main areas. One, is the beautiful college campus of The University of Michigan. Check out the diag for squirrels and people watching, and The Brown Jug for a good old college bar (also where I met my husband!). The other area of Ann Arbor that is a must-see is downtown. This side of Ann Arbor is more sophisticated, with incredible restaurants and great shopping. Stop at Frida Batidos for a burger* that will send you straight to heaven.
*not really a burger. Actually a “Cuban-inspired slider”. Vegetarian options available
4)Do you like travelling Solo or with a Travel Partner. Why do you choose so?
I typically travel with my husband. He is a great travel partner, and I love sharing my adventures with him. I have never done true solo travel before, but I am very intrigued and would like to try it!
6) What is the message that you have for all aspiring Travel Blogger?
Since I am still pretty new at travel blogging, I will give you the advice that I am currently practicing myself. Be patient. Be consistent. Remember your “why”. Have fun! I am a super impatient person, and I want everything right away. I have been blogging for 4 months and am fully ready to be featured in the New York Times, have my own show on the Travel Channel, and meet Oprah. But that is just not how it works. Consistency is key, or so I hear, so work on being consistent in your writing and your efforts. The travel blogging game can be frustrating, and difficult, and overwhelming at times, so remembering your reason for starting can be helpful to keep motivation high. And of course, have fun!
7) The best piece of advice that you can give an amateur travel blogger aspiring to earn a passive income through blogging.
I am still working on this myself. Impact app and cold email pitching have given me the best results thus far. Do not pay to create your own content. If a brand contacts you and says they will give you a discount on their products for posts, don’t do it! Start with free products, then work your way into sponsored content.
8) If you could go back in time. Which ancient ruin from around the world would you choose to visit and explore. Why?
I would go back to ancient Egypt. They were such a sophisticated culture from so long ago! I want to know how they built the pyramids and I want to learn how to fluently read those hieroglyphs.
9)How does “Travel” make you feel? Can you share with us 3 top insights that you gained from your travels.
Travel makes me feel ALIVE. There is truly nothing else on earth that makes me feel as excited, inspired, humble, grateful, and connected as travel. My top insights learned from travel includes the fact that the world is such a big place! There are many ways of life, not just your own. There are so many beautiful cultures, foods, languages, ways of dress, traditions, architecture, art, music, etc. Be open-minded, set judgment aside, and just learn and enjoy these differences. Another top insight is that despite all these differences, we are all the same. We all just want to love and be loved at the end of the day.
10)Name your top 5 bucket list travel destination and why do choose it?
1. Thailand (the bustling city life of Bangkok, the temples, the beaches) 2. Greece (the food, the sea views) 3. Bali (beaches and Instagram spots) 4. Maldives (have you SEEN the water there!?!) 5. South Africa (wine, the people, the wildlife)
11) Where do you prefer to stay Hotel, Hostel or AirBnB etc? Why?
I love a mixture! I like great big resorts with tons of restaurant options and amenities, I like boutique hotels for the intimate feel, and AirBnB for saving money and having more space.
12)As travellers we all love collecting Souvenirs .What do you love collecting?
My husband and I collect Christmas ornaments and shot glasses.
13)When do you find time to blog on your travels? How long do you usually take to finish a blog.
I do not write while traveling, I wait until I have returned home and prefer to fully immerse myself in the travelling experience in the moment. I also find that waiting gives me better perspective to write about the experience. It can take me between 1-3 hours usually once I sit down to write.
14)What’s your favourite cuisine? Do you like trying out local food when you travel to places. If yes, what’s your favourite dish that you loved the most?
Trying local food is one of the best parts of travel! I have so many favorites….at the top of my list though, are churros con chocolate from Spain, cacio e pepe pasta from Italy, and passionfruit juice from a resort in the Dominican Republic.
15) When do you prefer to travel to a new place – peak season or off-season? Why?
As long as weather is still good, I prefer off-season. Cheaper prices and fewer crowds!
16)How do you manage your travel expense? Do you have any particular suggestions for budget travellers?
I am a budget traveller! Firstly, I make travelling a necessary part of our budget. It is very much a priority in our lives. Secondly, use discount apps and websites! Fly budget airlines (know the extra fees), use Hopper or Skyscanner to track flight prices. Use Hotels.com to earn free nights. Don’t be afraid to book through Groupon or Living Social (as long as you research the accommodations first on Trip Advisor).
17)If you had to draw a pie chart of your travel expenses. What would your top 5 priorities be?
PIE CHART FOR TRAVEL EXPENSE!
18) What are the apps or resources that’s been an absolute life saver during travels or planning your trip?
See number 16. Also, apps that I use are:
Uber.
Lyft.
Google Maps.
Google translate
Now some quick questions,
Name your dream destination for each word mentioned below:
1. Historical Place- Pyramids of Giza 2. Culture Travel- Anywhere that speaks a different language 3. Couple Travel-Tropical destinations. St. Lucia is my favorite 4. Solo Travel- stay tuned… 5. Adventure( Water sports, for all adrenaline junkies)- Costa Rica 6. Nature and wildlife( Trekking, Camping etc)- Costa Rica, Lake Tahoe 7. Favourite city- NYC, Barcelona, New Orleans
Travel Interview conducted by COUPLE TRAVEL TALES (Achu & Unni)!
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Those who wish to participate in our travel interview series ,please feel free to contact us via email at coupletraveltale@gmail.com .
