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: Leigh Haubach
Occupation: Digital Marketing Specialist/Travel Blogger/ESL Teacher
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Residence: San Diego, CA
College: University of Maryland, College Park, in Europe
College major: Business, Information Systems
Website: thebuzzontravel.com, tacticalmarketing.guru
Facebook: The Buzz on Travel
Instagram: thebuzzontravel
Pinterest: Leigh Haubach
How often do you fly? In spurts, every few months.
How many countries have you been to? 45
How many continents have you been to? 6
Earliest travel memory: I got separated from my family at Niagara Falls at age five. Everyone was wearing the same yellow raincoat. I decided I’d just shuffle along and see the falls with everyone else and I was found easily at the end when we took off the raincoats. No one seemed concerned.
Favorite American city: New York.
Favorite international city: London.
Least favorite country: Peru.
I have no desire to go to: France. I’ve been many times, but this has to do with a former love interest.
Friendliest people in the world: Costa Rica.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: Namibia.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Iguazu National Park.
Favorite airline: Southwest.
Aisle or window: Aisle.
Favorite U.S. airport: Sea Tac.
Favorite international airport: Amsterdam Schiphol.
Favorite hotel: Marriott.
Favorite cruise line: AMA Waterways.
Favorite travel credit card: Sapphire Preferred.
Favorite island: Ko Pi Pi, Thailand.
Favorite beach: Hanalei, Kauai.
Favorite National Park: Yellowstone NP.
Favorite fancy restaurant: Linnane’s Lobster Bar, Ireland.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Lorna’s Italian, San Diego.
Favorite airport restaurant: Used to be Grand Central Oyster Bar EWR.
Favorite bar: I went on safari in Africa and I really enjoyed a drink with our driver at our hotel in Nata, Botswana, after a day in Chobe National Park. So, you never know where the next great bar will be, but for me it’s more likely on safari than on a swanky rooftop.
Favorite fruit: Strawberries.
Favorite food: Sushi.
Least favorite food: Argentine. I don’t eat beef and nothing else tasted like anything. They even struggled to find us salt and pepper.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): White wine.
Favorite travel movie(s): Y Tu Mama Tambien, Lost in Translation, Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Vicky Christina Barcelona.
Favorite travel show(s): Rick Steves, Samantha Brown.
Favorite travel podcast(s): Rick Steves.
Favorite travel book(s): “The Alchemist,” anything by Paul Theroux.
Right now I am reading: “The Education of an Idealist,” Samantha Power.
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet, Patagonia.
Favorite travel website(s): TripAdvisor and TheBuzzOnTravel.
5 things you bring on a plane: Socks, earplugs, eye mask, sleeping pill, puffy jacket.
What do you always seem to forget? Earbuds.
What do you like least about travel? The middle seat in coach.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Dark chocolate.
Favorite travel app(s): Choice Hotels, Southwest, TripIt.
Most embarrassing travel moment: I initially missed the “+2 days” on my itinerary to get to Africa and had to book an earlier flight for way too much money to meet my tour in time.
I’m embarrassed I haven’t been to: Japan.
Worst travel moment: Traveling from SFO to Munich with little ones who got sick over all our clothes and then the spare clothes then our suitcases were delayed 48 hours. Did I mention it was a Sunday and nothing was open?
What’s your dream destination? Vietnam and Angkor Wat.
Favorite travel charity: Patagonia Action Works, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Best travel tip: When there’s no penalty to do so, book one-way trips instead of roundtrips. It greatly increases your flexibility to make changes.
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see Michelle Obama answer these same questions.
