About Me
Mykonos, Greece - 2011
I should start out by saying that this is not your typical “Round the World” travel site for backpackers. I am not now, nor have I ever been a backpacker…not that there’s anything wrong with that (though, for the most part, I don’t think it’s a lifestyle meant for girls!). Thanks to my frequent traveler “status”, I’ve traded coach for business class and hostels for hotel suites.
I consider myself an experienced business traveler fully accustomed to life on the road. In fact, I’m not just accustomed to it, I actually enjoy it. Airlines, hotels, new cities, new countries, new people…what’s not to love? So, what to do when I’m not on the road for business? Travel for pleasure, of course!
As a firm believer that anything worth doing is worth doing in style, I have spent the last few years artfully turning my business travel-accrued miles and hotel points into first-class Round the World trips I could never have otherwise afforded. I am a Diamond Medallion and Million Miler on Delta Airlines, a Platinum Preferred Guest with Starwood Hotels and a Diamond Hilton Honors Member. All of this adds up to a lot of nights spent away from home and a lot of miles and points to be redeemed.
Six years ago I was inspired to put all those business travel rewards to work and took my first ”trip of a lifetime” around the world. It was love at first flight and since then I have visited and written about more than 100 countries and planned five subsequent RTW trips and three additional month-long trips through Europe, Oceania and the Balkans. I am known for my ability to squeeze a year’s worth of travel into only a month (all I can usually spare – after all, a girl does have to make a living).
I am fortunate that much of my work as a self-employed event planner can be done from anywhere – as long as I have my laptop and decent internet access (sometimes a problem). The only time of year I can’t travel for fun is during college football season when my work as an Operations Producer for ESPN keeps me Stateside.
For the most part I travel on my own, mainly because most of my friends have work schedules less flexible than my own – but also because I enjoy it. I find you meet so many more people when travelling solo. It forces you to interact more with your surroundings and really get to know a destination.
Some of my favorite places in the world are Greece, Thailand, South Africa, Moorea & the Cook Islands. I try my best to get back to each of them of often as possible.
I am told that someday I will tire of all this travelling. Maybe so…but not today.
Jenny McIver
