Beth Whitman has logged hundreds of thousands of miles around the globe as a contemporary wanderer, combining her love for travel with volunteer work, adventure trips, travel writing and business. She has trekked the Himalayas in Nepal and Bhutan, ridden a motorcycle solo from Seattle to Panama, and has even had a hand grenade pulled on her in Cambodia. Visit her site, Wanderlust and Lipstick, for more tales of adventure.
Cheapflights: What’s your routine when you fly?
Beth Whitman: In order to make sure that flying is as stress-free as possible, I try to be as prepared as I can for going through security. I have my laptop and bag of 3 oz. liquids in places where it’s easy to remove them from my carry-on. I don’t keep anything in my pockets that might set off the alarms (I learned recently that a thumb drive can set off the security system!) and don’t wear a metal barrette in my hair – which will also set it off. So, my routine really centers around taking the hassle out of the experience.
CF: What is your biggest travel pet peeve?
BW: Little kids kicking the back of my seat on the flight and people pushing the video screen so hard that it actually moves my seat forward. I like to sleep on flights and both of these prevent me from doing so.
CF: What kind of trip type do you prefer?
BW: Definitely adventure. It’s not a trip for me unless I can get into the thick of a local market where the locals are cooking up food in street stalls and I have to navigate through tiny alleyways. Even if I do go on a beach vacation, I have to find some really local thing to do – like eating at a roadside stand, finding out where the locals spend time or going to a musical performance that most tourists would never consider going to.
CF: Although it’s hard to choose, tell us what your favorite destination is.
BW: It’s always the last place I visited! In this case South India for the food, temples and people!
CF: Cheapflights is all about value. What location do you think offers the best value for travelers?
BW: If you can handle some of its annoyances, India. You get a really high value for your dollar in terms of accommodations, food and shopping.
CF: What is your ideal airport, and what’s your advice on how to best enjoy it?
BW: I’m kind of partial to Sea-Tac. They remodeled it a few years ago and it’s got a beautiful area that has floor-to-very-high-ceiling windows where you can watch flights taking off and land. They’ve to an excellent food court (seriously, really good food) and lots of shops. I don’t mind arriving early for flights and just enjoying a cup of coffee or a meal and tapping into the free Wi-Fi.
CF: If you had to sit in the middle seat on a plane, who would be your chosen (or most-feared) seat mates?
BW: In thinking back to past experiences, the best seatmates have been those who have either slept the whole time or those whom I can have a brief, interesting conversation – then I can just go to sleep. The worst? One guy was so drunk he spilled his drink on me. I also sat next to a woman who painted her toenails on the flight.
CF: What would you classify as a hypothetical travel nightmare?
BW: Being stuck on the tarmac for more than an hour with no food or drink. New rules for U.S.-based airlines have eliminated this issue for the most part, but international carriers can still hold you captive. I would not like that one bit.
CF: How does what you do for a living give you a unique angle on traveling?
BW: I lead tours to Bhutan, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. I get to return to these places year after year. That gives me the chance to see how these destinations change over time, however subtle those changes might be.
CF: Share with us a few insider tips on how to improve the in-flight experience.
BW: The first thing I’d recommend is to buy a pair of noise-canceling headphones. This has made my travel experience so much more pleasant. I had two international flights in a row where the people behind me talked – loudly – non-stop for 12-14 hours. I’m not exaggerating. Ever since, I’ve used my Bose headphones and the flying experience has been so much better.
The other advice I have is simply to leave yourself plenty of time at the airport. I find I’m most stressed out when I’m rushed. If I arrive at the airport with plenty of time to check in and get through security, then I don’t get frustrated with the process and restrictions.
Cheapflights is proud to have guest voices express their opinions. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheapflights Media (USA) Inc.
