Andrew Hickey is a New York-based travel writer who contributes to sites like AOL Travel, CheapOair and The Huffington Post. He also runs a popular travel blog, The Brooklyn Nomad, which offers travel tips, news and hotel reviews.
Cheapflights: What’s your routine when you fly?
Andrew Hickey: I need a window seat when flying. I have flown middle once (it was a nightmare) and aisle only a handful of times. I like to watch a movie, and read and listen to music when flying. I have a hard time sleeping onboard, so I need as many distractions as possible in order to make the time go by faster.
CF: What is your biggest travel pet peeve?
AH: Even though I am a new parent, I get annoyed easily at people flying with kids on planes that do not try to keep their little ones in line. I totally get that flying with kids can be difficult, but if you do not even make an attempt to keep them busy or in line, that really irks me. I once flew from London to New York and these two kids were bouncing off the ceiling for most of the flight while their parents took a nap.
CF: What kind of trip do you prefer?
AH: While I do love them all, my ideal trips are to big cities. From Chicago to San Francisco to Krakow and Dublin, I love the energy, variety of places to eat and drink, and interacting with locals and other visitors.
CF: Although it’s hard to choose, tell us what your favorite destination is.
AH: I grew up visiting Ireland often as a wee lad and it has grown on me tremendously as I’ve gotten older. I love the Emerald Isle! The people are pleasant, the pubs are perfect and the weather suites me (mostly grey and cool). Best Guinness on the planet can be found there, too.
CF: Cheapflights is all about value. What location do you think offers the best value for travelers?
AH: In Europe it is hands down Poland. The exchange rate is very kind to U.S. travelers since they are not on the Euro yet. This makes it easy to stay at a four-star hotel for the price of a two-star hotel as well as eat and drink like a king for less.
CF: What is your ideal airport, and what’s your advice on how to best enjoy it?
AH: My ideal airport is one filled with a few good places to eat and free Wi-Fi. I pass the time at the airport catching up on work and watching a movie or tweeting to friends.
CF: If you had to sit in the middle seat on a plane, who would be your chosen (or most-feared) seatmates?
AH: I fear a seatmate that needs to use the restroom every 15 minutes, smells bad or snores. I would prefer a seatmate that just watches a movie and then sleeps the rest of the flight.
CF: What would you classify as a hypothetical travel nightmare?
AH: Being in a foreign land and losing all of my money and my passport. Without those two things it could make for a real scary situation on the road. That’s why I always carry my debit card and just a little cash when I travel. Plus I always make a copy of my passport.
CF: How does what you do for a living give you a unique angle on traveling?
AH: I travel more frequently than the average person so I think it helps me understand what works and what doesn’t work when on the road. I try to take those experiences and turn them into helpful blog posts on my travel site.
CF: Share with us a few insider tips on how to improve the in-flight experience.
- As much as I love to throw back a few adult beverages, skip the booze onboard. Being inside a plane already dehydrates you; don’t add to it with a few cocktails. Instead drink plenty of water and juice while flying.
- Don’t talk the ear off of the person sitting next to you. Chances are they just want to rest while flying and don’t want to hear stories of where you’ve been or where you’re going.
- Put on your headphones, slip off your shoes and just watch the in-flight entertainment options while flying. It will make the flight go much faster.
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.
