Planning Your Best Trip Ever with Brandon Presser

#53: Award-winning travel journalist Brandon Presser shares advice on choosing accommodations, critical factors to consider when planning a trip, his top travel tips, and his favorite off-the-beaten-path points of interest. He also discusses his traveling philosophy and shares his top lesser-known travel destinations!

Brandon Presser (@brandpress) is a freelance features writer and travel expert. He’s written 50+ travel guidebooks, contributes to numerous influential publications, and can be seen on Bravo's television series, Tour Group where he led a group of eclectic travelers around the world. He recently released his latest book: The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific.

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Selected Links From The Episode

Chris's Newsletter: Sign Up

Connect with Brandon Presser: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Brandon’s Work:

Latest Book: The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific
Guidebooks
Articles Published
Bravo’s Tour Group
Where to Travel in 2022
Photo of Juxtaposition in Kyrgyzstan

Brandon’s Hospitality Jobs:

Madagascar Club Sandwich: Le Pavillon de l'Emyrne

Japan Recommendations:

Book mentioned: Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending

Travel Shoes: Palladium

Iceland Recommendations:

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Full Show Notes

What most people get wrong about the way they travel and plan vacations (1:25)

Advice about travel planning and critical factors to consider when choosing your destination (1:59)

What's so fulfilling about authentic travel (4:04)

Why having a ‘checklist’ may not result in the most meaningful travel experience (5:28)

The most effective (and non-insulting) ways to show generosity while traveling (9:27)

Authentic travel experience versus a ‘commercial vacation’ (10:44)

A career as a fixer and advice for finding a trip planning guide (13:36)

Writing guidebooks for Lonely Planet (16:10)

How social media has changed travelers’ need for guidebooks and review sites (18:11)

The importance of using your instincts, hotel concierges, and online resources (21:14)

Having stayed in 3,000+ hotels, Brandon offers advice on what to look for in a ‘nice’ hotel (27:02)

“I want the amenities in the room to be thought through and I don't want people to skimp on a crappy Q-tip. I want a good Q-tip.” (29:39)

Using a quality rating metric of club sandwiches! (29:51)

Why Japan, as a destination, is always at the top of Brandon's list (32:20)

The downsides of a career in travel writing, and even living in incredible places, especially on someone else’s dime (37:43)

Favorite luggage and travel footwear (39:32)

Finding the balance between taking photographs and being fully immersed in your travel experience (41:48)

“I don't want a photo that someone's already taken a better version. I want to capture my moments of serendipity, that's what I use photography for" (43:50)

Capturing a moment of incredible juxtaposition in Kyrgyzstan (42:48)

Brandon distills his favorite travel tips (44:00)

Alternative cost-effective travel locations (45:42)

Why traveling within “our regional bubbles” will be more accessible right now and in the near future (52:31)

Brandon’s bucket list of travel destinations (54:08)

What constitutes a true ‘visit’ for the purpose of country counting (56:51)

Working high-end hospitality jobs at Nobu, The Plaza, and Barneys (57:21)

Brandon on his search for ‘Eloise moments’ (01:00:41)

Top tips and tricks from years in travel service (01:03:51)

How carrying tokens of gratitude can affect your travel experience (01:07:54)

The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific (01:10:06)

Travel Recommendations for Iceland and Japan (01:15:40)

Where to find Brandon online (01:19:42)

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Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.