Talking Travel at the Flyaway Cafe: An Interview with Blogger Jason Bean

This week’s interview is with former travel industry insider, Jason Bean, from Indianapolis, Indiana.  I always feel a special kindred spirit with those well versed in travel-speak.  Here’s what Jason has to say:

Where did you go on your last vacation:  Hmmm, let’s see, last vacation. What’s that again? I would say my last pseudo-vacation was a trip back to the little, country hometown where I spent most of my life growing up, Morgantown, Kentucky, the “Catfish Capital of the World”

Where do you plan to go on your next vacation:  We’re taking my daughter to Chicago for her 4th birthday. I know, I know, starting that WAY too soon. Combining it with a short weekend trip with my older brother and his family.

If you were stuck in a middle seat for a five hour flight, who would you want sitting on either side of you:  An attractive, nice smelling woman suffering from narcolepsy and my favorite author, Michael Crichton.

Do you have a travel tip that you’d like to share:  Relax and be flexible. I traveled quite a lot for business in a previous job, and I was amazed at the stress people let themselves get into over a flight or a delay. Relax. Everybody’s got somewhere to go if they’re on the plane; people don’t just take a “Sunday afternoon flight” for the fun of it.

Name five destinations that are on your “must see before I die” list:  Australia, Alaska, Africa, Asia, and wherever “on location” ends up being for the next season of Survivor!

Window seat or aisle:  Window.  I’m still a kid at heart and love looking out the window. Plus if you want to sleep you’ve got something to lean up against, I rarely will use the restroom, so no need for me to get up mid-flight.

All time favorite vacation experience:  Although it wasn’t quite a vacation, I’ll say my California bicycle trip in January 1993. It was for a class in college and I biked from Monterey to San Diego, California, and across into Arizona in 15 days. What an experience!

Most embarrassing travel experience:  I was on a flight and the in-flight movie was Bruce Almighty. I could NOT stop laughing out loud during the newsroom scene. Everyone started looking at me, because most of the plane wasn’t watching the movie, so to just hear some guy wheezing and gasping from laughing so hard was throwing other passengers off a little bit.

Is traveling about the journey or the destination:  For me traveling has always been about the journey. In fact, when I was traveling in business, I usually hated the trip once I got there, at least at night. Eating by yourself in a distant city just isn’t all that fun after awhile. But I could last for hours sitting in an airport and watching people.

If I am in the Indianapolis, and have a spare four hours, what would you recommend that I do:  In Indianapolis, the city seems to be a lot about sports. Taking a walk along the canal and ending up at the NCAA Hall of Champions, Eiteljorg Museum, Indiana State Museum and IMAX, or catching a minor league baseball game at Victory Field, are great! If you’re into automobile racing at all, then visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Museum is nice too.
——————————

Jason Bean spent eight years in the travel industry as a technology manager or corporate travel agent. He is married with two great kids, and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He is currently an independent business consultant, blogger, and web designer on the side. His blogs at:  BNPositive, The Unauthorized Microsoft Weblog, and Office 12 Watch.