Ah, the place has been abuzz with talk about travel and swine flu.  Hopefully you read my post yesterday about my personal assessment of Cancun, and why I think it’s safe to visit.  In fact, I’ll be back there next week.
Today’s questions comes from Addison Schonland, a principal in IAG (Innovation Analysis Group), a consulting firm to the transportation and travel industry. 
Q.  Would you be willing to talk with me a little bit more about your experience in Cancun for a podcast?
A.  Sure!
Addison always has a good handle on what’s going on in the industry, and keeps up …read more

After a hiatus last week, Talking Travel returns, with this week’s interview with Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei.
I love getting to know people who have varied backgrounds, and that brief description surely fits Hsien.  She’s an epidemiologist, with special training in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.  She now lives with her family in London, working as a freelance writer and professional blogger.  Here’s what Hsien has to say.
 
 
Where did you go on your last vacation:  Nha Trang, Vietnam.  (See photo left.)
Where do you plan to go on your next vacation:  Probably somewhere in the E.U.  Maybe Paris?  Would be a shame not to do some …read more

Today’s interview is with Addison Schonland, a current La Jolla, California resident, although his accent belies a different background.  I correctly guessed that he was from South Africa.  While Addison is usually the interviewer, he graciously agreed to answer some questions that I posed to him.
 
Where did you go on your last vacation:  Cape Town, South Africa.  Totally awesome.  A place you simply have to visit to believe.
Where do you plan to go on your next vacation:  Weddings in NYC and Seattle.  Hardly a vacation, but happy times.
If you were on a five-hour flight, whom would you want to be sitting …read more

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, …read more

This week’s interview is with Kim Banks, a writer by education, and a marketing professional by trade.  Kim, her husband, and dog Trotter (seen with Kim in photo at right) live in Emerson, New Jersey.  She is quick to point out that she doesn’t know anyone from The Sopranos, although many of the location shots were taken near where she lives. 
  
Where did you go on your last vacation:  Las Vegas.
Where do you plan to go on your next vacation:  In my mind, Rome.  In reality, Long Beach Island, New Jersey.  They have beautiful beaches!
Who would you want sitting next to you on a …read more

This week’s interview is with Geoff Collins, a writer and blogger on the topic of Formula One racing.  He’s also a heck of a nice guy, and we have great email conversations.  Geoff recently did some traveling in Europe, and he has graciously offered to provide me with some reviews of his travels.  Look for that in the coming weeks.
 
Current location:  Zurich, Switzerland.
Where did you go on your last vacation:  Vacations are often spent in the UK visiting family and friends.  Last autumn we spent some time in Devon and Cornwall, the south west of England, which has great beaches …read more

It’s Tuesday and time for another interview about travel, this week with blogger Deb Ligget.
 
Current Location:  Billings, Montana
Where did you go on your last vacation:  The Official Destination was to the northern Oregon coastal region.  We actually began in Montana, passed through Idaho and Washington on our way to Portland, hit the coastal region, and then back through Washington to see the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, passed through Idaho again, and returned home.  It was a very long road-trip, and fun mostly, but for spending more time at a destination I vote for flying there and back …read more

Jesse is another blogger pal who graciously agreed to be interviewed about his travel experiences, although he doesn’t have much to say about his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
 
Where did you go on your last vacation:  Skiing in Colorado.
Where do you plan to go on your next vacation:  Seattle.  (My hometown, Jesse, so I can give you lots of suggestions.)
If you were stuck in a middle seat for a five hour flight, who would you want sitting next to you:  Doesn’t matter as long as they’re skinny and don’t snore!
Window or Aisle:  Window.
Five destinations that are on your “must see before …read more

When I started looking for some friends to interview about their travel experiences, Cory Aldrich from Dayton, Ohio was one of the first to volunteer.  Thanks, Cory for being so kind in helping me out, and for being willing to share your travel experiences.
Where did you go on your last vacation:  South Central Georgia to visit my parents. The last (and first) REAL vacation was just before our oldest was born. We took a belated honeymoon: two weeks in Honolulu! I almost forgot: I had a work trip to Keystone, Colorado last summer. My wife, Kerri, and our youngest, Luke (He …read more