Recently updated on January 15th, 2020 at 07:43 pm
With the launch of her eagerly anticipated second edition 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, Trafalgar sat down with best-selling travel author Patricia Schultz, to learn more about her insider travels.
Out of all the destinations you’ve visited and written about what is your most memorable travel moment to date?
The beauty of the South Island of New Zealand caught me by surprise. The Fiordland National Park is the country’s largest and one of the world’s most stunning.
Which destination is on the top of your bucket list that you’ve yet to explore?
I have visited many of the idyllic islands of the South Pacific, but not Fiji. Its islands are known for their exotic beauty, but also for being home to some of the friendliest people anywhere. That’s a pretty intoxicating combination!
What is your top tip for exploring the world like an insider?
I like to talk to the locals – taxi drivers, hotel staff, the café waiter – you never know what tidbits you pick up here and there! Generally people love to chat and are proud to share – and practise their English.
What are some of the ways you take in local culture when abroad?
I love to see what concerts are being given at local churches or in town squares. Lingering for an hour in a neighbourhood bar, pub or café makes for great people watching and insightful observations. Eating in restaurants that seldom see tourists generally promises special attention from the waiters and an authentic eating experience. I always try to peruse the local newspapers – language barriers aside – to see what’s making the news locally.
