Lauren Sullivan's Bio

Lauren’s spent her twenty-some years of life saving up nickels, dimes and vacation days to see the world, typically with only a backpack in tow. A sassy nomad, she’s had throwdowns with monkeys in Laos, taught 5-year-olds the ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider’ in Thailand, and acquired a nasty case of pseudo-malaria in Vietnam. And that was just Southeast Asia.

Top smarter travel tip: Take your friends’ advice. Chances are, if a close friend likes a vacation spot, hotel, restaurant – even entrée – you will, too. Give a good listen if someone you’re particularly fond of comes home from a trip raving about a scuba excursion or whining about a travel company. Word of mouth is also a delightful way to learn about in-the-know deals on vacations.

Best and worst destination: I adore non-English-speaking countries where I’m truly forced to take it all in. Southeast Asia holds a special place in my heart, since I lived there for a year teaching English on the Thai-Burmese border. But it’s Paris – ah, Paris – that tops my list. The language, the wine, the Marais; it’s my favorite city on earth – so far. I loathe cities where the only option to get around is by car. I much prefer seeing a town by foot, bike – even rollerblades.

Number of countries visited: Upwards of 25. Backpacking around Europe and Asia definitely helped that cause.

My dream trip is: Right now I have my wandering mind set on South America, so a month-long trip down there sounds just divine. I want to see it all – from Machu Picchu to Patagonia to São Paulo.

My funniest travel moment: After a few weeks of feebly attempting to learn the French language during a semester abroad at the American University of Paris, I’d become fairly certain that I was fluent. I walked confidently into a corner shop with some newfound friends and asked the cashier if she sold AAA batteries. I asked, “Excusez moi. Avez vous treeple ‘A’ batterees?” Flipped ‘r’ and all. The cashier responded, in plain English, “Just because you say it with a French accent, doesn’t make it French.” I spent the next six months trying to live that down with my friends. And trying to actually speak French.

Best and worst long-haul seatmates: Best: Anthony Bourdain. He hosts my favorite, stay-in-all-Saturday-to-watch travel show, No Reservations. Worst: Someone large who snores.

My most memorable seatmate was: I can’t remember. I’m almost always asleep – and drooling – before the wheels leave the runway.