City travelers, here’s our latest interview with world’s leading travel bloggers. Throughout the year, selected travel experts will share their favorite city destination and travel experiences, offering plenty of inspiration for your next city trip.
Today, meet Megan Singleton, award-winning travel writer at Blogger at Large. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Megan has been blogging for almost ten years: first for a travel brand, then for her own blog. It was that year as exchange student in the US when Megan fell in love with travel – and she’s traveled the globe ever since.
Megan, your best city trip so far?
I’m going to say my best city trip would be to New Orleans. It’s the city where the most diversity for holiday-makers can be found. There’s the nightlife (and day life) with live music, the unique cuisine, the vibe of the city with its buskers, artists and heritage buildings.
But there are canals for kayaking, an intriguing cemetery to tour and that’s before you take to the river in a paddle steamer!
Your city travel insider tips for New Orleans?
Stay in the French Quarter. There are loads of great boutique hotels and that way you can walk all day long and drop back into your sanctuary when you run out of steam.
Head to Frenchmen Street for the best live music at night, but also go to Preservation Hall for a show.
You must wander Bourbon Street too, although I was surprised by all the tat and girly shops!
Have lunch at Court of Two Sisters on Bourbon and definitely kick-start your day with a sugary beignet.
As a professional travel blogger, what makes a city worth visiting?
I love to visit cities that provide a bit of everything. I like shopping, dining and cocktails as much as the next blogger (!), but I’m always on the look out for something a bit special. It doesn’t bother me if it’s really touristy (after all, that is who our readers are largely) or something off the beaten track that I discover when I get there.
A city with a soul impresses me.
Your five ingredients for the perfect city trip?
- Centrally located accommodation
- Easy use of public transport or everything within walking distance
- Great weather!!
- Live events, whether it be music or sport. I am a sucker for sports matches in new cities
- Free WiFi! It’s as essential oxygen
Which gadgets/apps are essential companions for a modern city traveller?
My [easyazon_link keywords=”iPhone” locale=”US”]iPhone[/easyazon_link] is my most essential gadget. I use it to take most of my photos for my blog these days, plus video and update social media. I also check and respond to email on the road.
My [easyazon_link keywords=”MacBook Pro” locale=”US”]MacBook Pro[/easyazon_link]. This is right up there with my iPhone for essentials. I download all my images daily when I’m travelling, create my posts, work on my site, etc.
XE Currency app is essential. I just bought amazing steak knives in Argentina this month and didn’t realise how much I paid for them until I got my statement!
Would you describe yourself as a responsible traveller?
I would say I’m responsible. I really hate when hotels say to hang your towels if you want to keep them, then they take them anyway. Or worse, they don’t provide any rails.
I don’t open two bars of soap in the bathroom but switch from shower to basin (is that responsible?!)
However, the very nature of travel means carbon footprints, so it’s a balance of visiting places and promoting them to readers so their economy might grow vs getting there by burning fuel!
Your key insight from traveling the world?
My key insight from travelling the world is that there is no final destination. The more you travel, the more you want to travel and you’ll never run out of new places or experiences to try.
Thanks, Megan!
Enjoyed those tips on how to travel like a pro, by New Zealand’s Megan Singleton of Blogger at Large? Share and spread the word!