Founder/Chief Storyteller, food. curated.
Favorite short jaunt: Playa del Carmen, Mexico via JetBlue. It's a straight shot, no layovers, and I always book at Mahekal Beach Resort, my favorite inexpensive small hotel in the Yucatan. Every one of its cute little beach huts has a balcony with two hammocks and no TVs - you're steps from the water, and far from annoying spring breakers and tourists. I've sent a ton of friends and family here, and all came back already dreaming of their return!
Meal you would travel for: I would travel back to Singapore to eat at one of its "hawker centers" for their signature Chili Crab dishes and more! Visiting a hawker center is an experience for true foodies; it's like a food court, but multiply a food court times 100, add all the cultures of Asia, a ton of locals, spices and flavors and foods your body has never experienced, and stuff your face silly on very little money. That was one of the best food experiences I've ever had. One I'm going to make a point to have again.
One thing you can't live without on the road: I always travel with mosquito repellent. If I have a nemesis, it's a mosquito. And you find them in the most unusual places! I'm very sensitive to their bite. And that's weird because my middle name is Mosquito: Liza Mosquito deGuia. How about that!
Worst travel experience: My worst in a good way travel experience occurred when I was backpacking in Bangkok in 2002 during their New Years Songkran Festival, or Water Festival. Part of the tradition on that day is to stage the world's largest water fight throughout the city. And being a backpacker just coming off a long flight from New York, I was not prepared. Within the first hour of landing and walking to my hostel, I must have been hit by at least ten water balloons, three super soakers, a hose and a whole lot of kids with buckets full of this powder white sticky clay that just cakes onto you once wet. I was soaked and it took forever to get the clay out of my ears, but it was certainly a thrill. Plus, I immediately bought some water guns and had my revenge!
Travel tip: Chat it up with the locals to get their advice on the true local spots to hit. Guidebooks can only take you so far, the locals really know the experiences you'll write home about. So don't be shy... And: sleeping pills for long flights and jet lag.
Best hotel you've stayed in: The coolest ever boutique hotel I've ever set foot in is in Mexico City. It's so authentic and unique it'll kill you. From the individually themed and named Mexican-style suites, to the terrace bar and lounge on the roof, to the hyper colorful decor, great service and great location - you'll never want to leave! Everyone should go there.
Are you a planner or a spontaneous traveler? I'm a planner - when it comes to food. Usually before vacations, I spend countless hours on websites, travel sites and Chowhound searching for local dives, food markets and well reviewed restaurants that I'll need to hit up.
Exception you make when you travel: I'll drink bottled water. Usually I'm a tap girl, but I've had some horrible, horrible experiences. And I'm sure many of you can commiserate without the gory details!
Dream getaway: My fantasy is to fly to French Polynesia and bunk down in one of those romantic huts that look like they float over the water. I love to scuba dive, so spending the days island hopping to dive the famous coral atolls or reefs in the area would be bliss. And the thought of unwinding between and after the dives amidst quiet white sand beaches and crystal clear water, well, that's just heaven to me. I'm a beach girl at heart and feel most at home near the ocean. It settles me and brings me more happiness than you know.
Easy local escape: Montauk or to Hampton Bays... I'll jump in my car, drive out there, just to put my feet in the ocean, lay a blanket on the ground and go to sleep.
Tips for the lone traveler: I actually love staying in hostels when I travel alone. It's the best way to meet strangers, plus everyone else is lonely too so making friends is easy! I also very much enjoy the Contiki trips for 18 to 35 year olds. You can come solo and travel with a group of really interesting strangers from all over the world. Really good experiences for the most part, plus, most of the annoying travel details are taken care of so you can just sit back, know you're safe and really enjoy the culture.
Getaway for a solo jauntsetter: New Zealand hands down. It's so easy to travel there. You can see the best parts of the North and South Island in two weeks. Doing a road trip is highly recommended. You really take in the landscape and it's grandness when you do it via car, making stops in the many picturesque towns, having tons of high adrenaline adventures. I remember skydiving and bungee jumping in a short span of 4 hours one day. My skin was tingling I was so high on life! White water rafting and visiting a sheep farm is also a must. Oh and gorging on local New Zealand mussels and fresh caught fish & chips always made the experience that much better.
Favorite travel accessory: I really, really like my new FlipCam in HD. It's light. The images are gorgeous.
Recommended road read: My favorite book of all time is The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. I read this for the first time in New Zealand. It's one of the top books of all time over there. Whenever I see it in a used bookstore I buy it so I can gift it to someone. It's so good it'll make you cry. The characters are so rich with drive and passion that you find yourself rooting for them. It's a story about overcoming the odds and achieving your life's purpose. Told through the eyes of a young kid who dreams of being the Welterweight Champion of the World. The writing is phenomenal; you walk away from the book knowing these characters, who feel like real, living people by the time you're done reading. This book will touch you and bring you chills. It's beautiful. And one of the things you must read before you die I think.
Best restaurant you've visited: There really is no contesting this one. Le Calandre in Padova, Italy, a couple hours outside of Venice. Best meal of my life. First off, the servers are like well trained ninjas. You never see them at the table, yet, your meals and wine glasses change and fill up right before your eyes. I don't know how they do it! The food was definitely the most emotional food I've ever eaten. The dishes called on all your senses to appreciate.
Last vacation you really loved: Last year, I took an unbelievable two week trip to The Philippines, the country where my parents were born. One of the destinations during that trip was this hidden archipelago called El Nido, a magical setting dotted with tiny uninhabited islands and limestone cliffs that reached to the sky. Only two resorts were built into these little islands. You spend your days, sea kayaking into hidden lagoons and coves, spotting baby sharks, wildlife and all sorts of colorful reef fish. Or you take little Philippine style boats to different secluded beaches to set up camp in hammocks, swim or stage hermit crab races. The sunsets there just take your breath away. And the friendliness of the people and staff made you instantly feel at home. It was smiles, utter relaxation, great food in endless quantity and good times all around.
