Not that Australians need much motivation to travel, but in some cases we might need a little nudge, which is what Trafalgar’s Global Ambassador, Patricia Schultz, was doing in town earlier this week.
The #1 New York Times best-selling author reached out to local travellers and wanderlusters in Sydney earlier this week, offering Aussies motivation for their next trip with a preview into 2018.
Patricia’s books, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and 1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die, are responsible for providing the inspiration to many bucket lists around the world.
Kicking off the multi-city events in Sydney, a place that Patricia regards as one of the best spots in the world and features in her highly-acclaimed book, Patricia entertained guests at Q Dining at the Pullman Quay Grand for the Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) luncheon with her adventures across the globe and insight into top destinations.
The New York native, later joined MC Wendy Squires (writer and columnist), Matthew Cameron-Smith (Managing Director, Trafalgar) and Jayson Westbury (AFTA CEO) at Hacienda at the Pullman, to host Trafalgar’s top-selling agents, partners and clients for an evening of delicious canapes, beverages and the chance to talk travel, tips and bucket lists.
Having ticked off 80 percent off her 1,000 places listed, Patricia’s mantra is “you can’t have a fat passport and a narrow mind, travel is a gift”.
Labelling herself as an ‘independent traveller’, Patricia admitted that she was curious about a ‘guided holiday’ and what it would entail. However, after experiencing Trafalgar’s 10-day Prague, Vienna and Budapest, “I was a convert – I realised I wouldn’t have seen and learnt as much as I did with Trafalgar if I tried to explore these magical cities on my own”.
Patricia shared one of the many Be My Guest experiences on offer, her group immersed themselves in the culture and dined with a local family in Budapest at their third-generation vineyard, “to meet this family and hear their stories was something truly memorable, they spoke of how their wine cellars were used as a hiding place for the Jews during the Second World War”.
“Don’t wait until it’s too late to travel. There is no guarantee if you’re waiting around for your friends/partner children to get their act together… just GO!”
Patricia Schultz, Trafalgar Global Ambassador
Next stop for the avid traveller is Trafalgar’s events in Melbourne tonight, held at The Seamstress for an oriental flavoured lunch and evening.