Dominique Pratt

I recently came across a tweet from Lonely Planet asking people to discuss the places that made them LOVE travellling and it got me thinking how I started travelling and came to love it.

Well I assume my very first travelling experience was as a tiny tot as my family travelled quite a bit and personally I’ve always been inspired by my sister who has travelled the world.

But it really was a trip to the UK when I was 17 that changed it all for me. Although I was born in England, I have very few memories of the place and going back there was an experience I won’t forget and one that I did on my own which I guess first gave me that Travel bug. It was a combination of freedom, lack of control and new people that inspired me. I met new friends, reconnected with relatives and eventually at the end of the trip met up with my mum as we went back to places from my childhood.

But it was the stepping through the gates at the departure lounge and the tingling nervous energy that inspires me to constantly travel and get out of my comfort zone. It has shaped the person I am today and I’m so thankful for the experiences.

After this trip, there was no stopping me and I’m sure like a lot of other people the only thing that limits me when it comes to travel is money but I’ve done it somehow, not as much as many others I’m sure, but I’m getting there.

I went on to travel to places such as Switzerland, Amsterdam, Paris , Italy, Spain and more recently I’ve travelled around America a couple of times. I’ve done little trips as well, to Indonesia and spent 11 hours in a lounge at Auckland airport, but that’s not considered travel, right?

I’d love to hear other stories about travelling experiences. And trust me I have plenty of positive and negative ones to share. But that’s for another time.

For now it’s… stand up, boil the kettle, make the tea and brainstorm where I would like to go this year. Any suggestions?