Celebrity Travel: Go Away With J.J. Kelley and Kinga Philipps
Q. What do you recommend to people who'd like to visit remote destinations but are wary of the unknown?
Kelley: Have a plan for how you can safely step outside your comfort zone. If you're going on a remote trek in Zimbabwe, bring a friend, tell a friend where you're going and when you'll be back and have a plan for what they'll do if you don't surface at the agreed upon time. Always have a protocol for communication. Get an international plan for your cellphone. Have check-in times and stick to them. Do not get lazy with this. It could save your life. I've received my greatest education from traveling to 111 countries and I'd never discourage anyone from seeing new horizons. I wholeheartedly encourage you. Just be smart about it!
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
Philipps: I live in Los Angeles and we are so fortunate to have such amazing nature getaways all around us. We go out to Catalina Island to free dive and spearfish regularly. I love camping near Ojai, Big Sur or in Joshua Tree National Park. Angeles National Forest is another beautiful escape, if you are in the mood for trees and hiking. Mountains, ocean, islands, deserts, trees. We really have it all.
Q. What are your five favorite cities?
Kelley: New York, Tokyo, Seoul, Cape Town and Amsterdam.
Philipps: Sydney, Byron Bay, Rome, Florence and Barcelona.
Q. What would be your dream trip?
Philipps: Sailing around New Zealand looking for Orcas.
Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?
Kelley: Stay curious! Don't travel around the world to text with your friend who lives in your hometown! Don't eat at the hotel! Don't stay within the tourist bubble. Get curious about what's over there. Ask questions and immerse yourself in your destination. Otherwise, why did you spend all that money to get around the world?
Q. What is your best vacation memory?
Philipps: Living out of a van in Iceland for nine days with my sister as we toured the entire ring road and stopped in so many spectacular spots our heads were spinning.
Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
Kelley: I'm from Minnesota and Norway is the one place that feels most like my homeland. The people are sweet, the food is a little bland but satisfying and the culture is one that celebrates the cold instead of complaining about it.
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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column by visiting her website at www.jaehakim.com. You may also follow "Go Away With..." on Twitter at @GoAwayWithJae where Jae-Ha Kim welcomes your questions and comments.)
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