Celebrity Travel: Go away with Stephen Kramer Glickman

Comedian and actor Stephen Kramer Glickman has quite the eclectic career. He’s known for having played Gustavo on Nickelodeon’s “Big Time Rush.” He released his first stand-up comedy album “Voices in My Head” earlier this year. And Glickman also is the host of “The Night Time Show” Due to the coronavirus pandemic, he can’t take his act on the road in the traditional way, but Glickman participates in online events such as America’s Virtual Beer & Comedy Fest. Fans may follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch and TikTok, where he goes by the username @stephenglickman across all platforms.

Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?

A. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is the only place I have ever been on vacation that, when I got home to Los Angeles, I couldn't wait to go back. I even hiked out to a waterfall on the road to Hana and I hate hiking.

Q. What untapped destination should people know about?

A. The Molokini Crater is only three miles south of Maui, but it feels like you have arrived at the edge of the world. For divers, it offers reef-filled waters perfect for snorkeling. Some people might just enjoy watching their girlfriend snorkel, because they are too afraid to swim in the middle of the ocean, because they saw “Jaws” as a child and it ruined their life.

Q. What were some trips you took as a child?

A. Well I have two. I once went to Epcot with my father and he yelled at me until I cried. However, I also once went snorkeling off the coast with my father, who yelled at me until I cried. Either way, don't go on vacation with my father. I went on an amazing trip to Montreal, where I learned that I am terrible at skiing and that Canada has excellent hospitals.

Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A. If you're traveling to a place that's not nicer than where you live, that's not a vacation. It's volunteering and you should build a school before you leave.

Q. If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?

A. I'm Jewish, so the only holiday trips I go on are guilt trips.

Q. Do you speak any foreign languages?

A. I know how to ask where the library is in seven languages, but that's all I know. I pick up accents almost immediately, which is why I do so many in my stand-up album “Voices in My Head.”

Q. What are your five favorite cities?

A. Montreal, San Diego, Mill Valley (California), New York City. Los Angeles is my favorite place in the world.

Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A. I'd love to go to Switzerland and eat chocolate until I explode.

Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A. Purell. I always carry 5,000 gallons or Purell with me when I travel. It's the only way I feel safe.

Q. What would be your dream trip?

A. Well, Bjork said I can come stay with her in Iceland next summer so that would be fun. At least I think it's Bjork. She hit me up on LinkedIn.

Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?

A. My girlfriend books every trip because she is better at it and travels for a living. The last time I planned a trip, we had to cancel it because the entire world decided to shut down.

Q. What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?

A. When I was a little kid in 1985, my grandfather went to Israel to put notes from our entire family in the Western Wall in Jerusalem. When he got to the wall, he opened up my notes that I had written and it said, "Dear Lord, why did the chicken cross the road?" My grandfather thought this was very funny and placed it in one of the cracks of the wall. As an adult, I was lucky enough to visit Israel recently and went to the Western Wall and brought a new letter which started with, "To get to the other side. Sorry for the long wait."

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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.)