Celebrity Travel: Go away with Rudi

After participating in the reality series, “The Bachelor: Listen To Your Heart,” Rudi Gutierrez is concentrating on her first love: music. Rebranding herself simply as Rudi, the 25-year-old singer’s latest single is “Stupid Boy” – a not-so-cloaked account of her relationship with castmate Matt Ranaudo on “The Bachelor” spinoff. (They are no longer together.) She has a home in Los Angeles, but has been social distancing in San Antonio, Texas, since the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States. Fans may keep tabs on her music on Instagram (username @itsjustrudi).

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: Tokyo, Japan. I want my own place there one day. (Go to a) live karaoke with an incredible Japanese band at a place called Bauhaus.

Q: What was the first trip you took as a child? And did you love it...or not so much?

A: The first big trip I remember taking was to Los Angeles when I was in fourth grade and I absolutely loved it!

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

A: To have an open mind. Try new things. You never know if you will get that chance to do it again, so soak it all in and learn as much as you can.

Q: If you could only pick one place to eat, would you choose a casual meal at a street cart or fine dining at a nice restaurant?

A: I’m gonna go with fine dining, because a steak with some mashed potatoes sounds really good right now.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: I love Malibu. If I’m by water and in the sun, I’m happy.

Q: Where is the most romantic destination?

A: Oh, I went to Bayonne, France, one time with a boyfriend and it was really romantic. I fell in love with the city and people. The language is just beautiful.

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

A: I usually stay here in Texas with the fam, but I think this year we may do Colorado.

Q: Do you speak any foreign languages? And on the same train of thought, do you pick up new languages easily?

A: I can speak Spanish enough to get around. I was pretty fluent in a matter of two weeks when I was in Spain. That’s just because I’m Hispanic and have grown up around the language. Picked up a little Japanese while I was in Japan, too.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: New York City, Madrid, Tokyo, Austin, Malibu.

Q: Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?

A: I’m gonna have to go with Spain. The culture, the people, the food. … While I was there, so many things reminded me of where I came from.

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

A: Switzerland.

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

A: Definitely good skin-care items. My face gets really dry when I travel. Also, a good camera.

Q: What would be your dream trip?

A: I have so many places I want to see and so many places I want to visit again. I just love traveling in general and learning about different cultures.

Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?

A: Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. (Laughs)

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

A: I try and do as much as possible without spoiling everything. I like to be surprised when I get to a place, but I also like to have a decent itinerary ready so I can take advantage of my time there.

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

A: Let’s start with the worst memory. Me and my family went to the Virgin Islands one year and I wound up catching pneumonia. I thought I was going to die. I was so sick. I didn’t enjoy one minute of that vacay. Best memory would definitely have to be my first trip out of the country. It was to Spain. I had always wanted to leave the country and I finally did for my 23rd birthday. I remember getting to my Airbnb and just crying happy tears. It was the coolest feeling.

========

(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.)