How often do you look at a photo on Instagram of a dreamy location somewhere far away, wishing you were there? And then there are photos of travelers who seem to tick off every place on your bucket list, while you’re sitting at work wondering how they do it! How does one become a fulltime nomad? Is it as romantic as it appears? In this new series called The Vagabonds, we speak with our favorite travel addicts to know more about what got them traveling, what goes into being a year-round wanderer, and lot more so that you can find inspiration in their journeys to step out and fulfill your travel goals.
Yukti Agarwal may be a computer engineer by profession but by heart she’s a traveler. She was bitten by the travel bug when she was just a doe-eyed, curious little girl. Since then she has traveled across Asia, Europe and America and hopes to discover the rest of the world soon. Follow her adventures, and you’ll not discover new places but also come across some great travel tips.
What made you start your own travel blog?
I never thought of blogging seriously. But I am a frequent traveler, so my friends and relatives often seek my advice and tips on specific destinations. One fine day, my friend suggested that I publish these pieces of advice as a blog. This lead to birth of my blog and rest as they say is history.
What is the first trip you remember taking and how old were you?
I remember my first trip to South India with all Temples Tour, when I was in Grade-7. This was my first trip to a tourist destination apart from grandparents’ house and so it was amazing because I got to see all historical, ancient places surrounded by nature. That trip actually cultivated my passion for traveling.
If you had to visit a place again, which one would you choose?
There are many places which I would like to visit again, as all places hold a significant value in my life. But if I have to choose, then Kerala and Mykonos in Greece would be my preference.
Have you been to a place which turned out to be totally different than how you imagined? If so, how was it different?
Georgia was totally different than I’d imagined. I never thought it would be so beautiful and charming because not many people talk about it. I loved the warm hospitality of Georgian people.
Is there a place you’ve been to that left you feeling underwhelmed and why?
I was never so disappointed with any place nor found any place overrated or underwhelming. I think all places are unique. Sometimes we raise our expectations so high, that we find that place disappointing.
Which country stands high on your bucket list at the moment?
Ukraine and Slovenia
Tell us something unexpected but wonderful that happened to you while travelling?
Once in Italy we were stuck in heavy snow with small children. It was night and there was no help nearby. We were helpless in a completely new place. We were literally freezing but all of a sudden 4 youths emerged from seemingly nowhere and took our luggage and dropped us to our hotel. We were apprehensive about the intentions of these unknown people but humanity conquers all doubts. They did not even ask for money. They were God sent!
What do you think are the reasons for your success as a travel blogger that keeps your followers hooked?
The biggest reasons for my success as a travel blogger could be the way of presentation. Many of my followers get hooked because of interesting and customized itineraries and travel plans.
What are some of the mistakes you’ve learnt from (while travelling and /or in your journey as a blogger)?
I’ve learnt that I should’ve focused more on exploring local cultures and experience. I now understand the importance of it. And as a blogger, I think I should’ve focused on it earlier but it’s never too late.
How do you prepare for a trip?
I spend most time researching on booking tickets and hotels or homestays. I think 50% success of trips depends on this. Post that, I focus on the visa applying process, arranging local transport and insurance.
What is the one thing that you find most annoying or frustrating (or both!) about planning a trip?
Applying for a visa and waiting for my passport for 15 to 20 days.
What is the one innovation in the trip planning / travel industry you’d like to see or have been waiting for to help you plan easily?
One innovation which travel industry requires is synchronization of public and local transport. For a newbie understanding local transport after reaching a new destination wastes a lot of time. If there’s an app for all local transportation services and access points to them, like a centralized database, that the traveler can purchase or download and move freely in the city, it’ll be really helpful.
How much time do you spend on planning a trip? Do you plan out all details or are you a spontaneous traveler? Why?
For air tickets and hotel booking I need at least 1 week or two for a 15 days tour. Hotel prices drop and rise, so for getting perfect deal, I keep eye for last minute deals.
Do you have a good travel planning tip you would like to share with us?
A very useful tip is to check the last-minute deals or flash sales from 5-star hotels. Sometimes they are so lucrative and affordable that their rates are actually cheaper than those you’d get by booking much in advance. I’d suggest, cancel previous booking and grab the offer and take the benefit of 24 hours cancellation. Another tip is to ask for airport drop and airport pick-up, because most hotels provide free shuttle service, you just need to ask!
What determines your next destination – your mood, time of year, company or something else?
My mood and time of year.
What is your favorite mode of transport (plane/train/boat/car) and why?
Car! I love road trips because you can explore beautiful and hidden routes. Also you can take pit stops, interact with locals and get a feel of the place.
Where do you get your travel inspiration from – books, magazines, blogs, travel shows, travelogues, social media or somewhere else?
Books and magazines. Sometimes from social media through Instagram.
What are your suggestions to newbies who are looking at building a career in travel blogging?
Show your readers our beautiful world in the simplest way and be true to your followers. Don’t over hype or under hype the place. If your words and photos speak truth then people will love your stories.
Finally, some rapid-fire questions –
- Favorite airline? Emirates
- Favorite country? Apart from India, Greece
- Favorite city? Mykonos
- Favorite beach? Paradise Beach, Mykonos
- Favorite food? Indian cuisine
- Favorite language? My mother tongue – Hindi
And one last question, what’s your next travel destination? If you haven’t planned one yet, where would you like to go next?
Slovakia or Ukraine
Follow Yukti’s adventures on – Website – Instagram – Facebook
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Tags: bucket list Travel stories
