A Conversation with Lee Abbamonte — TripIt Blog
Likely Places is a new collection from TripIt that highlights regular tourists to showcase their special journey variations and insider strategies.
For earth-record holder Lee Abbamonte, picking where by to travel to subsequent is not only about the spot, it’s also about choosing how to get there, who to invite, the time of yr, and weighing variables like: ought to he spend points and miles, or funds? Does he want to lease a automobile, or count on journey shares?
All of these components make any difference when you’ve presently visited each country in the world—and you’re the youngest American to at any time do so.
Of program, there are myriad other variables to contemplate when touring in the course of a pandemic. “Before COVID-19, I would vacation internationally to 30 or more countries per calendar year,” shared Lee. “Due to the uncertainty close to journey constraints, I took just three intercontinental excursions in the previous two years. But, in the meantime, I have traveled a ton much more domestically—and thought about what is up coming on my bucket record.”
So, what are those people bucket-record destinations at the major of his checklist? “Tripoli, Libya and Socotra, an island off the coast of Yemen.”
Lee is no stranger to finding off the crushed route when he travels—even if achieving his spot necessitates a number of makes an attempt.
“My beloved place I have ever frequented is the South Pole. It’s so exceptional, so difficult to get to, and so couple of people have accomplished it,” he said. “My to start with expedition in 2013 failed the conditions just weren’t appropriate for us to finish the excursion.”
But Lee had his eye on the prize, and the up coming year, he was able to full his expedition.
Stats on stats on stats
Although not just about every vacation can be as unforgettable as traveling to the South Pole, when you have visited every nation, U.S. condition, countrywide park, baseball stadium—and the North Pole, for that matter—you nevertheless want to maintain keep track of of just about everywhere you have been.
So, how does Lee continue to be on leading of his earlier and future travels? “TripIt, of class! I’m a stats nerd, so naturally, I am obsessed with TripIt’s Journey Stats aspect,” he explained.
Lee also employs TripIt to keep all of his journey bookings and affirmation quantities in one particular position.
“I use TripIt—religiously—to develop itineraries for all my outings. From tee occasions to cafe reservations to tours, I rely on the app to keep me structured. In addition, it’s just so pleasurable to appear at to see what I’ve planned, and the place I have been.”
Skilled recommendations for dream trips
Utilizing TripIt to keep structured apart, Lee shared some other guidelines for fellow travelers.
To start with up, exactly where to go: “Africa, in common, but the nation of Namibia, specially. It’s a beautiful state with huge-open spaces, gorgeous beaches, and subtle towns. It is an below-the-radar spot I just can’t recommend adequate,” he said.
As for recommendations on how to get there (or anyplace)? “It will come back again to weighing those distinctive variables. Think about what helps make much more sense for your travel budget—do you want to reserve with cash, or do you have factors and miles to use to help you offset expenses? Do you want to devote cash to rent a automobile for a 7 days, or can you get around on general public transit or ride shares?”
Lee also advised comparison purchasing, i.e., not scheduling the very first flight or lodge choice you discover. “Shopping around for your flights and accommodations can help you save you hundreds of pounds,” he claimed. “And when you do make a decision on a flight, use TripIt Pro’s Fare Tracker function to come across out if the rate of your airfare drops right after you’ve booked.”
Lee’s also a huge admirer of leveraging the sharing economic climate when he travels.
“The sharing financial state has improved the way we vacation,” he reported. “Whether it is holiday rentals, like Airbnb, or journey-share programs—these possibilities give you more overall flexibility to help save funds, making travel a lot more affordable and available.”
His remaining idea? “When it comes to travel, there’s absolutely nothing to it but to do it,” he quipped.
Indeed, Lee is an inspiration to all of us vacationers to go following our vacation goals, be persistent when a approach does not work out the to start with time, and to mirror on where we’ve been—whether it is with the assist of vacation stats, snaps, or anything else.
Want to retain up with Lee’s long term travels? Observe him on Instagram and Twitter to see wherever he’s off to subsequent (hint: palm trees are certainly on the horizon!).