Interview with John Golicz – CEO and Founder of the Travel & Adventure Show

John Golicz is the Founder and Creator of The Travel & Adventure Show Series.  It’s largest series of travel shows in the United States, appearing in seven major cities each year.

After selling his high tech company, John started Unicomm LLC and launched his first travel show 13 years ago  in New York with 26,000 people in attendance.  John loved travel and knew that there were shows for travel agents and the business side of travel, but none for travel enthusiasts.

Since its start, the Travel & Adventure show has expanded into top markets including San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, D.C. Dallas, and Philadelphia.

The Travel & Adventure shows aim to educate and inspire people to find, plan, book and take their dream trips.  It was great speaking with John about his favorite destinations, recommendations for places with awesome foods and drinks and his best travel tips.

St. Maarten

In all of his travels, John says St. Maarten is amongst is favorite places for food and drinks due to the Dutch and French influences.  There are great beach restaurants, including Sunset Beach Bar, which is on the beach and right next to the landing strip at the airport (If you’re wondering, his drink recommendation is a painkiller!)  On the French side is Grand Case, which is a beach town full of shops and restaurants.

One of my favorite tips of John’s and a best kept secret is to stop on the side of the road for great home-cooked and authentic meals.  I’ve done this before throughout my travels and they tend to be the best meals.

Nantucket

John recommends taking a boat from Montauk to Nantucket.  There are lots of restaurants, so it’s a great place to people watch, order a grapefruit with raspeberry vodka and seltzer and enjoy the harbor breeze.

Additionally, The Pearl Restaurant has an excellent Szechwan pan seared lobster with a heavy eastern influence.  Sounds delicious!

European River Cruising

There are so many options to cruise iconic European cities, but if you do decide to take a cruise, private walking tour and double decker bus tours are great ways to see the cities.  Additionally, strip malls have most authentic and affordable foods.  (Who knew?!)

If the Travel & Adventure Show comes to a city near you, I highly recommend checking it out.  Thanks to John and his team for assembling such a great event for people who enjoy travel just as much as I do.  I’ll definitely be at next year’s DC show!

Want more expert tips from travel insiders? Check out John’s latest venture: 1000TravelTips.com.

What to Say to Your Family and Friends Who Think You Travel Too Much

Love to travel? Take trips often? Well, if you’re like me you do.  And you’ve probably had to deal with people in your life who don’t understand why your travel schedule consists of so many trips per year. Your family and friends have likely said one or more of the following:

• “You travel too much!”
• “When are you going to stop traveling and settle down?”
• “You just love spending money on travel!”
• “You’re always going somewhere and you never ask me to go!”

Been there? Yeah, me too.  And my tolerance for negativity is pretty nonexistent these days.  So here are my suggestions for what to say to the naysayers in your life:

1. “I’ll travel as much as I want.  Mind your business.”

I always wonder why people feel the need to comment on my travel schedule.  There’s nothing wrong with having traveling as a hobby.  (Feel free to add that last part at your own discretion.)

2. “Who says I’m not settled?”

People think that because you travel, you aren’t settled in your life or career when that may be the furthest thing from the truth.  As J.R.R. Tolkien said, “Not all those who wander are lost.”

3. “Don’t worry about how I spend my money.”

Some people buy cars, shoes and purses.  I buy travel.  I’m not saying one is better than the other (well, actually…I am), but everyone has their own priorities.  As long as your responsibilities are taken care of, continue traveling as much as your heart desires.

4. “Let me know when you’re ready to go somewhere and we’ll plan a trip.”

This one is a little tricky.  People always say they want to come on my next trip but the fact of the matter is, I don’t want to travel with everyone. No shade.  Most people aren’t serious about traveling with me anyway, so I just leave the ball in their court with the hope that they don’t call my bluff.

While some people may be envious of what seems like a lot of travel, there are downsides that people don’t see.  I’ve missed family gatherings, baptisms, graduations, and every thing in between.  But right now, my priority in my life to the fullest, and I’ll travel just as much (or little) travel as I want.

What have been some things your family and friends have said to you? How do you handle it? Chime in below!