Where have you visited?
I was fortunate to grow up travelling extensively with my parents. Having family in Australia meant annual trips there, so it felt only natural to return on my own at 18 and embark on a one-year Working Holiday Visa. Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to visit a wide range of incredible destinations, including the Dominican Republic, the United States, and the UAE. I also had the opportunity to cruise the Indian Ocean, stopping in Mauritius, Seychelles, and Madagascar. Closer to home, I’ve explored much of Europe and beyond, visiting countries such as Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Bulgaria, Poland, Morocco, Egypt, Cape Verde, and Tunisia, as well as several Greek islands, including a period working in Zakynthos. Most recently, I ticked off my top bucket-list adventure: travelling through South America, where I explored Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil—an experience I can confidently say has been my best trip yet.
Can you share a memorable travel moment or adventure?
During my most recent trip to South America, I took a 16-hour bus journey from Uruguay to Iguassu Falls—surprisingly comfortable, all things considered. The falls stretch across both the Argentine and Brazilian borders, which made for a pretty unique day. We had breakfast in Argentina, crossed into Brazil to explore the falls from that side and stopped for lunch, then later that evening crossed the nearby border again to have dinner in Paraguay—three meals in three different countries, all in one day. I couldn’t leave South America without properly experiencing Brazil, so on my last night we made our way up to one of the city’s favelas, where we joined a vibrant local party and danced the night away with the community.
Do you have any insider tips for first-time travellers?
Make an effort to learn basic etiquette and a few key phrases when visiting a new country. Every destination has its own ways of showing respect and appreciation, and this is especially important in places like Uruguay that aren’t major tourist hubs. Simple phrases such as hello, please, thank you, and how are you can go a long way. Even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect, locals genuinely appreciate the effort. And don’t be discouraged if they reply in English—often it’s because they’re keen to practise and don’t get many chances to do so.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Most of my spare time revolves around good company and staying active – whether that’s long countryside walks, Reformer Pilates sessions or trying out new food spots with friends and family. I live close to the City of York which is full of amazing pubs and restaurants, so we are never short of a new place to try.
