Today I have for you all my final interview for 2020. A HUGE thank you to all who have participated this year in this series, I hope that you all enjoyed partaking and I’m sure you, the reader, enjoyed reading and meeting such exceptional travel bloggers (and vloggers). Will I do more in the future? Undoubtedly I will. Probably early February I’m hoping to get a new round of interviews going in 2021. If you are a travel blogger or vlogger and would like to be virtually interviewed, please hit me up. andyjamesb75@gmail.com is the email address you want!

But onto the final interview, with the amazing John Polley from Salsa World Traveler. John runs an exceptional blog and manages to post most days if not every day which I know is not easy. He’s a huge fan of flying and airlines too and an accomplished photographer. His blog has a little for everyone from experiences, reviews and photos. And here’s my interview with him!

1.      Hi John! Thanks for agreeing to do this interview. Would you mind starting by telling us who you are and where you’re from!

I am a retired lawyer and human resources executive. I live in Charlotte, NC.  These days I don’t do much when not blogging because of the pandemic.  No travel.  I like going for walks.

2.   When did you start your blog and why did you decide to start a travel blog? Why did you decide to call it ‘Salsa World Travel’?

I started in 2015 and can’t believe its been five years.  The name Salsaworldtraveler came from the fact that I like Latin dancing and salsa was my favorite Latin dance t the time.  Worldtraveler comes from all of the travelling I used to do.  In 2014 and a few years after that I flew about three to four hundred thousand butt in seat miles per year. A travel blog kept me busy and was also a good way to chronicle my travels.

3.  What do you like to write about and why? 

I used to post about flight, hotels and places of interest and things to do at the destinations I visited.  That’s all changed and now I write about topics related to travel.
 

4.  What have been some of your favourite destinations?

Thailand is probably my favorite destination.  The people are great and it is relatively inexpensive once you get there.  Other destinations include Tibet and Everest Base Camp and a 40-hour train trip from Beijing to Lhasa, Cape Town (cage diving with white sharks) and Kruger National Park, Easter Island, Cebu, Philippines (swimming with whale sharks) and Machu Picchu.

5.      Who do you see as the audience for your blog?  

Anyone who likes travel, flying or adventure.

6.  What advice would you give to someone just starting out blogging? 

Blog for the love of what you are doing not to make money.

7.  What is the hardest thing about running a travel blog? 

No travel.  When I’m travelling it is hard sometimes to make time to blog.

8.  How has your world changed due to Covid-19?  What restrictions are in place where you are right now?  

Things have totally changed because I’m not travelling to stay safe and because not many countries are admitting Americans.

Here restrictions I’m most familiar with are the ones limiting indoor dining.  Restrictions in the U.S. very widely by state and even city and are changing constantly as the level infections fluctuates. 

9.  What are your favorite planes to fly and why? 

My favorites are 747s (400 or 800 models) and 787s (9 or 10 models).  Delta has stopped flying 747s but its 747-400 upper deck was the best business class cabin in the sky – only 14 seats arranged 1-1.  The 747 looks like the Queen of the Skies.  I love 787s primarily because of the electronically dimming windows, which is the biggest difference with the A350.

10.  And equally, about your favorite airlines and why? 

Qatar Airways is my favorite airline to fly because it has the best business class seat and service and its lounges are great especially the first class lounge in Doha.  Other favorites are ANA, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines, Cathay Pacific and China Southern because of their service.  Alaska Airlines is my favorite U.S. airline because of its frequent flyer program.  

11.  What place would you really like to visit and why? 

Antarctica because it is the only continent I have not visited and the scenery and wildlife are amazing.  I would also like to visit Nigeria, Egypt and many other countries in Africa.

12.  I’ve also noticed you seem to be a big fan of Thailand and SE Asia.  What keeps you coming back to this brilliant part of the world – or in 2020 at least keeping an eager eye on it! 

I keep coming back because this area is so different and so far away from what I’m used to.  The cost of living is relatively low and once there flights to other places in the region are also cheap.

13.  Please recommend three post from your blog you would like other people to read and why. 

Tough to narrow down to three.

Everest Base Camp – Tibet, Fall 2018 Trip Report

Everest Base Camp – Tibet, Fall 2018 Trip Report review of tour from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tibet including accommodations, Rongbuk Monastery, sunset and nig…

Delta’s Worst Business Class Seat – Trip Report And Future Plans – Delta One 767-300ER Detroit, MI (DTW) to Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS)

Delta’s Worst Business Class Seat – Trip Report And Future Plans – Delta… report of Delta 767-300ER flight from Detroit to Amsterdam including business class seat, seat controls and feat…

Free Shijuku Walking Tour Review – Tokyo, Japan. You Can Experience It Without Going To Japan

Free Shijuku Walking Tour Review – Tokyo, Japan. You Can Experience It… review of Shinjuku Kabukicho attractions location and free walking tour with Golden Gai

Etihad Airways A380 First Class – Abu Dhabi (AUH) to New York, NY (JFK) — The First Class Apartment!

Etihad Airways A380 First Class – Abu Dhabi (AUH) to New York, NY (JFK) … Review of Etihad first class apartment seat and service including on-board shower on flight from Abu Dhabi to Ne…

I selected these posts as examples of flight reviews and some of the things I like to do at destinations.  Everest Base Camp is a real bucket list item.

Finally, how can people find you on the net and social media?

https://wordpress.com/view/salsaworldtraveler.com and twitter @johnpolley1 

15.  Finally (again!) what are you hoping or dreaming for in 2021? 

I hope the pandemic ends and people are healthy worldwide.  I also hope that Donald Trump is not president.  

Thanks for the opportunity to participate in this project.  Let me know if you need anything else and also what the plans are for using this information.  

Stay safe and healthy!

A HUGE thanks to John for this interview! And to all who participated in 2020. Thanks for reading and May the Journey Never End!