Sam's early travel memories consist of family journeys to France, Spain and Italy, igniting a passion for exploring new countries and cultures. This sense of wanderlust was further sparked by conversations with his grandmother about her far-flung adventures to Kenya, Sri Lanka and China. After university, Sam spent two months exploring Southeast Asia, where he celebrated Songkran with monks in Chiang Mai and stayed with a local family on a floating house in the Mekong Delta. His travel career began during the seven years he lived in New Zealand. This antipodean location provided the opportunity to experience everything from the beauty of the Southern Alps to the gin-clear waters of the Cook Islands. Sam’s attention is now on Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, where he crafts hypnotic journeys brimming with culture and adventure.
How long have you worked in travel?
About 10 years now.
What do you never travel without?
Noise cancelling headphone for flights and an eye mask. They are a huge help with getting some shut eye.
What would you wish you had with you if you were stranded on a desert island for six months and why? You can choose a luxury and something practical.
For something luxury, maybe a really good camera so I would have some photos if I ever got rescued. And a water purification kit for something practical.
If you could travel with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
My son. He is only six years old but has an amazing curiosity about the world and his bucket list is already longer than mine!
What is your most memorable travel moment?
Discovering Japan for the first time with my wife. I completely fell in love with the culture and people and would return every year if I could.
What was your worst travel disaster?
Getting sick on a bus from Vientiane to Hanoi and spending three days being very unwell when I got there.
If you hadn’t worked in travel, what would you have liked to have done?
Anything in Formula One! To travel around the world following and working at the races would have been a dream come true.
If you could retire to anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
New Zealand. My wife is a Kiwi and two of my children were born there. It’s such a spectacularly beautiful place and the pace of life is very gentle.
Favourite book(s) and why?
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre. I love a spy thriller, and this is one of the best.
