About

Hi!

I’m Marc. I’m an American, currently living in Michigan. And while I love to travel and take photos, I didn’t quit my job and sell everything to devote myself to that full-time.

Nope. I work, so that I can travel and buy photo equipment. And I have to plan my travel around days off work. But that’s actually okay, because I like my job, and I do like having a place to come home to after exploring the world.

Want to know more? Keep scrolling.

A Little about My Travel Style

For me travel isn’t really about relaxing or getting away from work. It’s more about experiencing something extraordinary. I actually like to come back exhausted. Things I prioritize when I travel:

Amazing sights and experiences. The sun rises and sets everywhere. I want to see it rise and set somewhere amazing. Wonders of nature. Archaeological sites. Snorkeling. Hiking. All of those combined.
Photo opportunities. Being there and seeing it for myself is awesome. Having photos and video that let me relive it when I’m back home are equally important to me. I even include the occasional selfie as proof I was there. And given that the light is generally best around sunrise and sunset, I plan around daylight.
Interacting with locals. Depending on where I am, this can range from a cultural experience to just getting some insights into the area.
Local food. I consider myself quite adventurous when it comes to food. I love to dive into the local cuisine. I can eat American food when I get back home.
Maximizing my time and value. Traveling can be expensive, so I want to get the most out of my adventures. For me that means:

Thorough advance planning. That doesn’t mean I don’t allow time for spontaneity. I’ve actually found that planning in advance let’s me be more spontaneous.
Balanced accommodations. I don’t travel to spend a ton of time in a hotel, so I make calculated trade-offs when it comes to accommodations. For example, I’ll prioritize location over amenities.
Strategic splurging. I’m a bit of a miser. However, I allow myself to splurge on things (generally experiences) that I know I will regret not doing. A trip can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The additional amount I had to budget for skydiving, a hot air balloon ride, a helicopter ride, an exclusive guided tour, etc. is worth it to me.
On the go non-stop (almost). I don’t do a lot of lie-on-the-beach vacations. I get restless. Instead, I pack as much into every day as possible.

My Background

I’m American. I was born in Arizona. My father worked in the US military when I was younger. We moved around a bit; at least more frequently than I think most people do.

Work and school have given me the opportunity to live in a number of countries, including Chile, France, and Thailand. I speak fluent Spanish and French. And I can get by in Thai well enough to order food, ask directions, and make small talk.

I work in Marketing in the automotive industry.

And I’m married and have three children. Sometimes we travel together; sometimes I travel solo.

Another Travel Blog?

I finally decided to start my own blog, because I’ve found so many travel blogs to be useful as I’ve planned my own adventures. So, a big “THANK YOU!” to my fellow travel bloggers.

I couldn’t always find the types of insights I was looking for, so here I am adding my unique approach to travel.

Hope you enjoy it.