Point of View

Window or aisle?

I’m a window guy. I love seeing the world from up high – watching landscapes shift as you travel to far-flung destinations and being aware of the act of travelling, moving itself.  And there’s still something special about being above the clouds.

 

Sunrise or midnight wander?

Midnight wander. I am a night owl, and I find the true culture of a place comes to life after dark – families reunite after days at work and school, life spills out of restaurants and bars. Getting off the beaten path, exploring come the night, everything takes on a different perspective than during the day. 

 

What’s your personal non-negotiable on a solo trip?

Time without structure. So much of life is lived by a schedule, I like to find the time when travelling alone to just be and find that balance. I love learning and exploring, meeting locals and understanding a destination. However, there is beauty in waking up some days with no reservations, no plans, just the chance to experience where I am and make decisions as I go.

 

A place that changed you either quickly or slowly?

Croatia and its network of islands. And it’s done it slowly. I fell in love with Croatia back before we first founded our company, Unforgettable Croatia. It’s more than a business though, it’s a true love affair. Croatia’s laid-back way of life, and philosophy of ‘fjaka’, the art of doing nothing. There is a distinct rhythm to life in Croatia, tied to the sea, to long meals shared with others, to sitting back and passing an afternoon with ease. It takes on a different pace. With more than 1,200 islands to explore, there is always something different calling you back to Croatia. 

 

Where does apprehension sit for you when you travel? In the front or the back seat?

In the back seat. Life is too short to be apprehensive in anything we do. Be bold, be brave – life tends to reward the ones that take a chance. Solo travel can seem daunting, but so often when you travel alone you are actually more open to experience what is around you, and apprehension quickly slips away. 

 

What’s underrated about travel?

I have travelled extensively to more than 100 countries. While I love the thrill of discovering somewhere and something new, I have found beauty in repetition that surprised me. Returning to a place time and time again, the familiarity you can take from this – you form relationships with locals, learn intimate details about the place. It is when a place starts to feel layered, personal, almost yours. The first visit is about discovery, but the second is about understanding. 

 

Train? Plane? Boat? Coach? Or Car?

It’s got to be a boat. Seeing the world from the water is an alternative way of seeing the world. Carving your path through the water, taking in coastlines from a different view, arriving slowly having earned it on the journey. I find by boat, this journey is just as much an adventure as the destination itself. I think it’s part of the reason that our small-ship Croatia cruises resonate so much with our guests. 

 

What does responsibility to a solo traveller mean to you?

It means making sure that everything works seamlessly so that they can focus entirely on the experience and not worry about the logistics. When someone travels alone, every detail matters more, because there’s no one else to buffer it.ily, art classes, and private guides. This allows my clients to meet people and interact, but it also allows them independence.

 

If you could gift every solo traveller one thing, what would it be?

I’d put aside physical items and give the gift of confidence. Of self-belief that they can keep exploring the world, becoming braver and bolder with every day they spend on their journeys. We shouldn’t have to wait to find a travel ‘buddy’ to fulfill our own travel dreams. 

 

Finish this sentence: The world looks different when I walk through it alone because … I’m less distracted by what is around me. Instead, I have the chance to notice places, people and the small details that together form the uniqueness of every destination.