With over 80 countries under his belt and a passion for solo travel, Dave Brett is one of the greatest advocates we know for exploring the world on a backpacker’s budget. So it was only right that we asked him to be one of our very first St Christopher’s Innsiders. The UK travel blogger started his adventures aged just 15, writing about his trips online, initially for his mum to keep tabs on him. Now, containing more than 10 years worth of recommendations, tips and itineraries, Travel Dave is a sure-fire resource for travellers, offering tons of useful advice and endless incredible travel stories that will inspire anyone to explore.
Read on to discover more about Dave, a few words of wisdom and some brilliant snippets of his life on the road through our Innsider interview…
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Interview with Dave Brett
What is your dream destination?
I'd have to go big and say Antarctica. It would be incredible to do an adventure cruise and see penguins in the wild. You have to dream big!
What’s an essential item you never go travelling without?
Noise-cancelling headphones. Listen to some Iron Maiden or tuck into a good podcast or Audiobook. Travel is fun, but at times it can be long. Having some good quality headphones to zone out can make a world of difference on those long journeys. Also handy for those snoring bunk buddies.
What’s the best meal you've ever had on vacation?
You can't beat a Korean BBQ. I love the whole dining experience. You get this charcoal grill that's built into the table, and you grill loads of different marinated meat and vegetable cutlets to your perfection. It's pure heaven. Also, it's rather pleasant and fun to share with locals and friends, perfect for Korean drinking games too!
What’s your best St Christopher's memory/experience?
Apart from the endless Jägerbombs and morning fry ups at Belushi's, it has to be sampling all the different Belgium beers on the menu at the Bauhaus bar. The Bruges hostel is a cosy little find and a great place to visit on your trip to Belgium.
What's your funniest travel story?
I remember when I asked for a large glass of water at a bar in Nepal before I tucked into my breakfast. Moments later a tiny glass of water arrived. I was pretty thirsty and chugged the whole thing. It was at that moment it kicked in that it was a large glass of vodka. That woke me up quickly. The confused look I got from the bar staff when I ordered all started to make sense.
What's the best way to meet people when travelling?
Head to the St Christopher's breakfast buffet in the morning. You can find other solo travellers looking to do something that day. It's the perfect starting point for the rest of the day - unless you're sleeping off a hangover, that is. Start your day off fresh and early with some breakfast and see who you might bump into.
What city will you always happily go back to and why?
Every new country I go to I pick up a fridge magnet. That way, every morning, I can look back at all the fantastic trips I've been to across the world. I'm soon running out of fridge space though.
The best city I've been to which I would love to go back to would be Rio, Brazil. The food, the culture, history and the brilliant bars and nightlife. It's a city that has a lot of character and many different areas to explore. Great city to explore, Rio.
What's your best piece of travel advice?
Travel light. When I started backpacking, I took everything with me. I quickly learned that I didn't need to pack everything and managed to whittle my gear down to hand luggage size. It makes travel much more enjoyable when you're not worrying about all of your stuff.
Follow Dave via his travel blog, Travel Dave , or follow his adventures on Instagram or Facebook
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