Global Traveller 8th Edition | Page 5

Lisa Weakley Managing Director [email protected] Years in travel industry: 17 years. Desert island disc: Essential travel item: Vampire weekend because it reminds me of the road trip I did from San Francisco to Las Vegas. Portable weighing scales - I can not and never will be able to pack light, especially with two children. Not only do they save you the hefty excess baggage fees, you also know when you have that extra 5kg for duty free! Some favourite destinations: Thailand, San Francisco and Majorca. Trends for 2019 / 2020: I believe there will be continued growth in river cruising, which has exploded in popularity recently. Travellers are seeking to get off the beaten track in destinations like Burma, Vietnam and Cambodia, and want to experience the local culture. The slow travel of a river cruise allows for this. River cruises are also less crowded – with anything from eight to 200 passengers – providing the intimate atmosphere that many holidaymakers are looking for. Dream destination: Japan, from stunning architecture, beautiful cherry blossoms, robot restaurants and talking toilets, I would love to get lost in Japan and enjoy the magic. Top travel tip: Give back to the locals. All inclusive holidays can be fab, but please leave the hotel, eat out one night, buy a traditional craft at the market and absorb the culture of the country you are visiting - respectfully and safely of course!