I've had the pleasure meeting travel TV host Samantha Brown about ten years ago when I was but a fledgling writer starting out at a local women's magazine. If I recall correctly, she was in Malaysia to promote her new Asia-based series for Astro's TLC channel (okay, I do remember a lot of details). During the obligatory Q&A session at the press conference, I remember her warm personality always accompanied by her infectious smile as she answered questions with the excitement of a new traveller. It was inspiring.
Never mind all those travel vloggers that popped up all over social media in the past five years. Samantha Brown was one of the OG travel host and in an interview with Travel+Leisure recently, she wants us to focus on the most important part of travel - the people.
"There’s no sentiment like, “this destination is canceled and we’re not going back.” It’s just a matter of postponing"
Like many of us, Samantha has had to put trips on hold for a while due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but she remains hopeful. When it comes to rescheduling locations for her travel show, Places to Love, she said there’s no sentiment like, “this destination is canceled and we’re not going back.” It’s just a matter of postponing — which is exactly what she recommends for your travel plans.
“Play it month by month,” Samantha says. If you already have something planned for this summer, hold off on canceling until you get more information. If you want to plan an upcoming vacation, “get a travel agent — they become your advocate — or start calling these businesses yourself and say, we’d love to come but we can’t put down a deposit and risk it going away.” A little due diligence goes a long way, and it’s best to just reach out and talk to the hotels or tour operators you're considering.
“Get a travel agent — they become your advocate — or start calling these businesses yourself and say, we’d love to come but we can’t put down a deposit and risk it going away.”she advises.
This unprecedented situation is anxiety-inducing and stressful, but there are signs of hope and support happening for the travel industry and its workers. Samantha noted that people are “exploring their own neighborhoods, they’re caring about their own local businesses, and in turn that is the travel economy.” By supporting our own communities, we sustain them, ensuring that one or three or six months from now, we have local restaurants, shops, and experiences that we can continue to share with the world.
“The travel industry boils down to people — mom and pop businesses, small little shops — and that’s who we want to protect. And that’s what we do when we travel, we protect local economies,” she said. “Think local, and soon you’re going to be able to act global.”
While filming for her show is on hold, Samantha is spending time at home with her family, finding the balance that so many parents are searching for as they switch to a work-from-home lifestyle. She’s keeping her kids busy with outdoor walks, PBS Kids shows, and Storyline Online — a website where SAG actors read children’s books.
As soon as this is all over, Sam says she’s heading to the coast of Maine, where her mother lives. “I turned 50 [last week], and my mom has been making me the same meal for like 35 years. We’re going to miss this year, but as soon as I can, I’m traveling to Maine, and she’s going to make it for me.”
"This is my favorite photo. I’m in Malaysia at a village of the Orang Asli (original people). It's customary to bring them something from the main town and so I brought apples. The children were extremely shy and very inquisitive about the color of my hair. Our guide and interpreter told me they had never seen blond hair before. I told him to tell them that it doesn’t run in my family either! I love this photo for the children’s faces each one of them is fully engaged in a wonderful exuberant expression." - Samantha Brown
For all your travel needs be it local or international, Sedunia Travel is right there with you ready to help you plan as soon as things get better. For more information and to start planning your travel dreams, check out https://www.seduniatravel.com.
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