What makes a slip a true adventure ? We require Jamie McDonald ( better recognize as Adventureman ) for advice on how traveler can ensure their next vacation is an unforgettable experience .
Adventureman is a record-breaking adventurer. From cycling 14,000 miles between Bangkok and Gloucester, UK, to running 5,000 miles across Canada, he’s redefined what it means to travel. Not only have his record-breaking trips garnered international attention, but he’s also raised more than £1 million for charity and continues giving back to sick kids in need. Recently he partnered with Travelport, and together they set a new world record — the fastest time to visit the new Seven Wonders of the World, achieved in less than seven days.
So we figured we’d ask him what travelers should know before embarking on an epic adventure:
What is your advice for someone who would like to travel more but doesn’t know where or how to start?
Start with something that sound fun to you ! When Travelport approached me about trying to set a world record , visiting the Seven Wonders of the World in the fast time ever , I thought , That go awe-inspiring . I love to visit new places and have incredible experiences , but I also have my class at home , so get to visit seven land and still be home in less than a week was the perfect balance for me .
What is a travel hack you wish more people knew about?
Work with a travel agent ! I know it seems like we have all of this information at our fingertips and we can just hold everything ourselves , but working with a professional make all the difference . For theSeven Wonders Challenge , Travelport connected me to one of their many traveling way married person , Travelbag . I had round - the - clock access to a dedicated Travelbag consultant who could tag germinate locomotion restrictions , identify schedule changes , and even make tweaks to my travel guidebook in real sentence , like when I missed a flight . I was able to get at Travelport ’s Trip Manager feature on the go , so I could add up extra like airplane repast or make up rump without miss a beat of my journey .
What should people consider when choosing a destination for their next trip?
I recognise I ’m biased , but the Seven Wonders of the World are a great place to start . I bulge my risky venture with Travelport at the Great Wall of China , the universe ’s long human - made structure . I provide via toboggan and direct to India ’s Taj Mahal , the country ’s top tourist goal , which is widely deal a symbol of aeonian making love . From there , I traveled by bus to the ancient metropolis of Petra , whose carved rosebush - red sandstone rock’n’roll frontage , tombs , and temples you ’d recognize from democratic Hollywood films . Departing Jordan , I flew to Rome , Italy , to see its legendary Amphitheatrum Flavium , envisioning ancient gladiator battles , and obviously making time for a quick pizza Hell stop ! Christ the Redeemer , the earthly concern ’s large prowess deco statue , brought me to Brazil , where I was equally in awe of the view from its program as I was of the statue itself . The 6th admiration , Machu Picchu ( an Incan citadel nearly 8,000 feet above sea level in Peru ) , was my best-loved , though . I want to go back one day , and I even buy a stuffed llama miniature for my daughter as a memento . in conclusion , I reached Chichén Itzá , an archeologic site in Mexico that was a sacred place of ceremony in the Mayan culture . So I ’d say one of those seven is a bang-up billet to set out . Go big or go home , correct ?
What is your advice for people looking to step out of their comfort zone?
Try read yes to things . It could be a small step , like trying a newfangled eating place , or a crowing one , like when my friends at Travelport gainsay me to visit the Seven Wonders in less than seven daylight . " Yes " is a witching word .
How do you define a great adventure?
To me , a great adventure always pay back . As a tiddler , I was diagnosed with a rarified spinal circumstance , and Doctor warned that I might lose the power to walk . Through the help of many doctors , hospital , and my household , my wellness ameliorate , and it started me on my lifelong commission of giving back to sick kidskin around the world . A primary focal point of the Seven Wonders Challenge was raising funds for my brotherly love , the Superhero Foundation . To kick - startle fundraising try , Travelport donate $ 22,856 , a dollar sign for every mile that I journey , and I could n’t be more grateful .