10 Quick Travel Questions for Kyle Viljoen from ‘Below Deck Mediterranean’
Kyle Viljoen, the fun and personable Stew on Bravo’s Emmy-nominated series Below Deck Mediterranean, sat down with Vacationer Magazine to spill behind-the-scenes deets about the show, his friendship with Natasha Webb (Chief Stew on the show), the perks of sailing the high seas, and much more!
Viljoen also candidly responded to a few rapid-fire travel questions, and boy, did he have some surprising answers. Find out more about him and his travel style below.
Vacationer: Travel itinerary or go with the flow?
Kyle Viljoen: Itinerary
Travel internationally or domestically?
Internationally
Island resort or 5-star hotel?
Island resort… hands down!
Go somewhere new or somewhere you’ve been before?
Always new
Best movie to watch or book to read during a long-haul flight?
I can’t read. Well, I can but I refuse. I would definitely say anything comedy. I love watching reality so I’d watch RuPaul reruns, Parks and Recreation, or anything that keeps me laughing because it can be daunting traveling; so you want to keep your humor up.
What has been the most interesting item of food you’ve tasted?
Sticky mango rice from Thailand! It’s a collision of everything sweet and savory that I wanted in my mouth, and I’ve had a lot of things in my mouth. Sticky mango rice – go get it right now. Do not purchase it here. Go to Thailand and get it!
Describe your travel personality in three words.
Impatient, adventurous, and party animal
Do you prefer solo travel or traveling with a group?
There’s nothing worse than traveling solo. In my opinion, my personality is way too big for that shit, and I have way too much to say. I’ve traveled solo for five years, and it really reinvents the wheel let me tell you. Anything you thought you knew about yourself, you’re gonna learn some new things today! But going forward – always a group because the people you travel with also make the trip. Travel as a group not only for safety, but you really get to learn a lot about each other.
What’s the best travel advice you’ve received?
Put whatever you know aside wherever you go. Don’t go into a place comparing your culture, your tradition, your upbringing, or your history. Go in there like you’re learning a brand-new thing. Be open and welcoming to new concepts and ideas. Challenge yourself to do something new that’s unique to that country.
I had feline shit from Bali in coffee. I don’t know what it was called, but it was poop that came out of their ass, but it was refined into coffee which was delicious! Putting shit into my mouth was not my first option, but I was open to it.
So, really put everything you know aside and go there with an open mind because that’s how you’re going to learn about that place from the individuals themselves.
Editor’s note: Kopi luwak is coffee made from beans that have been digested by a civet cat. Some Balinese farmers claim it is the best-tasting coffee, but it has received some bad press due to the alleged poor treatment of the cats.
Where would you most like to live in the world?
I’m looking for a dream destination that would be tropical or historical; so, I would be anywhere in Italy – hands down!
I would go to Costa Rica and watch it develop in front of my eyes because that place has so much going on right now. One of the top travel destinations for U.S. travelers is Costa Rica because they’ve opened its arms to the LGBTQ+ community. There is so much to do, and there are so many natural resources available, and I’m surrounded by animals which I really love. It’s one of the places I want to be.
My ultimate dream trip – I would love a global passport with no visa requirements, and I could go wherever I please. I think that would be the ultimate travel goal.
Check out Kyle Viljoen’s full interview here and don’t forget to watch Below Deck Mediterranean airs Mondays at 8 pm ET/PT on Bravo. New episodes will drop one week early on Mondays on Peacock.
