Vacationer of the Week: Brandon Schultz

Freelance travel and lifestyle writer Brandon Schultz takes center stage for our Vacationer of the Week. We like to pick people who have an incurable wanderlust. Well, Schultz would be the first to admit that he caught the travel bug as a child, born and raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia.

Since 2011, he’s lived in Brooklyn, New York, but don’t ask him for local recommendations because he’s always on the go, traveling every week of the year. That’s what we call living the dream!

Vacationer Magazine connected with Schultz who told us about his childhood hobbies that kept his dream to travel the globe alive. He also revealed his profound excitement for an emerging travel trend as well as his goal to visit the epic travel destination at the top of his travel bucket list. And you won’t believe why listening to music is the last thing he wants to do when traveling. The out-and-proud jetsetter opens up about that and much more! 

Vacationer Magazine: At what age did you receive your first passport? What was your first trip? 

Brandon Schultz: No one in my family has a passport, and I didn’t get my own until I spent my junior year of college abroad in Rome, Italy. I was 20 years old and didn’t think I’d ever have the chance to travel again, but now I do it every week.

What trip or travel experience sparked your passion for travel? 

I’ve wanted to spend my life traveling since I was very young, probably because I never really got to do it. My family had no interest in travel, and we didn’t even take summer vacations. My grandmother recently told me that I wished it was a job and she told me I should try to find a way to get paid for it when I grew up. 

I don’t remember that conversation or ever thinking about making it a career, but I did manage to do that! I used to design imaginary road trips, send away for free brochures from tourism boards and hotels, and collect anything that had country or state names on it because that’s the closest I could get to going anywhere. 

Please tell us how you identify yourself on the LGBTQIA spectrum. Tell us if how you identify influences the way you travel. If so, how? 

I identify as a gay man, but it doesn’t have a strong impact on how I travel. In the past, I spent a little more time researching how accepting a destination was before heading there, but I grew tired of being closed off from parts of the world just because of who I was. I’m still careful to understand the local population (and sometimes laws) so I don’t get myself into any danger, but I try not to let it limit where I can go at least. 

Is there a travel destination that most queer travelers would think isn’t safe to visit, but you’ve visited and enjoyed it? If so, where? What made it a memorable experience? 

I think it’s important for queer people to know there are safe pockets even in the reddest of red states. Generally, almost any major city will have strong liberal populations and an open mindset, even in the deep South and the Midwest. 

Is there an LGBTQ+ travel trend or mainstream travel trend that you’re excited about?

Food-focused travel isn’t exactly new, but it’s continuing to explode, and I love it. Even all-inclusive resorts are courting chefs with Michelin-starred kitchens, and cruise ships have been upping their game, too. Resorts and ships have long been famous for lackluster dining, so it’s a strong marker of just how critical food has become to travelers. I’m especially excited to see how open-minded people have become toward international cuisines and hyper-local specialties. 

Throughout most of the 20th century, travelers only wanted American and popular European dishes served wherever they went, but now people want to shop at street markets, eat from food trucks or in people’s homes, and get a taste of true culinary heritage. It’s amazing, and it’s forced the industry to sink so much attention and money into offering remarkable food almost everywhere. 

I also think the open-mindedness toward food is indicative of how interested the younger generations are in diversity in general, which is a tremendous relief for queer people, both in travel and just in life.

What are your top three favorite places to visit? Why?

1. Rome will always be my favorite place to return to because it was my first international destination, and I was there for a year. Whenever I’m nearby, I try to stop in for at least a day. It’s overflowing with activity, art, history, restaurants, and eye-popping wonders literally everywhere. For as much time as I’ve spent there, there’s still so much I haven’t seen.

2. New Orleans is my top spot in the US for a quick visit. I’ve even flown down just for lunch and come back to New York directly after (more than once). It’s such a spectacle year-round, and the people there love to have a good time celebrating anything they can think of. The mood is always cheerful and colorful, the queer community is always welcome, the food and music are fabulous, and there’s plenty of intrigue and mystery about the city that’s fun to explore, too.

3. Anywhere in Thailand is worth the visit whenever an opportunity pops up. Thai landscapes are stunning, from mountains to beach; Bangkok is riveting and vibrant; and I don’t think I’ve encountered a people so genuinely intent upon providing exquisite hospitality than the Thai. They pay attention to so many small details in order to present the maximum moment, always. It’s also exceptionally queer-friendly. 

What three places are still on your bucket list to visit? Why?

1. Antarctica is my number one goal right now. It’s the only continent I haven’t visited and, even though it’s become much more accessible to travelers lately, there’s still something so adventurous and intriguing about it. No one owns it. It’s almost completely wild. It’s far, and not the easiest to reach. And it’s tragically shrinking, so it’s a top priority/goal for me. 

2. Madagascar. My father is an amateur herpetologist, so I grew up with reptiles and amphibians running loose in my home, and plenty more in cages, but chameleons were always his favorite and Madagascar is full of so many beautiful ones. I know there isn’t a tremendous travel scene there, but I want to go for the personal connection, especially since my dad won’t travel himself but loves to see the pictures I send of the critters I encounter everywhere. 

3. I know they’re not related, but you only gave me three spots, but I have four goals, so I’m lumping Egypt and India together here because I have to! Ancient history was a major force in inspiring my fascination with the world, so visiting Egypt has been in my heart for as long as I can remember. India is so full of incredible landscapes, gorgeous colors, diverse experiences, and one of my favorite cuisines, so I desperately want to visit. And many times, too, because there are so many cities and regions to experience. 

You’re constantly on the go and traveling during the year. So, what’s one thing you never forget to pack in your suitcase? Any packing advice for newbie jetsetters?

Because nearly all my travel is by air, I’m a firm believer in being as comfortable as possible on the plane. That means I don’t bring a carry-on bag because I don’t want to lug it around the airport or deal with it on the plane, but I stuff a shoulder bag with small pillows. I have pillows for my neck and arms so that I can create a perfect, plush little nest in every plane seat (and never have to touch a neighbor!). They also come in handy on buses, trains, and long car rides once I’m on the ground. 

More practically, I also have an arsenal of pharmaceuticals with me at all times. Motion sickness, allergies, digestive issues, or even gas are not fun when you’re constantly on the go, so I’ve learned to be prepared for all of them, always!

You’re going on a road trip or a long-haul flight. What singer or band is always on your playlist?

You won’t believe this, but I don’t listen to music when I travel (or when I do just about anything). I can sit in a car for 12 hours without any sound and, if I’m on a plane, I just put a movie on and fall asleep. I know I’m an anomaly here, but I generally find music irritating, rather than relaxing or inspiring, when I’m doing anything, including driving or just chilling. 

My only exceptions to this seem to be when I’m cooking or cleaning, and then I’ll just let Spotify take the lead. I know, I know . . . I can’t explain it either. 

You can follow Brandon Schultz as he travels the world on Instagram and Threads!