Jody Ellis

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in travel to Italy, France, Spain and other parts of Europe, as well as U.S. destinations that include California (primarily the Bay and Los Angeles), Las Vegas, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"When I was a child, we lived directly under the flight path of a major airport. I watched jets fly overhead daily, and always imagined the amazing places those planes might be going. I started saving my babysitting money and at age 14, started traveling every summer, first to visit friends and family, then on my own to places where I knew no one. My love of travel has never waned, and I enjoyed a career with a major airline for many years before segueing into travel writing. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I used to travel regularly with a group of girlfriends, all of us young and single and full of wanderlust. One of our best trips was Thailand, We hopped a flight on a whim, and spend a week in Bangkok and then Chiang Mai. I remember getting up early and walking the city streets, which is one of my favorite ways to see what a city really looks like, buying breakfast from the street vendors and watching the city come alive. Thailand is a truly beautiful place, and the people there were some of the kindest I've ever met. "