Meet the Nomads – Valerie Dawson of This Way to Paradise

Valerie is the blogger behind one of the newest blogs that I’ve been following lately called This Way to Paradise. This would probably the only travel blog that I know of that focuses on beaches and island travels. But of course val also shares her experience and insights on other destinations. If you’re a beach fanatic like me then you should bookmark her blog.

Val also writes about food and very helpful travel tips that you should also check out. Val aspires of creating a life that will help her travel full-time by next year. Get to know more about Valerie and visit her blog at This Way to Paradise.

But before you leave this page, check out my short interview with Valerie.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“I went on a journey to Europe on my own when I was 22. From that very first trip, I learned how exciting travel can be.”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“Getting violent food poisoning in Cuba. The clinic wasn’t supposed to treat me because I was a foreigner. But, my body was so dehydrated that it was shaking. So, they hid me in a back room and hooked me up to an IV so that I wouldn’t die.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

“Going to Bali. It’s so exotic and the people are so happy there. I love everything about Bali. The smell of incense, the offerings, the food, the rice paddies. I am going back in two weeks.”

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?
“That no matter how long you travel, you will never discover everything.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“The new things that I discover. The people that I meet who become good friends. I love how the days aren’t routine when I’m traveling. I wake up everyday thinking, anything can happen today!”

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“Alice Waters-she could be my chef!”

Where’s your favorite place in this planet and why?

“Any beach…I love everything about the ocean…the sound of the waves, salt water, the smell of the ocean, swaying palm trees…show me the way to the beach.”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveler?

“Don’t plan too much. Be spontaneous.”

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

“Got to talking to my best friend so much that neither of us realized that we had been carried away by a rip tide. All of a sudden three locals were surrounding us in their kayaks and we looked around and realized we were REALLY far out in the ocean…”

How do you keep yourself safe on your travels?

“I carry a safety alarm and am very alert to my surroundings.”

What do you think about yourself?

“I am adventurous, amusing to watch, I don’t have it as all together as people think I do, and I’m pretty funny, too.”

“My blog is a guide to the best islands and beaches and details my own personal experiences that I’ve had in some pretty magical paradise places…” – Valerie Dawson of This Way to Paradise

Photo Credits: All pictures are provided by Val.

Next: Alana Morgan of The Paper Planes Blog Previously: Ian Yacobucci of Borderless Travels For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.