Meet Whitney Simmons
@WorldWideWithWhit
Tell us how you got started.
Growing up in the Bronx, New York, I never imagined traveling the World. As I got older and connected with more people and some of my family members, I learned that there is such a beautiful place outside of America that I needed to explore on my own. So I became curious and wanted to see for myself!
How does traveling make you feel?
Traveling makes me feel complete. It gave me the opportunity to learn things about myself that I did not know existed. It challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone and become open to meet wanderers like myself.
Where did you receive your 1 st passport stamp?
I received my first official stamp in the Dominican Republic.
Other than your passport what is one thing you cannot travel without?
I cannot travel without my portable charger. Because I travel solo often, and use my phone for navigation, and research, my phone cannot go dead. The first thing I look for next to my phone is always my charger.
A time something went wrong while traveling and how was it resolved?
Whew. I literally have a story almost every trip lol. While leaving Brazil, to return back to Colombia, we were denied boarding because we did not have a yellow fever vaccine. The catcher is you do not need the vaccine to enter Colombia or Brazil it is only recommended. But if you are going from Brazil to Colombia it is REQUIRED. Because of my lack of knowledge, we missed our connection to Peru and had to purchase a new ticket to get home. The amazing part is I received all my money back for the remainder of my trip itinerary and filed a claim with my travel insurance company for a refund.
Describe to us your ideal travel companion.
It took me a while to figure out a good combination but I think I have found my travel tribe. My ideal travel companion is someone who is fun, adventurous and open to trying something new, but also knows when it is nap time. They cannot be cheap and must make sure there funds are intact before our departure. I create budget friendly trips for myself, so if there are any outrageous prices, I am good about communicating information ahead of time. You cannot be a constant complainer. I will allow you one time to complain and that’s it. Lastly, lets create lasting memories and stories to laugh about in the future.
Have you ever traveled solo? If so, where to? Is solo travel your preference?
I took my first solo trip in January 2018 to Iceland. I was so afraid and nervous and even opted to stay in my first hostel. That trip was such a humbling and amazing experience. I was challenged to step out of my comfort zone and interact with complete strangers. I met some amazing women and fellow solo travelers. Since then, I’ve traveled to Spain and Portugal solo. I vowed to take one solo trip per year to allow myself to reflect on life and get to know myself better. I prefer to travel with a very small group of maybe 1-2 people because I believe it’s always better to share your travel memories with some pretty dope people.
To my new travelers: There is so much in this world for you to see and explore. Never be afraid to travel by yourself and think you have to wait on someone. Travel does not always have to be expensive. If you plan accordingly, I promise you can plan a trip that does not cost thousands of
dollars like you may think. And lastly, live free because you will only regret the places you didn’t travel to and leave your footprints. For more, check out my website: www.WorldWideWithWhit.com
What do the words Crowned And Cultured mean to you?
When I think of the words I think about our black kings and queens exploring the world and embracing the many cultures of the different people we encounter in every country.
