Who hasn’t looked listlessly out of the window, dreaming of escaping a dreary job and jumping on a plane to discover the world? Not me, my desk is below-ground, but if you’re feeling the call of adventure, luring you to cross oceans and discover new worlds there are certain things you should do first. After all, before you rush out to get your jabs and Jerry McGuire your boss, perhaps it’s worth doing some proper research? Which is where National Geographic Traveller’s London Travel Geeks series comes in.
One of the world’s leading authorities on all things travel, National Geographic have been exploring all corners of the earth for generations. Their glossy enticing magazines are strewn across the coffee tables of dentists the world over, and what they don’t know about travelling isn’t worth knowing. And, excitingly, there’s now a chance to learn more about what they know, find out their tricks and take some expert advice, all before you book that one-way ticket.
Take Australia, for example. It’s bloody massive, so where to start in a country of 3 million square miles? With deserts, coral reefs, towering cities and sprawling rainforests, there’s so much to cover. So on 2nd April it only makes sense to head to sunny Clerkenwell to get the low-down (there’s a word you don’t hear outside of the nineties) on all things Aussie from a panel of experts over a glass of something better than Jacob’s Creek. The informal chats are designed to fit in with busy schedules (they’re only an hour long) and give you a chance to hear from people who really know their stuff, so put that in your billabong and smoke it.
The panel will include Nori Jemil, a travel writer and photographer who has been travelling the length and breadth of the sunburnt country for twenty years and is currently updating the Northern Territory chapter for the Rough Guide to Australia, along with Australia writer and specialist Lyndey Milan, presenter and Australia specialist and Sarah Barrell, an associate editor at National Geographic Traveller. The discussion will be moderated by Farida Zeynalova, a contributing editor at National Geographic Traveller, and promises to be informing and fun.
Australia not your bag and instead fancy yourself downing a bowl of pho in the luscious surroundings of one of South East Asia’s most beautiful countries? Head along to Travel Geeks: Vietnam on 14th May. The panel at the event will reveal the best places to visit, where to get street food and open up hidden gems that you might not get to without a personal recommendation from an expert.
The next date for your Travel Geeks diary: 25th June when they’ll be lifting the lid on Hobbit paradise New Zealand. I’ve literally never met anyone who’s been to New Zealand and not come back an absolute convert, but Travel Geeks will ensure that you get the very best expert advice on everything from fjords and geysers to bungee jumping.
Rounding off the series, on 10th September, Travel Geeks: Latin American food will be offering the very best advice on where to find the most perfect prime steaks in Argentina or the scrummiest ceviche in Lima. Latin American food is taking the world by storm right now, and Travel Geeks’ experts will be able to direct you to all the best bars, street food stalls and restaurants across this varied and vibrant continent.
So before you travel, before you even think about it, National Geographic Traveller’s Travel Geek series is an absolute must, ensuring that you leave perfectly equipped, and arrive ready for the adventure ahead. And even if you’re an armchair traveller, a perpetual window-looker-outer, the series will provide inspiration and, who knows, maybe just enough intrigue to finally make you get a move on.
Check out National Geographic Traveller’s upcoming events here..
Offer: The Handbook members get tickets for just £6.50 (usually £10), drinks & nibbles included.
Get Offer: Click the link below and then apply the code ‘TRAVELHB’ when booking tickets.
London Travel Geeks: Australia – 2nd April
London Travel Geeks: Vietnam – 14th May
London Travel Geeks: New Zealand – 25th June
London Travel Geeks: Latin American Food – 10th September
