Travellers’ Tales – Meet Janine Good from Fill My Passport

Meet Janine Good from Fill My Passport

I created the “Travellers’ Tales” section to give other travellers an opportunity to talk about their travels. Today I would like to introduce you to Janine, a travel blogger based in Toronto, Canada. She blogs at Fill My Passport.

I would love to hear about your travels too. Go to “Travellers’ Tales” , fill in the quick questionnaire and email it to me with your blog links.

Read about Janine’s travels here,

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

My Name is Janine Good and I am the owner and publisher behind Fill My Passport – a travel resource with city guides, travel tips, and Disney planning information. I am a journalist with specializations in print and editing and have yet to find a cupcake I do not like.  I have travelled to 40 countries and am always adding additional places to my ever-growing bucket list.

First Date in Paris

2. What is your earliest travel memory?

My first travel memory that I can remember was my first flight by myself at age 4! My parents were heading to California from Toronto and the family friends who were babysitting me lived in Soult Ste. Marie Ontario – 8 hours drive away. My parents were able to send me to the Soult on a flight with the flight attendants watching me. My parents were a nervous wreck, but I remember enjoying the experience immensely as I talked freely to the man from Thunder Bay sitting beside me and the lady behind me who retrieved my colouring book that fell behind my seat.

3. Where was your last holiday?

We just returned in February from 10 weeks abroad. We started in the USA on a road trip to Florida, then flew from Miami via LA to Australia for 7 weeks, and capped it off with a week in New Zealand.

4. What was the best thing you did there?

In Florida – The Very Merry Mickey Christmas Party at Disney World – the most magical experience ever
In Australia – The Australia Zoo – I loved Steve Irwin’s legacy being kept to life in a park he would be proud of
In Queenstown New Zealand – So many things to choose from, but the horse trekking would have to be my favourite experience.

5. What was your best holiday ever? Why?

I went on a 5-month sabbatical in 2013 to explore the world, and more importantly myself. On the second leg of the trip, I did a 6-week tour of Europe. It was on this trip that I met my future husband and we spent such an incredible time together. In those 6 weeks, our time spent in the Greek Islands of Ios and Santorini were some of the best in my life. I would also say my birthday trip to NYC tied for first as I got engaged on Brooklyn Bridge!

6. What is your favourite travel destination?

This is so tough as every continent is different. You cannot compare Asian countries to European in my mind. So I am going to be more methodical and say my favourite travel destinations are those where there is a connection with the traveller and the place. Where you integrate with the locals and find mutual harmony. You forget you are a visitor and immerse yourself in the culture and way of life. If I do not find this ultimate comfort, I wouldn’t consider it a favourite travel destination.

7. What must one do there?

Integrate with cultures, explore new things, try the signature foods, and be kind to the environment and the people.

8. Who is your favourite travel companion/s?

My husband. We met while travelling, the ultimate test of a truly workable relationship. If you can burp and laugh at yourselves, than you really are a perfect match.

9. Name one item you must have when travelling.

Practicality – Toothbrush. I am an oral hygiene freak. I practically have anxiety if I run out of floss.

Silliness – My Fraggle Rock Puppets Mokey and Wembley. I photobomb them wherever we go.

10. Your best travel advice?

Stay poised and relaxed. Do your research. Don’t be afraid to accept the quirkiness and just marvel at the different worlds within our one world.

11. The one place you want to visit before you die?

There are so many, but #1 at this moment are Japan and French Polynesia - tied for first.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

12. Any embarrassing travel moments?

I was staying at a friend’s house in England who offered to take my hubby and I on a nice day trip to Stratford Upon Avon to see Shakespeare’s birthplace. He then says to us “ we will also go and see Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.”
My Response to my friend: “Oh really!? I didn’t know she owned a cottage in the UK. I thought she just had a house in the USA.”
My friend just laughed and said “Umm… Anne Hathaway was William Shakespeare’s wife. Not the Devil Wears Prada Actress.”

Let’s just say I wanted to crawl under the bed for mistaking a British iconic wife to an American Actress.

13. How can people connect with you?

Fill My Passport

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fillmypassport06/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fillmypassport6

Thank you, Janine, for sharing your fascinating travels with us!

I would love to hear about your travels too. Go to “Travellers’ Tales”, fill in the quick questionnaire and email it to me with your blog links.

Who will I feature next? I’ve got an exciting line-up ahead. Make sure you subscribe to the free newsletter so you don’t miss out on some exciting travel tales.