This New York bred travel fanatic has been traveling since he was an 18-month-old child. Zach Aarons loves his hometown of New York and shares his admiration by leading several tours of the city. Read more to find out where he’s headed next and why New Orleans is his favorite place to have a good time!
Name: Zach Aarons
Tell us a little about yourself:
I was born and raised in New York City and now I live in Fort Greene, Brooklyn with my wife Camilla who owns a clothing store called Thistle & Clover. I went to Brown University and also studied abroad in Padova and Florence during my tenure in college. I currently work as the CEO of Travelgoat, an online multimedia guide focused on tours of different US cities. I have also been a licensed tour guide in New York City for years and have led hundreds of different themed walking tours for both tourists and locals. I serve as an investor and advisor to many different technology companies specializing in the local guide and travel guide space.
I have been traveling since I was 18 months old and my parents took me to Italy. I usually take about three long trips per year abroad and a bunch of short trips as well around the USA. I have been all over Europe, South America, and North America. I have only been once to Africa, once to the Middle East, and twice to Asia so that is where I want to focus my travels over the next few years.
Favorite city you’ve been to:
My favorite city in the world is definitely New York. I was born there and have lived basically my entire life there; I have no intention of ever leaving. However, for travel my favorite city is London. I try and go every couple of years and each time I return certain things are the same, and certain things are different. I love the Soho neighborhood and the Soho Hotel. That is where I stay when I am in town. I have a few friends there who are always eager to show me the new hot restaurant or an exhibition at the Serpentine or Tate Modern. The food there is international and great. I can also always catch some really good theater in the west end, and sprinkle in a new neighborhood. The city is so large and diverse.
Favorite restaurant:
My favorite restaurant during my travels would have to be La Giostra in Florence. It was our favorite place when we were studying abroad and we went all the time. It was started by a Hapsburg prince named Dimitri who used to cook fabulous meals in the countryside and his friends told him that he needed to open his own place. The place is now run by his son Soldanno, who is a friend of mine and the most eligible bachelor in Florence. They make amazing wild board ragu pappardelle and amazing Florentine steak. A picture of my two best friends hangs in the entryway.
Best place to relax:
I don’t often relax much when I travel because I am so excited about seeing new things. However, the most relaxing place I go is a small town in Provence, France called Vaison La Romaine. My wife’s parents live there during the summer on a beautiful vineyard overlooking the town which has Roman ruins, hence the name. It is so tranquil there I can just sit by the pool for hours, play petanque with my father in law, or drink some of the most delicious Cotes du Rhone wine in the world.
Best place to have fun:
I would have to say New Orleans. I try and go once a year for a long weekend down there. The vibe as soon as you get into the quarter or the marigny is one of pure fun. The food is decadent, the architecture spectacular, and they really know how to have a good time. I am comfortable there going to a super touristy bar on Bourbon Street or going with my aunt who has lived there for a long time to a locals only bar in the Garden District. Everyone there is looking to have fun, drink, listen to great music, and stay out late. It is a great town.
Best trip you’ve ever taken:
Hands down the best trip I have ever taken was my honeymoon. My wife and I went to Australia in October of 2008, right when the financial world was collapsing. We mapped out a trip with a little bit of everything: we went to Sydney, Melbourne, the Barossa Valley (wine country), and then finished on Lizard Island in the Great Barrier Reef. Sydney was a blast. We ate really well, walked all over the city, and my wife went to every single boutique she could find. The weather was perfect and the harbor is beautiful. In the Barossa we did a day of wine tasting, tasting vintages from some of the oldest vines in the world. The setting was perfect. Melbourne was more eating and sightseeing, and then we had a really relaxing time on Lizard Island. It is a private island with just the resort on it. There is a lot to do including diving, snorkeling, and visiting the many private beaches on the island. It really is a paradise.
What one piece of advice do you have for travelers?
My advice to travelers is to make sure that you do a lot of research but don’t get bogged down in the minutiae of the trip. Make sure you have a plan and a good itinerary before you go but leave some room to change things on the fly. When my wife and I went down to Memphis we had a bunch of places where we wanted to eat. We ended up befriending some locals in a bar and they took us around to all their favorite places. The same thing happened when I was down in Buenos Aires for a bachelor party. You need a plan to fall back on, but the locals always know best, so if you meet a local and he or she thinks you should change your dinner reservation or sightseeing schedule a bit, it is a good idea to listen.
Where else can we find you on the web?
You can find me on my website at www.travelgoat.com or www.zachaarons.com, my blog at travelgoat.tumblr.com or on twitter @travelgoat. I am also obviously on gtrot, quora, and foursquare.
