A WELL TRAVELED PAIR
ABOUT US
Hi! We're John & Katie, a Los Angeles-based couple who loves to travel the world. We started A Well Traveled Pair in 2017 in hopes of inspiring others to travel. I, Katie, am the writer and photographer of AWTP, and John builds and maintains our website. I am originally from East Greenwich, Rhode Island and John is from Portland, Oregon. Together we currently live in L.A. with our two dogs, Jak and Leroy.
My passion for travel writing and photography started in 2015 after John and I spent five unforgettable days in Paris. We love seeing new places, experiencing different cultures, and meeting new people.
If we could describe our perfect travel day, it would be breakfast in Paris along the Champs-Élysées, a long afternoon hike in the Swiss Alps, and a sunset stroll in Cinque Terre, Italy.
Thank you for following along on our journey!
How Do You Travel So Much?
When John and I met in July 2015, we instantly bonded over our mutual love of travel. Six weeks after our first date, we were off on a European vacation together. Now, here we are, 70+ countries later, and we've had so many incredible experiences.
Many people ask us how we afford to travel so much. We are by no means wealthy. We both work modest jobs and we live very simply in our small, but lovely, home in Los Angeles. We are extremely fortunate to have flexible careers that allow us to take as many vacation days as we please. We do not have a lot of material items, instead, we spend our money on life experiences. It's amazing how easy it is to save for travel when you cut out non-essential spending. Give it a try! It is a lot easier than you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are you rich? Is John rich? Are your families rich, and do they pay for your travels?
A: No, we are not rich, nor do our families pay for our travels. We both work, and when it comes to spending money, we prioritize travel.
Q: How can I prioritize travel?
A: Make a list of everything you are spending money on - rent/mortgage, food, gas, memberships, clothing, socializing, etc. See if there is anything you can remove or cut back on. Put that money aside in a separate savings account, and wait until you have enough for a trip. The more you prioritize travel, the quicker you will be able to save for a trip.
Q: What camera gear do you use?
A: We shoot with a Sony A6000. We also have a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone.
Q: How do you take photos together?
A: We use a tripod and a remote control for our camera. A drone is also good for taking photos together.
Q: What is your favorite destination?
A: This is the hardest question to answer because we like so many different cities and countries. If we had to narrow it down, we'd say Switzerland, Italy, France, Norway, New Zealand, and Hawaii are the places we could visit over and over again.
Q: What about bucket-list destinations?
A: There are some places that aren't necessarily destinations that we'd visit over and over again, but they were quite amazing to see at least once in our lifetimes. Those places are the Great Pyramids of Giza, Petra, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, and Machu Picchu.
Q: What has travel taught you?
Katie: The main thing travel has taught me is the importance of experiences over things. It has also taught me to get outside of my comfort zone, appreciate the little things, cherish my health, and value kindness. Travel is by far the greatest teacher.
John: I feel exactly the same way. Travel has taught me so many invaluable lessons, and I may just add one more - we are all very similar, so let's treat each other well.