Entrepreneur Samantha Wills reveals best and worst travel experiences
She's been to 29 countries and clocked up more than 100 flights between Sydney and New York, but entrepreneur and author Samantha Wills still counts this childhood trip among her greatest travel moments.
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Entrepreneur and children’s book author Samantha Wills picks travel over things every time.
I got my first passport when...
The church I grew up in was organising a youth ministry trip to the Fijian Islands. I was only 12 years old.
My first holiday memory is...
Caravanning in places like Forster Tuncurry, Nambucca Heads and Coffs Harbour. Lots of fishing, bike riding and beach days. But the memory that truly stands out is World Expo 88 in Brisbane.
I’ve been to 29 countries…
Every one an adventure.
My favourite place in Australia is...
Tasmania. I recently visited and the fresh air, rugged landscape and sense of complete escape were absolutely magical.
The place I’d love to visit in Australia is...
The Kimberley’s rugged beauty and Ningaloo’s stunning coral reefs.
The place I’d rather be right now is...
I’ve just come home to my parents in Port Macquarie after two years abroad, so there’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now (especially as I know Mum will read this).
The place I’ve visited most often is...
New York City. I’ve flown between Sydney and NYC over 100 times. I’ve spent so much time in New York it feels like a second home.
My most memorable travel experience happened in...
Vail, Colorado, one Christmas. My friends and I had what we thought was a simple dinner booking, but we were taken up the mountain in a heated gondola at sunset, with the town sparkling below. Then a snowcat took us through a snowy forest, where we arrived at a rustic lodge and had the most traditional Christmas meal. It felt like being transported to Santa’s house.
The travel experience on my bucket-list is...
Christmas in Lapland, Finland, sleeping in a glass igloo, watching the Northern Lights.
The place that most surprised me was...
Mexico City. I spent three months there last year, and it was an absolute delight. The art and creative scenes were incredible and the food was exceptional.
The place that didn’t live up to expectations…
I thought I’d love Buenos Aires more. Palermo was my favourite area, but overall, it’s not somewhere I’d hurry back to.
The advice I’d give to young travellers is…
If you’re deciding between spending on non-essential “things” or travel, travel is the better investment, every single time.
My holidays are mostly devoted to...
New experiences and adventure. I love building an itinerary based on local recommendations, off the beaten track, rather than just doing the big attractions.
The sickest I’ve been on holiday was...
Any bout of food poisoning in Bali. I will say, though, Bali has some wonderful remedies available over the counter.
The worst thing that’s happened to me while travelling...
I was flying into LAX from Sydney, and a passport officer misread my visa, cancelling it with a huge strikethrough with his pen. When I pointed out he’d mistaken an 8 for a 0, he went pale and told me he’d cancelled it by mistake.
Thankfully, his supervisor allowed me in on it “just this once”, but I had to cancel multiple work trips until it was fixed.
The best thing I’ve eaten while travelling was...
The “Ginny” – a white biscoff cookie, at a cookie place in Bali called Dang! Cookies. I think about it daily.
The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in...
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s super yacht, Evrima. We took a four-night voyage in the Caribbean, and it was unparalleled.
The travel tip I’d like to share is... Choose an airline alliance and build status. Lounge access and upgrade priority make a huge difference.
The most interesting person I’ve met on a plane was...
A woman named Rose, on a flight from NYC to Australia. She shared stories of her life and quoted activist Marian Wright Edelman: “You can’t be what you can’t see.” That one conversation had a profound impact on me and my work.
Samantha Wills’ Marigold’s Magic Stars is available now at briobooks.store
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