From an early age, Parm had an insatiable desire to see the world. She knew even back then she wanted to travel to far off places, meet people from different cultures, and experience history up close. And that is just what she did. She set off to gain a new perspective on life through travel and share her amazing adventures with others and has never looked back. A recognized and well-published writer, Parm specializes in travel, food, history, and culture, which she shares with her readers in her redesigned blog, Planet Blue Adventure. Parm’s writing has also been featured in Trivago, Travel Week, Skyscanner, Huffington Post, Travel Life Magazine, Dine Magazine, Toronto Star, Vancouver Sun Air Transat, Justluxe.com, TripJaunt, and Travelage West, just to name a few.
Parm was kind enough to answer our questions below.
Parm Parmar in Jordan – Exploring Petra
TA: How many years have you been traveling and what got you hooked?
Parm: I’ve been traveling since my early twenties. Wanderlust has been in my DNA from a very early age. As a child I loved reading books set in far off places.
TA: Do you specialize in a particular type of travel?
Parm: My travel focus has been on culinary, history, and culture. Plus I do love a bit of luxury during my travels.
TA: What is the best vacation you’ve ever taken?
Parm: Greece was one of my earliest vacations. I spent three weeks exploring the Cyclades from Athens to Crete. I loved exploring the historic significance of each place. I was part of an adventure group managed by Exodus Travel.
TA: What’s one place you’ve always wanted to visit?
Parm: Tahiti or the Cook islands. The Islands are so far away from North America and one wanders how explorers travelled to these places long before Air Travel.
TA: What’s one thing you ALWAYS pack when you travel?
Parm: My gadgets (plugs and chargers) and cameras.
TA: If you could only give a traveler one piece of advice, what would it be?
Parm: Take in your surroundings at every destination; I love to people watch and see how they interact with each other. If you can get off the beaten path as touristy destinations are overrun and it’s not always possible to get an authentic experience.
TA: What are some of your favorite travel blogs and communities?
Parm: I love being part of SATW & NATJA travel communities on Facebook. My favourite travel blogs include Calculated Traveller, Wandering Carol, EatLiveTravelDrink, and of course where I write frequently beyond my blog, Tripjaunt.
TA: What would be your #1 recommendation for a place to travel in 2019?
Parm: Portugal, Belize…
Parm Parmar horseback riding in Montana.
TA: What are the top 3 websites you use for research/inspiration when planning a trip?
Parm: Google research, Loonely Planet, and Smarter Travel.
TA: Do you have any good airport or flight hacks for people traveling by plane?
Parm: Airports are getting tougher to navigate with new security laws. Lounge access is not cheap but if you can afford it, get access. It will make your life that more tranquil before a flight.
TA: What is the best piece of travel advice you’ve ever been given?
Parm: Be authentic, respectful, and kind during your travels.
TA: Which country has surprisingly good food?
Parm: Jordan! I’ve become addicted to hummus and middle eastern Mediterranean cuisine. Its fresh and light including lots of well made salads with grilled meats.
TA: What is the most beautiful and affordable city you’ve ever visited?
Parm: I found Cartagena, Colombia quite affordable. Their prices for shopping items, food, and other items is quite reasonable.
TA: What’s one way people can get the most out of their cruise experience?
Parm: Meet other guests and share experiences.
TA: What are the best places to travel solo and why?
Parm: I loved traveling to Ireland solo. I found the people friendly and willing to help when I was stuck for directions or had other issues.
TA: What’s something that other tourists do when traveling that drives you crazy and why?
Parm: Speaking loudly and treating locals with disrespect.
Learn more about Parm:
Visit her website Planet Blue Adventure.
Follow her on Twitter here.
Find her on Facebook here.
See her photos on Instagram here.