Valerie Conners

A one-time travel media website producer, I gave up the "dream job" to live the dream: an 8-month RTW journey. I spent the crux of my travels exploring India and Southeast Asia, peppered with stints in Turkey, the Maldives, Australia, New Zealand and a cross-country road trip once I returned to U.S. soil. After embracing long-term travel, I can safely say I'm happiest when eating spicy Thai food in beachfront thatch huts, snorkeling with sea turtles in Indonesia, and bargaining for bangles in Indian markets.