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Chelsea Diamond is a writer/travel junkie who after living three years teaching in South Korea has recently made the move back to the States to pursue yet another dream. Renovating an RV and exploring the country with her husband Jeremy and their cat, Phineas.
She loves writing, exploring, and taking every chance she can to experience something new while encouraging others to do the same. You can follow along on their adventures on Instagram.
Interview: Married Couple Who Are Lost in Travels
Q: How would you describe your travel style?
A: Simplistic, comfortable and with lots of accessories. It’s amazing how a scarf or statement necklace can spruce up a white tee and how many different ways you can utilize just one item.
Check out TFG’s lazy girl’s guide to style!
Q: Do you prefer to travel carry-on or with a regular size suitcase or bag?
A: I can’t remember the last time I checked a bag while traveling. Truth be told, it makes me nervous that it could be lost or delayed and I like the convenience of grabbing my bag from overhead and going straight out the door.
Find out TFG’s secret to packing into a carry-on size bag!
Q: Are you an overpacker or do you underpack?
A: I unfortunately over pack on pretty much every trip we take. I always end up with a few pieces that I never wore and always re-wear my favorite outfit that I packed. I try to pack half or two thirds the amount of clothes that I know I need because I know I’ll wear them twice but it’s something that I’m still working on!
Do you recommend any particular bag or suitcase?
A: For the past few years I’ve been traveling with a 40L North Face backpack and love it. There are plenty of compartments to keep me organized and zippers at the bottom so I don’t have to pull everything out in order to get one thing.
Read the top 20 most recommended luggage brands!
Q: How do you stay stylish while traveling without access to an entire closet?
A: I try to stock my closet at home with versatile clothes that mix and match well and this is also how I aim to pack. If an item can’t be worn at least two different ways, I don’t bring it. This creates versatility in a small amount of clothing and space.
Learn how to master a capsule travel wardrobe.
Q: What destination was the most fun to dress for?
A: I would have to say Cambodia. The colors were so vibrant and there were patterns everywhere. It’s easier for me to pack for warm weather plus there were plenty of places to pick up a fun accessory or two to go along with my outfit!
Q: What are your three must have travel essentials?
A: My camera, a big scarf, and a raincoat. It covers a large portion of my pet peeves; not documenting an experience, being cold, and being wet.
Check out TFG’s My 5 Must Have Travel Essentials!
Q: What’s your preferred travel outfit on a plane?
A: Dresses and leggings. I have a talent of being able to sleep just about anyway but it includes curling up in at least one odd and seemingly uncomfortable position. Therefore, I like anything that I can curl up in without feeling uncomfortable or restricted. Which for me, means no jeans. I typically also wear slip on shoes to make security easy and a scarf and sweater since I’m always cold on planes.
Learn TFG’s top 5 international flight essentials!
Q: What destination surprised you the most with the ways locals dressed or their type of clothing?
A: I absolutely loved people watching in Japan. The women there have such a bold sense of style and paired the most unexpected items together but made it look so stylish.
Learn TFG’s Japan Packing List.
Q: What are your favorite travel accessories?
A: I always bring a few scarves with me when I travel. Not only are they a great way to add some color to my wardrobe but they are also useful on cold nights, long plane rides as a blanket or pillow or a way to cover my shoulders in temples.
More travel accessories here!
Q: What are your favorite travel beauty essentials?
A: I always make sure I bring some coconut oil with me while traveling. It’s a great multi-tasker and I use it for eye makeup remover, both body and face lotion and for shaving.Plus it smells great and leaves my skin feeling soft!
More travel beauty essentials here!
Q: Do you have any specific hair or makeup products that work great for travel?
A: I have been using the ‘no poo’ method of baking soda and apple cider vinegar for over a year now and love how easy it is with traveling. Majority of the time, if we go for a week or under, I can simply rinse my hair with water and it styles just the same as if I had washed it.
For over a week, I pack a zip lock bag with some baking soda so I can make my concoction on the road.
For makeup, I try to keep it light. I always use Aveda tinted moisturizer for my base since I don’t sweat it off and it included an SPF in it for those days I forget to wear extra out in the sun.
Q: How many pairs of shoes do you travel with and what styles?
A: Too many! I really try to restrict it to three pairs but sometimes a fourth or fifth creeps into my bag. I make sure I bring something I can be more active in such as a pair of tennis shoes or Keens for zip lining. I also bring sandals of some sort since we typically travel to warmer destinations. And the last is a pair I can wear with a dress or a night out on the town.
For tips on choosing travel shoes, check out this 10 step guide!
Q: Do you have any recommendation for cute and comfortable footwear?
A: I typically try to travel with Birkenstocks for warm weather and Keds tennis shoes for cooler weather or something I need closed toe shoes for. Both are fairly compactable and comfortable for long days exploring on your feet.
These are TFG readers top pics for cute and comfortable travel shoes for sightseeing.
Q: What was your biggest travel fashion or packing mistake?
A: I have done really well with being able to fit two or three week trips into a backpack but even then, I still feel like I packed too much. By the end of the trip I always find that I never wore at least one outfit that I packed but I guess choices are always a nice option.
Q: Finally, any travel packing tips for new travelers?
A: I sometimes search on Google or Pinterest to research how the locals dress. You don’t have to dress exactly like them but I like to know that what I’m packing fits in respectively with their culture. The last thing I want to do in another country is offend someone by the way I dress.
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For more traveler interviews, please read:
- Interview: Getting Lost with Elena
- Interview with Beach Chic Laura Bronner
- Interview With Avant-Garde Footwear Designer Chelsea Jones
- Interview with Ultra-Luxe Traveler Mrs O Around the World
Hope you liked this interview with Chelsea Diamond. Don’t forget to share this post with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
