travel junkie biography

Craig Henry aka The Travel Junkee Shares His Top 10 Favorite Countries

Craig Henry is on a quest to conquer the map, and having been to 62 countries and nearly all of the United States , he’s well on his way. His moniker, “The Travel Junkee,” was born when a friend jokingly called him a junkie for planning a new trip right on the heels of the last one. Craig decided to change the spelling and fused the words together on his social media platforms. Thus, thetraveljunkee came to be. Born in Chicago , Craig has acquired quite an education through travel, and his thirst for more knowledge is never quenched. He has photo albums dedicated to several of the countries he’s visited. Whether he’s profiling at Prague Castle or smiling in front of the Egyptian pyramids, it’s obvious he’s living his best travel life. He hopes to inspire others to follow in his footsteps, particularly Black men, so they can broaden their horizons. “I think it’s important for Black men to travel, so we can see things for ourselves versus someone telling us what the world is like,”...

Spencer Jones • Jan 11, 2022

Craig Henry is on a quest to conquer the map, and having been to 62 countries and nearly all of the United States , he’s well on his way. His moniker, “The Travel Junkee,” was born when a friend jokingly called him a junkie for planning a new trip right on the heels of the last one.

Craig decided to change the spelling and fused the words together on his social media platforms. Thus, thetraveljunkee came to be.

Born in Chicago , Craig has acquired quite an education through travel, and his thirst for more knowledge is never quenched. He has photo albums dedicated to several of the countries he’s visited. Whether he’s profiling at Prague Castle or smiling in front of the Egyptian pyramids, it’s obvious he’s living his best travel life. He hopes to inspire others to follow in his footsteps, particularly Black men, so they can broaden their horizons.

“I think it’s important for Black men to travel, so we can see things for ourselves versus someone telling us what the world is like,” Craig told Travel Noire. “Traveling is the greatest education, in my personal opinion. I love to watch other people in their natural space and learn about different cultures, old and new. Every time I’m on a plane headed out of the US, I feel a certain sense of adventure and calm. The first time I went to Tanzania, I never felt so at home in my life.”

Craig reads travel publications and other materials to help him decide where to jet off to next. If a destination calls out to him, he adds it to the list.

To date, here are Craig’s top 10 favorite countries.

1. Thailand

Nepal was a complete departure from what Craig was used to as an American, but from the culture shock came growth.

“This was a whole different level in terms of culture for me,” he said. “I learned about how the mind and body are so connected, and how to access your best self through meditation.”

This landlocked country boasts so much beauty, including the majestic Himalayas and Mount Everest, the tallest peak on Earth.

“I’ve been all over Spain, but Segovia and Barcelona really spoke to me,” Craig said.

“ Segovia is home to Alcazar Castle, which is what Disney used to model Magic Kingdom. As an architectural enthusiast, Barcelona is like a dream. The city is basically a tribute to my favorite architect, Antoni Gaudí.”

Segovia is also home to the famous aqueduct, used to supply and transport water during antiquity.

Barcelona, the second-largest city in Spain, does indeed have many nods to Gaudí. His two most famous works, Sagrada Família  and Park Güell, are popular with tourists.

Craig had some good times in France, especially Paris.  Some of the top tourist destinations include the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées and for something more colorful, Moulin Rouge.

“This city is so full of history and culture, not to mention the style is unbeatable.”

There’s Black history to be found here, too. Both James Baldwin and Josephine Baker took up residence in Paris.

Baldwin first arrived in his early twenties, and spent time writing and debating with other creatives at Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore, which are still around today.

In her heyday, Baker was a household name, famous not only for her work as a performer, but a humanitarian and activist.

In 2021, she became the first Black woman and only the sixth woman ever to be inducted into the Panthéon, the highest honor in France.

5. Costa Rica

Craig joins the chorus of Black folks singing Costa Rica’s praises.

“I’ve spent so much time in Costa Rica,” he said. “In my opinion, it’s one of the best places to live. The food is fresh, people are nice and the terrain is amazing. Not to mention, the Nicoya region is one of the seven known blue zones on earth.”

As noted by Travel Noire , “nearly 24 percent of the community in Límon consists of Black people.”

6. South Africa

South Africa offers some incredible scenery and plenty to do and see including hiking, safaris and wineries.

There are also sites of cultural significance, such as the Apartheid Museum, which left an indelible impact on Craig.

“In my opinion, Johannesburg and Cape Town are two of the best places in Africa,” he said. “The love I have for Jo-burg is indescribable. Just to be at the very bottom of the continent is jaw dropping in itself.”

For Craig, visiting Japan was an electrifying. If you’re a Blerd who enjoys video games, anime and manga, you’ll find your stride here.

“I know people say New York never sleeps, but that’s probably because they’ve never been to Japan.  In addition to being able to stay up all night if that’s your flavor, you can take a train ride out to Kyoto and see some authentic Japanese culture.”

“And no,” Craig added jokingly, “Godzilla isn’t in Tokyo either.”

8. Tanzania

Craig can’t recommend this East African nation enough, home to the Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro. What struck him was the kindness of the people.

“As soon as you land, you realize this is home,” he said. “Everyone greets you by saying welcome home . To see mostly Black people doing so well was refreshing.”

“I also loved being able to visit the famous Serengeti. Seeing animals in their natural habitat and watching kills in the wild was exhilarating.”

9. New Zealand

If you’re into adventure tourism, New Zealand may be for you. Hiking, zip-lining and bungy-jumping are just a fraction of the activities.

“It’s nothing short of amazing!” Craig gushed. “The landscape between North and South Island is fantastic. Learning about the Māori people was very enlightening. Some migrated to New Zealand from surrounding islands like Fiji. Also, I had no idea that there were redwoods there!”

Jordan is full of archaeological and tourist sites— over 100,000, in fact. With Israel nearby, Craig also ventured to Jerusalem to see the birth site of Jesus.

“Jordan was one of my most life changing trips,” he said. “I was able to float in the Dead Sea and stand on the spot in Bethany where Jesus was baptized. I could also wash my feet in the Jordan River, visit Mount Nebo where Moses stood, and look out over the Promised Land.”

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My name is Julia Dimon. I’m a family travel expert, on-camera travel TV host, travel blogger and hard-core travel junkie who’s traveled around the world to over 80 countries, across all seven continents. Host of the TV series Word Travels, broadcast on National Geographic Adventure and Travel Channel UK across over 100 countries and 21 languages, I’ve had some pretty amazing adventures as a solo female around the world–  from hiking with mountain gorillas in Uganda, to touring radioactive Chernobyl, camel trekking through the Middle East, to devouring live slugs and deep-fried bugs in jungles and back alleys across the globe. My experiences led me to write the book “ Travel Junkie: A Badass Guide to Solo Female Travel ” to empower other young women to ditch the 9-5 grind, explore the world and find themselves.

And now for the next chapter…the biggest adventure of all. Parenthood. Mama of two munchkins aged 3 and 5, my thirst for exotic adventures hasn’t died just because I’m a mom. My goal is to continue exploring the world, now with my little travel junkies in-tow. But let’s be honest…between tantrums and time outs, traveling with a baby or toddler is not always easy. This site aims to empower other mamas with tips and tricks when traveling with their own young families. I hope to be an example of how life after children can still be filled with luxury and adventure in unexpected places.

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Born in Houston, Texas, one of the United States' largest international cities, culture, diversity and different languages have always been a part of my life experience. Having traveled internationally for the first time in 1983, at the age of 14, I discovered at an early age that I loved the adventure of visiting other countries and learning from their cultures. Over the subsequent years, I traveled overseas on 9 separate adventures with experiences in Italy, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, France, Germany, Alaska, Hawaii as well as Mexico.

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30 Signs That You’re a Complete Travel Junkie

Do you obsess over travel before, during and after your trip? Are you constantly talking about travel to your friends and family? To put it simply… are you a travel junkie ? Here are 30 signs that you’re head over heels in love with traveling (but to be honest, you wouldn’t have it any other way)!

You’re depressed the minute you get on the plane back home. And stay depressed until your next trip.

Despite there only being $50.00 in your bank account, you’re researching your next vacation., you feel more at home in the air than you do on the ground., most of your friends are from around the world. ( and you basically have no one to hang out with at home.), you follow a healthy and basic diet at home , but all bets are off when you travel and are faced with escargot, chicken tajine or all of the alcohol ever. , your travel bucket list simply reads “ everywhere. ”, everyone calls upon you for travel information, which is more of a compliment than a problem., you only receive new clothing on your birthday or on holidays because you save all of your money for traveling., when you do decide to buy clothes for yourself, you insist they come from foreign destinations., friends are kind of, sort of, super annoyed of your travel stories and can’t handle your awesome adventures., you’d never waste your time on a book or movie that doesn’t inspire your wanderlust., you put yourself in real, life-threatening danger to take amazzzzzing travel photos ., you’ve either thought about or have a tattoo involving a globe, a plane, a compass or some other worldly-type thing., adding pins to your map at home is your most brag-worthy, visually appealing possession. , you kinda wanna get a tattoo in a foreign destination. just because it’s cooler that way., nothing excites you anymore. nothing, but travel., you ask for cash, credit cards, gift cards and vouchers for presents so that you can travel always ., you follow at least 15 travel bloggers on instagram  and/or are part of a travel group on facebook., the time between your vacations seems longer and more awful each time., your greatest collection consists of one or more of the following: passport stamps, foreign currencies or postcards., planning your next trip sometimes happens while on your current trip., time is your biggest fear. because you just might not see every place on your bucket list., you research jobs that allow you to travel while at your current job that you secretly hate., traveling solo isn’t a problem. in fact, it’s preferable., you’ve become thrifty as hell. you know where to get the best deal, when to book a flight, how to travel hack and save more money than anyone you know., you have considered or actually have sold all of your belongings to travel the world., people often misunderstand you because they can’t possibly relate to your insatiable wanderlust., you live out of your suitcase for at least a month after you return from your trip ( that is, if you’re home for that long )., you have actually put yourself, or considered putting yourself, in harms way to get to your destination. (think hitchhiking, sketchy buses, old tuk-tuks, ryanair, etc.), people often think you’re running away, and maybe that’s true. but you’d rather wander the exotic and unknown than face the monotony and boring-ness every single day at home., what are some other signs that you’re a wanderlust-obsessed, nomadic, travel junkie, previous post an evening at hawksworth restaurant, next post stuff your face with the best food in vancouver, canada, sebrin elms, 3 comments on “30 signs that you’re a complete travel junkie”.

This is a very well thought through list 🙂 and I could identify with almost all the 30 points. But my favorite is “Planning your next trip sometimes happens while on your current trip”. Invariably, on the flight back home, to feel a little less glum, my wife and I start discussing where we should travel to next. It’s so therapeutic! 🙂

I’ve had a lot of time to think about it seeing as I’m stuck in my home state and think about it ALL OF THE TIME, haha. But ya, I agree with the planning the next trip. It’s not about being spoiled or ungrateful, it’s a way to see a future and hope when coming home to a less than exciting environment. At least, that’s how I see it 😛

Wow I didn’t think I’d relate to all of these so much…

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What Is a Travel Junkie?

Although millions of individuals enjoy traveling, the term travel junkie is usually reserved for those individuals who love travel. These frequent travelers may be described as having an unquenchable interest and devotion to all things travel related. For many, the travel bug leads to visiting multiple countries and continents. Travel junkies have various reasons for their travel passions, and the group consists of individuals from different income levels and social backgrounds. These travel junkies are usually well informed on current travel information, mingle with other frequent vacationers, and usually know how to save money on international travel.

Frequent travel addicts can have a wide range of reasons for their yearning to tour the world. Some travel addicts may be interested in adventure travel fun, such as mountain climbing, backpacking , and jungle hiking. Other travelers, however, may be attracted to long-term travel exploration through volunteering or taking a class abroard. Still another type of travel junkie is the individual fascinated by cultural exploration. This type of travel junkie is often interested in learning a new language, exploring historically significant landmarks, or attending traditional festivals.

All types of individuals may be considered travel junkies, including those individuals who are regularly required to travel as part of their jobs. Professions who often are required to travel extensively include working as a pilot, diplomat, or international teacher. Some travel junkies, however, such as retired seniors, are able to travel on their own time and their own dime. Alternatively, there are also travel junkies who are unable to travel constantly due to physical limitations, financial problems, or other commitments. Instead, these travelers may have to limit themselves to periodic trips when their schedule and finances allow it.

For the well-traveled travel junkie, there is a constant need to devour and explore travel information. In fact, the travel addict will often watch travel shows, collect travel brochures, and subscribe to popular travel magazines and journals. To keep up on travel conditions, interesting destinations, and accommodations, these travel junkies may also read travel reports and travel reviews. Maps and guidebooks of cities or countries that the traveler is interested in visiting are also likely to be purchased and browsed in advance to help plan out a trip itinerary.

To keep safe and prevent delays while traveling, most travel junkies will access country-specific travel warnings and alerts. This data often includes up-to-date information related to entry requirements and local laws and customs. Viewing vaccination suggestions and transportation information will also help the travel junkie remain unharmed while voyaging.

Instead of being solitary, the well-traveled junkie tends to be active in the travel community. Some of these travelers share travel tips, stories, and photos through personal blogs, travelogues, and forums. Many travelers also join online groups to interact with travelers who have similar interests and travel objectives.

Travel addicts are not just frequent travelers; many of them know how to travel on a budget . In addition to visiting some of the most popular travel destinations, the travel junkie also explores areas of the world where the cost of living is cheaper than in his home country so his currency will stretch further. These savvy travelers may use online travel companies in order to compare airfare, hotel costs, and car rentals. Those who are part of the travel junkie lifestyle may also use knowledge of discount accommodation, such as hostels and campsites, to travel cheaply.

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Discussion Comments

Post your comments.

• By: TOMO A travel junkie might enjoy attending traditional festivals in other countries.
• By: Marzky Ragsac Jr. Travel junkies are passionately addicted to traveling.
• By: dmitrimaruta Travel junkies frequently buy guidebooks and plan their trips in advance.
• By: Arkady Chubykin Travel junkies usually research to get the best deals on accommodations.
• By: Pavel Losevsky Travel junkies may benefit from frequent flyer discount programs.
• By: HappyAlex Some travelers' passion leads them to explore multiple countries and continents.
• By: iroto123 Travel junkies may collect shampoos and other items from hotels to use later.
• By: Wimbledon A travel junkie may spend their time going on cruises.

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• Travel Inspiration

8 Ways to Tell if You’re a Travel Junkie

See recent posts by Rachel Klein

Do you spend hours reading about potential bucket list trips? Stand any pricey purchase you make up against how much you could otherwise be spending on a plane ticket? What about booking flights just for the sake maintaining airline status? If any of this sounds familiar, believe us, we get it. Check out this list below to see if you fit the travel junkie profile. 

Marco Nürnberger/Flickr

1. You obsessively check flights and fares — to everywhere.

Consider this the primary indication that you’re a member of the club. Think about how many times you get a cheap fare alert from Airfare Watchdog and stop anything else you might be doing. Right up there with checking your email and Instagram account in spare moments, you find yourself looking up flights — sometimes just for fun, or because you’re bored, or to boost your mood. It’s a tough habit to temper, and those sites that allow you to enter your home airport and choose “take me anywhere” as a destination are enablers. Have you ever seen an amazing deal, hemmed and hawed and decided to sleep on it, then gotten up in the middle of the night to book? Yeah, you’re in good company. 

2. You plan your next trip while you're still on vacation.

Sure, you’re always thinking about your next journey, but it can take awhile to commit when you’re considering a few options. Sit on the fence too long and you’re bound to get distracted by other things…like trying to wrap everything up because you’re about to take off on a trip. Enter the scenario where you’re already in giddy travel mode, and your time away is waning, when suddenly it hits you: you’re about to be ticketless. The only cure for post-vacay blues is to never leave yourself without a getaway plan. If you’re a travel junkie, you won’t subject yourself to being in this awful state of limbo for more than 24 hours after you land.

3. You're a self-proclaimed expert on luggage and packing.

Hard-side, leather, or soft-side? Compression kits or old-school roll technique? Capsule wardrobe or hell-no and check? Even if you aren’t otherwise gear-obsessed or someone with an ultra-organized closet, it’s easy to geek out on these details. Get a few seasoned travelers in a room and the debate is bound to get a little heated. The takeaway here is that the average Joe won’t go rounds debating such trivialities, but you’re willing to go to the mat. And, of course, we have our own (superior) thoughts on these topics.

4. You have an incurable case of travel envy.

You’re out running errands and overhear someone gushing to her friend about an awesome recent trip to [insert personal desirable destination]. Or a coworker comes into the office rolling a suitcase, and it puts you in a terrible mood until you find out he’s going to his cousin’s wedding in [insert personal undesirable destination]. The truth is that even in the latter situation, you’re green-eyed because that person has a more recent “just-back-from” or sooner “I’m-off-to” than you, and the destination is irrelevant. Also, a lack of vacation days and/or funds — likely due to your travel habit — can make the moment feel even more desperate. 

5. You keep up with travel news.

After slogging through depressing and scary headline news, everyone has his or her feature section of diversion. Yours is travel, of course. New airline routes and hubs, major hotel renovations and openings, the best in-flight entertainment, and changes in security requirements are all top of mind. And your knowledge base drills down to the realm of total fluff and super-nerdy, from following designers who create clothing lines for flight attendants to memorizing airport codes. 

6. You believe you know how to beat jet lag.

For some travel junkies, jet lag (officially called desynchronosis) is a badge of honor. To others, showing any sign of being phased by a 14-hour time difference and 21-hour flight is amateurish. Whichever camp you fall into, your years of experience dealing with it has amounted to devising a surefire method of survival. Like cures for hangovers, some fixes border on far-fetched (taking Viagra and time zone-altering glasses come to mind). Then there are the more plausible homeopathic remedies . A few mainstream ones include taking melatonin, kicking the caffeine habit the day before, and never taking a nap when you arrive at your hotel. The list goes on. 

7. You have a romantic attachment to airports and flying.

You may whine with the masses about massive delays, oversold flights, and sitting in uncomfortable economy seats, but even with the inevitable annoyances that come with travel, you romanticize the experience. The narrative is fueled by an era when travel was indeed glamorous and a luxury — circa 1950s to mid-60s — rather than a necessary slog. You picture sitting in the sexy, Eero Saarinen-designed TWA terminal at JFK after it opened. Take a mental leap back in time when people dressed up and had matching monogrammed luggage rather than throwing on sweats and carrying a bed pillow and an overstuffed backpack. Intellectually, you know there isn’t going to be a revival, but for the most part, you manage to stay happily inside your bubble. 

8. You consider yourself a global citizen.

When you boil it down, your love of travel comes from a strong desire of, and commitment to, immersing yourself in a different culture. It’s about finding common ground with people across the globe, sharing experiences, and supporting economies with your tourist dollars. At home, you go out of your way to help travelers figure out where they’re going, and share local tips and advice when you can. Your actions alone won’t fix any of the huge problems in our world, but it’s a place to start. 

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