Seven Questions With Travel Blogger Stephen Schreck

Welcome to the latest installment of our interview series with some of our favorite travel writers and bloggers. Today we’re chatting with Stephen Schreck, a popular travel blogger whose work can be found in a variety of publications, including our very own RoamRight travel blog. Stephen Schreck is a world traveler, nomad, and adventure backpacker. Knowing a life of aimlessly wandering the globe in search of adventures was the only life for him, he set out to make his dream his reality. Currently he is trying to conquer his fears and tackle his bucket list. Follow Stephen's adventures at A Backpacker's Tale or on Twitter.

Q1. How did you get into travel blogging/writing?

Stephen: When I first started traveling, I shared all of my adventures with my friends and family via Facebook messages. Eventually, I decided to turn those messages into articles, which is how I got started blogging and freelance writing.

I wanted to find a way to make money while on the road and also share my love of traveling with the world. Blogging gave me that opportunity and as my website evolved it turned from a hobby into a passion and a profession.

Q2. What has been your most rewarding travel moment?

Stephen: It is a privilege being able to travel this much and have rare experiences. One of my favorite moments is the Mongol Rally, which is an epic drive from England to Mongolia. My start of the Rally happened when I saw a tweet by Norbert of GloboTreks, another RoamRight writer, saying they needed a teammate and I knew I could not pass it up.

The Mongol Rally is special because you get far off the beaten track, have meaningful moments with locals, and get to see remote landscape in places that are not often visited. I enjoyed every moment of it and would love to do it again.

Q3. Have any mishaps happened to you on the road? What was most notable?

Stephen: I have had minor mishaps on the road but nothing terrible. One mishap that I now look back on and laugh about is the day I took a train in the wrong direction. I fell asleep, and it was hours before I realized what I had done.

By the time I realized that I was not heading where I wanted it was too late. I had to figure out a place to stay and what I should do next. Funny mishaps like this are part of travel, and your life is a lot less stressful if you just learn to accept them.

Q4. Has travel insurance ever helped you out during your travels?

Stephen: For sure, travel insurance has covered some medical bills when I have been sick. When I first started traveling, I never had insurance, and it was a big mistake.

One time pricey electronics were stolen from me. A week later I got sick, and racked up an expensive hospital bill. Travel insurance would have covered both of these events and they were much more expensive than the price of an insurance policy.

Q5. What’s your best travel tip you always give people?

Stephen: My favorite travel tip is to make sure not to over plan. It is important to have a rough idea of where you want to go and stay, but you also need to leave room in your schedule to be spontaneous and take advantage of the randomness that happens while you are traveling.

Q6. If you could only ever visit one more place in your life, where would it be and why?

Stephen: Tough question! My favorite countries are Italy and New Zealand. Although, I think if I had to be tied to one location for the rest of my life it would be Santorini, Greece. The sunsets are picture perfect, and they have a variety of different beaches. It is a serene island, and you can jump on a quad bike and explore the beautiful landscape or the villages filled with pearl white houses.

Q7. Please share a photo during a recent trip and give us the short backstory.

Stephen: This is a photo from sunrise over Angkor Wat in Cambodia. I recently had a wonderful day exploring Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples. In ten hours, I wandered through the jungle and ruins of eleven different temples. It was a fantastic day, and one of the best temple complexes I have been to in Southeast Asia.

Thank you Stephen for participating in our interview series, and be sure to read all of his RoamRight blog posts here!

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.