Book of Escapades: a little trip here, there, elsewhere

No need to go far to make beautiful trips

Brittany, India, Alsace, Ireland, Shanghai… Every nook and cranny of the world can become a travel destination for Laurène, who shares with us her passion for small… and less small escapades.

A travel blog, Book of Getaways (awarded at the 2012 Golden Blog Awards), on one side. On the other, a tourism blog entirely dedicated to his adopted region, Mon week-end en Alsace. At the heart of it all, Laurène Philippot, 30, Breton expatriate between Haut and Bas-Rhin.

Laurène is a blogger, web editor and community manager at the same time. All in the tourism sector, of course. When we ask him what his passions are, his answer hardly surprises us: “travel and blogging”. We can add horse riding, which she would obviously like to practice in Mongolia.

Anyway, Laurène and her husband are fans of new discoveries, whether they are a few kilometers from home or at the end of the world. Get away for a few moments, the time for a virtual getaway in his company ...

What was the destination of your first trip (child or adult)?
My first trip as a child was to Tunisia. I remember walks with my parents to explore the country. I admit that I was as interested in the hotel swimming pool as in visiting the surroundings, but I still kept in mind some beautiful images of this first trip!

What made you want to travel and then share this passion on a blog?
Honestly, I don't really know! I decided to start my blog at the end of my last year of study, which had been very trying. I wanted to travel, take pictures and write on a blog. I was far from thinking that it was going to become a passion!

What was the trip that struck you the most? Why ?
India, undoubtedly. It is a country which cannot be left indifferent as the way of approaching the world is so different from ours. It surprises, shocks, upsets, makes people think… A truly memorable trip that I think about regularly.

Which country “surprised” you the most? Why ?
Iceland and its incredible landscapes. I only stayed there for 48 hours but I really want to go back there as the landscapes are so fascinating. A wild beauty that is surprising and bewitching at the same time.

Which country has “disappointed” you the most? Why ?
I cannot speak of an entire country, but only of a city, Shanghai. It's a place where I didn't feel good: too many people, too much pollution… I understand that this city can fascinate and please, but it is simply not made for me. I felt oppressed and uncomfortable there, especially since I must be sensitive to pollution since I was having difficulty breathing. On the other hand, I would like to go back to China, of which I only had a very small glimpse.

What is your worst travel memory?
My worst memory is in Indonesia. During the last days of my trip, I had somehow caught an infection in my leg. It was extremely painful and I made the whole trip home (about 36 hours of travel because we had several connections) in great pain, with a leg that had doubled in size. I was still very lucky that this only happened at the very end of my stay, so I avoided visiting Indonesian hospitals and enjoyed my vacation until the last moment!

Can you give us a funny or unusual anecdote that happened to you while traveling?
I ran out of gas on the mountain road to Mount Bromo in Indonesia. The bemo driver would stop every 5 minutes asking for gas that he couldn't find, until the car stopped. We finally did well, another car drove us to the top (not without a few other twists and turns), but I invite you to read the full story on the blog in the article dedicated to Bromo, it's a long story ! ?

How much do you spend on your trips?
Difficult to answer as this is variable. It depends on my financial capacities at the time, desires, destinations, the person with whom I am traveling… I go easily from a youth hostel to a luxury hotel in fact! I still have a particular taste for apartment rentals and guest rooms.

Which country do you dream of going to?
Mongolia, for its wide open spaces and its cavalier people. I dream of great gallops in the steppes!

In general, what do you look for when traveling? What is your travel philosophy?
I travel mainly with my husband, although I sometimes go alone or with friends. We usually go for short stays (the time of a weekend or a few days) and make a larger trip once a year. My credo is that it is not always necessary to go very far to make great discoveries! So I try to make the most of what is around me to get away from it all. When traveling, I generally like to mix city and countryside, with a little preference for nature. This is where I feel the best!

Is there a country where, “oddly”, you don't want to go at all?
Not really, almost all countries tempt me I think!

And closer to us, what is your favorite place in France?
I'm not going to be very objective but I would say Brittany, my region of origin, and Alsace, my adopted region. I am in love with these two regions, even if I readily recognize the beauty of other French regions. I am also always amazed when I visit France, we have a beautiful country!

Bonus: when and where is your next trip?
My next getaway will be in France, in Franche-Comté. I'm going to visit Besançon, which I don't know yet.