Meet the Team: Char Taylor – The Travel Hack

Hello everyone! This is Char. I blog at Taylor Hearts Travel, and I’m also one of the guys on the team here at The Travel Hack. We tend to focus on stylish travel and family vacations. And believe it or not, there is such a thing as a stylish family vacation. You can see all of my travel hack posts here.

Anyway, I’ve been with the team for almost two years, so I think it’s about time I said a proper hello. Monica sent in some questions and here they are…

1. First of all, can you give us your life facts? Where do you come from, where do you live, who do you live with, how old are you and what’s your favourite colour?

Wow, you’re right there, right? I’m originally from Northamptonshire, England, a place I still call home. I left here when I traveled around the world, and for the next few years lived in Oxford, one of my favorite cities. I moved back to Northamptonshire because I owned the house I was renting, but after the tenant left, a few things made it easier to move back.

I live in a gorgeous renovated brewery/pub that dates back to the 1800s. There’s also a connection to Anchor Brewing in San Francisco, my favorite city (and my favorite beer). The exterior is very old, but the interior was renovated in the late 2000s, and is a beautiful space with a mix of old and new. It is located in a small village surrounded by beautiful fields.

I love traveling, but I also love having a permanent home. I live there with my husband Jay, her 17 month old son Nova, and our cat Buddha. Oh, and there’s also a second Mini Explorer coming in September. Exciting times!

I’m 32 years old and I always forget my exact age and have to look it up every time someone asks!

My favorite colors are chic gray and mustard yellow.

1. When did the travel bug bite?

Since we were kids, we always went on at least one holiday a year, but it wasn’t until our early twenties that we decided to clean up our house, sell our belongings, and go on an adventure around the world. It was from.

I was away for 6 months. I left with my boyfriend and came back without him. It’s true that travel can make or break a couple. Luckily, it didn’t get me down and inspired me to see more of our wonderful world while juggling a full-time job and family life.

1. How would you describe your travel style?

Thanks to my son, my backpacking days are a thing of the past, and so are my carry-on days. Now I enjoy staying in design hotels and boutiques. I love affordable luxury and things that are beautiful to the eye.

I love mountains and lakes, so I love places like Canada and Colorado.

1. Has your travel style changed since you’ve had your little man, Nova?

In addition to changing my luggage, I now have to slow down even more. I used to cram as much as I could into a few days, but now that doesn’t work. This won’t prevent glacier climbing or boat trips, but you will need to space out your activities a bit more.

Now he is on the move. It will also be difficult to take your eyes off the balcony or mezzanine bedroom!

1. You’re a keen advocate for travelling with babies and you believe you shouldn’t stop travelling when you have a young family. What’s your top tip for travelling with a little one?

Treat the trip like you would a trip to a regular place, like the grocery store or the park. Sitting on a plane is no different from sitting in a cafe, as your baby is barely aware of where you are. Don’t listen to all the naysayers. If traveling makes you happy, go for it. After all, happy parents = happy babies.

1. What do you think is the hardest thing about travelling with a baby?

So many things.

I still don’t understand why a small baby needs so many things. We travel alongside work, so we can’t afford super long trips. This means I tend to take all my diapers with me because I don’t want to waste time going to the supermarket looking for them. It makes for a bulky bag, but it doesn’t mean you actually have to carry it around.

1. What do you think is the best thing about travelling with a baby?

The feeling of pride is immeasurable. On his first long-haul flight with Nova, he was very well behaved. When we got on the plane, a lot of people looked at us and he joked that it was going to be a nightmare, but he proved them wrong. They congratulated us at the end of the flight. It may have been a fluke, but I was glowing.

Similarly, when I played on a glacier in Canada, I felt so proud to be able to keep my love of travel alive and show my young child a part of the world. He won’t remember, but we have photos and videos he’ll love. So much better than my disgusting childhood photos!!

1. Can you tell us a little about your blog? How you started blogging and where it’s taken you?

That’s why I blog at Taylor Hearts Travel, focusing on redefining family travel. A lot of people told me that I should stop traveling when I got pregnant, or that if I was going on holiday I’d go to Butlins, but that’s not my thing. I want to show that stylish family travel exists and, most importantly, that a life of travel is possible even after the baby is born.

I started my blog over three years ago (pre-baby and still focused on traveling in style) because I thought it would be a good way to share my tips. My friends and their friends are always asking for advice so I thought it would be easy to point them to my site. Plus, my memory is shocking so it’s great that he can record all my adventures in one place.

I’ve been all over the world, from Bali to Peru, Australia to Sweden. There are still many places I want to see.

1. If you won the lottery, what would you buy and where would you go first?

My first purchase would definitely be a plane ticket! I would like to see more of Canada, especially Vancouver. His two weeks in Alberta weren’t enough.

I also want to relax in Cuba. I’ve never had much interest in New Zealand, but lately I’ve been feeling the urge to go explore it. Now all I have to do is play the lottery….

1. If you were to live by one quote, what would it be?

I’m not a big quote person, but I live by the belief that everything happens for a reason. I also have a tattoo on my back!

1. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have three things, what would they be?

Jay, Nova, and Mini Explorer #2, which will be here soon.

1. What’s your number one travel hack?

Have you ever checked the price of a flight, tried to book it the next day, only to see a higher price? Before booking your flight or hotel, clear the cookies on your computer. It can really make a difference in price.

Have more questions? Leave them in the comment box or contact us. I’ll do my best to answer!

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