X

Get FREE Email Updates

Sign Up

Dave's Travel Corner

Seeing the World One Step at a Time

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Guides
  • Journals
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Links
  • Interviews
  • About

interviews

Our interviews focus on the travel, entertainment and lifestyle industry,
with people who are making valuable contributions in their particular fields.


Lisa Niver: RTW Traveler

April 16, 2013 by Dave3 Comments

With Chef Curtis Stone and his brother Luke

I first met Lisa a number of years ago at an event in Los Angeles. Her unbridled enthusiasm for International travel is truly contagious. Few people are lucky to go on one Round the World Trip (RTW) in a lifetime; Lisa has been privileged to experience two RTW trips and in fact at the time of this original interview, was currently in the midst of her 2nd RTW trip.

The circumstances around receiving this interview were somewhat convoluted (as is common when one is on the road with no set schedule). I received emails from Lisa over the course of 4-5 weeks indicating the interview had been lost due to a broken laptop that occurred somewhere in rural India. She resurfaced recently in the tech savvy capital of Malaysia and was able to pull the “missing” interview off of her battle tested computer. Here it is, in its entirety (updated in June 2017).

Q. Tell us a bit about your website, wesaidgotravel.com, your goals for the site and how long it has been around?

I started www.wesaidgotravel.com in June 2010. We have now hosted 13 Travel Writing Competitions and published nearly 2000 writers. In June 2017, I was honored to be a finalist in two categories for the Southern California Journalism Awards.
 

Q. You have been on several Round the World Trips (RTW) and are currently in the middle of one now! Tell us about the challenges you face when planning trips of this magnitude (especially considering you do have a home base, apartment etc).

Traveling is my life. When I first started to rend my condo for a long trip, it involved a lot of planning. But now it is fairly simple to get out of town. I actually have a second set of toiletries so I am always packed to go!
 

Q. How do friends and family react to your long travel plans?

I am working on a project of 50 new things before I am 50 in October 2017. Everyone has been very supportive of my travels and interested in my new experiences. I was able to write for Sierra Club Magazine about skiing with the blind. www.sierraclub.org/sierra/green-life/adaptive-strategies
 

Q. What is one of your favorite 50 Things before you are 50?

In Park City, Utah, I was able to go on the Olympic Bobsled. I was totally terrified but I did it! I reported about it as my first segment for The Jet Set TV. I am their new adventure correspondent!
 

Q. I know you are getting close to visiting that coveted country #100! Which country is that going to be for you?

That is a great question! For the Traveler’s Century Club I have about 150 countries but on the standard UN count—I am at 99. My newest countries are 95: Bonaire, 96: Solomon Islands, 97: Monaco, 98: Scotland and 99: San Marino! I am decided where to go for 100—perhaps Brazil, Iceland, Antarctica, Papua New Guinea.
 

Q. Lisa – tell us about your time working on a cruise ships – that is certainly one way to see the world, versus how you are traveling now – independently.

Traveling as a backpacker with no plans of where to stay was a huge adjustment for me after living in a five star moving hotel. I have to say working for Princess Cruises, I always had a room to sleep in and I always knew where we were going.
 

Lisa the ski jumper
Lisa the artist
Lisa the double jumper
Lisa & her friend in a stunning location

Q. How did the writing competition get started?

In 2012, in Konark, India, I went to the UNESCO Sun Temple and they were having a Sand Art Festival. I was inspired to create the first Travel Writing Contest. There were over sixty writers from USA to Uzbekistan and from UK to Uganda participate. The current Summer Travel Writing Award is now #13! The theme will is Freedom and you can enter until Independence Day July 4th, 2017. Participate by sharing your story here http://wesaidgotravel.com/travel-writing-award/
 

Q. You have written for Luxury Magazine, Delta Sky Magazine, Sierra Club, Jewish Journal, National Geographic. How did you get started and who did you get featured in the Myanmar Times?

During a 27 day trip in Myanmar in October 2012, I read “The Myanmar Times” which is the only English language paper in the country. Figuring “if you don’t ask, you don’t get” I emailed TMT and offered a story about an American perspective on the Inle Lake Pagoda Festival. It turned out my story was in print during President Obama’s historic visit. Read the article here. www.mmtimes.com/index.php/lifestyle/travel/3170-at-inle-the-best-seats-in-the-house.html
 

Q. I know video has long been an important component of your website. How many videos do you have now?

I love making videos about my travels. I started with a Cisco Flip in 2011 and now have nearly 700 videos with 1.2 million views. I have channels on YouTube, Roku and Amazon and I film on my LG V20. You can view more her: www.youtube.com/user/WeSaidGoTravel
 

Q. Since you call Los Angeles “home” when you’re not traveling around the world what are some of your favorite experiences to enjoy in or around the City of Angels”?

I love to be in Los Angeles especially by the beach! I am excited about my art studio’s summer sale. One of my 50 things projects was to have my very first solo art show and I exhibited 50 new pieces. You can see them on my instagram “SimplyCeramics2”

instagram ART: www.instagram.com/simplyceramics2
instagram WSGT: www.instagram.com/wesaidgotravel
 

BIOGRAPHY:
Lisa Niver is a travel expert, writer, artist, entrepreneur, and on-camera host who has explored 99 countries. Niver has established a following through her written and video content, garnering over one million video views on YouTube, Amazon Fire Tv and Roku. She is the Adventure Correspondent for The Jet Set, the first travel based TV Talk show.

Niver is the founder of a top 100 travel blog, We Said Go Travel, that reaches more than 200,000 annually and is in the top 1/8 of the top 1% of all sites in the United States. In her tri-annual international travel writing competitions, she has published nearly 2000 writers from 75 countries.

She was invited to the United Nations as a Champions of Humanity ambassador, to the red carpet at the Oscars with United Airlines and to New Orleans for a project with American Express and Starwood Hotels.

Her recent stories include Dutch designer villas for Luxury Magazine, interviewing Fabien Cousteau for Delta Sky, skiing with the blind for Sierra, Ubud cremation ceremony for National Geographic and scuba diving in the Solomon Islands for Smithsonian.

She also contributes to USA Today, Wharton Business Magazine, the Jewish Journal and is verified on Twitter and Facebook. Niver was a 2012 nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, a 2014 nominee for the Charles Bronfman Prize and a finalist in two categories for the 59th annual 2016 Southern California Journalism Awards.

Visit her travel website, www.wesaidgotravel.com for more stories from the road.

Related posts:

Lee Abbamonte: Global Super Traveler David Stanley: Traveler & Guidebook Author Neil Mandt: Actor, Producer & Traveler Kimberly Fisher: Model, Travel Writer & Philanthropist Savannah Grace: Author & Traveler

Filed Under: Interviews · Tagged: America, Antarctica, Art, Beach, Brazil, Britain, Burma, California, Cruising, England, Festival, Film, Iceland, India, Interview, Lifestyle, Los Angeles, Malaysia, Monaco, National Geographic

Comments

  1. The Guy says

    December 13, 2013 at 9:59 am

    I think that is a great story about getting an article in The Myanmar Times!

    It is great to see Lisa living her life to the full and not being held back by work or family. I wonder what that little girl will say if they plan a third RTW tour!

  2. Dave says

    December 13, 2013 at 11:59 am

    Yes, they are still going with no end in site – I just saw them in LA not too long ago and hope to meet up with them in Southern Thailand sometime in January. Lisa and George are never to far from Thailand it seems!

  3. Sanch Mark says

    March 6, 2014 at 10:57 am

    I know it really nice story about getting an article in The Myanmar Times!

    I love and lots of love, waiting new story

    Thanks

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want an avatar to show with your comments? Get a free Gravatar

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow @DaveDTC

Get FREE Email Updates  I

Categories

Interviews

  • “Hiko in Tonga” – A Vanishing Culture of Women Jugglers in Tonga – Interview with Paprika Leaverton, Filmmaker, Professional Juggler and Entertainment Performer
  • A harsh but beautiful wildlife haven at the bottom of the world – Interview with Vicki Foster, Government Officer of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands
  • Adam Pervez: Travel Writer, Speaker
  • Adam Shepard: Author and Speaker
  • Adrian Qais: Adventure Traveller
  • Ashley Colburn: Travel Host, Producer & Writer
  • Boyd McCleary, Former Governor of the British Virgin Islands
  • Brady Trautman, Round the World Sailor, The Delos Project
  • Charles Duncombe: Founder, Holidaysplease
  • Christopher Birt, Actor and Traveler
  • Christopher Elliot Consumer Advocate and Journalist
  • Conversation, Margaret Lehmann – Peter Lehmann Wines, Barossa Valley
  • David Stanley: Traveler & Guidebook Author
  • Discover the ultimate indulgence of hanging 1,200 feet off a cliff in the Sacred Valley, Peru – Interview with Natalia Rodriguez, General Manager of Natura Vive
  • Don George: Editor & Travel Author
  • Doug Lansky: Travel Writer + Speaker
  • Ed Stafford: Adventurer
  • Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom
  • Erden Eruç: Global Circumnavigater and Adventurer
  • Everett Potter – Travel Journalist
  • Fatspatrol (Fathima) Mohiuddin, Artist and Muralist
  • Follow the Nomadic Footprints in Kyrgyzstan – Interview with Aisha Mambetalieva, Director and co-founder of Kyrgyz Tourism LLC
  • From the World’s Smallest Classroom to the Oscars – Interview with Pawo Choyning Dorji, Producer, Director and Writer of “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”, the Nominee for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards
  • Gloria Huwiler: Actress
  • Guðrið Højgaard, CEO Visit Faroe Islands
  • Horror Talk with Rich Ragsdale – Director, Composer, Producer and Writer
  • Ian Cumming, Entrepreneur & Founder Travel Massive
  • Interview with Joe Sidek, father of George Town Festival
  • Interview with Tobias Hägg, Photographer and Aerial Artist
  • Isabel Leong Travel Blogger
  • James Asquith, Youngest to Visit all 196
  • James Kaiser: Photographer, Guidebook Author
  • Jens Notroff, Archaeologist, Illustrator, and Science Communicator
  • Jessica Matthews & Julia Silverman: sOccket Co-founders
  • Jo Carroll, co-owner of Winchcombe Farm Holidays
  • Johan Ernst Nilson: International Explorer
  • Johnny Jet: Travel Expert and Travel Blogger
  • Joseph Rosendo, TV Personality & Travel Journalist
  • Justin Zackham, Screenwriter, Producer & Traveler
  • Karen Rowley – Owner Many More Travels
  • Karl Bushby, Adventurer and Author
  • Kimberly Fisher: Model, Travel Writer & Philanthropist
  • La Carmina – Blogger, Author, Journalist and TV Host
  • Landing in Paro, One of the World’s Most Dangerous Airports – Interview with Chhimi Dorji, Captain of Drukair
  • Larry Jacobson: Sailor, Author
  • Lee Abbamonte: Global Super Traveler
  • Leif Harum – Author, Backpacker & World Traveler
  • Lisa Niver: RTW Traveler
  • Living in the Archipelago That Whale Sharks Call Home – Interview with Founder of the Mafia Island Tourism Association, Peter Byrne
  • Lynn Gilmartin: Australian Presenter and Traveler
  • Marilyn Conroy, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Riviera River Cruises
  • Mark Jason Williams, Award-Winning Playwright, Essayist and Travel Writer
  • Matt Ruby, New York City Stand-up Comedian
  • Matthijs Keij, CEO of Withlocals
  • Meet the Brummy who turned his love for his hometown into a walking tour – Rob Ankcorn, the co-founder of Real Birmingham Free Walking Tour
  • Michael Wigge: Reporter & Filmmaker
  • Mike Corey, Adventure Travel YouTuber & BBC Television Host
  • Neil Mandt: Actor, Producer & Traveler
  • Ole Orvér, Chief Commercial Officer of Finnair
  • Patrick Smith: Airline Pilot and Author
  • Peter Greenberg, The Travel Detective
  • Peter Mondavi Sr: Longtime Napa Winemaker, Industry leader
  • Pilots, Amelia Rose Earhart & Patrick Carter
  • Rachel Rudwall, TV Host & Producer
  • Ramona Bruland, Adventure, Lifestyle & Adventure TV Host
  • Richard Bangs: Global Explorer, Author
  • Robert Reid: Lonely Planet USA Editor
  • Robert Young Pelton: Author, Filmmaker, Journalist, Adventurer
  • Rolf Potts: Travel Writer & Journalist
  • Russ Hedge, CEO of Hostelling International USA
  • Ryan & Emily, The Snail Travelers
  • Ryan Vasquez, Broadway, Movie and TV Actor and Singer
  • Sam Shank, CEO HotelTonight
  • Sarah Dandashy, Founder Ask A Concierge
  • Savannah Grace: Author & Traveler
  • She Walks the Earth – Angela Marie Maxwell, Explorer, Inspirational Speaker, Empowerment Coach
  • Skuli Mogensen, Founder & CEO WOW air
  • Stuart Every – CEO and Founder of Dolphin Creative
  • Teri Johnson: Co-host of Travelista TV
  • The Earl of Yarmouth, co-founder of The Secret Aristocrat Company
  • The Utopia in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean – Interview with Shirley Squibb, Deputy Head of the Tourism Department of Tristan da Cunha
  • The Vawter Family – Vawters on the Water
  • Tom Waller: Producer, Director and Writer
  • Tony Wheeler: Founder of Lonely Planet
  • Tori James, Adventurer and Speaker
  • Vanessa Pirotta, Whale Researcher
  • Virginia Chan, Founder of Humid with a Chance of Fishballs
  • Visit Cyprus – The Deputy Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus
  • Walter “Yukon” Yates: Adventurer & Entrepreneur
  • Yung Chang: Writer & Director

Latest Posts

  • Russ Hedge, CEO of Hostelling International USA
  • Wine, Dine and Unwind this February During Walla W…
  • Cafe Artisanal Cirpes, Colombia – February 2…
  • A Most Memorable Experience: Swimming with Pigs in…
  • Wild Birds by Daniel Baylis

Explore

  • Above the Clouds
  • Guides
  • Highlight of the Month
  • Interviews
  • Journals
  • Press Releases
  • Videos

Prepare

  • Book Reviews
  • Pack List
  • Quiz: Geography
  • Quiz: Travel
  • Tour Booking
  • Travel Insurance
  • Travel Products

Share

  • Contribute
  • Forums
  • Links
  • Photos

About

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Contributors
  • Email Dave
  • Media Coverage
  • Media Kit
Hi I'm Dave. After a life changing trip in 1996, I began this site as a creative outlet to educate, inspire and share travel experiences. Read more...
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Return to top of page
Copyright © 1996–2023 Dave's Travel Corner · All Rights Reserved · Log in

7ads6x98y