The Global Travellers Interview Series | Ruben | Gamin Traveler
Reading Time: 3 minutes
I’m Ruben Arribas from Spain, co founder of Gamin Traveler and Gamin Traveler on Instagram with my girlfriend Rachel Pregunta from the Philippines. We are currently based in the Philippines and are traveling around Southeast Asia and the Philippines mostly.
#2 What got you into travelling?
What got me into travelling mostly was maps. I love geography and maps. And after a few years thinking of traveling at 26 years old, I started with small trips around Europe and finally I decided to travel full time at 28 years old.
#3 What is your favorite destination in the world and why ?
I have a few favorite destinations in the world. From my trips in South America I would choose Colombia, I really enjoyed the North part of Colombia.
From Europe I like Norway, I think the nature is amazing and it’s a peaceful country.
From Asian part I would choose Philippines without doubt. Im based in the Philippines and I got surprised in all the trips that I do, how beautiful it is here and its not so touristic.
From Oceania I would choose New Zealand for the same reason than Norway.
Im a budget traveller who loves local experiences. Before, I was traveling more on a budget since I was traveling with savings. Now, I work online and I travel on a budget, eating local food, meeting local people, and it allows me to be more comfortable before my budget. I prefer beaches than mountains usually, I love enjoying sunsets taking pictures and having a cold beer.
#5 What’s your most memorable experience during your travels ?
I have really many memorable experiences after 9 years traveling. But my most epic trip was my bicycle trip from Spain to Norway where I cycled 10 000 kilometers in 6 months around Europe. The trip was on a budget; sleeping with locals and tent most of the time. And the experience was amazing. I still keep friendship with a few people that I met during that trip.
#6 Your take on responsible travel ?
Yes, from the beginning, I’m always trying to enjoy respecting the environment and local costumes. I did a few volunteers during my trips and I learnt a lot in all of them. I would love to do more in the future, hope soon!
#7 How do you sustain your travels ?
Nowdays, thanks to our blog and Instagram, we can afford traveling on a budget. Plus, Rachel and I have an Instagram agency where we offer services online for Instagram, creating strategies, growth, monetizing and even creating content for them.
#8 How do you manage your budget during your travels ?
I’m an expert in budgeting and we are also doing sponsorships during our trips. Staying at hotels in exchange of creating content and also bringing products to shoot for companies. This allowed me to save a lot. I always use local transportation, local places for food and traveling slow makes me manage my budget properly.
#9 What’s the best thing you have eaten and where ?
This is a hard question haha I love Thai and Chinese food. I tasted great food in Malaysia and Thailand. But also I really liked the food in Greece and France.
Maybe one of my favorite meals was in Ibiza in a friend’s restaurant. The food was amazing, and I enjoyed a lot meeting them after a few years. It made a perfect combination.
#10 Best and worst airport story…
Best airport story for sure in Changi airport. I was heading to the Philippines and it was overbooked. They paid me a dinner and instead of flying at 1 am, I flew at 6 am and I got a free flight with that company. It was awesome!
The worst airport story maybe in Boracay. It was a typhoon and we couldnt leave Boracay isalnd to reach the airport because of the weather. Just for a 5 minutes boat ride, we got stucked for a day in the port and it made us lose our flight and it changed all the plans. Since we were heading to Singapore, we didn’t book the tickets again because it was so expensive flying from Boracay and we had to head to Manila and we flew after 2 days.
#11 What tip would you like to give to fellow travellers?
I always recommend smile everywhere, be nice with people and people will be nice with you. Try to be a responsible traveler, enjoy and learn new things everyday which is the best of traveling.
An Interview with Ruben aka Gamin Traveler
#1 Who are you and How would you describe yourself?
I’m Ruben Arribas from Spain, co founder of Gamin Traveler and Gamin Traveler on Instagram with my girlfriend Rachel Pregunta from the Philippines. We are currently based in the Philippines and are traveling around Southeast Asia and the Philippines mostly.
#2 What got you into travelling?
What got me into travelling mostly was maps. I love geography and maps. And after a few years thinking of traveling at 26 years old, I started with small trips around Europe and finally I decided to travel full time at 28 years old.
#3 What is your favorite destination in the world and why ?
I have a few favorite destinations in the world. From my trips in South America I would choose Colombia, I really enjoyed the North part of Colombia.
From Europe I like Norway, I think the nature is amazing and it’s a peaceful country.
From Asian part I would choose Philippines without doubt. Im based in the Philippines and I got surprised in all the trips that I do, how beautiful it is here and its not so touristic.
From Oceania I would choose New Zealand for the same reason than Norway.
#4 What sort of a traveller are you ?
Im a budget traveller who loves local experiences. Before, I was traveling more on a budget since I was traveling with savings. Now, I work online and I travel on a budget, eating local food, meeting local people, and it allows me to be more comfortable before my budget. I prefer beaches than mountains usually, I love enjoying sunsets taking pictures and having a cold beer.
#5 What’s your most memorable experience during your travels ?
I have really many memorable experiences after 9 years traveling. But my most epic trip was my bicycle trip from Spain to Norway where I cycled 10 000 kilometers in 6 months around Europe. The trip was on a budget; sleeping with locals and tent most of the time. And the experience was amazing. I still keep friendship with a few people that I met during that trip.
#6 Your take on responsible travel ?
Yes, from the beginning, I’m always trying to enjoy respecting the environment and local costumes. I did a few volunteers during my trips and I learnt a lot in all of them. I would love to do more in the future, hope soon!
#7 How do you sustain your travels ?
Nowdays, thanks to our blog and Instagram, we can afford traveling on a budget. Plus, Rachel and I have an Instagram agency where we offer services online for Instagram, creating strategies, growth, monetizing and even creating content for them.
#8 How do you manage your budget during your travels ?
I’m an expert in budgeting and we are also doing sponsorships during our trips. Staying at hotels in exchange of creating content and also bringing products to shoot for companies. This allowed me to save a lot. I always use local transportation, local places for food and traveling slow makes me manage my budget properly.
#9 What’s the best thing you have eaten and where ?
This is a hard question haha I love Thai and Chinese food. I tasted great food in Malaysia and Thailand. But also I really liked the food in Greece and France.
Maybe one of my favorite meals was in Ibiza in a friend’s restaurant. The food was amazing, and I enjoyed a lot meeting them after a few years. It made a perfect combination.
#10 Best and worst airport story…
Best airport story for sure in Changi airport. I was heading to the Philippines and it was overbooked. They paid me a dinner and instead of flying at 1 am, I flew at 6 am and I got a free flight with that company. It was awesome!
The worst airport story maybe in Boracay. It was a typhoon and we couldnt leave Boracay isalnd to reach the airport because of the weather. Just for a 5 minutes boat ride, we got stucked for a day in the port and it made us lose our flight and it changed all the plans. Since we were heading to Singapore, we didn’t book the tickets again because it was so expensive flying from Boracay and we had to head to Manila and we flew after 2 days.
#11 What tip would you like to give to fellow travellers?
I always recommend smile everywhere, be nice with people and people will be nice with you. Try to be a responsible traveler, enjoy and learn new things everyday which is the best of traveling.
I didn’t know you were Spanish !
Interesting.
I read all of the above in a Spanish accent.
Great job guys !
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