We know our FTLO alum are pretty cool, but we wanted to share how cool.
That's why we put together the FTLO Alum Series: Travel + Tell, where our alumni dish out the deets of their travel experiences with FTLO – the good, the wild and the amazing!
Read on to see what these millennial movers and shakers are doing as they explore the world with a new group of friends.
#FTLOALUM: Jen Elson
ftlo Trips:
Tuscany & Rome, 2018
Amalfi Coast & Puglia, 2018
Mexico City, 2019
Greece, 2019
Current City: New York, New York
Age: 31
Profession: Attorney
Horoscope sign: Sagittarius
Photo Cred: Courtesy of Jen Elson from her trips with FTLO.
FTLO, Travel + Tell
✈️ I love to travel because...
"I have the epitome of the travel bug and wanderlust.
I love to experience new cultures, try new foods, and visit the places you read about in books and magazines. I'm equal parts city dweller and beach bum. I can spend hours walking the street of a new city, and also days on end boating around islands and staring at turquoise water with my toes in the sand. I need to have a vacation booked at all times, so I have something exciting to look forward to. If only my job allowed me to work remotely from Europe multiple times per year!"
✨ Memorable Moments...
Italy: "On the Florence/Rome/Tuscany trip, FTLO works with a family in Tuscany who runs the cooking class, takes you truffle hunting, and then cooks brunch with truffle infused into every dish. The entire family is involved, and they're adorable! They're so passionate about Italy and Italian food and wine, and seem to genuinely love sharing their craft. As incredible as the food was everywhere we went, and as cheesy (no pun intended...) as it sounds, the food tasted better because you could see how much they loved cooking it."
Greece: "On the Greece trip, the catamaran day in Milos was so beautiful and picturesque. At one point, dolphins were swimming in the wake underneath our catamaran. It was like something straight out of a movie! The group had such an amazing time that first catamaran day, we decided to rent a catamaran during our last free day in Paros. All of the boat days on all of the trips have always been my favorites!"
🍜 Best Food Experiences...
Spaghetti alla Nerano (spaghetti with fried zucchini) in Amalfi and the the truffle-infused brunch after truffle hunting in Tuscany.
"Bottom line, pasta in America was ruined for me after the Italy trips..."
🌎 This travel experience was different for me because...
"Traveling completely solo can be daunting. Before discovering FTLO, I went to a few countries alone, and it wasn't as exciting and glamorous as I thought it would be. When I stumbled upon FTLO, their itineraries included activities (i.e. cooking classes and catamarans) that I never would have booked for myself when traveling solo. They also do a lot of off-the-beaten path activities that give you a glimpse into life in that country, not just the touristy version. I also really appreciate the balance of organized activity vs. free time."
📍 Recommendations
"If you have the flexibility, try to arrive at least a day early, to get over your jet lag before the trip begins. Better yet, if you have the time, keep going after the trip!"
"I think one of the best parts of traveling is experiencing the food, so eat all the pasta, cheese, tiramisu, and gelato in Italy, all the cheese and croissants in France, all of the paella in Spain, all of the tacos in Mexico City, and all of the fresh seafood in Greece. And of course, drink all of the wine everywhere! Also, if you're a shopaholic like me, leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs (especially for leather in Florence)!"
"Add an island to your Greece trip, add a city in Spain or Italy. You'll never look back and regret traveling to new places!"
💙 Next FTLO Trip I have my eyes on...
"South Africa! I'm a huge animal lover, so going on safari is at the very top of my bucket list!"
💡 want to travel with ftlo? my advice...
"You don’t have to wait until you’re dating someone, or have friends with the same financial means or amount of vacation days. What are you waiting for?! Book it!"
Check out FTLO trips Jen has been on (and is looking forward to!), including to Southern Italy, Tuscany & Rome, Barcelona / France, Greece, Mexico, South Africa, and more. (PS - We've got lots of new trips for 2020!!)
Are you an FTLO Alum? Share your story on the blog! Shoot us a message or send us a DM on Instagram for details.