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: Marc Phillips
Photo Cred: Courtesy of Marc Phillips.
FTLO Trips:
Barcelona & South of France, 2017
Greek Islands, 2018
Current City: New York, NY
Age: 29
Profession: Content Director, IBM Watson Health
Horoscope sign: Leo ♌ ("I celebrated my birthday on the Greek Islands in style, thanks to our trip leader Makayla!")
Photo Cred: Courtesy of Marc Phillips.
FTLO, Travel + Tell
✈️ I love to travel because...
"My family didn't do much international travel when I was young because my parents were small business owners. Once I was a few years into my own career and felt comfortable taking weeks off from work, I knew I wanted to see the rest of the world. I consider myself an open-minded person, so learning about new cultures, viewing historic architecture, tasting unique flavors, and meeting new friends seemed like an ideal trip. I heard from friends about some international tour groups, but when I looked up the options nothing seemed to appeal to those topics above. Until of course, I found FTLO on a whim thanks to their good SEO!"
✨ Memorable Moments...
"I don't think there is just one moment, but any time I floated in the Mediterranean sea (either on a raft or a catamaran) I felt totally at ease. Due to Europe's generous open container laws, we certainly enjoyed some Rosé on the water, which signaled relaxation. I use vacations as a chance to unwind from a stressful, deadline-driven career."
🍜 Best Food Experiences...
🇬🇷 Greece: I loved the unique texture and taste of stingray toast.
🇫🇷 France: We went on a wine tasting at an exclusive vineyard in Chateauneuf du Pape."
🌎 This travel experience was different for me because...
"FTLO set the bar high. The only other organized travel I did prior to FTLO was through Birthright Israel as a 20-year-old college student. It's not fair to compare the two. What I will say is that the combination of authentic local experiences, professionals, and stunning destinations is something not frequently offered to people in our age group."
📍 Recommendations
"No matter where you go, always try do things you can't normally do in your home country. For me, that meant trying authentic Greek food, exploring a one-million-year old caldera on Antiparos, and touring a fortress city in the South of France."
"When you travel, you should do things that open your mind to other ways of life. If you don't push your boundaries, you won't know what you're capable of."
💙 Next FTLO Trip I have my eyes on...
"The Scandinavian trip! Keeping my fingers crossed for the possibility of FTLO Japan in the future, too."
💡 Want to travel with FTLO? My advice...
"Be your best self and use it as an opportunity to learn about people from entirely different cultures. It’s also OK to enjoy living in the moment without constantly thinking about capturing pictures for the ‘gram."
Check out FTLO trips Marc has been on (and is looking forward to!) to the Greek Islands, Barcelona & South of France, Japan, South Africa, Morocco and Vietnam, and more.