Meet Travel Journalist, Travis Levius
He may just be the *real* international man of mystery...
When I first met Travis, well… the world was still shut down circa November 2020. We bonded as two determined travelers, amongst a few others, who were ready to start ushering tourism back to destinations that rely on tourist dollars through our storytelling. We were in Marrakech at La Mamounia and admittedly all felt right in the world as we sipped mint tea by the pool and frolicked in the orange gardens during an elaborate picnic.
Perhaps what felt the most refreshing, though, was the authentic conversations we had about the pandemic’s affect on travel, as we listed through our concerns about how it would shape the future of travel. Little did we know how travel would rebound, and I think since that trip, I haven’t seen Mr. Travis Levius slow down — from travel to creating content about travel — he’s been everywhere. And I’m so excited to share his story with you and introduce you to your new favorite follow (trust me, @misterlevius as he’s known on the ‘gram knows how to create some seriously entertaining clips, all while instilling wanderlust).
What was the first trip you took that made you fall in love with travel?
My first trip abroad was studying abroad—a five-week summer stint in Galway, Ireland and London, England (with a quick weekend in Paris). As a pre-teen and world geography nerd, I read The New York Times Almanac for fun, so it was a bonafide dream come true for me to immerse myself in three different countries, and to satiate that unyielding curiosity about the world beyond the U.S. that I've had since I was a young child.
Within travel, what are some of the genres you stray toward?
I first started in culinary travel, then graduated to luxury travel, often covering hotels and resorts within that sector. I tend to cover far-flung and remote luxury offerings like private islands and exclusive coastal retreats, and wellness, food and sustainability are oft-seen keywords for these entities.
What are three of the destinations you think encompass these genres really well?
Maldives, South Africa, and Seychelles
Is there a hospitality brand you find you particularly resonate with? If so, what about them reflects what you look for in a trip and why?
For cities: I wrote on Twitter a while back that I never met a Kimpton Hotel I didn't like, and it still rings true (same goes for Thompson Hotels). I love a city boutique hotel with character, great restaurant and/or bar venues and chic and contemporary design.
In terms of tour operators, Micato Safaris blew me away with their generosity—so many gifts and travel gear for every guest even before you hop on the plane!—super-organized flow of itinerary, service and passion to uplift disadvantaged local communities. I see why it's been Travel + Leisure's #1 safari outfitter for 10 years in a row...a true masterclass on guest experiences.
As a creator, what do you think is the success of staying ahead of the ever-changing travel landscape?
Funny enough I feel like I'm a bit behind! The changes in platforms' algorithms, audio trends, and the like is a bit overwhelming, but I try to make it work for me by doing it at my own pace to prevent burnout and overwhelm. What's helped me stand out as a creator is my original video content—instead of the "trendy" sounds and templates—in the form of travel skits. Applying creative humor to travel, and often luxury travel, is my authentic expression, and I think people resonate and appreciate the unique content (including brands!). And I hope to see more brands in travel and lifestyle embrace humor as a social marketing tool.
Is there a trend within travel you're watching at the moment? If not, any predictions for 2023 trends or hotspots?
I'm seeing more hotels, both urban and remote, focus on sleep-focused wellness, which I'm all for (as I don't have the best sleeping patterns).
Do you have a plane ritual?
I always board as early as possible to get settled into my seat, and avoid having to wait in a long line to get to said seat. Most importantly, I board early to guarantee overhead space for my carry-on suitcase, especially for those fully-booked flights. For long-haul flights, I pack my slippers in my tote bag and put them on immediately once I'm seated, and place my walking shoes in the overhead bin. It makes the journey much more comfortable! I also always have an eye mask and earplugs on standby.
What about the first thing you do when you check-in to a hotel room?
I'm a views junkie, so I'm going straight to the window(s) (and yes, I will politely ask if I can change rooms if the views are particularly poor!). I do a general sweep to see if it's clean, and assess the plug and USB outlet situation. Unless a hotel is themed on digital detoxing, there's no excuse for any hotel that has opened in the 2020s to be without bedside plugs and USB ports. If It's a luxury hotel, I'm definitely checking the closet for the robe, and if I'm not pressed to leave the room for anything I might wear it within the first 10 minutes of check-in!
Any "bucket list" destinations on your radar at the moment? If so, why?
I still haven't been to New Zealand, Brazil or French Polynesia, and would love to this year. All three countries appear to have tremendous natural beauty (and great hotels) and I am keen to see it for myself.
Paris, because I haven't been in 10 years (!) and I know there's a lot of newness to experience, virtually anywhere on the African continent because I love traveling on the Continent, and Tokyo because I've done southern Japan but not the great capital. Would also love to finally see Lake Como and the Amalfi Coast.
You spend your time between Atlanta, London and Johannesburg — where can we find you in these cities when you're not traveling?
I don't go out too much in Atlanta, but in London I love spending time at any of The Hoxton's hotel lobby lounges, or rooftop situations like Frank's Cafe based atop a former car park. In London, there are so many choices and new places that I don't often go to venues more than once or twice.
Johannesburg's a lot more streamlined for me: on the weekends you'll find me at Playground Market and Fourways Market for drinks, food, DJing and top-tier people-watching; The Royale for boozy catch-ups surrounded by local, stylish hipsters; and the lounge section at Saint (a splashy Italian restaurant) for the absolute best "grown and sexy" Sunday parties.
Some recent clips:
From cryptocurrency to NFTs, hotels are opening their doors to the new digital landscape
Yoshino’s Sommelier On Creating a Balanced Wine List for Chef Yoshida’s Meticulous Omakase
Preserving Napa’s heritage vineyards – Gagnon-Kennedy
Before I sign off, in case you haven’t figured out what’s different around here — I changed platforms! I am now using Substack for Jilux (swapped from Mailchimp) so things will look slightly different here, but the content will remain the same: unique lodging, personal narratives and captivating personalities within the world of luxury hospitality.
XOXO,
J