5 Minutes With Paula McInerney

For McCool Travel’s 85th travelinterview, I am pleased to present Paula McInerney. Paula and her husband Gordon are full-time professional travel writers, winning many awards for contributions to helping other baby boomers and empty nesters to become independent travelers.
Paula’s bio:

“I’m Paula, a travel writer at Contented Traveller, a travel site that I run with my husband Gordon. We represent the fit, free and financial baby boomers who want to experience unique things and are savvy enough to organize their own travels. Our site not only shares real life inspirational and amusing stories of our own exploits but also shares resources and tips to help others gain the confidence to travel their own way. From houseboats in Amsterdam to surrealistic art galleries in Strasbourg, cave houses in Turkey and 5 star hotels, we aim to keep you on your toes with our left of center approach.”

Paula McInerney
Paula McInerney, ContentedTraveller.com

Paula McInerney

Hometown…
Wollongong, NSW, Australia—where we live on the beach
Always in my luggage…
Macair, iphone, chargers—I get skittish otherwise
3 favorite home-away-from-home places…

  1. Nozawa Onsen, Japan—we go there every year
  2. Sydney, Australia because it us only 80km away and a beautiful city
  3. Amsterdam—just totally fell for it.

A favorite travel memory is…

A think it was our houseboat in Amsterdam. I had a broken leg from skiing in Australia and it was very painful to get around but staying on the canal and having other boats go past was fun… and we did get to explore the city, though slowly.

Paula McInerney
Paula McInerney, ContentedTraveller.com

3 favorite travel brands…

  1. North Face
  2. otherwise we are fairly eclectic

3 money-saving travel tactics I use are…

  1. become travel writers ☺
  2. a separate account for travel that is only touched for travel
  3. free walking tours, did a great one in Tokyo with volunteer guides

3 ways that I have fun while traveling are…

  1. talking and interacting with local people
  2. definitely eating anything and everything that is typical of the country
  3. Walking and getting lost regularly. You find the very best things by accident.

 

Paula McInerney
Gordon and Paula McInerney, ContentedTraveller.com

8 word (or less) travel mantra…
“A Life lived in fear, is a life half lived”—I know that’s 10 words but Math is not my strong suit ☺
Favorite non-travel website …
I go to bed and read Huffington Post—not sure if that is good or bad but I do.
Most memorable souvenir …
a black eye from walking into a door on a remote Indonesian island
Favorite cheap eat …
depends on country but love sashimi, or tom yum
Recent discovery …
That I really loved Valencia, Spain. The people were so friendly, the architecture of the city was so diverse and, we graduated from a paella academy.
I am fortunate to have met …
My husband and bestie who puts up with me picking up strangers everywhere.
I would like to meet …
Anyone who is interesting and has a story to share.

Paula McInerney
Paula and Gordon McInerney, ContentedTraveller.com

Thank you very much, Paula. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your travel inspiration and tips.
Follow Paula McInerney on FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestLinkedin, and Contented Traveller.
McCool Travel presents tips from travel experts in our 5 Minutes interview series—featuring travel industry giants, super frequent travelers, and adventurous persons. Previous 5 Minutes post: Peter Shankman.
Follow McCool Travel on FacebookTwitterInstagram, PinterestFlipboard, MediumLinkedIn, and Bloglovin.

Sharing is caring!

24 thoughts on “5 Minutes With Paula McInerney”

  1. I enjoy reading your 5 minute interviews Charles…they really are a great way to get to know those behind the blogs. It was fun to learn a little more about a fellow Aussie who also loves to eat anything and everything!

  2. Love your zest for life Paula! Charles, I enjoy reading your 5 Minutes With… Series. Travelers are very interesting and adventurous people and can share lots of wonderful stories.

  3. I like getting these glimpses into the other crazy people who travel and write about it! 🙂 Paula sounds like fun and I agree about what a pleasure Valencia is!

  4. It’s always fun to ‘meet’ a fellow traveler/blogger and your 5 minute series is a great way to do that, Charles! Paula, it was nice ‘meeting’ you two today!

  5. Love your 5 minutes interview series, always enjoy reading about other travel people. Paula’s travel adventures are fun to follow along, and I completely agree with her 3 ways to have fun while traveling: interacting with locals, try the food, walking/getting lost – these all make for a more enjoyable journey.
    Cheers,
    Susan

  6. Love your 5 minute interviews Charles and of course reading this one again is very poignant today. Paula was an amazing woman, quirky, feisty, friendly and fun.

Comments are closed.