Africa Travel Week
Nicholas Montemaggi describes himself as a child of tourism as his parents, a German mother and a father from Romagna, met on the Romagna Riviera in the 1980s. Tourism has always been in his blood and is now his work, passion and life, along with a newly blossomed love triathlons. Nicholas work for iambassador, an influencer marketing agency
How did you fall in love with travelling? Let’s say that travel/tourism has always been in my DNA. My mother is German and my father is Italian. They met back in the 80s at the Italian Riviera, near the city of Rimini, which is still considered to be one of the most important tourism hubs of Europe. I always introduce myself literally as a “son of tourism” as I spent majority of my childhood between Italy- where I grew up; and Germany- where I spent all my Summer and Winter holidays until I was 16. I travelled between these two countries in every way possible: by car, train, plane and bike. I have yet to walk to Germany, as it has always been a dream of mine to do. Journeying by foot crossing the Alps, who knows?
What kind of traveller are you? I like to immerse myself with the local community and residents of a destination the best that I can. I usually like to rent out an apartment away from the tourist places and live the destination as a local.
What’s your travel philosophy? To eat, feel and live like a local!
What are your top travel essentials? Running shoes, bathing suit, goggles and my bike pedals! I love to swim, bike, run and I never travel without those essentials. I like to rent a bike and discover the destination, or to wake up early and run through the empty streets of a still sleeping city in order to see all its monuments and sights without having to bounce into other people or traffic.
Where was your most memorable trip? South Africa and New Zealand share the first place on my most memorable trips podium. South Africa can be defined as my third home (after Italy and Germany) I simply love everything about it, and I feel very lucky to travel there once a year, I have so many friends there now! New Zealand was my first and big solo trip ever, I spent almost a month traveling through the country on my own and it was amazing.
How has traveling changed your life? The most important change in my life that travel brought and continues to bring is an open mind!
When borders open again and the world starts to return to ‘a new normal’ what’s your first travel destination on your list? Germany, to visit my grandparents and brother that live there and that I haven’t seen since Christmas.
Best travel advice you can share? Be open minded and ready to build your own perspective of a place and its people!
