Former flight attendant Autumn Carolynn offers tips and travel insights as she recounts some favorite travel destinations, a harrowing night on the streets of Budapest, and her journey to becoming a professional travel photographer and author of the book Traveling in Wonder.
As a child, Autumn Carolynn gazed skyward, dreaming of the day she'd soar above the clouds. Now, with the passport stamps of 30 countries adorning her well-traveled pages, she sits down with me, Christi Cassidy, to recount her evolution from a flight attendant to a travel design manager and travel photographer. Our conversation sweeps across the globe, from the academic pathways of Canterbury to the high skies and the intricate world of travel planning. Autumn's stories are a mosaic of laughter, mishaps and invaluable insights that remind us of travel's transformative power on our lives.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to confidently navigate the globe alone? Autumn opens the curtain on the challenges and triumphs of solo travel, her journey into the world of flight attendants—where every half-point in training could change your fate—and the artistry behind capturing moments that tell a story. She shares personal anecdotes and practical tips, and together we celebrate the special kind of magic one finds in new destinations and long-lasting memories made with friends, strangers and loved ones alike.
Wrapping up our adventure, we tackle the intricacies of trip planning, from choosing accommodations to embracing the spontaneity of travel. Autumn encourages us to push past travel anxiety, to seize the day and book that flight, immersing ourselves in the rich tapestry of cultures awaiting discovery. Her book, Traveling in Wonder, beckons with tales from her voyages and serves as a guide for the anxious traveler seeking to conquer fears. So, tune in, get inspired, and perhaps you'll find yourself planning your own journey into the wonderful world of travel.
-------- HIGHLIGHTS ---------
0:03:10 - Childhood Dream of Becoming Flight Attendant
0:06:18 - Followed Gut Feeling, Became Flight Attendant
0:12:05 - Benefits of Solo vs Group Travel
0:18:53 - Rediscovering Photography During Lockdown
0:43:55 - Finding Flight Deals Using Kayak
0:47:27 - Advancements in Travel Technology
0:51:17 - Flexible Travel Plans and Destinations
0:53:42 - Overcoming Anxiety Through New Experiences
Resources recommended by Autumn Carolynn:
Reddit - travel subreddit
Rick Steves travel guides
Places mentioned in this episode:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Canterbury, England
Newcastle, England
Australia
Costa Rica
San Francisco
Iceland
Chicago, Illinois
Elmhurst, Illinois
Illinois State University
Norway
Japan
Budapest, Hungary
Seoul, South Korea
Contact information:
Website: https://autumncarolynn.com
Instagram, Facebook and YouTube: @autumncarolynnphotography
TikTok: @autumncarolynnphotograph (no y)
Christi: [00:00:00] Welcome to Moving Along. Autumn Carolynn is my guest today. She is a former flight attendant and author of the new book, Traveling in Wonder, which takes us on her journey to 30 countries over the last 10 years. First, as a student studying abroad, then as a flight attendant, then as a travel agent, then And travel design manager, which we'll ask her more about in a moment. And now as a travel photographer. The book has both her memories and journal entries from her days traveling, as well as her own photography. She also has a very lively Instagram account, and we'll put her Instagram in the show notes for you to see some of her photographs. Welcome, Autumn.
Autumn Carolynn: Thank you so much. I am so excited and happy to be here.
Christi: We're [00:01:00] glad to have you. Anytime we get to have a flight attendant, somebody who's traveled the world like you have, is a great day.
Autumn Carolynn: Thank you.
Christi: Let me ask you, you were born and raised in Elmhurst, which is a Chicago suburb, and then you moved to Minneapolis, Minneapolis?
Christi: to become a flight attendant. You still live in Minneapolis. What did travel and moving mean to you as a child?
Autumn Carolynn: Oh well, I started, I'm going to be honest, my very first flight that I ever took, I was six weeks old. And my parents brought me to Florida to visit my grandmother. And ever since then, I grew up flying back and forth to visit my grandma, and I just loved flying ever since I was a kid. I loved being on the airplane. I loved getting the airplane wings. I loved taking off and watching out the window. I think that [00:02:00] really just, I remember being young and watching the flight attendants and imagining myself as being one, one day but I didn't think it would ever actually really happen. Originally I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. And I went and I taught invitation to teach in high school. And I decided that that was not the way that I wanted to go. And that I really liked traveling a lot more. So that's kind of the progression and how I became more accustomed to it.
Christi: you actually saw yourself, or could see yourself, or imagined yourself as a flight attendant when you were a kid.
Autumn Carolynn: Yes, and there's actually in my childhood photo album, I have a picture of me on a Southwest flight and the flight attendant let me do the announcements into the microphone for the whole plane.
Autumn Carolynn: And I was, I think I was like [00:03:00] seven or eight and I still have that picture. Maybe it was like 8 or 9, I think, and it was just, I look back on that picture and I'm like, if I could have told my younger self that I would be doing that for an actual job, I would be blown away completely. So it's kind of, it came full circle really, which is kind of magical, I think.
Christi: Oh, I think so. You made a a commitment to yourself, a promise to yourself to travel to 30 countries in 30 years, And that promise was made when you were studying abroad, when during college, your college year, was it 2014? You were a year abroad or 2013?
Autumn Carolynn: It was 2013, and when I studied abroad, I had this idea to go to 13 countries in 13 weeks, I was an English major, and so I had courses on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Thursday, I [00:04:00] would take the train into London, I studied abroad in Canterbury, England, and I took the train into London. I would sleep over in the airport on Thursday night, and then I would take the first flight out Friday morning to the new country, and I would stay there until Monday, and then Monday, I would, Monday night, I would take the train back to Canterbury to take my courses. And I did that for the 13 weeks, and when I got done, it was something where I really wanted to do more with travel. And I didn't quite know how or which way I would do, which is how I applied to be a flight attendant. And it was, I think, when I had the idea to do 30 countries in 30 years, it was when I was in my Quote unquote flight attendant era, if you will because I I was traveling to different countries and I just had this idea.
Autumn Carolynn: I was like, you know what I've [00:05:00] I've been to I think it was like 15 countries at that point and I was like I should challenge myself and see if I can do 30 and the original goal was going to be 30 countries under 30 years. It was going to be seven continents, and then it was going to be all the states, and unfortunately I did not get to go to Antarctica surprise, surprise, and then I also am missing the two states of Idaho and Wyoming.
Christi: Wow, and those actually aren't that far from where you are.
Autumn Carolynn: I know I really need to make the trip one of these days to Yellowstone.
Christi: I was gonna say it could be a National Parks, weekend getaway.
Autumn Carolynn: Yes, yes, exactly.
Christi: You had an experience, though. I don't think you had already decided to apply. to be a flight attendant, or maybe you had, but you, you spent four months after you graduated from [00:06:00] college and you went to the Illinois State University in Normal, right?
Christi: after you graduated, you decided you were going to go to Australia. And you spent four months working, I think you said four jobs. And this story is in your book. We're really uh, Captured my imagination. Wow, you saved 5, 000 in four months working four jobs And you did it and you bought a non refundable ticket to australia Then what happened?
Autumn Carolynn: And then I packed up everything. I had a job lined up in Australia. I had a place that I was going to stay. And three days before my trip, I had this very strange gut feeling that I shouldn't go. And I didn't know what it was. But I kept on arguing with myself and saying, but I should go because I have this opportunity.
Autumn Carolynn: Everything's lined up. But then I decided to listen to [00:07:00] my gut and I decided to let the non refundable ticket pass. And that was really hard for me to let that happen. But for some reason, I just kept on, it was just one of those moments where I was like, no, I need to stay and I don't know why, but I need to. And so then I did, and then I started just putting my application in all these different places that had to do with travel. And 10 days later from the day that the flight passed, I was on the phone in an interview for being a flight attendant.
Autumn Carolynn: And it was just the most unreal thing. what is so wild to me is that from one day, from one year to the day that I let the non refundable ticket pass, I was able to get a round trip ticket to Australia as a flight attendant for 120 round trip. And it was the one [00:08:00] year anniversary of letting that ticket continue and not going on that flight, to being able to go to Australia for two weeks and experience it, but as being a flight attendant. And I didn't line it up that way. It wasn't something that was planned. It was something that I realized after the fact. But that, like, gave me chills when I realized that it was the 1 year. And to this day, I'm so thankful that I listened to my gut and I did not go. Because now I feel like I've been able to have all these other experiences in all these other countries using my benefits at the time when I feel like Australia would have been a really amazing opportunity for me to go But I feel like I would not have been able to Go to the 30 countries if I would have stayed down there And worked there, but that's just That's just my, you know, my hunch. But yeah, that's kind of the story of how it all came [00:09:00] about.
Christi: and you were in a class of 1, 500 selected out of 250, 000 applications,
Autumn Carolynn: Yes, that is
Christi: Wow. And you studied like a dog, it sounds
Christi: like. Study, study, study, study for how long?
Autumn Carolynn: Yes. So when you go through flight attendant training, you are due to be in training six days a week, 12 hours a day. I would start my day at I think it was 5 AM and I would go until the evening and I had 1 day off on Sundays and every week we would get tests that we would have to pass with a completion of at least 90%. And there was 1, that was in my training course and she had gotten half a point wrong. It was an 89. 5 percent and she was not able to go on to the next week. And I [00:10:00] remember when that happened, it was like this shock of, wow, I could really go home any day. And. I would just say, you know what, at least I know that I tried my hardest. And flight attendant training was probably one of the hardest things that I've ever gone through. it was a really hard rewarding process. At the end, when I was able to graduate, I was like, I made it. Oh my gosh. I was just so thrilled. But yeah, I just, I never realized how much flight attendants know and go through for training. I was, that young kid getting those flight attendant wings, I had no clue that I, you know, when you're going through training, you're fighting fires, you're learning what to do in case of an emergency, you're deplaning in less than 90 seconds. You're doing water emergencies, all these things you have to get graded on and go through, and a lot of people just think of, flight attendants as helping people put their baggage up above and passing out snacks and getting, [00:11:00] you know, everyone in the plane and seated. But there's just so much more that, that we learn when we're going through that.
Christi: That's all the behind the scenes stuff that just for regular travelers. Yeah, we just, we don't know, we sometimes we read the little card along with you and sometimes we don't, which too. Yeah. it is very true I do it too.. When you were traveling, hitting 31 countries. You did it solo, didn't you?
Autumn Carolynn: A lot of them were solo. And then I met, I would meet people at the hostel and become friends with them there. There were some that I did fly with people that I did know. And then I met my husband and I flew with him as well. So it's kind of an eclectic mix. But the majority was solo,
Christi: there's a huge contingent of women who [00:12:00] revel in flying solo and traveling solo. And I wondered If you could share like the appeal of traveling solo versus traveling with a friend versus traveling with your husband
Autumn Carolynn: well, the number one thing that benefits me when I travel solo is The journey, because I, you are able to meet people from all over the world and it's one of those moments where you're sitting there and there are just people that you had no clue that you were going to meet and something that I really enjoy is getting to know a person who Like deep inside and having those really important conversations.
Autumn Carolynn: And sometimes being in a hostel is like the perfect environment for that. Because I feel like people who are traveling. And, there are like, don't get me wrong. There are tons of times and in [00:13:00] my book, I write about it where there's just like, these fun adventures that we go on and so, like, different places and running around and having fun that way. But I also feel like there's this really niche way of being able to get to know a person, but in that also getting to know yourself because you're telling them who you are, you're explaining where you came from you're talking about the favorite places that you love to go to, and it's really like a nurturing experience, I think But I also feel that the places and the times that I have gone with people including my husband, those are memories that I feel like I. Would never be able to experience on my own because I'm, I'm sharing it with another person and it's something where I can be able to talk to my husband and say, Hey, do you remember that one restaurant that we went to in Hong Kong? And it was amazing and, you know, having a conversation about that, [00:14:00] you know, because sometimes when you're solo, you don't, you can't really connect, because you may meet someone for a night and a weekend and hang out with them, and then next thing you know, you don't really talk to them again. And it's like that one step in time that's kind of an everlasting moment that you both will remember forever. So they just, they both have their really good points, and sometimes they both have their harder points. Sometimes when you're in a hostel and you're solo and you're in a dorm room with 27 other people and there are people going in and out of the dorm and waking you up in the middle of the night, and that can be difficult.
Autumn Carolynn: But then also there's my husband who snores and I have to wear earplugs and you know, so that's like another, there are different. aspects to it, but I do think just going and being somewhere is just a way to be able to experience it is what makes the journey worth it.
Christi: When you travel with other people [00:15:00] like your husband or a friend do you also keep a journal or do you only journal when you're traveling solo
Autumn Carolynn: That's a really good question. I keep a journal for both experiences. However, I have noticed that when I do travel with someone else, it does get to be a little bit more complicated with it. Keeping up with my journal entries oftentimes when I would write in my journal when I was traveling.
Autumn Carolynn: solo, it was when I was on a commute, I was either in a plane traveling somewhere. I was in a train waiting for a connection. But when you're with someone. You know, it's common to talk with them or, you know, get to know them and ask them questions. And so it's a little different. But normally in those instances, I would come home and then I would journal when I have, more quiet time and it's still fresh in my mind.
Christi: the first part of your book is devoted to those 13 countries you went to when you were [00:16:00] studying abroad. So in Europe, and the UK, right? And Scandinavia, And I wondered, Were you taking pictures on a phone or did you have a real camera?
Autumn Carolynn: so I had I did have my cell phone with me, but I did not have Wi Fi and I didn't use it to take pictures. But I did have a Nikon D5100 and I had it with a Tamron Oh, I think it was an 18 to 270 millimeter lens and I carried that with me everywhere and all my trips. And it was a gift that was from my parents actually they bought it secondhand and I was able to bring it with me and I slept with that thing strapped to me every night when I was in these hostels because I did not want to lose it and I was very protective of it. You know, when I was going through those different countries in my mind, I didn't realize that I would be taking [00:17:00] pictures that would one day be in people's houses being a travel photographer. Now, it was just something I was taking them for fun personally for myself. I didn't have this idea down the road to be selling them. That was actually like, more of a COVID project. If you will.
Christi: One of the questions I wanted to ask you was that you first took a photography class, I think, in high school, And then you got an internship in Minneapolis. That was when you were in college, And that was a photography. What was that? You were working with a photographer as an intern or was it at a company or?
Autumn Carolynn: that was actually at a church,
Christi: Cool.
Autumn Carolynn: believe it or not and I was their social media manager. So it was something where I did their social media online, I did their website, I was going out to different events and taking pictures for them because I wanted to learn more about social media. [00:18:00] And I really wanted to move to Minneapolis.
Autumn Carolynn: And I thought, why don't I reach out to a church and ask if they need any help with any assistance. And that's kind of the way that I was able to move up here. I will start up here, not officially move.
Christi: What a fun internship. You must have always had an eye, But then Um, just taking the pictures for yourself, as you said, And I was going to ask you, what drew you back to photography? And you just alluded to it. And that was COVID. That was lockdown,
Autumn Carolynn: Yes. It was when I had a lot of time to myself and I didn't realize how many pictures I had, and I decided to go through all of them. But that's also how I was able to go through all of my old travel journals and record them into a Word document, which is what prompted the whole process to start a book.
Christi: I have a friend that went through his photographs and [00:19:00] decided during lockdown, and he was going to digitize them. He said, there's a lot of pictures of mountains. He had no idea where they were. The ones with people he thought were better. I mean, did you find something similar?
Christi: There's a lot of pictures of mountains.
Autumn Carolynn: I took a ton of pictures of trees and water, And sometimes they just kind of all look the same.
Christi: Did your parents like the idea of you becoming a flight attendant? Hmm.
Autumn Carolynn: they loved it. They were so excited. you know, growing up every year, my mom would plan this trip for all of us to go to a different. State and try and see different monuments. So we went to Niagara Falls. I went to the Grand Canyon and Washington, D. C. Las Vegas, different things like that, where I had been already used to traveling. [00:20:00] But they were very budget conscious. So it was less flying, but it was more driving and road trips. So I got used to the road trip aspect of that. And so when I became a flight attendant, my parents were just over the moon because when you're a flight attendant, your parents also get the free flights.
Autumn Carolynn: So. That was a very large perk that they enjoyed. we were able to use it. My mom was able to come with me to San Francisco. I went with her to Iceland to Baltimore. And they can come with you on your layover. So it was, it was just, it was really nice all around.
Christi: When you were contemplating leaving, quitting being a flight attendant, was that a consideration?
Autumn Carolynn: My decision to quit was mainly based off of my husband receiving a job in a different state and oftentimes when flight attendants are on the road and [00:21:00] flying You know, you could be gone from anywhere from like 3 days to 11 days and then you'd be home for maybe a day and a half to 2 days and flying out again. So the thought of having to commute from another state back to where my base was, was just, it was a lot and I decided to put in my 2 weeks and and move on from that position. My parents tried, they were, are you sure you want to make this decision? Think really hard on it. And sometimes I do regret it. I do miss it a lot. But then I have to remind myself that I was able to experience other things like becoming a travel agent and travel design manager and be able to see a complete opposite side of travel that I had never experienced before in that aspect which was planning.
Christi: Talk to me a little bit about what a [00:22:00] travel design manager does.
Autumn Carolynn: So a travel design manager is basically someone who, say you have a car company. Or a certain pop company and they have employees that are trying to reach a quota My job would be to create trips for these companies for them to give as incentives to their employees for their employees to reach the quotas or reach whichever milestone. Sometimes it could be an anniversary incentive it could be all different types of things. But basically my job was just to create. Think of trip ideas, put them into place, create itineraries find hotels, find different tourist attractions, look at flights, and put that in a pretty package together for a presentation for [00:23:00] them to be presented to the client.
Christi: Give us an example of one
Autumn Carolynn: So this one I actually used for my own personal, I had this idea and then I did it later on after Quitting being a travel design manager and doing the travel photography and that was to Guanacaste, Costa Rica. So there was a Rio resort that was an all inclusive in Costa Rica and I had never been to an all inclusive before. And so I was booking, I was creating this trip with them, I had the transfers, picking them up from the airport, taking them directly to the resort, and then at the resorts, they had a choice between different options that they could do if they were interested in Going to see a park with a whole bunch of animals that could be one or ziplining could be another. So they could choose which ones that they wanted and that was included in the package. [00:24:00] And then I would also include food that could be, we would have different tiers for them. And then the transfers back to the airports and then the flights as well.
Christi: So you actually did this trip for yourself. What did you choose? The ziplining or the park visit
Autumn Carolynn: I, I did, I did the park visit, and it was amazing. It was so fun, and it was really fun for a aspect of the idea of, wow, I've sent a lot of people here, and now I'm experiencing it for myself, and it felt very luxurious, because I'd never before. been to an all inclusive resort before. I was used to more like shoestring budget with hostels and you know, going to the grocery store and getting bread for dinner. And then here I am at this resort that has unlimited food and drinks and just whatever you could imagine. [00:25:00] And so it was really enjoyable probably one of the better trips that I've ever taken.
Christi: is it because it was It's kind of an all inclusive luxury experience or because of the, what did you see, monkeys? What did you see in the park?
Autumn Carolynn: yes. So we did two different parks. The one park that I had done was, it was more of like a sanctuary for animals. So I saw iguanas I saw pumas, and I saw tree frogs and not koalas. I'm sorry. I saw sloths. there was another place that I went to and it was the Green Verde. So if you're ever thinking about going to Costa Rica, it was a Green Verde park and a hummingbird cafe. And it's together in one. And this, I had not Given to clients as an option. This was something that I had discovered myself and it was just an amazing experience. We had a one on one [00:26:00] tour guide that took us through the whole park and we were, or not, it wasn't a park.
Autumn Carolynn: It was like a rain forest. They took us through the rain forest. We were able to get up close and personal with different types of snakes and frogs, and I was able to capture pictures with my camera. And so I think it was magical because of it being Costa Rica. I had never been to Central America before. And the idea of being out in nature and seeing these gigantic luscious waterfalls. It was a really magical and memorable moment.
Christi: do you think you would go back
Autumn Carolynn: Definitely. I would love to go back, but it is hard because I'm always trying to go to a different place. So that is one thing that. My husband and I often talk about because I am always wanting to travel to some place new.
Christi: And you've already hit your 31 countries now, right?
Autumn Carolynn: Well, my goal would be now 40 in [00:27:00] 40
Christi: and 40
Christi: and it's only been 10 years so you got, you're on a roll. You know, hostels, do you stay in hotels? Or do you, is it mostly like you kind of mostly do the hostels still? Or is that just your frugal nature?
Autumn Carolynn: It has changed a little bit. So my husband and I have now started to do hotels which has been a different situation for me because I, I really love to meet people. I love to talk to people. So when we started going to hotels, I was really missing that aspect of it. But he loves hotels, so he was like, I love this, this is great, I don't have to, you know, talk with other people, and so we actually do a bit of both. Every trip that we have taken so far sometimes we will do half of the trip in a hotel. And other [00:28:00] times, this is my secret, this is one of the hacks that I do. So I will book a hostel, but I will find a private bed and make sure that it's in a private dorm. So, you get the hotel experience on the budget of being in a hostel, but also you get the aspect of being able to have a community kitchen to talk with people. You get to be able to have a living room or an area where people are congregating and talking with one another.
Christi: That's a great tip. And I was going to ask you for more tips, so let's call that one. I wanted to ask you three pieces of advice for women traveling solo.
Autumn Carolynn: the three pieces of advice that I would say. Number one would be to have a fake wedding ring if you are not married. Even if it's 20 bucks on Amazon. Because being a flight attendant or [00:29:00] traveling solo, if you have a fake ring, it is really nice to physically show If someone is interested and not leaving you alone, being like, Oh, I'm married or my husband is my husband's in the bathroom or my husband is, he's coming.
Autumn Carolynn: those are ways that you can let people know that you're not alone with also being alone. That would be probably one of the ones also, sorry, I'm going to go on a little rant here. But one of the other ones that I would say is that. I often travel during the daytime when I was a solo traveler. When I was going from the airport to, cause I did it all through public transportation, not private. So using the public transportation, I felt way more safe when it was daylight out, that meant all of my airplane tickets, all of my flights, all the transfers was during the day. And my goal was that I would get to the hostel. [00:30:00] Then when I got to the hostel, I could be able to relax a little bit because I was at my destination where I could put my things into lockers and make sure that I could feel accustomed. And then my other tip that I would do is asking hotel staff or hostel staff where to go. Where are the best places around? Also, where are the places that I should avoid? Are there some areas that are nearby that are not the best neighborhood? Because if you're in a new country and you're traveling somewhere and you don't speak the language, but you're just aimlessly walking around, it could be A very dangerous situation if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it's getting dark and you don't know where you are speaking from experience, a. k. a. my Hungary chapter and so this is something that I have learned. And then another one would be that when you are there to make friends with the people around you, to [00:31:00] talk to people, get to know people's faces. I was in Norway once, and I was with a friend that I had met on Couchsurfing which is another really great website to check out if you're looking for places to be. Meet new people and I was waiting on the bus alone and it was dark and it was raining and I saw someone that I had met previously that was going to my hostel at the same time and it was like this sense of relief because I knew them. I was like, we can travel back to the hostel together. I don't have to be alone. And I wouldn't have known who that was if it wouldn't have been for the night before hanging out for a few hours with the people and getting to know them and talking to them and having that repertoire of that comfort of safety.
Christi: what do you think the most dangerous situation you've ever found yourself in was?
Autumn Carolynn: that would be my Hungary story. I was in Budapest and I, it was [00:32:00] getting dark. It was raining. I had a full carry on, which normally I had my backpack when I was traveling, but this was an actual roller bag that I had with me and I didn't have cell service. I didn't have a map or I had a map, but I was lost on the map and I couldn't figure out where I was. There was a group of men that was following me behind and they kept on watching me and I kept on looking behind and then the group split into two and half of the group went in front of me and I could tell that the group that was in front of me was slowing down and the group that was behind me was speeding up and I was the only person out.
Autumn Carolynn: There was no one else and I was just I was praying. I was like, please let me find some place that I can take refuge in. I am all alone. I can't call anybody. I don't even know who I would call if I could. And there was this lone butcher that was open. And I'm a vegetarian, and I don't eat meat, but I walked into this butcher shop, and there was this woman with [00:33:00] all these chunks of meat hanging from the ceiling, and she didn't speak English.
Autumn Carolynn: I did not speak Hungarian, and I just said, I just tried to say, I'm lost. I can't figure out where I am. And I took refuge in that shop for about 20 to 25 minutes. And she was able to help me with my map. She was able to tell me where I was, and then I could point to where my hostel was. And she was able to show me through that.
Autumn Carolynn: But that was probably one of the scariest situations I've ever been in because I had no clue what their intentions were. And the way that it was, it was just that feeling of just, I just felt chills and I felt like this was a really bad situation and I am so thankful for that Hungarian woman who was the meat cutter.
Christi: was part of your training for flight attendants self defense?
Autumn Carolynn: Yes. We did have self defense. We were taught the correct way to punch, what to do if you are locked [00:34:00] in with someone's arms around you and you would have to take these courses. We were also trained in CPR as well.
Christi: Tell me a story about a major travel fail.
Autumn Carolynn: Okay, major travel fail. I, I, this was my very first. time booking a trip outside of a country other than England. I had booked a trip to go to Scotland for the weekend and I did not realize that taking the train was going to land me up in Newcastle, England in a town that I had no clue in the middle of the night at 1 30 in the morning. And then the next train would be leaving the station at 7 30 in the morning. So from 1 30 I had no place to go. And not only that, but I was the one who booked this trip for three other girls that were studying abroad as well. And I was the oldest set of the group. So I was kind of showing them [00:35:00] And I said, you can come along with me if you want. And so they, matched their itinerary. And I did not realize that I had landed us four girls in the middle of Newcastle, England at 1 30 in the morning until it happened. And I was on the train and it's 1 30 in the morning and all of a sudden we stop. And I'm asking when the next transfer is. And they're telling me that the transfer is not until 7 30. And we didn't have any, we couldn't go on a website to book something because it was, I didn't have any service. I didn't it was like back in 2013, so it was that weird time where you had to pay for the service if you were going to, and I was trying not to so I walked around Newcastle and thankfully, when we arrived, it was at the same time that all of the bars were closed. People were leaving the bars and as we're walking around I'm trying to think of you know Is there any place that we could stay but I don't want to stay with someone that is I don't know Especially if it's [00:36:00] a man I have no clue and then all of a sudden I saw this casino and I've never been to a casino before but I knew That they were 24 hours so I walked into the casino and all the girls walked in with all of our bags and we sat down at a Restaurant that was inside of the casino. We ordered some drinks And then I went to the bathroom, and when I went to the bathroom, I realized that the bathroom was warm, it was comfortable, and they had a schedule that every 55 minutes, a maid would come in to clean the bathroom, and I could see it on the clock, the 55 minute timer. So, I decided to sleep in the casino bathroom, on the floor, and set my timer for every 54 minutes, so I would wake up. Right before they would come in and, and we all did this, all four of us. So right at the 54 minute, like some of us would be washing our hands at the sink. Other ones would [00:37:00] be like flushing the toilet. So it looked like we were actually using the restroom, but we just didn't show our face and then we'd switch and then we would fall asleep again for the other. 54 minutes. And it was. I look back on that now and I'm like, I cannot believe that I did this. But that was probably the biggest fail. And then by the time it was, I think it was like 5 30, we had left the casino and we slept on a park bench and waited until the train came. And I'm very lucky that I was in a pack with three other girls, because if I was alone, I think I would be probably freaking out. But, that was probably the biggest mistake I'd ever made, so I definitely learned from that mistake.
Christi: Do you have a certain routine for flying that maybe has been informed by your years, first as a student traveling and then as a flight [00:38:00] attendant?
Autumn Carolynn: I have a travel outfit. It is my tried and true travel outfit and I love it. It is a pair of leggings with socks and gym shoes. I have a long sleeve shirt that is breathable and comfortable. I think it's cotton and then I have a vest that's a fleece vest that I wear over and the vest has pockets in it and I love this outfit because I can put my passport in my vest.
Autumn Carolynn: I can put my wallet in the vest and headphones. And my phone and that has been really helpful. I can also take the vest off if it gets too cold or if it gets too hot. I have it ingrained in my mind that I have to be there at least two hours beforehand if it's domestic and three hours if it's international.
Autumn Carolynn: I know some people kind of have a different. Some people say, Oh, you don't have to arrive that early. But for me, I think it's more of a [00:39:00] comfort thing. If I can sit down at the gate, right when I walk in, I know where it is. Then I can go and get something to eat, or I can get a coffee and then come straight back to where the gate is. I also think that this is helpful for me because during that downtime, I can journal. And that is something where I know where I'm going, but I don't know who I'm going to meet. I don't know how the trip is going to go, so I can journal about what my, what my goals are for the trip. What, what I would really love to accomplish, the things that I would love to see, and I would pick, you know, two or three things that would be like my top things that I would really like to do. And so in my book, each chapter has actually the written journal entry of each one that I have done, and that's been, I've written them while I was waiting for my flight.
Christi: One thing that's wonderful about your book too is that [00:40:00] you have details about the trip, including what you packed, what clothes you packed. And I just so appreciated in your book that you really detail, you know, what, what you wore, what you brought with you.
Christi: And it sounds like you mostly do carry on, right? You do carry on only, you don't check your bags, do you?
Autumn Carolynn: Yes, thank you.
Christi: is this a personal commitment to the universe? Or is it, is it just like um, me being a cheapskate. Everything costs like, well, 65 each way if you want to check a bag.
Autumn Carolynn: it started out when I flew from the United States to England, I brought with me a carry on inside of a large suitcase, but the large suitcase was empty. And that way I could fill up the suitcase with items that I wanted to bring back with me. items that I wanted to give to as gifts to family and friends. But now, it's, [00:41:00] it's kind of like a fun challenge for me. Because I don't have to worry about bringing like a large luggage. And another tip or hack that I do is I roll all my clothes. And I also, I get shower caps, and I wrap shower caps around the dirty part of the shoe. So that way, I can, I can shove them in my luggage and stack things on top of them, but not have to worry about the shoes taking up space. Shower caps are really great for travel.
Christi: That's great. I think that's the first time I have ever heard that. That's wonderful. That's a wonderful tip.
Autumn Carolynn: Thank you.
Christi: what's been your favorite country so far?
Autumn Carolynn: Oh, I get asked this a lot at my art shows and it, I used to say Norway and Norway was my favorite. But honestly, Japan has been kind of coming close to [00:42:00] being number one. So I think I would have to say 50 50. 50 Japan, 50 Norway.
Christi: Here's a quote I wrote down. The best trip is always the one you take. Do you still feel that way?
Autumn Carolynn: I do. I definitely do.
Christi: And do you still travel alone? Or now that you're married, do you tend to, more to go with your husband on trips? Or does his work keep him, do you have more free time than he does?
Autumn Carolynn: Ah, yes. I would say I do, which is great. In March of last year, I took a trip that was to South Korea, and it was by myself. And my husband was here in Minnesota and I really enjoyed being able to still have that feeling of connecting with myself and connecting with other people that I had just met being there. So it was a really good, healthy dose of [00:43:00] familiarity for me because I was able to have that feeling of, I can do this. Even though I hadn't done it in a while, even though I'm married now and I, you know, we have animals and all of that, it's something more along the lines that it's still in me no matter how many, how much time had passed.
Christi: And do you still get perks being a former flight attendant? Do you get travel
Autumn Carolynn: Unfortunately, no. I wish.
Christi: okay. How do you find the good deals?
Autumn Carolynn: do it through kayak.
Christi: Okay.
Autumn Carolynn: I really have enjoyed kayak and I've used it for a few years. That's how I start when it comes to all things flights. But I don't book it through Kayak, so this is what I do. I go on Kayak, I find the flight that I want to take, I look to see what the cheapest amount is, because the reason why I like Kayak is it has this system [00:44:00] that's green, red, and blue. and orange, I believe. And so you can see in advance when the cheapest flights are. I think it's like within the next like three to six months. And so you can look to see when the cheaper flights are. So I use that tool and then I'll click on the dates that I want to do. Normally I will fly the cheapest days to fly are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I'll pick a date that's on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and then I will. Plug that into Kayak, see when the cheapest, the green dates are, and then I will go direct to the actual airline website and I will book it through that airline website as a way for it to be, I don't have to worry about like fees that's added on from another website, it's just straight and to the point, and then what I will do is I will book my hostels Well, if I'm doing, you know, the way that I like to do it with is [00:45:00] the private dorm. I use Hostelworld. I love Hostelworld. That's one of my favorites. travel sites to use and I have used it ever since I started traveling. So I'll go on Hostelworld, I find the best cities or the best locations and then I'll read the reviews, look at those and then I will also go to Viator and Viator is where I book all of my all of my activities, the things that I want to do that are the main goals. And I have them, sometimes they can pick you up from where you are or hotel, if you like hotels, and then they can take you back. Sometimes transportation is not included. It really depends on what you're looking for. And sometimes some of the hostels will also include free walking tours too, if you're looking to do like a more budget friendly way. So that's kind of my method. And Lately, I have been slowly [00:46:00] getting off of the public transportation train, and I've been starting to book more private transfers through Viator, so that's been my quote unquote splurge.
Christi: something that you were talking about when that that scary situation in Budapest And you had no, no wifi, no nothing. And I hear so many people say, Oh, I've got Google translate. Oh, I've got Google maps. I also know people that say, try to learn some of the language, at least to be able to say hello. Do you try to do that? And my other question is, do you bring guidebooks for situations like that one in, in Budapest where a little guidebook might have, or, you know, easy phrases in Hungarian might've come in handy.
Autumn Carolynn: I have definitely learned. Also, technology, I feel like, has been It's just a world of difference from the way that it was 10 years ago. And I am very [00:47:00] thankful that now when I travel. I have Wi Fi. I'm able to look up things on my phone, which I wasn't able to do what I do. Now is I love to learn a few phrases. so when my husband and I went to Japan, I tried to take a Japanese course. I took Japanese 1, just as a way for me to, very, very fine communication style of, Hi, how are you?
Autumn Carolynn: Where is your bathroom? Or, you know, how much is this? Just little phrases here and there, because, you know, They loved it when I was able to say something in Japanese. and it was really rewarding for me as well. And I wish that I would have done that when I was younger, because I feel like that would have definitely helped me a lot more. But now I feel like Google [00:48:00] Translate, they have this option where when you download it, you can take a picture with your phone. So if you have a menu in front of you, you can take a picture of it and then it will automatically detect the language and put it in English, which is really helpful for me. Especially when I was in Korea and I had no clue what anything was. And the other part of it, I feel, is that I really enjoy having that aspect of reading books beforehand, which I didn't do. So oftentimes, and I learned this from my mom when my parents would take us to these different places, my mom would go to the library with us and she would always go to the travel section.
Autumn Carolynn: She would get the Rick Steves books and she would go through and she would read everything and say, okay, these are the things that I want to do. these are the things that I want us as a family to experience. So we went to places like Hershey, Pennsylvania and went to the chocolate factory there. And I kind of learned that, I [00:49:00] think, but it's more along the lines that instead of using travel books at the library, I love to use Reddit. As my source. So what I'll do is I'll go on Reddit. They have a subreddit for travel. They have a subreddit for solo travelers. They have forms that you can look up that is for the actual place that you're going to.
Autumn Carolynn: if I'm going to Korea or I'm going to Seoul, I will, you know, make a post in the Seoul subreddit or in the travel subreddit and say, hi, I'm going to be there from this time to this time. Are there any recommendations that you have for places to eat? Are there any recommendations that you would have for any festivals that are happening during that time?
Autumn Carolynn: Because I felt like now the best way to be able to find that information is going directly to the source and that is the people that live there. Currently. And people who have been there that are connected and say, you know, I've been there before. [00:50:00] The other aspect that I'd love to do is social media.
Autumn Carolynn: So I will go on Instagram, I'll go on TikTok, and I will look through and scroll, and I will use the hashtags and say, okay, Seoul best restaurants, and I'll just look through and see what what influencers are eating, what the big places to go and dine or big museums to see. And those two have been just such a really great way for me to detect and to make sure that my plan And guide is all correct. And everything that I've been looking for. Versus just lying off the seat of my pants, which is what I used to do.
Christi: do you schedule no plan time? Like, I'm not doing anything during this time period. I'm just gonna see what happens.
Autumn Carolynn: Yes, I do. I try and schedule one activity a day. But I do like to have in my day. Or maybe like one or two days [00:51:00] throughout the trip where it's just a no scheduled day. I can do whatever I want. And then that is really good with flexibility when you're meeting people. Because sometimes when I've met people, they say, Hey, what are you doing tomorrow? All of us are going to this one place that's up in the mountains and you can come with us. that's happened before. And it's been amazing that I am now traveling with these people that I had just met and we're all going to a certain place and I wouldn't have been able to do that if I would have had it structured every single day I like it where it's a little bit of structure.
Christi: what is your next trip?
Autumn Carolynn: Ooh, would love to go to Thailand or I would really enjoy going to Singapore or India or Vietnam or Taiwan. I know that it's a lot. Any really anywhere that I hadn't been, I think I would really enjoy, at [00:52:00] the different art festivals. I have a lot of people ask me, do you have anything that's from Croatia or Slovenia or Slovakia?
Autumn Carolynn: or Greece. That's a huge one. A lot of people really ask me if I have pictures from those countries.
Christi: Why do you think that is?
Autumn Carolynn: the way that I have my booth structured is that I have crates and in the crates, I have my photography from each country. So that country is listed in there. So people can go to Italy and look through all my Italy pictures. And sometimes They were there, but either a camera broke or they didn't take the best pictures and they want other pictures and so I have had people come in and ask me, do you have any pictures that's from a certain place and those I feel like are the top popular places because I get asked them a lot. So maybe. I'll switch around what I'm thinking and maybe I will instead do Croatia or Slovenia, Slovakia, or Greece. It really [00:53:00] depends. But it also depends on budget too. I have to budget before making any decisions.
Christi: tell us how listeners can get in touch with you
Autumn Carolynn: I am on social media. spread out kind of everywhere. I am on Instagram and my Instagram and Facebook handle is autumn a u t u m n carolyn c a r o l y n n photography and you can find that autumn carolyn photography. I also have a YouTube channel that I have been dipping my toe in a little bit more I do have my website and my website is www. autumncarolynn. com and Carolynn has two N's and oh gosh, I'm on TikTok. That is something new for me. I'm learning that now. And I believe that's Autumn Carolynn photograph because photography [00:54:00] was too long. So I decided to go with the photograph instead.
Christi: we'll put all this in the show notes, too.
Autumn Carolynn: In the book I talk about having anxiety and I talk about what it's like to struggle with being an anxious person and having to deal with that aspect of having, mental illness and, and being scared to do something new, which is kind of bizarre because I'm going to all these different places. But at the same time, I feel like if you're not doing it constantly, sometimes you can get in the rut of, you know, Oh, I used to be able to travel.
Autumn Carolynn: I used to be able to go and fly to these new places. And why can't I do that anymore? And so I think the main thing that I really kind of want people to hear is that even if it's just the town next door. And you've been there a million times, trying to do something different, [00:55:00] going down a different street experiencing it with all of your senses, meeting people that you normally wouldn't talk to, going to different restaurants and that you normally wouldn't eat at, trying new things, I think is really helpful To calm that sense of anxiety if you're on the fence about traveling or if you're wanting to go and book a solo trip and You're scared, but you're not quite sure about it and you need the confidence inside of you I felt being able to use public transportation Even if it's in your own the town that you live in that has been really helpful But I do think that just Putting yourself out there and trying something new and interesting can really, really help with making that confidence soar and making that decision to say, you know what, I'm going to book that ticket to Portugal on my own.
Autumn Carolynn: And I'm going to [00:56:00] try this even if I've never traveled solo before, because I feel like when you're in, when your butt is in that seat and you're on the plane and you're about to take off, it's like one of the most thrilling, invigorating feelings in the whole world, especially if you're on your own, because you're thinking like, wow, I am doing this. I can't believe that I'm, you know, I'm here. And before I was so scared and now, I'm capable. And I feel like that is like the biggest lesson that can be learned. So I think out of all the tips that we've kind of talked about, Going out and trying new things is probably the biggest tip that I would say.
Christi: Just do it. Just book the
Christi: flight.
Autumn Carolynn: do it.
Christi: Book the flight and go. No
Christi: excuses.
Autumn Carolynn: Yes, 100%.
Christi: I love that. I love that. Well, Autumn, thank you so much for joining us today. Your book [00:57:00] is Traveling in Wonder. And you can get it on Amazon and other places, right?
Autumn Carolynn: Yes thank you so much as well. It's on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, I think it's on Walmart, but it's also on my website autumncarolynn. com, and you can buy it there directly. And then if you buy it on the website, you have the choice to either have it signed or just to have it Plain without the signature
Christi: well, thank you. This has just been wonderful. And you've inspired me. It's like, okay, we're going somewhere. We're gonna go. Just do it. Book that
Christi: flight.
Autumn Carolynn: you so much.