
a trip to toronto.
Traveljunkieindonesia.com – Hi travel junkies! Travel is life. And if you miss travel, you miss life.
Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.
So, check this out! travel like a jetting around:
Name: Pola Henderson
Hometown: Krakow, Poland
Residence: Chicago, USA
Travel Blog/website: www.jettingaround.com
Twitter: @jettingaround
Short Bio: Pola Henderson is the founder and editor of Jetting Around, a blog dedicated to exploring cities and their culture. Her writing and photography showcases European, North American, and South American destinations. Pola grew up in Krakow, Poland, lived in North Africa, and has called Chicago home since 2002.
How did you first get into travel blogging: Writing and traveling had been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but I didn’t think of combining those passions until a trip to Toronto a few years back.
I was there with a group of friends to attend a soccer game, but decided to explore the city on my own one rainy morning. Even though Toronto felt deserted, I had a great time walking for hours from one neighborhood to another, taking pictures and notes. It all felt right… Sometime later a friend casually asked why I’m not a travel writer. Bingo! Jetting Around was born soon after that.

chicago – my home since 2002.
What do you love most about being a travel blogger: It’s hard to choose just one thing… There are so many aspects of blogging that I enjoy: writing and photography, sharing my discoveries with readers (and hopefully inspiring them to visit the cities I write about), and meeting people from different countries – on and offline.
What’s the secret to creating a successful travel blog: Quality content, consistency in posting, connecting with your audience on social media (and it’s two-way communication).
How do you get your blog noticed amongst the millions of other blogs out there: I don’t try to write about everything – I have my niche and stick to it. Also, collaborating with other bloggers helps.
What advice would you give to fledgling travel bloggers: Know your strengths and use them to create engaging posts – your blog could focus on photography, travel narratives, or tips. Consider taking courses or attending blogger conferences to hone your skills and get fresh ideas.
How do you make money out of travel blogging: This is a new territory for me, as I started blogging as a hobby, back when I had a full-time job. I have since transitioned to freelancing and do not rely on blogging for income. However, I am starting to get paid writing projects and hope to go down that route more in the future.
How do you fit in blogging while on the road: I am active on social media and take lots of notes, but usually leave writing for when I’m back (unless I’m traveling for a few weeks). I want to enjoy the here-and-now when I’m traveling for pleasure. It’s a little different when I’m on an assignment – writing tends to happen more immediately.
What’s your most epic travel story: When I was a teenager, I lived in Algeria with my family and went to a French-language school. We had plans to stay there for a year, but the outbreak of a civil war changed that. I haven’t been back to Oran, but hope to see it again one day. It’s a beautiful place on the Mediterranean coast with lots of French architecture.

paris – one of my favorite destinations.
What is your favourite destination so far: Paris is my slight obsession… I feel at home in that city and would actually love to live there at some point, if only for a few months. I even follow their soccer (football) team Paris Saint-Germain, so you know it’s serious.
What’s been your biggest travel disaster: I can’t think of anything major, although missing a flight to Madrid was upsetting. We ended up getting there the next day, but that meant less time to explore.
What are your top gadgets that you always take travelling: Phone, camera, laptop. That’s it.
What’s your favourite phrase in a foreign language: “What’s the Wi-Fi password?” in any language! Other than that, my new favorite phrase is “andar de parranda,” Spanish for “to be out on the town.”
Would you ever do any other job: My background is in marketing communications, and I’ll be launching a media company soon. I plan to incorporate the blog into it.
What’s next on your bucket list: Portugal, Scotland, and more South America – so far I’ve been to Uruguay, Argentina, and Ecuador, and would like to visit Colombia next.
Favorite travel blog/website(s) – besides Traveljunkieindonesia.com, of course!: I’ve been a National Geographic Traveler subscriber for many years. The writing and photography is top notch, plus I appreciate their ‘authentic sense of place’ approach.
What has travel taught you: Patience and flexibility, because things don’t always go as planned….
Best travel tip: Pack light and book hotels with comfortable beds. Your back will thank you.
xxx
Happy Sustainable Travels!
Follow us on Instagram @TravelJunkieID, Twitter @TravelJunkieID & like us on Facebook.