Jacques Poujade, Managing Partner at LendPlus, works hard in the financial industry. When not working, he can be found helping out a local non-profit called Micah’s Way. Even when traveling, he is constantly checking in on the company remotely. Modern technology has made that a lot easier, which is why he is enjoying travel more than ever. He recently answered a few questions about his travels so far in his life, what the future holds, and more.

What is your favorite thing about traveling?

I love learning things about new cultures. There are just so many different types of people all around the world, and sometimes it is easy to get caught up in your own little area. I’m fortunate to live in a pretty diverse part of California, but getting a chance to see different states and different countries is special.

Is traveling something you consider a hobby or a lifestyle? How did you get started?

I would say it is a little bit of both. Sometimes, people can get caught up in traveling to try to show off to others. I’ve never been about that though. It is much more of a hobby to me. Simply put, I go where I want to go, regardless of if it is a super trendy spot or not.

My first taste of travel came when I was younger. We traveled some as a family, but I’ve been fortunate to do most of my traveling in my adult life.

Do you have any exciting travel dates or itinerary planned for the future?

Skiing has never been my thing, but I’m planning a trip to Colorado very soon. We’ll see how that goes. It is a short little trip for me since it’s only a couple of states over. I don’t have my next big trip planned, but somewhere in Europe this summer sounds like a good idea.

What are some travel tips you’d give to an inexperienced traveler?

This might be the financial side of me, but above all else, stay within your means. There is nothing wrong with traveling on a budget, staying at hostels, eating cheap food and more. I’ve done that before and no one should be above that. Traveling is about the experience of a new part of the country or world, so it can still be enjoyable.

On a related note, shop around for good flight prices. There are so many different websites now that list the best deals. That is a major expense when it comes to traveling, so if you can save there, everything is much better.

Where would you like to go?

I haven’t really seen much in Australia just yet in my life. It takes a long, long time to get there, so I might need to find a way to get enough vacation time to really make that work.

Where would you like to revisit?

I’ve been to Paris a couple times, but there is still a lot to do in that city. It is really just such a huge city that you probably need at least a month do it all. Maybe that will be where I head to this summer now that I think about it.

Do you travel alone? Why?

Sometimes. I think it is important to travel alone at times, because it gives you the opportunity to reflect and find out who you are as a person. Of course, traveling with loved ones is also a great experience. There is a better chance of making memories that last a lifetime as far as that goes.

If you could pick the top three places every person should go, what would they be?

I’ll pick one place in the United States first. The cliché answer might be New York City, but I’m going to go with Miami. I just see Miami as such a different, unique city to the rest of the country. It’s a melting pot with so many cultures.

For Europe, I’ve already mentioned Paris a lot, so I’ll go with that. Just one of the best cities in the world.

For my final city, I’ll say Tokyo. For those who haven’t been, just think of New York City on steroids. You’ll definitely be amazed with how populated it is.

Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?

Always travel as light as possible. This allows for less baggage fees, and more opportunity to buy unique items while visiting a new area.