Going Places is a new series from TripIt that highlights frequent travelers to showcase their unique travel styles and insider tips.
For serial entrepreneur Shane Feldman, travel is all about balance: balancing work and life; research and leisure; taking it slow and going on an adventure.
Growing up, Shane and his family didn’t travel much, but that didn’t stop his love for all things transit—especially airplane spotting.
Nowadays, Shane does his plane spotting up close. “I have 20 flights booked for the next few weeks,” he told me.
In 2008, Shane launched Count Me In—now a community of 10 million next-gen leaders. “My specialty is community leadership. I’ve conducted on-the-ground research in nearly 30 countries—be it in a small village in Vietnam or a large city in France. Initially, it was this research that started taking me all around the world.”
Since then, he’s been traveling the world (check out his Instagram here), delivering keynotes at organizations like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Disney.
And Shane likes to keep busy: “My busiest year consisted of 134 flights.”
“In my line of work, I often get a call last minute to do a speaking engagement, so I always have to be prepared to get on a flight. I always have a “go bag” ready—that is, a carry-on bag. I just can't take the risk of checking a bag when I’m expected on a stage that same day or the next.”
So, how does Shane keep that many—sometimes spur of the moment—itineraries organized?
“I use TripIt to track everything: flights, hotels, rental cars—you name it. I rely on TripIt to keep tabs on my flights, and to make sure all of the gaps in my itineraries are filled.”
Shane also values having TripIt with him while he’s on the go. “From check-in reminders to sharing plans with my partner and family, TripIt helps keep everyone—including me—in the know about where I’m headed next.”
Mixing business with leisure—and relaxation with adventure
But not all of Shane’s travel plans are business-related. He’s a big proponent of mixing business with leisure.
“I recently went on a four-and-a-half week speaking tour in Europe. It was mostly work—I spoke at IMEX as well as at Mercedes Benz—but I was fortunate to have my partner, Justin, with me on the tour. So he and I also got to explore some cities, like Graz, Austria, that we’d never been to before.”
And then there are the purely leisure trips he and Justin take. “First, we always pick what kind of trip it will be: a relaxed vacation or an adventure trip,” he said. “If we’re planning a vacation, we know we’re finding a gorgeous hotel, making dinner reservations at local hotspots, going for walks—and that’s about it.”
As for the adventure trips? “Those look more like two-and-a-half weeks criss-crossing Australia—hiking, scuba diving, and so on.”
“We always alternate these types of trips,” Shane said. “It’s all about balance.”
Their dream destination? “Antarctica. That trip would be continent number seven for us.”
On being loyal, the power of community, and the beauty of travel
With nearly seven continents under his belt, Shane shared some of his go-to travel tips.
His top piece of advice? “Be loyal. Pick an airline and/or hotel chain you like and stick with them. That way, you can rack up points and travel to incredible destinations for free,” he said.
Tip: TripIt Pro’s Point Tracker feature keeps track of your reward program points and miles in one spot. TripIt Pro stores all your account numbers, balances, and expirations in one place for airlines, car rentals, hotels, dining, credit cards, and more. It’s easy to monitor all your expiration dates so you can take advantage of your points and miles before they expire.
His must-see under-the-radar destination? Tirana, Albania.
“The country of Albania is fascinating; the landscape is beautiful; the weather is excellent; and the beaches are top notch,” he said. “And as for the city of Tirana: it’s a special place. Every stone in Skanderbeg Square is from elsewhere in Albania. It’s an incredible tribute to the power of community.”
His final words of advice: “Embrace the beauty of travel. There are few things more breathtaking than seeing a sunrise from the window of a plane (hint: always pick the window seat!). And don’t take for granted the experience—even in a busy airport. Take a moment to smile at someone who’s traveled halfway around the world. How often do you get the chance to do that?”
Catch up on all Going Places features to learn new travel tips, discover underrated destinations, and more.
