Travel Style: Dr. Cacinda “Cindy” Maloney

Occupation: Travel writer/blogger, photographer and social media influencer who loves adventurer, culture and smart luxury travel. She is also a physician, business owner, storyteller, and scuba diver

Hometown: Texas, USA

Residence: Arizona, USA

Website: PointsandTravel.com

Twitter: @Pointsandtravel follow me!

Facebook: Pointsandtravel.com follow me!

Pinterest: PointsandTravel follow me!

Short Bio:

Dr. Cacinda Maloney has traveled every six weeks of her life for over 20 years. She was recently chosen to be a Travel Ambassador with Travelocity to create content for their website. She was also selected to be a Yahoo Travel Explorer, again, creating travel destination content for them.

She has worked with a multitude of airlines, hotels, restaurants, PR and tour companies, as well as tourism boards. In fact, she has worked with over 30 tourism boards since starting the travel website in August 2012. She has written 345 articles on PointsandTravel.com and a multitude of articles for other companies, as she works as a freelancer as well. Read more about her via her WORK information and clippings list under PRESS on the website, PointsandTravel.com

How often do you fly: A few times a month

How many countries have you been to? 62

How many continents have you been to? 5

Favorite American city: Savannah, New Orleans

Favorite international city: Vienna, Austria; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Buenos Aires, Argentina. Can anyone just pick one?

Least favorite country: Germany

Favorite World Heritage Site: Too many to choose from

Favorite airline: American and Cathay Pacific

Favorite aircraft type: 747 for style and A380 for comfort

Aisle or window: Was aisle for years, but recently switched to window seat for the view

Favorite airport lounge: Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt

Favorite U.S. airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (awesome name!)

Favorite international airport: Hong Kong

Favorite hotel: W Hong Kong or La Casa de Cuesta, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Favorite cruise line: Not a cruiser, but loved Peter Hughes dive boat live-aboard!

Favorite island: Castaway Island, Fiji

Favorite fancy restaurant: La Tour ‘d Argent, Paris, France or the restaurant at the Connaught London, England

Favorite hole in the wall: Tiesto’s Cuenca, Ecuador

Favorite fruit: Blueberries

Favorite food: Filet Mignon or lobster bisque with chocolate mousse cake for dessert!

Least favorite food: Liver

Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground) Air: water; Ground: tequila reposado

Favorite travel movie(s): The Talented Mr. Ripley (Matt Damon) – 1950’s Italy

Favorite travel show(s): I don’t watch TV, except recorded “The Amazing Race” with my son Diego!

Favorite travel book(s): Nothing to Declare: Memoirs of a Woman Traveling Alone by Mary Morris

Right now I am reading: Halfway to Each Other: How a Year in Italy Brought Our Family Home by Susan Pohlman and The Last Bush Pilots– a novel by Eric Auxier

Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines:

Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: https://www.pointsandtravel.com,

Five things you bring on a plane: Laptop, neck pillow, noise-canceling headphones, socks, and Myocalm PM

What do you always seem to forget: Ponytail holder

What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport duty-free store? A Christmas ornament

Favorite travel iPhone app(s): I don’t have an iPhone! (Droid)

Most embarrassing travel moment: Kicked a piece of luggage, when I got mad one time, in front of my kids in Seville, Spain!

Worst travel moment: Cold, gray Berlin in the pouring down snow, when my laptop crashed and my cell phone wouldn’t work all on the same trip.

What’s your dream destination: Greek Isles, Seychelles, Maldives, and Madagascar

Favorite travel charity: KIVA

Best travel tip: Don’t be so travel specific, let your miles and points take you where they want you to go. Always bring two credit cards and two debit cards for access to your money, as well as cash, but get your spending money out of the ATM for the best exchange rate. Buy a SIM card in each country or area you visit, with your unlocked, non-contracted phone. A lesson I have had to learn the hard way.