Jazz Clubs, Fish & Chips, and Mini Meet-Ups | May Community Call Highlights
May’s Community Call was full of inspiring travel stories, thoughtful advice, and I opened up about in-progress ideas for future group meet-ups. Community Calls are the highlight of my month and brings me great joy to connect fellow adventurers in the Your Travel Friend Community and hear what everyone’s up to around the globe.
Hans kicked things off by sharing details of his recent trip to the Italian Alps, along with plans to explore more of Switzerland, Italy, and Bavaria in Germany later this year.
There was talk of a potential YTF mini meet-up on Vancouver Island, as a few of us may be spending part of our summer holidays there—stay tuned!
We had an interesting moment of connection between a graphic designer from a remote creative agency and a UX designer focused on healthcare. Their conversation naturally led to a discussion about using platforms like UpWork. Quick shoutout to Natalie—who helped build the foundation of my website— who originally connected with me through UpWork while building her remote design portfolio.
We also followed up on last month’s conversation about bringing dogs on long-haul flights. Richelle shared that she might be able to bring her pup from North America to Europe—and even more exciting, we discussed news that some airlines may soon allow all dogs (regardless of size) in airplane cabins with their own ticket! This Instagram post gave us insight into which airlines are exploring this paw-some possibility.
A shared love for jazz emerged, with a recommendation from David in the Albania group for a hidden jazz gem in Tirana. That peaked Eric’s interest as he plans a couple of months abroad in Europe this fall—and as a fellow jazz fan, he's now on the lookout for more iconic jazz venues worldwide.
The challenge of finding non-Schengen destinations came up again, particularly for travellers from Canada, the U.S., Brazil, and the U.K. One Canadian member mentioned reconnecting with friends in London and asked about unique things to do. The ABBA Voyage concert experience came up as a must-see that’s totally worth the ticket.
Naturally, food came into the conversation (as it does!). Borough Market was highlighted for its unbeatable fish and chips, and of course, we couldn't leave out the UK’s amazing Indian cuisine—thanks to its deep cultural roots.
That said, not everything impressed—someone noted the Natural History Museum felt a bit repetitive, admitting, "There are only so many rocks you can look at before they all start to blend together.”
Before wrapping up, everyone on the call was officially added into the YTF Community group chat, and I shared early details about our upcoming group trips for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026—which definitely sparked curiosity!
Thanks again to everyone who joined the call. These chats continue to remind me how valuable it is to have a space where we can share stories, swap tips, and find connection—no matter where we are in the world. Hope to see even more of you at the next Community Call in June!
Next Community Call is Sunday June 15, 2025
There are only 10 spots available in a Community Call to allow for natural discussion, don’t miss your chance to join!