Name: Yasmine Fofana

Occupation: External Affairs Manager by day | Food Lover all the time

Website:  journaldunefoodie.com

Currently living in: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast, West Africa)

Travel Motto: “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer”

Favorite Travel Destinations: Out of all the places I have been blessed to visit, I fell in love with the Bahamas and South Africa.

What Makes Her Want to See the Globe: Traveling just makes me HAPPY, as simple as it is. I enjoy discovering new cultures and cuisines (the best part ☺ ), embracing the country’s history and connecting with genuine people. 

Ultimate Bucket List Trip: In Africa: Guinea; Mali; Rwanda; Marrakech and Essaouira, Morocco; Mombasa, Kenya and Zanzibar. In other parts of the globe: Havana, Cuba; Florence, Italy; Tokyo, Japan; Krabi, Thailand and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago 

Best Way to Maximize Vacation Days: I would say spread your vacations day throughout the year AND combine them with weekends. I am, for example, allowed 24 business days for my annual vacation. I usually take 10-12 days at once for one trip. 

While on vacation, although I enjoying staying in bed in the mornings and am very fond of naps, I wake up early and start my day by 9 or 10 a.m. at the latest. I am also a huge fan of planning. I do a lot of research before taking off to ensure that I (at least) attempt to accomplish everything on my to-do/to-visit/to-eat list. 

Advice for Those Who Want to Travel More: Like with everything else in life, commitment is key. I commit to travel internationally at least once a year; meaning that I started a monthly travel savings fund and try to plan out my vacation days ahead of time (usually it’s around my birthday, so that’s easy). Of course, it can be easier said than done, especially when it comes to savings, but remember: commitment is key.