Meet Jaqueline Montero | Travel Content Creator and Blogger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaqueline Montero and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaqueline, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
For years, I have always wanted to create a blog or platform where I can share my travel adventures and deals that I find. I have always shared my travels on my personal page and many people have always told me to do this so after contemplating it for over a decade, I decided that now was the time. I want to share with others to visit places that perhaps are talked poorly about in the media, to use your PTO wisely and have more paid time off in the process, and how to use credit cards to your advantage to pay for your travels and reward yourself for simply paying your expenses. My goal is to get more people traveling, seeing the world and ending stereotypes to places that deserve to be explored.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
While people may think my full time job is traveling, I actually have a 9-5 job that I absolutely love! I have my Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and I work for the government investigating fraud. However, using holidays with my PTO, I am able to take many short and long trips throughout the year; essentially having the best of both worlds. My career and my love of travel will always go hand in hand.

I want the world to know that you don’t have to quit your job or sell your belongings to travel the world to be seen as “successful”. You too can love your career, have a full time job, and use your paid time off wisely to enjoy your love of travel.

While wildly unpopular, I do have to make accommodations to also be able to afford my travels. For example, I haven’t had cable in over 7 years, I mostly cook at home, I stopped having luxuries such as dry cleaning or going to do my hair monthly to be able to pinch where I can and spend it more on my adventures.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Miami is such an amazing and vibrant city. Where would I even begin? If I had a week to show a friend around, I would definitely start out with the art and fun in Wynwood and show them the walls, visit Astra rooftop for drinks and food and visit Gramps for the outdoor atmosphere and music.

I would definitely take them to the Doral area for some Brewery hopping at MIA Brewing and Tripping Animals to try some local beers and listen to music.

The Design District and Upper Buena Vista is one of my favorite places to go walk around and eat at one of my favorite Miami restaurants, Mandolin Aegean Bistro that has the best Greek and Turkish cuisine.

I absolutely love the downtown area to visit the Perez Art Museum and the Frost Museum. Both are fun and inviting and great for all ages.

There isn’t a trip to Miami without visiting Little Havana. You can see the old men playing dominos, learn how to roll a cigar and even try to salsa dance at Ball and Chain. Did I mention some of the best ice cream is at Azucar? This piece of Miami is like stepping foot into Cuba without having to leave.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe my love and passion for travel to my mother. She was the one who took my sisters and I on trips, even there wasn’t a lot of money to travel with. She took us to places and areas that were underserved where we learned to appreciate what we had in our lives and instilled more gratitude and appreciation for things we typically took for granted. To this day, I am able to continue traveling with my mother and exploring places in the world as an adult and experience new adventures with her. It is definitely something I am appreciative of still being able to do.

Instagram: TraveltipsbyJackie