Interview with DJ Yabis – dreameurotrip.com

In the first of our monthly interviews series we talk to the amazing and super stylish DJ Yabis, from dreameurotrip.com. We love Dj’s website and want to share with you the man behind the blog!

So tell us a bit about yourself and what got you into travel blogging?

Haiiiiiiiiii I’m DJ Yabis. I’m originally from the Philippines and since 2009 I’ve been based in Europe as a scholar of the prestigious Erasmus Mundus scholarship. Since then I’ve split my time traveling around Europe, Asia and the world.

I’ve started blogging as an experiment in this growing trend called lifestyle design. In 2011, I finished my Masters in International Business in Europe and I didn’t really want to go back to the corporate world anymore.

So I decided to start my own online business which is Dream Euro Trip. Blogging is basically a means to an end. The blog is my platform to showcase my expertise on European travel and my main product is my service as a travel consultant. I help people plan their eurotrips. If not that, I also wanna help people by giving useful info on my blog. For example, my post about Schengen visa application alone has over 700+ comments and has helped a lot of travelers.

I’ve been full-time since I started it a year ago and I think I’m doing fine with this experiment.

Your website is about planning trips in Europe can you tell us a bit more about that and what you offer people?

 
I blog mostly about stylish European adventourism which also includes tips and advice on traveling Europe. I noticed before starting the blog that most people have difficulty planning their own eurotrips because it is in fact overwhelming to plan one if you don’t know what to do and where to begin. And so this was how I started with the idea of providing a solution to this problem.

I offer two services: point-to-point eurotrip itinerary planning and the more detailed day-to-day itinerary planning. Essentially, I help plan the best and most cost-effective itineraries for my readers. It then also includes free tours, personalized events recommendation and some other freebies. Lastly, they can ask me anything about their eurotrip plans.

I love it because I really like the idea of a business that helps people. And it makes me happy when they email to thank me for organizing their trip.

Your website is also about being adventurous, what have been some of your most memorable experiences to date?

OMG there’s too many! Just this autumn, I immensely enjoyed riding a hot air balloon in Barcelona. I also remember my experience climbing a bridge arc in Zagreb vividly. That was scary/fun. Or this two-week road trip I did with friends from Cologne to this unknown island in the West of Sweden for a very small and intimate techno festival. I also enjoyed every bit of my music festival adventures: being able to talk if only for a minute with the guys from Crystal Fighters in Germany or hanging out with Beach House in Stockholm. I travel for (live) music. 😀

Where has been the most luxurious place you have stayed in Europe?

This is not the height of luxury but I really loved staying at Clarion Sign Hotel located in central Stockholm in the winter. They have this spa with a heated rooftop pool with a great view of the city. There’s something luxurious about lounging outside on your speedos on a heated rooftop in one of the most expensive cities in the world while snow is falling.

Can you describe your ideal itinerary for a weekend exploring Europe?

Just a weekend trip? I usually like hanging out with locals (friends or friend of friends) and just follow them wherever they go. It always leads to the best experiences and discoveries. If I don’t know anyone I normally check out the hip places and eat as much of the local food as possible. If I have the time, I also check out bookstores and buy a book or two. I like buying books on my travels and love reading while I’m on the road.

If you want to read more from DJ Yabbis visit his website Dream Euro Trip, connect with him on Facebook, Twitter and stalk his Instagram pics 🙂