Williamstown native and reality TV alum Alexandra “Ali’’ Fedotowsky loves traveling, but is putting her wanderlust on hold as she prepares for the birth of her first child, a girl who she and her fiance, radio host Kevin Manno, will welcome this summer. Fedotowsky, 31, a 2006 Clark University graduate, was on “The Bachelor’’ before being chosen for “The Bachelorette’’ in 2010. She and contestant Roberto Martinez got engaged at the end of the season, but the relationship fizzled and a couple of years later, she found true love with Manno. We caught up with Fedotowsky, a former E! News correspondent and popular lifestyle blogger (www.aliluvs.com) who lives with Manno in Los Angeles, to talk about all things travel.
Favorite vacation spot? When I was a kid, my family and I would always go to Old Orchard Beach in Maine to vacation. I actually think I ran away — for the first time — while on one of those vacations. Ha. I was quite the rebellious teenager, and I guess I must have loved Old Orchard Beach so much that I wanted to stay there forever.
Favorite food or drink while vacationing? I love an ice cold beer while soaking up the summer sun. I guess that makes me a true Massachusetts girl. I love a good lager on a hot day. And I’m from New England, so there is nothing better than a Maine lobster roll. I’m seriously getting so hungry right now just thinking about it. Lobster just isn’t the same on the West Coast, where I live now. When I was a kid, I used to go to the grocery store and buy a live lobster for dirt cheap for lunch. They would steam the lobster right there at the grocery store for you. My friends on the West Coast don’t believe me when I tell them this story. Lobster — especially Maine lobster — is such a “fancy’’ dinner food over here and it’s very expensive. When I lived in Massachusetts, it was an affordable, delicious lunch.
Where would you like to travel to but haven’t? I would love to go to London. I’ve never been and know I would love it. Like I said, I’m a beer girl, and would love to spend a week there visiting a bunch of local pubs and trying out the local beers while playing darts. Obviously I would do so many other things while there, but of course my mind goes straight to the beer. Plus, I’m pregnant right now, so I think I’m just craving my first sip of beer after the baby arrives.
One item you can’t leave home without when traveling? My portable steamer to steam my clothes. I usually roll my clothes to help prevent them from getting wrinkled in my suitcase, but that doesn’t always work. So I always travel with a small portable steamer to get the wrinkles out of my clothes when traveling. I don’t dare use the iron provided in most hotel rooms. I’ve taken an iron to one too many silk shirts and ruined them. I don’t trust myself with an iron, so steamer it is.
Aisle or window? Window. I have to be able to see outside of the plane. I used to be terrified of flying — even though now I fly all the time — so I think I subconsciously that if I can see outside the plane, I can help control it. Crazy right? Ha. I also like the window so I can sleep by resting my head on the side of the plane. I used to fly every week for a travel show I did, and I needed to catch up on sleep on those long flights.
Favorite childhood travel memory? At the time I didn’t love it, but looking back I have fond memories of being squished in the backseat of my parents’ car with my sister and brother. All three of us back there, fighting, playing games, and laughing — depending on our mood. I also remember going to the store to buy about 20 packs of gum before flying somewhere. Instead of just needing one pack — to help pop our ears when the plane takes off and lands — I thought I needed 20 packs. Maybe that was just my excuse to convince my mom to buy me more candy. Lots of candy equals good travel memory.
Guilty pleasure when traveling? Room service. It tends to be expensive, so I don’t do it all the time, but I just love ordering room service the night before and waking up to a warm breakfast the next morning. Food just tastes better when you get to eat it in bed, right? Although I have to say that I am super lucky and my fiance Kevin often brings me breakfast in bed at home. So I get the room service experience even when I’m not traveling.
Best travel tip? Bring things to entertain yourself while you’re traveling to your destination. Nowadays, many planes come with TVs at every seat and Wi-Fi, but that isn’t always the case. A few weeks ago I went to Hawaii, a six-hour flight from LA, and the plane didn’t have TVs or Wi-Fi. I was super bummed that I didn’t bring anything to entertain myself while on the six-hour flight. So download some movies to your laptop, bring a book, or bring something to work on that you’ve been putting off — like writing thank-you cards or doing your work expenses — so you have something to keep your mind busy while you’re just sitting there. Oh, and bring something warm like a sweatshirt. Planes can get cold sometimes.
JULIET PENNINGTON
