My first experience traveling abroad was a trip to Paris for my 23rd birthday. This trip ignited my passion for travel, and I’ve not stopped traveling (or talking about travel) since. I moved to the unassuming country of Belgium, Brussels to be exact, for graduate school a few years later. It was the best year in the land of delicious chocolate, frites, mussels, beer, and waffles. It was then I had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe and went to Asia for the first time.
Prior to Audley, I had a 15-year career in accounting and HR. In early 2024, my husband and I quit our jobs and embarked on a 6-month sabbatical to 16 countries. It was a lifelong dream and upon return, I knew I had to switch gears and pursue travel as my full-time job. We ended our trip in Spain and Portugal, two countries I adore and love to visit for all the wonderful art, architecture, history, wine, and many, many culinary delights.
I’m thrilled to be working at Audley and cannot wait to share my expertise, travel stories, and humor with my clients while making their tailor-made journeys to Spain and Portugal.
Q&A with Caitlin
What’s the best local dish you’ve tasted?
While on my most recent trip to Spain, I had the amazing opportunity to take part in a private cooking class in Sevilla. I’ll never forget our instructor Ana who was not only a skilled chef, but a jovial and funny person. I love to cook at home, and it was great to be taught tricks of the trade by a professional chef. We each made a scrumptious seafood paella bursting with fresh shrimp, clams, and mussels and the most delicious patatas bravas I’ve ever had. I’d have potatoes at every meal if I could and these would be right at the top of the list. We made an authentic bravas sauce and I still often think about that day.
What’s your most vivid travel moment?
Can a vivid travel memory be six months long? During my six-month sabbatical in 2024, I experienced things I could only ever dream I would experience. From spending two months in Thailand and being there for their New Year celebration/national water fight of Songkran and spending three nights at a remote elephant sanctuary to an unforgettable week on the untouched island of Koh Rong in Cambodia to riding the white sand dunes on a 4-wheeler in Mui Ne, Vietnam. In Australia, there was a very memorable day at Steve Irwin’s Zoo hanging out with kangaroos and koalas and in Tokyo, there was a Golden Gai karaoke evening that stretched into the early hours. In Nepal I was fortunate to see the top of the world during a thrilling mountain flight to view Mount Everest. Ending my sabbatical in Spain and Portugal was a treat as it gave me the opportunity to explore La Boqueria, tapas, sangria, and the seaside in Barcelona and Cambrils, and the stunning scenery and delicious seafood and wine of Lisbon, Nazare, and Porto in Portugal.
Which book, film or artwork captures Spain the most?
As a huge dog lover and owner of two rescue Great Pyrenees pups, I was instantly drawn to Puppy by Jeff Koons outside the Gugenheim Museum in Bilboa, Spain. Puppy is a massive topiary sculpture covered in flora and flowers all year round. The sculpture is playful and larger-than-life and reflects Spain’s embrace of contemporary art and innovation. Dogs often symbolize loyalty and companionship, and Puppy’s friendly, approachable appearance makes it a welcoming symbol for visitors. The artist Jeff Koons may have said it best when he said, “Puppy communicates love, warmth, and happiness to everyone.” This is why I see Puppy as a great representation of Spanish hospitality and the warmth of the Spanish culture.