Guest Post: Eric Hansen // @hansenwithane

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A friend once asked my why I travel so much. This struck me as odd for a couple reasons. For one, I couldn’t fathom why someone would not be compelled to experience new and unknown places. The other part that boggled my mind was I didn’t think I traveled that much. At least in comparison to how much I’d like to.

In my mind, traveling and being a creative soul go hand-in-hand. Creative types are naturally curious, and the world is endless sandbox for those who follow their curiosity. At the same time, travel fuels creativity. Every new experience -- be it a breathtaking architectural marvel, an exotic taste, or an acute cultural observation – is potential inspiration. This inspiration may manifest itself in the form of an idea. Or it may arouse a new passion or pursuit, such as a newfound interest in street art.

I think a lot of people don’t travel often not because they don’t want to, but because they view it as too time-consuming or expensive. But that’s a narrow view. Exploring an unfamiliar place doesn’t have to be some grandiose jetsetter vacation. When I was in college and couldn’t afford to study abroad, I set a life goal for myself to visit one new place each year. On a good year, that may be a highly coveted international destination. In others, it simply means looking at a state map and picking an unexplored corner.

In reality, there are a lot of people that don’t have much interest in traveling. They don’t like leaving the comforts of home or dealing with the hassle. That’s just fine. But for those of us driven to collect experiences, there’s always time and money to do so, as long as a weekend is free and there’s enough cash in your wallet for a tank of gas. And who knows what will be born out of that little trip to Noveltown. 

Guest Post: Eric Hansen // @hansenwithane

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As a wanderer with a lust for uniquely designed environments, I love hotels that go beyond the typical steps in creating a unique experience. One of my favorite examples of this is Ace Hotel, known for their unique concept hotels in New York, Palm Springs, and Seattle. Everything from the room furnishings to the little shampoo bottles to the exit sign (more) is well thought out to create an evocative experience for the guest. And that's exactly why I love what Morgans Hotel Group recently created in partnership with The School of Life. Luxury hotels typically do an exceptional job catering to the needs of the body. But some smart folks over there wondered why no one has focused on doing so for the mind. So they set out to create more meaningful experiences for their guests. The resulting amenities and activities will most definitely delight curious guests, providing the kind of exploration, reflection, and connection with people most expect from travel outside of their lodging.

From theschooloflife.com: "The partnership includes the creation of a Minibar for the Mind which contains an intriguing and thought-provoking alternative to the usual minibar fare, Conversation Menus for hotel restaurants, Aphorism Turndown Cards and Talks on romance, travel, reading and culture."