Arin Forstadt

“Though a born and raised New Yorker, my identity has always extended farther than street-cart hot dogs and dollar slice pizza”

Global Travel Advisor

“Though a born and raised New Yorker, my identity has always extended farther than street-cart hot dogs and dollar slice pizza”

Though a born and raised New Yorker, my identity has always extended farther than street-cart hot dogs and dollar slice pizza. I studied abroad through Semester at Sea, where I earned college credits on board a ship – docking in and sailing throughout Asia and Africa. I had fierce snowball fights with the local people of Mount Fuji, I saw Vietnam’s Hoi An illuminated during its monthly lantern festival, and I was an arm’s length from wild white lions on safari in South Africa.

With so much of the world beneath my belt, I’m in the unique position to be able to inspire others to see the world as I have. I get to share my passion and curiosity for the world with our travelers every day, learning what makes them tick and how a Black Tomato trip can check off a bucket list adventure or celebrate a milestone. This is what Global Travel Advisors are for, to steer you in the ‘right’ direction (wherever in the world that might be).

When I’m not traveling, you can most likely find me planning my next trip, writing my second novel, or DIY designing my space.

“Though a born and raised New Yorker, my identity has always extended farther than street-cart hot dogs and dollar slice pizza”

'I was the only person in sight'

A closer look at Slovenia

Standing in front of Lake Bled, I looked up to the castle on my right and the lake’s tiny island to my left; realizing I was the only person in sight. It was 10 am on a mid-October morning, and – after some time hiking the Julian Alps in Triglav National Park – I arrived at the lake with a day full of plans. None of them involved having one of Slovenia’s most famous sites to myself.

I walked along the Western perimeter of the lake, taking in the snowy mountaintops and rolling greenery. One private traditional pletna boat ride later and I was heading to the country’s only natural island. The air was crisp, clouds crowded my distant view, and a silence only broken by the island’s wishing bell filled my ears.

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