Meet Lisa-Gaye Shakespeare of Shakespeare Travels

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa-Gaye Shakespeare.

Lisa-Gaye, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in Jamaica and moved to the U.S. when I was 16 years old for college. I did my bachelor’s in Communication in Tampa, FL then moved to Miami, FL and did my masters in Broadcast Journalism. When I graduated in 2010, I could not find a job in journalism, so I began working in higher education with international students. I’ve been in the international education field for seven years now and I love my job, especially being able to travel and recruit students, showcasing Miami, the university, and our programs.

I’ve always loved traveling because I’m a strong believer that you should fill your life with adventures, not things and for me, travel has been the best education I’ve experienced. I love learning about new cultures, meeting locals, trying different foods and sharing my experiences with my friends and family. I would always “blog” and I do air quotes because I did it unofficially on my social media.

Then last year, I found out that a travel website was searching for someone to move to Cancun for six months to create online content and showcase the city. I applied (along with over 6,000 other people from all over the world), and with some overwhelmingly incredible support from my friends and family who voted religiously every single day for almost two months, I made it to the top 100. Then, I had to create a video showcasing the city I live in, which I was super excited about because I live in one of the best cities in the U.S. – Miami! After submitting the video, I made it to top 50 but unfortunately did not make it through to top 10.

Nevertheless, that experience re-ignited my fire and passion for journalism and my love for travel, which motivated me to start Shakespeare Travels in January 2018.

Has it been a smooth road?
Well, I’ve only launched Shakespeare Travels for a few months now so I can’t really say I’ve had any serious issues or roadblocks because it’s not my full-time job. But, it does remind me a little bit of the struggle I faced breaking into journalism because there were so many experienced journalists that it was hard to find a job with my limited experience. It’s almost the same with travel vlogging/blogging. There are so many other travel vloggers/bloggers especially on social media with thousands of followers, it can be a little intimidating. But I try not to compare myself because my goal for the future is to be a travel host with my own show, so I’m just taking it slow and doing my own thing. I joke with my friends all the time and say, maybe one day the Travel Channel will see my videos on YouTube and actually hire me! That would be a dream come true!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Shakespeare Travels – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Shakespeare Travels is a travel show on YouTube where I launch episodes showcasing different cities or countries that I visit highlighting fun things to do! My main goal is to inspire because to travel is to live and like I said earlier, I want everyone to fill their lives with adventure. Many people think it’s impossible to see the world but hey, if this little country bumpkin island gal can do it, so can you!

I think what truly sets me apart from others is my personality. I’m naturally a bubbly, outgoing, sociable and adventurous person who will try anything once, even if I’m scared out of my mind! But I love it and that energy portrays in my content. I also have Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages where I share photos with tips and advice based on my experiences traveling.

I’m most proud of the fact that I get so much support from my friends and family. Everyone encourages me to keep doing what I do and that motivates me to keep on pushing towards my dream. Plus, I’m slowly growing a following on my social media pages and interacting and engaging with people who truly look to me for travel advice and inspiration. That makes me happy because I want everyone to see the world!

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
This is going to sound very cliche but it’s true… I love Miami because of the amazing almost year-round weather and beautiful beaches. I simply can’t get enough of it. I also love the diversity of cultures. You will hear a mix of English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Creole, Patois and so much more. On the other hand, what I dislike the most about this beautiful city is the TRAFFIC. Ugh, don’t get me started. It’s simply ridiculous.

Contact Info:

• Email: shakespearetravels@gmail.com
• Instagram: @shakespearetravels
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shakespearetravels1/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/shakespearetrav
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/c/shakespearetravels

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