Ya savvy? Edmonds business owner offers free travel seminars

EDMONDS — She caught the travel bug early. That’s what happens when you grow up with three types of currency in your pocket.

Petra Rousu lived within a stone’s throw from Switzerland and France while growing up in Grenzach, a town on the southwestern border of Germany.

Her family rarely missed an opportunity to take crosscountry road trips — having euros and French and Swiss francs came in handy.

“It was 15 minutes to Switzerland and 10 minutes to France,” Rousu said. “We were constantly crossing borders.”

She was in awe of the difference a 10-15 minute drive could make in cultures, customs and languages. It should come as no surprise, then, that Rousu found herself a career in the travel industry. After moving to America and managing 13 travel stores for AAA, she started her own business — The Savvy Traveler — in 1997.

As the owner of The Savvy Traveler, her job involves exploring the world to figure out the best ways to navigate it and share that knowledge with anyone who asks — be they seasoned travelers or wishful explorers. Or a curious Herald reporter.

Her first piece of advice? Don’t let the unfamiliar stop you from traveling. After visiting more than 70 countries, Rousu has learned to embrace the new and unknown.

“That’s the best part about traveling,” she said. “It’s what makes it so interesting.”

Rousu, 59, can speak English, German and French, yet she’s been to plenty of places where there was a language barrier. Rousu says locals are more than willing to help if foreigners are friendly and make the effort to learn a few words in their language. Phrases like “thank you,” “goodbye” and “good morning” go a long way.

Don’t expect them to know English. It’s a surefire way to miss out on a wonderful experience abroad.

“We’ve always met polite and friendly people,” said Rousu, whose travel companion for the past 35 years has been her husband, Don. “It’s how you approach them. You’re a guest in their country.”

Here’s a good tip: Pack light. Not only does it make traveling less stressful, but you don’t actually need all that stuff. Bring only what you can fit into a carry-on suitcase.

“It takes a little bit to get past that barrier, but it’s a freeing experience once they do,” Rousu said.

Another tip: Stay calm when driving in southeast Asia or the Middle East.

The traffic systems there can seem like total chaos to Americans — with bumper-to-bumper cars and mopeds squeezing in between narrow lanes — but Rousu says there is a method to the madness. Her advice? Stay brave.

Rousu says it’s a great time to travel because you can see the world for less. AirBnBs make room and board more affordable. Another way to save money: Instead of eating out at restaurants for every meal, check out the local markets.

“Eating out in Europe is a lot less expensive,” Rousu said. “We live in a very expensive corner of the U.S., compared to the (rest of the) world.”

Rousu likes to plan trips that last three weeks. Wherever she goes, she has at least one new and exciting experience.

In south France, near Provence and Luberon, she found gorgeous markets, great food and a way of living that seemed both old and new.

In Bali, an Indonesian island, the locals were peaceful, relaxed and gentle — she surmised it was because most of people practice Hinduism, a religion and culture that teaches tolerance, peace and purity of spirit.

South Africa had stunning landscapes, beautiful vineyards and exciting safaris; she saw lions, elephants and zebras.

“You learn so much in every region,” Rousu said. “I just went to Singapore, and I was really excited about how advanced they were — technologically, environmentally and socially. They’re miles ahead of us.”

Rousu doesn’t just travel to sightsee — she also tests travel gear for their usefulness and whether to sell them in her store.

The Savvy Traveler, located on Fifth Avenue, hosts free travel seminars three to four times a month. Presentations are led by various travel guides and tour operators, include videos and pictures, and go over travel tips and history of a country.

If you’re feeling wary of world travel, Rousu recommends popping in for a seminar. It’s an opportunity to get to know the travel guides and ask questions.

The next Savvy Traveler seminar, scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 12, is about the historical city of Petra, located in southern Jordan, which was settled as early as 9,000 BC and is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Rousu visited the city in March.

Petra was on Rousu’s bucket list.

As if that’s a surprise? The city shares her first name.

Evan Thompson: 425-339-3427, ethompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @ByEvanThompson.

If you go

What: The Savvy Traveler

Where: 112 Fifth Ave. S., Edmonds

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

More: 425-744-6076 or www.savvytraveleredmonds.com