Lee Trotman
Lee Trotman is a digital marketing and ecommerce expert, and has clients such as Home Depot, Southern California Edison, Amazon, Costco and other Fortune 100 companies as well as smaller manufacturers. Lee Trotman was raised in New York, Germany, Japan and Korea before coming to Los Angeles. Lee Trotman learned many things from each of these environments, and along the way acquired a love of playing live music, sports, traveling and working on cars and motorcycles.
What is your hobby?
Traveling is my primary hobby.
How did you get started with this hobby? What inspired you?
I was eight years old and my family moved from New York City to Hanau, Germany. My first ride on an airplane scared me, but within minutes became second nature.
Tell us what you love about it
I love traveling to new places and living like a local. My travel is split into two categories: educational and leisure. Educational travel involves learning about the local culture, history and people. For example, when I travel to Europe, it’s always educational. I love local customs, different environments, etc. When I travel to tropical places, it’s always leisure, and I try to soak up living life like a local as much as I can.
Have you had to invest in equipment and if so, please share some of the things you’ve bought?
Luggage, snowboards, electronics for whiling away the hours on a plane, etc. The most important equipment are noise-canceling earbuds to enable me to fall asleep.
Where do you buy most of your supplies?
I like shopping at the destination so I can have souvenirs that actually have a purpose. Each purchase leads to a better traveling experience on another trip.
Are there any good books for beginners?
Plenty of great books, so I highly recommend a Frommer’s guide from AAA. And any maps of your destination.
How has this changed your life?
Traveling has broadened my perspective on world events. It’s one thing to read about a country and its personality, but another when you visit. Some of my world views come from interacting directly with locals, and I take this interaction to heart.
What advice do you have for others starting out with this hobby?
Use the internet to its fullest potential. In the old days, you had to rely on travel agents and extensive research, but today you can learn from TripAdvisor and Expedia most of what you will need to know about a travel destination.