About me - Iris Avenues

Hey, I’m Iris!

I’m originally from near Bonn, Germany but honestly, I feel at home almost anywhere in the world, or at least I’m always trying to. As a teenager and in my early twenties, I spent many summers in the US, in Georgia. That’s probably where my love for travel – and for having a “temporary home” really began. What stayed with me was how openly and curiously people of so many different backgrounds, religions, and identities interacted with each other there, over a coffee, without any barriers.

Since then, travel has meant so much more to me than just seeing beautiful places. It’s about building bridges, creating understanding, and showing how kind and open most people in this world really are – even when the news tells a very different story.

My background – why I write about what I write about

For many years, I’ve worked internationally in marketing and communications across different industries, for companies based in the US, Brazil, Germany, and beyond. Business travel has taken me from Tanzania to Dubai and across Europe. I’ve lived and worked in the US myself, and over the years I’ve built a wide international network.

That combination of a real professional background and a genuine passion for travel is exactly why topics like bleisure travel, business hotels, and destinations with real cultural depth play such a big role on this blog. I know the difference between a quick tourist trip and a stay where you actually connect with people on the ground – professionally and personally.

How I travel

I’m not a perfectionist when it comes to travel but I always go with a rough idea of what to expect and a little bit of preparation in my bag. That said, I leave plenty of room for spontaneous moments. Culture and food are at the heart of every trip for me – they’re how I find the best way into a place and its people.

I love wandering through markets, talking to locals, and coming home with a new favourite dish or a good story. Nature? Sure – but not if it means hours of hiking. I’d much rather head into a city, where there’s a better chance of stumbling upon a tiny café with surprisingly good coffee and losing track of time watching the world go by. Viewpoints, on the other hand, are absolutely my thing, they give me the perfect overview before I dive in.

As a woman who travels solo quite often, I’m always well-prepared when it comes to safety, but that never gets in the way of the joy of letting myself drift through unfamiliar places and discovering something new.

Around 40 countries – and hopefully many more!

At some point, I stopped keeping track. Around 40 countries so far, between work and private travel. But honestly, the number interests me less than what stays with me: a conversation, a flavour, a story I won’t forget any time soon.

Places that never quite let me go

Some trips fade quickly. Others change you. These are the ones that really stayed with me:

USA: My second home and the place where my love of travel truly started. I lived there, made real friendships, and learned what it actually feels like to belong somewhere that isn’t yours by birth.
Oman: Whenever someone asks me which country surprised me most, the answer is always Oman. The hospitality there was so genuine and warm that I honestly haven’t fully gotten over it.
Mexico: A winter school, lots of conversations, a whole lot of energy. Mexico swept me off my feet with its vibrancy and the best food I’ve ever had.
Tanzania: A business trip that made me quieter. I learned there what happens when you truly listen – and how much you miss when you don’t.
Spain: I love the language, I love the food, I love the mentality. Spain is the country I keep coming back to. And somehow it never feels like I already know it.

My motto

The best encounters happen when you have no expectations.

I always bring back a souvenir from every trip – but never a kitschy fridge magnet. It has to be something I’ll actually use: a scarf, a piece of jewellery, something that fits into everyday life. That way, the memories sneak back in when I least expect them.

A note on transparency

I want you to be able to trust what you read here. At the moment, I don’t work with paid partnerships or affiliate links – everything I recommend is based on my own, genuine experience. If that ever changes, I’ll make sure to label it clearly and honestly.

Why this blog?

I write this blog because I genuinely believe that travel brings us closer together. The world is a wonderful place, and I want to show why. Whether through stories, practical tips, or a little bit of inspiration. I hope you find something here that takes you on a small journey, or gets you excited about your next one.