Talking Travel: Meet The Manini Entrepreneurs
Hi there and welcome to Talking Travel, a new series here at Miss Adventures Abroad! Each month, I’ll be interviewing and featuring my favorite travel bloggers, digital nomads, Instagram gurus, and wanderlust seekers to help inspire you to head out into this great big world and achieve your travel goals!
To kick off the series, I’m interviewing two inspiring travel entrepreneurs, Sam and Erica, who also happen to be best friends and business partners.
I “met” Sam and Erica on Instagram (yay, Internet!), and am getting super excited for my upcoming trip to Puerto Rico this June with their unique travel company The Manini Experience. (Reserve your spot now and save 10% with the code “MissAdvMeetsManini”)
Meet Sam:
Sam here! In addition to The Manini Experience, I’m a full time dental hygienist and an overnight dog sitter based in Oahu, Hawaii. I’m also studying website and graphic design so I can work remotely in the future. In my free time you can find me with my nose deep in a book, frolicking in the ocean with my aquatic friends, enjoying lazy Saturday mornings with my handsome boyfriend and our furry son (he’s a Wheaten/Airedale Terrier mix!), and looking at pictures of locations I haven’t been to yet!
Where did your love of travel begin, and what are some of your favorite destinations?
It all began at the ripe old age of 8. My father, a Spanish language teacher, would take his students on trips to Spanish speaking countries such as Mexico, Spain and Costa Rica, and would take my mom, sister and me with him. I was always up front and center next to the guide, totally engrossed in what he was telling us, the first to touch things and taste stuff, always hungry for new experiences.
Costa Rica will always hold a special place in my heart as it was my first international trip and sparked my love for traveling. It is an absolutely beautiful place and I would highly recommend it. I also love the city of Cusco and was totally in awe when we visited Machu Picchu and I love living in Hawaii. There is something so amazing about being able to see the enormous Koolau mountains and the blue waters of the pacific at the same time.
A little about Erica:
I’m Erica: photographer, girl boss, and 60 inches of sass. Outside of Manini, I own a wedding photography business, run a photography studio, co-host a photography podcast, and contribute to various blogs. I also spend time dominating sudoku puzzles, cuddling with my dog, planning a rainforest wedding with my fiancé, and dreaming of my next trip!
Where did your love of travel begin, and what are some of your favorite destinations?
Although I traveled in the US as a child, my love for travel didn’t really explode until college when I began studying international politics. That field led me to several study abroad opportunities and I never looked back!
My top destinations include Iceland and Lesotho. Iceland is like a completely different planet – the landscape there is incredible and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It also feels relatively untouched, so it’s quite peaceful. Lesotho, a tiny little African country, stole my heart completely. I’m on the board of a non-profit that helps to provide educational resources to AIDS orphans there, so it’s where I spend a lot of time and energy. It’s another one of those untouched locations and I absolutely adore it.
This dynamic duo originally met in 2012 coaching cheerleading in Columbus, Ohio and have been best friends ever since. Shortly after, the concept for The Manini Experience was born!
Tell me a little bit about what makes the Manini Experience so unique.
I know I certainly was excited to see the variety of adventure, local culture, and philanthropy on the menu for this summer’s trip to Puerto Rico, not to mention a professional photographer helping to record it all!
We’re definitely not just another travel company. We focus on small-group, eco-adventures, allowing you to really get to know the other members in your group as well as the local environments we visit. We work hard to curate authentic, eco-friendly experiences for travelers and we try to find a nice balance of adventures, off-the beaten path experiences, and relaxation. All of our trips include a philanthropy aspect, most often focused on ecology and the environment. While all of this is unique, we think the thing that intrigues most people is that Erica photographs the entire trip! Each day (when we have internet access, of course), our travelers receive photos to share to social media or send to their friends. This allows our travelers to get out from behind their cameras and really live in the moment, while also giving them lasting kick ass visual reminders of their epic adventures!
Where did the name Manini come from?
People always ask us about the word Manini. ‘Manini’ is the Hawaiian word meaning “little bit” and is used to describe anything small. We were hiking in Hawaii and chatting about our upcoming plans to start this business when we came across a bottle cap on the ground with the word ‘Manini’ on it. We agreed it was the perfect sign for what our name should be since at just around 5 ft tall, we could both be considered ‘little bits’.
Starting a business together and traveling the world? You two are the definition of #bestfriendgoals-how do you keep in touch and run a business while living apart?
Hahaha our friendship is definitely unique! Considering Ohio and Hawaii have a time difference of 5-6 hours depending on the time of year, it can definitely be a challenge to run the business and keep our bestie-ness fresh. We text and email all the time and we have weekly Facetime sessions where we catch up on personal stuff and work on the business. It’s totally doable if you’re dedicated!
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to incorporate travel into their lifestyle?
Our main piece of advice is JUST DO IT! While being an entrepreneur is hard, there are so many perks that make the difficulties totally worth it. As an entrepreneur, you are your own boss, you create your own destiny, and you can schedule time off whenever you want! If you start a business that allows you to work remotely, then you can even work anywhere in the world you want. What’s better than that?! Just remember that it won’t always be easy. Starting a business takes a lot of time, effort, and money. But, if you do it right and invest in the right areas from the beginning, you’ll reap the rewards later. Don’t give up, keep following your dreams, and strive to live a life you love!
For more about Sam, Erica, and The Manini Experience, check out their website, or follow them on Instagram @themaniniexperience!
Join me and the lovely Manini ladies this June 5th – 11th in Puerto Rico for the perfect combination of travel, adventure, philanthropy, and culture! We’ll experience:
- Night Kayaking
- Philanthropy
- Cave & Rappelling Tour
- Salsa Dancing
- Rainforest Exploration
- A professional photographer
- And more!
Grab your spot now and save 10% with the code “MissAdvMeetsManini”
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