[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.0.74″ parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ transparent_background=”off” padding_mobile=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”About” text_orientation=”center” _builder_version=”3.19.9″ title_font=”Marigold||||||||” title_text_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”50px” subhead_font=”|on|||” subhead_font_size=”49px” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” background_image=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_5493.jpg” parallax=”on” background_layout=”light” max_width_tablet=”50px” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null”]
[/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Susie-Chau_Headshot-2018-2.jpg” _builder_version=”3.0.100″ use_border_color=”off”]
[/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.19.9″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
Susie grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. Her family took lots of road trips around the US, but the extent of her international travel was to Niagara Falls and Windsor, Canada – hardly a stretch outside of her comfort zone! However, that all changed when she studied abroad in Nantes, France and caught a serious case of the travel bug. The excitement of hopping on a train and arriving the next morning in a new country with a completely different culture, food, and language was exhilarating.
After college, she moved to Chicago, built a career in Management Consulting, and took every opportunity to travel the world that she could, including working abroad in Rome, Paris, and London. She had no problems burning through the airline miles and hotel points earned through her extensive business travel!
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.19.9″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
A few years later, she met her husband, Jan, who shares her love of travel and exploration. Jan was born in Virginia, raised in New Jersey, and lived in New York City before relocating to Chicago for his job. As his friends predicted, he met a nice, Midwestern girl just months after moving. Aside from traveling, his biggest passion is photography. Most of the images you see featured on this site are compliments of Jan’s keen eye!
In 2013, she convinced Jan to take a yearlong career break with her. They set out with a plan to visit Asia, South America, and Europe, but ended up traversing all seven continents, 22 countries, and 22 US States during their whirlwind journey. From taking the polar plunge in Antarctica to climbing massive sand dunes in the Gobi Desert, it was an adventure of a lifetime.
Here are some stats on Susie’s travel accomplishments:
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_number_counter title=”Continents Visited” number=”7″ percent_sign=”off” counter_color=”#2c96e8″ _builder_version=”3.0.87″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”50px|||” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_number_counter][et_pb_number_counter title=”US States Visited” number=”44″ percent_sign=”off” counter_color=”#2c96e8″ _builder_version=”3.0.87″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_number_counter title=”Countries Visited” number=”46″ percent_sign=”off” counter_color=”#2c96e8″ _builder_version=”3.0.87″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”50px|||” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_number_counter][et_pb_number_counter title=”Months of Continuous Travel” number=”12″ percent_sign=”off” counter_color=”#2c96e8″ _builder_version=”3.0.87″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_number_counter][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Trip-Advisor-Travel-Map-No-Stats.png” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ animation=”off” sticky=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.100″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off”]
Since returning home from their career break, Susie has been actively involved in the Chicago travel community, has spoken at several Meet Plan Go! events helping fellow travelers live out their travel dreams. She has also spoken at the NY Trav Fest in Brooklyn.
By leveraging her extensive travel and consulting experience, she has created a business helping others turn their travel dreams into reality. Susie offers end-to-end travel services ranging from assisting clients select a destination to planning and booking trips as well as ongoing support. She has partnered with Tafari Travel in order to provide customers exclusive perks and a full-service experience.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/services/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Services” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”3.16″ button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null”]
[/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.100″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off”]
Susie aims to inspire and help people turn their travel dreams into reality. She believes that travel has the unique power to open minds, break down boundaries between different cultures, and re-connect people with what, and who, is truly important in life.
Please contact her if you want to learn more about her services and/or subscribe to her weekly newsletter to get valuable travel tips, insights, and much more!
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_code][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_0869.jpg” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ animation=”off” sticky=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/mendoza-0639.jpg” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ animation=”off” sticky=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_0342.jpg” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ animation=”off” sticky=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ specialty_columns=”3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/MakingTheMoment_CC__231.jpg” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ animation=”off” sticky=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DR.jpg” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ animation=”off” sticky=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column_inner][/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Antarctica.jpg” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ animation=”off” sticky=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_method__hover=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https://www.carpediemtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_0347.jpg” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ animation=”off” sticky=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column_inner][/et_pb_row_inner][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_section]