Meet Mackenzie Bradley | Boutique Travel Advisor | Traveling Abode

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mackenzie Bradley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mackenzie, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
When it comes to boutique hospitality, there is as much struggle for the independent hotel to be found by the guest as it is for the guest to discover the hotel. The Google search domain is a pay to play labyrinth dominated by the colossal marketing budgets of the hospitality giants and online travel agencies, like Booking.com and Expedia, paying top dollar to appear on the consumers “boutique hotel (enter destination here)” search results. The truly unique and astounding properties can rarely compete in this world of complex digital marketing. The travel industry has become saturated with tourist sales traps as inevitably happens with the mass execution of the self-service form of travel these platforms provide.

That’s where I come in. There is a renaissance taking place within the travel industry – a redefining of the antiquated idea of a travel agent into a trusted advisor who is able to sift through the onslaught of information to discover the remarkable with an impeccably trained eye and extensive network of partner affiliations on our side. Just as we trust in professional accountants to file our taxes or designers to perfect our homes, people are increasingly turning to travel advisors to enhance the value of their precious vacation time.

As an advisor, I specialize in discovering the truly authentic properties that bring visitors into the heart and soul of a destination – the type of experience which can’t be monopolized through a Google search. Traveling Abode is dedicated to supporting the independent: the small hoteliers, the local tour guides, the community artisans, the ones who weave the cultural fabric of a destination. Because I believe we all crave more than a pretty beach and a cookie cutter hotel room from our travels – I believe our greatest teacher in life is the gifts we gain through authentic cultural exchange, when barriers are broken and the magic of the unknown is revealed. These are the moments that inform our lifetime and are increasingly necessary in our digital age. This is the experience I strive to provide for each and every one of my clients.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My brand, Traveling Abode, is the delivery of my life experiences. It is a proud moment of self-awareness when you discover how to integrate the various parts of yourself into a professional and creative pursuit. When you acknowledge that the 6 years you spent wandering the world in search of artisanal culture crafted an irreplaceable part of the gift you share with your clients rather than a hindrance to your professional advancement. To know that every choice you made in the decision to follow your heart instead of a career path ultimately brought you this place of intrinsic fulfillment. The ability to turn inward and speak from your experience is as equally rewarding as it is insightful for others and finding a way to monetize your passion alongside your intelligence is an invaluable feat. It’s been a long road of divergent paths, but there is an unmistakable purity generated from this type of work – work that speaks from the space of an experimental life. I am so grateful to have finally manifested its outlet in mine.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I believe that we travel to be inspired, and true inspiration resonates through the senses as we translate the outside world inward. We find this in the small businesses that represent the people & lives that take place there. In LA, we’re a melting pot of cultures. Here’s how to snag a snapshot of it all within one little Northeast LA pocket:

Silverlake / Los Feliz / East Hollywood corridor
Stay: Hotel Covell – grab coffee and snacks from Go Get Em Tiger and stroll the local shops along this intimate stretch of Hollywood Boulevard making your way up to the shops lining Hillhurst & Vermont Ave. If you get thirsty along the way, sample some truly impressive mezcals at Mirate – where every bottle is artisanally crafted & imported from Mexico (+ the cocktails are fantastic!)
Sight: Grab a bottle of wine from Tabula Rasa & late lunch from Kuya Lord (Filipino home recipes) – but do like the Angelinos do and have Postmates deliver it to Barnsdall Park while watching the sun set over the LA skyline alongside East LA intellectual hipsters in the shadow of the Hollyhock house – an impressive Frank Lloyd Wright architectural creation.
Hear: Jaunt over to Gold Diggers for live music – sure you could visit an ionic venue like the Greek or the Hollywood bowl (or my personal favorite the Ford) but you aren’t going to have the same opportunity to take shots with a bartender who’s also a touring musician while discovering your new favorite band. This is where real LA music lives and if you’re a true music fan, stay in the boutique hotel upstairs to never miss a beat.
Taste: After the show head over for a cocktail at Saffy’s (& grab an app while you’re at it) while waiting for your table at Found Oyster across the street. Added bonus: Observing the mysterious converts at the Scientology Mecca situated next door.
Late night? Head to Koreatown for some ethically questionable karaoke clubs and North Korean bar food at Da Sung Sa.

Want more itinerary planning & destination advice? That’s what I’m here for 🙂 @travelingabode.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Although my passion and presence in hospitality long supersedes my time at Gold Diggers Hotel, the five years I spent managing this hybrid Hotel, Bar and Recording Studio intrinsically shaped my appreciation for independent hospitality. Gold Diggers sets the standard for the creative collective. Run by the motto DRINK | SLEEP | RECORD, Gold Diggers encapsulates the artistic experience by providing a space to travel, create, perform, experience, and make music all under one impeccably designed campus. For visitors to Los Angeles, Gold Diggers is an undeniably authentic ticket to the soul of the LA music scene – and being in charge of shaping that experience for our guests made me seek the same dedication to cultural immersion throughout all of my travels, finding places where every detail is intentionally curated to dictate the story of its surroundings.

Website: https://www.traveling-abode.com/

Instagram: @traveling.abode

Image Credits
All photography by yours truly @traveling.abode