About James
James Cooper spent eight years as a secondary school geography teacher before realizing that the subject he was teaching was the life he actually wanted to live.
In 2014 he took a year's leave of absence that became permanent. He'd intended to travel for a year; twelve years later he has visited 54 countries across all seven continents, written two travel guidebooks (Southeast Asia on a Budget, 2018; The European Off-Season, 2021), and become known for the depth of research he brings to destination coverage.
Where many travel writers stay for a week and write a guide, James stays for months. His Japan guide is based on six separate visits totalling 11 weeks in the country. His Africa safari guide draws on five different safari experiences across Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and Rwanda.
James holds a Certified Travel Professional (CTP) designation and is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers. He currently splits his time between Lisbon, Portugal — which he considers the world's best city for slow travel — and wherever his current research project takes him.
🏆 Credentials
- ✓ 12 years travel experience
- ✓ 54 countries across all 7 continents
- ✓ Certified Travel Professional (CTP)
- ✓ Author of 2 published travel guidebooks
✈ Specialties
- • Destination deep-dives & guides
- • Off-the-beaten-path travel
- • Safari & wildlife experiences
- • European city travel
- • Adventure travel planning