Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out. Your GMAT is awesome & it sounds like you have some strong work experience, but those low GPAs are going to be a challenge for sure & unfortunately it just doesn't reflect very good judgment to say you skipped class to travel or even that you were too busy with work (since in theory you could have made some adjustments to your schedule). It will make the adcom worry about your maturity & will make them wonder how seriously you'll take b-school (especially since many schools have grade non-disclosure, which could again be a temptation to slack off. You'll want to be honest in the optional essay & own up to the fact that you displayed poor judgment -- and then you'll want to point to your work experience as evidence of the maturity & hard work you're capable of.
I honestly think schools like H/S/W are going to be tough given the GPAs, unless you truly have stellar accomplishments at work. It's worth a shot given your GMAT but I'd recommend broadening your school list & including some schools that are not in the top 5.
If you need help thinking through your strategy or your story definitely reach out to us. If you email Claudia at
claudia@admissionado.com she can set you up with a free consultation with an MBA consultant who can take a look at your resume & give you some more detailed thoughts!