Several weeks ago, after publishing a piece on Taiwan, a subscriber named Lori emailed me:

“I lived in Taiwan for a year, and while I traveled extensively, I never had an experience like the one you described. Reading your article made me realize how much I missed by not seeking out those deeper cultural connections. It wasn’t a feeling of regret so much as a reminder that the most meaningful travel experiences are often the ones we don’t know to look for, and that stayed with me because I’ve been exploring a similar question [...] Thank you for writing about travel in a way that encourages curiosity over checklists.”

It was such a thoughtful note to receive—I started Departure to dig deeper, to embrace that slower kind of travel. After some back and forth, Lori shared she’s a longtime movie producer building out a new travel venture called Odyssey Studio, offering personalized itineraries based on your interests rather than a specific place, like an interest in Indigenous loom-weaving versus saying “I want to see Peru.”

And travel that “encourages curiosity over checklists” is exactly the type of travel I want to spotlight. Her ability to explore off the beaten path—and how her brain works to actually make it happen—is inspiring, and an approach we can all learn from. Plus, getting the chance to cover a small woman-led business is deeply in line with my values, so I’m thrilled to share our conversation (and a fun little giveaway—keep scrolling) today. Enjoy!

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Lori, you’re a longtime producer, and our readers might recognize titles you’ve worked on. At your core, you’re focused on storytelling, and that’s led to your new venture, Odyssey Studio. Can you tell us more about that?

I think I’ve been doing some version of this for a long time. When I was a junior in college, I was in Taiwan studying Chinese, but I hated the way I was being taught. I quit the program and started taking modern dance and joined a theater group instead. Suddenly my Chinese took off because I was engaging with the place through something I genuinely cared about. That experience stayed with me: Sometimes the way into a place is through the thing you’re already curious about.

Fast-forward a few decades, and I’ve spent my career as a producer thinking about stories: how you research a world, find what makes it distinctive, and create an experience that takes an audience somewhere they couldn’t have gotten to on their own.

Eventually I realized I was doing something very similar when I traveled. I’d become fascinated by a book, a period of history, a craft, a piece of mythology, and follow that thread somewhere I never would have thought to go. That’s where Odyssey came from.

What if you designed a trip the way you might develop a story? Instead of starting with a destination, you start with the person—their curiosities and obsessions—and see where those threads lead.

You have this tagline on your site: “Most trips begin with a destination. The best ones begin with you.” I think that’s very true for most readers, myself included; I’m more likely to say, “I want to visit Albania” than around a specific interest of mine. How does shifting your travels to one based on interests change how meaningful a trip can be? What has that looked like with the folks you’ve worked with so far?

Recently, I was designing a trip around seeing the Northern Lights. I started researching all the possible places to experience them, like in Alaska for example, but when I discovered that Northern Scotland was a candidate, I got really excited. It immediately replaced my original idea of sitting in a glass-covered train in Alaska, because this particular traveler had a profound appreciation for Viking lore and Norse mythology.

So the research shifted. Instead of simply finding the best place to see the Northern Lights, I started following that Norse thread through Northern Scotland and Norway. Suddenly the Northern Lights weren’t just something we were going to see; they became part of a much bigger journey through mythology, history, culture and people.

That’s the difference I’m talking about. We didn’t abandon the original goal—we found a much more meaningful way to get there.

You mentioned you’re looking for “Founding Travelers” who can help tailor the Odyssey Studio experience, and they will receive deeply discounted opportunities to a custom-designed journey. For milestone events (or simply busy professionals), a personalized trip sounds super appealing. Can you tell us how it works, and what these Founding Travelers will help do?

This is a different way of traveling, and I’d love to get feedback before I launch more broadly. I’m creating a cohort of five Founding Travelers who will go through the full Odyssey process (from the initial conversation through the research and design of their journey) at a deeply discounted rate of $99, in exchange for thoughtful feedback on the planning experience.

The feedback is really about the process itself: What resonates, what could be clearer, and what would make the experience even better. The trip itself doesn’t have to happen immediately, since it’s about the process: how we discover what matters to them, how I translate those threads into a journey, and what it’s like to receive that finished Odyssey.

As I work with those first five Founding Travelers, their feedback will help me refine the experience along the way. Then I’ll invite a second cohort, the Wayfinders, also at a discounted rate. After that, it’s go time!

📍 If you’re interested in becoming a Founding Traveler, you can sign up here. Lori is also generously gifting an additional Founding Traveler spot for one lucky paid subscriber—if you’re a paid subscriber and want to enter to win, email me at henah@henahvelez.com with your full name, where you’re based, and your top three interests, and we’ll choose the winner next week.

email me to enter

I don’t want you to give away your entire “secret sauce” of course, but I am inspired by your approach to travel, and I want to give readers a sense of what they’d expect. If I came to you and said, “I want to design a 10-day trip for my husband and me based on our shared interests of, say, jazz music, history, and vegetarian food,” how would you move forward?

Jazz music, history and vegetarian food—I’d say yum to all! My first question would be, what kind of jazz? A specific era? Particular musicians? Because those answers could completely change where the journey leads.

Then I’d start looking for the connections between those interests. Maybe the history is tied to a particular place, musician or era. Maybe the food becomes another way into that culture: from street food to a Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant. But I wouldn’t know what those connections are until we talked. That conversation is where the Odyssey begins.

If I wanted to take this a step further and I said, “We love just watching live jazz at a place like the Spotted Cat in New Orleans, somewhere you feel alive and in the moment with other people. And we love food that's vibrant and flavorful; we'd prefer the mom-and-pop shop over fine dining any day.” Where would you go from there?

Oh, I love this. Now you've given me clues. You love jazz, but it's not necessarily about checking a famous jazz club off a list. You love the feeling of being somewhere alive, where the music is part of the place and the people. And your food choices tell me you're interested in the culture of a place, not just the food itself.

So now, I start pulling the thread. What kind of jazz? What musicians do you love? What other music do you listen to? What does "vibrant and flavorful" mean to you? What are the meals you've had while traveling that you still talk about?

And then I start researching. Maybe I discover a small town somewhere in Sweden that has an unexpectedly vibrant jazz scene—several little clubs clustered around a neighborhood with tiny restaurants and cafes. I'd want to know why that scene exists, who the musicians are, how it developed, and whether there's a story worth following.

Or, maybe your interests lead me somewhere completely different. Maybe we take a historical lens—say, jazz during Prohibition and the people and places that shaped it—and suddenly the journey has another dimension.

I don't know where the clues will lead when I start. That's the part I love. I'm following the trail until I find the journey that makes me think, oh, that's it.

How are you identifying places off the beaten path that are worth the time and energy? How can someone who wants to mostly plan their own trips but find hidden gems somewhere do that? Short of opening Google Maps and zooming in at towns outside of airport hubs, it doesn’t seem easy!

I’ve always done a lot of research when it comes to itineraries and places. A few years ago, I was traveling to the Amalfi Coast with my mom and sister, and we were planning to go to Pompeii. Then I found a blogger talking about Herculaneum, and a newspaper article that also discussed its value compared with Pompeii.

It took some mild convincing to skip the famous Pompeii, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. Pompeii is huge, and you spend a lot of time imagining what used to be there. Herculaneum is much smaller and astonishingly preserved: frescoes, signage, details of everyday life are still right there. I found it a much richer experience. Once I discovered it, I thought, “Wait, why are we going to Pompeii just because everyone goes to Pompeii?”

I like looking at the “weird” lists and the “hidden” lists. When I was living in Paris for five months for work, my husband was reluctant to visit because he had no interest in Paris. This was as shocking to me as it probably is to you. So I pivoted: We’ll do weird Paris. Then we got in a car and traveled all over France, going to places no one in the States ever seemed to talk about. We had the best trip.

So my research has to include what isn’t on the five or ten most popular things to do. That doesn’t mean those places are off limits. They may absolutely belong in someone’s Odyssey. But they don’t automatically make the cut just because they’re famous.

If someone loves catacombs, war museums and gorges over the Eiffel, that’s where I want to start looking.

Designing a trip around someone's real interests means getting to know them in a different way than a typical travel advisor would. What does that discovery process look like? My example of “jazz, history, vegetarian food” is fairly specific—what if someone comes to you with vague recommendations like, “I just want to explore.” How do you dig deeper?

I love that equally. Then I get to ask questions. I get to design their story. I’ll ask about all kinds of things, poke at where they’ve traveled before and where they might wish to go. Do they love hiking? Ziplining? Animals? Do they want to feed wolves and then go paragliding? Or are they more interested in art and want to feel like they’ve stepped into a painting for a week?

The conversation will reveal areas of interest, but it also tells me how someone likes to experience the world. Are they adventure seekers? Do they want to be immersed in culture? Do they love getting their hands dirty and making things? Do they want to meet people and hear their stories?

I’ll play a detective in a great travel mystery. I’m looking for the clues that tell me what kind of journey might make this particular person light up.

The editor and producer in me has to ask: Most great stories have structure (i.e., setup, rising action, climax, resolution). Do you think about a trip in that way; does it follow a narrative at all?

I do think about narrative and rhythm, although probably not in the literal “setup, rising action, climax, resolution” way. My producer brain is always thinking about pacing, contrast and what I want the traveler to feel as the journey unfolds.

I also think about what will become the memory of each day. On our Croatia trip, one of the things I remember most vividly was learning about an ancient form of air conditioning. It wasn’t necessarily the grandest thing we did that day, but it was the detail that stuck with me. The Red Museum was another one—something unexpected that became a real moment for me. So I want each day to have something meaningful in it, but that doesn’t mean every day needs a massive event.

And then I do think about the larger arc. I don’t want to stack a bunch of great experiences next to each other and call it a journey. I want there to be rhythm: moments of discovery, moments to breathe, changes in pace, and ideally something toward the end that feels like a payoff.

But unlike a screenplay, travel has an unpredictable collaborator: reality. Weather changes. Things close. You discover something you didn’t expect. So the structure has to be flexible enough to let the unexpected become part of the story.

I think that’s where my storytelling background really matters. I’m not just asking, “What are the best things to do?” I’m thinking about how the pieces work together to create an experience that feels like a journey.

Not every traveler wants a trip like this, and they might be better off going with a standard travel advisor or booking a straightforward hotel package—for example, a couple that wants to spend their entire honeymoon at one beach resort. What’s the type of traveler you’re looking for, who might be into the idea of interest-based story-driven travel?

That is absolutely true. An Odyssey traveler is curious. They want to go a little deeper, whether that’s as an individual, with a partner or friend, or as a private group or family.

What Odyssey is not is group travel made up of strangers. You won’t need someone waving a flag to gather a bunch of people together. (Did I just reveal my biggest pet peeve?)

Maybe you’ve traveled far and wide and you’re looking for something different. Maybe you haven’t traveled extensively at all, but you want a deeper connection to a place you’re visiting. You might be an adventure seeker, a history obsessive, a food lover, an art person, or simply someone who wants to follow a curiosity and see where it leads.

The common denominator isn’t how much you’ve traveled. It’s that you want to experience a place in a way that feels personal to you.

What does slow travel look like for you nowadays, particularly as you start designing trips for others?

I’m obsessed with tea. And chocolate. I would really like to create a trip where I could do a deep dive into either of those subjects.

I’m such a tea nerd that I’ll do multiple tests to figure out the right amount of water, temperature and tea, despite what the instructions say. Is the second infusion better than the first? Do I prefer twice as much tea as recommended? Right now I’m fascinated by a unique oolong being made in Japan that emulates the mountain teas of Taiwan. And I’m waiting on a delivery of tea that’s been aged in whisky barrels from the UK.

I’d love to visit tea makers, do tastings, meet tea sommeliers and really understand the culture and craft behind it. Or I could do the same thing with chocolate. I’m an equal opportunist.

My husband would absolutely hate this trip. Which makes it interesting. Maybe he could nerd out on vintage cars while I nerd out on tea. Tea and vintage cars. Chocolate and car racing. I think it can be done.

That’s actually part of what excites me about Odyssey. You don’t necessarily have to share every interest with the person you’re traveling with. The fun is figuring out how to create a journey where each person gets to follow something they’re genuinely passionate about, while still experiencing the place together.

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• ❤️‍🩹 We lost a true icon this week—a singer, actress, songwriter, and philanthropist who brought together fans from every walk of life. If you’re looking for a fall getaway, may I humbly suggest Dollywood? 160 acres across the Great Smoky Mountains, with a memorable harvest festival.

• 💬 Been to Rio, Sri Lanka, Australia, or Copenhagen and have thoughts to share? Readers have questions in the subscriber chat.

• 😭 These traveling grandmothers—both in their 80s—are roaming around the world together. 50 countries across all seven continents. Go Ellie and Sandy! (USA Today)

• 🛫 In the largest expansion in United’s history, the airline announced it’s adding 10 new international cities and three new routes across Europe and Asia—eight of which no other US airline serves. From Newark, you’ll be able to fly nonstop in 2027 to Luxembourg City, Marseille, Valencia, Ljbuljana, and Sardinia.

See you next week. —Henah x

A road trip through the south of Spain, surrounded by white-washed walls and a mesmerizing blend of Moorish and Mediterranean styles. A winding loop around the island of Moorea, a calming view of lush green palm trees on one side, the picturesque ocean on the other. Crossing the border between Croatia and Bosnia, stopping at a local restaurant for lunch while overlooking the Adriatic Sea coastline.

Over the years, I’ve rented a car across three continents, and (so far) have lived to tell the tale. It’s not always my ideal mode of transportation—I love a snail’s pace stroll through town or learning about a city’s public transit system. But when we’re spending extended time in one place, a car offers us the chance to expand our time away and soak in the entirety of a region.

With bookings across 10 countries, today I’m sharing the Do’s and Don’ts of renting a car. I think there’s generally a lot of hesitation and fear around booking a rental car in another country, understandably. And while I’m sure many of you have already rented a car outside of your home country, my hope is to empower you with the knowledge to feel confident booking and to shine a light on some of the lesser-known rules and tips to make the experience as smooth as possible. (As always, if you have additional ideas—or stories—to share, please do so in the comments!)

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Do: Rent the smallest car you need.

During our aforementioned travels from Madrid to Sevilla, with stops along the way in Granada, Cordoba, Malaga, and Marbella, my husband and I rented a car online ahead of time. Upon arriving at the agency, we were told their sedans weren’t available and we’d have to make do with a larger SUV.

We made it work, but it was also impossibly hard to park at times. One afternoon while we were heading to dinner, we needed to park inside a covered deck. The spots were so tiny that I ended up scraping one corner of the car, a moment my husband still loves to remind me about. At the time, I knew it wasn’t ideal, but the $350 bill that came later was a bit of a shock. For a tiny scrape?! (I’ll share how I actually managed to avoid paying anything in a second.)

In the south of France, too, just a few weeks ago, the streets and spots were equally narrow. We had an SUV because we knew we’d be carrying our luggage and friends—but in retrospect, I probably would’ve gotten a car two sizes down. (Does it work that way, like t-shirts?) So the TL;DR here: Get the smallest car you need and pray it’s there when you arrive.

Do: Understand your credit card benefits—because it could cover you.

I know, I know—I’m a broken record, and plenty of you might already know this. But! A premium credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Capital One Venture X sometimes includes primary rental car insurance, which could cover any potential damage. (American Express Platinum provides secondary coverage, but you could also purchase a low-cost policy through them.)

You absolutely need to read the fine print (for example, in the case with the CSR, cars older than 10 years old, “expensive” vehicles, and motorcycles aren’t covered) and some countries aren’t included. Plus, the insurance typically only covers damage or theft to the rental car itself, not damage to other people’s cars or injuries. It’s not the same as liability insurance, and the terms can change at any time.

In the case that the insurance essentially covers what you need: All you would do is pay for the entire rental with your premium card, and, most importantly, decline the rental company’s “collision damage waiver” (CDW) once you arrive at the check-in desk. This is what I did for our time in Spain, and once I received the itemized bill for damages from the rental car company, I opened a claim with Chase, and they reimbursed me for the entire bill.

Do: Read up on parking before you go.

If the native language isn’t your own wherever you go, it’s easy to get confused by road signs and placards. Luckily, there are universal icons that can help (this is a handy primer!), but I’ve seen some where I have no clue what they’re trying to communicate.

In one such instance, my best friend and I were in Croatia, parking in Dubrovnik for a quick meal before heading back to our Airbnb. Unfortunately, we had inadvertently ended up in a “Restricted Traffic Zone” (RTZ), meaning only authorized vehicles could enter and park there. The goal of a RTZ is to minimize traffic and pollution, and you’ll often find these in older cities across Europe—they’re sometimes called ZTLs/LTZs or Limited Traffic Zones.

We weren’t familiar with the signage (it turns out you’re looking for a white circle with a red border, like this), and when we went to return the car a week later, we were slapped with a fee equivalent to $800 USD. Ever the goody two shoes, I insisted on paying it while my best friend—whose name the reservation was under—said absolutely not. To this day, she hasn’t paid, so if she ever returns to Croatia, jury’s out to see what will happen if she wants to rent another car. 🤣

Do: Get an International Driving Permit, if you’re leaving the US.

Plenty of folks don’t bother, but for me, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is worth the $20 for the peace of mind. This allows you to legally drive in another country alongside your US license, and if you’re ever pulled over or in an accident, you’d have to show your IDP. While in Naxos, Greece, I was required to show them my documentation before loaning us a car for the day, so some agencies do ask.

Unfortunately, IDPs are annoying to get: They’re only available through two organizations officially authorized by the Department of State, the AAA and the AATA, they’re only valid for one year, and can’t be renewed. (“USA! USA!” The crowd chants.)

The good news is, you can swing over to your nearest AAA if you’re in the US, pay $20 for the permit, an additional couple bucks for them to take your photo if you don’t already have a passport-sized one to include, and be on your way within 20 minutes. You can also apply by mail if you’re not close to a local AAA.

The IDP is valid in 150 countries, but there are certain countries that do not honor them—like Brazil. Strangely, they always ask you to name the main country you’re driving in, but rest assured that you should be covered across them all.

Do: Review road rules and tolls.

Some countries are notorious for sending you a speeding ticket months after you return home. There are no cops pulling you over, no speed traps you can visibly see, just a camera that captures you going over the speed limit. My friend once received an auto-ticket for going 5kmh over in Switzerland, and Australia is extremely strict about driving rules. Italy, for example, can send you a ticket up to an entire year after your visit, and they’ll bill your rental agency—who will, in turn, send you a notice, or worse, automatically charge you.

I’ve read horror stories of some folks coming home to multiple tickets totaling thousands of dollars or having to pay collections, and it just isn’t worth getting somewhere two minutes faster to shave off time. For that reason, despite how other cars love to zoom on the roads, I always aim to stay at or under the speed limit.

Separately, it’s best to be familiar with toll roads before you’re stuck in line, frantically wondering if your credit card will suffice when the sign clearly says cash and coins only. I’m not speaking from experience or anything…

Don’t: Skip taking photos and videos of your rental before you drive off the lot.

As my coworkers like to joke, I love having receipts. I never want to be blamed for damage that wasn’t my own, or for an agency to assume a scuff mark is an actual scratch.

Before I even open the car door, I take two minutes to record the car up-close from every angle: the exterior, especially the top of the car which is easy to miss, near the tires (look for signs of under-inflation or extreme wear, and check both the hubcaps and wheels), all corners, and the interior. I snap a photograph of the odometer to ensure it lines up with the paperwork I sign, too.

Speaking of paperwork, take a photo of that bad boy, too: The damage diagram, receipts, the rental agreement you signed. While you’re at it, screenshot your rental confirmation when you have service. Save yourself the stress later, even if it means delaying the start of your trip by a few minutes.

Don’t: Accept a car, agency, or price as the best one, without researching.

Before you even choose a company to go with—Hertz, Avis, Budget, and so on—research the local branches you’ll be picking up your car from. Just because you had a positive experience with one branch, or because the brand is highly respected in your area, doesn’t mean that’ll be the case everywhere. Ask me how I know this one! Keep an eye out for patterns across reviews or if you Google it separately, like “[company] damage charges.”

If you’re heading to Europe, refer to an aggregator like AutoEurope.com that compares different prices for various models and agencies. I also like using AutoSlash to find deals—you’ll input your credit cards, associations with places like Costco or AAA, etc. and it’ll send you prices lower than you’ll find elsewhere.

If you have a premium card—and even sometimes with airline cards—some rental car brands will automatically give you a higher status or lower price. Here’s a helpful list from NerdWallet. Some loyalty programs or associations might even gift you a free additional driver, which otherwise could cost you $25/day or more.

Finally, look at the total price and compare—a $200 rental might sound cheap, but it might be for a manual stick-shift you don’t know how to use. Or, you might forget to include additional drivers or cancellation terms or to request unlimited mileage. Now you’re looking at $500. Think through the reservation as comprehensively as you can: insurance if you don’t have a premium card, mileage limitations, taxes, airport or one-way fees, cross-border fees, toll devices, etc.

Don’t: Assume you can take the car across borders.

Remember our pitstop in Bosnia for lunch? Not every rental company allows crossing borders like this—so if you’re traveling a longer distance, be sure that your rental agreement explicitly states that you’re good. (And, maybe additionally, confirm that your rental insurance coverage also applies there.)

Don’t: Assume your rental has the same equipment you’re used to.

I drive an old school 2012 Honda Civic at home, so every time I’m in a new car with cameras (basically in the lap of luxury) or an SUV double the size, the adjustment period always runs a few hours. And if you’re driving on the opposite side of the road than you’re used to, do a few practice laps around the lot.

Beyond that, you might want to double check that your car has all the safety equipment you need (or consider packing them for yourself): a spare tire, windshield scraper, child seat. I like to bring along a charging cord to power up my phone (and for CarPlay) in case of any issues.

As a teenager, my mom always impressed upon us the importance of a blanket, water, and snacks in cold weather, in case we ever got stranded—I’d echo the same here if you’re traveling in colder climates.

Plus, some countries require specific safety equipment in your rental. Ultimately, it’s always better to be safe and prepared.

If I’m being honest, there are probably a dozen more trips I could give you: Don’t fall for the “prepaid tank” trap, confirm your route ahead of time to make sure the roads are actually open, download your maps offline in case you lose signal, and save the roadside assistance number when you pick up the car. But I also know at some point your eyes will glaze over, if they haven’t already.

If you read nothing else, just remember this: The most expensive mistakes around rental cars happen before you even get in the car, so please do your own due diligence. It will be worth it.

Hopefully, these tips help make your next journey a little smoother on the road, so you can explore and enjoy without worrying about damages, injuries, or fees. Happy road tripping! 🚗

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• 🥰 A small life reminder.

• 📖 Earlier this year, I recommended Ann Patchett’s Whistler as one of my favorite books of 2026. This hilarious piece from about a book club meeting that almost broke out in a fight while discussing Whistler made me laugh out loud. Have I convinced you to read it yet?

• 🛫 Yes, flights are the most expensive they’ve been in years. But there are still cheap fares available, especially if you live near one of these hubs, according to . Sadly, Atlanta did not make the list—but my other hometown airports (JFK/EWR) did for international deals.

• 👀 Relatedly, one of my favorite travel newsletters, Smart Points, reshared the advice I consistently have for Delta fans: You’re better off booking through Flying Blue for way fewer points.

• 🙏 Now sourcing recommendations for: off-the-beaten path recommendations for Charlotte, NC (in tandem with our past guide from Kylah!); the best broadway shows for the end of the year in New York City (I’ve seen pretty much all the staple ones!); fall sights to see in Blue Ridge, GA. Tell me your suggestions!

See you next week. —Henah x

Slow, quiet travel has always appealed to me—but it’s ultimately only one branch of a much larger ecosystem rooted around slower living. For years, I worked at The Good Trade which focused on slow, ethical, and sustainable fashion. And I think, maybe unexpectedly, there’s a generous overlap between slow fashion and slow travel; a thread (literally and figuratively) to pull at.

The philosophies are similar: If you believe your life can be enriched with deep, local, and extended travel, the same can be said about investing in handmade or eco-friendly clothes that are made to last.

So even if you opened this email and thought, "Huh? What does this have to do with travel?” I’d encourage you to read today’s edition in full—I think you might be surprised. (And our guest has some exceptional advice for your next trip, too.)

I’m honored to have Karuna "Ku" Scheinfeld, co-founder of Four Objects, join me today. Four Objects is a certified B-corp that makes incredible women’s clothes with ethics that are hard to find elsewhere (and I promise I would know after eight years of researching sustainable brands!): mindful sourcing, biodegradable materials, fair labor practices, circularity, local manufacturing, and 4% back to your makers. Four Objects carries a capsule collection of chic essentials, ones that are actually perfect for travel; I recently brought one of their silk shirts to France, and it was a dream.

Without further ado, here’s my engaging conversation with Ku—I hope you enjoy.

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Ku, thank you so much for joining us on Departure. Can you share a little bit about Four Objects and your philosophy?

Four Objects was really born out of decades working in apparel in the fashion industry all over the world. I had carved a career out of making product that had longevity and was well-designed and high quality, but I was still creating thousands of new styles per season, per year.

This was coinciding with a lot of work in sustainable product development, as I was learning more about how agriculture and fabrics were tied, and really thinking more about the next level of where the materials I was choosing was coming from. I was making those changes in a corporate environment. But everything was a fight, and I had to really work hard to even scratch the surface. So Four Objects came from this desire to start over and say, “Okay, how do we make not very many things, make them really well, and not change them every season?”

What are the things that we want to have that we’ve had in our wardrobe for decades that inspire us, that we want to keep wearing and that we keep going back to? What if we make those things and think all the way back to the material source, and think about how that material is processed and made? What if we know who’s making our garments, and we actually have a relationship to their community, and we talk to them about what they need support with, right?

So it was all the things I didn’t have support in a corporate, highly scaled environment to do that I wanted to try. It all became a bit of an experiment to try to figure out: Is this viable as a brand in a capitalist setting? Can I make a profitable brand out of this, right? What does that look like and what do we have to do?

We’re still in the process of that experiment. We’re still building it, we’re still refining it. The brand will grow and evolve through that same design philosophy where you want beautiful, high quality, thoughtfully made things. And if you get great stuff, you don’t need a lot of it.

 It’s interesting timing, because one of my favorite slow fashion brands actually recently announced that they’re shutting down. It’s probably the fifth slow fashion brand I’ve seen shut down in the last two years. Do you think that’s simply the cycle now? Or is it telling of a bigger issue that you are also trying to navigate? You’ve been in the industry a long time and it’s really disappointing to see we had that shift towards sustainable fashion and now people care less about it again.

I love what I do—but fashion has one of the highest failure rates, period. It’s hard to start a brand. It’s hard to have a successful brand and maintain one when you have to create inventory that’s in sizes that you make nine months ahead of time sometimes.

In addition to that, we are in a moment in our global economy where the middle is disappearing. So you’re either considered tiny or huge, and surviving in the middle is very hard. Yet that’s where there’s still so much opportunity, so it’s a strange dynamic. I have to believe that’s a phase.

Our customers are really smart women. That is our demographic consistently: It’s not their age, it’s not their race, it’s not their income, it’s their level of education. So the women we’re speaking to, they’re thinking, and they’re looking. When they find a brand who is doing a lot of that work for them and you build trust, there’s something very powerful there.

The human part of it is really important. Not only are customers loving what we do and building that loyalty, but the makers, too. If I have a great relationship with a maker and they trust me and I trust them—it’s not just a business relationship.

This is a tough moment, but I’m very focused on carrying us through this moment, because I think in the not too far future, we’re going to have more tailwinds, especially for people who are thinking and doing things differently.

You have this really moving story about friendship and travel with one of your products, and I’m actually wearing the BF Tee as we talk. Can you recap that for the audience, and how it celebrates both a thoughtful closet and of craft?

When we were in university, [my co-founder] Mae and I were roommates and we were living together in downtown New York—we had found really cheap rent down by the Financial District. And Century 21 was right there, with all the offloaded designer product. As a fashion student, it was the place I went to shop because that’s the only place I could afford my favorite designers.

So I bought this Maison Margiela t-shirt that was amazing. I wore it all the time, and one day, it just disappeared. When you’re 20 years old in university, you have parties, you have friends stay over, you never know where things go.

About 15 years later, Mae admitted to me that she had stolen the T-shirt, and she had taken it on her motorcycle tour around India. She’d worn it to shreds; it was like a rag. But she’d been carrying it around with her for decades, because she was intending to get it remade and to give it back to me.

It was the perfect item to include in the collection because now we could remake it together. So when we remade it, it wasn’t a carbon copy, and we had our own spin on it. But we remade it with our partner in Peru, from this beautiful organic cotton that’s been grown there for thousands of years, with a female-owned company that has its own foundation internally that we donate to. It was such a beautiful full circle moment.

What a gift to now have a product you’ve co-created. Let’s talk Brooklyn. You’ve lived there for years, and Brooklyn has really had a revitalization the last 10–15 years. What’s your idea of a perfect day in the borough?

• The first thing that comes to mind is the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The care and the thoughtfulness that goes into BBG, just getting lost in there, I can spend hours in there and not be around crowds. So anybody who loves being outdoors when you’re in the city, I love Brooklyn Botanical Garden as a little bit of a haven to immerse yourself in nature when you’re in Brooklyn.

• Our neighborhood treat is doubles (a Trinidadian street food), so there’s a place called Trinidad Golden Palace on Nostrand. The thing is, is they’ll run out of doubles. If you get there too late in the evening or the afternoon, you won’t get any. But I don’t think you can find a better one in Brooklyn.

• We started a program at the beginning of the year of our seamless Merino sweaters. But there’s a factory that makes them in Brooklyn, called Tailored Industry. They’re in Industry City, so I’ve been spending a lot of time in Industry City in the past year and it has blown up. Industry City is absolutely worth a day trip, especially if you don’t want to feel like a tourist: You can get incredible food (especially Japanese), you can go to an escape room, you can buy outlet-priced furniture at Design Within Reach. I bring my kids to the anime store, and then we go get pastries at Colson Patisserie. There’s a chocolate maker and a brewery there. Industry City to me is the coolest spot to spend a day and explore.

Any Brooklyn-based makers, shops, or founders you’d want Departure readers to know about?

We’re actually looking for more brands to collaborate with; we started this program last year where we do quarterly brand partnerships. So with our Collector subscription, you get four pieces a year and you are automatically sent something every three months. We started that because we didn’t want to build the business off of discounting. That’s one of the really unhealthy aspects of the fashion business, and most people have been trained to wait for discounts when they purchase.

But there are other kind of perks we want to provide, right? We want to provide exceptional customer service and returns and exchanges. When you’re a Collector, you have four months to try something and you can return it and get a full refund if you’re not happy with it. But I also wanted to kind of give our Collectors presents. So I thought, why don’t we find four brands a year that we think are fantastic? And every time you get your subscription item, you get a little gift. Even if you don’t keep the item we sent you and you return it, you still can keep that gift—that’s yours to keep.

So I’ve been working with brands all over, but I’d love to do more local brands. They need to align with our values. We have to feel confident that that’s happening. But now I’m constantly on the hunt for cool adjacent brands that we can work with.

I love that you’re making it more of an experience and relationship; I don’t just feel like an order number that way. I care about who the brand team is as well as the maker.

That segues nicely to my next question: Prior to running Four Objects, you worked with a number of fashion brands, and that took you to family-run studios in places like Veneto and factories in Guangzhou. What’s a habit or ritual you picked up from that kind of travel that you still use today?

Everywhere in the world, there are people who care deeply about what they’re making, whether they’re chefs, artisans, or selling popcorn on the street. You find them everywhere. So to me, I’m not that interested in the big scaled experiences. I’m really looking for small personal experiences where people are personally invested in what they’re making or what they’re cooking or so on. And that comes mostly through friends or people on the ground.

One of the first things I always do when I’m traveling is: Whether it’s somebody I’m working with or I’m talking with anybody I know, we’re talking about their favorite thing there. It’s almost this process of extracting people’s passions. The most exciting thing is when they don’t really know at first and the more you talk to them, you find out what they’re really into and then they introduce you to something you never would have found.

When I went to Tokyo years ago, I was doing a collaboration with a brand called Snow Peak, an outdoor camping brand. We took a train to their headquarters, which is a few hours outside of Tokyo and the countryside. I had talked to our contact there ahead of time, and he was going to arrange food for us. I asked, where do you guys go to lunch? Can we go there on our way in? And he said, oh, it’s very small, you won’t like it, it’s very—the word he used was homemade, but with a negative connotation. But I was like, perfect, that’s where I want to go.

He took us to this woman’s restaurant, inside of her home. It was a five-seat counter in her garden out back. To this day, one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life. If we hadn’t opened up that more personal conversation, he wouldn’t have considered that professional otherwise.

So sometimes it’s important to peel back that professional veneer to get to something more human and more personal. It’s not always the best meal of my life, but it’s certainly interesting and more interesting to me than the nicest restaurant in town.

Definitely, and I love that concept. Similarly, when you travel now—whether for work or personal reasons—how do you decide which places are worth slowing down for? Or, if every city has a worthwhile destination to drop by, how do you choose?

Instead of there being a specific restaurant to go to, I find that I’m building in this open space where I find a place I want to go and experience—so that may be a garden or a museum or something that’s more cultivated—and I just talk to people there.

Because the assumption I’m working off of is that the people who are involved in this space, whether it’s an art gallery or community space or a beautiful garden, they’re probably going to have some overlap in interests and tastes with me, right? And then I’ll leave space to ask them what they like to do, where they go. You develop this instinct for the person who you can tell is going to get excited about it. Or you’ll talk to one person and another person will be listening in and they’re like, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You need to go here.

It’s really relating to people on the ground as much as possible and talking to people. I feel like it’s a bit of a lost art. Everything’s pre-planned nowadays because we have so much information. So now, the luxury for me is to play it by ear and have a conversation.

That’s such a fun “mind map” way to experience the world, and probably makes for a more local experience. Shifting to fashion and travel: Your creative process is inspired by the concept of the “16 things you want to keep and wear forever.” I’d love to know: If you could only bring one carry-on bag, what would make it into your packing?

My lens is I’m often moving from spaces like Paris and Milan to spaces like off-grid Ontario camping, right? I don’t like to have to change everything between these spaces. I like these things that live between all these spaces because they’re actually basic in the sense that they function really well, they’re high quality, and it kind of doesn’t matter where you are:

• Merino is my favorite travel fiber, for a few reasons. It’ll keep you cool when you’re warm, and warm when you’re cool—it’s very temperature regulating. It’s antimicrobial, so you have to really work to make it smell. The wrinkles shake out. I don’t want to have to wash things a lot. I don’t want to have to carry around stinky clothes while traveling. And I want to be flexible, whether I’m aiming for casual or dress up and not have it feel like a separate wardrobe.

• What I’ll wear on the plane without fail is: I’ll wear our seamless merino long sleeve as a base layer, and our blazer on top of that, which is organic cotton and merino, but it’s a knitted fabric so it looks like a blazer, feels like a sweater. The pockets are big enough for my passport case and my phone, and there’s a secure interior pocket to keep things accessible right on me.

• Our trousers are a beautiful, lightweight, super-fine merino wool, and we designed the waistband with pull tabs so that the waist can change size. You can wear it more open, can wear it higher up on your waist and tighter—or looser, also depending on how bloated you feel, frankly, which is not sexy to talk about. But when you’re traveling, it really matters.

• I am really, really loyal to PRATIMA Skincare. She’s an Ayurvedic brand in New York. And I travel with everything I use at home. The size of it works, the process works, my needs work. Pratima has these skincare little packs based on your dosha. They’re really my go-to; I can’t go anywhere without them.

• I have a thousand versions of Merino socks that I wear everywhere and for every occasion—those are really critical for travel, too.

  

You’ve had a front-row seat to talented artisans, natural fabrics, and what it means to really know a craft. If someone wanted to travel the way you have—not for a vacation, but the kind of trip that actually shapes how you see that labor and craft—where would you send them?

Italy and France. The tradition and the commitment to craftsmanship is really powerful. It’s part of the culture in a way that’s so tangible between made goods and food—that’s what it’s all about, right? I still think you can have incredible experiences in Italy and France, even though they’re very popular, touristy destinations.

I feel the same way about Japan and Tokyo; I’ve been too many times, but I’m planning next year a trip to spend some more time in the countryside. And that’s really what I want to explore and slowly.

Other than that: Peru. People go to Peru for Machu Picchu, but Peru has incredible traditions that are thousands of years old, the dyers, and especially if you’re into textile arts, and the family-owned artisanal work in Peru is incredible. It’s really fundamentally based in alpaca and cotton.

I have this one shawl that I bought there years ago, that is all hand-dyed with natural dyes. And it’s 14 colors. It’s vibrant, it’s beautiful, it’s incredible. It’s not what you think of when you think of that description. You would never know that these were all hand-dyed with available materials, and it’s knowledge that is really sacred and that’s really special, and very few people even have anymore. I actually think Peru from an artisanal perspective is an incredible place to visit.

In the last year, I’ve felt very drawn to returning to places I’ve visited before. Four Objects has a similar ethos: Pieces you can return to again and again. Do you feel that same pull when you travel, instead of perhaps chasing somewhere new?

I am so torn between wanting to see everything in the world and wanting to have my place and stay still, and so I’m finding a relationship between those things. I have two places that are my places and I will return there with my family for the rest of my life.

One of those is our home in Brooklyn and the other one is our home in Ontario, on an island on a lake. When we’re there, we don’t have screens and the kids are completely disconnected. It’s a couple of months a year where we’re living a really different life. We could explore there, even in that small part of the world.

There’s something about coming back to the same place and laying down roots where you see how the ecosystem changes every year. One year, there’s this incredible plethora of 15 varieties of mushrooms, and the next year there are no mushrooms. Then you see a bald eagle and then you don’t see another one for three years.

Aside from that, it’s the relationships. It’s getting to know people who’ve spent their lives there and learning from them and learning how to catch fish in the lake and then immediately do the perfect fry up on the side of the boat. That’s the most amazing fresh fish you’ve ever tasted, right? I learned that from people who’ve been doing that for three generations on our lake.

I really need both. I need those places we keep returning to where we can just learn more and the simplicity of really going deep somewhere. Then I also want to explore and I want to see things I’ve never seen before. There’s too much to do it all. The incredible privilege that we have is that tough decision: Where do you lay down your roots? And then each year, where are the places you go to explore? I’ve allowed that to be led more by my relationships than anything else.

That feels very full circle to me, too. Of you going to a place and asking locals, “What do you recommend?” And this feels similarly.

There’s also this sense of serendipity that I really believe in—let me give you an example. There’s an author, Diane Osgood. She found our brand, became a Collector, and reached out because she was writing a book on sustainable fashion. She’s now a very good friend. She has a beautiful home in the south of France, in one of the most beautiful regions of France. Mae and their family just visited her there to help her harvest. It happened because of this relationship, because of shared interests and shared values.

It all comes back to the same idea of rooting things in human relationships rather than it being information that we find and we sort and we filter. Because right now, we’re becoming less and less connected. We’re becoming more and more isolated. And these approaches feel like the answer to that for me.

It’s amazing what we can discover about any destination we’re going to online. But it’s not as satisfying as there being a relationship that brings us there or that opens the door to us. And then the ways you can discover things underneath that.

How do you build those connections, if you don’t yet have access to that network, or, frankly, the funds to make connections—or to purchase a home in another country?

When I was coming up in the industry, I traveled all the time for work because that was part of my job. I got to see the world because of my job, and I got to meet a lot of people. The ones I particularly connected with, we stayed in touch. And not serious touch, but you stay connected on social, you have each other’s email, and then we would send each other recommendations. That’s the positive thing about the connectivity we have now.

But when you open yourself up to that, and you invite people into your home that are one step removed—this is a policy that my husband and I have: If you’re a friend of a friend, you’re welcome in our home. If you need to crash in Brooklyn with us, even if we’ve never met you before, and we have done this many times, you can come crash in our home.

Because of that policy and practice, those connections all open up. It’s not a stranger. It’s not something dangerous, but it’s a willingness to go that extra step to connect with people, to allow people to come into your world to share. And then people are so generous back.

For someone who’s never really thought about slow fashion before but loves the idea of slow travel—what’s one mindset shift you’d want them to try?

Years ago, I decided I was going to shop differently. It wasn’t for some virtuous reason; it was because I wanted to buy really nice things and I couldn’t afford them. So I basically figured out how much I had spent on clothes the year before, and I gave myself a budget and permission to use that money in whatever way I saw fit.

When I gave myself permission to spend that budget however I wanted to, I bought much nicer things. And I bought fewer of them, but they did so much more for me. I was really careful, I thought about it and I paid full price for a lot of them.

So my advice is: Just think about it. Notice that maybe if you give yourself permission to buy yourself something really nice, and you give yourself a cadence and a budget that will work for you, you might be surprised about what you can get for less. I think it’s when we’re in a hurry, when we are under a lot of pressure, that we end up spending a lot of money for convenience that doesn’t last and doesn’t stay with us.

For new customers, the Four Objects team has shared you can use "NEW25" to receive $25 off your first apparel purchase.

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• 🏆 The winner of last week’s giveaway for a $50 gift card is… Leda Derosa! DM me to claim, and thank you again to all paid subscribers for being here.

• ✚ One of my favorite points tools, PointsYeah, recently rolled out a Family and Friends Points Wallet which could be a game-changer for multiple card holders in one household. Some programs don’t let you pool points sadly, but at least you can see all available points in your family, instead of having to track them down disparately. It’s a Premium feature, but it seems they’re currently giving 25% off Premium with code WALLET25. (Not sponsored, just something I noticed!)

• 💁‍♀️ As someone with fine, oily hair, I usually have to wash my hair every single day. After years of testing dry shampoos, I think this one might be the winner. I regret to inform myself and all of you that the price is, in fact, worth it. Fits into your carry-on luggage, too!

• 🗺️ Google’s “Ask Maps” feature can now handle complicated, multi-step requests: “[Y]ou can also quickly discover the latest information about hotels and local events. Ask for what you need: ‘For next week’s conference in downtown Miami, find me a decently priced, top-rated hotel with an artsy vibe, within walking distance from a gym and restaurants.’” Anything to stop opening up 48 new browser tabs to compare.

• 🤔 We know that solo traveling as women comes with risks—but are “safety premiums” that cost extra to avoid harassment worth it? Is it even fair? (BBC)

See you next week! —Henah x

I’ve just returned home from the South of France, where I celebrated my 35th birthday a bit early, but in style. My best friend and I spent several nights in Paris, before heading to visit my friend Chelsea’s new home in Arles. Despite the heatwave, we spent the days walking around historic tiny towns, stopping into antique stores, and toasting to new friendships over luxuriously long and delicious dinners. (Of course, I will share all recs in an upcoming guide.)

In honor of my 35th, I’m sharing 35 lessons I’ve learned over the years: Some are standard hacks, while others serve as reminders to both you and me of how powerful travel can be.

In addition, through the end of August, annual subscriptions are on sale for $35—a 30% discount. I only do this sale twice a year, so if you’ve been considering upgrading, now’s the time to do so! To celebrate, all paid subscribers will be entered to win a $50 gift card to the vendor of your choice. Winner to be announced next Thursday.

Thank you for supporting Departure—which now reaches 4,000+ readers across 80+ countries—and for allowing me into your inbox every Thursday. I often am in disbelief that this is the life I get to lead, and am grateful for every second. Cheers to a new year of adventures. 🥂

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1. Travel isn’t the same as a vacation, and vice versa. Expect to feel uncomfortable, spread thin, or exhausted—it’s not always meant to be convenient. But take it as an opportunity for new perspectives, challenges, and experiences, too.

2. Get familiar with your credit card benefits like car rental insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and emergency evacuations, and read the fine print. For all other coverage: Never skip travel insurance. Know the difference between the two…before you need it.

3. Be open to ideas that otherwise aren’t on your bucket list, like when a flight deal pops up that’s too good to pass up, or an invitation to a new-to-you destination. Many years ago, I hopped on the $179 flight deal from New York City to Milan, Prague, and Amsterdam, and it remains one of my most beloved memories.

4. You almost never need cash nowadays, but it never hurts to keep an ATM card on you (the Schwab card is my go-to—free and no ATM fees worldwide). Sarah forgot her wallet for France, and, with the exception of one gas station, used Tap to Pay the entire time. So, generally no need to panic as long as you have your IDs and a smartphone.

5. Carry a collapsible bag in your luggage, so you always have a back-up carry on if you need it. Read: When you’re shopping for souvenirs or home goods, and run out of room in your baggage. I recommend a duffle bag like this one.

   

6. Know who you can travel with, whether that means going by yourself, joining a group trip as a solo attendee, planning with friends and family, or with your partner. Understanding how you travel best—and with whom—can change everything. More on this to come!

7. Research the communities you’re visiting, and understand what it means to be a respectful visitor. Follow local customs, dress appropriately, and so on. Learn the most ethical, sustainable, and impactful way to visit a destination, and be as mindful as possible.

8. Prepare a digital “security list” in case of emergencies: A private Google Drive folder with copies of your passport, visas, birth certificate, marriage certificates, trip insurance, your itinerary, your Known Traveler Number, and so on. Related: Be safe and prepared, but don’t lead with fear.

9. Trips can carry different meaning: Some are designed for healing, others are to push you. Know that they can dynamically change over time, too. Don’t expect one trip to check off every box of a fulfilling travel experience.

10. Follow best practices if you’re solo-traveling: Share your location with a loved one ahead of time, aim to land during daylight, prioritize convenience and safety over expenses. (You can find more here.)

    

11. Understand your limitations, and don’t feel guilty about them. While my travel partners would often prefer leisurely walking into town and ambling around for hours, I know my plantar fasciitis makes that near-impossible, so I no longer feel bad about opting for a rental car, needing frequent breaks, or limiting my plans for a day.

12. If you have a hard time with thermoregulation (for example, you sleep hot, or overheat easily in the sun), always pack layers, a cooling towel, and a portable fan. (See also, this meme.)

13. It might be against your nature—or even outside of your comfort zone—to take photos of yourself while away. Take them anyway. They are invaluable memories you’ll refer back to.

14. Pack as little as possible and go to a local laundromat. You’ll make new connections, understand a different culture a little better, and not worry about lugging around bags through airports, cobblestone streets, or up flights of stairs.

15. Don’t overthink your points strategy. Pick one airline, hotel, or loyalty program, and stick with it. Spending months optimizing doesn’t always pay off and it can detract from the actual joy of planning.

    

16. A trip can paradoxically be a great time to catch up on media. While I’m not home for the latest Netflix releases and often too busy elsewhere to catch the newest movie premiere like The Odyssey, I have time in transit to listen to podcasts, catch up on my email newsletter subscriptions during jet lag, or read a book while lounging poolside. Plan ahead accordingly.

17. Traveling with a partner teaches you more about a relationship than months at home: My now-husband and I ended up on a six-day trip together very early on in our relationship (a story for another day), but it gave us invaluable insights. How do you handle a missed train? How do they act in unfamiliar places with a language they may not know? What stresses them out?

18. There are non-negotiables you should always pack: a first aid kit, your wallet and IDs, chargers. But always bring snacks, hydration packs, or other necessities you require to feel “human” in case of delays, cancellations, or a lack of stores nearby. Maybe also some fiber and protein snacks, speaking from experience…

19. If you see someone being mistreated or unable to access a place, speak up and demand better. We all benefit when accessibility and service improve.

20. Day trips count as travel. Full stop. You don’t have to stay overnight somewhere, spend tons of money, or explore non-stop to enjoy the benefits of expanding your perspective.

    

21. Be a tourist in your own city or town. We tend to see our surroundings as routine, but there are plenty of spots we haven’t checked out before, or places we can look to with a new eye. Fall in love with where you live again and again.

22. Don’t take it personally if others don’t want to join you somewhere—there could be myriad reasons it’s not feasible. Don’t let it stop you, either; here are tips to ease into your first solo trip.

23. Most people are inherently good, kind, and want to be of assistance. Ask for help when you need it, despite anxiety, fear, or pride. This will often lead to even deeper connections to a place or to a community.

24. Expensive fine dining is rarely worth it. Hole-in-the-wall restaurants, pop-up booths, and home-cooked meals are the way to go, even if it means waiting longer or trusting a space that has limited presence online.

25. Build in solo time, especially if you’re an introvert like me. That could be a morning walk, a midday nap, or just staying in your room alone for 20 minutes before dinner. Decompression and space to recharge are, frankly, requirements, not “nice to haves.”

    

26. Remember you have free will. You can do what no one else wants to do, or might judge you for. I’m having my 35th birthday party at Medieval Times, because why not? Life is far too short to pass up on the things you actually want to enjoy.

27. Make the effort to learn more than “hello,” “please,” and “thank you.” Even a paltry attempt goes a long way with most communities. It’s worth downloading Google Translate to your phone, just in case.

28. You’ve earned the right to book the more convenient time or the better seat. You don’t have to book Basic Economy anymore, or take the 4AM flight to save $40. Your body, sanity, and schedule will thank you. (This one’s mostly a note to myself, if that’s not clear.)

29. Sometimes, the destination you dreamed of your whole life is a disappointment. See also: Greece in 2018. On the flip side, travels you enjoyed with minimal planning might have the best memories. Don’t over-plan, consider spontaneous ideas, and stick to just a few bookings a day—leave room for wonder.

30. Depth always beats breadth. Go back to the place you love, even if it means skipping a new country. You may be inspired by how much you’ve grown in the time since your last visit, and maybe how the destination has, too. It’s not always about racking up passport stamps.

    

31. Deal with hormonal fluctuations? Plan around your cycle when possible, particularly if you’re flying across time zones. You may have a hard time adjusting or staying high-energy during your luteal phase.

32. Try public transit whenever possible. Stop by local markets. Pop into a nearby bodega. Ask a barista or bartender for one recommendation, go to that place and enjoy, then ask their team for your next recommendation. Embrace slow, deep travel.

33. Always set aside a “fun fund” aside from your overall budget: A guilt-free amount you can tap for last-minute expenses you want to splurge on. A festival ticket, reads at a bookstore, the cab instead of a 40-minute walk home.

34. Build in recovery time once you’re home. Take an extra day of PTO or fly home a day early overa weekend to catch up on rest, logistics, and errands, before going back to your everyday life. See rest as part of the itinerary.

35. Travel may offer you perspective, adventure, and expansion—but coming home also brings joy, comfort, and reflection. (And it’s where your dog is, too.)

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• 📖 I finally finished Kin while in the south of France, after purposely reading it as slowly as I could to savor every moment. Please do yourself a favor and read this incredible work of fiction by Tayari Jones, especially if you enjoyed The Vanishing Half.

• 📚 On a related note, the New York Times released the best thrillers of the 21st Century. I’ve read 30% of the list, and can attest to most of them: #1 feels like an obvious choice given its influence in popular culture, but I was thrilled to see I Am Pilgrim, Magpie Murders, and The God of the Woods somewhat unexpectedly on here.

• 🙏 In addition to the safety tips I shared above, here are some others to consider (and that I hope you never need!). (@travelreddi)

• 💄 This foundation was the only makeup I brought with me to Europe, after being influenced by , and it really is A+. Easy to apply, buildable coverage, and a subtle blurring effect. You can use code HENAH20 for 20% off.

• 😬 Yikes. shared travel journalist Ryan Walker’s latest experience at the Aman hotel at Amanvari and it was…concerning, to say the least. Aman hasn’t responded to him either, though they turned off comments on their recent Instagram post. Luxury travel doesn’t always equal a positive experience.

• 🎶 Love music? These eight experiences were made with you in mind. In my opinion, it’s only missing a New Orleans tour. (National Geographic)

See you next week! —Henah x

Bonjour! I’m currently in Paris with my best friend, and as this lands in your inbox, we’ll be heading to the south of France—I can’t wait to share more.

In the meantime, I’m thrilled to welcome our third guest author for our guest guide series: . She’s been working on this feature for months, and it shows; this is one handy cheat sheet! I’ll let her take it from here, and enjoy this local’s look at one of Europe’s most enchanting cities. 🇨🇭

Listen, I get it—maybe Zurich isn’t on your bucket list. It’s a medium-sized city (440,000 inhabitants) in a small (9 million people), expensive country with four national languages (German, French, Italian and Romansch). Your friends likely haven’t been there.

All true. Also true is it’s a gem of a city waiting to unfurl its delights. In 2012, my architect husband, our Boston Terrier Clover, and I left Los Angeles for Zurich. Our goals were loose. We wanted an “adventure” and could work in Switzerland through my husband’s Czech passport. A woman we met said “be careful, Switzerland is a sticky place.” Turns out, she was right. While we only lived in Zurich for three years, I’ve continued to work remotely in my role as a scientific editor ever since. I live in Houston, Texas and have made nearly three dozen trips to Zurich for work.

Below is my cheat sheet for what the Swiss call “a good start” to your own Zurich adventure. Use it as a jumping off point, but the Swiss are generous with their recommendations. When you get a hot tip or see an interesting alley (a Gasse) in the Old Town—take it! An openness to wonder will serve you well in my beloved home-away-from-home.

Good to Know:

• The local currency is the Swiss Franc (abbreviated CHF; the abbreviation for Switzerland is CH for Confederation Helvetica). In June 2026, the exchange rate was 1.25 USD to 1 CHF. Often I’ll make an entire week-long trip without touching paper or coin money. Credit cards are widely accepted.

• Over the past eleven years, I’ve traveled to Switzerland in many travel combinations: mostly solo, a handful of times alone with a baby, small kid, or two smallish kids, or with my husband and baby and small kid. Switzerland has always felt extremely safe when I’ve traveled as a woman on my own. I’ve never had qualms hiking solo, taking day trips to small villages on my own, etc.

• Zurich is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. If you speak German, you’ll be understood. Your brain, however, may feel scrambled hearing Swiss German.

• English will also serve you well. I recommend having a handful of Swiss German greetings at your disposal. Read more here or here.

  • Grüezi (greetings),

  • Tschüss (goodbye),

  • Danke schön (thank you very much)

  • Bitte schön (you’re very welcome)

• Check the weather! Summer temperatures can sound mild compared to, for example, where I live in Houston, though Switzerland is not immune to heat waves. Air conditioning is minimal. I would expect mid-to-high 80’s (F) in the summer, but don’t be surprised if the skies turn cooler and gray, bringing me to my next hint…

• Those hills don’t achieve that lush green without rainfall. While I recommend layers and packing light (the Swiss are understated dressers and roller bags are no fun heaving onto trains or over cobblestones), leave room for a raincoat.

• Zurich would make an ideal add-on to another European city, whether you’re there for work or leisure. Give yourself three days. If you have longer, consider a day or weekend trip outside the city.

Getting Into the City

Zurich beckons you to arrive via train. It’s the easiest, fastest, cheapest and most reliable way to make the ~20 minute trip from the airport to the main train station, Zurich Hauptbahnhof (“Zurich HB (ZHB)” to your map app). Zurich HB is the beating heart of the city—it’s the center of the transit map and boasts a variety of stores (clothing, grocery, skincare) and services (pharmacy, urgent care, tourism office, locker storage) to fit your needs.

These days, I take a direct flight from my home in Houston to Paris, where I spend a night or two before taking the train four hours to Zurich. (Of course, I could wait for a connecting flight in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or London, but I prefer the alone time in Paris to the cramped, regional connecting flight.)

Public transit in Switzerland—whether tram, train, bus, boat—is clean, fast, reliable, and accessible. Kiosks at most stops dispense paper tickets, but I recommend downloading the SBB app (train) and the ZVV app (city of Zurich) for the bus/tram. You can buy tickets by time, for all-day, or short-distance tickets. To facilitate this, I usually get data super cheap through Airalo.

A note about renting a car: I would not recommend it for 99.9% of cases. Zurich has prioritized pedestrians of all ages, abilities and life stages over car travel. Parents hop strollers on and off busses and trains. Kids are expected to walk to school alone at 4 years old (after training from the police and they wear hi-vis reflectors). Only if you’re planning a weekend excursion somewhere not served by the Swiss rail system would I rent a car. (In which case, friendly reminder that mountains make for curvy roads!)

Where to Stay

Yes, it’s an expensive city. Learn from my mistake(s). Resist the allure of the basement apartment “only” twenty minutes outside the city center or the 2.9 star “apartment” on the lodging consolidator. Strong recommendation to stay close in, at a centrally located hotel. Hotels below begin in the CHF 180/night (USD $225) range, depending on season and room size.

• Josephine’s Guesthouse for Women has a generous rooftop deck outside the top-floor community kitchen in a lively neighborhood. Downside is the bells of St. Jakob’s church chime between 7a and midnight (Swiss church bells are a whole thing). As the name indicates, it’s women only.

• City Hotel Zurich is a tidy design hotel walkable from ZHB and across the street from the big, multi-level City Migros grocery store.

• Hotel Alma is my current go-to in the quiet, upscale neighborhood of Seefeld, by the same Sinn & Gewinn group as Josephine’s for Women. It offers a variety of room sizes with discounts if you book in advance. The next time I bring my family, I’ll book one of their family rooms. It’s the quietest of the hotels mentioned here (aside from the Dolder).

• My university hosts visitors at Hotel St. Joseph just above the Old Town.

• If you have points: Ruby Mimi (IHG) and Citizen M (Marriott Bonvoy) are both walkable from ZHB.

• Ultra rich? You could stay at the Grand Dolder.

Hotel notes:

• Anticipate smaller rooms compared to what you’ll find in the US. I’m partial to rooms larger than ~ 21 square meters (226 sq ft). Room size will be listed on the website and priced accordingly. (The Swiss are an exacting people.)

• When I’m browsing for new hotels, I’ll check the City of Zurich’s tourism website and book directly with the hotel. They usually beat the price on consolidator websites and it’s more nimble if something goes wrong.

Where to Eat/Drink

Because this comes out in Summer 2026, I’m focusing on a summer visit, and summer (on dry days) opens up an economical way to eat. Grab your favorite picnic food or pre-made offerings from one of the two main grocery store chains (Coop, Migros) and eat at the green spot of your choice. You could choose a park, for example Bäckeranlage in the Kries 4 (District 4) neighborhood or China Garden by the lake, next to the Sihl river behind the City Migros or along the Limmat river behind the National Museum.

If you’re eating indoors, I recommend reserving online or asking the receptionist at your hotel to call and make a reservation for you.

• Hiltl: World’s oldest vegetarian restaurant (buffet or menu options) and my number one recommendation. I visit at least twice per trip and always get the buffet (standouts include marinated artichokes and stuffed jalapenos). Exception to the reservation rule. Multiple locations, favorites: Rooftop terrace on Hauptbanhofstrasse; Tibits by the Opera House.

• Bar Odeon: Art Nouveau café, restaurant, and bar since 1911. At the edge of Old Town, near Bellevueplatz. Ideal for lunch, after work drinks, or dinner. Don’t miss the Apfel Strudel.

• La Cédre: Crowd-pleasing Lebanese with three locations in Zurich.

• New Bombay: Indian in Old Town with a fresh, cool interior and excellent lunch buffet.

• Kafé für Dich: all-day café across the street from Bäckeranlage Park. Play corner for little kids.

• Frau Gerold’s is a very cool garden to eat and drink (and yes, they want a reservation!).

• Josefstrasse in District 5 has a high concentration of flavors from all over the world. Europa Allee is a car-free area along the backside of ZHB offering excellent casual and formal restaurants.

Tipping: It’s a round-up situation. At a sit-down restaurant, you can leave coins on the table or say 3–5 Francs more than the total when the server brings you the machine.

Water: If you’d like tap water, ask for “Hahnenwasser.” Sometimes there’s a small charge, but it’s less than the bottled water you’ll get otherwise.

What to Do

• Stroll, shop and windowshop down Hauptbahnhoffstrasse (Main Train Station Street) from ZHB to Lake Zurich.

• Explore (on your own, or with a walking tour) the cobblestone streets of Old Town. While you’re there, take the Polybahn incline (enter next to Starbucks at the Central tram stop) up the hill to the universities (ETH and UZH). It’s part of the ZVV network and included in your all-day transit pass if you purchase one. When a narrow alley (Gasse) catches your attention, follow it! You might discover a surprising garden, artisanal shop, or fountain (yes, you can drink the water).

• Do at least one walk through an in-town forest. I’m partial to riding the Dolderbahn incline up (from Römerhof) and walking down. Uetliberg is an in-town “mountain” that can be ascended on foot or via train. A shaded Zurichberg trail is less dramatic but also rewarding.

• Visit the hip Viadukt in Kries 5 (District 5) for shops, food hall, or music. Hang out at the park or poke your head in the Salvation Army thrift shop, Bogen 33 for vintage furniture and design, or climb the Freitag Tower.

• I can’t pass up a chance for a good thrift: Zürcher Brockenhaus near the main train station is organized over several floors of a former apartment house. Razzo 2^nd Hand is a clothing consignment store tucked away in Old Town.

• I pop in the Bellevue location of Orell Fuessli for books. The English section is on the top floor. I discovered The Safekeep on the Staff Picks table last September. I found it mesmerizing.

• If art or architecture is your thing, check out the Art Museum (Kunsthaus) and their gorgeous new extension.

Zurich is rich in ways to enjoy water. For my money, your best bet is a Badi, a City of Zurich-maintained pool (or lake/river swimming area). The Badis are an incredible bargain. Most are 8 Swiss Francs for adults, less for kids. You can check the water temperature and crowd level at your Badi of choice before you go.

My top three (of many):

1. Mythenquai: Lounge, read or picnic on the vast, well-maintained lawns. Bring your own food or purchase at the onsite Hiltl. Diving platforms and swimming areas in the lake, or watch your kids frolic in the splash area or playground. A must-do.

2. Heuried: Massive shaded splash, “channel” area for very little kids, a tube water slide for bigger ones and adults. Also a family pool and lap pool. Cafeteria-style restaurant onsite.

3. Frauenbad: Art Nouveau, women-only Badi directly on the Limmat river across from the Old Town. More of a sun-bathe, cold plunge, read a book experience.

Day trips: Switzerland doesn’t want for picturesque mountains and lakes. My favorite day trips are the Wallensee (Wallen lake) for a hike/boat/train type day or the classic “Rigi loop,” a longer expedition that takes you through Lucerne and up with a mountain train. Any train station tourism office can help you organize the itinerary. I rely on Tanya, an American who’s been blogging at Swiss Family Fun since 2005, for turn-by-turn itinerary planning. Her website is full of high-quality free and paid resources for step-by-step guidance.

Final Thoughts

If you’re not ready to book a standalone trip to Zurich, consider it as an add-on while you’re in Europe. Who knows, maybe you’ll find this enchanting city as sticky as I do!

About me: I’m a fifth-generation, prodigal Texan living in Houston and working remotely as an editor of scientific grants. I’m often at work on my debut novel, a midlife coming of age story set in the Piney Woods of Southeast Texas (think Margo’s Got Money Troubles, but set in a declining lumber town and with a pesky great aunt, and alas, no Only Fans). My online home is here on Substack, where I write Books are my Love Language, a mostly monthly newsletter highlighting one book at a time. Bias for scrappy narrators. Mostly literary fiction, memoir, and nonfiction.

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• 🏺 When we think of “ancient Rome,” our minds often jump to Greece and Rome, but according to a Director of Ancient History and Mediterranean Archaeology: “We are on the cusp of a dramatic shift in perspective that is producing a much bigger, broader and more exciting view of ‘the ancient world’.” A long read about an old Central Asian vessel found in Scotland, Afro-Eurasia’s history, and ultimately, about our connected humanity.

• 🙏 Want more underrated cities in Europe? This roundup has plenty to add to your list, including one I’ll visit this weekend (Aix) and others I’d also highly recommend (Vilnius, Málaga, Tallinn). (CN Traveler)

• 🇲🇳 If I could, I would absolutely apply to join one of El Camino’s last spots available for Mongolia or Lagos later this year. The small group trip I did to Oaxaca remains one of my most beloved experiences, visiting artisans and small businesses I would’ve never found otherwise.

• ❤️‍🩹 My back tends to hurt on long-haul flights in economy, so I’ve been wearing this posture-improving bra and it helps. (If you also have foot pain like me, their arch-boosting socks are also great once you’re on the ground. Otherwise, it’s compression socks all flight long, baby!)

• 🌴 How you can invest in nature on your next trip (with suggestions), from the incredible Juliet Kinsman. (JourneyWoman)

See you next week! —Henah x

On a drizzly April morning, my husband and I traversed the longest suspension bridge in Yilan, Taiwan, adorned with richly colored diamond-shaped designs. Just over 1,000 feet long, we slowly but surely walked above layers of verdant greenery to the other end—where we’d meet the Bulau Bulau tribe of the Atayal people.

I’ve always been fascinated by Indigenous communities, from Polynesian Hawaiians, to tribes in the remote Amazon, completely untouched by modern civilization. Ahead of our visit, I was expecting the Bulau Bulau to be similar to the latter: an intentionally and largely disconnected tribe, communally tied to their traditional lands and natural resources, rather than investing in capitalism or technology.

Then the Land Rover pulled up.

I’d never even been in a Land Rover before, much less brought up a mountainside in one. I somehow assumed they’d reject modern transportation, and at a later point in the day, one woman asked how the tribe received electricity to which the host politely smiled and said, “The electric company.”

Our time with the Bulau Bulau turned my idea of what “Indigenous living” looks like on its head, and it was one of the most memorable travel experiences I’ll ever have, generously coordinated by the team at Black Tomato—whose co-founder, Tom Marchant, I interviewed earlier this year.

But let me back up.

The Atayal (also known as the Tayal) are a Taiwanese Indigenous people, the third-largest in the country. Tayal roughly translates to “human” and Bulau Bulau—according to the tribe itself—means “to gallivant.” They reside primarily in the northeast of the island, about an hour and a half outside of Taipei.

Like many Indigenous people, the Bulau Bulau (and the Atayal at large) are known for their vibrant traditions, sustainable cultural practices, and communal living. Unlike some tribes who prefer to keep their distance from modern civilization, the Bulau Bulau warmly welcomes visitors, limited to 30 a day for the most traditional experience.

Kwali, the second-generation leader of the Bulau Bulau and our English-speaking host, was the driver who pulled up in the Range Rover. Kwali’s parents are Han Chinese and Atayal, and after pursuing his higher education in hotel management in Australia and completing his military service, he returned home to the tribe. What he found, though, was a community that had dwindled to just 15 elderly folks; most youth had to leave the area to look for work, and there was no internet connection or electricity.

Kwali decided, alongside the remaining elders and his family, to revitalize the community and make it a place where they could be entirely self-sufficient—and where tourism (and technology) would actually be key to their vision.

Originally, Kwali shared, the tribe had planned to sell their crops at larger markets in Taipei. But given the long distance they had to travel each day and the competition in the capital, they were forced to pivot. Today, the land rotationally grows a number of crops, mushrooms, and millet wine, alongside this visitor experience, and profits go to support the ~40 or so people in the village. (On the note of the Land Rover, the car was from a partnership and one of the only ways to safely bring visitors up the steep mountain roads.)

As we cleared the bushes and came upon the Bulau Bulau’s land, we were taught the local greeting: “Lo Kah Su!” We had to scream it repeatedly, which the tribe would return in earnest. Soon after, we were given locally grown corn and pork skewers to roast above a small fire pit, and we met the other visitors on-site that day—many of whom were also from the US mainland.

Almost as if on cue, the rain and fog immediately cleared up, and we were graced with a gorgeous view of mountains and lush plant life, with huts and a small teepee in the middle of the space. A large vat of bubbling vegetable broth simmered behind us, the aroma intoxicating.

Kwali then showcased the real star of the tribal land: Millet. One of the most sustainable parts of their community is their business producing millet wine, with an on-site winery. While millet seeds were hard to find for several years, Kwali and his team found some that were passed down from generation to generation, and safely stored them at their warehouse. Now they produce millet wine in batch quantities, and as we learned through our own tasting, it is delicious. (Yes, we bought several bottles to bring home.)

The Bulau Bulau gave us a tour to the rest of their land: Where sweets and pastries are made in-house, where the elders sleep versus the youth, the rooms where textile and yarn weaving are done, where they store their knives and hunting materials. Along the way, we were invited to try our hand at activities like bow-and-arrow archery, chopping wood with an axe, and making our own millet mochi topped with honey. There were even some lighthearted drinking games involved.

Eventually, we sat down for a four-course meal, offering a taste of the tribe’s unique culinary heritage: Most of the fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and millet were grown nearby, and they even showed us how they hunt for their meat. (As a vegetarian, I passed on the meat, but my husband said the food was rich in taste and filling.)

One course after another made its way to the table, as they refilled our wine glasses in tandem: A starter with squash, carrots, and greens, a sweet-yet-savory serving of sweet potato topped with salt, a hot-pot style bowl with baby corn and shiitake mushrooms, and a gourd filled with rice, nuts, and raisins. As we dined, some of the younger tribe members performed music with songs and simple musical instruments.

By the time we finished feasting and hopped back in the Land Rover to head down the mountain, one thing felt for sure: You would never leave here hungry or unhappy.

The Bulau Bulau’s hospitality was palpable, without feeling forced—and that was integral to Kwali’s approach to tourism. It’s not about being a tourist attraction, but rather a living tribe supplemented by tourism. They keep their traditional way of life alive, and it’s made possible by these bits of the “modern” world, via technology and tourism dollars.

With such a small community, I was astounded by their model and their ability to be entirely self-reliant. As Kwali explained, this paradigm primarily works because of the tribe’s individual responsibilities: There are four main tasks a village member can do, say, farming, architecture, hunting, or weaving. Youth learn many of these skills as they grow up, and at one point, everyone is sent out of the village to gain a higher education, with the hopes of returning.

When they come back several years later, they now have additional skills they can teach across their community, and they are “moved up” the hierarchy to take one of the four main tasks, allowing elders to take a step back. (Though, we eventually met Kwali’s grandmother who still weaves textiles today!)

It’s incredible to think that even the homes and huts were built using local materials and longtime wisdom passed down upon generations, while also taking advantage of electricity and cell signal, fusing together the traditional and modern. While they don’t offer overnight stays, they welcome educators to their vocational school where you can volunteer (with endless millet wine, of course) and teach new skills, like pottery or candle-making or the basics of food science.

What started as a return back home for Kwali has flourished into a community that shows tourism can help to preserve culture, not erode it: the farm-to-table concepts, millet baking and wine production, aboriginal textile designs, local music. Because the Bulau Bulau tribe have clear, thoughtful guidelines around visitors—alongside open arms and a sense of earnestness—I was in awe of the community they’ve (re)built, understanding of their boundaries, and honored to witness their way of life. And what a joy it is to be able to share it with you all, as well.

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Many thanks again to the Bulau Bulau tribe for their hospitality, and you can book directly with them if you’re interested in a visit. And a special note of gratitude to the Black Tomato team for coordinating a once-in-a-lifetime multi-day experience. While Black Tomato doesn’t book one-day trips like this, you can reach out to them for an unmatched, unexpected, and memorable experience. All photos taken with permission.

• 💳 Last chance for the best-ever sign-up bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred: 100,000 points for less than a $100 annual fee! An absolute no-brainer if you’re interested in playing the points game. (referral)

• 👀 Relatedly, Seats.Aero is changing the game with its excellent new Chrome extension—now you can see how both cash and miles compare for any flight. (Max Miles Points)

• 🌘 It’s not too late to book travel to see the August 2026 eclipse across the Northern Hemisphere.(AFAR)

• 🧳 I already followed most of these travel hacks, but I can always appreciate a few more—namely #2 and #5. (Yahoo! Creators)

• 🤑 It’s a big week for travel cash-back on Rakuten: Up to 10x points on car rentals, 8x points on stays, and 8x on experiences. Sign up here and we’ll both get $50 in cash back. (referral)

• 🤝 How slow travel differs from actually creating connection. (Business Insider)

Last year, I recapped how my husband and I racked up 175,000 points in a year. We didn’t turn to sign-up bonuses, expensive purchases, or even strategically spend on cards that 5x the points instead of 4x the points.

I shared in as much detail as I could, because I wanted to show that travel made possible by points is possible. It just takes a little upfront work—once you have a system in place, the miles come flooding in.

Since then, we’ve drastically shifted our strategy: We now own a home, needed a new airline-adjacent card, and we weren’t using others. We primarily use Bilt for housing, American Express (currently up to 175k sign-up bonus for the Platinum) and Chase (currently up to 100k sign-up bonus for the Preferred or the Reserve) for everyday spending, and Rakuten for cash back when shopping (referral links).

I wasn’t ultimately sure if our approach was as optimized as possible anymore, so I asked an expert to take a look.

Ashley Feinstein Gerstley is Rakuten’s Shopping and Savings Strategist, in addition to being a Certified Financial Professional®, so she knows a thing or two about creating a smart financial foundation and leveraging it to power travel. Plus, I welcomed her thoughts as someone who works intimately with a product I use everyday—and a big cornerstone of our strategy: Rakuten.

If you’re unfamiliar, Rakuten gives you cash back when you shop online, sent via check or direct deposit several times a year. They partner with thousands of brands you likely regularly visit—from CVS to Hotels.com, Sephora to PetSmart. Upon switching from cash back to their AmEx partnership (where you can earn Membership Rewards), we’ve earned 189,940 points. Not bad for shopping I was doing anyway.

If you’re nosy like me, I hope you enjoy this look “under the hood” at my own strategy, as well my conversation with Ashley on how to best use Rakuten, the best times of year for certain deals, and how she uses Rakuten for her own business class trips.

Ashley, you’re a CFP® and you run The Fiscal Femme (which I knew of from my time at Money with Katie!). As a CFP® professional, you’re also a fiduciary, meaning you must always act in a client’s best financial interests. I’m curious: If someone has their financial life in a stable place (they have an emergency fund, they’re paying off debts, they have some expendable income), where does strategizing around points/miles fall in your prioritization hierarchy? Is it a worthwhile use of time for most folks, or more for nerds like me who enjoy this stuff?

This is such a great question. I’d say it’s so personal. Points/miles strategizing can be such a practical way to get more from the money you do spend. I’m able to travel more than I would otherwise and in a way I wouldn’t be able to otherwise by using these strategies, so it’s a pretty significant lever for our family.

In a couple of weeks, our family of four is heading to Italy on an Emirates flight that we paid for using points. We typically take an international trip with the kids once per year where our flights are covered by points. We’re also planning a trip to Japan using points and are hoping to fly business class. My oldest son flew business class once (paid for by points), and I think it was the highlight of his trip.

On the flip-side, I also know it can feel like a significant investment of time and overwhelming for some. This is where I think it’s helpful to have an experienced expert who can share simple strategies and tips for the most important things to prioritize to make an impact. Things like spending more than you would otherwise or taking on additional debt are not what I would advise. It’s about being really intentional and strategic.

This year, our approach to earning points has shifted a bit, and we’ve earned 275,000 points by July 1st. I’d love to outline it below and get your thoughts on my strategy. Where else can I optimize? What holes do you see? Or, conversely, am I over-optimizing?

• Bilt now offers points on mortgages, as long as your daily spend parallels that cost. For example, if your mortgage is $5,000 (close to our actual scenario) and you spend $3,750 in additional daily spend (75% of your housing cost), you’ll earn 5,000 points plus the additional 3,750 points, for a total of 8,750 points a month. So far in 2026, we have earned 37,000 points here. For context, we use the Bilt Blue Card because we didn’t want to pay another high annual fee on top of our Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum.

• Once we reach that threshold for Bilt, we’ll move our spending to one of those two cards, as both platforms have exceptionally valuable points and transfer partners, in addition to programs like Points Boost and the Fine Hotel + Resorts Program. So far, we have racked up 93,000 points on Chase (the large majority came through referrals, travel bookings, and Lyft), and 38,000 from American Express, 14,800 of which came from Rakuten.

• Because we no longer live in a United hub and are now primarily flying on Delta, we downgraded our United cards and opened a Delta card that had a 85,000 point sign-up bonus if we spent $4,000 in six months. We had to purchase two large items anyway, so we’re on track to earn that 85,000 this month.

• I also religiously use Rakuten for any online shopping, so I have another 22,000 points waiting for us during the next Membership Rewards day in August.

• In total, that’s 275,000 points, with the other half of the year to go, where we project to earn another 40,000 from Bilt and 40,000 from other spending combined across Rakuten, Chase, and American Express.

I love the intentionality of your approach. Reading through, I was struck by how similarly we’ve set up our systems.

• Earning points on your mortgage is major.

• Timing the Delta sign-up bonus around purchases you already had planned is such a smart move.

• Swapping your United card for Delta given where you live and who you’re flying with is a savvy strategic choice.

• You are optimizing purchases by religiously using Rakuten. It’s all paying off.

As to where you could optimize, I’d run a fee audit. Once the sign-up bonuses are earned, it’s helpful to confirm the annual costs are still worth it and to calculate the value you’re getting from each card. On the flip-side, given your Bilt card use, you can also evaluate if you’d get more benefit from upgrading there. I am with you in that I only want to pay for cards with a high annual fee when it’s worth it.

I’d also keep an eye on the redemption side. Points tend to lose value over time, so I’m an earn-and-burn person, meaning I make plans to use my points within a reasonable time frame.

I resonated with what you shared in your write-up about not agonizing over optimal spending. That life is also not for me, but for any large recurring or one-time expenses, it can be impactful to optimize. Much like your choice to prioritize hitting the Delta sign-up bonus.

As far as over-optimizing, I don’t see that. Your approach is dialed in, rather than obsessive.

For someone planning a few trips a year (not 10+), how would you scale down my strategy? What's the "starter kit" version of what my husband and I are doing?

When I think about a “starter kit,” I gravitate toward larger key decisions and habits that can have the most impact:

• First, I’d get the Rakuten browser extension so that cash back opportunities are flagged for you automatically when you’re shopping online. Over time, as you see the impact, checking cash back becomes a habit, and you start factoring it into your decision-making.

• From there, I’d start with one card in an ecosystem that matches how you already travel or plan to travel. Put your everyday spending on it and pay it off in full each month.

• If you can time a sign-up bonus around spending you already have coming, even better.

  

I read a survey* from your team at Rakuten and The Harris Poll that says nearly half of shoppers (49%) forget to apply rewards when they check out. It’s a missed opportunity, and it got me wondering: What other checkout habits are costing shoppers money every week that are easy to shift/implement?

Beyond forgetting to activate rewards, another common habit that costs shoppers money is checking out without comparing offers. Many shoppers default to the first retailer they find, but the same item may be available for less elsewhere, and Cash Back rates can differ by retailer. Before you complete your purchase, take a minute to check Rakuten to find the best combination of price and Cash Back. It's a simple step that makes a noticeable difference over time.

As a recent example, when I was booking our hotels for our upcoming Italy trip, I saw that the various booking sites offered similar room rates and perks, but the cash back on Expedia vs. Booking.com vs. Orbitz varied significantly. I’m always looking for the best all-in deal.

Let’s talk stacking promotions: I’ll often see a sale on a site like Farm Rio, and then see they have a Rakuten cash-back offer for an additional 15%, so I’m able to pay the lowest cost and get a nice boost in points. How often does that happen across retailers? Is it something more shoppers should be keeping an eye out on? What else is worth knowing about points stacking?

It happens more often than people realize, especially during major shopping moments like back-to-school season, Labor Day, and Black Friday. Retailers frequently run their own sales while Rakuten is simultaneously offering Cash Back, giving shoppers the opportunity to stack both and maximize their savings on the same purchase.

The best part about stacking is that shoppers don’t have to choose between a great sale price and earning rewards. While shoppers often run into restrictions like “cannot be combined with other offers” when using promo codes or coupons, Rakuten Cash Back can be applied on top of a retailer’s own discount or promotional sale, allowing shoppers to save on the sale price while still earning Cash Back.

The key is to check Rakuten before making a purchase, especially during major shopping moments when Cash Back rates are often boosted.

Beyond the obvious (browser extensions, checking before purchases, etc.), what's a Rakuten feature or trick most people don't know about? I have the app on my phone as well, but I’m never quite as good at using it when I’m in a store!

One feature many shoppers don’t take full advantage of is Rakuten’s in-store Cash Back offers, like you mentioned. While most people think of Rakuten for online shopping, the app can also help you discover offers from participating retailers when you’re shopping in person. This is especially helpful for everyday trips to places like CVS, Target, and other retailers where you’re already picking up essentials, as well as those spontaneous small shopping sprees. Before making a purchase, it’s worth checking the app to see if you can earn Cash Back on items you were planning to buy anyway.

Another lesser-known trick (that you’ve also mentioned) is that shoppers don’t have to take their Rakuten rewards as Cash Back. By linking an eligible American Express card that earns Membership Rewards, shoppers can choose to receive their Rakuten earnings as American Express points instead. This allows everyday purchases made through Rakuten to help build up points that can be used toward travel and other rewards.

Our family has earned thousands in cash back using Rakuten over time and I’ve only become a super user in the last few years. After reading through your strategies though, I’m leaning towards switching my cash back for points!

A few months ago I was at the park gushing to a friend about Rakuten, and a woman came up to me and shared that she used Rakuten to book her sister’s bachelorette and it almost paid for her entire portion of the trip. When we use it for big travel purchases, the benefits stack up quickly.

Last fall, Rakuten launched a partnership with Bilt Points, similar to the one they have with American Express’s Membership Rewards. How do you decide which program to use (or do you think the cash-back option is the best one entirely)? I primarily look at having a mix of points in all categories, keeping an eye on transfer partners I might want to use in the next couple months, but I’m not always running the math, which might be leaving some value on the table. Can you share how you’d approach it?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It really depends on what you’re working toward. I always encourage shoppers to start with their end goal.

If you’re planning a trip and know you’ll redeem points through a specific airline or hotel transfer partner, earning American Express Rewards or Bilt Points through Rakuten may help you get more value from those purchases. For example, Bilt points generally hold a higher per point valuation with World of Hyatt and American Airlines. If you don’t have a redemption in mind, Cash Back offers the most flexibility since you can use it however you’d like via PayPal or check. You can get your cash back through PayPal to use that money however you’d like.

It’s also worth taking note of where you already have points. If it’s spread across several programs, it may make sense to concentrate your earnings in the program that will help you reach your next redemption faster, rather than slowly accumulating small balances everywhere.

On the other hand, if you’re close to earning enough points for a flight or hotel stay, directing your Rakuten rewards there can help you get over the finish line sooner. Ultimately, the best strategy is to be intentional!

This newsletter is primarily written for women, and we’re often the ones deploying our household’s purchasing power. Do you find that women are also more diligent when it comes to savings via programs like Rakuten? What's the most common blind spot you see in how women approach reward spending?

Rakuten and The Harris Poll actually released data* earlier this year that shows maximizing rewards has become a priority for shoppers across the board, regardless of gender. When it comes to big purchases, women are slightly more likely to say they strategically maximize rewards, with 78% saying they do so compared to 75% of men. And when asked whether they’re prioritizing rewards more than ever, men and women responded equally, with 74% of both groups saying rewards are playing a bigger role in their shopping decisions.

Regardless, what this tells me is women are being smart, strategic and thoughtful about saving. These small habits add up and over time help to build a financial muscle that influences smart financial decision-making across the board.

Slow travel here means longer stays, fewer flights, more time in one place. Does that change how you'd advise someone to prioritize points, maybe more toward hotel loyalty and long-stay perks, versus airline miles (which is what I’d usually lean towards)?

Slow travel is a great example of how shoppers can rethink the way they maximize rewards. If you’re taking fewer flights and spending more time in one destination, it may make sense to look beyond just airline miles and take advantage of opportunities to earn on hotels, vacation rentals, rental cars, and other travel-related purchases through Rakuten.

Whether you’re booking a longer hotel stay through partners like Expedia, Priceline, or IHG Hotels & Resorts, or planning a road trip with a rental car company like Hertz, there are opportunities to earn Cash Back on travel expenses you’re already planning to make.

That said, the best rewards strategy comes down to your personal travel habits. Rakuten data shows that 43% of shoppers use travel purchases as a way to earn rewards, while 53% use rewards to help fund travel. Whether you’re earning Cash Back to put toward a future getaway or redeeming those rewards to offset the cost of an upcoming trip, Rakuten is a great tool for reaching your travel goals.

Similar to slow travel, I’m also passionate about slow fashion and not spending just to spend. At the same time, there are items we’ll need throughout the year that we can plan for—you once said Memorial Day is a peak time for travel gear and hotel stays to be heavily discounted. Do you have any insights on what might be on the horizon for shoppers or travelers in the coming months?

I always encourage shoppers to be intentional and think ahead about purchases they know they’ll need throughout the year. Labor Day is a great example of a seasonal shopping moment where consumers can find value on items they were already planning to buy. It’s a smart time to shop for back-to-school clothing and refresh fall wardrobes, as well as outdoor furniture as retailers transition out of summer inventory.

For travel specifically, if timing aligns, I try to book during Rakuten’s promotional events like Big Stack and Big Give Week where cash back on travel can be upwards of 10–15%. You can also look out for boosted rates throughout the year. January also tends to be a great time to book travel because post holiday demand drops sharply. For travel to locations during peak times, I try to book further in advance. If I’m more flexible with location and dates, I often look for last minute deals.

Sign up for loyalty programs with travel booking sites so you’re alerted to their promotions and deals. They often run promotions in summer and then another round in the fall on “Travel Tuesday” (after Black Friday/Cyber Monday). A lot of it comes down to getting familiar with pricing so you can watch it over time and grab a great deal.

Anything I didn’t ask that you’d love to cover or any final tips you want to share?

Have fun with it if you can. Points and miles might sound like homework, but this is one of the rare corners of personal finance where the payoff is a trip you get to dream about and enjoy.

Celebrate the wins along the way, whether that's shopping with Rakuten, seeing a sign-up bonus hit your account, or realizing you just flew your family somewhere for close-to-free. And if you want to keep in touch, you can find me on Substack at @thefiscalfemme: .

*Survey Methodology: This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Rakuten (or Autumn Communications) from Mar 24 - 26, 2026, among 2,098 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Nora Rabie at nora@autumncommunications.com.

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• 📺 Starting in early August, Netflix is partnering with publishers like Condé Nast and Hearst to bring short-form video content to your streaming, and travel PR agencies are taking notice. But I’m curious if this will lead to additional over-tourism of the same places that have been struggling for years, or if will give reporters a chance to go deeper into newer, slower travel. Here’s hoping for the latter.

• 🙂‍↕️ If you love a flight deal, is hosting its biggest sale of the year: 51% off of memberships with code AFFILIATE51. A year of deals for $25.

• 📚 Last month, I interviewed Bookshop.org CEO Andy Hunter, and I’m thrilled to say the company brought in nearly $1.5m in revenue through its Anti-Prime campaign, with $210k going back to support local bookstores. Community over convenience.

• 📖 Speaking of books, if you’re a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic, you’ll devour her latest book, out this week: The Intrigue. SMG is a master of building time and place, and she has done it again—you’ll feel transported to Veracruz, a different kind of trip.

• 🧼 I’ve been testing travel-sized natural deodorants (worn for at least 24 hours after a shower), and I come bearing results:

  • This Each and Every mini-set includes a Coconut and Lime scent that smells like a piña colada (complimentary) and yes, it works.

  • This gender-neutral AKT set features five of their best-selling fragrances (I’m partial to Orange Grove), and I was impressed here as well. The minis are super small though, so keep that in mind.

  • The Salt & Stone aluminum-free deodorants didn’t work as well (I’ll spare you the details, you’re welcome), but the Saffron and Cedar scent is addictive. If you’re not a super sweaty gal like me, you’ll be just fine!

See you next week! —Henah x

The human body is a fickle thing: While in London last fall, I dealt with debilitating jet lag every single day, lying awake all night—only to fall asleep around 7AM until noon. On my recent excursion across Europe last month though, I didn’t have a single issue and fell right into the Circadian rhythm of Central European time-zone. I returned home and immediately adjusted back to EST.

When we talk about slow, quiet travel—trips that allow you to rest—we can’t ignore the importance of quality sleep. We of course need it in order to function, but we’re often willing to forgo it when there are special experiences on the line or when FOMO strikes: a sunrise hike, a late-night party, getting drinks with friends.

Travel worsens our ability to recover, especially when we’re crossing multiple time zones and traveling east, which means advancing our internal clock. That doesn’t just mean sacrificing sleep or dealing with fatigue; it also affects our entirely body, including indigestion, weakened immune function, and reduced mental performance.

With one parent who suffers from sleep apnea and the other from insomnia, I have long known sleep issues are likely to affect me. So last November after my experience in the UK, I began experimenting with different tools and techniques—in addition to the rituals I’ve honed over the last decade—to fight jet lag, enjoy quality sleep, and actually feel rested.

A few caveats: I’m admittedly a night owl (or the wolf chronotype), I aim for eight hours or more a night, and I’m a huge fan of naps. And as someone with a few chronic disabilities, I am what I’d call a 1% Sleep Spender: I will happily invest in sources to improve my sleep, period.

However, these are only the tools that have worked for me over the last eight months of testing. I am not a licensed professional, so please do your own due diligence and check with a medical professional if you consider any supplements. I’ve broken down the different stages of preparing to fight jet lag from before you leave to readjusting upon your return. (And if you’re curious how jet lag works to begin with, this primer breaks it down well.) Sweet dreams!

The Key to Quality Sleep While Traveling Starts Before You Leave

The easiest way to signal that you’re ready for bed to your body will be following the same rituals you would back home. In that sense, how you sleep at home is highly instrumental in a new location.

Amy Behimer, a Pharm.D and board-certified health and wellness coach, also recommends “trusting in the tiny” habits to create consistency while on the road: “Bring micro-versions of your usual bedtime rituals so your brain knows it’s time to rest, even in a new setting. That might mean jotting a single line in a journal, reading a few pages of a book, applying a familiar hand lotion, or listening to one calming song you play before bed. Pair these with tiny environmental shifts—like dimming your phone screen to match your destination’s nighttime or slipping on cozy socks—and you’re giving your body repeated cues to downshift into sleep mode.”

My bedtime routine is fairly simple and reliable: My husband and I get ready for bed, and then play the NYT games together on my phone. By the time I get to the crossword, he’s already fallen asleep, and once I’m done with the crossword, I’m ready to knock out, too. If I’m not particularly sleepy, I’ll start reading a book, and am typically asleep in 20 minutes.

But in some seasons of life, I have a harder time falling and staying asleep. After many years, this is the “survival tool kit” I’ve built in desperation to get some ZZZs:

• I always thought a cooling mattress might be overhyped, but as someone who has a hard time with hormonal thermoregulation, investing in one truly changed everything for me. This is what we’ve had for several years—at one point recently, our cat punctured the pad and we would’ve paid happily for a replacement despite the very high cost, because we love it that much. My husband sleeps cooler than I do, but I find that a schedule between 75–85 degrees helps me stay comfortable all night long.

• Loose clothing and soft, cool sheets are key. As part of my past work, I tested out extremely expensive linen sheets (skip, they don’t hold up in the wash) along with cheap big-box stores. I’m surprised to say it, but I do find Target’s Essentials sheets (pre-cancellation) to be a solid budget pick, and I like Miracle Made for higher-end crisp sheets because they’re also anti-microbial and cooling.

• I store this weighted sleep mask next to my bed, and I have a version I’ll also bring on trips with me. When it’s starting to get light outside during a bout of insomnia, I’ll throw this on for immediate relief. Plus, it beats investing in expensive blackout curtains.

• I like these nightly sleep packs—they’re melatonin-free and non-habit forming. They’re expensive, but they do work for me. If I don’t have access to these, I like taking one of these gummies; it’s not enough THC to make me feel out of control, and helps me relax to the point of sleepiness.

• Because of my aforementioned chronotype, my alarm would often go off when I was in the middle of a REM cycle, causing intense grogginess and headaches. I have since shifted to an app called Sleep Cycle, which tracks your sleep stages via your phone’s microphone and wakes you up during the lightest sleep phase. It has been an absolute game-changer. It’s currently free to use all summer! I am also obsessed with tracking my sleep score (I wear my Oura ring religiously) and noting any trends or concerning patterns over time. If you’re curious about how they compare:

Planning Ahead Against Jet Lag

You know you’re going to embark on a trip across multiple time zones, and you have your plan once you get there. But what about in the days leading up to your departure and in transit? You guessed it: That’s just as important.

• First, plan your sleep like you plan your itinerary—far ahead of time, if you can. According to Major Allison Brager, US Army Sleep Specialist, “Banking on sleep prior to anticipated sleep deprivation and jet lag can reduce the consequences of jet lag. Army scientists have conducted studies in the lab and in the field showing this hack is legitimate and works under most circumstances for reducing physical and cognitive fatigue, improving mood, and preserving decision making.”

• Far and away, the #1 app I’ve heard to help manage jet lag is Timeshifter. You put in your flight times, and it’ll auto-create an itinerary to follow to minimize sleep disruption (like avoid caffeine for nine hours, or see bright light for the next three hours). You can set it up before you leave, and it incorporates all stopovers. Your first use with Timeshifter is free, and then charges for future trips.

• If you want something a little more regimented and with some supplemental help, you could also try Flykitt. My husband tested it out on our London trip (I can’t have caffeine) and had a positive experience: The app, in conjunction with supplements and blue-light filtering glasses, gave him a guided itinerary of what to take and when. The downside is remembering to bring the meds with you each day and taking them on time. But if you want to fight both jet lag and bloat, this is a good go-to.

• Nearly every expert I heard from said to pack a basic sleep kit: an eye mask, ear plugs (I like these), or even a calming scent like lavender spray or a perfume that reminds you of home. While most airlines might offer this already on an overnight flight, many won’t, even if it’s a six-hour transatlantic flight during the day. This is worthwhile to bring with you beyond a flight as well, because you never know if a hotel or train will deal with noise or light disturbances.

• On the note of ear plugs, brown noise will mask engine noise while flying, and pink noise can mask road hum and tire noise if you’re driving.

• Never forget a sturdy neck pillow. I also saw this hack—I can’t speak to it myself yet, but in any case, don’t forget proper neck and head support.

• Wear comfortable, loose layers. You don’t want to be tossing and turning in an airplane seat wearing jeans, and I always pack a cardigan, scarf, or outer layer that can act as a blanket.

• Take a 30-minute walk before boarding: Try to tire yourself out as much as you can before getting on the plane. Walk around the lounge, check out duty-free shops, people-watch throughout the terminal, whatever you can do to get those steps in.

• Book seats above the engine or alongside the wings, typically between Row 10 and 25. You’re less likely to get motion sickness, and the hum of the engine will act as white noise.

• Once you board the plane, immediately change the time on your phone to the new destination’s time, a gentle nudge to your body and brain to adapt.

• Longtime readers know I need Dramamine on all flights to avoid motion sickness. I take the non-drowsy version when I’m flying short-haul, but I’ll take a full regular Dramamine if I’m on a 4+ hour flight, and that also helps me stay sleepy enough when I return home to go right back to bed. If I land and I feel groggy somewhere and need to power through, I will chug water until it feels flushed out of my system. I also avoid alcohol on planes, as I know my sleep quality will plummet.

Fight Jet Lag Once You’re There, Beyond “Just Stay Awake”

Look, we’ve all heard it time and time again: Just power through and try to stay awake until your usual bedtime. It works, I get it!

That’s always easier said than done. There is no way I will land at 6AM after a turbulent redeye and stay awake until 11PM—I’m not even up at 6AM at home. In this case, Martin Reed, founder of Insomnia Coach and board-certified health and wellness coach, has some helpful advice: “If you reach your destination at a time when you’d normally be sleeping, you might want to grab a bit of sleep and then try to get up at your normal time…A consistent out of bed time in the morning, a day filled with meaningful activities, and not chasing after sleep (for example, by going to bed earlier than normal) are often the most helpful ways to give sleep the opportunity to get back on track while traveling.”

If you’re really struggling to stay awake, according to Major Brager, you can caffeinate intentionally: Have two strong cups of coffee (200 mg of caffeine) every four hours at least eight hours prior to bedtime, especially if you have a busy day ahead of you. For example, if you aim to sleep at 10PM, you can have coffee at 6AM, 10AM, and 2PM before cutting off. Or, if you make it until the evening, she recommends a small 3mg dose of melatonin the first night or two to help soothe your body.

As for me, I try to strategically time a nap in my day, even if it’s up to two hours long, instead of the oft-suggested 30-minute power nap. If I land at 8AM, I’ll sleep at the hotel from 10:30AM–12:30PM, and then continue on until about 10PM.

The other two most important and evidence-backed ways to support your Circadian clock that you’ve also likely heard before: Timing your light exposure and your meals. Getting bright light first thing in the morning resets your internal clock, and if you schedule all your meals in line with your new destination’s time zone, that will act as an additional signal to your body.

Upon Returning Home

You’ve probably also heard the adage that it takes the body one day per time zone to readjust to its Circadian rhythm. In my experience, I’ve found that to largely be true, so if you can, take an extra day at home for yourself to re-acclimate—an extra paid day off, coming home a night early on a long weekend or holiday, etc. I always worked to maximize my time in any destination but as I get older, I find the value in coming home a night early to decompress and readjust.

As for falling asleep and staying asleep back in your own bed, depending on how much you want to optimize: I’ve tried this Somnee sleep headband. You wear it for 15 minutes before bed, and it’ll send “personalized neurostimulation to your brain’s natural sleep signals,” which helps you fall asleep faster and boosts restorative deep sleep.

It’s a solid sleep gadget, but I often wake up with the Somnee off of my head, so keep that in mind if you move around a lot like me. Somnee is HSA/FSA eligible and you can try it risk-free for 45 days, so if you really struggle, this could be a Hail Mary. Otherwise, it’s back to my tried-and-true routine!

While traveling back (from the east, especially) can be harder on sleep once you’re home, the good news is: Generally speaking, your sleep duration will bounce back quickly. And then it’s back to (hopefully) eight hours in your own bed until your next trip, and there’s no better feeling.

If you have any tips to combat jet lag and get quality sleep, whether at home or while traveling, please do share them—because we could all use more rest and recovery:

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• 🚗 Speaking of insomnia, I will typically read when I can’t fall back asleep, and this recent read about a car crash featuring three teenagers and the parents who might end up in prison was riveting while I laid awake at 4AM last week: “The Oak Grove 100 was an attempt to reach 100 mph on a two-lane road with a speed limit of 35. But in the long aftermath of Sophie’s death, it was possible to see it another way: as a percentage. When the time came for the distribution of guilt, there were 100 percentage points to hand out. Who should get them? How many each?” I’m an AJC subscriber, so sharing a gift link here. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

• 🚂 “Before I fell in love with Paris, I fell in love with Eurostar.” A fellow writer from the Southeast waxes poetic about the same train I took from London to Paris last month, and it truly is a form of magic. ()

• 📋 This solo traveler shared her list of non-negotiables when she’s traveling alone. They align well with my own philosophy, and she has other valuable recommendations I’m incorporating.

• 👀 This renowned brand is hiring a Senior Editor focused on travel, up to $125k.

• 🥰 Annie Lachhman-Persaud has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. That doesn’t stop her family from doing daycations around New York City, and documenting their local travel. Heartwarming, family-focused, and hopeful. (Travel + Leisure)

See you next week! —Henah x

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