As part of my community-based ethos, I shared earlier this year that we’d launch guest guides. These enable me to spotlight other women travelers from around the globe—some are reporting on places I’ve never seen before, while others share their favorites from popular tourist destinations. Every guest who writes a guide is compensated for their time, made up in part by our paid subscribers. It’s a community I’m very proud of—the gift that keeps on giving within this beautiful ecosystem.

For our first-ever guest guide, I’m thrilled to share ; I don’t know when we first got in touch, but we’ve been longtime online friends, and she’s an incredible writer, skier, and marketing expert. The destination she chose—Jackson Hole, WY—is one I’ve only tangentially touched by way of Bozeman, MT and Yellowstone, but after seeing the resources she so thoughtfully put together (and to be honest, the photos she shared), it’s moved to the top of my list.

Before getting into her full guide below, I asked why this destination matters so much to her, and why it might be a good fit for Departure, and I really loved her answer:

“My first visit to Jackson was in 2014 on a ski trip. By the next summer, I had moved there for a summer job, and then a “gap-winter” to ski bum and work. I landed back in the Tetons permanently after my final year of Undergrad thinking I’d take a year or two to “get it out of my system,” but never left.

When you think of Jackson Hole, you probably think of billionaires, cowboys, or both. The great news for Departure readers is that Jackson is great for both the budget and the luxury traveler. The Four Seasons will run you over $2,000/night during the summer high season; however, there are also affordable campgrounds or even free dispersed campsites that give you unobstructed Teton views.”

Setting the Stage

97% of all land in Teton County, Wyoming is public and owned by the federal government, meaning it’s restricted from development. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem—which includes Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole area—is one of the largest ecosystems in the world. This is what makes the area so special—it’s home to wildlife, thousands of miles of trails, biodiversity, and so much more.

But wait, what’s the difference between Jackson Hole and Jackson? Jackson Hole refers to the entire area, encompassing Grand Teton National Park, the town of Jackson, and the other small towns in valley (including Teton Village, Wilson, and Hoback). Jackson is where you’ll find most of the lodging, shops, and restaurants.

I recommend visiting Jackson during the summer/early fall (mid-June through September), or winter (late December through March). The remaining months (April, May, October, November) are what we call “mud season.” You can score some great deals on lodging, but many of the activities that you’d like to do while you’re here are inaccessible due to snow (but not enough snow to do winter activities), and weather is inconsistent.

Where to Stay

Remember how I said 97% of all land is public? With nowhere in proximity to expand, real estate in Teton County is extremely expensive. To keep housing available for residents and local workers, there are restrictions on short-term rentals—meaning you won’t find many options on Airbnb.

The town of Jackson is pretty small; there are dozens of options that you can’t go wrong with. In the summer, you’ll be looking at ($400–$800+/night) on average in town. During the winter, the same spot will run you ($200–$400+/night) on average.

If you come to ski, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is about 12 miles north of Jackson in Teton Village. There are only a handful of options—including the Four Seasons and Caldera House if you’re looking to splurge. You can’t beat being ski-in and ski-out in the winter, and it’s a quiet, mountainside retreat in the summertime. There are fewer restaurants in Teton Village, so keep that in mind if you choose to stay here, but the town of Jackson is only a 12-mile drive away!

Lastly, if you’re adventurous, camping in the summertime is an amazing way to take in the Tetons in their entirety. There are hundreds of options so I won’t get into them here, but I’ll leave you with a sunset view from camp one summer…

Where to Eat & Drink

For being such a small town, there are so many dining options, and surprisingly a lot of variety!

• Bin22 is a great dinner spot for wine lovers and tapas enthusiasts. There are plenty of vegetarian options as well, including my favorite—the Wild Mushroom Mozzarella. With an extensive attached bottle shop, enjoy a bottle with dinner (and no corkage fee).

• For coffee and a pastry or quick lunch, don’t skip Persephone Bakery. Next door, Healthy Being Cafe has fresh juices, salads, and smoothie bowls.

• Ride the gondola at Snow King Mountain from town and enjoy a one-of-a-kind summit dining experience with Teton Views at Aurora.

• Sushi? In Wyoming? Hear me out—fresh fish is flown in daily. I recommend King Sushi and Kampai (Kampai’s Executive Chef landed here by way of Nobu).

• Also file under cuisine you don’t expect to be good in Wyoming: I love Thai Plate and Teton Thai Teton Village.

• For a more traditional “Wyoming” dinner, both Local and Snake River Grill are great options.

• And lastly, rapid fire of a few other spots I love as this list could go on forever! Hand Fire Pizza, Nora’s (for breakfast), Glorietta’s (Italian), The Bird (burgers), Creekside (made-to-order deli sandwiches perfect for a picnic).

What to Do

If you were to google “what to do in Jackson Hole,” you’d get a long list of thrill-seeking activities like whitewater rafting, skiing/snowboarding, horseback riding, snowmobiling, dog sledding, paragliding, via ferratas, mountain biking—the list goes on. Here are some quieter ways to enjoy the Tetons, perfect for slow travel.

A Morning in Grand Teton

During the summer, Grand Teton National Park can get busy during the day. Beat the crowds by starting early! Catch the sunrise (it’s eaaaarlly in the summer but so so worth it); I recommend posting up at Schwabacher Landing, Snake River Overlook, or Moulton Barn.

After sunrise, you’ll head into the heart of the park. For some activity, the hike to Phelps Lake is mostly flat and about two miles round trip from Laurence S. Rockefeller Preserve Trailhead as an out and back route. You can make it longer by walking along the lake, and turning around when you’re ready to head back. I recommend the North Side of the lake!

If you’re not up for a hike, head to String Lake. You’ll be early enough to get a parking spot 50 steps from the water to enjoy the views, read on a picnic blanket, or even take a dip in the chilly alpine lake. There are also some mellow hiking trails if you’d like to walk around a bit. As the crowds roll in, you can head back into town or explore more of the park by car.

Art & Culture

There are over 25 art galleries in Jackson, plenty to spend an afternoon walking around town taking it all in. You can find a gallery guide here. Just a couple of miles north of Jackson is the National Museum of Wildlife Art: “Featuring work by prominent artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Robert Kuhn, John James Audubon, and Carl Rungius, the Museum’s unsurpassed permanent collection chronicles much of the history of wildlife in art from 2500 B.C.E. to the present.” Plus, their outdoor sculpture trail is open to the public and great for kids.

Throughout the summer, there are Farmer’s Markets every week featuring local farmers, food vendors, artists and more. Several pop-up art fairs take over greenspaces in town throughout the summer, so keep an eye out for what’s going on while you’re in town!

The coolest concert venue you’ve never heard of sits atop Snow King Mountain and requires a gondola ride to reach the summit. For summer 2026, musical guests include The Black Keys, Alabama Shakes, Greggory Alan Isakov, and many more.

Slow Adventure

A few additional ways to enjoy the scenery, Departure-style.

• Reserve a soak at Astoria Hot Springs Park

• Ride the Tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

• Take a sleigh ride on the National Elk Refuge (winter only)

• Rent a bike from Hoback Sports and ride hundreds of miles of pathways (I recommend riding north from town for Teton Views!)

• Take a wildlife tour to explore Grand Teton National Park. I’ve taken one with Eco Tours, but there are many great companies to choose from.

• Take a daytrip into Yellowstone National Park. It’s too big to cover the entire park in a day, but you can visit the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Old Faithful Geyser, and Grand Prismatic on the south end of the park in a day. Plus whatever bonus wildlife sightings accompany your trip!

Final Notes

• Check the weather! If you’re visiting in the summer, evenings still get very cool, so a jacket or sweater is recommended when the sun goes down.

• There are buses between the town of Jackson and Teton Village, as well as Ubers and Taxis. Uber isn’t the most reliable option for things like an early morning airport ride, but it’s definitely improving. If you’re looking to explore Grand Teton National Park, visit Yellowstone, or pretty much anything outside of the Town of Jackson, I strongly encourage you to rent a car.

• Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone require a National Parks Pass. It’s about $35/day or $80 for a year-long unlimited “America The Beautiful” pass. If you’re planning on visiting more national parks, or both Yellowstone and Grand Teton over multiple days I recommend the “America The Beautiful” pass. You can purchase these when you enter the park.

Have questions or other recommendations? Erica will be coming back in the next few weeks to answer any comments, or you can message her privately on Substack. Erica, thank you so much again for your time and effort here—as an indoor cat, even I am inspired to visit Jackson Hole in the coming months. 💌

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• 💄 I’m not a big Sephora shopper, but the only item I ever carry with me besides my keys and my phone—whether at home or abroad—is this tinted lip balm. I’d restock now during the sale, but hilariously, I already own six of them. Perfect colors to layer on, so smooth and creamy, no stickiness, and great scent.

• 🪟 I always wondered why some flight attendants will tell you to keep your window shade raised during takeoff and landing, while others don’t. I figured the reasons were safety-related, but the exact reasons why make a lot of sense. (AFAR)

• 🌸 Flower tourism is booming ‘n blooming—and Lonely Planet’s guide includes destinations you can visit any time this year, from Jordan to Arkansas. Just don’t forget the Zyrtec.

• 👀 Wanna go camping this summer? These are the best adult-only summer camps across the US. We all deserve a bit of nostalgia and carefree moments right now. (Time Out)

• 🥹 “The upsides to feeling small.” (c/o )

See you next week! —Henah x

For this week’s edition, per reader request, I wanted to dig into how I’m able to pack 7–10 days’ worth of necessities into a carry-on suitcase and backpack. I’ve sworn by my method for several years, because I 1) hate paying airline fees, 2) don’t want to spend time at baggage claim or show up early for bag drop offs, and 3) live a pretty minimalist lifestyle to begin with. So I’m sharing exactly what I pack for every trip below, but before I get into specifics…

A note: For eight years, I covered sustainable and ethical fashion, testing and reviewing products from hundreds of brands. I’ve linked affiliate options below, but the items I’m sharing are ones that: I personally swear by, have lasted over time, and are higher quality than the rest. My trust with y’all means everything, so if there’s an item you’ve had a negative experience with that I’ve recommended, please let me know!

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Luggage

Carry On: My mother worked at Tumi Luggage for 20+ years, so we have a lot of their pieces. I’d caveat that they tend to show the wear and tear more than others, and that they’re extremely expensive investments—the kind of “Buy It For Life” products you’ll see on Reddit. If you’re not in the place to spend $500+ on luggage, I really like Away’s Bigger Carry On. I’ve had this for several years, and the bag looks brand new—the wheels glide well (better than my Tumi bags), they can be basically thrown around without worry, and Away has a generous warranty.

Personal Item: This is always a backpack for me. I have had a Dare to Roam backpack for years and I’m surprised by how well it’s kept up, but it doesn’t look like they’re in business anymore. I’d recommend a backpack or tote from Beis, Monos, or Dagne Dover instead.

In My Carry-On

I utilize the exact same list for every trip, give or take a few specific items (think mosquito repellent for subtropical climates, or thicker socks for a winter trip). I’ll share my basics below, but the general gist is: If I can’t mix and match it, it’s not coming.

• One pair of underwear for every day of travel, and a handful of bras. I’m fairly bra-agnostic, but as mentioned previously, I really like Knix’s underwear for spotting and sweating.

• One pair of socks for every day of travel, and two pairs of compression socks (one to wear on the way there, one on the way back). My preferred brands for compression socks are either Bombas or Wellow.

• 4-5 simple tees—I primarily wear Buck Mason’s t-shirts. I own the Slim in every main color, and every piece feels luxuriously soft and easy to mix and match. Size up!

• 2 pairs of jeans: I bring a pair of blue denim and black denim. My favorite blue denim jeans are from Warp + Weft (so stretchy and durable, partially recycled cotton, under $100!), and I consistently get compliments on these 100% cotton black Rails (which, fun fact, I visited seven stores in person to hunt down).

• 2 pairs of athleisure or more relaxed pants. The only leggings I wear nowadays are from Beyond Yoga (incredibly soft fabric and stretch, deep pockets). My pro-tip is to find these secondhand on ThredUp if you don’t want to pay full price; there are always gently used options floating around there. I’ll also pack something like these pants I bought years ago for warmer temperatures, because they’re breathable while still being relatively fashion-forward.

• 2 dresses—I’ve actually (surprisingly?) been impressed with Old Navy’s dresses recently. I do not recommend fast fashion almost ever, but these are easy to pack and steam, come in neutral colors, and hold up well.

• Three pairs of shoes: One pair of sneakers which I wear on the plane, my beloved Rothy’s clogs for casual days, and a pair of sandals or nicer flats.

• One cardigan or sweater, which I’ll usually wear on the plane to maximize space in my bag. I wear a black coatigan almost exclusively, but I also have a super comfortable and cozy taupe cardigan I love.

• The best use of my AmEx lululemon credit, by far, was this windbreaker. It was incredibly helpful on our most recent trip to China and Taiwan on rainy days. I like this style in particular because it’s cropped, can be conveniently folded up, and has a main pocket in the front.

• One pair of Spanx or similar-style shorts to prevent chafing. I used to love the ones from Uniqlo’s AIRism line but they no longer sell them—womp.

• One pair of pajamas (read: an oversized t-shirt and leggings, or simple PJ set).

• I’ve used a hair towel for nearly 20 years, and this one from Crown Affair is the best of the best. So much so that I accidentally left mine on a trip once and repurchased a new one immediately.

With this combination, I can easily create 10 outfits, as long as I’m not sweating profusely or staining my clothes with each wear. In my experience, local laundromats are easy to find though, at a much more reasonable price than hotel laundry or paying $25+ on baggage fees each way. In Hong Kong lat week, for example, we were able to do 15 pounds of laundry, folded and returned to us, for $17.

As for personal toiletries: I’ve shared this hack before, but I always keep a second set of these on hand exclusively for trips. Using two small toiletry bags, I pack: toothbrush, toothpaste, tongue scraper, Q-tips, deodorant, lotion, vaseline, moisturizer, sunscreen, makeup wipes, makeup, hairbrush, razors, shampoo, soap, perfume, extra hair ties, bobby pins, and safety pins. I also pack a lint roller (because, pets), and a travel-sized curling iron or straightener. This all gets packed into my carry-on, or thrown into my personal item if I’ve run out of space.

In My Personal Item:

• Passports, visas, Global Entry passes, and IDs as necessary

• My ATM cards and credit cards

• Printed copies of my itinerary and travel insurance

• Portable chargers, wall chargers, and adapters (I like this Anker charger—a great gift, too)

• An attachable neck pillow (recommend this one or this one from Cabeau)

• My Sony XM-6s headphones and my Airpods

• Prescription sunglasses

• My film camera and film

• A day bag (my husband and I really like this one from Beis; it’s very roomy and even comes with a water bottle holder)

• A small selection of mints, gum, snacks, or protein bars

• An extra N95 mask

• A mini-first aid kit: Imodium, Pepto Bismol, Dramamine, Omeprazole, hand sanitizer, our medications (this pill box is my favorite), sleep supplements (these work!), an eye mask, Tylenol, and bandaids

• A travel umbrella

• My laptop and charger, along with my Oura charger

And that’s it!

The best part about having a minimalist approach is it’s easy to remember and replicate. I don’t have to overthink every time, and once I unpack from one trip, I already know what goes right back in the bag for the next one. If you have a system you swear by, I recommend sharing it, too—others may be grateful.

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• 📕 I started and finished 1Q84 in less than a week. At 1,200 pages, this book is quite the beast, and as my first foray into Murakami, I was a bit intimidated. But it was 100% worth it. When we’d be out exploring, I’d be thinking about this book and ready to get into bed and start reading it again. Inclined to start Norwegian Wood, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, or Kafka on the Shore next, but I need a brain break first.

• 🧳 Speaking of baggage fees, Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue have all announced higher fees in the last week, citing rising fuel charges. Another reason to carry on. (New York Times)

• 🚶 Seven walkable cities where you don’t need a car in order to have a great vacation—can confirm nearly all of these. More walkable destinations, please! (Washington Post)

• 🌇 Coinciding with the launch of their latest study on Gen Z and millennial travel, EF Ultimate Break is giving away a $4,000 tour credit. Enter now on their site’s pop-up form, now through May 15th.

• 🥰 Women in Congo—which has been in conflict for more than a year—organized a three-day music festival to campaign against gender-based violence and showcase women’s talents. With how heavy the world feels recently, this women-led push for peace made me smile. (ABC News)

Coming up in the next few weeks: Exactly what we did and how much we spent on 19 days in Asia, different products and tools I’ve been testing for the best sleep while traveling, and an interview with an expert I’ve always wanted to hear from. Talk soon! —Henah x

It turns out, we don’t really remember a destination objectively—we remember a place by how we arrived there.

I realized this in Shanghai last week, and it changed how I think about arrival days. It taught me that the first 24 hours might actually matter more than the rest of a trip.

When my husband and I first arrived in Shanghai after 30 hours of flying, we immediately checked into our hotel and went straight to bed. My Oura ring says I fell asleep within six minutes—a record—and we woke up ten hours later, feeling refreshed and ready to explore. We both had a full week of work ahead, so Sunday was our one real day to explore—along with everyone else in the city.

Tourists here are often told to head to busier areas like Tianzifang or Nanjing Road for shops and cafes, but we decided to explore the more-local Wukang Road and Anfu Road. Instead of being overwhelmed by sounds, scents, and stimulation, we slowly strolled around this alternative stretch, known for its boutique shops and historic architecture. We sipped new teas, took film photos, and stopped by a small business market. While still busy, our time there was much more peaceful, and I felt like we truly embodied “slower” travel in that moment.

The next 24–48 hours were very different.

On Tuesday afternoon, after a long stretch of work in the morning, I desperately needed to eat. And a confluence of negative factors came together all at once: The Chinese apps on my phone weren’t working properly for food delivery, it was raining, and I felt light-headed from a lack of food. I decided to pick the closest, highly rated vegetarian restaurant I could find and requested a ride-share.

After being dropped off, I realized I’d made a grave mistake: The vegetarian restaurant had closed for its afternoon break, I had no umbrella—just a windbreaker—to keep me dry, and I was starting to experience low blood sugar. Via a translation app, I asked two locals if there were other restaurants nearby they’d recommend, but neither had any in mind.

So, I had no choice but to walk in the pouring rain. Twenty minutes later, I stumbled upon a bakery and requested a pizza, one of their only substantive vegetarian options. By the time I got back to the hotel, my clothes were soaked through and I was frustrated, but at least I’d eaten.

Then came the food poisoning.

Within a few hours, I was incredibly nauseous and holding my stomach through waves of cramps. I’ll spare you the details, but all you need to know is: By the end of the day Tuesday, I wasn’t just sick, I was ready to go home—not because of Shanghai, of course, but because of how I felt in it.

The next morning, I was mostly recovered and able to eat light meals. I decided to take a break from work and head to Yu Garden and Yuyuan Market, determined to have a better day. I kept repeating to myself, “Today will be a good day.” And it was.

But imagine if my time on Tuesday had been the first 24 hours of my trip. I would’ve been miserable. Even if I could recognize that this was a one-off experience—not at all indicative of an entire destination—the tone of the trip would’ve changed irrevocably, and that’s hard to “undo.”

Similar to last week’s edition, when therapists shared about the importance of easing into your trip if you have anxiety, I also find that the first 24 hours are crucial. So instead of chasing that “perfect first day” amidst my excitement and anticipation, I try to focus on something else: arriving in a way that lets the rest of the trip shine.

Here’s what I mean, tactically speaking:

• The day you arrive at a destination isn’t for seeing a place, it’s for settling into it. Before you visit the sights, focus on getting oriented locally first: Scope out a nearby coffee shop, the closest pharmacy, or a local grocery. By doing this early on in a low-stakes way, you’ll feel better-adjusted and ready to explore, instead of intimidated or overwhelmed.

• Remember: The first day also shouldn’t be jam-packed with experiences. If you’re short on time, pick one or two at most.

• Eat light foods, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep upfront, especially if you’ve had a long transit time. I like to think of myself as a little Sim character, who needs to fulfill my basic needs before I can be fully present. After all, you don’t want to be in bed with food poisoning because you went somewhere out of desperation, do you? 🫠

• If you can, plan for an indulgence—I’ve spoken before about how my travel ritual of getting a massage reduces my plantar fasciitis pain and edema. Maybe for you, this is bringing along a sheet mask if flights give you dry skin. Or splurging on in-room dining while staying cozy in a hotel robe. Or getting a driver to bring you to your hotel directly, reducing your friction and anxiety when you’re at your most tired. Whatever it is, give yourself the budget, time, and space to enjoy the first few hours that will set the tone for the rest.

• Keep a piece of comfort media on hand. It occurred to me upon arrival that I wouldn’t be able to stream my favorite shows here in China, and I wished I had downloaded some episodes or a trusted e-book to keep me occupied when I was miserable in bed. (See also: The importance of the aforementioned sensory comfort kit.)

• Remind yourself that even if your first day included anxiety, sickness, or other challenges, it does not have to define your trip. Don’t let one bad experience sabotage your time. Instead, if you can, vent to a friend or write down your honest experiences in the moment, then follow up later on how the rest of your time has been. You might find that, overall, the entire trip was a pleasant one, and that one moment won’t color the entire memory.

Ultimately, if last week was about calming your mind before a trip, this week is about protecting yourself—and your experience—once you arrive. In my opinion, it’s the epitome of slow travel: To both see a place and be someone who can fully enjoy it.

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• 🏆 We have a winner to announce this week! Paid subscriber (and one of my favorite people here!): You’ve won $50 to the gas station of your choice—DM me to claim.

• 🇨🇳 I’ve never had to prepare for a destination before like I had to do for China. This travel guide is invaluable for anyone also planning to head here any time soon. (Max Miles Points)

• 👟 By reader request, I’m working on a larger piece about packing a carry-on with a capsule wardrobe, but please believe me when I tell you: These clogs are the best shoes I’ve ever had, even with plantar fasciitis. I own them in multiple colors, have worn them on long-haul flights comfortably, and pair them with my casual outfits both at home and abroad. (affiliate)

• 🐘 Safaris are my favorite form of travel, by far. ’s write-up on safaris outside of Africa left me inspired: Borneo, Sri Lanka, Canada. A gem of a list with plenty off-the-beaten-path recommendations.

• 💡 United’s newest unveiling—lie-flat economy rows—is genius. More accessible comfort, please! (Travel + Leisure)

By the time you read this, we’ll be departing from Hong Kong and starting the final leg of our trip, Taiwan. This is the part of the itinerary I’ve looked forward to most: We have some once-in-a-lifetime experiences lined up, the vegetarian food scene is supposed to be incredible (which has been deeply lacking elsewhere), and Taiwan has repeatedly been named one of the top destinations in 2026. I’ll see you next week. x —Henah

Given my background in social impact work, sustainability, and personal finance, I’m always interested in the most cost-effective, eco-friendly, and ethical way to see the world. Some weeks, you may hear from me on travel hacks, points and miles, and credit card bonuses; others, we’ll discuss safety or solo destinations. The last section of every newsletter, Along the Way, includes a roundup of timely links (books, resources, travel tips), so even if you’re not passionate about that week’s topic, it may be worth scrolling through.

The subscriber chat is a great place to drop your travel-related questions—our community spans across 75+ countries and all 50 states—and my inbox is always open if you have questions, topics you want to see covered, or itinerary requests.

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This is one of those weeks for a paid giveaway! Given the spike in gas prices recently, one paid subscriber in the US will win $50 to the gas station chain of their choice. Consider it something to help fill up your tank so you can get out on the road (and, let’s be real, avoid the airport right now). Winner to be announced next Thursday.

No matter how you show up here, you have my endless gratitude, and you’re joining a very special online community. Thank you. 💕

In mid-2025, when my husband first announced a company conference in China, I was ecstatic. We could extend our travel around Asia at essentially no additional cost, outside of my own flight on miles and our hotel accommodations. I meticulously plotted for months using a new-to-me tool (more on that to come), and asked everyone for their recommendations across Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Then last week, a few days before we left, a familiar feeling came creeping in.

For as long as I can remember, before any big trip, I’ve experienced severe anxiety. I already live with generalized anxiety, but this particular feeling compounds: What if I never return home? What if I never get to see my dog again? What if an emergency happens when I’m abroad and I can’t reach my family? What if something happens on the plane?

Inevitably, I’ll power through, and by the time I reach my destination, that anxiety has dissipated. This cycle is predictable, sure, and that helps me recognize it’s coming, but the existential dread makes me panic.

I’d also tell my husband about those intrusive thoughts, while on the brink of tears. He’d be gentle and reassuring, but at one point several years ago, he told me this started giving him anxiety, too—which made me feel worse. Even now, I notice his palpable anxiety when we leave for a trip longer than a few days, or his discomfort if the plane hits turbulence.

For someone who lives to travel, it’s a disconcerting feeling. Why is it that I feel this way? Is it common? What can I do about it, beyond facing it head on? After many years of wondering—and in case this helps you, as well—I asked the experts.

Almost immediately, I felt a sense of relief, because nearly every professional I heard from affirmed that pre-travel anxiety is extremely common, even among those who love to roam the world. In fact, Dr. Anne Josephson, a licensed psychologist at Uptown Psychology, shared, “While I can’t cite a number because this is self-reported, I hear about it in approximately half of my patients.” While surprising to hear—50% is not a small number—there was comfort in knowing I’m not alone.

I also wanted to understand the root cause of why we feel this way. Dr. Josephson continued, “Often times when we plan something that is far away, we only focus on the positive and the wonderful things we anticipate happening on the trip. However, as the event approaches, we can sometimes fixate on all the anticipated challenges. I often speak to people about being dialectical in your thinking…of holding two equally opposing things at the same time. Travel can be exciting and a pathway to explore so many new things and can also be challenging and exhausting.”

This idea—that we anticipate challenges—was one I heard about repeatedly, and I can of course see why that’s valid. There was another major theme, too, that popped up: The shift from agency and routine to a lack of control and increased uncertainty.

Kristina Sarkisova, a psychotherapist in Texas and Louisiana, put it this way: “The shift often takes place when the departure date approaches, because that’s when travel moves from abstract planning (a stage in which we have a lot of agency) to concrete logistics filled with unpredictable factors beyond our control. This takes us from a place of prefrontal cortex dominance to one of limbic system activation—or in other words, from our higher-order thinking and emotional regulation mode to our threat detection and survival response mode. Essentially, our capacity for calm anticipation gets overridden by scanning the unknown for potential threats.”

She shared that this is worse for those who already experience hyper-vigilance (read: every woman I know), which connected a lot of dots for me personally, and for neurodivergent travelers who might deal with exacerbated stress in unfamiliar environments.

So what’s a traveler to do?

• Several therapists recommended creating a “sensory comfort kit,” or a collection of items that soothe your nervous system. Kristina suggested a specific playlist, a favorite snack, fidget spinners, comfortable clothing, or a specific scent. It’s funny—I actually have a flight playlist I made years ago that I play on repeat sometimes when I’m anxious. It turns out I was building a comfort kit for myself unknowingly; now I can be more intentional.

• Another strategy I heard repeatedly was to build in buffer time when you first arrive to your destination or between activities. Give yourself time to settle in, move through overwhelm, and shift from the stress of transit to being in the present. Kate Stack, who’s been traveling full-time for four years, had similar advice: “Anxiety can also come in waves—and something that’s often overlooked is how exhausting that can be. It’s not just the feeling itself, but the comedown afterwards. I’ve learned to treat that the same way I would physical exertion—you need recovery. Whether that’s slowing things down, resting more, or keeping your schedule lighter before departure, it all helps regulate your nervous system. In a way, that recovery becomes part of the ‘training’—it actually builds your capacity to handle those feelings over time.”

• Kristina also suggested mentally rehearsing the most stressful aspects of travel—that could be checking into a hotel in another language, taking public transit, or making it through takeoff (when my anxiety spikes the most). You can pair this with a grounding anchor, like “pressing your feet into the ground or deep, slow breathing.” She says this rehearsal helps us in three ways: “pre-empting what may be most difficult about these situations and preparing coping strategies ahead of time, making them less activating by experiencing them in a calm environment first, and helping make the unfamiliar more familiar, so it engages less of our threat detection systems on the day.”

• It’s okay—encouraged, even—to admit you’re feeling uncomfortable and to normalize the discomfort. Cara Laban, who runs Anxiety-Free Travel, a Facebook community of people who love to travel but struggle with the anxiety that kicks in before a trip, says, “The most engaged posts are always some version of, ‘Does anyone else get anxious before a trip, even though you want to go?’ And the answer is often yes.” Addressing that head-on can reduce that secondary anxiety of, “Why aren’t I as excited as I should be?” After you’ve admitted this, sometimes the anxiety itself can ease; Kate shared how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has helped: “Rather than trying to get rid of anxiety, the idea is to make space for it. When I feel it rising, I consciously soften instead of tense—expanding my body, breathing into the sensation, and allowing it to move rather than resisting it. It sounds simple, but it changes the relationship you have with the feeling. Anxiety tends to pass more easily when it’s not being fought.”

• Finally, given all of the above, prepare as much as possible: Download offline maps, figure out your itinerary, and print out your tickets if you need to. Get as much back into your control, and that will reduce your cognitive stress. Remind yourself that you’ve been in unfamiliar situations before and survived them. (Maybe even thrived.)

When I heard from Kate, she shared one final note that stuck with me: “We’re living in a time where we’re encouraged to ‘live our best lives’ and travel more than ever, but at the same time we’re constantly exposed to negative news and worst-case scenarios. (Ed. note: It’s true! TSA delays, understaffed airports, freak accidents.) That creates a kind of internal conflict—part of us wants to explore, while another part wants to stay safe. So if someone feels anxious before a trip, it doesn’t mean they’re not suited to travel—it just means they’re human.”

Frankly, hearing this and knowing that anxiety is common even amongst seasoned travelers was a relief in and of itself. And now I feel better prepared tactically on what I can do for the future. I doubt my anxiety will disappear entirely—it’s a defense mechanism designed to protect you, after all—but I feel less inclined to let it get to me as much. If you feel similarly before trips, I hope this helps you, too.

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• 🇯🇵 Just the messenger: World Nomads and Intrepid Travel have teamed up to give one lucky winner a 12-day tour across Japan. Enter by March 30, 2026.

• ⏲️ During my three flights last week, the ATL airport had the worst security lines I’ve ever seen, with no end in sight. If you’re heading to a major airport in the US, consider checking out this TSA Wait Times dashboard, updated in real time. For now, I recommend showing up at least three to four hours ahead of your flight, even if domestic. (From the Tray Table, Zach Griff)

• ✈️ On that note, I’ve heard from folks nervous about flight prices through the rest of the year. I once again suggest signing up with Sky Key: A tool that automatically monitors your flight prices, rebooks you if the price drops, and refunds you the difference in cash, credits, or points. They charge 25% of that difference, but I’ve already saved $400+ since using it (and another $45 as of this morning!). As the cost of gas continues to fluctuate, it’s peace of mind that I don’t have to find the “best” time to book. *referral link

• 🎨 “Craft retreats are the new burnout cure.” I noticed this trend back in 2024, and am thrilled to see the movement growing. (Wall Street Journal)

• 🖼️ This from made me (in a good way) bubble with anticipation ahead of my return to Paris this summer. Vintage and antique markets galore.

See you next week—and if you’re traveling, may the odds be ever in your favor. And maybe call your reps. —Henah x

Longtime readers may remember I joined my first group tour as a solo traveler several years ago (I shared about the experience here). The big draw for me? The connections on the ground with small businesses, Indigenous co-ops, and women-run organizations. There was frankly no way I could have built those relationships on my own, or coordinated logistics to that rural part of Oaxaca. It was well-worth the investment.

Intrepid Travel is another longtime tour operator, with 35+ years of experience and 900+ trips around the globe. In 2018, the team began running Women’s Expeditions, sharing: “This is an exciting opportunity for our female travelers to learn about the customs, challenges and lives of women around the world; to immerse themselves in local experiences that have been otherwise off-limits to our regular group departures.”

For the 2026–2027 season, Intrepid recently announced the launch of three new Women’s Expeditions to Peru, Cambodia, and Bhutan. Similar to other offerings, these trips are “led by local female trip leaders and feature immersive, women-led experiences that support women-owned businesses and break down long-standing gender barriers in tourism.”

Intrigued by their nuanced approach, I had the opportunity to chat with Erica Kritikides, the General Manager of Experiences at Intrepid. We spoke about the state of solo women’s travel, how they curate these slow and sustainable trips, and how they collaborate respectfully with those facing structural barriers.

If you’re interested in booking a trip with Intrepid, the team has gifted Departure readers a $100-off offer with code “750722” for new bookings, made and deposited between 12:01am EST March 16, 2026 to 11:59pm PST April 30, 2026, for select trips departing between April 16, 2026–December 15, 2026, unless otherwise specified. (This is not sponsored and I do not receive any compensation if you book—it is simply a generous offer on their part.)

Learn more

Erica, you noted 77% of travelers are booking the “Women’s Expeditions” solo. Is this a more recent surge post-Covid, or was this a long time in the making?

Intrepid’s always had a high proportion of female travelers. Over 60% of our travelers are women. What’s changed since the pandemic is people’s desire to get out there. When people couldn’t travel, it was a real understanding that you couldn’t take travel for granted.  Post-COVID, we have seen an increase in solo female travelers—a 10% increase year on year, from 2024 to 2025.

What other demographics are you seeing as a trend? Are these women in a certain age range? Do they share why they’re pursuing solo travel?

We are seeing a strong increase in solo female travelers in the 45+ age category; the average age of our Women’s Expedition travelers is 49.

One example is a woman called Laurie, who, at the age of 86, lost her husband very sadly. But she just felt the time was right to get out, and was encouraged by her son. Her first trip she chose to do was a Women’s Expedition in Pakistan. One of the takeaways from Laurie was that realization that there’s just so much out there and that you don’t need to wait around for someone. It’s really nice to see women prioritizing themselves.  

A small group adventure, such as what Intrepid’s able to provide, is the perfect vehicle for people to have that immersive experience, while still having that safety blanket of knowing you’re traveling with a company that can get you from A to B, and traveling with other people who are like-minded. That’s absolutely core to these Women’s Expedition experiences—people traveling with other women from around the world, whilst meeting and connecting with other women in the destinations where we’re traveling to as well.

Your team shared, “We’re intentionally choosing destinations where tourism can create meaningful economic opportunity for women. When women succeed in tourism, it strengthens families, communities, and entire local communities.” We know this to be true about women’s economic empowerment as well: Research suggests that up to 90% of women’s income gets reinvested into their families and local communities, as opposed to 30–40% from men. Can you share any firsthand stories of this in action?

You’re right to say we’ve been really intentional about where we’ve established our Women’s Expeditions. They do tend to be in destinations where your more “traditional” social norms prevail, and there might be barriers to full female participation in public life or in the workforce.

We see our Women’s Expeditions as a really exciting opportunity for not only our female travelers to go behind those closed doors and learn about customs and challenges and everyday lives for women in those destinations, but also that opportunity to provide employment, opportunities to support female owned businesses, opportunities to support female leaders and development in the destinations where we travel.

As of October 2025, we’ve got about 36% of female leaders across Intrepid Travel. And by 2030, we’re aiming to bring that up to 40% across the board; with our Women’s Expeditions, obviously all of our trips are led by local female leaders. We’ve taken a lot of time to make sure we are building very deep and impactful supply chains and connections with those women.

One of the first ones that comes to mind is a fantastic company in Jaipur called Pink City Rickshaw. Pink City Rickshaw effectively employs women as tuk-tuk drivers, but also shows them how to manage the mechanics of their vehicles as well, with the intention of providing a service, not only for women traveling around Jaipur who may want a female driver, but also providing these drivers with a pathway to financial independence as well.

Today, they’ve got upwards of 200 drivers now on these tuk-tuks. We engage with the Pink City Rickshaw Company for a fantastic female-led tour of Jaipur where you not only zip around, see the sites of the city, but you also get to hear the story of your driver as well, which is really what our trips are very much about.

It’s not just about that surface-level of employing females, but also allowing the platform for them to tell their story as well. Recognizing the diversity of the female story across all of the different destinations where we’re traveling.

I appreciate that your team at Intrepid is taking a nuanced look at destinations where “women face structural barriers to equal participation in tourism.” How are you balancing the challenges women often face with being told to stay home for unpaid labor or at risk of gender-based violence? How does that play a role in identifying the countries you choose to work with?

These trips have been a really exciting vehicle to open up certain employment channels that have traditionally been considered very male-centric. So if I think about our Women’s Expeditions in Nepal, Morocco, Bhutan, and Peru, trekking is a very common and popular activity in tourism.

Trekking has long been considered a male dominated profession, whether you are a trekking guide or a porter. With our Women’s Expeditions in these four destinations, what we are really proud of is, we’ve been able to build teams of female porters, and provide support and employment channels for female tracking guides. In Peru, our locally based operations teams were actually led by a couple of women who were some of the first female trekking guides on the Inca trail many, many years ago.

Now the other layer to your question is, well, what does it mean when we’ve got women who might be based at home with [unpaid] responsibilities around family, and how do they participate? How can we leverage tourism and these Women’s Expeditions in particular to recognize those particular circumstances? The beauty of the Women’s Expeditions is that we’re able to incorporate experiences that actually celebrate these types of skills, whether it’s around hospitality, home-cooked meals, etc. within the trips themselves.

I was very lucky to join a Saudi Arabia Women’s Expedition in December last year. As part of that experience, we visited a lady called Fatima. Fatima is a mother of four, and she’s a very proud grandmother of two. We met Fatima in her wonderful living room in Riyadh, and Fatima served us a fabulous home cooked meal and we then just got to chat about her life, what it’s like to be a woman in Riyadh.

Now, Fatima has never been involved in tourism. In fact, she only started doing this job post-COVID. She absolutely loves the fact she’s able to earn an income that provides her with a level of financial independence and that she can be celebrated for something that she’s been cultivating her entire life. Looking after people, providing hospitality, is such a joy to her.

It’s also allowing her to interact with these people from all over the world within her own home, which makes this a really special experience that is accessible to her without even having to go out on the road, so to speak.

 Do you ever deal with pushback from women’s families of, “No, this isn’t something she should be doing?”

In almost every destination where you find an Intrepid trip, it’s an Intrepid team on the ground operating those trips, and we’ve been navigating that issue that you’ve just articulated for many years.

It is very much a case of breaking down those stereotypes, particularly with tourism guides being male, in leading by example. I can think of, over the many years I’ve worked at Intrepid, the various female guides that have really been trailblazers in their fields and sort of been those people that have shown the way, shown that this is a possible career path.

It’s not always easy, and yes, in many destinations where we operate, there are challenges, perceptions that this is not a woman’s work. But it’s only by encouraging women to get involved and by others seeing them do that work by their families, being fulfilled, seeing that they can do that work safely, that we are starting to change perceptions, break down those barriers.

It is very much a gradual process. It doesn’t happen overnight. And it does require constant attention, which is why we have set a target around this for 2030 to ensure that we’ve got 40% of our leader base as women—because you do need to constantly be thinking about it and be proactive.

How are travelers prepared for and educated on these trips? How do you combat the “White Savior Complex” mindset and bring in that level of perspective, particularly since Intrepid’s executive leadership and core team are primarily not from these regions?

 I really appreciate the upfront question on that and look, I think that is important to talk about it. Our experiences are created by our Intrepid teams on the ground who are all local to the destinations where we’re traveling to.

For instance, in Cambodia (our newest trip), our Cambodia team is run by a very inspiring lady called A. Our head of experience design, Makara, is a woman, etc. so we have locals on the ground helping us design our trips.

That’s obviously fantastic for our customers because they’re getting that real-time local expertise and knowledge on the ground. But it does really, to an extent, protect us against that “White Savior Complex,” because we are very intentional in ensuring our customers have an experience that’s through the eyes of locals, not through the eyes of an outsider.

That’s absolutely core to the way that Intrepid operates and the experiences that we want our travelers to have with the Women’s Expeditions. That way, travelers are able to meet other women from that community. They’re able to get that unique insight on what it’s like to be a woman in these destinations. They’re able to facilitate those conversations in local language, and on local terms as well. And I think that’s critical.

Every destination is nuanced, and for us, these trips are very much about providing the opportunity to break down cultural stereotypes, but allowing people of that culture, and in this instance, women in this culture, to break down those stereotypes on their own terms. Be able to tell their own stories directly.

How long is the process of developing these new itineraries, identifying women-led organizations, etc.? What is that exploration and research phase like? There are much smaller, boutique tour operators who also do tours like these at much higher price points—why should travelers consider Intrepid?

 Can I tell you, actually, in reality, it takes years. In the instance of our three new trips—Cambodia, Peru, and Bhutan Women’s Expeditions—from a technical standpoint, they’ve probably taken about 12 months, but the research and development that’s gone into them are a result of Intrepid having been working in those destinations for many years. A number of those experiences are with people we’ve been partnering with or talking to for five, six, 10+ years.

When we talk about experience design, everything we do starts with our mission, which is to create positive change through the joy of travel. So we consider every part of that experience ecosystem. We are thinking about our travelers, tour leaders, our suppliers, the communities we partner with, and the environment we’re traveling through. It’s really important to have that at the outset when we’re talking about what goes into research and development for a trip.

In terms of value: It is really important to us that we are giving back adequately to the communities where we’re traveling to, so it is really important to acknowledge that. But Intrepid is also a business, and at our size, we’re able to offer a scale across our operations and that helps us provide affordable value to our customers.

We really do want our trips to be accessible to the broadest range of people possible. More broadly, Intrepid has multiple levels of accommodations and trips, so we have anything from a basic style of travel, which is two and two-and-a-half star travel, all the way through to our premium level, which is four to five-star. We provide multiple different price points for travelers in order to ensure that we are providing broad accessibility, as well as meeting what we recognize are different preferences when people travel.

I particularly appreciate that your trips range from eight to 13 days, because that feels like a substantive amount of time in one place. There are often many moving parts—going between different cities, several days hiking, etc. How much downtime do you allow for in your itineraries?

You’ve just described our traveler, basically. People are looking for a level of structure that allows them to get from A to B efficiently. That includes the key sites, places they might not be familiar with, and experiences they may never find on their own.

But we are called Intrepid Travel. We still want people to have an intrepid experience and get out there and find things for themselves as well. We often find, particularly after new travelers have been on a trip for one or two days, they’ve got that confidence they want to get out and, and explore themselves.

We pay close attention when we are designing an itinerary to what we call “pacing” and we do place careful attention on ensuring people have enough time in the places where we travel to. So we are generally looking at a minimum of two nights. And when we are talking about free time, by and large, we try and allow for a half day of free time for each two days of travel.

We are very responsive to feedback, and travelers provide us often with some really good insight into what they’re looking for from a pacing standpoint. What we can see from our Women’s Expeditions is actually on those trips the travelers are looking for more inclusions. They love the fact that there is a lot more to do on a Women’s Expedition. They’re very keen to delve into those experiences and to come together as a group.

We know that travel carries a heavy carbon footprint. While perusing a trip on Intrepid’s site, readers can clearly understand their climate impact and how you’re working to be as sustainable as possible. I very much appreciate your status as a certified B Corp (so you prioritize “planet” and “people” as much as profit) and you’re carbon-neutral. I also noticed you include the carbon footprint of travelers’ flights in/out of the destinations, even though that’s not a “hard cost” you’re responsible for. Why is that? How else are you thinking about sustainability?

This is a simple equation. As a travel business, we depend on the health of the planet. Climate change is impacting our people, the communities, and the places that we want to explore, that we love to explore. So it’s not an issue we can ignore.

Intrepid has always shown itself to be a leader in this space. We were one of the very first companies back in 2010 to start carbon-offsetting as a business. We are constantly evaluating: Are we taking the right approach? Are we taking the best approach to sustainability and particularly, these days, to carbon action?

As you’ve just said, we’ve introduced carbon labels to more than 800 trips. That helps our travelers make informed decisions, and providing that information is really important. Speaking from an experience design standpoint, we’ve also reduced the number of internal flights on our trips and that recognizes that flights are, by and large, the biggest carbon outputs on our products. And that’s now part and parcel of our product development process. We scrutinize flights incredibly carefully before they will go into an itinerary.

Last year, Intrepid announced a pretty significant shift in how we are approaching climate action. We’ve moved away from carbon offsetting, we’ve moved away from science-based targets, and what we are moving towards is a $2 million Climate Action Fund and an accelerated decarbonization plan. What that means is that, by 2030, we are targeting an eight percent reduction in carbon intensity across the business, and we are measuring that on a lifecycle basis. That includes the flights of the people to and from the destinations they’re traveling to.

Now you’re right to call that out, because that’s a lot of additional carbon that we are now accounting for and what we’re measuring, but it is the true carbon impact of the product that we offer, because people do need to fly to get to and from the destinations. So it’s very important that we’re actually facing this in a real life sense, and we are looking at the Climate Action Fund that’s going to invest money into projects to cut emissions and deliver value.

What that might equate to in real life is transitioning offices and hotels to a hundred percent renewable energy. It might be switching our vehicles to electric vehicles. It might be supporting our supplies to decarbonize by sourcing lower carbon fuel alternatives, for example.

Alongside that, in terms of cutting our own emissions, we’re also looking at how we can support nature-based. Initiatives. So by 2030, we’re also looking to fund 10 transformational projects in the places we operate around reforestation, regenerative agriculture, wildlife conservation, and ecosystem restoration.

This new approach is more real in terms of recognizing the extent of the challenge we face, but it’s also far more directly impactful in terms of what we are looking to do. It’s certainly going to require a huge amount of work. This is not an easy target to hit, but we’re incredibly committed to it as a business to hitting it. From an experience design standpoint, this will be something that my team will be focused on very closely, as we move into the future.

 How does that work internally? Do you have sustainability consultants you’re working with, or do you have employees on the team that this is their sole focus? What does that look like in practice?

Intrepid has a General Manager of Climate, and we do have a team that she is supported by. We’re very lucky to have Dr. Susanne Etti, who has incredible credentials in this space, and we are taking a very scientific and intentional approach to setting this strategy.

Finally, if you could only pick two Women’s Expeditions to share with Departure readers for the next year, which would they be?

I’m really proud of the new trip that we are launching in Peru. The Women’s Expedition in Peru obviously takes in some key highlights; you know, people will be able to experience the beauty and the mystery of Machu Picchu, which is undoubtedly one of the highlights.

But the experiences within that trip for me are the real highlights: There are a number of different day trips led by a growing team of female porters and female mountain-trekking guides. Having had the pleasure of meeting a number of them, I can say that our travelers are in outstanding hands as they go and experience the true beauty of what it is to hike through the Andes.

You will experience a shaman ritual thanking Pachamama, the mother earth, in a traditional ceremony. So often, we think of religious heads or ceremonial heads as men. So it’s really exciting to see that experience being led by a woman shaman.

You’ll also have the opportunity to visit communities in the Sacred Valley where you’ll be able to take part in traditional crafts such as bracelet making with local women; these are intergenerational communities where you can genuinely see the benefits of tourism in how much things have changed for those communities over time and for each generation there, and it’s very interesting to hear those stories.

We also support a wonderful local enterprise, called the Ama Restaurant, where we take part in a delicious chocolate making activity. This restaurant’s very special insofar as it employs women in the way that they can also bring their children along to the restaurant as they work. This is a restaurant that’s very much about supporting women and meeting women where they are in life, whilst also providing those employment opportunities.

As for our Bhutan Women’s Expedition, you will take a magnificent hike to Tiger’s Nest monastery. Again, you know, it’s really exciting to see the development of our female trekking crews—I think we’re now at 50% of leaders in Bhutan are women. [We ran out of time to dig further into this trip but per their website, other highlights include: Distilling your own traditional Bhutanese spirit, having a hot stone bath at a female-owned farmhouse, meeting local nuns to learn about monastic life, and stay at a female-owned and operated hotel in Thimphu.]

—

Again, if you’re interested in booking a trip with Intrepid, the team has gifted Departure readers a $100-off offer (code “750722”) for new bookings, made and deposited between 12:01am EST March 16, 2026 to 11:59pm PST April 30, 2026, for select trips departing between April 16, 2026–December 15, 2026, unless specified.

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• 🚊 Did you know that Cincinnati has an abandoned subway line underneath the city? I always find underground transit fascinating—so much so that I once took a tour of abandoned subway stations in NYC. Insert something about, “If we wanted to build affordable public transit systems here, we could.” (c/o )

• 🔝 TIME released the “World’s Greatest Places of 2026.” Interesting that they waited until mid-March to release this, but the recommendations are highly specific; think hotels, restaurants, and landmarks, as opposed to a general destination. For that reason, there are valuable hidden gems.

• ❤️ , a writer with a background in destination consulting and tourism, just launched a Substack and I’m eagerly awaiting every post. She describes Making Places as “for the curious traveller who finishes a trip wanting to know more. The economics behind why a neighbourhood feels the way it does. The person whose vision, stubbornness, or sheer refusal to sell shaped the place you just walked through. The signals and frameworks that help you read a destination honestly rather than consuming the version of it that was designed for you.” Her first post alone is worth subscribing.

• 🌎 “Sick of the world, but never sick of earth.” Click through. (c/o )

• 👚 For my fellow capsule wardrobe friends: I recently restocked my Buck Mason tees (affiliate), and they are utterly perfect. The flattering fit, the 100% organic cotton fabric, and the quality are all incredible. I wear them almost daily while traveling. Size up!

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See you next week—when I’ll be writing to you from Shanghai—for our next giveaway for paid subscribers. 🤩 —Henah x

International Women’s Day was always one of the biggest days of the year. When I worked at a girls’ rights nonprofit in my 20s, we spent months crafting giving campaigns to support girls growing up freely and safely. In my early 30s, particularly after Roe v. Wade was overturned, I tailored digital content around feminism, women’s wellness and autonomy, and women’s personal finance.

It feels only right that, during Women’s History Month, we talk—openly—about all of those aspects and how they relate to travel. We already know the world is different for women travelers, but we don’t often discuss it explicitly or hear many tips beyond the basics. Let’s change that today.

Safety & Transit

Last summer, when I asked what types of topics readers want to see, someone wrote in, “A roundup of safe travel tips, especially in airports.” It got me thinking how men probably never consider looking up safety protocols or how to navigate transit.

I actually joined the Points, Cards, and Travel podcast with Ross Alcorn reviewing many of the basic safety tips I’ve learned over the years, and I’ll drop a TL;DL:

• Prioritize a good location over anything else when making accommodations. Decide if you prefer an Airbnb with a personal host who can meet you, or if you prefer the security of a larger space like a hotel chain with a concierge.

• Try to plan your itinerary so you arrive at a destination before it’s dark out.

• Optimize for safety or energy instead of price—invest in practices that will keep you going in the safest way possible. (This is where valuable credit card benefits can come in!)

• Read reviews through the lens of" “I’m traveling alone.” Sometimes, reviews that say a space is great for couples or families may not be the safest for a solo woman.

• I also re-shared my guide for easing into your first solo trip, as well as my post on how to safely meet new friends even if you’re introverted.

In addition to the above, consider if you’re heading somewhere where you do not speak the local language and what to keep in mind:

• Download the Google Translate or similar app—I often scan an image of a local dialect, and it’ll translate the image for me in real time. You should be able to download the language to your phone, in case you’re traveling somewhere without internet access.

• Similarly, download a map of the area you’ll be in before you get there and while you’re on WiFi. Then you can use it “offline” without having to use data, and you’ll always know where you are.

• Keep a standard list of questions written down in the language of wherever you’re traveling that you can turn to if needed. I advise to do this both on paper and on your phone, in case your phone runs out of battery. Example questions could be:

  • “How do I get to X?”

  • “Is this area safe?”

  • “Where’s the closest bathroom?”

  • “Can you call emergency services?” / “I need a doctor.”

• Get familiar with signage you see in airports, so you can navigate them more easily. Even if you don’t understand the written characters, recognizing symbols or pictographs can help. Some airports also use color-coded information to direct you to different terminals or areas. SeaTac airport worked with an organization called LanguageLine to provide services in 200+ languages, which is a resource they should try to roll out in more hubs.

• Always have copies of your documentation, even if you leave your passport in a hotel room or locked safe. For example, I send a copy to my family and keep one in my email and Google Drive, just in case something happens to both my phone and my passport. Same goes for visas in countries that require them.

Health & Hygiene

Last week, of shared period underwear she uses on her Instagram, and she was flooded with comments about how “gross” it was to talk about it. I’ve thought about this repeatedly—it’s not an experience most of us enjoy, but it’s also unavoidable and a part of life.

Frankly, given how many women I know who suffer from painful periods, PCOS like me, endometriosis, or heavy flows, I think we’d be better off talking more transparently about this, particularly if you’re a solo traveler who will menstruate at some point on a trip.

I’ve had a Mirena IUD for the last 11 years, which I credit for minimizing my PMDD and saving my health, and I no longer get full “periods” though I do spot occasionally. For years, I’ve sworn by Knix’s period underwear (affiliate). I previously tried a different period underwear brand, and they fell apart pretty easily; Knix has been far more durable. I wear these almost daily when I’m spotting, ovulating, or traveling—they keep you dry without worry, and there are tons of styles, sizes, and absorbencies.

The majority of women I know prefer tampons or menstrual cups, though it’s worth keeping in mind that the style of tampon you prefer might not always be available while traveling (see also: the times only cardboard applicators were available, or no applicators at all) or that there might not be a hygienic place to wash out your cup. Neither are dealbreakers of course, but an aspect to plan around. If you have recommendations on how you handle this, I’m sure other readers would be grateful to hear!

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Due to chronic illness, I’m usually over-prepared with OTC medications. I always have a bag of Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, Omeprazole (for acid reflux), Dramamine for flights (IYKYK), wipes, hand sanitizer, and tea tree oil (for when you have an HS flare-up, acne, or an ingrown hair).

I also always carry a mask, tweezers, bandaids, tampons, a dermaplaning razor, floss, and nail clippers. Most places will have these on hand or at a local pharmacy, but I never want to be without them even in transit. As for my medications, I pack a week’s worth in a pill box (I like this one, affiliate), and I nestle all of this together into my backpack.

Social

I asked a friend who travels solo often what she thinks about in terms of her safety, and her answer was especially illuminating: Nearly all of it had to do with social expectations and public spaces.

“I don’t feel comfortable going to a bar by myself, because I’ve had waiters hit on me when I’m by myself even at dinner. I hate when people ask, ‘Who are you here with?’ Because I’m proud to be a solo traveler, but I don’t want to endanger myself by saying that. And finally, taking pictures—sometimes I want a full body picture of myself somewhere, but if I’m solo, do I trust a stranger not to run away with my phone?”

While there are workarounds—joining meetups with other solo travelers, or using a tripod—it’s a topic that once again I don’t think men give much thought to. But these are all the exact same thoughts I’ve had any time I travel alone. I imagine you have, too.

Until we address the root problem of women largely feeling unsafe in the world, my solutions are merely bandaids, but they work for me:

• Test the waters by going somewhere close to your hotel or even within it, just so you have a nearby place to go if you need to step out.

• Check if there are other solo women travelers that might be open to sitting together at the same table, even if you’re not talking with each other.

• Always ask women to take photos, ideally Gen Z. They get the ask, and don’t run the risk as much of fleeing.

• Make up a lie that you’re meeting someone somewhere, if the vibe feels uncomfortable. Most importantly, also text someone who has access to your location what’s going on and extricate yourself as quickly as possible.

• Budget extra for convenience and safety rather than what’s the most affordable option, in case you need to make alternative accommodations or spend more to get out of a sketchy situation.

• Look up general societal guidelines around modesty and cultural norms: Be respectful and mindful of the community you’re visiting, and not risk coming across as ignorant of a dress code or the typical “rude foreigner.”

• Always create with a backup plan (or two, or three) depending on where you’re going in case things go south. Keep an eye on exits, know which luggage carries your most valuable items, have multiple credit cards on hand if one gets locked, and find the nearest embassy’s information.

• 🗺️ I had the privilege to join the Google Maps team for its latest unveiling, which might make your planning process 100x smoother. In partnership with Gemini and using millions of suggestions from readers, their new feature “Ask Maps” will give you tailored recommendations across the US and a driving itinerary. Here’s an example of what I mean, courtesy of Google:

• 👀 Bilt recently acquired Sion, a platform used exclusively by travel advisors, to support card members’ upcoming trips. Interested to see how they’ll support and stack up against the concierges available at AmEx and Chase.

• 🏃‍♀️ I am very much Not a Runner, but this Runner’s World interview between Harry Styles and Haruki Murakami on running, traveling for fun, and creativity was incredibly moving: “Something else I like in your work is the poetry of simple things, like how you describe sitting down to eat breakfast, or having a beer. That has definitely influenced the small moments that I take to myself when I sit down and appreciate the everyday things in front of me. It changes the way that you see the world.”

• 🧙 According to Pinterest, “mystic outlands” is a thematic trend this year. This conjured up ideas of Scotland and Ireland in my mind, which didn’t surprise me—I feel like I can’t read any travel magazine without seeing a nod to that region. But I was pleasantly surprised by the destinations featured in this Vogue roundup: Bolivia, Mongolia, Ethiopia (and yes, the Scottish Highlands).

• 🇨🇴 I shared some of my most recent film photographs from my birthday trip last summer from Colombia over on Notes, and they bring me so much joy. The rich green and blue hues, the colorful buildings, what a sight to see (and revisit). Grab your camera, y’all!

Next week, I’m heading back to NYC for work, immediately leaving again for three weeks in Asia, followed by another trip home the following week. It’s going to be a marathon (thankfully not of the running variety), but I’m very excited to explore a whole new-to-me region of the world. Stay safe in the meantime, and see you next Thursday! x —Henah

It has been another heavy week in the world, and I hope you’re all hanging in there.

Earlier this week, I opened my Instagram DMs and the subscriber chat for AMA on all things travel. We used to do these when we first launched Departure, and I thought it’d be a nice source of levity (and a helpful resource) to do one today.

This email gets a little long so you may have to open it in your browser, but it will be full of useful information. If you’re feeling nice, I’d love if you can “heart” this edition—it helps others find my work. 🥰

“My family of 4 will be traveling in Europe for 4 weeks. We plan to take one carry on bag of one week’s worth of clothes and wash them every 5-6 days. Does this seem realistic? And if our hotel doesn’t have laundry options, how do we search for laundromats in the cities (Copenhagen, Catania, Rome)? Also, is global entry worth it?” —Kristin G.

This definitely seems doable—it makes the process of transit much easier, particularly on Rome’s cobblestone streets. (Ask me how I know.) Most of the hotels will have suggested laundromats they recommend or regularly send out to if they don’t have an in-house option, though I’d trust anything with solid ratings on Google Maps.

One note to keep in mind: Many laundromats in Europe do not have dryers and are air-dry only, so you may have to think ahead. Additionally, depending on how humid it is, air-drying might take longer, so plan accordingly.

As for if Global Entry is worth it: I recommend running a cost/benefit analysis. If you don’t travel frequently out of the country—or when you do, there aren’t ever long lines—then it may not be worth the $120 fee every few years. Because remember: You’ll want to get it for everyone in your party that you regularly travel with, and you’ll renew that cost every few years.

For me, I find it worth every penny, as my husband and I often breeze through upon landing back in Atlanta versus waiting in line for hours (a common occurrence at the busiest airport in the world). Long travel days are hard when you have chronic illness like plantar fasciitis, so any time I can avoid standing around is money well spent.

“My fiancé and I are thinking of honeymooning in New Zealand next January! But it’s been a while since I’ve traveled that far. Any advice for surviving the flights, jet lag, or passport woes?” —Emily E.

The dream! The most important pieces now are to ensure your passport is ready to go: New Zealand requires US passports to be valid at least three months after departure and at least one blank page for stamps. If neither of those apply, I’d start that process as soon as possible.

The second is to understand the visa requirements, if any. (You’re in the clear for NZ unless you plan on staying three or more months, in which case, what a honeymoon. Mazal!) But you do have to request an Electronic Travel Authority visa-waiver and pay the traveler fees, conservation fees, and tourism levies, so get that process started sooner rather than later.

As for surviving flights and jet lag: I have a much larger post on sleep coming with my hacks, but for now, I’d say: Use a jet-lag prevention app like TimeShifter, invest in a good neck pillow, consider upgrading for more comfort (it’s your honeymoon after all!), download media you know you can watch or read for hours on end, and think about requesting a prescription like Xanax if you need it. Longtime readers know I swear by Dramamine, so that’s a great OTC alternative that will knock you out for several hours at a time.

“I recently just signed up for the AmEx Platinum since I feel like we can get a lot of use out of the benefits. My question is, how do you best pair it with a card like the Chase card, and if you could only have two travel rewards card which two would you pick?” —Tallie E.

Great questions! I actually made a quick spreadsheet for my husband and myself listing out the benefits throughout the year (i.e., AmEx’s lululemon $75 quarterly credits, the $200 airline fee credits, the $200 hotel credits, and so on; repeat with Chase), and, crucially, if/when those benefits reset.

I check the benefits off on the spreadsheet as we work through them, and then my husband and I just split the AmEx and Chase in our everyday spending. Some folks like to do it based on points multipliers (3x on dining or 2x on travel), but that’s a lot of mental effort for me and money to add authorized users.

If I could only have two travel rewards cards: I’d pick the American Express Platinum and the Chase Sapphire if there’s a good signup bonus. If not, I’d go with the new Bilt just so I can rack up points on my exceedingly high mortgage (6.49% interest, baby!). Way fewer benefits, but I use points regularly so that’s my sweet spot.

“I’m obsessed with all things packing, so anything related to that. Also, travel insurance. What are the things to look for?” —Jeannie K.

If you take nothing else away from this AMA, please hear this: If you have planned an expensive or invaluable experience, you need to have travel insurance. I did a full primer on trip insurance here, but the most important non-negotiables for me are: Cancel for Any Reason, Trip Interruption, Baggage Delay, Emergency Medical, and Medical Evacuation. If you have a premium credit card, some of these might be covered like baggage delay, but it’s worth the piece of mind to have one comprehensive policy.

As for packing, I’m someone with a pretty minimalist capsule wardrobe so I often pack the same items over and over again in a carry-on bag. Then I put toiletries, medications, my laptop, and trip necessities (gum, Dramamine, headphones) into a backpack, where I also attach my neck pillow. Is this of interest to more folks? I’m happy to do a breakdown if so, but don’t want to bore y’all!

“What do you think are some lesser known destinations that one should visit before they become over-touristed?” —Kristen A.

I’m always wary of answering this question, if only because I do not want to contribute to any destination’s over-tourism. I would say, in general, I’m seeing a lot of chatter around Taiwan, Senegal, and Georgia (the country), but I also love the idea of visiting even lesser-known destinations in your own home country or state. There are so many parts of Georgia (the state) we haven’t yet touched that I think it’s time for some weekend trips!

You could also consult the UN’s certified rural tourism villages, Atlas Obscura for truly off-the-beaten-path destinations, or smaller areas outside of regional hubs (think Porto versus Lisbon).

“How did you plan your honeymoon to balance a trip and a vacation?” —Allison

We opted for a two-week honeymoon in Kenya, where we split the first week in Nairobi and on safari, and the second half on a beach on the coast in Watamu. I knew that after hours of flying, I’d want a chill break so we planned for that in the first two days, then sped up for the safari for five days, and slowed back down afterwards. It was a really perfect balance that felt like both “vacation” and “travel”, and I think you have to recognize your own energy patterns.

You might be someone who’s so energized about the trip that you’re willing to hit the ground running right after a red eye, or maybe you’re so burned out from wedding planning that you know you need a few days to rest first before you can be fully present. Give yourself that flexibility and grace, and try to plan accordingly.

“What tips do you have for maximizing Bilt and Chase Sapphire Reserve and AmEx Platinum (P2)? Too much?” —Allison

Fair question, but I don’t think it’s too much because my husband and I have the same three! We are doing Bilt for our mortgage and then 25% of that amount each month so we can get the points, the remaining major/joint purchases on our AmEx Platinum, and my individual spending on the CSR.

I really value Chase points so it’s worth it for me, and I used up the credits already for this year, but next year I might downgrade to a Preferred so I’m not paying $1,600+ in annual fees across them all.

“How to choose loyalty programs! We’re building points, but there’s so many options we can’t commit.” — Erin M.

Do you have a preferred airline or do you live in a specific hub (i.e., Delta’s based in Atlanta, United has hubs in SFO and EWR)? I would go based on that if you’re primarily picking a loyalty program for flying, or based on where you most often travel to and which airlines go to that destination.

Frankly, I’m not really a loyalist to any one airline or hotel program, because I like to have options wherever I am, but I’m a fan of Delta, Alaska, Virgin, KLM/Air France (great redemption values), or United. I am less picky about international airlines—whatever gets me there! I avoid Spirit and Frontier unless I have to, though I’ve flown them in a pinch.

So TL;DR: Pick the alliance (oneworld, Star Alliance, Sky Team) you most align with and don’t lose sleep over the rest.

“Checked baggage or just carry on?” — Katie E.

I’m a carry-on girl through and through. I don’t pack much both as a principle and as a preference, I wear layers because I’m cold on flights, and I don’t like wasting time waiting at baggage claim if I can avoid it. A part of me also withers away when I pay baggage fees in addition to my ticket (and seat and and and).

That said, for longer trips, ones where I know I’ll shop a lot, or milestone travel (like our destination wedding and our honeymoon), I’m happy to do checked baggage so I don’t have to overcomplicate my packing.

“What is one of your most memorable travel meals?” —Chelsea F.

Ooh, what a delicious question—no pun intended. There are meals that have stayed with me long after the fact, like the first time I had mushroom ravioli in a black truffle sauce in Rome, but most frequently, I’m reminiscing about a food tour.

We always try to do one local food experience on every trip, and that’s ranged from a chili pepper workshop and salsa making class in Mexico City, to a pasta and pesto class in Pienza outside of Florence, to a street food tour in Cartagena.

There was also the divine dinner cruise in Paris where I still dream of the mushroom gravy, a $3 sandwich I remember devouring in Moorea, and the best banh mi of my life in Hội An. Local cuisine is a staple of slow travel, and I hope everyone experiences it as much and as deeply as they can.

• 🇮🇹 A slow travel brand I adore is The Travel Folk, and their new Italian itineraries curated around culture, food, and design are such helpful guides to planning your own trip. A worthwhile resource under $30 if you’re planning to go any time soon!

• 😭 I’m not typically a romance reader, but I saw so many posts about Lily King’s Heart the Lover that I finally grabbed it from my TBR pile over the weekend…and proceeded to read it entirely in one sitting. A tender coming-of-age love triangle that plays out over several decades.

• 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Visiting my family’s ancestral villages last January became a core memory. If you want to explore your own roots, here’s how to plan a thoughtful heritage trip. (New York Times)

• 💪 If you’re like me and feeling disheartened around current events, The Financial Diet’s Chelsea Fagan is hosting a free workshop on 3/17 about turning that frustration into political action. I’ll be there as an attendee—join me! (And on a similar note, Amanda Holden is hosting an ethical investing workshop on 3/11 if you’re interested in divesting from ICE, climate criminals, and war funds.)

• 🥗 Spring’s arrival means new seasonal produce, and it got me thinking about the fruits and veggies I’ve encountered in specific destinations: Pluots I first tasted at a farmer’s market in California (typically found in the San Joaquin Valley), lulos in Colombia we savored last summer, tindora from India that I grew up eating. A fun weekend activity for you (or with your kids): Scope out the seasonal produce near you and turn it into a “Chopped” challenge.

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Phew, that was a long one! But I hope this was helpful, and I’ll see you back in your inbox next Thursday. Stay well and stay safe. x —Henah

Welcome back to Departure, your weekly dose of inspiration around slow, quiet, and worthwhile travel.

As I’ve shared, this issue’s destination holds a very special place in my heart. I love the Miami area: It’s easy enough to reach from the east coast, it’s affordable to fly into, and there are plenty of beaches to pick from, for a dose of warm weather. It’s, in my mind, the perfect getaway; I once had a supervisor who’d fly down just from Fridays–Sundays for a winter retreat.

As promised, I’m sharing my full guide to the area as a repeat-visitor with additional input from several close friends who’ve lived there for years—Sascha and Javi, thank you for your incredible recommendations. If you have any other suggestions, please share them so this can be as comprehensive as possible (and because nothing brings me greater joy than this community weighing in with thoughtful tips).

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How to Get There & Get Around:

• Fly into MIA, often the easiest route—15–20 minutes from Miami and Miami Beach. I’d recommend renting a car over taking Lyfts everywhere. In our four days there, we racked up $400 in ride-share transactions, and we didn’t go very far. Book a car in advance, though, as rentals can sell out early.

• Flying into FLL in Fort Lauderdale is an ideal choice if you’re open to staying outside of Miami and have already decided to rent a car. Some airlines like American, JetBlue, and Spirit prefer FLL over MIA so you’ll find more affordable or direct flights.

• You can get around via public transit—my friends and I famously did this in 2013 on spring break—but it will take substantially more time. A good idea though, if you’re looking for an economical option and have a flexible itinerary.

Where to Stay:

• For the quintessential Miami scene: Miami Beach and South Beach always top the list, especially if you’re looking for beaches and bars. Along Collins Avenue, you’ll find plenty of boutique hotels and restaurants, though this is definitely where I went in my 20s and not so much anymore. If you have the budget, I do recommend staying at either the W (a Marriott partner if you have points), or the 1 South Beach (a leading sustainable resort).

• For a quieter, more removed neighborhood: After staying around Brickell, Wynwood, and Coral Gables, I’d recommend Coral Gables or Coconut Grove. It’s a bit outside of downtown, but it’s easy enough to grab a Lyft, and it’s such a lovely place to walk around. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables on points last year, and would recommend it as an affordable points redemption. (It’s also close by to my favorite bookstore, Books & Books, where we’ve spent hours hanging out.) If you enjoy being near the business district, Brickell is another option, nestled in between Miami Beach and Coral Gables/the airport.

• For the quietest, most restorative stay: If you’re willing to drive, Jupiter—which is north of Fort Lauderdale—is a stunning place to spend your time. The beaches aren’t nearly as crowded, and you can experience some truly breathtaking nature between kayaking, watching turtles, or snorkeling. We personally stayed at an Airbnb, but there are hotels here worth checking out.

What to Do:

• Beaches: You can’t really go wrong with beaches here, but like I said, I prefer Jupiter or West Palm Beach over Miami, due to sheer crowding and pricing. During our recent Miami Beach visit two weeks ago, renting two chairs and an umbrella set us back $75 (set pricing). Worth it for the amount of time we spent there, but if you bring your own supplies and/or you don’t mind the sand and direct sun, you can ignore this cost.

  • Sascha recommends getting onto the beach around the W entrance (there’s a public boardwalk), or on 30th behind the EDITION and renting chairs from them.

  • The public boardwalk means you can ride bikes all along the oceanfront, and in years past, we rented bikes from Miami Beach Bicycle Center. There are probably 10 different places you can rent from, all with strong ratings, and I find that it’s a calming way to experience the beach.

  • For other outdoor activities, there’s Biscayne National Park, renting a yacht or boat for the day, or trying water sports like parasailing. Being out of breath doesn’t embody quiet travel for me, but maybe it does for you. 😉

• Art & Museums: The art scene in Miami is vibrant, ever-changing, and powerful. There is no shortage of art-related sights to see, so TL;DR: Make time to go.

  • Wynwood Walls is the best-known “art” spot—it’s a neighborhood filled with murals, graffiti, and photography. I recommend grabbing lunch or a coffee in the area, and walking around to check out the outdoor art as well as the local galleries. Sascha adores the Glottman Shop for stationary and gifts, BASE for men’s clothing, and the Sana Skin Studio for facials and skincare.

  • She also recommended the Pérez Art Museum Miami, which I’d never taken time to go see before, but it was 100% worth it. (Hot tip: The second Saturday of every month is free.) There are several floors of art that explore topics like immigration, colonialism, safety, grief, and family, and certain pieces brought me to tears. Erick and Elliot Jiménez’s exhibition in particular took our breath away.

  • Sascha also suggests checking out the Rubell Museum and the Wolfsonian-Florida International University museum, which she says, “has one of my favorite gift shops in South Beach!”

  • I’ve also heard good things about the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Paradox Museum, and the Margulies Collection.

  • Art Basel this year, for curious minds, will run December 2–6!

• Walking/Food Tours: Because there are so many neighborhoods in Miami, I highly recommend a tour to understand the various cultures and communities.

  • For example, a Little Havana food tour will show you everything from Cuban cigars, to the best Cuban food you can find nearby, to the history of mojitos. The tour we took in 2019 is no longer available, but there are plenty of alternatives you can find online, or by stopping at the Little Havana Visitor Center.

  • The Miami Design Preservation League hosts private art deco walking tours, if you’re a fan of the style or want to know more about this iconic architecture.

  • The Wynwood Art Walk Tour offers multiple experiences to immerse yourself in the local art scene—golf cart tours, walks, and even graffiti painting experiences.

  • Technically not a walking or food tour, but there are also a number of sunset or sightseeing cruises that go around the local waterways. I tend to find these a bit kitschy, but I can see value in privately renting one to enjoy the day.

Where to Eat & Drink, by Neighborhood

• Little Havana:

  • My favorite Mexican food is ironically in this area, but I do go out of my way to eat there so I’ll recommend it wholeheartedly: Taqueria Viva Mexico. Mi Ronconcito Mexicano is another establishment frequented by locals for a no-frills experience, though I prefer Taqueria.

  • Ball & Chain is probably the most historic of spaces here, where Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole used to play and it’s a fun space to eat, drink, and dance (salsa!). Old’s, Hoy Como Ayer, and Sala’o are best-known for Cuban food, though Javi says Rey de Las Fritas has a stellar Cuban hamburger and batido (shake)—he says to get the Mamey or Guanabana (soursop) flavor.

  • Sascha has three specific recommendations from classic staples: Grabbing a cafecito at El Pub, croquetas at Versailles, and drinks at Cafe La Trova.

• Miami Beach:

  • I’m going to be honest that I don’t often spend much time here anymore, but the girlies tell me Macchalina and Lucali (from New York City) are winners.

  • I like getting sandwiches here though when I’m on the beach and you can’t go wrong with La Sandwicherie, Sanguich, or Ocean Deli Market. Sascha also recs Sweet Liberty for afternoon snacks, and Kith for sweet treats.

  • If you’re looking for an adult bar/club vibe, Mac’s Club Deuce (cash only, Anthony Bourdain’s favorite place), the pool-side tiki bar at Broken Shaker, LIV, or Sola are worth checking out. Javi also says if you want to feel like you’re in a Belgian pub, Abbey Brewing Company is the way to go.

• Coral Gables & Coconut Grove:

  • We’ve gone for a fancy date night at Zucca in Coral Gables, which was delicious, and it’s worth walking around the downtown after. Motek, Bulla, and CRAFT are also highly rated here.

  • In Coconut Grove, we dined at the upscale Krüs Kitchen, part of Chase Sapphire Reserve’s $150 dining credits), and it was absolutely worth every penny.

  • There are also very highly rated coffee shops peppered all around the neighborhood, so you can’t go wrong. I’d personally grab lunch at Books & Books in their courtyard and peruse a few books—the epitome of slow travel for me, personally.

  • MIAM has the best pancakes I’ve ever had for brunch; Chugs has “insane breakfasts” worth trying in Coconut Grove; Facade Bakery has a cornflake matcha latte Sascha swears by.

• Wynwood:

  • Sascha frequents Wynwood more than we do, so her ideas include dining at the Taco Stand, Otto & Pepe for Italian, PARI PARI for handrolls (think “sexy date night”), or Arepera Tico Tico Edgewater. On the edge of Wynwood near downtown, Javi likes Lagniappe, inspired by New Orleans, where they have live music every night.

  • For dessert or matcha, she heads to Dasher & Crank, though there are a surprising amount of ice cream shops nearby that might be worth checking out, too.

  • Sascha says the “real locals” of Wynwood go to Dante’s HiFi, a vinyl listening bar, or the nearby Medium Cool in downtown which plays live jazz. Two of my favorite analog experiences.

What I love most about South Florida is that it can offer whatever you need. An energetic party scene for a bachelorette? A place to soak in the sun in peace and quiet? A way to connect with nature? It’s the rare place that truly “has it all.”

• 🤑 How a 20-something budgets for her vacations, and tips on where to save. Skipping new vacation clothes and budgeting for expenses outside of your control are two tricks I personally use. (h/t )

• 🦅 Talk about a niche deep dive: This photojournalism feature on the eagle hunters in Kyrgyzstan, and their long-standing traditions. To be clear, they hunt with eagles, they don’t hunt them. (Atavist)

• 😬 It’s been a real sh*tstorm between the East Coast blizzard—which cancelled my own plans—and the DHS flip-flopping decisions around TSA PreCheck. Like I said, I’d earmark extra time at the airport if you’re planning to fly any time soon. (CNBC)

• ❤️ The solid case for becoming a regular, frequenting your third spaces, and building community wherever you live (and travel, in the case of my nine visits to Miami, ha). (Self)

• 😴 More adults are taking extended career breaks than ever before. Whether it’s dubbed a “gap year” or “sabbatical” or “micro-retirement”, taking time for ourselves outside of work is increasingly trending. Big fan. (AP)

Here in Atlanta, I’ve been noticing the cherry blossom trees budding in the last week—the sorely needed reminder that spring is coming. Stay safe and warm wherever you are and remember: We’re almost there. —Henah x

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