Production at Fodor’s Travel + Freelance Copy Editor + Secret Operative
Travel memorabilia: I do my best to try a local beer everywhere I go, domestically or internationally. On the road trip I took to Austin this August, we had Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout in Bardstown, Yazoo Dos Perros Ale in Nashville, Abita Jockamo IPA in New Orleans, and a lot of Shiner Bock in Austin.
Ever been bumped off a flight? I’ve volunteered to wait for the next plane. Then I used the voucher (if they only offer $200 ask for more, the guy next to me did and I benefited from his negotiating skills) to partially subsidize a plane ticket to Amman. It was totally worth an extra four hours putzing around Delta’s terrible JFK terminal area—I thought of it as getting paid $100 an hour to do so.
Tricks for dealing with jetlag: Complete denial. Works beautifully.
Most interesting thing you've eaten while traveling: Fried bull testicles in the Australian outback. That was before I stopped eating meat.
Plane, trains or automobiles: I love trains. I love that you go from downtown to downtown (planes usually also involve an automobile), I love that you can arrive mere seconds before the train leaves and still make it, I love that you can spread out more without interfering, and I love watching the country pass from ground level.
Favorite escape-the-cold winter jaunt: I love the winter! I am well aware I am in the minority, but winter’s my chance to embrace the weather and get out West to go snowboarding. My last trip was to Salt Lake City, Utah, where I spent five days riding. The snow is incredible and there are so many mountains nearby. We rented an apartment in SLC (with a hot tub available for après ski soaks), got a rental car for our gear, and headed out each day. If you make it out there and have enough time, check out Powder Mountain; it’s a little farther than Park City and the other resorts, and it’s more bare-bones, but most of the mountain is ungroomed backcountry-type riding.
Traveled solo much? I haven’t recently or for any significant amount of time but I really want to; I’m eyeing Iceland (elves) or Mexico City (tacos) for my vision quest.
Best hotel: My favorite hotel I’ve ever stayed at is the Kelebek Hotel in Göreme, Cappadocia, in Turkey. First of all, I love Turkey: the food is amazing, the people are some of the nicest in the world, and there’s such a variety of amazing things to see, from the minarets of Istanbul to ancient Roman ruins to Mediterranean beach resorts to the fairytale landscape and caves of Cappadocia. Kelebek is a cave hotel, like many in Cappadocia, and if you don't want to splurge for the huge, fancy suites, they also have regular rooms that are about $60 for a double. There’s also a hamam on the property, which we took advantage of. I’m not that big on spa-type things, but I really enjoy Turkish baths.
Best post-break up trip: Wherever your best friend is.
First aid kit: On a jauntsetter’s recommendation I always bring caffeine pills with me, just in case I’m in a place where I can’t find a morning coffee in time. It’s come in handy a few times.
Clothing you can't live without on a trip: Running shoes. If you are a runner and you bring them, you will manage to run somewhere, and a run while traveling can be so memorable and often opens up a place to you at a time you wouldn’t normally see it, or takes you somewhere you normally wouldn’t pass through. I’ve laced up to run on the Bosphorus in Istanbul, along the Liffey in Dublin, sunset on the beach in Dominical… apparently I automatically run to the nearest body of water! You can check runnersworld.com, they have good recommendations of routes and running clubs in a lot of cities, though mostly for domestic destinations.
Most used travel accessory: My headlamp, which I use almost exclusively as a reading light (even when I’m in my own bed!).
Top travel resources: Jauntsetter, of course [Ed note: why thank you!]. After that, I really do think Fodor’s is overlooked as a guidebook resource. The new full-color books are gorgeous, and their recommendations for lodging and dining are especially good; the descriptions are lengthier than in a lot of the other series and I especially like the pros/cons listings. Being a planner, I often combine Fodor’s with Rough Guides, which I like for the amount of general and contextual information. Off the page, I like to check out Flickr photos of my destination, mine design*sponge particularly for food recommendations, and read other traveler’s blogs of hikes and such. Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations is on Netflix Instant, so it’s also fun to watch an episode set in your destination.
Meals you would travel for: I’d go back just for the fish and chips at The Bloody Stream in Howth, Ireland; the meze breakfast at Nisanyan Pension in the olive groove hills in Sirince, Turkey; another two-and-a-half-hour lunch ending in massive platters of fruits and sweets at Naranj in Damascus (I definitely do the “go to the fancy restaurant for a long lunch instead of expensive dinner” tactic and highly recommend it); tacos almost anywhere in Austin, TX; and po’boys in New Orleans...
Biggest overall travel tip: Just GO. That crazy deal on a flight is your chance; your friend’s random relocation abroad is your chance; if you want to do it you can find a way to make it happen. Find a way to save money for a little while, plan your time wisely, and you can often get a lot for a little.
In-city escape: I’ll take Red Hook over the Hamptons on a sunny weekend! The Hook’s got it all: lobster, whiskey, and you’re technically on the water. Grab some friends and go to Rocky Sullivan’s on a Friday evening for the Lobstah Feast. If you nab a spot on the roof deck you can’t even see the city and you’re outside as the sky darkens (no stars, really, but can’t win ’em all). Order a pitcher of Sixpoint (they’re next door) to go with your lobster, sides, and whoopie pie, and pretend you’re in a Maine backyard. Afterward go to Sunny’s, order a whiskey, and sit back and enjoy the live music and you could be in Memphis or New Orleans.
Favorite escape: Anywhere with good food, and either mountains or the ocean.
