Dream getaway: Going to Sri Lanka, wearing lots of linen, hanging out in expat bars drinking gin, and sleeping in beds with gauzy mosquito netting.
Last vacation you really loved: I just visited Istanbul in December, which was wonderful. The weather was wretched every day and we never got to experience the wonderful beaches of Turkey, but every mosque and palace was fascinating and full of intrigue. And where else can you experience two continents in one city?
Any travel quirks? At every hotel I stay in, I must first read the brochure/book of information as soon as I get to my room, regardless of how helpful it is.
One place everyone should go: Buenos Aires, Argentina. It's stylish, romantic, European yet totally South American at the same time, and cheap. Not to mention, there's excellent steak, wine, tango, and leather. What else could one want?
Tips for a solo jauntsetter: Bring a good book so you don't look anxious or lonely, and order a stiff drink, preferably with whiskey, to show you're not to be trifled with.
Favorite short jaunt: Philadelphia, which is so easy to get to from New York - and fun! Stay in Center City, and after you've seen the historic sites, hit the really cool and creepy Mutter Museum and the Eastern State Penitentiary, where they filmed 12 Monkeys. Among the many great restaurants are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, which has great wine prices and Carman's County Kitchen for breakfast, with really fresh, delicious ingredients.
Best beach vacation: Uruguay. Everyone raves about the beaches at Punta del Este, but I found it overbuilt and charmless. Floriapolis, on the other hand, is a fading grand dame of a beach town, with a value and charm that Punta can't touch.
Recommended travel accessory: A headphone splitter and laptop if you're traveling with someone else, some nights on the road call for a DVD and a bottle of wine snuck into your hotel room.
Escape-the-heat summer jaunt: Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. I grew up going to a cabin on the lake in the summers, where it is warm enough to swim at Weirs Beach in the daytime but cool enough to start a fire at night.
Suggest a book for jauntsetters to take on a trip: I love the hotel murder mysteries by Daniel Edward Craig, perfect for hotel nerds like me. A new classic is Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz, a wonderful, epic road trip/family saga. (Seriously, this is one of my all-time faves and great for a long trip!)
Favorite trip planning resources: My favorite guides are generally Lonely Planet, for their universality, and Frommer's, because their guides have a voice. Online, I love the forums on TripAdvisor, and searching photos on Flickr, in addition to finding blog posts and newspaper articles on my destination. I also recommend emailing writers who have written articles on your destination; they're always thrilled to hear from readers and can often share tips and stories not included in the original article.
Best domestic getaway: Chicago. The Willows Hotel on Surf Street has a great location and pizza at Gino's East is a must, though it will require a lie-down afterwards. The Hopleaf is a great gastropub and I love having a drink at Top of the Hancock. Lincoln Park Zoo (I'm a bit of a zoo enthusiast) is probably the best in the country, especially considering that it's free, and the Chicago Museum of Art deserves at least an afternoon.
Most romantic trip you've taken: I spent my honeymoon in New Hampshire (see favorite summer jaunt) where there wasn't much to do but light a fire at night, sit on the porch and play cards, and it was blissful.
International escape: London is just awesome. I don't think it needs to be expensive, either, especially as the dollar is gaining on the pound. Plus, so many pubs and flea markets and free museum days give you lots of budget options.
Best hotel you've ever stayed at: The Shelbourne in Dublin. Perfect location, delicious rooms, and incredible history. I was lucky enough to stay there on Marriott points and stay on the Heritage floor; I hit its free fancy lounge every day for complimentary snacks and Wi-Fi. I'd go back to Dublin just to stay there again.
Awesome travel deal you've scored: The Best of Barbados deal last September, bookable again this year. I spent around $700 per person including airfare, 7 nights hotel at the lovely Silver Point Villa Hotel, a bunch of discounts, and a $200 debit card. It was a really great deal for a luxury vacation.
Overlooked destination: I went to Ireland a few years ago and was surprised how much I loved Belfast in Northern Ireland more than most of the Republic. It's a city that is changing every day, rebuilding itself, and very proud. I stayed at the gorgeous Merchant Hotel, which used to be a bank, and there are many new restaurants and galleries on the same block. Most people take a black cab tour of the murals in West Belfast, but we did it on foot. Everyone is friendly and happy to tell you a bit of history, but be warned it can be extremely biased and potentially hostile, as many of the neighborhoods still have "peace lines" to separate Catholics and Protestants years after the Troubles.
East coast road trip: Take a drive up to coastal Maine, which is at its best in indian summer, when you can experience the first few leaves changing with the last days of warm weather. I'm partial to Kennebunkport as I've worked with the White Barn Inn for several years and love to see the town after the summer tourists have gone. My favorite shops there are the Daytrip Society for beautiful cards and HB Provisions for blueberry jam. Portland is also totally charming with tons of great restaurants and bars in the old city.
Any techniques for improving our airport experiences? I heard an expression recently: "There are two kinds of luggage: carry-on bags and lost luggage." I've traveled for weeks on carry-on luggage. Remember than you can always buy stuff there and you won't care if you are forced to check on the way back.
