Kayti's travel horror story about the Argentinian bus ride made me think of that scene from "Romancing the Stone." Have you seen that movie? It's one of my Top 5 favs and Kathleen Turner (AKA best-selling romance writer, Joan Wilder) pretty much had the same horror story when she got on the wrong bus... that wasn't going to Cartegena. LOL Frickin' love that movie. Honestly, I can only answer a few of your questions, because I haven't been the traveler that I wanted to be. I'm a co-caregiver and don't accrue PTO (sadly, it's given to us at the beginning of the year and once you use it, that's it). I'm going to have to be very strict and intentional about my travel from here on out.
1) Hit us with your 30-second bio:
Native Phoenician, newbie writer of short and steamy interracial romance novels, literal book 'ho for romance novels and have a serious love jones for James Bond movies (Sean. Pierce. Daniel. In that order), Jason Statham, Betty Boop, cats, and Linkin Park (RIP Chester).
2) What’s a bucket list destination for you right now?
Too many countries to list, but I want to (eventually) live in Costa Rica. Never been, but that's the first place I want to check out as a Discovery Trip; Greece (thanks to "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and "Mamma Mia"), particularly Ikaria because I read that's a Blue Zone area; Tuscany (thanks to "Under the Tuscan Sun"), but would also like to hit up Sardinia, because, again, Blue Zone; Bora Bora, Maldives, Thailand, Barbados, Malta...the list goes on and on and gets longer every time I read International Living magazine. I'm a subscriber.
3) What does quiet, slow travel mean to you?
I agree with Kayti on this when she said: "using the time away as intentionally as possible." I traveled solo--for the second time--to Vegas last year in June to celebrate my birthday. That was the first time I traveled solo to a place where I didn't know anyone. I stayed at the Sahara hotel and saw "Thunder From Down Under" one night (not impressed) and "Magic Mike Live" another night (EXTREMELY impressed). I consider myself to be an Introverted Empath, so a place like Vegas can feel incredibly overwhelming for someone like me. I only ventured out into the streets twice and that was because the TFDU show was at another hotel--at the other end of the fuckin' strip, no less!--and I wanted to visit a cute little cafe at the Caeser's Palace shops based on the IG reel my sister had sent to me. And it WAS cute. Very pink. LOL
I truly enjoyed that trip to Vegas by myself because it really recharged me. I'd been living with my parents for nearly two years at the time, co-caregiving my mother who has advancing dementia. I needed a mental health break and instead of making it into a Girls Road Trip, I made it into a Mental Health Birthday Trip. I didn't push myself to be everywhere at all hours of the night. When I didn't have to go anywhere, I just stayed in and read in bed. I didn't have to be "on", entertain anyone, TALK to anyone, meet up with anyone, and went to bed when I felt tired. It was so fabulous and made me decide that I want to do that again. But maybe with a group travel type of company.
I'm SO looking forward to reading this newsletter and discovering more places to add to my list.
WATCH IT! It's Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. Their chemistry was amazing in this movie (and the sequel, too - "Jewel of the Nile"). The water avalanche scene makes LOL. Every. Single. Time.
Ororo! I'm so happy you answered some of these questions too; it made my day to see! I LOLed at 'literal book 'ho for romance novels'. Happy to share any recs on Greece, Tuscany, Thailand, and Bora Bora if you'd like!
I'm also so sorry to hear about your mother, but glad you took time for yourself. <3 You deserve it!
Your Norway tips would be most welcome as I’m heading there on a 2 week trip next month! Staying in Oslo, Bergen, and Ålesund, and a few tiny places in between. Strictly traveling by train and boat, and we’ve planned lots of outdoor adventure.
I couldn’t be more excited about this newsletter—SO glad you two teamed up to start it. 🤩
After a few tough years that kept me from travel, I’m finally visiting Scotland, a bucket-list destination, this fall. When you two mentioned previous trips to Patagonia and Mexico City, I felt my heart twinge…I want to visit both so badly!
I'm so glad you're reading!! How was the Scotland trip? I visited a few times while living in London, but mostly during winter months so it was always freezing. We will likely do entire posts dedicated to Patagonia and Mexico City, ha. Seriously two of the best and most underrated places in the world.
Oh amazing—I can’t wait to read those!! I don’t leave for Scotland until late September (so the weather could be wild) but I’ll definitely report back 🤗
I love hearing about in-depth, curated, and female-focused travel experiences. Cannot wait for what’s to come :) congrats to you both on your first issue ❤️
So excited to read more from both of you. I’m in Verona, Italy currently, revisiting a country I love so much simply because my husband and I were bored one day and spotted a cheap flight to Venice.
I’m hoping your newsletter will inspire me to travel alone some. My husband and I love to travel together, and he travels alone some, but he’s always encouraging me to take solo trips if I want to.
I wish I could share photos in the comments but may I have a hilarious set of curated vs real life traveler photos. The curated is me in a fancy dress on the balcony of the cruise ship posing the way my fancy sister taught me would make me look skinnier and more fashionable - followed by one of my 76 yo dad doing his version of the pose. 😂 That was a bucket list trip: Mediterranean cruise with my dad and sister. While it was amazing, it made me realize how much I prefer slow intentional travel to the “new city every day” cruise ship version.
So excited for this newsletter! I feel like I know you guys already - I feel so seen 🤓 On my bucket list at the moment: Namibia, Norway, and Western Australia
Kayti's travel horror story about the Argentinian bus ride made me think of that scene from "Romancing the Stone." Have you seen that movie? It's one of my Top 5 favs and Kathleen Turner (AKA best-selling romance writer, Joan Wilder) pretty much had the same horror story when she got on the wrong bus... that wasn't going to Cartegena. LOL Frickin' love that movie. Honestly, I can only answer a few of your questions, because I haven't been the traveler that I wanted to be. I'm a co-caregiver and don't accrue PTO (sadly, it's given to us at the beginning of the year and once you use it, that's it). I'm going to have to be very strict and intentional about my travel from here on out.
1) Hit us with your 30-second bio:
Native Phoenician, newbie writer of short and steamy interracial romance novels, literal book 'ho for romance novels and have a serious love jones for James Bond movies (Sean. Pierce. Daniel. In that order), Jason Statham, Betty Boop, cats, and Linkin Park (RIP Chester).
2) What’s a bucket list destination for you right now?
Too many countries to list, but I want to (eventually) live in Costa Rica. Never been, but that's the first place I want to check out as a Discovery Trip; Greece (thanks to "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and "Mamma Mia"), particularly Ikaria because I read that's a Blue Zone area; Tuscany (thanks to "Under the Tuscan Sun"), but would also like to hit up Sardinia, because, again, Blue Zone; Bora Bora, Maldives, Thailand, Barbados, Malta...the list goes on and on and gets longer every time I read International Living magazine. I'm a subscriber.
3) What does quiet, slow travel mean to you?
I agree with Kayti on this when she said: "using the time away as intentionally as possible." I traveled solo--for the second time--to Vegas last year in June to celebrate my birthday. That was the first time I traveled solo to a place where I didn't know anyone. I stayed at the Sahara hotel and saw "Thunder From Down Under" one night (not impressed) and "Magic Mike Live" another night (EXTREMELY impressed). I consider myself to be an Introverted Empath, so a place like Vegas can feel incredibly overwhelming for someone like me. I only ventured out into the streets twice and that was because the TFDU show was at another hotel--at the other end of the fuckin' strip, no less!--and I wanted to visit a cute little cafe at the Caeser's Palace shops based on the IG reel my sister had sent to me. And it WAS cute. Very pink. LOL
I truly enjoyed that trip to Vegas by myself because it really recharged me. I'd been living with my parents for nearly two years at the time, co-caregiving my mother who has advancing dementia. I needed a mental health break and instead of making it into a Girls Road Trip, I made it into a Mental Health Birthday Trip. I didn't push myself to be everywhere at all hours of the night. When I didn't have to go anywhere, I just stayed in and read in bed. I didn't have to be "on", entertain anyone, TALK to anyone, meet up with anyone, and went to bed when I felt tired. It was so fabulous and made me decide that I want to do that again. But maybe with a group travel type of company.
I'm SO looking forward to reading this newsletter and discovering more places to add to my list.
I love this so much. I hope you get to see all of those places!! Also not sure how I havent seen that film? I need to watch it! Xo
WATCH IT! It's Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. Their chemistry was amazing in this movie (and the sequel, too - "Jewel of the Nile"). The water avalanche scene makes LOL. Every. Single. Time.
Ororo! I'm so happy you answered some of these questions too; it made my day to see! I LOLed at 'literal book 'ho for romance novels'. Happy to share any recs on Greece, Tuscany, Thailand, and Bora Bora if you'd like!
I'm also so sorry to hear about your mother, but glad you took time for yourself. <3 You deserve it!
So so excited for this and I can’t wait to read more!!!
Appreciate you being here so much, friend. xo <3
Your Norway tips would be most welcome as I’m heading there on a 2 week trip next month! Staying in Oslo, Bergen, and Ålesund, and a few tiny places in between. Strictly traveling by train and boat, and we’ve planned lots of outdoor adventure.
I'm so jealous! It's truly a magical country. Going to think on some recos this week and drop them here for you :)
OOOOOOOOOO I'm so excited for this. Already love the intro. Let's go!!
Thank you, Natasha :') SO appreciate it! xo
Let's go!! <3
Cannot wait to read more! So excited already
So happy to have you here, Jenna!! xo
Also a fellow Virgo introvert - I’m deeply invested x
You two have so much inspired travel! Welcome!!
Thank you, Kristen! So excited to be here/have you here!!
Loved this!! I can’t wait to read more
We're so glad you're reading Becca!! xo
I couldn’t be more excited about this newsletter—SO glad you two teamed up to start it. 🤩
After a few tough years that kept me from travel, I’m finally visiting Scotland, a bucket-list destination, this fall. When you two mentioned previous trips to Patagonia and Mexico City, I felt my heart twinge…I want to visit both so badly!
I'm so glad you're reading!! How was the Scotland trip? I visited a few times while living in London, but mostly during winter months so it was always freezing. We will likely do entire posts dedicated to Patagonia and Mexico City, ha. Seriously two of the best and most underrated places in the world.
Oh amazing—I can’t wait to read those!! I don’t leave for Scotland until late September (so the weather could be wild) but I’ll definitely report back 🤗
Loved reading through this! Can't wait for more :)
Thanks, bubby <3 So glad you are here!!
Loved reading this and getting to know you both. Excited to read more in the future!
Thank you, Clare! That means so much. :') Excited to get to know you more, too! xx
I love hearing about in-depth, curated, and female-focused travel experiences. Cannot wait for what’s to come :) congrats to you both on your first issue ❤️
Alexa, to know you is to love you — thank you. Can't wait for you to do a guest post one day soon! ;) xo. —Henah
So excited to read more from both of you. I’m in Verona, Italy currently, revisiting a country I love so much simply because my husband and I were bored one day and spotted a cheap flight to Venice.
I’m hoping your newsletter will inspire me to travel alone some. My husband and I love to travel together, and he travels alone some, but he’s always encouraging me to take solo trips if I want to.
1) VERY jealous you're in Verona, right now! 2) We love a good flight deal. 3) Thank you so much for being here. And... 4) You got this!! xo
So excited to read this
I wish I could share photos in the comments but may I have a hilarious set of curated vs real life traveler photos. The curated is me in a fancy dress on the balcony of the cruise ship posing the way my fancy sister taught me would make me look skinnier and more fashionable - followed by one of my 76 yo dad doing his version of the pose. 😂 That was a bucket list trip: Mediterranean cruise with my dad and sister. While it was amazing, it made me realize how much I prefer slow intentional travel to the “new city every day” cruise ship version.
This is amazing - @Substack if you're listening we need an option for dropping photos in comments! 😂
So excited for this newsletter! I feel like I know you guys already - I feel so seen 🤓 On my bucket list at the moment: Namibia, Norway, and Western Australia
Eva!! What a thoughtful comment, thank you. And Namibia is on my list, too! So happy you're here. <3
Namibia is INCREDIBLE. Get that right to the top of list 😉