Preparing for a quick entrance to the United States begins long before your airplane touches the ground at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. If you're a U.S. citizen or Canadian visitor, download the free CBP Mobile Passport Control app to your mobile phone. This app stores your passport information and replaces the need for you to do any paperwork or wait in the (sometimes very long) line in the entry hall. In my opinion, more often than not, this app is just as good as having Global Entry, and it’s completely free. If you’re a citizen of another country, refer to cbp.gov for full Immigration and Customs details.

Mobile App Checklist

These are the apps you’ll want to download prior to arriving home in the United States:

• Apple Wallet with Apple pay enabled for transit - Tap-to-pay for rides is available for the AirTrain exit and in the NYC subway system.

• MTA TrainTime (LIRR and MetroNorth) - For purchasing tickets and researching routes and timetables.

• CBP Mobile Passport Control - For fast entry at immigration.

• MYmta app - For subway train arrival times and route planning.

• Google Maps - save an offline map for directions.

• Lyft or UBER - ride sharing (requires setting up a profile and attaching a credit card beforehand).

Immigration at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Once you've deplaned, walk (quickly, if you want to beat the crowd) down the hallways that lead you to a larger immigration hall in Terminal 4. There are lines with signs directing U.S. citizens, foreign passport holders, Global Entry members, diplomats, and Mobile Passport app (MPC app) users to different queues. You do not need Global Entry to get through immigration quickly. Most of the time you’ll queue in the Diplomat line (which is usually empty) and will only be interrupted by crew and military. So, the faster you walk, the better.

Without the CBP MPC app or Global Entry, you'll line up and wait to use a machine that takes your photo and asks the same questions you’d find on your customs card. It’s sort of like the self-checkout lane at the grocery store. Once you have your receipt, you’ll queue again and wait for a border agent to scan your passport and look at the receipt.

Don't lose your paper (or let your phone die) because you need it for one last step. After immigration, you collect your checked bags, even if you have a connecting flight. At the exit to baggage claim, you may join a small queue and will either scan your phone or hand your customs card to the agent as you exit. Sometimes, though, they don’t do anything at all except watch and spot travelers to pull aside and go through their bags.

After exiting immigration and customs, you will be at street level where there is an official taxi line. Ignore people standing around offering rides (even if they’re dressed in a suit, even if they say they are Uber) and always take a licensed yellow taxi. As an alternative to a yellow taxi, book a Lyft or Uber. The Lyft and Uber app will tell you exactly where to go for ride sharing pickup.

Cheapest Ways to Get From John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Brooklyn or Manhattan

AirTrain to Subway

As of 2026, the subway is the most affordable way to travel into Brooklyn or Manhattan. But first, you need to take a train out of the terminal area. After baggage claim, follow the signs upstairs to the AirTrain. There are three different AirTrains (Howard Beach, Jamaica, and one just circles the terminals) so pay attention to which train you’re boarding. Take the Howard Beach AirTrain (pay $8.25 when you exit) to the subway ($3.00). Though it’s cheap, it’s a long ride and there isn’t a restroom. The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is a more comfortable and is potentially more reliable with service however the trains run less frequently than the subway.

Buying a metrocard

In order to exit the AirTrain system, you’ll need to pay. If you're new to NYC, go to the OMNY machines [pending constriction completion] Tap the screen and follow the prompts to purchase a new OMNY Card (or refill an existing card with 'value' to add $ credit) with at least $12 on it (you'll need at least $8.75 to pay for the AirTrain).

⭐️ AirTrain to the Long island rail road (LIRR)

My preferred way to travel to and from the airport is the Long Island Rail Road. After baggage claim, follow the signs to the Jamaica AirTrain ($8.75) and travel to the last stop Jamaica station.

After exiting and paying for your AirTrain ride, you’ll follow the hallway to your left to an indoor/outdoor train terminal. You’re now in the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station. If you're heading to Brooklyn, you’ll probably take the LIRR 3 stops (about 20 minutes) to Atlantic Terminal. If you're heading to Manhattan, take one of the several trains ending at Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal. There are display boards showing times, tracks, and train destinations when you enter the station.

This is where the TrainTime app comes in handy, because not only can you see a simple route from Jamaica to your destination, you can tap the train you want to buy a ticket for. The app involves creating an account, so be sure to do all this before boarding the train in a hurry. You only activate the ticket in the mobile app once you board the LIRR train.

If you don’t use the app, the ticket machines are on the upper level of the station. This time, you tap adult one-way, select “Peak” (think Monday thru Friday rush hour into the city morning times) or “Off-Peak” and your “From” (Jamaica) and “To” destination. When traveling to Atlantic Terminal, Penn Station, or Grand Central, select CityTicket Off Peak to pay just $5.25 one-way or CityTicket Peak to pay just $7.25 one-way (valid for same-day travel).

Inside the LIRR, there are overhead racks for your luggage. It’s a brief 20 minute ride both above and under ground. There are restrooms on board. A conductor will walk through the train to collect your ticket or scan your activated mobile ticket. After exiting at Atlantic Terminal, Grand Central Terminal, and Penn Station, it’s possible to connect to multiple subway lines within the same building (just follow the signs).

yellow taxi

Pre-pandemic I would’ve said ride share apps were cheaper, but now taxi cabs offer competitive rates (depending on distance and traffic, of course). As you leave baggage claim, the line or queue is roped off straight in front of you.

Ride Share Apps

If you take an Uber or Lyft there are designated pickup areas away from where the yellow cabs queue in front of the airport. Uber now offers a shuttle service from midtown to JFK, and this can be more economical than booking a private car.

Your app will direct you where to go to meet your driver. It can be chaotic so make sure to reconfirm license plate and with the driver that you’re the person they’re picking up.

Rental Car

If you’re renting a car, you’ll get off the AirTrain at the Federal Circle stop and take an escalator down to where the rental car offices are. Make sure you’ve got your offline Google Map downloaded for easy navigation as you leave the rental car agency.

Where do I even begin a discussion about travel after what has transpired during the last two years? An activity so many Americans took for granted as a right was suddenly disrupted. The pandemic didn't entirely curtail travel, but it did make it more unpredictable. Most Americans traveled closer to home. When they did travel further afield, they stayed longer in their destination.

Things started to look up last spring with the advent of vaccines. Soon after, the rise of the Delta and Omicron variants dashed plans for international trips. We persevered through yet another period of uncertainty. And now, after our booster vaccinations, it feels like this spring is bringing a sense of renewed hope for the return of the summer vacation. 🤞

One question I think everyone should be asking themselves as they consider their return to travel is, do I really want to travel the same way I did before the pandemic? That's a question the new movie The Last Tourist can help answer.

The film explores how the travel industry can be a force for driving change and can help with alleviating critical issues our planet is facing, such as climate change and human-wildlife conflict. The movie highlights some of the community organizations and projects the tour operator G Adventures works with as examples of how for-profit tour companies can (and should) be doing more to spread traveler’s dollars in the destinations they operate within.

The biggest takeaway from the film is that we as consumers always have the ability to decide where we spend our hard earned money when we travel. As a collective, we have the power and the responsibility to use our wallet to impact change on the world around us. You can find The Last Tourist streaming now on Apple TV.

So what, then, as we enter this next era of tourism, are some of the ways you can be a better traveler? Bruce Poon Tip, Executive Producer of The Last Tourist and founder of G Adventures, shared some tips in a post-viewing Q&A with travel editor Laura Begley Bloom:

• When you're traveling in low income countries, tip drivers, waitstaff, and housekeeping generously.

• Reduce your impact on the environment: refuse housekeeping for the duration of your stay, bring your own water bottle, shut the shower off when lathering.

• Call a prospective hotel and ask what programs they have in place to hire from and support the local community. Where does their food waste go?

• Shop in local markets. Buy ethically-made, locally-made souvenirs. If you see shops in touristy areas selling virtually the same trinkets, chances are those trinkets are imported from another country.

How are you approaching your return to travel? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear.

I was invited to the New York City screening of The Last Tourist by G Adventures. The opinions above are my own.

The Accommodation

I booked a regular guest room with a king bed and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was and how much space there was in the room (38sqm). Though I had requested a high floor, the hotel was unable to fulfill my request. However, my view was street-facing and I didn’t mind that it was on a lower floor. Street noise wasn’t an issue whatsoever and the blackout curtains helped me adjust to my new time zone.

Like I mentioned above, the room was spacious with ample room to move around and even included a couch and desk. There was also a short hallway behind the bed with a large closet leading to the bathroom.

The tub/shower combo was a bit awkward to get in and out of, though, and the drain was very loud whenever using the sink or shower (if you heard it, you'd understand why I'm mentioning it).

Dine

I didn’t dine at the Vibe’s restaurant, Storehouse Sydney Central, because I was too preoccupied with dining at the restaurants on my personal wishlist. If I had, I would have stuck with drinks (I spied a board on the street advertising evening happy hour specials). The Vibe Hotel Sydney also offers room service - another perk of having a restaurant on premises.

Do

One of the biggest reasons I picked this hotel was because of the rooftop gym, lounge, and swimming pool. After an overnight flight, I knew I would be struggling to stay awake, and I was right. Sydney was hot and after a day of wandering around waiting for my room to be ready, I was starting to feel the exhaustion kick in. Once I got my room key, I made a beeline for the rooftop pool. It was so refreshing and gave me the boost of energy I needed to continue exploring the city that evening.

Hyde Park is just two blocks away from the hotel. Walk a bit further and you’ll stumble into Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens.

On Fridays from 4pm to 11pm, the Chinatown Night Market is just a short walk from the hotel. There, you can dine on fried seafood and eat piping hot custard filled pastries from Emperor's Garden Cakes & Bakery.

Perfect For

Couples, small groups, and solo travelers.

Location

The location of the Vibe Hotel Sydney makes it a great home base for your city explorations. You can easily walk to the shopping malls of the CBD, Hyde Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Chinatown, and nearby trendy neighborhoods for a coffee or brunch (like Surry Hills and Red Fern). There are also several bus and train stops nearby (get off the train at Museum if you’re coming from the airport).

While on safari at Thornybush Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park area of South Africa, I asked my guide, Wayne, what he thought about the use of mobile phone apps on safari. “Many of the good apps won't come free,” he warned. “On the other hand, they’re increasingly becoming replacements for heavy guidebooks and work much easier,” which is good advice for light packing carry-on travelers like myself. 

Below are several mobile apps that will help you gain more out of your next safari trip:

Flora and Fauna

iTrack Southern Africa - $14.99

African Safari Tracker: Animal and Wildlife Guide - $9.99

Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa - Lite (Free) and Full Version ($18.99)

eTrees of Southern Africa - $20.99

One of the many benefits of a tracker-led safaris versus self-drive safari is the ability to tap into your guide’s vast knowledge of the plants and wildlife found in the bush. Stories about survival and adaptation come to life as you bounce around as a captive audience in their vehicle. Some features to look for before purchasing apps relevant to African wildlife, birds, and trees include the number of species included and whether or not they have samples of animal tracks, video & audio clips, checklists to track your sightings, and the ability to use the app while offline. Apps like these are also useful for when you return home and can’t remember the name of "that hairy looking antelope” or “that tree with the big seed pods”.

Animal Sightings

Africa: Live (Free)

For self-drive enthusiasts, Africa: Live is a great tool for guiding your route research based on self-reported wildlife sightings from other app users. The majority of sightings reported are in the Kruger National Park, but I have also seen reporting from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi (South Africa) and various parks in East Africa. Rhino sightings are not not allowed on the app (for obvious reasons) and the app also works as a tool to alert authorities if you see signs of overcrowding, flooding, fire, and other dangers. An in-app purchase allows you to download maps for offline use.

Stargazing

Star Chart (iTunes & Android)

“What’s that bright star right in front of us?” I asked Wayne. “That’s Venus,” he replied. My group had a bit of a chuckle and I couldn’t help but blush at my ignorance. Good thing it was night time and no one could see me. Sitting under a blanket of twinkling stars is certainly a highlight of your first evening safari. Apps that help explain our solar system using augmented reality can help prevent you from making the same mistake I did.

Armchair Travelers

Travel Africa magazine (iPad and iPhone or Zinio)

Africam

Reading about African wildlife has certainly inspired many of my recent safaris and helps me narrow down what parks I want to visit. African Wildlife Foundation donors are familiar with the magazine Travel Africa, which covers a variety of attractions around the continent in each issue. In addition to reading, the next best thing besides seeing wildlife in person is watching it live. Africam is a free live streaming video website which features the views from cameras they’ve installed inside a handful of parks in South Africa. While Africam is limited to the web browsers at this time, they will soon launch a mobile app (you can sign up here to be alerted when it’s ready).

What are some of your favorite apps to use on safari? Leave me a comment below.

Pack Light

Heavy baggage increases energy consumption and emissions. Minimize the risk of flight delays by only bringing your carry-on. The airline will have less baggage to handle this way.

Bring Your Own Food

Pre-order your inflight meal, or, fly with an airline that doesn’t serve meals. This reduces the airline’s need to transport food and reduces the amount of food waste generated on your flight. Bring your own snacks in reusable silicone bags.

Eliminate Paper

Don’t print your flight confirmation on paper (unless it’s absolutely necessary for immigration purposes). Check-in for your flight using the airline’s mobile app. Doing so enables you to keep your boarding pass digitally - either in an iPhone Wallet or by PDF. Can you believe I was wishing for electronic boarding passes back in 2010? 😄

Pre- and Post-Flight Transportation

Arrive on-time for your flight using a carpool (try Uber, Lyft, or Via if you’re in New York City) or public transit. This cuts down on emissions and minimizes the risk of flight delays. The same tactic applies for after you land in your destination.

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

The Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry links the borough of Staten Island to the borough of Manhattan. These remarkable orange boats run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The ferry service began 1817 and is now a wildly popular way for islanders to commute to work. In fact, around 65,000 passengers make this 25 minute journey each day, making this one of the busiest ferry routes in America. If you want to explore more on the Staten Island side after your ferry ride, I recommend taking the State Island Railway, which connects to the St. George ferry terminal, to Lee’s Tavern. Though it looks like a basic neighborhood pub, their unique style of thin crust pizza is the real draw.

The Staten Island Ferry has a little snack shop on board where you can purchase a beer. It’s a great way to toast the sunset and another great day sightseeing in NYC.

The Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the United States of America. Building began in 1869 and took 14 years. After it opened, many were afraid to make the crossing for fear of the structure collapsing. Famous circus man P.T. Barnum came up with an incredible idea for a publicity stunt to prove the bridges sturdiness. He led 21 elephants (among other animals) across the bridge in an effort to promote his museum and show. In 1964, the bridge was named a National Historic Landmark. 

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is one of my favorite places to sit and read on a nice sunny day in Brooklyn. The noise of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway below is drowned out once you lose yourself in a good book. After taking in the view, make a detour to the parks and playing fields at the numbered piers at the ground level, below the escarpment the promenade is situated on.

J Owen Grundy Park

New Jersey’s waterfront is just one stop away on the PATH train from the World Trade Center station in Lower Manhattan. A short walk from Exchange Place station, J Owen Grundy Park is a great jumping off point from which to start your exploration of the neighborhoods Hoboken and Jersey City.

Live in New York City and love to travel? It's not too late to take advantage of one (or several) of this year's Cyber Monday travel deals. I poured over Skyscanner and found the best available airfares so you don't have to waste any time searching. Here's what I found:

Amtrak: For travel dates January 7th through April 30th, 2018, look for 30% off fares available until midnight tonight.

JetBlue: look for one-way winter deals to Albuquerque (from $114), Turks and Caicos (from $118), Cartagena ($) and Palm Springs (from $134), summer deals to Portland, Oregon (from $130). Search round-trip to make sure you’re seeing the full price for your trip.

United: escape to the Azores this winter (from $650). Use promo code THANKS2017D to save up to $250 on Domestic travel. For Hawaiian and international vacations, use promo code THANKS2017 for $400 off.

Virgin America (Alaska): fly to Hawaii (with a stop in Los Angeles) (from $600) and to San Francisco (from $250) or Portland, Oregon on dates between January and March.

Frontier: use promo code SAVE75 to take 75% off your next flight. Buy by: 11/27/17. Fly 11/29/17 - 2/7/18. Valid for nonstop domestic travel Mondays through Saturdays. Blackout dates apply: Dec. 21, 2017 through Jan. 3, 2018, Jan. 6, and Jan. 15, 2018.

Southwest: use promo code SAVE125 to save $125 on U.S. destinations or promo code SAVE250 to save $250 on international destinations. The booking period extends past Cyber Monday and ends on December 4th 11:59 p.m. CT. Travel must happen between November 2017 and August 6th, 2018.

WOW Air: book Edinburgh in the early spring (from $450), Berlin in June (from $410) and Iceland in September from (from $260). Take 40% off round-trip flights with promo code WOWCYBERMONDAY (not valid on stopover flights). Book by 11:59pm GMT on November 28, 2018, and travel from now through April 10, 2019. The offer only applies to 1,900 seats.

Lufthansa: fly to Paris this October (from $420)

Norwegian: head to Rome or London in March (from $390) and Stockholm in April (from $365)

AeroMexico: travel to Mexico City this January (from $285) and to Lima in August (from $545)

Turkish Airlines: look for spring flights to Tel Aviv (from $619) and Kathmandu (from $710)

China Eastern: fares in February and March to Bali (from $700), Hong Kong (from $450) and Tokyo (from $530)

South African Airways: fly to Johannesburg in February (from $675)

Expedia: use coupon code HOLIDAY50 to get $50 off a hotel stay ($200 minimum purchase). Book by 11:59 p.m. PT, November 27, 2017; travel by March 31, 2018.

I've included the direct links to each airline’s website and be sure to check them for the latest airfares as well as their Terms and Conditions. If you book a flight, leave a comment below! I'd love to hear where you're heading.

With over 300 participating artists, where to begin?

First, browse the artists listed on the Arts Gowanus website. It’s the perfect opportunity to see which of their styles speak to you. Mark your “must see” on the Arts Gowanus Open Studios map (paper maps found here) to plot your route. It’s also really easy to stroll around the neighborhood and pop in and out of whichever places strike your fancy.

Which artists and studios do I recommend?

Jo McFarland

Ellen Chuse

Kristiana Pärn

Ella Yang Studio

Annie Coggan (2018)

Sean Grandits (2018)

Joseph Burchfield

What do you do when you get the artist’s studio?

It's totally fine to walk around and say nothing more than a "hi" and "thank you" as you come and go. However, if you do strike up a conversation, you’re bound to have an even more enriching experience. A good way to start that conversation is “I love this piece, it reminds me of ___” or “What inspired you to create this?” or “Your work caught my attention because it’s___” or “This piece makes me feel___”)

Some artists might have prints or items for sale. It’s perfectly fine to leave without purchasing anything. You never know, though, you might find something really unique to complement your style.

By the mid-afternoon you might be feeling peckish. Check out my Gowanus Neighborhood Guide for all the best places to eat and drink in the neighborhood. Some might have specials for the weekend. There are also a number of shops and activities in the area (axe throwing, anyone?)

Thanks to Arts Gowanus for making this happen every year.

To stay better connected to WiFi while you're in transit, bookmark Anil Polat's Google Map of every airport lounge and their wireless passwords. This is especially handy for tricky situations when you don't have cell service but need to connect to WiFi to use a ridesharing app like Lyft or Uber.

To save time at the airport, get TSA pre✓® for an expedited security experience. American travelers returning home to the U.S. from abroad should download the free Mobile Passport Control app, which enables you to skip the long lines at customs and immigration when you arrive home. I can't say enough good things about it. 

There's no better way to pass the time than with a good distraction. Podcasts and streaming movies can help time pass faster on a long or delayed flight. Bringing your own entertainment is especially important if the plane you're on doesn't have any seatback screens or overhead monitors. Really feel your patience dwindling? Download the top 10 most relaxing songs on Spotify or iTunes to help you keep your sanity when travel (or family) is stressing you out.

Consider shipping items, like presents, ahead of your travel. When I used to travel from Boston to Connecticut on Amtrak's Northeast Limited train, it was always a struggle to find overhead luggage space during the holiday season. It was so much easier to order gifts online and pick a different delivery address (my parent's house), waiting to wrap them until I arrived at home. For anything purchased in stores, you can also try to ship the items ahead of time. Check online first for cut-off dates to ensure your package arrives in time. That way, you can focus on packing what you need to pack for your trip before you depart and not worry about paying any extra baggage fees or smushing important gifts in transit.

Nothing slows down the TSA security check line like an inexperienced traveler, so know the 3-1-1 rules. Always keep your liquids in your easy to access carry-on bag to make going through security move that much faster. I use several 1 quart bags and split them up: one for liquids, one chargers and misc. camera gear, and one for small non-liquid items like makeup, band aids, ibuprofen, etc. Check out the TSA's Travel Checklist for more information.

Allow plenty of time to get to the airport, train and bus station. If you're checking a bag and don't usually have a baggage tag, use one during this time of year when you should use one. Use GateGuru to find kid-friendly play spaces within the airport if it's going to be a long wait. If you're really early, you might even have time to treat yourself to a manicure and a massage.

Download the airline/train/bus/cruise, etc. mobile app in advance. Most forms of transportation have their own apps these days. Re-booking in case of delay or cancellation is a cinch when you can do it via the app. Delta's mobile app now lets you track your checked baggage in real-time, too.

Last, consider book your holiday travel with a travel agent. Let them handle any snafus like airline strikes or other similar holiday travel disasters while you go grab another drink and linger a little longer with friends and family. Travel agents can take on the stress of dealing with customer service agents while you kick back and await the outcome.

Have any more holiday travel tips to share? Add them in the comments below.

The Accommodation

The reception desk is adjacent to the main entrance. Just beyond this, there is a small contemporary lounge area and bar.

In total, there are 103 rooms and 71 suites at The Stoneleigh. Given the compact size of the common areas of this hotel, I couldn't believe how spacious my room was (375 sq feet). The walk-in closet in my room was practically the size of a second bedroom. The wall behind the bed was covered in the most gorgeous blue and white fabric wallpaper.

There was a spacious shower and tub combination in the bathroom. The subway tiling and marble floors gave the whole bathroom a sophisticated feel. The body wash was by Malin+Goetz.

There is a daily service fee ($28) at this hotel, which does not include the other options breakfast, WiFi ($15), nor valet parking fees ($31). If you find a good room rate online, remember to factor this in before booking.

Dine

Perle on Maple is the on-site French restaurant. I didn't dine at the hotel and opted instead to eat elsewhere in Dallas. At the bar, the happy hour Old Fashioned, featuring Old Overholt 100 proof rye, chicory-pecan bitters, and maple syrup quenched my thirst before meeting up with friends for dinner.

Do

Outside of the doors in the main lobby, you'll find the guest pool. It is located next to a condominium complex, so the area didn't feel as private or as nice as I was hoping it would be. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my afternoon soaking up the sun.

I used a combination of public transit (bus) and Uber to get to downtown Dallas. Both were easy. Downtown Dallas has a handful of interesting shops, including Taschen books.

The Katy Trail, an old railroad line turned into a paved public trail for recreation, is right around the corner from the hotel. It’s a great place to walk or run, but if it’s too hot outside, The Stoneleigh has a 24 hour gym.

Perfect For

Solo travelers, business travelers and couples.

Location

Le Méridien Dallas, The Stoneleigh is located in the Uptown neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. It’s north of the city center and within walking distance to Uptown’s best bars and restaurants. There is a public bus stop outside of the hotel’s main entrance and just to the left that will take you downtown. Despite what locals might advise, you can also take the Orange DART from DFW Airport Station to Victory Station and walk to the hotel.

Brand, Brand, Brand

Your work to make an event something your audience wants to share on social begins way before the invitations are sent out. To ensure your event gets the exposure it deserves, your organization’s social handles need to be all over welcome signage and smaller placards around the venue. This means making sure your short, catchy event hashtag is visible alongside your social handles so that it’s easy for your audience to remember to include it in their social shares. This helps make it easy for you to track results when your event is over, too.

A Venue With A View

The location of any event is key. Pick a place that’s too small and guests will be talking over one another. Pick a place that’s too big and you run the risk of looking like you have a low turnout. The perfect venue has enough space for everyone to move around, places to sit, high top tables for drinks, and room for whatever other activities you have planned (more on this below). If you don’t have a budget for activities, pick a venue with a view so that your guests will have something visual to share with their audience.

Eye-Catching Food and Beverage

Emotional connections to destinations leave lasting impressions. At a travel brand activation, the time you have in which to make that connection happen is extremely limited. What better way to speed up the process than through food?

Visit Guadalajara flew in two chefs from the city to perform live cooking demonstrations. The crowd was captivated. The chefs also made sure the audience was able to taste all of their creations as passed hors d'oeuvres. It made for great Instagram Story content.

A signature cocktail is another excellent way to feature a local distillery or brewery. At an event hosted by the Dominican Republic, bartenders served up colorful passion fruit mojitos, highlighting the tropical fruit flavors the Caribbean island is synonymous with.

A F.O.M.O. Inducing Activity

When you want travel media and influencers to attend your event and also want them to talk about it on social media, it helps to have some kind of activity for guests to experience together so that they can generate content. The Dominican Republic hosted a luncheon just before the The New York Times Travel Show. It was strategically timed for when most travel media are in town. On a bitterly cold New York City winter’s day, they planned a tropical island-themed day of pampering in order to make their guests feel like they were taking a day trip to the Caribbean. Complimentary spray tan and manicure stations were setup to help get guests "beach-ready".

A (No Pressure) Photo Booth

The easier it is to work a photo booth, the more guests will engage with it. Smilebooth provides a sleek and simple setup: an iPad with a light ring around it. The Dominican Republic chose a photo backdrop filled with gorgeous plants and flowers which captured guests’ attention as soon as they walked in the room. The photo booth was a hit, as a result.

A Thoughtful Giveaway and/or Door Gift

A trip giveaway motivate influencers and media to participate in your event, but that’s not the only prize your audience is interested in. Pair up with local hotels and/or tour operators if the cost of a full trip is out of your budget. If it’s a blogger or influencer who wins, they're excited about the publicity winning the trip or product will bring for their own brand, too.

A gift bag handed out upon exit is another way to leave a positive impression with your guests. Forget the sales brochures and USB sticks: they almost always end up in the trash. The Dominican Republic’s gift bag included coffee beans sourced from producers in the Dominican Republic, as well as, products that fit the “beach-ready” event theme, including O.P.I. nail polish (with tropical names and the same colors as their manicure station), chocolate bars (from a Brooklyn chocolatier who uses cocoa from the Dominican Republic), lip balm, etc.

Engage

Encouraging and cross-posting user-generated content will give your brand (or a specific campaign) an extra boost of publicity. Engage with your guests on social media during the event and over the course of the next few days. Be sure to follow up with your attendees by email within the days following your event, thanking them for their participation.

Before you even hand over your camera, make sure its settings are set correctly to increase the chances of the photograph coming out okay. This means having autofocus on, flash enabled (if you think there is a chance for shadows on your face), and a fast enough shutter speed to prevent blur if the person shakes the camera inadvertently. If you have a professional camera and want to make it as painless as possible for them, put it on "Auto" everything mode so that all they have to do is press the shutter.

When you’re trying to figure out which stranger to ask for help, look for someone else holding a camera. If you're in a country where you don't know the language, listen for other English speaking tourists. Worst case, try to use hand motions, and someone should eventually understand.

Tell them not to put your head in the dead center of what they see when they look through the viewfinder (or on the camera screen). To prevent blinking, ask them to tell you when they’re taking the photo with a countdown.

If the person is taking a full body shot, ask them to look through the viewfinder to make sure your head and toes are in view.  

Last, ask them to take more than one photo. Three is usually enough. If you can get them to take a test shot first and show you the result so you can guide them further, that’s even better.

I think this last one goes without saying: always thank them for their time when they're done. Have any additional tips to share? Add them in a comment below - I'd love to read them.

Put Your Best Photos Forward by Formatting Before Posting

Most Instagram users now post photos taken with their camera, not their mobile phone. The only problem with moving images directly from your camera to your phone for posting is that images straight from the camera are often far too big for social media sharing and will get automatically downsized by Instagram. This could result in a loss of quality. Take control by formatting your photos for Instagram by using a photo editing application like Lightroom. Mango Street Lab has determined that images exported as 1080px jpeg at 76% quality look the best in your Instagram feed (as of June 2017).

Make Scheduled Sharing Easier With the Help of an Instagram Planning App

Two standout applications for Instagram planning are Planoly and Later. Planoly has a smooth drag and drop interface which makes it really easy to preview and reorganize your feed (and Instagram Stories) before you hit publish. Hashtag savers and suggestions make it easy to group frequently used hashtags for copying/pasting into a comment below your most recent post. Later has similar features but also offers scheduling for Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. If you have an Instagram Business account, Later's really awesome auto-scheduling feature will make it so you can schedule it and forget it. No more publish alarm clock reminders!

Get Discovered by Hashtagging and Geotagging Instagram Posts and Stories

Hashtags help others discover your photography on Instagram Posts and Stories. When choosing hashtags, think generic, region or city specific, then branded. Branded hashtags are the ones other brands use when seeking content to re-post in their own feed. For example, #TravelWithFathom is the branded hashtag of Fathom Away, an online travel magazine. Their editors are constantly scouring their branded feed to find user generated content to re-post. When Fathom's Instagram account shares your post and tags you, it can bring a lot of traffic to your Instagram page.

In addition to hashtags, geotags help users find your content. When it comes to Instagram Stories, you'll see much higher engagement and views when you geotag your shares because users can watch a summary of stories by place. As you can see from the above screenshot, when I tagged my photograph with the Savannah geolocation, I more than quadrupled my engagement on that individual share.

One thing to keep in mind with geotags is that they are public. Anyone can find where you are. I typically stagger my Instagram Posts and Stories (see Instagram planning app suggestions above👆🏻). I find delaying posting also helps take the pressure of so I focus less on recording and more on enjoying the moments while I'm experiencing them.

Don't want an ugly, tappable geotag blocking your beautiful image or video in your Instagram Story? No problem! Hide it by pinching and pushing together with your fingers to make it appear so small that it eventually disappears. Try to hide it over a bright spot on your image. The same trick can be applied to hashtags and @ mentions, too.

Be More Creative with your Instagram Stories

When users tap through a series of Instagram Stories, they'll pause if you Did you know you can select what color pen or font to use by tapping and holding one of the predetermined colors in the color palette? You can also fill the entire frame with a solid or transparent color by tapping the screen once and holding. Then, use the pen or eraser to get creative.

Ask your Instagram Followers to Turn on Instagram Post Notifications

One sure fire way to get your current Instagram followers to notice your photography is to ask them to turn on post notifications. Smita at Hogger & Co  used a couple screenshots of the Instagram Notification process in a recent Instagram Story to educate her followers. You can do the same by taking a couple screenshots of your own account and posting as a Story.

Brand Your Instagram Profile

For a more professional, branded look, try using templates for your Stories. Free design apps like Canva and Adobe Spark make it easy to create graphics that you can save to your phone in order to upload to your next story. Lifestyle blogger and designer Kate Arends of Wit & Delight uses designed templates to share recent blog posts in her Instagram Stories. And, because she has over 10,000 followers on Instagram, she can link the story card directly to her blog posts to drive engagement to her website. Last, Later has a really great guide to setting Instagram Story Highlight cover images. To highlight a published Instagram Story, watch your story back, tapping the ❤️ icon at the bottom of the screen.

Have any Instagram tips and tricks to share? Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear them!

The Accommodation

I was first exposed to the Spokane, Washington-based Red Lion Hotels Corporation and its RL brand while attending NYTravFest last year. There are currently 39 Red Lion properties in the U.S. and Canada.

The rooms at the Hotel RL Baltimore are basic yet comfortable. The quality is similar in style to a DoubleTree, yet its pared-down amenities might make it feel like a nice Best Western.

All units overlook the streets and office buildings of downtown Baltimore. The windows are large and have blackout blinds (along with sheer fabric blinds). Though there are ample outlets and USB charging ports in the room, there are no coffee makers nor mini-refrigerators.

The bathroom door is a sliding glass door. It's convenient, but does not provide much privacy. 

Active travelers will make good use of the free bicycle rental.

The staff at the Hotel RL Baltimore left me with a great impression. They accommodated our midnight check-in and request for late checkout. They also offered secure luggage storage while I went for a haircut and was in-between accommodations.

Dine

The cafe at the hotel is open for breakfast and each stay at the Hotel RL Baltimore includes a free coffee. 

Do

The Hotel RL has an event space (where they host live performances). There is also a game room on premise.

The public spaces were open and inviting. They felt like an ideal spot to work from for an afternoon.

The hotel is located within walking distance of the most touristy parts of Baltimore, including the Inner Harbour and Camden Yards.

The picturesque Fells Point and Federal Hill neighborhoods are only a short Uber ride away.

Perfect for

Couples, singles, and business travelers

Location

Hotel RL Baltimore is located in downtown Baltimore, Maryland.

Avoid booking the first or last scheduled flight of the day

When you make your travel plans and book your tickets early enough, you're spoilt for choice. Try to avoid peak travel dates and times, like spring break or the November/December holiday season in the United States. Remember, the first and last scheduled flights on days with inclement weather are often the first cancellations an airline will make.

Read More: What to Buy at the Airport 

Book with an airline that operates using hubs-and-spokes

Low-cost air carriers often schedule their aircrafts on a point-to-point transit system. For example, they might schedule their airplanes to fly in a loop from New York City to Fort Lauderdale to Detroit to New York City. What's the problem with this? If your plane ticket is from Fort Lauderdale to Detroit and the airplane is stuck in New York City, your flight is probably going to be delayed (or worse, cancelled). Airlines with bigger fleets and larger networks, on the other hand, typically use a hub-and-spoke approach. For example, Delta Airlines has flights departing NYC to other major U.S. hubs practically every hour of the day. The odds of them accommodating you on an earlier or later flight are much higher.

Insure Your Trip

Researching your credit card’s travel benefits will help you feel more prepared in case of an emergency. Many cards offer reimbursement for travel delays greater than 12 hours and also provide lost or delayed luggage benefits. When you book using your reward points, you can also get your credit card's customer service department involved to help with any hotel or flight cancellations and rebookings.

To cover the other "what ifs", like a medical emergency or an incident back home that demands your immediate return, purchase travel insurance. I've purchased through IMG Global in the past because they offer many affordable options to fit my budget and coverage needs.

Travel with a carry-on

This tip should be a no-brainer! 😉 When you're at the airport dealing with a weather-related delay, you need to be nimble and willing to work with whatever the gate agent can offer you for rebooking. The airlines don’t want to lose your bag just as much as you don’t want them to, so be sure to tell them that you have a carry-on and are ready to take whatever best offer they can provide.

Budget for emergencies

It really can't hurt to aside enough money this year for one or two emergency Uber rides or airport hotel nights. If the airline issues a travel waiver, meaning you can rebook your flight on another date and time at no additional cost, having that extra budget will make it so you won't have to worry about the cost of extending your stay in your destination. Be sure to save all of your receipts, especially if you're delayed long enough to file a claim with your insurance company.

Use promo code MFREI9 in the HotelTonight app for $25 off your first stay

Try to stay positive

I know, it's particularly hard to stay positive when your plans for travel are ruined by the forces outside of your control. Katie of Stories My Suitcase Could Tell recently found herself in Mexico City after plans to visit her friends and family in Scotland for her 30th birthday fell through due to the weather conditions in the United Kingdom. I admire her and her husband's quick thinking to take advantage of the week they'd already taken off work in order to make the best of an otherwise disappointing situation.

The Accommodation

The Julia was a condominium building before it was converted into a boutique hotel. During renovations, the historic building's Art Deco facade and Cuban tile floors were spared. The hotel has only been open six months, so it came as no surprise they were still putting the finishing touches on the landscaping beyond the front patio overlooking Collins Avenue.

The lobby is calm, cool and cozy, which is quite the contrast to the vibrant South Beach neighborhood.

A wave of calm washes over you once you enter the pale mauve and grey guestrooms. The Atrium Twin and King, with 20 foot ceilings, are the most spacious room category. The Flagler King and Twin have lower ceilings but are just as light.

The tiled bathrooms feature spacious walk-in showers and bathrobes.

Dine

There is no restaurant on-site, however, the hotel is within walking distance of all the popular South Beach restaurants. A complimentary spread of pastries and coffee/tea/juice is served in the lobby each morning.

Rooms have Nespresso coffee makers and bottled water.

The hotel also offers a complimentary wine and cheese hour in the lobby each evening.

Do

Parking is difficult in the area, so you'll do best in South Beach if you get around by ride sharing apps, by Citi Bike, or on foot. The Julia hotel is a five minute walk to the beautiful beaches of South Beach.

The hotel has a deal with the Boucher Brothers stand at the beach, which means two towels and chairs are included with your stay.

If you want to go to the beach on the day of check-out, kindly ask the hotel staff to store your bags. Then, you can continue to use their beach chairs until you have to leave for your flight home.

Outside of South Beach, shop and dine in the trendy Wynwood and Design District neighborhoods.

Depending on traffic, these two neighborhoods are a 20 minute taxi ride away from the hotel.

Perfect For

The Julia is an adults-only hotel and is best for couples and solo travelers.

Location

The Julia is located at 336 Collins Avenue in South Beach, Miami. The hotel is approximately a 30 minute cab ride away from the airport.

Simply put, I study all sides of the travel trends. I follow the under-the-radar and over-hyped destinations influencers and travel agents buzz about. I stay grounded in the data shared in trade publications and reports produced by the UNWTO. As a photographer and travel consumer myself, my own selfish interests in beautiful landscapes and unique opportunities to connect with local cultures influence my selections, too. That said, here my picks for 12 unique destinations to add to your 2018 bucket list.

1. ST. HELENA

Never heard of Saint Helena? You're not alone. South African Airways Airlink launched commercial air service to the tiny South Atlantic island late last year. Intrepid divers and explorers now find themselves with greater access to this remote destination. It's one of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth, so it's quite exceptional that Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to Saint Helena for the last six years of his life.

2. POLAND

The rugged Tatra Mountains rise above the small, remote village of Zakopane in Southern Poland. At the turn of the century, the region first became a popular holiday destination for Cracovians due to its many outdoor activities that delight nature lovers year-round. Accomodation options in the region range from affordable Airbnb in traditional-style wooden homes to posh resorts.

3. FAROE ISLANDS (DENMARK)

While the scenery appears otherworldly, the Faroe Islands are only a short connecting flight from Reykjavík and Copenhagen. Many adventure travelers are opting to visit the Faroe Islands as an alternative Iceland, which experienced issues with overcrowding last year. The largest island of the Faroes already home to a Michelin Star restaurant, Koks. Now is the time to visit before everyone else discovers this special destination.

4. PHILIPPINES

Travelers in search of an under-the-radar beach destination and an alternative to Bali will fall in love with the Philippines. A nation comprised of thousands of islands equates to an unfathomable amount of unspoilt coastline to enjoy. Most travelers avoid the south due to security threats, but that shouldn't stop you from visiting. Check out the more popular islands of Boracay or Bohol if it's your first visit.

5. SOUTH KOREA

All eyes will be on South Korea come Feburary as PyeongChang hosts the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. There is so much more to discover in South Korea, including Jeju Island, a volcanic island known for its walking trails, lava tubes and caves, and outdoor parks just 130 kilometers off the coast of the mainland.

6. MOROCCO

Morocco is on all the mainstream travel magazine 'where to go' lists this year and with good reason. Whether it's getting lost in Marrakech's maze-like souks, falling asleep under the stars in a desert camp, or wandering through the vivid blue alleys of Chefchaouen, Morocco is a crowd favorite destination among photographers and Instagram influencers.

7. MEXICO

Mexico was a tourism innovator in the late 1970's when the government built Cancun from literally nothing into a resort tourism destination. While this style of travel is certainly not going away any time soon, some travelers are instead gravitating towards other cities in Mexico for more authentic experiences and cultural connections. For this reason, Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos of Sayulita, Izamal and Todos Santos are destinations to note in 2018.

8. MALTA

If there is one European destination everyone will visit to avoid the summer crowds in Italy and Spain, it's Malta. The jagged cliffs and rocky Mediterranean beaches provide incredible viewpoints from which to watch the sunrise and sunset each day. There are also a number of historical sites and ancient ruins to visit.

9. TURKEY

The western town of Pamukkale, Turkey is where travelers will go to to revive and renew themselves in 2018. The thermal pools found here are Seussian-like white travertine terraces are fed by mineral-rich natural springs. When travelers seek a break from the spa, they can visit the ruins of monuments from the Roman and Byzantine eras.

10. SOUTH AFRICA

Relatively affordable flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town continue to make South Africa one of the top destinations for travelers of all ages and interests. This July, the country honors the 100th anniversary of the birth of the anti-Apartheid icon and South African president Nelson Mandela.

(Read my AFAR Guide to Cape Town for more travel tips!)

11. PORTUGAL

Hikers and history buffs, seafood lovers and oenophiles all rave about their experiences in Portugal. In 2017, Portugal saw a 34% year over year increase in American arrivals alone and the country is getting ready for another influx this year. Lisbon, in particular, plans to open a new cruise port as well as 15 new hotels. Similar to Malta, Portugal is 2018's European "it" destination and a great place to experience with the whole family.

12. SCOTLAND

What would a travel bucket list be without a great road trip? The North Coast 500 in Scotland is an incredible 830 kilometer, sometimes one lane, winding circular route around the northern half of the country. There are plenty of picturesque beaches, mountains and castles to see and the only traffic jams consist of the odd sheep or cattle crossing. 

Honorable mention goes to the countries of Slovenia, Panama, Finland, and Chile. Where are you traveling to in 2018? I'd love to hear in a comment below.

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What's on your holiday wishlist this year?

After passing through an airport-like security room, I took a moment to wander around the front esplanade and admire the various sculptures. Given number of meetings and events happening inside, the entire building and property felt impressively calm.

The Travel+Social Good Global Summit was held in the Economic and Social Council Chamber. The room is a destination for reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable development at the United Nations. It was a fitting choice for our discussion.

For the Global Summit, Travel+Social Good brought together 150 of the top influencers in the responsible tourism sector. The conference was moderated by Nori Quintos, Editor-at-Large for National Geographic Travel. She looked familiar, and I remembered I had heard her speak before, at the Travel+Social Good Academy Day a couple years ago.

Delegates appointed to the United Nations from Israel, Kenya, Botswana, Uganda, and Tanzania provided opening remarks.

Beyond being a really great networking opportunity, the bigger purpose of this year's Global Summit was to discuss how we can all support the mainstreaming of sustainable travel. I feel this is incredibly important topic of discussion based on my own experience working in the travel industry. Tour operators may be far removed from the communities and environments they operate in, but they have a direct impact. Though the concept of mainstreaming sustainable travel is not without its challenges, I have seen firsthand how, when tourism is done right, it can be a positive force for cultural connection and economic stimulation.

Ecotourism, responsible travel, sustainable travel...it's all the same.

Representatives from the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Tourism Cares and Sustainable Travel International were in a panel session moderated by Kelley Louise, the Executive Director of Travel +Social Good. The panel discussed one small change that I feel will make a big difference: to stop using so many different adjectives to market the sector. Clearer messaging will reduce consumer confusion.

Tourism represents 8% of global employment and it is estimated that one job in the core tourism industry creates about one and a half additional or indirect jobs in the tourism related economy.

The UNEP did a study which showed that for every $100 spent on a vacation tour by a tourist in a developed country, only $5 stayed within the local economy. Tour operators can do a better job on this front by contracting with more local suppliers. GAdventures is one example of this. 91% of GAdventure contracted suppliers (hotels, restaurants, tour providers) are locally-owned businesses and source their products and services from local producers within a certain radius. This helps spread tourism revenue within local economies, leads to job creation, and ultimately, reduces poverty.

More than a third of travellers are found to favour environmentally-friendly tourism and be willing to pay between 2 and 40 percent more for this experience.

Travel agents can play an influential role in reshaping the narrative for the average consumer, as well. By attending training courses with organizations like Tourism Cares, they can pass on that knowledge to their clients and steer them towards better decision making. Consumers and agents make excellent storytellers, as well. Compelling visuals and narratives about human connection that strike a chord within all of us (something else that GAdventures does very well with their marketing).

Travel+Social Good also had an exciting announcement to share: they would be re-branding as Impact Travel Alliance. If you work in the travel industry and are just as passionate as I am about sustainable travel, take a look at this list to see if there is a hub near you to join.

The Accommodation

Forsyth Park Inn is a Queen Anne style Victorian-era house and was built in 1896.

The original owner was a sea captain from Nova Scotia, which explains why some of the original details of the home have a nautical feel. The carved balusters of the main staircase look just like rope.

There are 11 rooms (plus one cottage) and each have an en-suite bathroom. I stayed in Room 4, located towards at back of the house on the parlor floor. The 14 foot ceilings and pale green walls made the room feel light and airy. The room is incredibly spacious - there is even a small sunroom at the back which faces the inn's inner courtyard.

Nearby, Room 3 features two queen beds, a whirlpool tub and a view of the park. 

Room 1 is also located on the parlor level. Its large windows look out to picturesque Forsyth Park. The four poster queen size bed, fireplace, and wet bar make this room feel most luxurious. It's the perfect room for a couple celebrating a special occasion.

The other guest rooms are just as well appointed and are located on the second floor.

The staff at the Inn does not stay overnight. There is keyless entry system at the front door, so when you arrive, Dwayne will help you setup a personal passcode. The individual rooms do have keys, however.

Dine

The Forsyth Park Inn provides a complimentary breakfast and you can pre-book a time to eat the night prior. Whether you opt to dine on the front porch or in the parlor, you'll have a wonderful view of Forsyth Park.

Each evening, a selection of pastries and coffee/tea are set out for guests to enjoy in the parlor at their leisure. It's a real treat to come back to such decadent sweets after a long day of sightseeing.

Do

Before I arrived in Savannah on my weekend getaway, I received an email with their recommendations for restaurants and attractions to see. From Forsyth Park Inn you can easily walk most nearby attractions.

Start by exploring the namesake park across the street. The Spanish moss falls ever so carefully from tree limbs and delicately sways in the wind. Wander square by square as you make your way down to the waterfront.

If you like historic homes, visit the Owens-Thomas House. "If there's one mansion you tour while you're in Savannah, make it this one," Dwayne advises.

Savannah is a very walkable city, but you can also take the free Dot bus to some 24 stops around the city. There's a Dot stop conveniently located right outside of the Forsyth Park Inn.

Perfect for

Solo travelers and couples

Location

The Forsyth Park Inn is located at the northwestern edge of Forsyth Park in downtown Savannah, Georgia.