For this week’s Snapshot we’re excited to present the brilliant photography of Shane Vincent. The moment we saw his work we got lost in the imagery. His unique approach to shooting cities caused a serious case of wanderlust. Hailing from London, we briefly caught up with the 20 year-old self taught photographer. He describes his beginnings as years of constant experimentation and practicing. Even though he’s tried different approaches, he’s confident that he’s barely scratched the surface of photography. As he describes, “My influences are mostly from films, old and new, so although essentially I’m just documenting, there is still an element of trying to create a cinematic image or whole mood and story from a still scene.” We have a few of his images listed below. Click Read More to view.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Shane Vincent

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The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse – the newly opened lounge at Newark International Airport – befits its namesake in the best way possible. Located airside, post security, it beckons travelers with recessed lighting and black lacquered walls. The entryway creates a marcasite effect similar to the setting on a sidewalk outside a ritzy afterhours boîte. Inside, soft ambient music plays a subtle backdrop to a landscape of passengers relaxing with their copies of the Financial Times or flipping through their iPads as they sip cups of tea. We recently visited Virgin Atlantic’s new clubhouse to experience their latest effort in making travel more comfortable.

Words: Jennifer Green
Photography: Courtesy of David Evan McDowell and Virgin Atlantic

Designed by the award winning New York based Slade Architecture, the Newark Clubhouse is part of Virgin Atlantic’s £100 million investment in its Upper Class product. Inside, the palette of the space plays with grays, reds, and neutrals. A prismatic bar is the centerpiece in a room whose design transitions seamlessly from squat charcoal-gray sofas to graceful swooping lounge chairs to plush booths. In the area caddy corner to the entrance (dubbed the “passion pit”) passengers reclining amid hues of rose are encouraged to grab a little shut-eye.

The space does just as much to entice its guests to stay awake. The Clubhouse’s Liquid Lounge offers a place where passengers can socialize over a signature drink. Passengers seated here can also sample a selection of Tea Forte, freshly ground Lavazza coffee, and light fare from the kitchen.

Entering the dining room prepares the palette for a more exotic turn. Orbs of light are suspended from the ceiling in the fashion of a chandelier, illuminating an array of dining options unlike any one would expect from an airport establishment, even one as experiential as this. A bowl of red curry noodles arrives piping hot and dressed with lime and chili peanuts, reminiscent of the dish one might crave from a favorite Thai spot. An Anjou pear and Maytag Blue cheese salad provides a satisfying crunch with toasted hazelnuts and fresh thyme vinaigrette.

The aptly-named Virgin Redhead, arriving just in time for a second entree, is decidedly non-virgin. A bright and nuanced cocktail blending Bombay Sapphire with Cassis and bubbly, the Redhead is a sparkling precursor to the main event: a beautiful plate of smoked fish and red pepper.

Pieces of poached haddock are light on the tongue and seem to melt in the mouth alongside their crispier counterparts, spiced potato wedges. Yolk from the poached egg perched atop the dish lends it a nice cohesion.

The savory journey ends with the artisan cheese plate, lovingly curated with a tiny pot of fruit chutney. A delectable dessert called “Everlasting lemon and brandy syllabub,” finished off with cracked black pepper shortbread, tastes as poetic as it sounds.

As far as culinary experiences go, it’s safe to say this is the most at home you’ll ever feel at an airport, which is a very satisfying feeling indeed.

— el fin.

Also, don’t forget to check out Virgin Atlantic’s incredible web feature entitled, How I Clubhouse. Next time you visit the clubhouse, you can share your clubhouse photos by using Instagram and the hashtag HowIClubhouse. Visit the site to see how others have enjoyed the experience.

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Some of the greatest inspiration lands in our inbox. A few weeks ago, our friend Rashid Zakat sent a note about the fantastic work of photographer and graphic designer, Kristian Hjelle from Molde, Norway. After checking out Kristian’s site, Everyday Photos, we asked if he would be a part of our Snapshot Series. Fortunately, he obliged, and this remarkably talented 18 year old sent over an inspiring collection of images from a recent trip to Stockholm, Sweden.

The photos capture a quiet and emotive aspect of travel that we really enjoy. From window gazing, to the young girl peaking around the seat on the train, it’s a wonderful story of travel and its casual beauty. As Kristian describes, “Photography is my second creative output and has become a huge part of my life. I’m bringing my camera with me everywhere I go. Inspired by film photography and cinematography, I try to keep my images as honest as possible – even though I’m always looking to make them as interesting as possible through in-camera techniques and post-processing. In the end, I try to make the images reflect the situation as well as my emotions at the time.”

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Kristian Hjelle

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We’re really excited to present this week’s Snapshot. Cuba comes to focus thanks to the thoughtful eye of Tadao Cern. The Lithuanian born photographer originally started his career in the field of architecture and decided a few years ago to give photography a try. As he tells us, “That changed everything! At the moment photography is my passion and my main job. But what I feel most excited about is knowing that there are many more things out there to try and I’ll do that soon too.” An adventurer and observer, we really enjoyed Tadao’s photos from Cuba. They capture everyday life and its casual beauty. We hope you enjoy them too.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Tadao Cern

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This week’s Snapshot comes courtesy of our friend Paul Kim. A consistent traveler and talented photographer, Kim sent over these incredible images from Seoul, Korea. Currently hailing from Australia, but a global citizen at heart, we asked him about his early beginnings as a photographer and traveler. He explains, “Being a bit of a film geek I originally studied Film Production but it wasn’t until years after that I realized my real interest was in still imagery and its emotive potential. Capturing life in its original and unhindered state came more naturally to me than directing people on camera. Then I started combining the two things I’m most passionate about – Travel and Photography. I’m a bit of a jet-setter and like to hop on a plane at least 1-2 times a year to a foreign soil.” We also asked Paul about his camera of choice and he replied, “I love traveling with my old Minolta circa 1980 film SLR.” We’ve posted his images of every-day Seoul below.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Paul Kim

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On wejetset you’ll find conversations about faraway places, like Dominique Negrón’s 6 month tour of Ecuador, or Anthony Smyrski’s photo essay of Japan. And lately, we’ve felt the urge to balance these stories with conversations about travel in the abstract. To us, the broad concept of travel is rooted in moments where there’s a perspective shift. Where nothing is taken for granted and everything feels new because it’s noticed. That’s why we’re excited to present our latest series entitled, Short Journeys. Part photo essay, part profile – each article highlights an interesting creative and the short journeys they take in both their professional and local spaces. First up, Eliot Park.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Justine Chang

Eliot Park – a short journey from Prospect Place to the Brooklyn Museum.

—

Eliot Park is a 24 year old furniture designer interested in making thoughtfully crafted products. Growing up outside of Philadelphia he watched his Dad work extremely hard to provide for the family. To him, his Dad personified efficiency. He was a dedicated shop owner who built his business on detail and a keen sense of whether things work or not. Everything in his shop had its place. If it wasn’t efficient it didn’t belong. So on a cool Spring day, before walking to the Brooklyn Museum, we sat down with Elly to discuss his thoughts on design, his father and the impact he had on his creative process.

—

“I think about my Dad a lot when it comes to design. In school this had a huge effect on me. Sometimes I would over think things because I wanted to create something that struck a perfect balance between effiency and long term usefulness. I wanted to create something my Dad would use – something that would make things easier. But sometimes items require an inefficient amount of care in order to return a high level of use. I know that sounds crazy, but… for example I made a cutting board that has the grain exposed so that your knife doesn’t dull when using it. It’s a simple concept. Your knife’s blade last longer and it’s a solid design solution for long term wear and tear. The only downside, the wooden block requires a lot of care to maintain (oils, etc.). It’s a little impractical and that’s the challenge. How can I design a product that’s easy to maintain and has high returns in its usefulness? I think about that a lot. I want to make things slow and good, but I also want to make them useable for someone like my Dad who is judging them purely on their overall efficiency. Creating something like this isn’t a quick process. It requires a lot of time and thought.”

That day, Elly and I talked a lot about speed and how fast things are moving. In the hyper-paced age of Ikea-style production lines it’s hard for the deliberate craftsman to find a quiet place to develop their ideas. That’s where we began our Short Journey to the Brooklyn Museum.

—

“I love this walk. Sometimes I change my entire route so I can come this way. I’m not sure what it is, but it gives me space to think. Before I moved to Brooklyn I did a lot of research. I wanted to find out as much as I could about the neighborhoods and their history. This walk highlights some of the things I find most interesting about the city.

For example, the area surrounding the parkway has been through a lot. It’s forever changing. From its tense history with the race riots in the early 90s, to the area’s interesting architectural story, this part of Brooklyn has so much depth and character. Plus, with all that said, it still feels like a real neighborhood. There are young people, old people, kids are playing outside – all of that makes me feel comfortable here.

When I first got to New York I remember checking out the Brooklyn Museum. It blew me away. There were tons of people outside and they were having a raging dance party inside. Then, to top it off, the art curation was amazing. That’s a museum! I fell in love right away. There’s so much creative energy and excitement surrounding it. Plus, the community really gets behind the exhibits. Sometimes during the day, when it’s a bit more mellow – I like stopping by – it’s the perfect place to relax, slow down and think."

—

Eliot’s short journey took us from Prospect Place to the Brooklyn Museum. It’s a significant walk with many sights and people – especially via the parkway. You can stop by the Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn) Wednesday through Sunday 11 am – 6pm with extended hours on Thursday to 10 pm. We highly recommend it. At the time of this interview the museum had a magnificent exhibit featuring Keith Haring and his work from 1978 to 1982.

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Julien Mauve photographed the beautiful geography and people of Népal. The french web developer traveled there in 2011 and snapped an amazing series of images that are perfect for this week’s edition of Snapshot. Each image presents a different angle of the country’s charm and delivers a healthy dose of travel inspiration. It’s undeniable. You’ll want to visit immediately, so be prepared. We posted a few photos below.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Julien Mauve

View the entire series on Behance.

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Dominique Negrón has presence. It fills the room. She’s welcoming, humble and maintains a quiet confidence that suggests she’s an astute observer – a traveler. So when we met Dominique during a HyLo Event we knew we had to interview her. A few weeks later on an unseasonably warm day in Philadelphia, Justine and I headed over to Northern Liberties to meet Dominique at her apartment for coffee and to discuss her 6 month trip to Ecuador, as well as her current work as a style editor.

Interview: Taj Reid
Photography: Justine Chang

Dominique Negrón Style Editor for HyLo Boutiques

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Currently I write and act as the Style Editor for HyLo Boutiques – a Philadelphia based fashion and design collective that promotes local talent through storytelling and events. It’s my job to find the talent and help curate which items to feature on our site and at the events. We’re really proud of the work because it reconnects people with the production and more specifically the individual designers and artisans.

—

When it comes to travel or my work as a style editor I’m not sure where it all began. I was an Anthropology major in college and I’ve always been interested in different cultures and people. I come from a mixed heritage household, which influenced my world view early on. So you could say I’ve always had an interest in diverse perspectives whether it’s art, food or fashion. It’s what encouraged me to travel and see different things. But specifically, when it comes to styling, I think the field can be interpreted through an anthropological lens. It’s an exercise in the analysis of fashion as a whole. To be able to expand your horizons and see many different cultural trends or styles at once is the challenge. Putting it all together, so that it makes sense… that’s the art form and what really got me interested in styling and writing about fashion.

—

My realization that I wanted a career in fashion started in Ecuador. It was a trip that had so many unexpected outcomes. I originally went there to teach english and ended up working at a travel agency. My boss at the time started a birding tourism company in the tropics because he loved it. It was empowering to realize you can do what you love even though it may not be the easiest path. Watching him pursue his passion was inspiring.

At the very same time, I was starting to religiously read fashion blogs. In the beginning I was mostly influenced by The Sartorialist, like many others. So as a tourist I took pictures of the beautiful scenery, and then later the people – as any anthropologist would – and then I moved on to what the people were wearing. Fashion is an interesting manifestation of culture. Not only is there street style, runway style, and cultural style but there are also styles specific to a region or city. Seeing that first hand made me realize I wanted a career in fashion because I could touch so many topics and experiences through a single field. It was a culmination of interests – travel, culture and people. All of that happened for me in Ecuador.

—

While in Ecuador, my boyfriend and I took a weekend trip to the surf town, Mompiche, on the NW coast. Right away we connected with the people in the town – young boys and men who all surfed and played soccer on the beach.

At nights we would go to the one bar in town for fresh pina coladas. The bar owner “Casi Guapo” translated as “almost handsome” (the locals insisted on us calling him that – and it was true) used the fruits of the jungle and beach to make our cocktails.

It wasn’t until day two that we started throwing around a frisbee. The kids caught on instantly, and in no time we split into teams then explained the rules of ultimate frisbee in gestures and broken Spanish. The game got competitive and we attracted spectators, which heightened the intensity. It was a great time.

Needless to say, nobody wanted to leave and return to the city that weekend. We were all praying the rain would make the road impossible to travel.

— el fin.

—

A quick note about the photographs — Dominique’s apartment is full of bright colors, sunlight, the smell of amazing coffee and art from all over the world. It’s a physical affirmation of travel’s influence. The featured pictures above display some choice pieces that Dominique collected while visiting Ecuador. Her colorful shoes and a beautiful ring by Oswaldo Guayasamín are just a few of the notable pieces we observed on our visit.

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For this week’s snapshot check out these amazing images by Boogie. The Serbian born photographer spent the last two decades documenting the lives of people that are often missed by mainstream journalism. His passion for the camera began in the early 90s during Serbia’s civil war. The civil unrest compelled him to start photographing and he hasn’t stopped since. In 1998 he moved to Brooklyn and has published a number of books while exhibiting his photography all over the world. Below, we have a few pictures he took during a return visit to Belgrade, Serbia.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Boogie

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Wale Oyejide lives in four dimensions. He’s a lawyer, singer, artist and fashion maven who refuses to leave any experience on the table. He wants it all, and we believe he’ll get it. Recently, we caught up with Wale to discuss travel and the launch of his site, LessGentleMen. It’s a wonderful resource for style and inspiration. As Wale describes it, “The site is all about the unbridled hubris of the ever-evolving man.” Scroll down to view the entire interview.

Interview: Taj Reid
Photography: Justine Chang for wejetset

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It’s hard to pinpoint where my love of art and fashion began. I’ve pursued a lot of different things because I’ve seen someone I admire doing it in an interesting way and realized that I could do it too – not necessarily better, but in a way that represents what I’d like to see in the world. So whether it’s the law, music or my fashion, I’ve always felt like I have something positive to add to the conversation. Plus, I have really talented friends that inspire me and help me put together my ideas – people like Dave from 12RND who’s a fantastic photographer. Together, we’ve found a way to create our own voice with some of the style shots you see on LessGentleMen.

—

When it comes to travel, going to Japan was my first major fashion memory. There I saw people making a huge effort to dress well – especially the guys going to work. It was beyond expression. It was regimented. It was the official work way. I also noticed their menswear – they’re taking bits and pieces from Europe and executing it in a way that puts them at the forefront of fashion these days. That’s what I love about travel. It exposes you to so many styles and ideas – especially in cities that collectively do fashion well. But, in all of my travels, I would say Paris is as close to a fashion capital if one exists. Every street corner feels like a post card. That’s the best city visually.

—

The first time we came into Japan we were riding the train from Osaka to Hiroshima. It was dawn and you could see the sun coming up from Mount Fuji. It was beautiful. A nice reminder for why anyone should travel. There’s so much to see and experience out there.

—

I always travel with a sport coat. You need something that allows you to dress up or dress down. That way you’re prepared for any occasion. You never know what situation you may find yourself in, so a nice sport coat is invaluable.

—

It’s important to dress well when you travel. Don’t wear sweatpants. My parents always told me that when I travel I represent where I’m from so it’s important to represent that place well. That’s why I get dressed up whenever I travel, so maybe you’ll wonder where I’m going and where I’m coming from.

— el fin.

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We’re excited to present a new editorial series entitled Snapshot. We hope it provides some travel inspiration as fall edges closer and summer’s spontaneity dims. The concept is simple: We ask our favorite travelers to submit photos from a recent trip – no description, no details, no pressure – just photos capturing everyday life and its casual beauty.

Our first Snapshot comes courtesy of Anthony Smyrski – founder of Smyrski Creative. During a trip to Japan, Anthony brilliantly captured those unseen moments that are generally overlooked. Click Read More to view his images from Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

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Four days after graduation Sarah Kim left California and moved to New York City to become a stylist. The first year was hard, but she found her footing and landed a job with Carlos Campos. There, she was exposed to many sides of the fashion industry and realized her interests expanded beyond styling. The world of editorial caught her eye and soon she navigated her way to becoming a Fashion Assistant and Editor at Antenna Magazine.

On a warm summer evening we caught up with Sarah in Soho to discuss work and her experiences traveling. As she describes it, “When I look back and think about being in New York and working at Antenna, if you told me a few years ago that I would be here, I would have never believed you. I was set on being a stylist and all those experiences brought me to becoming an editor at a great magazine where I get to travel, meet interesting people and write stories that I’m excited about.” Below, you can find the rest of our interview with Sarah where she tells us more about moving to New York and her favorite travel experiences.

Interview: Taj Reid
Photography: Justine Chang

—

I didn’t want to move to New York. I was against it at first. San Francisco and LA have so much to offer. Why leave? But after a lot of closed doors and prayer it seemed like I was supposed to move to New York.

When I first got here I arrived with aspirations to be a stylist. I started by working for a menswear designer – Carlos Campos. He hired me with no job experience and gave me a chance. I learned a lot from him. He was really supportive and told me, “At the end of the day it’s just fashion. It’s just clothes.” That helped me maintain perspective. It opened my eyes to a lot of things in the industry and I began to wonder what it would be like to work for a fashion magazine.

I’d get all the press requests and saw how magazines worked with labels. So one day Antenna had a shoot and they pulled Carlos Campos. I asked them if they needed any extra help at the shoot. They did and afterward I reached out to them asking if they were looking for a fashion assistant. Luckily they were and I started to freelance with them.

At first there wasn’t enough hours so I needed to get another job. But then the magazine’s Editorial Assistant left and my Editor-in-Chief asked if I wanted to do Edits on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and do Fashion on Tuesday and Thursday. I jumped at the opportunity and became the Editorial and Fashion Assistant for about three months. Eventually my Editor asked me if I wanted to just do Edits. I was thrilled because you get to see the entire magazine – fashion and everything else.

—

I’m a huge fan of food trucks. A few issues back we did an advertorial piece with Hyundai. Five of us from Antenna Magazine traveled to six cities across the country for a food truck adventure. We visited Portland, Los Angeles, Cleveland, New Orleans, DC and came back to New York. It was a quick tour and even though it took place over the span of two weeks, it felt like 6 days because when you minus travel time, we were in each city for roughly 30 hours.

That trip was amazing. We were talking to people from all over the country and eating great food. Plus the people who operate food trucks tend to be super entrepreneurial and charismatic so it was interesting to meet them. Also, the people coming to the food trucks were equally interesting. Each city had it’s own flavor, style and conversation. For example you’ll see all kinds of people coming up to a food truck in DC but they’re all talking about the same thing – politics. That’s what I love about food trucks. Any and everyone can eat at one.

—

Tough question – I know I’m going to get so much flack for this – especially from my friends on the west coast, but my favorite city is New York. I love the west coast. I love San Francisco. I love Seattle. But it’s got to be New York. I think it’s because I’ve grown so much here.

At first New York was really challenging. But every time I left, I missed it. And now I find myself calling New York home more and more. I love it so much. Sometimes I even find myself smiling about it. What a difference from the first year I got here. I feel like I was crying the entire time. It was a tough year, but there was so much growth that it made me love it. Plus the people are amazing. Where else can you find every kind of food in one place and have it be authentic. That’s what makes New York great. It’s the people, the food and the overall exposure to other cultures.

—

It’s my bike. Definitely. New York is different when your walking. It’s different when you’re riding a bike. It’s different when you’re taking the bus. And, it’s different when you’re in a car or on a train. Each one is interesting, but riding a bike is my favorite. I feel closest to the city when I’m riding my bike. Although I have to admit I do miss driving sometimes. That’s the west coast in me.

—

My notebook and my bible. No matter where I go I like to have my two constants with me.

— el fin.

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Petite Passport is a brilliant collection of locations by Pauline Egge, one of our favorite travel journalists. Since 2006 she’s written about travel hotspots for an impressive roster of magazines including Red, Glamour and Marie Claire. But, because print publishing lacks the speed and spontaneity of the web, she created Petite Passport to keep an up-to-date catalog of all the spots she’s been to, wants to go to, or generally finds interesting. As she describes it, “It’s my little black book full of addresses. It’s a wish list and also a review of places I actually visited.” Recently we caught up with Pauline to discuss travel and her fantastic site.

Words: Taj Reid
Photography: Anne Timmer

Australia – I was twenty and traveled to that far away land on my own. On the first night I was introduced to a wet booby contest on some rooftop and thought, ‘Hell no!’ This was not how I wanted to travel. So I bought a Let’s Go guide and it took me to the most fantastic places. That’s when my hunt for fabulous addresses started. In Australia I learned about living in the moment – waking up and thinking ‘What to do today? Should I travel to the South, travel to the North, or lay at the beach for the day?’ Another one of my favorite experiences was checking into the Ace Hotel in Portland. It was a dream come true. I really had to pinch myself like – you’re really here.

Rotterdam. It’s my home town and also home to one of the best architects in the world, Rem Koolhaas. It’s different than Amsterdam. Every tourist goes there, but Rotterdam is a true architectural gem. It’s only an hour by car (or train), so people should definitely combine the two when visiting.

If we’re talking hotspots I have to say London. It’s like the hotspot capital of the world. On my wish list I have the new Pizza East in Notting Hill, Dishoom Beach Pop Up and Kerbischer & Malt for the best fish & chips.

More recently I fell in love with Barcelona. It’s a city full of hotspots but also has two notable extras – beautiful weather and the beach. Everyone should check out Gallito where all three elements (hotspot, sun and beach) come together.

My MINI. I love taking her on road-trips to wherever. We’ve been to Paris together, and we want to see a lot more of Europe. The thing about driving a car is that it equals a feeling of freedom. You can stop where you want and the holiday starts when you open your door. When in a city I hate using public transport. Take Berlin for example, try to catch the subway from Mitte to Prenzlauerberg and it will take you ages. Hire a bike instead. And you can easily escort yourself from one hotspot to another and see everything in between.

Magazines. What’s the first thing I do when entering an airport? Buy lots of magazines. Always local magazines. It doesn’t bother me that I don’t speak Turkish, Spanish or German. If I see something nice, there’s usually a website underneath it. My favorite magazines at the moment are Monocle, Conde Nast Traveler and Spanish AD.

Everytime you come back home, book another trip. The world is there to discover; not only dream about. You don’t have to be a lottery winner. You don’t have to fly to far away locations every trip. I bet there’s a cool hotel in a city nearby where you can go for the weekend. Enjoy your trip!

—el fin

PETITE PASSPORT

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We recently met with Kenji Summers, the energetic mind behind the Passport Project. Inspired by a song and a trip to Barcelona, Kenji decided to start an exciting initiative to help people see the world. As he describes, “I was on my way to Barcelona listening to Lupe’s ”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtjIW_byi14" target="_blank">Paris Tokyo Remix. One of the artists on the song says we should start a coalition to help people travel and see the world. I thought – why not? That’s a powerful idea and seeing the world starts with a passport."

The Passport Project, through its Coalition and Millennial Grants, works to inform young people about how to obtain a passport, it helps them afford the application fees and ultimately the project inspires them to become global citizens by traveling as much as possible. As Kenji tells us, “I hope the Passport Project will redefine the coming of age experience, meaning of success, and rebrand the Millennial Generation as the Global (Citizen) Generation.” You can help support the Passport Project by visiting their site and spreading the word.

Words & Photography: Taj Reid

THE PASSPORT PROJECT

KENJI SUMMERS

FOLLOW PASSPORT LIFE

DOROTHY MCGIVNEY

TIM YU

KING BRITT

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After an exciting six years at Google, Dorothy McGivney traveled the world and came back with a fantastic idea. She wanted to create something inspiring and locally relevant for New Yorkers who love to travel. In no time, a new travel resource was born. Jauntsetter – with its weekly newsletter and website – serves up useful escape plans for spontaneous travelers. We’re long time subscribers and recently met with Dorothy to discuss business, travel and her favorite cities.

Interview & Photography: Taj Reid

Before Jauntsetter I worked at Google. I worked in the advertising optimization department. That sounds so corporate. (laughs) Part of my job was traveling around North America and sometimes internationally talking to different advertising agencies. I always loved travel. It was really enjoyable. And before Google, I worked in publishing and editorial. The position at Google actually started out as a linguistics position, so in my six years there I got a lot of experience in online advertising. Which, if I could go back ten years and tell myself I’d be working in advertising, I would have said no way. But my time at Google gave me a really rich experience in advertising and it also allowed me to leave.

After Google I took a year to travel around Southeast Asia, India and other places. I did a lot of thinking and decided to combine my love of travel with my experience with advertising to create Jauntsetter.

Considering how passionate people are about travel and how personal travel can be, and how much research travelers do before a trip – there is a surprising lack of quality in travel content online and in print. There are certainly some great new publications like AFAR and some great websites out there that are changing the way people approach travel. But there wasn’t a publication online or off that spoke to me as a traveler, so I created Jauntsetter to fill that void.

Jauntsetter is for New York travelers. I’d love to iterate it to other cities and have a Chicago version and a San Francisco version. But I just wanted to have a site where there is both inspirational travel information and really relevant content around travel deals.

As a New Yorker I don’t want to know about deals coming from Fort Lauderdale to Las Vegas. As a New Yorker i only want to know about great air fare when flight are leaving JFK, Newark or La Guardia. And that alone – just distilling great air fare deals for the week for my audience – is a really helpful service. Especially for people who love to travel and are looking for cheap and easy ways to get out of the city.

I went on my honeymoon in November to Vietnam. It was one of the places I visited when I traveled for a year after Google. I knew when I went there the first time that I wanted to go back with my then boyfriend who is now my husband. We went to Southeast Asia for three weeks for our honeymoon and we did a mixture of high and low travel experiences. One of the best experiences was a moped tour through North Central Vietnam. It was for five nights and we had a tour guide.

It’s funny because before my wedding I told myself I was going to take a lesson on how to ride a moped. But things got busy and I never took that lesson. Luckily my husband owned a moped so he was comfortable driving. But when we got there we found out that it was better to ride a semi-automatic moped, which means you have to change gears with your foot. I got a lesson in Hanoi on how to ride a moped a half-hour before we left for our five night excursion! It was a little frightening, especially the first night when we were riding on the highway. I got sick with the flu and we had to keep stopping. But after the first night I felt better.

On the tour we stayed with locals in their homes and they hosted us as visitors. They didn’t even speak vietnamese as their first language they spoke a dialect of Thai and another that was of Thai and Chinese. It was the best trip. It was the most amazing trip I’ve ever taken. The hospitality that we received by the families and the fact that there were no other tourists around at all was really refreshing.

Plus the landscape in Vietnam was so beautiful. In that region there were limestone mountains, lakes, vistas and rice paddies. I could go back to Vietnam a thousand times and not get sick of it.

Riding a moped is one of the best ways to see a place. If you’re in a car or a bus you can’t get off. You can’t interact with people the same way you can on a moped. It’s really easy on a moped to just pull over. If you see a food stand, or a field with flowers and you want to take a picture, it’s easy. Being on a moped you feel more connected. It allows you to be more spontaneous. At least that’s what I found when I was riding a moped through Vietnam.

It’s hard for me to pick just one. New York – I love. My family is from Brooklyn and Long Island. I grew up on Long Island and it’s less than half an hour to come in by train. I grew up with a huge appreciation for New York. Every time I come back from a trip it feels so good to be here. There’s no other city like New York.

But in terms of traveling, Hanoi is my favorite. Hanoi has amazing value. I think about that a lot when I travel. Time and money is important because you want a good return on your investment when you travel. As Americans we don’t get a lot of vacation time, so when I travel I want to go somewhere really special. And Hanoi is at a very exciting time in its history. It’s technically communist but they have a capitalistic economy and you can feel that. People are hustling – not in a pushy or overbearing way. And tourism is growing in a way that feels authentic. There’s an exciting buzz in the city where people are realizing they can make a life for themselves through their own choices or businesses.

If you only have a few days in a city I recommend getting a driver for part of the time. A lot of people spend all this time trying to get from point a to point b to point c – and end up wasting time. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to get lost. But if you’re someone that knows they want to go to a certain shop, a certain restaurant, a certain museum, and you only have a day to spend – hire a driver for at least part of the day. It’s so relaxing and you’ll see so much more of the city. I know it sounds really ridiculous and indulgent to hire a driver, but if you do a little bit of research, there are usually car services that you can hire for part of the day for a reasonable price. I think its an awesome way for getting around for part of a trip.

— el fin.

JAUNTSETTER

JAUNTSETTER BLOG

TIM YU

KING BRITT

MARCIA HOWARD

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