Johanna Read is a Canadian writer/photographer specializing in responsible tourism, though writes about all aspects of travel based on visiting 60+ countries. Favourite topics are wildlife, culinary tourism, and how to make a destination better (or at least not worse) by visiting. Johanna also draws on her experience as a former Government of Canada policy executive and current management consultant to write about health issues like COVID-19 and burnout. Chronologically-based clips at JohannaRead.contently.com.
Looking for something specific? Jump straight to a destination, food stories, responsible tourism, travel practicalities, reviews, interviews with me, or to my lemon-pie life articles (though during the pandemic, I’ve not been updating other pages as much as this Publications page … one day I’ll get back to the rest of this website!).
TIME Magazine
- Giza and Saqqara, Egypt — one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places 2023 (and the cover story).
- Reprinted by the Colombus Ledger-Enquirer: Giza and Saqqara.
- Rapa Nui, Chile — one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places 2022.
- TIME for Kids excerpted part of my article for their roundup aimed at encouraging kids to learn about the world.
- And summarized further in this 2023 TIME for Kids article.
Travel + Leisure
- Getting to know Indigenous Peoples in Canada through tourism, featuring Vancouver, Quebec, and Nunavut.
- Republished by Yahoo Life.
Virtuoso
- For Virtuoso’s November/December 2022 print magazine, about Oceania Cruises: A movable feast.
- A food lover’s day at sea, about Oceania Cruises.
- A mouth-watering guide to Vancouver’s food scene.
TravelAge West
- Forthcoming article.
Best Health
- Forthcoming article.
National Geographic
- Forthcoming article slated for late May.
- Why Canada is making it harder to go whale watching. When you go whale watching in Canada, focus on enjoying being out on the water with these magnificent creatures rather than on getting the perfect shot for your Instagram.
- Republished by MSN, though without the travel tips at the end: Why Canada is making it harder to go whale watching.
- Included in Nat Geo’s November 20, 2021, The Compass newsletter on Canada.
- Featured in Nat Geo’s September 17, 2021 travel newsletter, “How travelers can help orcas and whales”:
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“The problems of diminishing whale population numbers and increasing threats have moved the Canadian government to strengthen its regulations protecting whales and other cetaceans in recent years,” writes Johanna Read, calling out threats that include rising ocean temperatures, food supply shortages, and increased water traffic.
About 30 whale species live in Canadian waters, some of them endangered. “Before the new regulations went into effect, whale watching boats across Canada were usually respectful of the animals, though some edged in close to give customers photo ops. Now, the only legal close encounters are if whales surprise a boat captain and it’s not safe to move away,” Read writes.
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- Excerpted by Pacific Long Boarder: A deep dive into the hidden world of whale culture.
- Translated into Portuguese and republished by Olhar Animal: O Canadá está a restringir a observação de baleias.
- Catarina Martins is creating illustrations for a “mini-magazine” of my article. The first drawing is on her Instagram @Cath.Planet.
- Canada‘s salmon are at risk: How can tourists help? If you want there to be an abundance of bears and whales to see for your future visits to Canada, you need to be aware of the Pacific salmon crisis.
- Included in Nat Geo’s November 20, 2021, The Compass newsletter on Canada.
- Included in Nat Geo’s August 24, 2021, Planet Possible newsletter.
- Will Omicron ruin your holiday travels? Some of my 2020 and 2021 reporting and words were used for Nat Geo’s end-of-2021 COVID travel article.
- Where can you travel safely once you’ve had the COVID-19 vaccine? Vaccinated people are very safe from serious illness due to COVID, but to keep people who haven’t had the jab yet as safe as possible, you need to consider both the destination and your activities once you’re there. The delta variant is so contagious that you need to ensure you wear a well-fitting mask when around other people.
- Republished by MSN: Where can you travel safely once you’ve had the COVID-19 vaccine?
- Featured in Nat Geo’s March 19, 2021 Coronavirus Update newsletter.
- “It’s definitely not easy.” How flight attendants are handling travel during COVID-19; what flight attendants want you to be aware of if you’re considering hopping on a plane.
- Republished by MSN, National Geographic Traveller India (as Here’s how flight attendants are handling travel during COVID-19), and other outlets.
- Quoted in Nat Geo’s January 26, 2021 travel newsletter and Nat Geo’s January 29, 2021 coronavirus update newsletter.
- Quoted in The Hindu Business Line’s February 6, 2022 article Bravehearts in the time of covid.
- What vaccines mean for the return of travel — COVID vaccines are great news and will prevent much illness and death. But for travel to resume normally, we need to know that vaccines also prevent COVID from spreading and we need mass immunization throughout the world (not just in countries that could afford to fund vaccine candidates).
- Republished by MSN, Apple News, and the Caribbean Post.
- Republished by National Geographic Traveller India, translated into Thai for Nat Geo Thailand, translated into Dutch for National Geographic Netherlands as Wat betekenen de nieuwe vaccins voor toekomstige reizigers?
- Highlighted in Nat Geo’s January 8, 2021, COVID newsletter and in the January 5, 2021 travel newsletter
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‘There is no vaccination for fear’: Recent reluctance to travel may go on even after the vaccinations against COVID-19, writes Johanna Read. Another concern: uncertainty remains over whether a vaccinated person can still transmit the virus to others. A recent poll and public health officials are raising caution over a quick sprint back into travel, Read reports for Nat Geo.
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- COVID-19 is surging. But Americans can still travel to these 75 countries.
- Republished by MSN: COVID-19 is surging. But Americans can still travel to these 75 countries.
- Highlighted in Nat Geo’s November 13 COVID newsletter and featured as The Last Thought in Nat Geo’s November 17 travel newsletter:
- Johanna Read offers a rundown on the nations and what they require from tourists. Read also delivers tips for (somewhat) safer travel. She notes, frustratingly (and realistically), that “the pandemic will continue to evolve, and plans will need to change accordingly.”
- Will new travel technology invade your privacy? You could get hacked, tracked and juice-jacked.
- Republished by MSN: Will new travel technology invade your privacy?
- Included in Nat Geo’s October 2 Coronavirus Update newsletter and October 6 travel newsletter.
- Shared on the Homeland Security News Wire (October 1, 2020).
- Excerpt shared on NoDesk‘s remote work site.
- How clean is the air on planes? Pretty clean, it turns out. But you still need to wear a mask. “Think of sporting a mask like stowing your laptop during take-off: it minimizes the chance that air turbulence will cause anyone to get hit in the face with something harmful.”
- Headline article in the September 1, 2020 version of Nat Geo Travel Executive Editor George Stone’s weekly newsletter: Today’s big question: How clean is the air on planes?
- Highlighted in Nat Geo’s The Coronavirus Era newsletter.
- Republished by Nat Geo’s Dutch site: Hoe schoon is de lucht in een vliegtuig?
- Translated into Portuguese for an aviation news site: O ar que circula dentro dos aviões é limpo?
- Republished by MSN, Apple News, and a few other sites.
- Cited in Engineering.com’s Flying the COVID skies: Is it safe?
- Quoted in Caribbean Lifestyle’s How clean is the air really on planes | Flying during COVID-19.
- Borders are closing to Americans. Here’s where you can still go: about the ethics of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it’s not just U.S. case numbers that are affecting where Americans can travel.
- Republished by Apple News and MSN.
- If you must travel now, here’s how to make it safer. I interviewed medical experts to find out what you don’t need to worry so much about and where you need to focus your COVID-containment measures.
- Featured in Nat Geo’s Travel Executive Editor George Stone’s July 28, 2020 newsletter: What’s the safest way to move about now?
- It’s not ideal to travel during a pandemic. But, if you’ve really got to go somewhere now, there are ways to decrease your risks while taking a trip. We worked with reporter Johanna Read to lay out expert-approved best practices—including tips for navigating airports, hotels, and restaurants—for travelers moving about the U.S. this summer.
- Republished by National Geographic UK.
- Republished by National Geographic Traveller India: If you’re travelling now here’s how to make it safer (complete with non-American spellings, too).
- Republished by MSN: If you must travel now, here’s how to make it safer.
- A South African union website adapted my article for their members: Going on vacation? Here’s how to reduce your risk of contracting the coronavirus and translated the article into Afrikaans.
- Featured in Nat Geo’s Travel Executive Editor George Stone’s July 28, 2020 newsletter: What’s the safest way to move about now?
- Here’s where Americans can travel now. But should they? Some countries are opening to Americans, but there’s a very fine balance between helping local economies that need tourism and preventing the further spread of COVID-19.
- Republished in Apple News, MSN and other outlets.
- Thinking about driving to Canada this summer? Better ask the locals. As one of those locals, I can say that we’re really not keen on Americans coming to visit right now, even if the border is reopened.
- Republished by Apple News, MSN (Thinking about driving to Canada this summer? Better ask the locals), MSN New Zealand, and other sites.
- Blurbed by Nat Geo in their June 30, 2020 newsletter:
- No Canada: By overwhelming margins, Canadians do not want U.S. citizens—more precisely, more COVID-19—inside their country anytime soon. And for that, they’re sorry, writes Johanna Read for Nat Geo. Or perhaps not that sorry, eh—half of all Canadians surveyed don’t even want tourists from other Canadian provinces coming around this summer.
- Lonely Planet pulled a few quotes from my article for their What travel looks like in Canada in 2020.
- Is it safe to travel now? It depends, answering key questions on the mind of Americans looking at domestic travel in summer 2020.
- Republished by Apple News, MSN (Is it safe to travel now? It depends) and MSN Australia (Is it safe to travel now? It depends), Philippines and several other sites. Even translated into Romanian: Este sigur să călătorim acum? Depinde.
Lonely Planet
- My Lonely Planet author page.
- The best times to visit South Africa, for beaches, wildlife and more (my update of a previously written article).
- Do you need a visa to go to South Africa?
- A wild epicurean adventure through Vancouver Island’s Tofino.
- Lonely Planet pulled a few quotes from my Nat Geo Thinking about driving to Canada this summer? Better ask the locals. article for their What travel looks like in Canada in 2020.
Matador Network
- My Matador bio page.
- Everything you need to know about the Blue Zone in Costa Rica.
- How to experience the healing power of nature in British Columbia: using interviews with Elders from three First Nations in BC, I wrote this piece about the importance of connection with nature.
- The 7 best Canadian towns for a long weekend getaway from Seattle — awesome small towns in BC and Alberta
- The brand new Club Med Québec takes care of everything while you enjoy your ski vacation.
- Turkey‘s Cappadocia is a wonderland of underground cities and stunning natural beauty about one of my favourite parts of one of my favourite countries.
- Everywhere you can swim with whale sharks in Mexico.
- Jamaica‘s jerk and festival bread is the ultimate Caribbean pairing, or what I like to call: Festival — the bread that helps you deal with jerks.
- Road trip itinerary for seeing the best of Nova Scotia.
- Six awesome yet undiscovered spots in Nova Scotia.
- 7 exciting tasting flights if you’re over beer and wine, with deliciousness in Vancouver, Orlando, Lexington in Virginia, and, in Wisconsin, Elkhart Lake and Madison.
- 7 incredible winter experiences to have in Whistler.
- Whistler, BC by the numbers: all the stats on North America’s largest ski resort.
- Family ski guide: Whistler, BC.
- Dear travellers to Cambodia: Please don’t come visit until you’ve understood these 9 things.
- Dear travellers to Thailand, please don’t visit until you’ve understood these 10 things — this article is heavily edited, but you can see my original version Easy ways to be a socially conscious traveller in Thailand.
- 14 things you’ll get addicted to in Turkey.
- 8 things you’ll get addicted to in Thailand.
USA Today’s Reviewed
- Forthcoming travel gear articles.
- The best luggage of 2022: an update of the article I first wrote in 2021.
- The best weekender bags of 2022: my picks from the best that’s put there to a great budget option.
- The best underseat luggage of 2022: I tested a variety of luggage billed to fit under the seat in front of you on a plane, and then wrote up my recommendations. And yes, I was surprised that I found a bag I liked better than the basic black backpack I got from Costco.
- The best packing cubes of 2022: after putting ten sets of packing cubes through a series of tests, I recommend Eagle Creek’s as the best packing cubes of 2022 (yes, I’m aware there are still typos n the article).
- The best carry-on luggage of 2022 (originally 2021): I put many carry-on bags through rigorous tests to determine what’s the best to bring on a trip once you’re ready to start travelling again.
- With the picks curated for The best carry-on luggage on Amazon of 2022.
TechRadar
- Forthcoming gear reviews.
- My TechRadar bio page.
- H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport waterproof open ear headphones review: for swimming and all your exercise distraction needs.
- Excerpts republished by MSN: H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport Waterproof Open Ear Headphones review.
- YouthWhisper SuperQ3 bone conduction headphones review: a review of swim headphones (because who can just be alone with their thoughts these days?!).
Living Luxe
- Forthcoming for summer 2023: Outdoor destinations article.
- The cover story for the spring 2023 issue: City of perpetual spring (PDF version), about cherry blossoms in Vancouver. Direct link to the first page of the article. (Note that the article was edited by a person unfamiliar with Vancouver and I did not have the opportunity to review the final version before publishing).
- For the winter 2022 issue, Standout safaris: Getting outside in South Africa, Namibia, and Uganda (PDF) on pages 111-121 (direct link to page 112). You can also read the whole Living Luxe winter 2022 issue.
Forbes
- Forthcoming travel stories.
- My Forbes bio page and links to all my Forbes articles.
- See the beginnings of life on Earth in this new South Australia national park.
- And Sarah Kuta quoted me in her article for The Smithsonian, The world’s newest national park protects 550-million-year-old fossils.
- Circumnavigate a continent: This cruise sails all of Africa’s coasts.
- Translated into French and reprinted without credit by Nouvelles du Monde: Cette croisière navigue sur toutes les côtes africaines.
- Rare giant phantom jellyfish, oh my! Viking Expedition ships aid Antarctic research (and selected as one of Forbes’ editors’ picks in February 2023).
- Forbes’ Nautik magazine translated my article into Spanish and republished it: Así es la expedición ‘vikinga’ en busca de medusas gigantes en la Antártida.
- Thailand adds new tourist entry fee.
- Forbes translated my article into Spanish and republished it: Así será la nueva tarifa de turistas para entrar en Tailandia.
- Machu Picchu reopens after month-long closure.
- If ‘The White Lotus’ goes to the Maldives next year, it should be to The Coco Collection.
- Hotel guests: Please learn to do this one thing, about one of my hotel pet peeves and what to do about it.
- Ideal Tahiti pre- and post-cruise stay: Hilton Hotel Tahiti.
- In the pink at OPUS Vancouver.
- Love whales? Put Baja’s Loreto on your 2023 travel list.
- This new off-the-grid luxury resort in Dominica is truly sustainable.
- Is this the best airport hotel ever? (I sure wish I’d gone back to Cedarbrook Lodge near SEATAC rather than the Seattle budget hotel I chose where our car got broken into….).
- And translated into Spanish and republished by the Uruguayan version of Forbes: ¿Es este el mejor hotel de aeropuerto de todos los tiempos?
- Renowned Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez opens Estero in Mexico’s Riviera Maya.
- This epic Victoria Falls resort is set to open in 2025.
- Historic hotel on the Caribbean island of Nevis open again.
- Just imagine staying at these palace hotels in India.
- Vacation inspiration: Celebrity Cruises has epic new sailings for 2024-25.
- Christmas in a castle? Festive perfection at Fairmont Banff Springs.
- Celebrate a Canadian Rocky Mountain Christmas in November (ok, December too) at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
- New non-stop flight to Fiji: Fly direct between Vancouver and Nadi.
- Contest alert: Win a week’s vacation on the Caribbean island of Nevis.
- Mexico City’s newest hotel: Andaz Mexico City Condesa has eclectic amenities.
- Eight Vancouver restaurants now have Michelin stars.
- Brand new in Bali: Luxury hotel AYANA Segara Bali opens.
- Volcanic New Zealand: Dig your own hot tub, but watch out for the showers.
- Excerpted by NZ Edge: Geothermal New Zealand can’t be missed.
- Dominica: Swim in champagne bubbles (but not the boiling lake please).
- Peru drops all covid travel restrictions and this sustainable Lima hotel is ready to welcome you.
- Viking’s second expedition ship sets sail: Meet the Viking Polaris.
- October in Jasper, Canada: Symphony under the stars and wildlife under the sun.
- Thailand lifts all covid border restrictions and makes long stays easier.
- Floating, cantilevered and the world’s tallest: Dubai hotels for 2023.
- Plus featured in the Passport by Forbes Life September 2022 summary Dubai hotel openings, new ski resorts, the udon taxi and more.
- Translated into Portuguse and republished by Forbes: Flutuante, suspenso e o mais alto do mundo: os novos hotéis de Dubai.
- All covid entry protocols lifted for the island of Nevis.
- Windstar launches new ways to see the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.
- Translated into Spanish and republished by Forbes’ Nautik magazine: Windstar Cruises: así son los cruceros que te llevan al Mar Rojo y Golfo Pérsico.
- One of the world’s most exclusive countries will be even more exclusive when it reopens in September: The Kingdom of Bhutan.
- Beautiful is back: Samoa welcomes tourists again.
- Karibský raj. Prečo je táto pláž už roky medzi najkrajšími na svete? Slovak translation of my “This Beach Keeps Winning World’s Best Beach Awards” article about Turks and Caicos.
- Innovative recycling in the Caribbean: Turning ghost nets into soccer nets.
- Ultraluxe six-island eco resort near Singapore is reopening after 2.5-year closure.
- Hey Pacific Northwest: you can now fly direct to Istanbul.
- Turks and Caicos lifts all covid entry rules for vaccinated travelers, as of May 1, 2022.
- Thailand removes PCR test requirement; as of May 1, 2022, fully vaccinated travelers (without symptoms) can go wherever they want in Thailand without testing or quarantine.
- Chile’s mysterious Atacama Desert: A blood red lagoon, ancient ‘alien’ glyphs, geysers and more.
- Pledge the “Bonaire Bond” and help this island famous for its underwater reefs: a new Earth Day coral restoration initiative for the island of Bonaire.
- This beach keeps winning world’s best beach awards, about Turks and Caicos‘ Grace Bay Beach.
- Translated into Portuguese and republished by Forbes Brasil: Esta é a melhor praia do mundo, segundo premiação.
- Inside Vakkaru Maldives’ bespoke Castaway Experience.
- Translated into Portuguese and republished by Forbes Brasil: Maldivas: hotel de luxo oferece experiências sob medida para esquecer o mundo.
- The most luxurious tea service in Canada, at the Fairmont Banff Springs.
- Celebrate World Whale Day with a trip to one of these amazing whale watching destinations.
- It’s Arabian Leopard Day and AlUla, Saudi Arabia is working to rewild the endangered species.
- Windstar’s small ship culinary cruises feature fab female chefs.
- Vacationing at an all-inclusive resort? Why you still need hand sanitizer—and it’s not because of Covid-19: when you eat in a restaurant (especially at a buffet) you’ll want to know these food safety tips I learned from food scientists when I worked at Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
- The two-island Maldives resort that’s the island of firsts: including the world’s first underwater villa bedroom and an underwater restaurant.
- Create luck for the new year with this Danish holiday tradition.
- Fly this airline to protect Abu Dhabi’s mangroves.
- Which Banff National Park castle hotel is best for you?
- Create luck for the new year with this Danish holiday tradition.
- Touch the sky at this sky-high city’s first rooftop bar (and sample from the world’s largest collection of Bolivia’s high-altitude national spirit).
- New ultra-luxe hotels to tempt your 2022 travel.
- Starting November 1, you can ‘Test & Go’ to Thailand without quarantine from one of these 46 (now 63) countries.
- Bula! Fiji’s 333 islands reopen December 1, including these two private islands.
- Salute the sedentary sloth and see them for yourself on a trip to Costa Rica. Those of us who spent the pandemic being solitary sloths should celebrate October 20’s International Sloth Day.
- Brand new Cancun-area luxury boutique hotel to open December 2021: La Casa De La Playa by Grupo Xcaret.
- Chile is open for tourism October 1 (bonus it’s springtime too).
- On August 30’s National Beach Day, Plan Your Next Beach Trip To One Of These 8 Great Mexican Beach Resorts.
- Worried About Winter 2021-22? Mauritius is Reopening Without Restrictions October 1 And Has A New Remote Work Visa.
- Chile now has 7 UNESCO sites including the world’s oldest mummies (yes, 2000 years older than Egypt’s).
- Curaçao is calling: new hotels plus more flights from North America.
- This respite concierge stay is what we all need for National Relaxation Day. Did you know the U.S. has a National Relaxation Day? Me either (at least until 2021). This San Francisco luxury hotel aims to help you make the most of it.
- Book now before it’s official: Japan’s newest UNESCO site.
- See 2021’s Only Total Solar Eclipse. It’s Over The World’s Newest Ocean, over the Southern Ocean in Antarctica in December 2021.
- Taste Peru As You Plan Your Peru Travels.
- Europe Is Reopening For Vaccinated Travelers: See It Via These Viking River Cruises.
- Kids Too Young To Get Vaccinated? St. Kitts And Nevis’s New Travel Rules Should Give You Peace Of Mind.
- The SHEBA Hope Reef brings hope to coral reefs everywhere–you can help too, about restoring coral reefs around the world. There’s also a link to the YouTube video “The Film That Grows Coral” which donates money to the Nature Conservancy for reef restoration with every view.
- Make travel a force for good just by choosing Beyond Green hotels.
- Win these trips: Botswana safari or St. Lucia beach stay.
- New way to explore Rwanda: A solar-powered luxury houseboat.
- Beyond Dubai and Abu Dhabi: UAE‘s Ras Al Khaimah.
- Grenada’s chocolate: As fine as its beaches.
- Vacations for kids on the autism spectrum: Beaches Resorts are advanced certified autism centers.
- The Islands of Tahiti are reopening on May 1, 2021.
- Scientists say this reduces stress, so why not plan your vacation around it?
- Coral restoration and why you should choose hotels that support it.
- Thailand easing COVID travel restrictions in April.
- Skipping this might be the biggest mistake of your Peru vacation.
- New Cancun resort focuses on art–an ideal way to recover your pandemic mental health.
- Harry, the Maldivian sea turtle, needs your help, about a brand new resort (Patina Maldives, Fari Islands) and “adopting” turtles and protecting their habitat.
- Viking Cruises bets you’ll be ready for this epic journey in 2022-23.
- Botswana reopens and at this new luxury resort you can sleep in a treehouse.
- This airline aims to be the world’s first vaccinated international airline.
- How are destinations responding to new U.S. requirements for negative COVID tests?
- Canada keeps U.S. border closed: 2021 looks a lot like 2020 so far.
- The San Miguel de Allende hotel for zen-seeking foodies, about Live Aqua Urban Resort San Miguel de Allende.
- This might help you delay your tropical vacation, an enticement not to travel during the pandemic by drinking tropical fruit Evive smoothies while you travel dream and plan.
- New Thailand tourist visa: You can now spend 60 days in paradise.
- Do these changes hint Canada‘s border might reopen?
- Costa Rica: All Americans welcomed and COVID tests no longer needed.
- Panama reopens: Here’s how to do it right.
- This spacious Cabo resort was practically designed for social distancing, about Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas with its immense lagoon pool, empty beach and spacious luxury.
- Included in Passport by ForbesLife’s roundup: US To UK Travel Bubble, Social Distancing In Cabo, New Covid Hot Spot Map And More.
- Uganda reopens with extra COVID precautions to protect its mountain gorillas.
- Belize reopens: Here’s the ultimate secluded getaway.
- Galapagos — why you shouldn’t wait for retirement to take this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
- Orlando for grown-ups — beyond Orlando’s theme parks.
- Shark Week: Travel ideas for close-ups of sharks OFF your TV screen.
- Gained a COVID 19 or 20? Five Mexico vacations to get you back into shape: ideas for post-pandemic active holidays.
- Work off your extra COVID 19 pounds: Eight more vacation ideas to get back into shape with ideas for active holidays in the Maldives, Australia, Croatia, Ireland, and the U.S.
- Go north: Summer-fruit-focused road trips might be just what the doctor ordered, about some northern U.S. destinations where you can get your fruit on.
- Mark Mandela Day by planning a trip to commemorate human rights.
- Green lists and red lists: Making sense of COVID travel restrictions.
- Taste for travel: Street foods for travel dreaming — whetting your appetite for post-pandemic travel.
- Quoted in Food & Dining’s Edibles & potables: Six links for good reads, no waiting.
- COVID-safe travels: Stamp of approval for Mexico, about the World Travel & Tourism Council’s new Safe Travels Stamp and the many Mexican destinations that have been granted it.
OpenTable
- My OpenTable author page.
- Forthcoming Vancouver articles.
- 18 restaurants that define Vancouver dining (my April 2023 update to my original article from 2021).
- 10 show-stopping Italian restaurants to try in Vancouver.
- 13 romantic restaurants for any kind of date night in Vancouver. Published January 2023, this is my rewrite of my article first published 2021.
- Explore Vancouver‘s neighbourhoods at these 15 local favourite restaurants. Though it’s dated December 2021, this version reflects the updates I made in November 2022.
- 8 innovative restaurants to seek out in Vancouver, published November 2022.
- My September 2022 update to the article I first wrote in October 2020: Celebrate your special occasions at these top 14 Vancouver restaurants.
- 6 must-book restaurants in Vancouver with restaurant news for summer/fall 2022.
- Vancouver‘s 12 best bars.
- My 2022 update to my Where to dine outside in Vancouver this summer.
- 5 standout Mother’s Day restaurant experiences in Vancouver.
- 22 restaurants that define Vancouver dining (my update to my 2021 list).
- 6 new restaurants to book in Vancouver this spring (this link now goes to the September 2022 version; here’s the PDF of the February 2022 original).
- The 12 best restaurants in Vancouver for romance right now.
- And the Google Map version.
- 10 Vancouver burgers to add to your bucket list.
- The 15 coolest outdoor restaurants across the US and Canada — one of my Vancouver restaurant blurbs was included in this roundup.
- What’s coming for fall at five Vancouver must-book restaurants.
- Vancouver’s 18 greatest restaurants.
- 14 Vancouver restaurants perfect for celebrating special occasions (a slight summer 2021 update to my October 2020 article).
- Where to dine outside in Vancouver this summer — about safer patio dining during the pandemic.
- Celebrate a special occasion — even during the pandemic — at these Vancouver restaurants.
- Explore Vancouver’s neighbourhoods at these restaurant gems.
Fodor’s
- Don’t forget these things when booking an Egypt tour. Chosen your Egypt tour? Great! But you still have more decisions to make.
- Consider ditching these 11 words when talking about your travels. I’m one of seven travel writers who contributed to this piece — curated and introduced by Lavanya Sunkara — about being more careful about the words we use when talking about travel. I explain why the word “locals” is one I watch for. (And for those who saw the first version, my section has now been updated).
- Should you change or cancel your Europe trip due to the delta variant? Sure, there’s travel info, but I want you to read this to know how to protect yourself and others from COVID.
- Canada’s borders are reopening soon. Here’s what you need to know. And please — wear your mask indoors and in crowded outdoor places!
- 10 ethical animal encounters you can have in the wild — tourism done right helps protect wildlife.
- 12 bucket-list trips that are surprisingly difficult. The pandemic probably had you finetuning your I-must-go-here-one-day! list of destinations. Many people wait until they retire before going on their trips of a lifetime, but that would be a mistake with some of these 12 iconic destinations. Better to go sooner than later, before sore joints, bad backs, fears of heights and other issues might sneak up on you.
- COVID Travel: Should you travel in 2021? Should you cancel or make plans? This is my summary of what travel looked like in 2020 due to COVID-19, and what it looks like going forward into 2021. The first version of this article was published January 28, 2020 and I updated it almost weekly throughout 2020 (even daily for a while!). See PDFs below for various versions.
- Republished by MSN: COVID travel: Should you travel in 2021? Should you cancel or make plans?
- 52 countries you can travel to right now: As of November 2020, about 75 countries will allow Americans to enter their borders, here’s what they need to enter 52 of them (but please follow public health advice and only travel for essential reasons until COVID infection rates drastically improve).
- Republished by MSN: These are the 52 countries you can travel to right now.
- About Tunisia, The Louvre of Africa: 8,000 works and 101 ancient masterpieces.
- Elephant tourism is way more complex than you’d imagine: The Thailand example. There’s a lot of misinformation about captive elephants, and publishing anything contrary to that faces backlash. With this article, my goal is to show that:
- most captive elephants can’t be rewilded, so they need tourism dollars for their welfare;
- chains, hooks, and riding in and of themselves aren’t necessarily bad — it’s all in the way it’s done;
- bathing, feeding, and view-only elephant camps can also have problems;
- the care elephants receive 24/7 is more important than the activity they participate in for an hour or two a day;
- tourism dollars can help improve the sharing of best practices, the training mahouts and camp managers receive, and help them bring about more improvements.
- Fodor’s Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel eBook; I co-authored this e-book about travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you want to download your own copy, get in exchange for your email address at Fodor’s safe travels page.
- About the coronavirus:
- 52 countries you can travel to: countries open to U.S. travellers and the rules of entry. Originally published June 30, 2020 as “Americans can’t go to Europe, so which countries can you travel to?”. Updated, retitled and republished November 4, 2020.
- PDF of June 2020 version
- Republished by MSN: These are the 52 countries you can travel to right now.
- Will it be safe to travel when this is all over? Will we even know?
- Republished by WebMD: Will it be safe to travel when this is all over? Will we even know?
- Republished by MSN: Will it be safe to travel when this is all over? Will we even know?
- Are you less at risk for coronavirus at a hotel or Airbnb? The bottom line is that properties that take care of their employees result in employees that can take care of you.
- Republished by MSN: Are you less at risk for coronavirus at a hotel or Airbnb?
- Are there safe destinations to travel to? (Short answer: your backyard or balcony are ideal! And wizards can feel free to Apparate to deserted islands, mountain tops and lonely Scottish moors).
- 8 ways your hotel stay will be different post-pandemic — what to expect when travel starts up again.
- Republished with MSN: 8 ways your hotel stay will be different post-pandemic.
- How safe will eating in restaurants be when they open up again?
- Republished with MSN: How safe will eating in restaurants be when they open up again?
- Republished by WebMD: How safe will eating in restaurants be when they open up again?
- When Can I Start Planning a Trip? Including responsible tourism considerations, places you can donate to now to show your support, and ways to have a virtual vacation.
- In sickness and in sickness: Weddings and honeymoons in the time of coronavirus.
- Is it safe to go to the beach right now?
- The latest: Should you change your travel plans due to the coronavirus? My analysis, and one of the rare occasions when my life as a Government of Canada policy executive and my travel writing life join together for a brief moment. Originally published January 28, 2020 and updated at least weekly. PDFs of various versions:
- Original version January 28, 2020 and January 31 update.
- February updates: February 10 update, February 17 update. February 25 update, February 28 update.
- Early to mid-March updates: March 3 update, March 12 update, March 16 update, March 17 update. March 18 update, March 20 update.
- Late March updates: March 23 update. March 25 update, March 27 update, March 30 update.
- April updates: April 1 update, April 3 update, April 6 update, April 13 update.
- May updates:
- June updates:
- July updates:
- August updates:
- September updates:
- October updates:
- November updates: to be added.
- With respect to Europe specifically — Coronavirus outbreak: Should you cancel a trip to Europe? Originally published March 4, 2020.
- MSN republished a few versions of this article:
- The December 11 version, following the first countries to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, September 4 version and the August 14 version.
- Original version March 4, 2020.
- Early March updates: March 6 update, March 11 update, March 13 update.
- Late March updates: March 16 update, March 17 update, March 18 update, March 20 update, March 26 update.
- April updates: April 1 update, April 10 update.
- May updates:
- June updates:
- July updates:
- August updates:
- September updates:
- October updates:
- November updates: to be added.
- MSN republished a few versions of this article:
- 52 countries you can travel to: countries open to U.S. travellers and the rules of entry. Originally published June 30, 2020 as “Americans can’t go to Europe, so which countries can you travel to?”. Updated, retitled and republished November 4, 2020.
- Don’t be that tourist: Here’s everything you need to know about the controversial ceremony of tak bat. About Luang Prabang, Laos, one of my favourite places in the world … but which is at risk because of some tourists who just don’t know and some tourists who just don’t care.
- Sometimes it’s better to just pay the bribe: the story of my travel fail in Cambodia.
- Gorilla spotting 101: How to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in Rwanda and Uganda.
- Republished on MSN.com Gorilla spotting 101.
- Turkish hamam 101: Everything you need to know about the luxurious ritual bath, probably my fave spa experience and in one of my fave countries, Turkey.
- The layover: How to spend the perfect day in Vancouver, Canada.
- About Cambodia:
- 10 things you need to know before going to Cambodia.
- The Cambodian version of Cirque du Soleil must be seen to be believed.
- Angkor 101: Everything you need to know about visiting what was once the world’s biggest civilization.
- And I was pretty thrilled that Fodors.com Managing Editor Rachael Levitt said that the “incredible tips and tricks” in my article make her feel like she can finally go to Angkor “properly” and without losing her mind in the throngs, in her entry for Where Fodor’s editors are traveling in 2019 (scroll down to #4).
- The most unusual whitewater rafting in the world — about Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, Canada, where you can go whitewater rafting UP river.
- Scroll down to #43, St Martin, for my piece in Fodor’s Go List 2019.
- How to survive a long layover in Mexico City — my tips for airport survival.
- My Fodor’s profile page.
Microsoft News (MSN.com)
- H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport Waterproof Open Ear Headphones review; originally published by TechRadar, you’ll need to read the original to get some of the advice at the end: H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport waterproof open ear headphones review.
- Why Canada is making it harder to go whale watching. Originally published by National Geographic; the MSN version is without the travel tips at the end.
- Small wonders; MSN republishing (as a slideshow) my “The earth’s littlest creatures that play a big role in the environment” article originally written for Reader’s Digest.
- Should you change or cancel your Europe trip due to the delta variant? Originally published by Fodor’s.
- Where can you travel safely once you’ve had the COVID-19 vaccine? Originally published by National Geographic.
- Originally published by National Geographic, “It’s definitely not easy.” How flight attendants are handling travel during COVID-19;
- Originally published by Fodor’s, COVID travel: Should you travel in 2021? Should you cancel or make plans?
- What vaccines mean for the return of travel, originally published by National Geographic.
- Originally published by National Geographic: COVID-19 is surging. But Americans can still travel to these 75 countries.
- Originally published by Fodor’s, These are the 52 countries you can travel to right now.
- How clean is the air on planes, originally published by Nat Geo.
- MSN republished, from Fodor’s, several of my weekly COVID updates:
- the December 11 version (following the first countries to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine), September 4 version and August 14 version of Coronavirus outbreak: Should you cancel a trip to Europe?
- Breathtaking photos of cities perched on the edge of cliffs, originally published by Reader’s Digest.
- If you must travel now, here’s how to make it safer, originally published by National Geographic.
- Republished my National Geographic piece Thinking about driving to Canada this summer? Better ask the locals.
- Americans can’t go to Europe, so which countries can you travel to?, originally published by Fodor’s.
- Republished my National Geographic article for both MSN’s US (Is it safe to travel now? It depends) and Australian sites (Is it safe to travel now? It depends).
- 20 photos that celebrate our natural world — and show what’s at stake, featuring my words about some of my favorite places, but sadly not my photos (simultaneously published by Reader’s Digest).
- Are you less at risk for coronavirus at a hotel or Airbnb? (first published by Fodor’s).
- What 12 centenarians taught me about how to live to 100, a 12-page slideshow about Costa Rica’s Blue Zone centenarians (simultaneously published by Reader’s Digest). Those two versions are no longer available online, but the version republished by Reader’s Digest Canada is: What 12 centenarians taught me about how to live to 100.
- 8 ways your hotel stay will be different post-pandemic (first published by Fodor’s).
- I’ve been to 60 countries but these 6 changed me forever (simultaneously published by Reader’s Digest).
- Gorilla spotting 101: How to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat (first published by Fodor’s).
- 11 best places for swimming with whale sharks (first published by Reader’s Digest).
- The layover: How to spend a perfect day in Vancouver (first published by Fodor’s).
- How many cheetahs are left in the world (first published by Reader’s Digest).
- 14 stunning photos of elephants in the wild (first published by Reader’s Digest).
- 13 weirdly fascinating facts about jellyfish (first published by Reader’s Digest).
- 13 mesmerizing photos of jellyfish you have to see (first published by Reader’s Digest).
- 13 things you never knew about manatees (first published by Reader’s Digest).
- Our favorite manatees photo of all time (first published by Reader’s Digest).
- I was a burned-out workaholic ’til this changed everything (first published by Reader’s Digest).
- 54 words even smart people mispronounce (first published by Reader’s Digest).
Business Insider
- My Business Insider bio page.
- My November 2021 update to my original article published in autumn 2020 emphasizing the importance of wearing a mask given that COVID spreads easily through the air: The 15 essentials you should pack while traveling during a pandemic this holiday season.
- Here’s the coronavirus safety gear you should pack if you really must travel this holiday season about what you should worry about and what will likely make little difference in protecting your health and the health of others. Updated in summer 2021 by editors.
- My plane horror story anecdote is included in Melissa Kravtiz’s article People reveal the strangest behavior they’ve seen on a plane.
The Culture Trip
- Forthcoming articles.
- My Culture Trip author page.
- The best pet-friendly hotels to book in Banff, Canada (yes, the typo and photo caption still need to be corrected).
- The best luxury hotels to book in Calgary, Canada.
- The best pet-friendly hotels to book in Calgary, Canada.
- The best cheap hotels to book in Calgary, Canada.
- The best vacation rentals to book in Canmore, Canada.
- The best cheap hotels to book in Canmore, Canada.
- The best hotels to book in Lake Louise, Canada.
- The best hotels to book in Fredericton, Canada.
- The best botels to book in Gatineau, Canada.
- The best spa and wellness hotels to book in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Canadian Traveller
- An interview with @DecolonizingTravel, the Instagram account that’s calling out problematic travel.
- Get a bird’s eye view of Vancouver aboard Cypress Mountain’s thrilling new Eagle Coaster.
- Unexpected Universal Orlando Resort, about cool things at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and more (for the winter 2019-20 supplement).
- St. Kitts: 10 luxe restaurants elevating the island’s farm-to-table fare.
- For the summer 2019 issue, Snapshots, with blurbs on travel news from around the world.
- 8 reasons to go to Costa Rica right now.
- Canadian Traveller contributors share inspiring reasons why we love travel: scroll down to the end of me!
- Cuba with eyes wide open (fall 2017 print issue).
- What do you mean, I can’t wear my tanktop at Angkor Wat? (spring 2016 print issue).
- How to save cash in Cusco (winter 2015-16 print issue).
- My Canadian Traveller contributor page.
Canadian Traveller’s trade publication Key Notes on Travel (KNOT)
- Take a walk on the quiet side: Five unsuspecting itineraries to avoid the crowds, about five new-for-2020 itineraries from Trafalgar which will help you experience JOMO — the joy of missing out on things like crowds (winter 2019 issue).
- Agents will love recommending this new Cancun resort to their clients.
- Resort report: Here’s what’s new on the scene in Mexico.
- And featured in the KNOT newsletter.
- My KNOT contributor page.
British Columbia Magazine
- My photo of the wild cows on the beach at Opitsaht, BC introduces Jane Mundy’s story Where the cows roam wild, in the spring 2021 print issue of BC Magazine.
- Online version: Where the cows roam wild.
Forbes Travel Guide
- An overview of Hotel Xcaret Mexico, near Playa del Carmen.
- Details on Hotel Xcaret’s Muluk Spa.
WebMD
- Republished my Fodor’s article Will it be safe to travel when this is all over? Will we even know? (scroll down to click “view all” to see whole article with minimal page flipping).
- Republished my Fodor’s article How safe will eating in restaurants be when they open up again?
The Associated Press’ Get Outta Here! travel podcast
- William Levinson interviewed me on March 2, 2020 about the COVID-19 outbreak, based on my Fodor’s article above. The episode is called (Don’t) Get Outta Here Travel and COVID-19 and was released on March 3, 2020 (and was horribly out of date not even a week later).
Reader’s Digest
- Your guide to a Kancamagus Highway road trip — in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest.
- Your guide to a Glacier National Park road trip — the US one, but the one that’s paired with a Canadian national park too.
- Breathtaking photos of cities perched on the edge of cliffs — some armchair travel inspiration.
- Republished by MSN: Breathtaking photos of cliffside cities and towns.
- Republished by Reader’s Digest Australia: Breathtaking photos of cities perched on the edge of cliffs (part 1) and part 2.
- Republished in 2021 by Reader’s Digest Asia: Breathtaking photos of cities perched on the edge of cliffs (part 1) and part 2.
- Tourists, stop ignoring the ethics of travel photography — about an aspect of responsible tourism often forgotten.
- 13 dramatic ways coronavirus has impacted animals around the world.
- What is Canada Day and how is it celebrated?
- Republished by Dear Julius.
- When did Canada become a country? It was even less smooth and simple than you think.
- 20 photos that celebrate our natural world — and show what’s at stake, featuring my words about some of my favorite places, but sadly not my photos; simultaneously published by MSN.
- The earth’s littlest creatures that play a big role in the environment; republished in 2022 by MSN as a slideshow, Small wonders.
- What 12 centenarians taught me about how to live to 100, about Costa Rica’s Blue Zone centenarians (simultaneously published by MSN). Originally published March 2020 and republished July 2021 (no longer available online).
- Republished for Reader’s Digest Canada: What 12 centenarians taught me about how to live to 100.
- What happens if you get sick on a cruise ship?
- My boyfriend has proposed 16 times–why I have yet to say yes (a romantic travel story).
- How many giant pandas are left in the world?
- Republished by dearJulius.
- 18 secret spots in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, in Orlando, Florida.
- I’ve been to 60 countries but these 6 changed me forever (simultaneously published by MSN). Republished by Reader’s Digest July 2020.
- Why you should think twice before adopting a turtle as a pet.
- Republished by dearJulius.
- How many cheetahs are left in the world? And if you’re interested in cheetahs, you’ll like some of my other cheetah stories on the Namibia page.
- Republished by dearJulius.
- 14 amazing photos of cheetahs in the wild (page 1) and page 2.
- 13 weirdly fascinating facts about jellyfish (page 1) and page 2.
- Republished on the Canadian site: 13 weirdly fascinating facts about jellyfish.
- 13 mesmerizing photos of jellyfish you have to see (page 1) and page 2.
- 13 things you never knew about manatees (page 1) and page 2.
- Our favorite manatee photos (page 1) and page 2.
- Republished by DailyNewsView.com.
- Republished by dearJulius.
- 10 animals that can walk minutes after they’re born (page 1) and page 2.
- 17 animals that live only in the Amazon rainforest (page 1) and page 2.
- Republished on the Canadian site: 17 animals that live only in the Amazon rainforest.
- 14 stunning photos of elephants in the wild, with some cool facts about elephants in places like South Africa, Uganda, and Thailand.
- Best places for swimming with whale sharks (including La Paz, Mexico; Isla Mujeres, off Cancun in Mexico’s state of Quintana Roo; everyone’s dream the Maldives; plus places I bet you didn’t think of, like Honduras).
- 11 whale shark facts you probably didn’t know, about the biggest fish in the world, including how to swim responsibly with them (spoiler: La Paz, Mexico is one of the best and most ethical places in the world to do it).
- 8 of the most endangered elephants in the world, differentiating between the world’s elephants plus tips about how you can help protect them (that means no interactions with baby elephants, no riding elephants of any kind, and not supporting any organization which makes them perform).
- I was a burned-out workaholic for 20 years — till this changed everything a personal essay about my life before becoming a travel writer, and important mental health messages to remember regardless of which career you have.
- Republished on MSN.com: Burned-out workaholic.
- No longer online, but readable through PDF of Reader’s Digest burnout article.
- 54 words even smart people mispronounce. In writing this one I was surprised to learn that many of the words I assumed Americans were mispronouncing are actually correct (well, in the US anyway …. I give the proper pronunciation too for when you’re travelling).
- Republished September 2020.
- My anecdote of a toilet truck hitting my plane is included in Meghan Jones’s article The 11 most bizarre reasons for flight delays.
- My Reader’s Digest writer’s page.
FoodTribe
- 6 surprising US small towns that will blow away your tastebuds.
- We’ve cherry-picked the best of Door County for you, about Cherryland USA, in Wisconsin.
- What your favorite ice cream flavor says about you, from my interview with an ice cream shop owner from Lexington, Virginia. Does he get your fave right?
Time Out
- Where to eat the best brunch in Vancouver.
- The 22 best restaurants in Vancouver (original version; updated version with an introduction by Gerrish Lopez from August 2019: The 22 best restaurants in Vancouver).
- The 20 best things to do in Vancouver (original version; updated version with an introduction by Gerrish Lopez from August 2019: The 20 best things to do in Vancouver).
Long Weekends Magazine
- High-flying joyride, about the Yankee Air Museum just outside of Ann Arbor Michigan, where I flew in a World War II B-25 bomber over the largest football stadium in the U.S (fall 2019 issue).
Roadtrippers
- In Quebec, a Belgian “alchemist” is turning tomatoes into world-class wine: about Omerto tomato wine (yup, tomatoes), in Charlevoix, Quebec.
USA Today’s Eat Sip Trip
- Drink some of America’s best coffee at this highway coffee roaster, about Lexington Virginia.
- A quote from my article was used by Dainius Vaitiekunas in his piece for the Daily Meal: 13 espressos that will elevate your morning routine.
Apartment Therapy
- How I curated my bedroom to help deal with my insomnia, for World Sleep Day.
You Like to Travel
- Jetsetters guide to Barcelona.
- The best/most luxurious hotels in Barcelona.
- Forthcoming stories on the Mayan Riviera.
CIBC’s Unpacked Adventures
- Forthcoming article on Vancouver.
- Namibia: Where the desert is full of life.
- Behind the photos, a real taste of Morocco, about tiny Moulay Idriss.
- Galapagos: Where evolution meets the photos of a lifetime.
- Volcanoes at play in New Zealand, about the North Island’s bizarre geothermal adventures.
Taste and Travel International
- On the beach: Where surfside dining gets a makeover, featuring some of my favourite beach hotels with great eats.
- PDF version: On the beach: Where surfside dining gets a makeover (April-June 2019 issue).
- San Miguel de Allende: Best city in the world? (PDF from April-June 2019 issue); online version: Best city in the world?
- Quest for immortality: In the footsteps of an emperor, about the provinces of Shaanxi and Shandong in China (and a little about Shanxi province too).
- Vancouver culinary traveller’s guide (PDF) and, on the web, Vancouver culinary traveller’s guide.
- Eating high and low in magical Luang Prabang, Laos.
- Eating out in Rome.
- My contributor page.
Perspectives by Scotiabank
- Your dog will love these hotels just as much as you, featuring six hotels in Canada, the US and Mexico which welcome pups as guests, including two of my faves: Pacific Sands Beach Resort in Tofino, BC and Fairmont’s Le Manoir Richelieu in the Charlevoix region of Quebec.
CBS News’ Peter Greenberg’s Eye on Travel radio show
- I was interviewed by Peter Greenberg about Vancouver when he stopped in after his trip aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train from Banff to Vancouver:
- My interview starts at 1:15:10, and goes to 1:21:30 — https://petergreenberg.com/2018/10/29/eye-on-travel-rocky-mountaineer-from-banff-to-vancouver-canada-october-27-2018/.
- And here’s me correcting a couple errors: When a travel writer gets interviews on the radio.
- Guest list intro.
World Nomads
- Whale and sea turtle encounters on the Mexican coast, about some of the most amazing animal encounters I’ve had.
- Also published in World Nomads’ Mexico guidebook.
- Travel and terror: How do you decide it’s safe to go?
- In summer 2022, Mark Feldman wrote Is Turkey safe for Israeli tourists yet? for The Jerusalem Post and used extensive quotes from my general 2019 World Nomads article, trying to apply them to the more specific issue of Israeli tourists in Turkey.
- Everyone is freaking out about Zika — should I? There is something you should be worried about with Zika, but I bet it’s not what you think.
- The national dish of Cambodia — Running Amok for Fish Amok.
Ensemble Travel
- Charlevoix’s Meteoric Rise, on pages 18 to 19 of Ensemble Vacations’ winter 2020 issue, about Charlevoix, Quebec and the new Club Med opening in December 2021 (corrections of typos has been requested).
- Spotlight: What to expect in a Moroccan riad (summer 2019 issue).
- Describing highlights of multiple provinces: Adventures in China (summer 2019 issue).
- Work your muscles at Angkor Wat then melt them with a traditional Cambodian massage, about one of the best massages I’ve ever had.
- French version: Fabuleux massage aux herbes au Cambodge.
- For other views, here’s a PDF of the print article with the contributors page with my photo, and here’s the same PDF of the e-version.
Bon Voyage Travel
- Educational adventures disguised as fun: consider Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Ecuador, Cambodia and Ann Arbor, Michigan and Madison, Wisconsin for an equal dose of fun and learning.
Google’s Touring Bird (as of November 2019 content to be integrated into other Google products)
- 9 of my insider tips for Siem Reap, Cambodia (original link)
- Take a cooking class that helps locals, including responsible tourism tips (original link),
- Support female Cambodian chefs, with some tips on how to support responsible tourism (original link).
- Walk again thanks to a hot herb massage (original link).
- Skip the sunset crowds at Phnom Krom (original link).
- See it all at just one Angkor temple (original link).
- Find the Ta Phrom stegosaurus (original link).
- Avoid the line for Angkor Wat’s top tier (original link).
- Make a pit stop at a crowd-free temple (original link).
- Eat tapas bugs paired with cocktails, including how to respect Cambodia’s history and culinary traditions (original link),
- 14 of my insider tips for Vancouver:
- Escape the city in a roof garden … at the library (original link).
- Dine in a WWII mess hall (original link).
- Discover mysterious fairy houses in the suburb of Surrey (original link).
- Eat the California roll inventor’s sushi (original link).
- Admire art and nature at the airport (original link).
- Sample the Canadian Bloody Mary … that’s a Caesar, by the way (original link).
- Treat yourself to a chocolate tour (original link).
- Spot a killer whale — guaranteed, a sure-way to help protect the critically-endangered southern resident killer whales (original link).
- Go on a mini culinary tour with Edible Canada (original link).
- See salmon jumping fish ladders at a fish hatchery (original link).
- Swim in one of the world’s sexiest pools … that’s Kitts Pool (original link).
- Breathe deep at the largest living wall (original link).
- Swing on the free suspension bridge (original link).
- Fill up on Asian food at a night market (original link).
The Independent (UK newspaper)
- Canadian hotels offer free stays to bear hunters willing to renounce their guns, about two resorts in BC’s Great Bear Rainforest who have devised an ingenious way to help Canadian bears.
- This article has been republished multiple times by some legitimate sites (MSN News, Yahoo News) but also by several scraper sites, some of which plagiarized my article by removing my byline and replacing it with that of another writer.
- CBC re-reported my article on their website: ‘Bullets for Binos’ aims to turn B.C. grizzly hunters into heroes.
Montecristo Magazine
- A design story about how the world’s best indigo is made, Blue gold: Hacienda Los Nacimientos, El Salvador.
- Iceland’s Continental Divide: Expansions.
- Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda: Unpredictable.
- A unique safari in Namibia, where you help with the rehabilitation of cheetah and leopard: The Africat Foundation.
- Republished in 2021 in the COVID context as The majestic wildlife on this African reserve faces unprecedented danger from COVID.
- The Italian Automotive Renaissance, about a collection of gorgeous rare Italian cars that has never before been seen together and likely never will again, at Nashville’s Frist Center for the Arts.
- Big Red Robe: Tea of legends, about one of the most expensive teas in the world and the diplomatic crisis it caused between President Nixon and Chairman Mao. And, of course, about why you should travel to Fujian and Jiangxi provinces in China.
- Republished in 2021 as The Chinese tea worth more than its weight in gold.
- The perfect cheese plate please — my top 10 cheeses to eat before you die, with illustrations by Alice Clair.
- Republished in 2020 as How to prepare the perfect cheese plate in Vancouver (though these cheeses are available in many countries).
- Scotland’s West Highland Way: a week-plus hiking trip in the Scottish Highlands.
- All of my Montecristo articles: Author Johanna Read.
Men’s Journal
- Pack light! Travel gear that folds up small and snaps right back.
- Why you should bring a Roku Streaming Stick everywhere you travel.
- Not for yoga: Sporty, street-styled clothes great for travel.
- My Men’s Journal contributor page.
British Airways
- 48 hours in Vancouver: my tips for a short stay in my fave Canadian city (corrections requested).
- Eastern v. western Canada: who wins the battle for food, wildlife and culture?
Leaf TV — a health and wellness website, formerly called Well + Good
- How to freeze limes — when, no matter the time of year, you want to recreate your La Paz, Mexico margaritas and Lima, Peru ceviche.
- How to put ground cinnamon in coffee. Turns out there is more than marketing to the pumpkin spice latte.
- How not to burn your mouth with pineapple (whether it’s fabulous Costa Rican pineapple or not).
- How to make ginger water, about making ginger tea at home, just like at spas around the world.
- We found out how many tea bags it takes to make iced tea, about making your own iced tea, even in your hotel room.
- How to ripen avocados quickly in a microwave (not that I’d recommend you do this!)
USA Today’s 10Best Getaways
- Multi-countries:
- Canada:
- U.S.:
- Get some soul in Memphis, Detroit on the move, Explore the outdoors in America’s largest city: Jacksonville, Madison, Wisconsin, season by season, Summertime on Governors Island, Two different FastPass systems for Disney parks, Fancy some SoHo shopping?, Walking New York City’s famous Brooklyn Bridge and Meet me in St. Louis.
- Mexico:
- South America:
- Europe:
- Asia:
USA Today’s Travel Tips
- How to travel:
- How to plan your dream vacation.
- So what’s “resort casual” anyway, and how do you pack for it when you’re going south? What attire is appropriate for resort casual at a tropical resort?.
- Packing essentials: Top 10 necessities when traveling.
- How to choose where to stay: Different categories of hotels (mentioning several of my favourites).
- Responsible tourism:
- La Paz and Baja, Mexico:
- Mexico vacations in the Sea of Cortez, highlighting the water wonders in both La Paz and Los Cabos.
- Whale watching in Baja, Mexico, the grey whales and whale sharks are absolutely amazing!
- Snorkeling and beaches in La Paz, Mexico.
- Fishing in Baja.
- All-inclusive vacations in Baja, Mexico.
- Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and the Cancun area:
- Mexican cruises from San Diego.
- Snorkeling in Puerto Vallarta.
- What’s the difference between the Hilton Hotel and the Hilton Garden Inn, featuring the Hilton Puerto Vallarta.
- The best Mexico beaches in August (or, really, anytime!).
- Weekend trips to Mexico, featuring two new luxury resorts I’ve just discovered: Cabo San Lucas’ Grand Solmar Land’s End and Grand Residences Riviera Cancun in Puerto Morelos.
- Snorkelling in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.
- How to snorkel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
- Cruises:
- Mexican cruises from San Diego, How can I take a one-way cruise to Europe?, Cruise from Miami to Europe, How to cruise to Belize from Florida, Cruise lines to Mexico from Miami, Cruises to Puerto Rico from Florida, California cruises to Hawaii, The best Bahamas cruises, The best cruises to Jamaica, Alaskan cruises with flights, and San Francisco to Alaska cruises.
- Canadian travel tips:
- All-inclusive Canada vacations, about some wonderful wilderness holidays in the Great White North.
- Things to know when traveling in Canada from the U.S., about similarities, differences, and incorrect assumptions about these two neighbours (online version at http://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-traveling-canada-us-109264.html no longer available).
- Famous landmarks in Ontario, Canada, about Travel between Edmonton & Calgary and the strangely titled National parks at Victoria Island (for those tourists who get confused about the actual name of Vancouver Island).
- Rules and visas:
- U.S. vacations:
- US vacations in February, with a mix of places to go in the second month of the year (and any time). My suggestions are, for warm weather, Orlando, Florida, Gold Country, California and Texas indoor waterparks; for early spring weather, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Lexington, Virginia, and Seattle; and celebrating winter in Madison, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
- United States vacations for seniors (though this advice works for everyone outside of the party crowd). Traditional options are cruises (including river cruises with stops in places like Memphis and St. Louis) and Branson, Missouri. Less traditional options are Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin and Lexington in Virginia.
- Indoor waterparks in Texas, Romantic weekend getaways in Gatlinburg, Tenessee, Branson, Missouri: Silver Dollar City, All-inclusive beach vacations in Florida, Monday nights in Orlando 2018, Adults-only resorts in Las Vegas and Amusement parks in Washington or Oregon.
- Islands:
- Top Ten Vacation Islands in the World, including private islands in Panama, Indonesia, the Maldives and Belize; the tri-islands of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique; Roatan in Honduras; the Galapagos; Mexico‘s Galapagos; Turks and Caicos and Virgin Gorda in the BVIs.
- Best all-inclusive Jamaican resorts, Travel to Bimini (in The Bahamas), All-inclusive vacations to Trinidad & Tobago, All-inclusive hotels in Havana and All-inclusive adults-only travel in Aruba.
- Central and South America:
- The attractions and culture of Montevideo, Uruguay, about one of my favourite countries.
- Travel to Panama City, Panama.
- Famous monuments in Panama.
- What to know when traveling to Peru.
- How to dress for Ecuador.
- Ecuador travel safety.
- Is it safe for Americans to travel to Quito, Ecuador?
- How to travel to the Galapagos Islands.
- Other (mostly) warm places:
- Travel to Angkor Wat.
- History of Sun City, South Africa.
- Israel travel in December.
- Warm places for a vacation in March and April, featuring Mexico’s coasts including the Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and La Paz; Central America to Panama or Belize; and the Caribbean islands of Grenada, Turks and Caicos, or a cruise, perhaps with Princess Cruises.
- The best places to go for vacation in October, including the fall harvest in Madison and Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin; college and culinary city Ann Arbor, Michigan; golfing in Panama at the Santa Maria in Panama City or at the Buenaventura south of the city; under and on the water in La Paz, Mexico, and the South Pacific paradise of Tahiti.
Hayo
- Wishing in China, for Hayo’s third print issue, North (published December 2017.)
Hemispheres (United Airlines’ in-flight magazine)
- Say Lychees, about how I became a mini-celebrity in rural Hunan province, China (October 2016 issue). Online version: Say Lychees!
S.E.E. Africa (print magazine from Afrotourism)
- Inimitable Namibia (December 2017 issue), and the entire Issuu version.
- Online version published January 2023: Inimitable Namibia: An Amazing Uniqueness.
- Hotel style for the western eye, my tips on what a westerner looks for in a hotel, a cover business story for the summer 2018 issue:
- PDF of the whole summer 2018 issue, see pages 22 to 25.
- The four-page spread: Hotel style for the western eye (low res version).
- Direct article link (to come).
- June 2017 cover story: The pearl of the “Pearl of Africa”: Uganda’s mountain gorillas (low-res PDF).
- Issuu version (my article starts on page 38).
- And on Afrotourism’s website:
- Announcement of my new role as S.E.E Africa’s Responsible Tourism Columnist.
Talk Travel
- China beyond the Terracotta Warriors: Shandong and Shaanxi provinces (August 2018 issue, see also pages 18-21 of this Issuu version).
- Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela (July 2018 issue, also on pages 10-11 of this Issuu version.
- South Africa’s 2019 Travel Indaba, about the continent’s biggest travel show, in the city of Durban (February 2019 issue).
- Refreshed and energized with Air Canada’s premium economy
- Layover in Hong Kong
Dreamscapes Travel and Lifestyle Magazine
- About my food-, scenery- and whale-filled September 2018 press trip adventure in Charlevoix, Quebec, the region on the north side of the St. Lawrence River about an hour east of Quebec City:
- An activity-filled getaway in Charlevoix (PDF from May 24, 2019 print version)
- An activity-filled getaway in Charlevoix (online version)
- About Shanxi province, China, from my August 2015 press trip (published in print February 10, 2016):
- Suspending disbelief in Shanxi (PDF)
- Suspending disbelief in Shanxi (online version)
- About my mini-celebrity status in China, and the highlights of Hunan province from my September 2014 press trip (Winter 2014-15 (volume 19 issue 6), published November 26, 2014)
- Hunan China — An inspiration beyond Avatar (PDF, flip to the table of contents for an additional photo)
- Hunan China – An inspiration beyond Avatar (online version with fewer photos)
- My photograph of a woman dressed in a Miao costume in Phoenix, Hunan province, China, was included in the Travel Gallery of the fall 2015 issue.
Skylum
- How to go on a photo tour of Iceland like a pro.
- 10 beginner tips to take your photography to the next level.
- 10 women photographers whose work you should be following.
- Enhance your workflow with the latest Luminar updates.
Wanderlust Journal
- I was thrilled that Sarah Leamy, the editor of Wanderlust Journal, wanted to reprint my Finding Heart in America’s Heartland piece, about visiting two small two towns in the U.S.
Great Hiking Trails of the World
- My photos from hiking Scotland’s West Highland Way were featured in Karen Berger’s coffee table book, which won gold in Foreword Magazine’s Indi Book Awards in the nature category. See this low-res PDF for my West Highland Way pages.
Departures
- I contributed a recommendation for Udaya Residence for this roundup by Valentina Valentini about awesome spas around the world: 10 of the world’s most spectacular spas (no longer online).
SilkWinds (in-flight magazine for SilkAir, Singapore Airlines’ regional airline)
- Shopping in Southeast Asia, with tips for shopping responsibly and recommendations of great markets and shops in Southeast Asia (November 2016).
- Turning life around, a “4 questions with” profile on the most amazing monk you’ll ever meet, Hoeurn Somnieng (and the backstory) (May 2016).
- Pack smart for Southeast Asia, practical tips for what to bring to dress comfortably and respectfully in this predominantly Buddhist hot and humid region (cover story, May 2016).
- How to walk in Asia (March 2016 issue).
- Think you’ve been conned? (cover story, January 2016 issue).
Canadian World Traveller
- Exploring the West Indies with Viking (PDF), about my spectacular 11-day Caribbean cruise aboard the Viking Sea (summer 2019 issue).
- Issuu version: Exploring the West Indies with Viking
- PDF version of A Costa Rica wildlife vacation plus the Issuu version A Costa Rica wildlife vacation.
- An overview of the incredible things to see and do in Uganda:
- Uganda: Beasts a-plenty, hosts a-friendly (print version, spring 2017 issue).
- Uganda: Beasts a-plenty, hosts a-friendly (online version).
- In honour of Canada’s 150th birthday, about Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, my favourite place in the Canadian wild:
- The Great Bear Rainforest’s Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort (print version, spring 2017 issue).
- The Great Bear Rainforest’s Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort (online version, scroll down)
- Art of Local at SpringHill Suites (winter 2016-17 print issue).
- A food- and activity-filled destination in the friendly American South:
- Hot Springs, Arkansas: A spa town with a difference (online version)
- Hot Springs, Arkansas: A spa town with a difference (PDF)
- Article PDF with masthead, table of contents and cover
- Full issue (see pp. 58-59 and photo on p. 7): Canadian World Traveller Summer/Fall 2016
- Choosing between team eland and team lion:
- Namibia: Predator or prey (PDF of print version)
- Namibia: Predator or prey (online version)
- The best way to see the Galápagos islands:
- Galápagos by sea with Haugan Cruises (PDF of print version)
- Galápagos by sea with Haugan Cruises (online version)
- A responsible tourism hotel that gives back to the community:
- Going above and beyond at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler (PDF of print version)
- Going above and beyond at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler (online version)
- Two articles on Cuba: Finally — a high-end family resort in Cuba and Pristine Cayo Santa Maria.
American World Traveler
- About Uganda, Beasts a-plenty, hosts a-friendly (spring 2017 issue).
- For Canada’s 150th birthday, The Great Bear Rainforest’s Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort (spring 2017 issue).
For Royal Caribbean‘s website:
- China:
- Asia’s urban heartbeat (Hong Kong).
- Say hello to tropical China (Sanya).
- Back to the future (Shanghai).
- Modern metropolis (Shenzhen).
- Malaysia:
- Sky-high city (Kuala Lumpur).
- Pedal, Pray and Potluck in Penang.
- New Zealand:
- Get into a (lava) flow state (Auckland).
- French village, New Zealand-style (Akaroa).
- New Zealand’s bay of blue (Bay of Islands).
- Beauty in surround sound (Doubtful Sound).
- Kiwi castles & cathedrals (Dunedin).
- Sound the explorer’s call (Dusky Sound).
- Fall for fjord beauty (Milford Sound).
- An art deco time capsule (Napier).
- It’s lit in Marlborough (Picton).
- Welcome to Middle Earth (Tauranga).
- Capitalize on New Zealand’s capital (Wellington).
- Poland: Gothic and gorgeous (Gdansk).
- Scotland: Woah Nessie! (Inverness / Loch Ness).
- Taiwan:
- Totally gorge-ous (Hualien).
- Pagodas and pop art (Kaohsiung).
- Thailand:
- Turkey: A taste of Turkey (Ephesus (Kusadasi).
- Vietnam:
- Glimpse of imperial glory (Hue/Danang).
- Find your chi (Saigon).
- Vietnam’s Hidden Treasure (Nha Trang/Cam Ranh).
- Find your inner calm (Nha Trang).
La Carte (PDFs, since La Carte closed November 2018)
- The Udaya Residence is a sweet retreat in Siem Reap (PDF).
- Eat elegantly near Angkor at The Dining Room in Park Hyatt Siem Reap (PDF).
- Enjoy the calm of the Caribbean at Grand Residences Riviera Cancun (PDF), about a member of The Leading Hotels of the World in the fishing village of Puerto Morelos, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
- Daily life in China’s ancient city of Pingyao is just as rich as its UNESCO heritage (PDF), about my adventures with travel writer Hillary Duff pursuing the world’s best fried chicken and her previous photo subjects.
- Looking for a gift for the traveller on your list_ These will be a hit (PDF)
Go World Travel
In this article by Janna Graber, my video of grey whales approaching our boat and a few photos are included: Humans and whales meet in Magdalena Bay.
Paste Magazine
- Gourmet Goo Goo Clusters — Nashville chefs riff on a historic candy.
- What’s that smell? Morocco’s communal ovens.
- Hot Springs water: On tap and on your plate.
Boutique Travel
- Hotel features:
- Le Germain Charlevoix Hotel & Spa, Quebec — about an old farm turned into a boutique hotel in a lovely region of Quebec, Charlevoix.
- Desert Bliss: Grand Solmar Land’s End, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — where you can watch whales from the infinity pools.
- A treasure in the Siem Reap countryside: Trésor d’Angkor, Cambodia.
- Fern Grotto Inn: Idyllic self-catering cottages in Kauai, Hawaii — a place to stay in Kauai where you’ll actually feel like you’re in Hawaii.
- Favourites:
- Boutique ocean cruising aboard the Viking Sea.
- Five not to be missed hotels for food lovers, including Cape Town’s Table Bay Hotel, Panama City’s The Bristol, and — yes really — even a Mexican all-inclusive resort, Hotel Xcaret Mexico.
- Five fabulous fun-filled family summer holidays, a roundup where my recommendations are the Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort south of Panama City, Panama; La Paz, Mexico; and Schlitterbahn water park outside San Antonio, Texas.
- Three unique locations for the perfect spring break, including my pick: Hotel Xcaret Mexico, near Cancun.
- In this roundup, I’ve included my pick for romantic hotels: Where to find your perfect romantic escape, the Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, in Puerto Morelos, Mexico.
- Two of my fave hotels from 2017 are included in this roundup, Top five hotels from a year of travel, the Edgewater in Madison, Wisconsin and Udaya Residence, in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
- I included three of my favourite boutique hotels, in Uruguay, Morocco and Uganda, in this roundup Top 10 favourite boutique hotels.
- My wildlife lodge pick for this roundup is Galapagos’ Royal Palm: Top six wildlife lodges around the world.
- My spa hotel pick is included in this roundup Best spa hotels from around the world. It’s Starwood Luxury Collection’s Tambo del Inka in Peru‘s Sacred Valley.
- My favourite hotel of 2016, Algodon Mansion in Buenos Aires, is included in Our top 8 hotels from a year of travel.
- Appetite-inducing Vancouver: Where and what to eat, and what to do to build up your appetite.
- Goats on a roof and other natural abundances on Vancouver Island (Qualicum Beach and nearby, BC).
Passport 2017
- Into the Wild: At B.C.’s Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, it’s all about what’s outside your room—though cozy waterfront cabins don’t hurt either (no longer online).
Working Mother (ceased publication in 2021 and articles no longer online)
- U.S.
- Not just “Autumn in New York”.
- Where to find romance in Ohio.
- Need a getaway from Cincinnati? Here are five filled with romance.
- Show me the romance, Missouri.
- Romance near the Emerald City, Seattle.
- Family road trip ideas.
- Romantic getaways in Wisconsin: Fall in love in the cheese capital.
- How to mastermind the timing of a trip to Disneyland.
- How crowded is Disneyland? Minimize the wait time, maximize the fun.
- Can you bring snacks into Disneyworld?
- Need to know rules: What you can bring to Universal Studios Hollywood.
- Packing right for the in-between seasons.
- Make air travel easier: TSA Pre-Check.
- South America:
- Europe:
The Globe and Mail (Canada’s national newspaper)
- We Dodge Tuk-tuks, Mopeds — But Not the Cop (print version) and Vacation Nightmare: Our Taxi Driver Hit a Cop (online version)
- In this Globe & Mail article by Fiona Tapp, I talk about travelling solo as a woman How can companies help female business travellers stay safe on the road? And here’s the print version.
Almost Fearless
- Finding heart in America’s Heartland (original article no longer live); republished in Wanderlust Journal: Finding Heart in America’s Heartland.
- More real and magical than Disney: China’s fantastical mountains. Intrigued by Disney’s new “Pandora — The World of Avatar” attractions? Why not explore the real thing that inspired the movie and theme park? (Article no longer online).
- Article on a young family living in a very unusual place — site changed hands before article could be published.
Second Chance Travels (no longer publishing and articles no longer online)
- How to eat safely while traveling — My bouts of Montezuma’s revenge have (knock on wood) been very minimal. Here are my tips to help you keep it at a minimum too.
- Hotels for solo travelers, about some great hotels in three places everyone should visit: Siem Reap, Cambodia; Galapagos, Ecuador; and Fez, Morocco.
- International dining etiquette — how to eat around the world, without committing any faux pas.
- A weekend in Seattle Southside — a more relaxed and real side of Seattle.
- Just like home but not: Vancouver, British Columbia — encouraging reluctant American travellers to venture beyond the border.
- The most welcoming town in America, about Hot Springs, Arkansas.
- Forthcoming interview.
A World to Travel
- 7 easy ways to travel respectfully in Southeast Asia: my responsible tourism tips for what to wear and how to behave in countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Epoch Times
- Ilana Stone interviewed me for this article, What we can learn from our parents and grandparents in the kitchen for the Epoch Times. I talk about my grandma’s gravy secrets at the end of the piece.
Expeditionist Magazine
- I was interviewed about responsible tourism (and my new fave piece of travel clothing): Travel Eater’s Johanna Read talks Ably Apparel and responsible tourism.
RUBY (no longer publishing and articles no longer online)
- Fall harvest: Foliage and foodie stops across the country, about five great U.S. towns for culinary travel.
- And two non-travel articles;
Nomador
- Tech tips: Key tech to make nomadic life easier, and of course this applies to travellers who go on shorter trips too.
- New rules create house-sitting opportunities in Vancouver.
Flung Magazine
Hostelling International (formerly TERN Magazine)
- Five travel scams I always avoid and the one that got me.
- And the French version: Cinq arnaques auxquelles j’ai toujours échapé et celle que je n’ai su éviter.
- A global guide to public displays of affection, with illustrations by Alice Clair.
- French version: Guide international des démonstrations d’affection en publique.
Vice Tonic
- Not so much travel-related, but I was interviewed about career ambition for this Vice Tonic article by Suzanne Cope: The sad reason single women downplay their career ambition.
BattleFace
- Jack Davidson used one of my Cambodia photos I posted on Twitter in his The six most inappropriate tourist selfies ever (no longer publishing and article no longer online).
- On my website, I talk about what you should and shouldn’t wear and do in several articles (see the Responsible Tourism section).
Canadian Living
- I was interviewed about solo travel for Canadian Living magazine’s August 2017 issue. I wish they’d situated my quote in the broader context of what I provided, but I’ll use the rest of the story for another piece: The sisterhood of travel (PDF) by Sarah Treleaven; Why all women need to travel solo at least once in their life (online version).
UrbanSweat (Australia)
- Our pick of the best hikes in southeastern China, about some stunning scenic hikes in Hunan, Jiangxi and Fujian provinces (article no longer online).
Together Magazine
JohnnyJet.com
- I’m one of the frequent flyers interviewees: Travel Style: Johanna Read.
Miss Filatelista
- My quotes about responsible tourism are included in this 20 Travelers Committed to Responsible Travel roundup for World Tourism Day, September 27, 2017.
Journey Beyond Travel
Passport Health
- The essential steps for travel planning — my top travel planning tips, with special advice for Canadians.
- How to avoid altitude sickness in Peru.
- How to avoid traveller’s diarrhea — I bet there are tips here you didn’t know!
- How to survive the medinas of Morocco.
New Jetsetters (no longer online)
- Phoenix Rising: Hunan Province, China.
- Beyond the Monks and the Mountain: Discover Luang Prabang, Laos.
- Luxury cruising with Ponant.
- And I was thrilled to be included in New Jetsetters’ list of Amazing travel writers and bloggers you should meet.
The Wayward Post
- US embargo on Cuba: What American travellers should know: breaking down some misconceptions about Cuba, particularly for Americans’ first visit.
- Heritage at risk: The Tak Bat ceremony in Luang Prabang, Laos
- Tragedy and tourism: Tunisia’s Bardo Museum
- About a fun responsible tourism / environmental beauty product activity in Glasgow, Scotland: Natural and bespoke: Glasgow’s The Beauty Kitchen.
- Visiting “Flyover America” in a Trump world: my perspective as a Canadian visiting middle America — in this case, Branson, Missouri — now that Trump will be president.
- The ultimate local food: A guide to foraging in Glasgow, Scotland.
- Wayward weekends — socially-responsible choices for a brief stop in cities around the world:
- A wayward weekend on the Garden Isle, Kauai.
- A wayward weekend in Chicago, for a sustainable weekend in what the mayor wants to make the “greenest city in the world”.
- A wayward weekend in Nashville, celebrating Nashville’s outdoors, art and history.
- A wayward weekend in Hot Springs, Arkansas, highlighting the gangster history, outdoor beauty, and great food in this spa town.
- A wayward weekend in São Paulo, Brazil, a gentle introduction to the biggest city in South America.
- A wayward weekend in Montevideo, Uruguay, a weekend focussed on art, history, food, wine, architecture and Uruguay’s anti-elitist values.
- A wayward weekend in Vancouver, BC, Canada, highlighting ways you can support the less fortunate while exploring Canada’s most socially- and environmentally-conscious city.
- A wayward weekend in Siem Reap (Angkor), Cambodia, about the many many ways you can give back to one of my favourite countries, Cambodia.
- A wayward weekend in Buenos Aires, Argentina, how to travel in this city of protests, including a can’t be missed restaurant (UCO) and tips for exchanging currency too.
- Socially- and environmentally-responsible hotels:
- Immerse yourself in Uruguayan culture at this Montevideo hotel, about Alma Historica and Uruguay’s art history.
- Fern Grotto Inn in Kauai, Hawaii: sustainable garden cottages with history (a vacation rental rather than a traditional hotel).
- Sleep well in this eco-friendly Buenos Aires hotel, about Casa Calma, a centrally-located boutique hotel that takes the wellness of both its guests and the environment seriously.
- Stay green in the Galápagos Islands at Finch Bay Eco Hotel, on the island of Santa Cruz, in Galápagos, Ecuador.
- Stay in this sustainable boutique hotel in Penang, Malaysia, about Hotel Penaga, an environmental and art hotel in George Town, on the island of Penang.
- Stay in this sustainable boutique hotel in Fez, Morocco, about Dar Roumana, a foodie riad in Fès, Morocco (forthcoming).
- Responsible hotel review: Summit Lodge, in Whistler, BC, Canada.
- Find sustainable eco-luxury at this resort in the rainforest of British Columbia, about Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, in BC’s Great Bear Rainforest, Canada.
- This hotel near Siem Reap is good for locals, about Sojourn Boutique Villas, near the Angkor archaeological site in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which goes out of its way to support local, sustainable businesses.
- Marriott’s SpringHill Suites promotes the arts.
Travel With Kat
- Discovering Canada’s wild side at Whistler, for the Cities on the Edge of Nature series.
- When nature swims into the city, about #DowntownDeer and the other wildlife we have here in downtown Vancouver.
- Some of my favourite markets in Kathryn Burrington’s compilation of Food markets around the world.
Vancouverscape
- Terracotta warriors of the first emperor at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center.
- Soothe at-home massage service creates a truly blissful experience.
- Carry more, worry less with the Joey Jacket, perfect for Vancouver.
- Surrey Fusion Festival delivers a packed weekend of free fun and entertainment, with additional photos at Travel around the world right here at home.
The Travelettes
- A South African safari: Can you get TOO close to nature?
- Turn Off Your Engine at the Waterhole (and Other Tips to Stay Safe in Namibia)
- Story, PDF and link also published on Ultimate Safaris’ News page
The Ottawa Citizen (Canada’s national capital’s newspaper)
- A story about two Ottawa chefs I met at an innovative restaurant in Fès, Morocco who are stovetrotting around the world:
- Have Apron Will Travel (print version published October 29, 2015).
- Young Ottawa chefs Oliver Truesdale-Jutras and Phoebe Oviedo combine wanderlust with cooking (online version, with additional photos and a recipe, published October 28, 2015).
- Republished by The Edmonton Journal: Ottawa chefs combine wanderlust with cooking.
- Republished by The Calgary Herald Ottawa chefs combine wanderlust with cooking.
- An op-ed about the Public Service, stemming from my previous life as a policy executive with the Government of Canada:
- Trudeau is ready but the Public Service clearly isn’t (print version published October 31, 2015).
- Read: Trudeau is ready, but the public service isn’t (online version published October 30, 2015).
- Republished by Canada.com Read: Trudeau is ready, but the public service isn’t.
Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference Alumni Newsletter
- I’m featured in the June 2016 alumni newsletter of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. This conference invites 225-250 Canadians from the public, private and labour sectors to participate in an incredible two weeks of leadership development and learning about Canada. I participated in the 2003 conference and toured the Yukon territory. Generally every four years, there’s a special conference in 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Applications close September 30, at LeadershipCanada.ca.
Bravo TV’s website
- In this article by Elizabeth Seward, I’m quoted about food safety at buffets (strangely combining my current travel life with my former food safety life): 5 unappetizing things you didn’t know about all-you-can-eat hotel buffets (no longer online).
Self Magazine
- I’m interviewed in this article by Susannah Rigg, 10 women look back on living childfree by choice. This choice was an essential part of my lemon pie life. I’m #5, if you want to find me right away.
Italy Explained
- I’m quoted in this article by Jessica Spiegel: Italy roundtable: What bugs you about Italy.
O’Dwyers Inside News of PR and Marketing Communications
- I’m quoted in Rachel Thomas’ Double spaces are dead and here’s why you should care, an article aimed at PR folks about dealing with writers.
Nanuism (no longer publishing and articles no longer online)
- Adrenaline Whistler!
- Which would you choose: happiness or longevity? A cave in Hunan province, China forces you to choose
- B is for burnout: Pay attention to these warning signs, a story only slightly related to travel, but everything to do with health and happiness.
- Stress antidote: Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort: need a wilderness break? I adore Nimmo Bay in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest
- Avoiding altitude sickness in Peru
- The hammam: a different sort of spa day
- Spa seeking: spa hotels around the world: a photo essay to inspire your spa vacation, and some advice about what to consider
Get Real Luxury (no longer publishing and article no longer online)
Namibia Tourism Board
- Five essentials for a safari in Namibia (and the original version, What to pack for a safari, with my product recommendations).
- Story, PDF and link also posted on Ultimate Safaris News page
SnowSeekers — The Guide to Winter
- Assumptions Challenged: A Newbie’s First Sledding Experience (snowmobiling in Whistler / Pemberton, BC)
The Kiwi Collection (articles no longer online)
- Seizing sideline charms in Peru’s Sacred Valley
- Wine and dine at Whistler’s Cornucopia (Whistler, BC, Canada)
- Wilderness beyond your wildest dreams, about Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort
Bellevue Club’s Reflections magazine
- I was interviewed about Whistler, BC for Haley Shapely’s “Where Travel Writers Go” article in the Bellevue Club’s Reflections magazine (flip to page 40 in the November 2015 issue for a photo of me too).
The Food Network
- One of my favourite dishes (and my photo of it) is included in the Food Network’s 20 Weirdest Foods Eaten Around the World: From Laos, Mekong riverweed and buffalo skin paste
- Though it doesn’t contain chilies, my soup photograph from China is included in the Food Network’s 17 Tasty Breakfasts From Around the World
The Coloradoan’s Mind + Body
- I was quoted in this article by Stacey McKenna for Mind + Body, a print magazine of the Coloradoan (Holiday 2015 issue). It has advice from several travel writers about how to not only maintain your relationship whilst travelling, but maybe have it grow even stronger too:
- PDF of print version: The Buddy System
- Online version: The Buddy System
A Musing Alexis
Phare Cambodian Circus
Luxury Travelers Guide
The World, Please
- The Lemon Pie Life (interview)
How to Travel Light
- Illegal passport stamps! I contributed Galapagos: The parallel world of passport stamps (in Portuguese).
Sally Around the World
- My contribution to Travel Food Addictions … I was in Morocco at the time; any guesses what I was addicted to?
The Grown Up Gap Year
Too Many Adapters
Nomad is Beautiful
The Professional Hobo
Love, Play, Work
- What If You Had Said Yes? (interview)
Mallory on Travel
- Non-tourist Venice — Eating for Adventure and Enjoyment, not Sustenance and Convenience (including an interview with me)
Going Mobo
Eat In Eat Out Magazine
Where
Local Tourist Ottawa
Destinations Travel
The City Web Guide
CheapOAir
Windstar Cruises’ The Current
World Travel Buzz (as their International Eating Expert)
- Even you can make Thai pad kra prao
- Tropical fruit goodness and papaya jam
- Malaysian fusion: Nyonya asam prawns
- Kitchen surfing around the world
- Take advantage of raspberry season
- Belly health on the road
- Your New Zealand must-sees
- The best doughnuts in Canada
- Simple palate pleasures from around the world
- Christmas gift shopping abroad: International foodie edition
- The sweets of New York
- South African cuisine: Smiley (fire-roasted goat head) and other specialities
Luxury And Boutique Hotels
The hotels and some restaurants and activities I write about for LuxuryAndBoutiqueHotels.com are hosted. However, the opinions are my own and I do not allow the hotel/restaurant/activity provider to review or approve my text.
Articles and travel guides:
- Mie Cafe: Can’t Miss Dining in Siem Reap (Cambodia)
- Highlights of Uruguay
- Whistler: Where to eat and where to burn your calories (British Columbia, Canada)
- Yes, you should visit Tunisia
- Food city Fès (Morocco)
- Rabat: Best homebase for your Morocco holiday, featuring the towns of Moulay Idriss and Chefchaouen
- A visit to Marrakech, Morocco
- Dining challenges in Cusco, Peru
- How to see Peru without getting altitude sickness
- On which Galapagos island should I stay? (Ecuador)
- The best way to see the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador)
- Chasing waterfalls: Baños, Ecuador
- Exploring Quito, Ecuador
- My kind of wilderness — the Canadian wilderness in luxury (British Columbia, Canada)
- Eating in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada)
- Summer in Whistler ski village (British Columbia, Canada)
- Eating after Angkor (Siem Reap, Cambodia)
- It’s time for upscale travellers to discover Gili T (near Lombok, Indonesia)
- How long should I stay in Luang Prabang, Laos?
- Ziplining in Southeast Asia (Cambodia and Thailand)
- A truly exceptional experience — the Amansara, Siem Reap (Siem Reap, Cambodia)
- Do island resorts really make a difference? (Malaysia and Polynesia)
- Going colonial v. the Malay experience (Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia)
- Travelling with kids in Penang, Malaysia
- Langkawi, Malaysia explored
- How to have the best African safari (South Africa and Namibia)
Hotel reviews (see also Hotel Recommendations)
- Argentina
- Review of Algodon Mansion (Buenos Aires, Recoleta)
- Review of Casa Calma Hotel (Buenos Aires, downtown)
- Review of Ilum Experience Home (Buenos Aires, Palermo)
- Review of Mine Hotel Boutique (Buenos Aires, Palermo)
- Review of Moreno Hotel (Buenos Aires, San Telmo)
- Review of Hotel del Casco (Buenos Aires, San Isidro)
- Review of Secret Garden Iguazu (Iguazu Falls)
- Brazil
- Tivoli (Sao Paulo) (forthcoming)
- Canada
- Quebec:
- Review of the Fairmont Manoir Richelieu (La Malbaie) (forthcoming)
- Review of Hotel & Spa Le Germain Charlevoix (Baie-Saint-Paul)
- British Colombia:
- Review of Pacific Sands Beach Hotel (Tofino) (forthcoming)
- Review of JW Marriott Parq Vancouver
- Review of Skwachays Lodge (Vancouver)
- Review of Rockwater Secret Cove Resort (Sunshine Coast)
- Review of Pan Pacific Whistler (Whistler)
- Review of Summit Lodge & Spa Whistler (Whistler)
- Review of Fairmont Chateau Whistler (Whistler)
- Review of Nita Lake Lodge (Whistler)
- Review of Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort (Nimmo Bay)
- Alberta:
- Review of Metterra Hotel on Whyte (Edmonton)
- Review of Varscona Hotel on Whyte (Edmonton)
- Cambodia (Siem Reap)
- Review of Udaya Residences
- Review of Sala Lodges
- Review of Natura Resort
- Review of Heritage Suites Hotel (Siem Reap) A Luxury And Boutique Hotels Top 8 Worldwide Hotel
- Review of Pavillon d’Orient Hotel
- Review of Park Hyatt Siem Reap
- Review of The RiverGarden Hotel
- Review of Sojourn Boutique Hotels
- Review of Angkor Miracle Resort and Spa
- Review of The One Hotel Collection
- China
- Review of Yibin Crowne Plaza (Sichuan province)
- Review of Regal Hong Kong Airport Hotel (Hong Kong)
- Costa Rica
- Forthcoming articles
- Cuba
- Review of Meliá Habana (Havana)
- Review of Meliá Cohiba (Havana)
- Review of Meliá Varadero (Varadero)
- Review of Meliá Marina (Varadero)
- Review of Paradisus Princesa del Mar (Varadero)
- Review of Paradisus Varadero (Varadero)
- Review of Meliá Buenavista (Cayo Santa Maria)
- Ecuador
- Review of Boutique Hotel Café Cultura (Quito)
- Review of Mansión del Angel (Quito)
- Review of Swisshôtel Quito (Quito)
- Review of Casa Gangotena (Quito)
- Review of Luna Runtun Adventure Spa (Baños)
- Review of Destiny Hotel (Baños)
- Ecuador, Galápagos Islands
- Review of Haugan Cruises
- Review of Hotel Solymar (Puerto Ayora, Isla Santa Cruz)
- Review of Torre Mar Luxury Vacation Rentals (Puerto Ayora, Isla Santa Cruz)
- Review of Royal Palm Hotel, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World (Highlands, Isla Santa Cruz)
- Review of Finch Bay Eco Resort (Isla Santa Cruz)
- Review of Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel (Isla Isabela)
- El Salvador
- Feature on Palo Verde Sustainable Hotel (El Zonte)
- Indonesia
- Review of Villa Sungai (near Canggu, Bali) A Luxury And Boutique Hotels Top 8 Worldwide Hotel
- Review of Chapung SeBali (outside Ubud)
- Review of Mahagiri Villas (Sanur, Bali)
- Review of Pondok Ayu (Sanur, Bali)
- Review of Villa Kresna (Seminyak, Bali)
- Review of Wilson’s Retreat (northwest Gili Trawangan)
- Review of Hotel Ombak Sunset (west Gili Trawangan)
- Review of Villa Grasia (north Gili Trawangan)
- Jamaica
- Review of Sandals Montego Bay (forthcoming)
- Review of Sandals Royal Caribbean (Montego Bay) (forthcoming)
- Laos
- Review of Hôtel de la Paix (Luang Prabang)
- Review of The 3 Nagas (Luang Prabang)
- Review of the Mekong Riverview (Luang Prabang)
- Review of Villa Maly (Luang Prabang)
- Review of Le Sen Boutique Hotel (Luang Prabang)
- Review of the Apsara Rive Droite (Luang Prabang)
- Malaysia
- Review of The Danna Langkawi (Langkawi)
- Review of Ambong Ambong Rainforest Retreat (Langkawi)
- Review of Rebak Island (Vivanta by Taj Hotels) (a private island just off Langkawi)
- Review of Bon Ton and Temple Tree resorts (Langkawi)
- Review of Villa Molek (Pentai Cenang, Langkwai)
- Review of Hotel Penaga (George Town, Peneng)
- Review of 23LoveLane (George Town, Peneng)
- Review of PARKROYAL Penang Resort (Batu Ferringhi, Penang)
- Mexico
- Review of Grand Solmar Rancho San Lucas (forthcoming)
- Review of TRS Coral Hotel, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, Puerto Mujeres, north of Cancun)
- Review of Grand Palladium Puerto Mujeres (forthcoming)
- Review of Live Aqua Urban Resort San Miguel de Allende (forthcoming)
- Review of Vivo Resorts (Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca)
- Review of the Hacienda at Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort
- Review of the Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort
- Review of Costabaja Resort & Spa (La Paz, Baja)
- Review of Grand Solmar at Land’s End (Cabo San Lucas)
- Review of Grand Residences by Royal Resorts, a member of Leading Hotels of the World (Peurto Morelos, between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen)
- Review of Hotel Xcaret Mexico (just outside Playa del Carmen)
- Morocco
- Review of Riad Joya (Marrakech medina)
- Review of Riad Due (Marrakech medina)
- Review of Villa des Orangers, a Relais & Châteaux hotel (Marrakech Kasbah)
- Review of La Sultana, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World (Marrakech Kasbah)
- Review of Dar Housnia (Marrakech medina)
- Review of Riad Dar One (Marrakech Mellah)
- Review of The Repose Luxury Riad (Rabat Salé)
- Review of Villa Diyafa (Rabat, embassy district)
- Review of Karawan Riad (Fès medina)
- Review of La Maison Bleue (Fès medina)
- Review of Palais Amani (Fès medina)
- Review of Dar Roumana (Fès medina)
- Review of Riad Nùmero 9 and Restaurant Nùmero 7 (Fès medina)
- Review of Dar Seffarine (Fès medina)
- Review of Riad Tizwa Fès (Fès medina)
- Review of Riad Fès, a Relais & Chateâux hotel (Fès medina)
- Namibia
- Review of Ongava Game Reserve (near Etosha National Park)
- Panama
- Review of The Santa Maria, A Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort (Panama City)
- Review of The Buenaventura Hotel & Golf Resort (Rio Hato)
- The Bristol Panama (Panama City)
- Peru
- Review of Sumaq Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes)
- Review of Tambo del Inka (Urubamba, Sacred Valley)
- Review of El Mercado Tunqui (Cusco)
- Review of Andean Wings Boutique Hotel (Cusco)
- Review of Encantada Boutique Spa Hotel (Cusco)
- Review of Taypikala Lago (Lake Titicaca)
- Review of Casa Inca Boutique Hotel (Miraflores, Lima)
- South Africa
- Review of DaVinci Hotel (Johannesburg)
- Review of The Table Bay Hotel (Cape Town)
- Review of The Boardwalk Hotel (Port Elizabeth)
- Review of Thornybush Game Lodge (near Kruger National Park)
- Thailand
- Review of De Lanna Boutique Hotel (Chiang Mai)
- Tunisia
- Review of Golden Tulip Carthage (Gammarth Bay, Tunis)
- Review of Dar El Marsa (La Marsa, Tunis)
- Review of La Badira, a Leading Hotel of the World (Hammamet)
- Review of The Orangers Beach Resort and Bungalows (Hammamet)
- Turks & Caicos
- Review of Ocean Club Resorts (Grace Bay, Provo)
- Uganda
- Review of Gately Inn (Entebbe, near Uganda’s main airport)
- United States
- Review of Hillside Inn, in Door County, Wisconsin
- Review of The Kensington Hotel (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
- Review of The Osthoff (Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin)
- Review of The Edgewater (Madison, Wisconsin)
- Review of Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort (New Braunfels, Texas, near San Antonio)
- Review of The Georges (Lexington, Virginia)
- Review of the Robert E. Lee Hotel (Lexington, Virginia)
- Review of Cedarbrook Lodge (Seattle Southside / SeaTac, Washington)
- Review of Warwick Seattle (Washington)
- Review of Ko’a Kea at Poipu Beach (Kauai, Hawaii)
- Review of SpringHill Suites by Marriott (Downtown River North, Chicago, Illinois)
- Review of Hilton Promenade (Branson, Missouri)
- Review of Hilton Convention Centre (Branson, Missouri)
- Review of Gaylord Opryland Resort (Nashville, Tennessee)
- Review of Renaissance Nashville Downtown (Tennessee)
- Review of The Arlington (Hot Springs, Arkansas)
- Review of The Hotel Hot Springs (Hot Springs, Arkansas)
- Uruguay
- Review of Alma Historica (Montevideo)
- Review of My Suites (Montevideo)
- Review of Colonia Suite (Colonia del Sacramento)
- Review of Posadita de la Plaza (Colonia del Sacramento)