Letter From the Editor: March 2015

I am relatively new to traveling the world. So far, I spent two weeks in France and Spain after high school and a month in Italy after college; in the last five years, I took short trips to Mexico, Canada, and Australia. The rest of my travel of late has been of the domestic sort—San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Miami, Sedona, and so on—which I am perfectly happy with as this country of ours is chock-full of wonderful and varied places to explore.

I recently found myself in two very similar conversations about where US travelers most want to go internationally. We agreed that it’s common for first-time international travelers to dream of going to European cities such as London, Paris, or Rome. For the more well-traveled, these might sound like typical or boring answers, but for many, these cities are safe, easy choices for a big-time trip.

I’ve been to Paris and Rome (and will hopefully return again in my lifetime), but London is still at the top of my list, along with Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, Vienna, Prague, Dublin, and many others. That’s right, I still want to see Europe the most. I love history and art and architecture; I love getting lost in cobblestoned city streets. I want to travel on my own terms, to go someplace that excites me, not a place I feel obligated to see. Someday, an African safari or a trek through the rainforests of Central America might be my biggest travel dream—but not right now.

Here at Jetset Extra, our awesome contributors give us the best of both worlds. Stuart took a day-trip from Paris to Versailles; Ashley had a whirlwind 24 hours in Copenhagen. Meanwhile, Doug had an amazing adventure in Costa Rica, while JoAnneh spent a month in Mexico’s San Miguel de Allende.

Our goal is to inspire your next vacation, no matter your travel experience level. Whether it’s to Marie Antoinette’s former home, on a Costa Rican river-rafting tour, or in a tiny Mexican town, if our Insiders could take this memorable trip, then so can you.

So I want to know: Do you think Europe is an obvious choice for first-time international travelers? Where was your first big trip? Was there a destination you originally had little to desire to see but then changed your mind?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts! Send them to us on Facebook or on Twitter at @JetsetExtra and @OneTravelLove.

Sincerely,
Leah Swofford

Managing Editor