Jet Set Jess

Buongiorno! At long last, I'm excited to share a few photos from stop number one from my tour of Italy in April 2022! Florence, like most of Italy, is a gorgeous, sprawling city filled with amazing food, warm people, majestic vistas, and endless history. But with so much to do and see, it can be a little overwhelming. That's why I'm here to share recommendations to anyone considering a trip to Firenze. Where to stay, where to shop, and of course...what to eat! Mangia bene! STAY 🛎 Four Seasons Hotel Florence DO 🌐 Duomo  🌐 Santa Croce 🌐 The Baptistery of St. John 🌐 Giotto's Campanile 🌐 Palazzo Vecchio 🌐 Uffizi 🌐 Pitti Palace 🌐 Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo's David 🌐 Ponte Vecchio 🌐 Boboli Gardens 🌐 Piazzale Michelangelo Most importantly, be sure to spend time wandering the adorable streets and visit the Oltrarno neighborhood for cozy local restaurants and bars. Shop along the famous Via Roma and take advantage of the strong dollar! A day trip to ...

Last October I jetted down to New Orleans for a stay at the newly opened Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans ! Draped in classic Southern elegance, the Four Seasons is located along the water at the end of Canal St., which is walking distance to the French Quarter but still far enough removed from the chaos should you want to avoid any rowdiness. New Orleans is a city like no other, with so much history, culture, music, and incredible food to experience! I ate, I drank, I explored every inch and every thing the Big Easy had to offer. Miss River at the Four Seasons is a must for dinner and don't even think about leaving without hitting up the Chandelier Bar at the Four Seasons for a Gin Fizz!  And just a few additional recommendations from my stay: ⚜ Parkway Bakery and Tavern for Po Boys ⚜  Bacchanal Wine  ⚜  The Carousel Piano Bar and Lounge at Hotel Monteleone ⚜  Pat O'Brien's Bar ⚜  Bar Marilou for drinks ⚜  Magazine Street for shopping ⚜  Comma...

  Last month the European Union announced that it would be open to vaccinated travelers this summer. Naturally, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to start highlighting a few of my favorite European destinations whether you're booking this summer, for 2022, or beyond! CITY: Lisbon, Portugal The stunning capital of Portugal, Lisbon is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe! It effortlessly blends its heritage with striking modernism and progressivism. Combining a rich history with a buzzing culinary and nightlife scene and a pleasing year-round climate, Lisbon is a gem, but as it continues to gain popularity with tourists, it's beginning to re-write the narrative as a "hidden gem"! 🛌 MUST STAY The  AlmaLusa Hotels Baixa & Chiado  is a 28-room boutique hotel and winner of "Boutique Hotel - Lisbon." Located in the heart of one of the city's most exciting neighborhoods, it provides easy access to all of Lisbon.  Added amenities when booking th...

Newark Liberty International Airport Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all my travel in 2020 was both domestic and within a 4-5 hour drive. As someone with perpetual wanderlust, this isn't a statement I thought I would ever make in my lifetime, but due to global COVID travel restrictions, international travel was either impossible or very difficult. Though, I am grateful that  this allowed me to both get to know some resorts in my own backyard and plan some getaways I may not normally have experienced. In early January 2021 I boarded an airplane for the first time since March 2020. No flights in nearly a year? Unthinkable. And even though it was just for a short United Airlines flight from New Jersey to Florida, it was refreshing. So, in order to ease concerns and any confusion, I wanted to share my experience with COVID safety protocols and changes to security, check-in, and boarding (some of which were long overdue!). I should note that your experience may vary by airp...

Slovenia Europe, Asia, Africa. Castles, pyramids, mountains, rivers, and more history than you can shake a staff at. That's what my 2021 is shaping up to look like!  2020 has been a rough year for many and the pandemic has hit the travel industry especially hard.  That being said, I've tried to stay positive throughout! All of my travel in the past year has been to domestic, drive-able destinations and has been socially distanced in one way or another, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's resulted in a lot of "me time," and has allowed me to focus on wellness, surrounding myself with both luxury and nature, and planning trips that I may not have otherwise. Still, I always have my eyes on the next adventure! The uncertainty surrounding global travel in 2020 has provided a number of opportunities that I wouldn't be able to take advantage of normally. Zero fee cancellations and re-scheduling with most airlines and at most luxury hotels allows for flexibi...

We're back with another Guest Blog feature! Each month we will be profiling a new guest blogger; either a friend, colleague, or friend of a friend who shares the same love for travel, exploring new places, and new experiences just as much as myself and all of you. This month I'm excited to introduce you to yet another friend of a friend from the City of Brotherly Love. (What's in the water down there?) Philly-native Sam Taggart considers himself a bit of a nomad with a passion for immersing himself in each new country he visits. And in the past few years, he has been lucky enough to immerse himself in quite a few. Name: Sam Taggart Age: 32 Current Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates "at least for this week" Occupation: Marketer & Community Builder Sam always had an itch to travel and move around but didn't really scratch it thoroughly when he was younger. A week after graduating from university in 2009, Sam moved to New York to work at a start...

Dev at the Colosseum in Rome I'm excited to introduce a new feature on "Jet Set Jess". Each month we will be profiling a new guest blogger; either a friend, colleague, or in this case a friend of a friend who shares the same love for travel, exploring new places and new experiences just as much as myself and all of you. This month I'd like to introduce Dev Kaneria, a logistics agent, former teacher, and part-time counselor with Rein Teen Tours , which provides travel opportunities for teens that would like to do service projects both domestically and internationally. Name: Dev Kaneria Age: 32 Current Location: Philadelphia, PA Occupation: Logistics Agent, Part Time Summer Counselor As a teacher, Dev had the luxury of relatively unoccupied summers and has luckily been able to continue his travels post-teacherdom as his current field also tends to be slow during the summers. In addition, his role with Rein Teen Tours has allowed him to travel the globe whil...

Patagonia, Argentina What comes to your mind when you think of a travel consultant? For some, it conjures up images of an 80's strip mall. Maybe some big hair? A few undercover Soviet spies working out of a wood paneled office in D.C.? Or m aybe it's what your parents used to plan trips before the internet came to be. Either way, most have a pretty outdated and ill-conceived notion of what it means to work with a luxury travel advisor like myself.  So what does it really mean? Working with a luxury travel advisor opens your vacation to a world of possibilities and exclusivity that you simply wouldn't have access to if you booked the trip yourself. Lisbon, Portugal In addition to access to exclusive experiences and locations, working with me means added amenities, top tour guides, and what may be the most important and overlooked aspect: zero stress. You're headed off on a grand adventure. A few days or weeks or pure relaxation. Why should the trip plann...