Jet Set Jess

Quickly becoming one of Africa's safest and most sought after tourism destinations, Rwanda has been on my radar for quite some time. Though COVID forced me to push the trip back a bit, I'm ready to officially book my adventure and experience this beautiful country in Summer 2022 for my mom's birthday! Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda’s stunning scenery and warm, friendly people offer unique experiences in one of the most remarkable countries in the world. It is blessed with extraordinary biodiversity, with incredible wildlife living throughout its volcanoes, montane rainforest, and sweeping plains. Volcanoes National Park is home to about half the world’s mountain gorilla population, making Rwanda a top choice for a gorilla trekking safari. As for the setting, the country is extremely beautiful with its steep slopes covered in dense tropical rainforest. And though travellers come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the magnificent gorillas, there is so much...

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...