Today’s not only my first blog, but it’s also my birthday. The confluence of the two sent me thumbing through old passports to jog my memory about any interesting birthday travels.

Most of those, it turns out, were in my early days writing leisure travel. I spent a lot of summer time in the islands—travel writers get to go to the Caribbean in the hottest part of the summer, to make deadlines for fall articles that will help readers plan their winter vacations. We sweat, literally, over helping them escape the cold.

Shimmering heat dominates my memory of a trip to Haiti in the last days of Baby Doc Duvalier. There was still a tourism industry in those days, and I was part of a group of travel writers who were put up at the astonishing Habitation LeClerc. Even then, there was a jarring juxtaposition between the stark, grinding poverty of Port-au-Prince’s Martissant slum and the walled-in splendor of the Habitation’s 50-acre compound.

The Habitation had 36 villas, each pair sharing a pool; we each had one to ourselves. The property is so vast and hilly that golf carts transported those unwilling to make the hike from the reception area to their villa in the heat, and each villa had its own personal steward to run errands and deliver messages; there were no phones in the rooms. My all-time favorite travel anecdote comes from that stay.

My pool-sharing neighbor was Ron Butler, a wonderful writer and long-time friend. His teenage daughter had recently come to live with him in Manhattan, and this was the first time he’d left her alone in the apartment for any length of time. Just before 6 a.m. on the day we were scheduled to depart, his steward knocked loudly on his door. I heard him say urgently, “M’sieur Boot-laire! M’sieur Boot-laire! You ‘ave a phone call!”

Ron, woken from a sound sleep, immediately thought of his daughter, threw on some clothes and dashed down the winding paths to the reception building. When he arrived, out of breath and already sweating, no one was behind the desk; he pounded on it to get some attention. A perfectly pressed and coiffed person placidly appeared, and Ron asked about his call. The gentleman thumbed through a file of messages, pulled one out with a flourish, and with a radiant smile said, “Ah yes, M’sieur Butler. This is your wake-up call.”

-Mary Hunt, Editor, eFlyer

When I graduated from college in May 2006, I had dreams of big city life. I had interviews in New York City and Philadelphia and I was going to get out of Bucks County, Penn., but luckily for me, things did not work that way. I am becoming more worldly and seeing more from my office in Yardley, Penn. then I ever imagined I could.

It was my second week on the job and I was already traveling to Los Angeles for Global Traveler’s event at the Le Merigot in Santa Monica. Within a month of working here, I had been on my first business trip, written a hotel review and worked on a series of advertorials to run in the magazine. Most of my friends have jobs in cubicles all day, staring at computer screens and watching the clock. I sent them emails from my suite at the Hotel Bel-Air and told them stories of meeting Cynthia Nixon at our annual awards luncheon in New York City.

 I got lucky with my first job. I get to travel and stay in the lap of luxury - even on personal trips. I am learning about every aspect of the magazine industry and making my parents proud that I am putting my magazine journalism degree to use! I have great colleagues and most importantly, I always have fun at work. So, I may not be as well-versed in the world of business and luxury travel as some of my fellow Global Traveler employees, but I am learning the ins and outs of the industry. And, in reality, my journeys around the world as a Global Traveler employee are mirroring the most important journey I will make - my trip into the working world, adulthood and my future.  

 -Kimberly Krol, Circulation and Public Relations Executive

Several times when people have found out I travel for business as Vice President for Global Traveler, I have been asked what concerns me, scares me or makes me anxious about travel. When asked this question at a recent dinner party, I responded by saying that my most consistent concern has been returning home.

I told them my anxiety starts as I head to the parking lot. Will my car start? Has it been vandalized? Are there any flat tires? Once it has been established that my car is fine and I will get home with no incident, my next worry is my house. Is it still standing? Has it been broken into? Has there been a power surge or was it struck by lightning? Are there trees down in the driveway, etc? I am always greatly relieved when I turn in the drive to find all is well, which has not always been the case….

Once, when returning from a three week vacation in Kenya, I was horrified to find that someone had busted in the back door. Later that evening, I found out the damage was done by police in response to an alarm malfunction. It was heartening to know the police really do respond to alarm systems, however, it did cost me $500 to repair and the police did know no one would be in the house while I was away.

Another time, I returned to find that a branch of one of my trees had finally worn through the outer coating of the power lines coming into my house and shorted the wires. My place was ripe for a power surge as soon as I turned on lights or any other electrical equipment. I quickly realized what was happening after I was blinded by mega watt flashes and  the bulbs blew that my house was an electric storm about to happen. All was made right in about six hours after a visit from the local utility company and their tree trimmers.

So you can see that my concerns about returning home are well founded.  I can’t believe I am the only frequent traveler that feels this way…

 -Dick Evans, Vice President, Global Traveler

Sometimes I get so focused on deadlines, staring at my computer screen, that I forget to look at the world beyond my office. I have a worn, yellowed newspaper clipping tacked to the bulletin board over my desk. I can’t remember how long it’s been there, but every now and then it catches my attention and pulls me back into today. The clip is a copy of The Station, a parable written by Robert J. Hastings. It reminds me that life is a journey; that each day is a destination unto itself; and if I miss a day - or just don’t pay attention - I may end up missing the most memorable stop along the way.

 My brother’s partner, Lenny Lydon, has one of the most demanding jobs I can imagine. A Delta Air Lines manager, he is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At family gatherings, I’ve seen him field half a dozen calls in a single (weekend) afternoon. Somehow he manages to balance it all - usually with a smile on his face and a joke at the ready.

As I write this, Lenny is in Ghana where he is one of 40 Delta Air Lines employees who have volunteered vacation time to build homes for Habitat for Humanity. My brother, Ed, sent an email yesterday after talking to Lenny.

“He is so enthusiastic and exhilarated to be where he is at. The flight was 12 hours from JFK to the host city of Accra in southeast Ghana. The accommodations are good; about an hour from the work site which is very remote with no electricity or running water.

He said he was mortaring and building a wall of the house. Yesterday morning they met with the chief of the village in which they are working. The evenings are filled with local cultural events including a native dance and choral show … One of the homes they are focused on will be completed and they will be there to meet the family when they move in.”

Ed’s note about Lenny’s experience reminded me that no matter how busy I may be or what deadline is looming, I should be “enthusiatic and exhilarated” about where I’m at every single day.

 -Lisa Matte, Editor-in-Chief, Global Traveler

Go, go, go! What’s the rush you may ask? The short answer, I’m a New Yorker. I live and work in Manhattan and for those that don’t know me, I am often on the road for Global Traveler, living and loving my job. A question I am often asked when I am overseas is, “What is it like to live in New York City?”. From the first three words of this blog, you can imagine my answers. Basically, it is an energy found nowhere else in the world.

 This week I am in Manhattan and the city never ceases to amaze me. It maintains an energy that can give you life and suck it out of you just as quickly! I think that part of New York’s uniqueness is that it takes bits and pieces from everywhere in the world. However, I do believe that nothing beats seeing anything in its original form - from tasting sushi in Tokyo to seeing lions in the bush of South Africa – don’t you agree? Of course, New Yorkers in their natural habitat is something that one needs to see in their lifetime.

I haven’t figured out yet why NY makes people forever on the move. Part of the allure for me is the plethora of opportunities that exist. However, as any business traveler can appreciate, downtime in their hometown is a must. I live in midtown Manhattan and the business world certainly drives this part of the city, which makes downtime more difficult. But, of course, that doesn’t stop me from trying.  Last night, for example, I grabbed dinner in Greenwich Village and finished with a nightcap at one of the great local hotel bars in my neighborhood. Last night it was the Mandarin Oriental lounge, but I love the Ritz Carlton Central Park as well. Central Park during the day is also a great place to leave the sounds of the city behind for a break. As New York City is always going, if you are a local, or a business traveler to the city, let me know where you go to best balance the fast paced energy of NYC!

 Where am I going next? Find out next week!

 - Alexandra Young, Vice President and Associate Publisher, Global Traveler