viatrix (Latin – feminine noun III declension): female traveler
Hola! I’m Stephanie
And I’ve been a viatrix for about as long as I can remember.
I’ve eaten my way through Paris and Peru, I’ve snorkeled off the Big Island and the Great Barrier Reef, and I’ve been birdwatching in the Ghanaian jungle and the llanos of Venezuela. I’ve toured the Gold Museum in Bogota and Gaudí monuments in Barcelona. I’ve soaked in onsen in Ishikawa and hammams in Istanbul. I’ve honeymooned in Cambodia and visited a honeybee farm in Slovenia. All in all, I’ve had incredible experiences in 42 states and 46 countries—and counting.
My husband had to put a moratorium on guidebooks (which I quietly ignored), and I’m a sucker for anything marketed for travel or labeled “packable,” “versatile,” or “multi-functional.” We’re on planes, trains and automobiles every chance we get; we’ve put off expenses like buying a car or a house, preferring instead to spend our money on seeing more of the world. I guess you could say I’m a bit travel obsessed.
A few of my favorite travel experiences:
- Watching the sun rise over Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania
- Dancing with locals in the streets of Havana
- Learning to surf in Costa Rica
- Death-defying hiking in Zion National Park, Utah
- Visiting craft villages and indigenous markets in Oaxaca and Michoacán, Mexico
- Eating every possible pintxo while attending the international film festival in San Sebastian, Spain
- Seeing the Rolling Stones play at London Stadium
I’m not just experienced, I’m an expert.
My travel career began when I was living in Madrid (I got my Master’s degree there and then stayed six more years—I met my Spanish husband there too!). I started leading walking and tapas-tasting tours around the city, then guiding groups around Europe for Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door. On the side, I worked as a travel blogger and freelance writer, and traveled as much as I could in Europe, Africa and Asia.
When my husband got a job in New York City, I started working for a top luxury tour operator and spent 11 years planning customized, private vacations for super high-end clients. I’ve arranged monthlong journeys through Peru and Ecuador, meetings with master craftsmen in Japan and whisky distillers in Scotland, over-the-top family tours of Australia and Dubai, luxury Nile cruises in Egypt, in-depth wine tours in France and art tours in Italy, and cooking lessons in more destinations than I can count (I do love a foodie tour!). I was even named a Top Travel Specialist in Conde Nast Traveler in 2021 and 2022.
TL;DR
All this to say that I have a lot of knowledge, expertise and experience when it comes to crafting an unforgettable trip. I’ve done all the research and tried all the things, so from planning to packing, I know what works and what doesn’t.
I can tell you which places are worth the time and effort and which places are skippable (ahem, Insta-famous spot with one photogenic corner and not much else). I know which hotels are truly worth the money. I’m an expert at planning a trip that makes sense logistically, maximizes time, and yet still feels like a vacation. I can even tell you how to pack the perfect carry-on suitcase—no matter how long you’re traveling—and which which in-flight movies won’t cause airplane crying (it’s a real thing, I swear!).
And if I don’t have the answer, I have the resources to get it.
The three most important things to know about me:
- I live (and will probably die) by what I call the Three P’s: pastries, popcorn and potato chips.
- I’m a film nerd. My husband and I run a movie club with our friends that’s been going for over 300 weeks.
- I love helping curious travelers get MORE out of their vacations:
- More uniqueness: Insider and off-the-beaten-path experiences you can’t get anywhere else
- More meaning: Activities that open you up to new ways of seeing the world—sorry, no “fly and flop” from me
- More deliciousness: A literal taste of the local culture (no tourist traps!)
- More beauty: Nature and scenery, art and architecture—the places and things that inspire a sense of wonder
- More style: Whether that means a cool boutique hotel or a perfectly packed travel capsule wardrobe
- More sustainability: Economic and environmental—supporting local communities and family-run businesses, avoiding mass tourism whenever possible
- More connection: With yourself, with your travel companions, and with the world at large
- More fun!