Jess Moss Travel

Tag: travel

  • What to Do When You Visit D.C. in Winter

    What to Do When You Visit D.C. in Winter

    A friend wrote me in late December asking for some tips for some friends visiting D.C. Since a lot of my favorite spots are better in summer, here’s a list of some winter recommendations I sent over.
    Overall for food/drinks I’d recommend going to these neighborhoods: 14th St./Logan Circle, U Street and Shaw. 14th/U is really the hub of dining and nightlife so you can walk along til you find a place that has something you like. Shaw is a tad less corridor-like; you need to have more of a destination, but it’s where a lot of the new hotspots are opening. Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan are still good food and drinks spots. I wouldn’t recommend Gtown these days, except for a few spots or for shopping during the day.

    A few of my favorite bars are:

    • Churchkey: beer galore (we got drinks here when you were in town a while back)
    • Bar Pilar: cozy & classic bar on 14th
    • McClellan’s Retreat: a good one for history nerds, this bar is Civil War themed
    • Board Room: board game-themed bar, good for holing up on cold nights
    • Vegas Lounge: live band turns this place into a Motown/Pop dance party
    • Wok and Roll: drunk latenight (or not so latenight) karaoke

    Some restaurants to look at:

    Local Booze: there are a ton of great local beers to try/breweries (3 Stars, Atlas, DC Brau, Right Proper, Port City), but other local booze is also buzzy, like the ANXO Cidery and District Distilling Co.

    Quintessential “DC” spots:

    • The rooftop bar at the W Hotel is probably one of the best views in DC, overlooking WH/Mall
    • Off the Record in the Hay Adams hotel has fun political cartoon coasters you can steal
    • The Watergate Hotel opened and I think it’s overdone but if it happens to be warm there’s a great new rooftop bar overlooking Gtown

    Other things to do:

    • I’d say good luck getting tickets to the new African American museum … they’re booked til April, though there are some daily giveaways I think.
    • The East Wing of the National Gallery of Art just reopened and is cool
    • The Renwick Gallery is really fun for some Instagram action
    • One of my favorite lesser known spots on the Mall is the US Botanical Garden – in winter it’s a nice tropical jungle to escape into.
    If they’re Hamilton fans, then this guide might be of interest 🙂
  • The Ultimate Guide to the National Mall

    The Ultimate Guide to the National Mall

    December 15, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || No trip to the District of Columbia is complete without a visit to the National Mall. The site of presidential inaugurations, historic protest marches and a brand-new Smithsonian museum, this 2-mile-long grassy lawn that runs through the heart of the nation’s capital sees over 25 million visitors per year. Here, you’ll find the city’s iconic marbled monuments and museums. Plus, the White House and Capitol are steps away. If you’re visiting the city for the first time – or if you want to give your feet and camera a workout – plan on spending a day here. And if you’re short on time, check out these top sights and museums.

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  • 2017 Travel Trends to Watch

    2017 Travel Trends to Watch

    To make sense of the avalanche of trends pieces that storms in this time of year, I’ve put together some notes on what industry leaders say are the top travel trends for 2017. Some are familiar (green travel is by no means news), while others are refreshing innovations from tech advances (AI) and stealing ideas from other successful fields (rental travel clothes ala Rent the Runway).

    U.S. News: The Biggest Travel Trends to Watch in 2017

    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Green getaways
    • Urgency to see disappearing destinations
    • Digital booking for experiences/attractions (led by Airbnb)
    • River cruising
    • Airline rewards for higher paying customers
    • Cuba
    • Smartphone photography

    Euromonitor/MSN: 10 Travel Trends to Watch for in 2017

    • Co-living communities
    • Supersonic travel
    • Micro-adventures
    • The Middle East
    • Wilderness spas & wellness
    • Chinese theme parks
    • Making India friendlier toward female travelers
    • Cuba
    • VR (especially for travel agents)
    • Bag-free travel (ship to hotel or rental programs)

    2017 Virtuoso Luxe Report

    • Multigenerational travel
    • Active or adventure trips
    • River cruising
    • Travel with immediate family
    • Celebration travel

    Forbes: The Experts’ Views: Five Travel Trends for 2017

    • The pared-back hotel
    • European islands and islets
    • The edible resort
    • Affordable sailing adventures
    • Polar travel

    Huffington Post: 8 Coming Travel Trends for 2017

    • Wellness vacations (growing 50% faster than regular travel)
    • Connected world (more regional flights and airports)
    • Competitive Travel
    • Xenophobic Travel
    • Demand making once bucket-list places commonplace and expensive
    • Protest Tourism
    • Bargain Travel (60% travelers are ‘price driven’)
  • The Ultimate List of Best Places to Go in 2017

    The Ultimate List of Best Places to Go in 2017

    Around this time each year, travel sites flood us with their “must see” lists. Not only are these a way to round up interesting destinations that either have big stuff going on (Canada for the 150th anniversary, Seoul for all the new openings, Cuba because for a second year in a row everyone’s obsessed with Cuba…), they’re also a consistent way for these media companies to flex their web design muscles.

    To make matters easy for my own research (and for you! You’re welcome!) here’s a list of lists: all the major travel sites’ top lists for where to go in 2017.

    Also, just for fun, here’s an aggregated look at the places that appeared on the most lists … you might say this is the consensus list of the best places to travel in 2017:

    • Canada
    • India
    • Russia
    • Colombia
    • Finland
    • Nepal
    • Cape Town
    • Portugal
    • Peru
    • New Zealand
    • Chile
    • Italy
    • Belize
    • Japan
    • Bermuda
    • Switzerland
    • Hamburg
    • Madagascar

    Ok, now the lists of lists…

    National Geographic: Best Trips 2017

    This list is broken down into Nature trips, City trips, and Culture trips. Hats off to the web design team and editors; lots of great videos, photography (obvi, it’s Nat Geo), social plugins, and little tips and tidbits.

    • Kauai
    • Finland
    • Baja California
    • Banff
    • Ecuador Cloud Forest
    • Via Dinarica, Western Balkans
    • Tiger National Parks, Central India
    • Marrakech
    • Madrid
    • Anchorage
    • Seoul
    • Moscow
    • Cartagena
    • Hamburg
    • Malta
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Chengdu, China
    • Canton Uri, Switzerland
    • Guadeloupe, Caribbean
    • Georgia, USA
    • Cradle of Humankind, South Africa

    Lonely Planet: Best in Travel 2017

    This one is broken down into Countries, Cities, Region, and Value. Nice hero images pull in video for a sense of place, and wire-icons keep the destination blurbs clean. Also, like previous years, it’s sponsored so comes with a photo contest for a free trip.

    • Canada
    • Colombia
    • Finland
    • Dominica
    • Nepal
    • Bermuda
    • Mongolia
    • Oman
    • Myanmar
    • Ethiopia
    • Bordeaux, France
    • Cape Town
    • Los Angeles
    • Merida, Mexico
    • Ohrid, Macedonia
    • Pistoia, Italy
    • Seoul
    • Lisbon
    • Moscow
    • Portland, Oregon
    • Choquequirao, Peru
    • Taranaki, NZ
    • The Azores, Portugal
    • North Wales, UK
    • South Australia
    • Aysen, Chile
    • The Tuamotus, French Polynesia
    • Coastal Georgia, USA
    • Perak, Malaysia
    • The Skellig Ring, Ireland
    • Namibia
    • Porto, Portugal
    • Venice
    • Debrecen, Hungary
    • Belize
    • Morocco
    • Russia
    • Bellarine Peninsula, Australia
    • Upper Peninsula, Michigan

    AFAR: The AFAR 100

    I’m not going to list 100 things here … and neither did AFAR. Their best of list is more of a collection of articles and round-ups.

    Insider: 50 Places to Travel to in 2017

    This is the first I’m hearing of Insider, and I’m not totally sure what it is. But their list is pretty extensive, and includes a lot of spots on other lists (Finland, Malta, Seoul, Nepal…) so it’s worth a look.

    Fodor’s Travel: Fodor’s Go List 2017

    I’m biased because this is done by my former colleagues. But Fodors’ annual list is always a thoughtful assortment with some unexpected spots featured. This year’s list feels a tad more evergreen than usual (why do Cyprus this year?), though others nail it (free Canada National Park entry all year!?).

    • Helsinki, Finland
    • Hokkaido, Japan
    • Lima, Peru
    • Canada’s National Parks
    • Chiang Mai, Thailand
    • Medellin, Colombia
    • Aarhus, Denmark
    • Madagascar
    • Cyprus
    • Hong Kong
    • Oaxaca, Mexico
    • Edinburgh
    • Alaska
    • Saxony, Germany
    • Wellington, New Zealand
    • Marfa, Texas
    • Kiev, Ukraine
    • Laos
    • Denver
    • Minho Region, Portugal
    • Yorkshire, England
    • Washington D.C.
    • Bordeaux
    • Cape Town
    • Antigua & Barbuda

    Booking.com: Travel trends for 2017

    • Reykjavik
    • Copenhagen
    • Hanoi
    • Bari, Italy
    • Ubud, Bali

    Conde Nast Traveler: The Best Places to Travel in 2017

    This year, slideshows are out and image-rich lists are in. That’s what Conde Nast Traveler does here

    • Canada
    • Midwest U.S.A.
    • Cuba (beyond Havana)
    • Bermuda
    • Athens
    • Scotland
    • Scandinavia
    • Portugal & Azores
    • Croatia’s coast
    • Jerusalem
    • New Zealand
    • Tokyo-Kyoto
    • Zimbabwe
    • Rwanda
    • Buenos Aires
    • Chilean Patagonia
    • Uruguay

    Orbitz: 17 Amazing Places to Travel in 2017

    Some simple content marketing right here: round up a blog post of places + reasons to go, then link to the site’s booking options for each destination.

    • Washington, D.C.
    • United Kingdom
    • Iceland
    • Paso Robles, CA
    • Canada
    • Mid-Beach Miami
    • Colombia
    • St. Louis
    • Stockholm
    • Abu Dhabi
    • Philippines
    • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Rwanda
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Nevis
    • Uttar Pradesh, India
    • Merida, Mexico

    New York Times: 52 Places to Go in 2017

    This is hands down my favorite list every year, both because the places go beyond the usual suspects, there’s always a timely angle to picks, and most importantly, the web design is always fresh. This year is no exception: an amazing full-screen video hero kicks things off, then mobile-friendly 360-degree video features let you pan around to pretend you’re on a ski lift in Switzerland or trail in Wyoming.

    I’ll spare you the full list, but it’s worth reading — especially the shout out to Minneapolis!

    Travel + Leisure: Best Places 2017

    Nothing groundbreaking with the design of this one, but a comprehensive list of 50 places (which, again, I’m going to avoid regurgitating here — just click the link) hits 2017 faves (Hamburg, Helsinki, and the likes) as well as some new ideas (Pisco Province, Peru and Honolulu…).

    Harper’s Bazaar: The 17 Best Places to Travel in 2017

    • New Zealand
    • Canada
    • Finland
    • Pittsburgh
    • Portugal
    • India’s Golden Triangle
    • Rwanda
    • Israel
    • Cape Town
    • Warsaw
    • Madagascar
    • Japan
    • Colombia
    • Sanya, China
    • Scotland
    • Vietnam
    • Asheville

    Matador: 35 of the World’s Best Places to Travel in 2017

    • Jordan
    • Los Angeles
    • Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
    • Sisimiut, Greenland
    • Peninsula Valdes, Argentina
    • Hamburg
    • Faroe Islands
    • Auckland
    • Dominical, Costa Rica
    • Montreal
    • Portmagee, Ireland
    • Belfast, Maine
    • Havana
    • New York City
    • Franklin, Tennessee
    • Durango, Colorado
    • Abu Dhabi
    • Seattle
    • Sicily
    • Varanasi, India
    • St. Petersburg
    • Quebec City
    • Charleston, SC
    • Montreux, Switzerland
    • Obidos, Portugal
    • Pokhara, Nepal
    • Cabo San Lucas
    • Nelson, British Columbia
    • Alter do Chao, Brazil
    • George Town, Malaysia
    • Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Ottawa
    • Montagu, South Africa
    • Leipzig
    • Curanipe, Chile

    Conde Nast Traveller: The Top 10 Destinations to Watch for in 2017

    • California
    • Cambodia
    • Denmark
    • Hampi, India
    • Paphos, Cyprus
    • Canada
    • Maldives
    • St. Helena
    • Belize
    • Chile

    TripAdvisor: 2017 Travelers’ Choice, 25 Best Destinations: World

    Since TripAdvisor’s list is crowd-sourced, it tends to be a lot more mainstream and less timely. Nonetheless, there are a few unexpected options (Belize’s Ambergris Caye, for example). The design isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it’s set up to promote other TripAdvisor content (photos, things to do, hotel bookings) in a simple but prominent way.

    • Bali
    • London
    • Paris
    • Rome
    • New York
    • Crete
    • Barcelona
    • Siem Reap, Cambodia
    • Prague
    • Phuket
    • Istanbul
    • Jamaica
    • Hoi An, Vietnam
    • St. Petersburg, Russia
    • Roatan
    • Marrakech
    • Ambergris Caye, Belize
    • Rio de Janeiro
    • St. Maarten-St. Martin
    • Playa del Carmen
    • Dubai
    • Grand Cayman
    • Kathmandu, Nepal
    • Bora Bora
    • Cusco, Peru

  • 2016 Holiday Travel Gift Guide

    November 2016 on Marriott Traveler  || Holiday shopping season is upon us, and you’re probably well on your way to making a list and checking it twice. If you planned ahead, your gift-buying was taken care of months ago with awesome local mementos and souvenirs you picked up on your travels … Wait, you didn’t remember to buy gifts when you were on your vacation back in April? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From stocking stuffers to high-tech travel gear, these nine gifts will wow everyone on your list.

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  • Holiday Travel Survival Guide

    Holiday Travel Survival Guide

    October 2016 on Marriott Traveler || Delayed. Delayed. Delayed. Delayed. If you’re gearing up to travel this holiday season, that is the last word you want to see on the airport departures board. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to try to avoid some of the season’s biggest transportation nightmares.

    We checked in with Marriott Rewards Insiders and other frequent travelers and asked them to spill their secrets for traveling between Thanksgiving and New Years. Below are some of the top tips for surviving holiday travel.

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  • How to Spend 2 Days in Austin: Travel Guide

    How to Spend 2 Days in Austin: Travel Guide

    I went to Austin for a few days for a work summit. Most of our time was spent in meeting rooms in the W hotel, but I was able to check out a few things while there. Here’s what I did:

    How I Got There

    There aren’t too many direct flights from D.C. to Austin; I flew United nonstop from Dulles. 

    Where I Stayed

    W Hotel: Good location a short walk from Sixth Street. The hotel had a chic design with an industrial edge. Large rooms had awesome attention to detail, especially the bathroom toiletries. Two words: face wash!!! 

    Day 1

    Blue Dahlia: Cute spot for tartines and breakfast/brunch food. It’s a bit dark inside, but there’s a nice outdoor seating area if it’s not too hot out. 

    La Condesa: Upscale Tex Mex is the name of the game at this large high-ceilinged restaurant with moody lighting. 

    Rainey Street: When this residential area was rezoned into commercial real estate, historic houses were turned into quirky bars. Most of them have back yards or outdoor patios, and food trucks pull up to serve eats. Basically it feels like you’re drinking in a buddy’s backyard, not a bar.

    Day 2

    Bat Cruise: Every night between March and November thousands of bats that live in the crevasses under the South Congress bridge fly out around sundown to feed. You can stand on the bridge to look down at them, or hop on a boat cruise to tour a bit of Lady Bird Johnson Lake. The boats float beneath the bridge to watch the bats. You’ll get better photo ops from the boat because you get the bridge scene too. Tip: get a boat with a covered roof; it’ll protect you from the bat droppings.  

    Swifts Attic: Not your average menu here. Inventive courses whip up weirdness like spicy edamame with pop rocks and bacon-wrapped Gorgonzola. Try the ball cocktails: the flavored ingredients are frozen in an ice cube ball that flavors the liquor in the glass as it melts.  

    White Horse: An east side honky tonk where you’ll find a quirky mix of folks. Think sleeve tattoos and ironic hipster t-shirts with unironic cowboy hats and two-step dancing. 

    Rain on 4th: This gay bar on 4th Street has a dance floor with cages and an outdoor back bar. 

  • The Best Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco

    The Best Road Trip from Seattle to San Francisco

    July 2016 on Marriott Traveler || That PCH route from San Francisco to Los Angeles gets all the attention, but it’s not the only West Coast drive that should be on your map. A road trip through the Pacific Northwest and Northern California is equally epic, but with less traffic. You’ll see some of the West Coast’s fastest growing cities, majestic national parks, windswept beaches and sunsets that need no filter. Here’s the route.

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  • Baseball Fanatic? Here’s Your Dream Road Trip

    Baseball Fanatic? Here’s Your Dream Road Trip

    July 2016 on Marriott Traveler || You’re a baseball stat wunderkind, not unlike Jonah Hill’s character in “Moneyball.” So your ultimate summer road trip has to be all about baseball, beer, and modern Americana. If you’re in the Midwest, the drive from Chicago through Ohio and Kentucky and on to St. Louis is a must. You’ll cheer with some of the sport’s most spirited fans, pay respects to one of its oldest ballparks, see where bats get made and learn how the game was played back in the day. Here’s the route…

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  • The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

    The Ultimate Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

    June 17, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || When you imagine driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, you might think of the thrilling stretch of coastal road between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This is one of the country’s most famous drives, and for good reason. But stick to this route and you’ll only see a fraction of the spectacular scenery that lines the West Coast. For a real adventure, hit the road for a longer coastal journey, from Vancouver, British Columbia, to San Diego, taking in soaring redwood forests, hidden beaches, big cities and charming seaside towns. Read on for route highlights.

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