I notice what the brochure leaves out.
Decades of travel, a well-used passport, and no interest in wasting your time or money.
I'm Elizabeth Garrison. Pull up a stool, and let me tell you what is worth the flight and what is just good lighting.
I'm a woman who knows what she likes, isn't embarrassed by her standards, and can laugh at an overpriced hotel room.
I came to this the long way round. As a flight attendant, I learned the difference between simply going somewhere and truly experiencing it. Court reporting taught me to listen for what goes unsaid, and flying as a private pilot taught me to trust my own judgment over anyone's itinerary. I've been noticing ever since.
The hotel photographed at its one flattering angle. The “hidden gem” with a line around the block. Some places deserve the hype. Others deserve a better photographer. I can tell the difference, and I'll tell you.
A long lunch. A room that feels like it has secrets. Good linen, better company, and a table at the hour the light turns gold. I've reached the age where I know the difference between a splurge and a very expensive mistake. Sensible shoes optional, standards not.
Anything that needs a filter to be fabulous. And if the place everyone posts isn't worth your time, I'll say so, warmly. You'll always get my honest take and my reasons, not just my enthusiasm, so you can decide whether it's your kind of fabulous.
Honest, thoughtful recommendations, with the reasons attached: where to go, what to skip, and where to splurge without a flicker of regret. Bring a good jacket and an appetite. I'll bring the opinions.
The World Is Worth Doing Right.
Is It Actually Worth It?
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