Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.
Name: Meredith Rosenberg
Occupation: Freelance Travel Writer
Hometown: South Jersey
Residence: North Jersey
College: CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
College major: English
Website: meredithlrosenberg.com
Twitter: @scooprosenberg
Instagram: meredithlrosenberg
Short bio: Meredith Rosenberg is an accomplished journalist, editor and web producer with more than fifteen years of cumulative experience. Since 2015 she’s provided travel content to the Travel Channel, HGTV, CNN Travel, Conde Nast Traveler, and more. She’s also a member of SATW.
How often do you fly? It varies, but it can be multiple times a month.
How many countries have you been to? Honestly, I’ve never counted!
How many continents have you been to? 5
Earliest travel memory: Sitting on a plane as a toddler—I think I was on my mom’s lap—and being mesmorized by the clouds as we were en route to Florida.
Favorite American city: I’m biased toward San Francisco and NYC.
Favorite international city: London.
Least favorite country: I don’t have a least favorite country, but I can say that Casablanca is one of my least favorite cities.
I have no desire to go to: I try to keep an open mind.
Friendliest people in the world: I’ve encountered friendly people all over the world, so it’s all relative.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: Morocco—but hey, they were just doing their jobs.
Favorite airline: Emirates and JetBlue.
Aisle or window: Aisle. I’m one of those annoying people who get up a lot.
Favorite U.S. airport: Honolulu.
Favorite international airport: Dubai.
Favorite hotel: Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai and Ladera in St. Lucia.
Favorite cruise line: Even though I’ve cruised, I don’t have a favorite yet.
Favorite island: St. Lucia.
Favorite beach: Arossim Beach in Goa.
Favorite National Park: Grand Canyon.
Favorite fruit: Raspberries and pineapple.
Favorite food: Bagel and lox.
Least favorite food: Tomatoes.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Water! I’m all about staying hydrated.
Favorite travel movie(s): Motorcycle Diaries, Under the Tuscan Sun, Roman Holiday, Lost in Translation.
Favorite travel show(s): Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown and No Reservations, Amazing Race, and, at the other end of the spectrum, Idiot Abroad.
Favorite travel book(s): Elena Ferrante’s intimate portrayal of Naples.
Right now I am reading: “The God of Small Things.” I’m forever catching up on books.
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure.
Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! Nomadic Matt, TripAdvisor, Airbnb.
5 things you bring on a plane: My bag has about 20 things, but always water, snacks, laptop, moisturizer and headphones.
What do you always seem to forget? Business cards.
What do you like least about travel? Jetlag and packing.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Not into Duty Free.
Favorite travel app(s): XE currency converter and Google Translate.
Most embarrassing travel moment: I’ll refrain from sharing that here, but not being able to figure out how to turn on a shower in Boston is up there. In my defense, it was complicated.
I’m embarrassed I haven’t been to: Russia and Poland, since some of my grandparents were from those countries.
Worst travel moment: Getting food poisoning in India the night before I had to board a plane.
What’s your dream destination? Australia, Machu Picchu, the Galapagos, Tokyo…it’s pretty endless.
Favorite travel charity: Humane Society International.
Best travel tip: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men [and women] and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” — Mark Twain