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Going Places is a new series from TripIt that highlights frequent travelers to showcase their unique travel styles and insider tips. 

Every traveler has their own preferences when it comes to taking a trip. Some prefer to travel in a group; others prefer their own company—and the freedom to roam as they please. But when it comes to traveling as a couple, Joy and Hugh Zei—AKA, Afrostylicity—have found a balancing act that works for them. 

Whether it’s tackling their ever-growing bucket list or brainstorming ideas for their Instagram, this Dallas, Texas-based duo works together to create content—and memories—on every trip they take. 

Partners in life, business, and travel

Before Joy met her husband, Hugh, she took mostly solo trips. She found that she really enjoyed that style of travel over, say, group trips.

“Sometimes group travel can be frustrating because people want to sleep in, or not take advantage of the short amount of time you’re in a destination,” shared Joy. “There can be a lot of competing priorities when it comes to group trips, so I found I preferred the freedom of solo travel.”

But now, Joy favors traveling with Hugh over any other kind of trip.

“We have the same travel style—we both like to plan ahead; wake up early; maximize the experience,” she said. 

“When we travel, we’re also creating as much dope content together as possible,” added Hugh. “We plan ahead, but we’re also spontaneous about creating our content—and that’s what makes it so much fun.”

If you hadn’t guessed, Joy and Hugh are travel content creators and bloggers. Their goal is to unearth hidden gems during their travels so they can report back to their fans and followers about the best things to do when visiting a destination. They cover everything from deals on flights, hotels, and activities to reviews of the destinations they’ve visited. 

Their top tip for planning a trip? “Let flights lead the way. Find a great flight deal first—everything else comes later.” 

Plan, prepare, produce content, repeat

Flights – check! Now what? 

“We use TripIt to keep us organized every step of the way. It takes away the overwhelm of planning a trip,” said Joy. “It’s our version of a daily planner. We use it to create trip itineraries and keep track of the places we want to write about for our blog.”

“TripIt takes away the overwhelm. It’s our version of a daily planner.” 

When they’re on the go, Joy and Hugh rely on TripIt’s flight and gate change alerts to stay on top of any changes. 

“During our trips, we leverage TripIt to plan our days. We can easily view the reservations we’ve already booked and forwarded to the app, and then we fill in the gaps from there,” said Hugh. 

After their trips, the duo also uses TripIt to reflect back on where they’ve traveled and what they’ve done so they easily recap their experiences for their followers.

The islands are calling…

From the sounds of it, Joy and Hugh are experts at maximizing their time while traveling. So, what’s one place they recommend everyone should visit? 

“Kauai, Hawaii,” said Joy. “It has this natural beauty that feels untouched. It’s a whole different vibe.”

Hugh agreed. “It’s a place we could go to over and over, and still discover something new each time. For anyone who wants to visit Kauai, we encourage you to just get out there and explore. There’s activities for everyone.”

Planning their return trip to Kauai aside, what other destinations are on Joy and Hugh’s radar? Bora Bora, Bali, Ghana, Maldives, Nigeria, Paris, and Turks and Caicos—for starters. 

As for what’s next for this travel-loving pair: “We’re headed to San Antonio, Texas! And after that, we’ll let our curiosity about other people, countries, and cultures guide us,” they said. 

Want to keep up with Afrostylicity, check out their travel tips, and learn about the hidden gems they’ve unearthed along the way? Follow them on Instagram and their blog for their adventures near, far—and always together.

The post Going Places: A Conversation with Afrostylicity appeared first on TripIt Blog.

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In late February, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)—the group responsible for assessing scientific factors related to climate change—released its 2022 report. The report examines “the state of scientific, technical, and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for reducing the rate at which climate change is taking place.”

Those who are familiar with the results of the report know (1) the outlook is stark, and (2) the need to take action is immediate. Indeed, it will take an integrated, holistic approach by governments, corporations, and individuals to combat the climate crisis. 

Below, I examine one part of that equation—what individuals can do—as it relates to being a responsible global citizen and traveler. Specifically, I take a closer look at carbon offsets, a popular climate change-fighting offering many travelers have probably heard of, but might not be closely familiar with.

Let’s dig into what carbon offsets are, whether you should offset your travel-related carbon footprint, and what else travelers can do to lessen their impact on the environment. 

What are carbon offsets? 

Carbon offsets are purchases made to compensate for carbon emissions. Often, carbon offsets are an investment in a project or action. For example, you can offset the carbon emissions incurred by flying by investing in a project that plants new trees.

Travelers can purchase carbon offsets: 

• Directly through the airline you’re flying. Airlines such as Air Canada, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, JetBlue, Qantas, United, and Virgin Australia offer this type of carbon-offsetting program. 
• Via certified carbon-offset programs, such as Gold Standard, Green-e, and Climate Action Reserve. You can learn more about the initiatives that each program supports, and then decide which offset project(s) to donate to.

Tip: TripIt’s Carbon Footprint feature enables you to track and understand the environmental impact of your air travel. Learn more >

In addition, some airlines (e.g., Emirates) automatically offset the carbon emissions incurred by their flights, so another way to benefit the environment—with your wallet—is to choose to fly on these airlines. 

Should you buy carbon offsets for your air travel? 

The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Yes, making donations to certified carbon-offset programs is one meaningful way to mitigate your environmental impact. 

However, some critics of carbon-offset programs say that offsetting puts the onus on individuals to take action and takes away from the more impactful solutions that could happen when, say, governments better regulate emissions or organizations make more meaningful changes in the way they do business. 

But what about the individual? Should you do nothing to combat your contributions to climate change? Absolutely not. Is buying carbon offsets the only solution? Also no. 

So, what can travelers do? In an interview with National Geographic, Kelley Kizzier, an expert in carbon markets at the Environmental Defense Fund, advised: “Consumers and companies should look first to [reduce] their emissions before looking to source offsets for those emissions reductions that are not possible or are not cost effective in the near term.” 

Read more: How to Travel More Responsibly (and Take Better Care of the Earth)

What else can travelers do to limit their environmental impact? 

If purchasing carbon offsets isn’t how you want to lessen your impact on the environment, or if you want to do more than offset your emissions, there are other meaningful ways to travel more sustainably. 

These include:

• Embracing slow travel. Slow travel involves spending more time in fewer places and moving more intentionally from place to place, too. The concept rejects the idea of parachuting into major cities on a whirlwind tour; jetting from place to place with barely enough time to get a feel for one before you’re on to the next. Instead, you get familiar with your new surroundings—and make thoughtful choices about where you spend your time, where you spend your money, and how you can leave the destination as you found it. 
• Traveling during off-peak seasons. Doing so means fewer tourists and lower prices, more flexibility and options, and it helps protect the natural and urban environments better—especially for destinations that are historically overrun during the busy season. 
• Reconsidering where you travel. Aside from time of year, you can also switch up your travel experience by visiting “second cities” or off-the-beaten-path destinations that aren’t as popular, and thus, less likely to experience the detrimental effects of overtourism. 
• Flying direct. During take-off, planes use upwards of 25% of the fuel needed for the entire flight. Once at cruising altitude, however, planes become much more fuel-efficient. In general, a direct flight has a smaller carbon footprint than a series of shorter hops. 
• … and in economy. Flying economy—versus first class or premium economy—is the more eco-friendly choice. The seats at the front of the plane offer more space and amenities, meaning they bear a greater share of the plane’s weight. More weight. More fuel consumption. More emissions. Point for the cheap seats.  
• Taking public transportation. By moving more people with fewer vehicles, public transportation helps reduce a city’s overall carbon footprint.
• Supporting local businesses. The strongest tool in your tourist arsenal is your wallet. The next time you travel, seek out opportunities to support your destination’s sustainable tourism efforts. Choose to support eco-conscious tour companies that employ local, full-time staff and highlight local businesses along your tour. You can also support local businesses that partake in sustainable practices; eat at restaurants that compost their food scraps; check out local farmers markets for freshly grown and locally sourced items. 

Related reading: 10 Tips for Sustainable Travel

Fighting climate change is not an all-or-nothing pursuit. It will take every individual contributing in ways that are feasible, meaningful, and sustainable for them. It will take organizations stepping up in new ways to put people, planet, and profits on equal footing. And it will take global leaders following through on the commitments they’ve made to support a world where all of us can continue to thrive.

The post What Travelers Need to Know About Carbon Offsets appeared first on TripIt Blog.

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City break (noun): a short holiday spent in a city, such as when on business travel.

Before there was bleisure travel, there was the city break—the short space of leisure time that grants you access to the cultural and culinary amenities that big cities offer. In this series from TripIt, we explore some of the world’s best cities for planning a quick getaway or extending a work trip.

Here are our tips for making the most of your city break in Washington, D.C. 

Where to fly in

Travelers flying into the D.C. metro area have a variety of airports to choose from, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), located less than five miles from downtown D.C. in Arlington, Virginia; Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), located 27 miles west of downtown D.C; and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), located 30 miles northeast of the city. 

When choosing which airport is best for you, consider factors like your ultimate destination in the D.C. area; arrival and departure times; flight availability to and from your home airport; and your preferred on-the-ground mode of transport once you arrive. 

Fortunately, once you’re on the ground, you’ll have access to a number of transportation options for getting to D.C. regardless of where you fly in. From DCA, you can take the Metro; it’s just a 20-minute ride from the airport to downtown D.C. From IAD, you can take the Metrobus 5A Route. And from BWI, you can take MTA MARC, MTA Light Rail, or Amtrak to get to D.C.

Taxis and ride shares are also available from all airports. Alternatively, you can rent a car to get to, from, and around the city. 

Where to stay during your city break

Whether you’re headed to D.C. for work or fun, there’s a hotel that suits your travel style and budget. Choose from iconic (read: luxury) digs like The Hay-Adams hotel, The St. Gregory Hotel, Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown, Hamilton Hotel Washington, D.C., The LINE DC, or The Dupont Circle hotel. 

For more budget-friendly accommodations, consider a vacation rental like an Airbnb, or hotels such as the One Washington Circle Hotel or Phoenix Park Hotel. 

How to get around

One of the great perks of visiting D.C. is its easy walkability. Plan accordingly by bringing comfortable shoes to traverse the city and explore its many sights (more on what to do, below!). 

If walking isn’t feasible or desirable, hop on a Capital Bikeshare bike. Bike-share stations are located throughout the DMV—that’s what the locals call the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. Thanks to more than 600 stations and 5,000 bikes, renting a bike is not only an eco-friendly—and fun!—way to get around D.C., it’s convenient, too. Rides start at $1.00 to unlock a bike, and then $0.05/min for a bike or $0.15 for an eBike. Day passes are $8. 

D.C. is also home to a convenient and clean subway system called the Metrorail (Metro for short). Metro fares start at $2.00; your trip total will vary based on the service, ride length, day, and time you ride. D.C. also has an extensive bus system. Regular routes are $2.00/ride; express routes are $4.25/ride. Combo rail and bus passes start at $13.00 for a one-day unlimited pass. 

Ride-share programs like Uber and Lyft are also available to take you where you need to go. 

Pro tip: Use TripIt’s Navigator feature to search transportation options available to you. It will show you the estimated costs and travel times for each option, so you can decide which works best. You can find Navigator within your plan details screens. 

Where to eat

For dining experiences that are quintessentially D.C., be sure to visit Le Diplomate for French fare in the U Street Corridor and Old Ebbitt Grill in Metropolitan Square for brunch, lunch, dinner, or late night—the latter touts the title of Washington’s oldest saloon, and was founded in 1856. 

Looking to check out a newcomer to the D.C. restaurant scene? Try ilili in The Wharf for a modern take on Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes. Want more Mediterranean options? Spots like Maydan (14th and U Street) and Rumi’s Kitchen (Mount Vernon Square) offer delicious, shared-plate options inspired by traditional and homemade meals from the Middle East and North Africa, and Persia—respectively. 

Craving Asian cuisine? Head to Anju for traditional-meets-modern Korean dishes or Rakuya for casual sushi (and much more!); both are located in Dupont Circle. 

Also located in Dupont Circle (in the aptly named The Dupont Circle hotel), The Pembroke serves classic American fare in a chic, light-filled setting. Or, head to The Imperial in Adams Morgan where mid-Atlantic flavors meet French cuisine. You can also grab a craft cocktail in the establishment’s basement drinking den, Dram & Grain. 

What to do on your city break

From monuments to museums, America’s capital city is steeped in history and culture. 

If this is your first time in D.C., start your trip by exploring the myriad monuments located along the National Mall. Iconic sights include the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Washington Monument (pre-book tickets if you want to head to the top), Korean War Memorial, World War II Memorial, and more. All monuments are free to visit; the Washington Monument charges a $1.00 service fee for the trip to the observation deck. 

Want to immerse yourself in more cultural experience? Visit one (or a few!) of the city’s many museums. You can choose from those within the Smithsonian network, such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of American History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of the American Indian, Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building, National Portrait Gallery, and much more. Outside the Smithsonian network, museums like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Geographic Museum, and National Museum of Women in the Arts are all well worth a visit. 

Keep in mind that while many of these museums are free to visit (with some exceptions), most require a pre-booked, timed-entry ticket. You can send your reservation emails to TripIt to keep your bookings organized all in one place, get directions between museums, and even find a place to grab a bite nearby.

Want to pick up a book about your favorite slice of American history or art? Check out Politics and Prose (The Wharf), Capitol Hill Books (in Capitol Hill, naturally), and Kramers (Dupont Circle) to support local, independent bookstores in the process.

By night, head to Off The Record located in the basement of the Hay-Adams hotel (or at Dram & Grain, located in the basement of The Imperial—as mentioned above) for after-dinner cocktails. Or, head to The Eastern in Capitol Hill for a wine and cheese experience that’s certain to please. 

Note: As destinations reopen around the world, be sure to consult and adhere to all local guidelines and travel restrictions, as they vary widely and will continue to change. One way to stay on top of changing guidelines is to consult the COVID-19 travel guidance feature in the TripIt app for destination-specific information, including testing and vaccination requirements, current infection rates, quarantine rules upon arrival, and other information you need to know before visiting the area.

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It’s been more than a year since the start of the federal mask mandate for transportation and the subsequent requirement for inbound travelers to the U.S. to provide a negative COVID-19 test result. And while the mask mandate was most recently extended less than a month ago (and is now set to expire on April 18), travel industry leaders and travelers alike are expressing their readiness for both requirements to end. 

Just how ready are Americans to see the travel mandates removed? This past week, we asked more than 700 U.S.-based TripIt users whether they wanted the mandates to expire, be removed, or continue—and whether the potential removal of those mandates would impact their plans to travel in the future. 

What travelers said revealed an obvious readiness for returning to travel normalcy. That is, the majority of respondents (54%) said they want the federal mask mandate for transportation to expire. In addition, 60% of respondents said they want the COVID-19 testing requirement for international travel removed. 

Here’s what else travelers told us. 

Most Americans ready for masks on planes to come off

When we asked travelers their preferences regarding the federal mask mandate for transportation: 

• 54% said they want the mask mandate to expire
• 30% want the mandate to be re-extended
• 16% don’t have a preference either way 

If the mask mandate were to expire, nearly a third of respondents (32%) said they’d be more likely to travel; 53% said the mandate ending would not make them more or less likely to travel. Just 15% said the mandate ending would cause them to travel less. 

Would an end to the mandate mean an end to masking on transportation? Our data says that it’s not likely. Indeed, 39% of respondents plan to still wear a mask on a plane and other forms of public transit; 28% said they’d wear a mask if they were feeling sick while traveling. One-third of travelers (33%) said they’d be done with masks if/when the mandate ends. 

Our data also shows those who want the mask mandate to be re-extended will also—overwhelmingly (93%)—continue to wear masks on public transportation no matter what, with nearly all of the remainder doing so while sick (6%) and less than 1% planning to no longer wear masks on public transportation at all.

Nearly half of Americans will plan more international travel if testing requirement is removed

Travelers felt even more strongly about the removal of the international testing requirement. Our data shows:

• 60% of respondents want the requirement removed
• 27% want the policy to remain 
• 13% said they don’t have a preference either way 

We also asked travelers how the potential removal of the international testing requirement would impact their travel plans. Almost half (44%) said they’d be more likely to travel if the requirement was removed; just 10% said they’d be less likely to travel; and 46% said ending the policy would not impact their travel plans either way. 

Similar to the survey data we released in early March, Americans’ air travel readiness continues to climb. And it would seem, with readiness comes the appetite for normalcy—and moving on from pandemic-era mandates. 

Methodology: TripIt surveyed more than 700 U.S.-based users to understand their sentiment towards the federal mask mandate for transportation and the COVID-19 testing requirement for international travel to the U.S. The survey took place April 1-4, 2022.

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