Seeking destinations for Nat Geo travel

And, WOW, 2025 is off with a bang!

Hi friends,

Greetings from New York City, where I flew in yesterday after 12 days in the Midwest. Most of that time was spent in Milwaukee, where I got to bring my mom home from her nursing home for Christmas (the first time since April!) and take her to the Nutcracker ballet.

Quick shout out to Madison for arranging a mini trip for my niece and me to explore their winter holiday family offerings. My sister and I also spent two days in Chicago visiting museums and checking out restaurants for a Thrillist/Eater piece that I hope doesn’t get killed given the uncertain future of Thrillist.

Just two days into the new year and I already confirmed TWO travel features for National Geographic (a guide to hiking in Slovenia, and a long layover vacation piece), a commerce piece for Travel + Leisure, and a branded content piece for RiteAid pharmacy. Given how dire 2024 was (and 2025 appears to be), I am thrilled to be starting the year off with a bang.

Next week, I’ll be sending out a newsletter focused on my goals and priorities for 2025 and how we can best work together. To prepare you for that email, consider learning what I’ve been working on (and what it says about the industry) in my 2024 Review: Recap, Stats & What I Learned if you haven’t already.

Happy New Year!

Cassandra

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Please Hold Off Pitching!

I am only 20% done with the guidebook writing I need to do for the San Jose chapter I’m working on for the new Costa Rica Lonely Planet book. That will be my focus in January along with the articles I just confirmed and any additional paid work I may secure in the coming weeks. Oh, I’ll also be out at two conferences this month. Yikes!

I am WAY over capacity and will not be reading or considering any other destination or product pitches this month, as I simply do not have the time to go through the hundreds of pitches I typically receive each month. If you want me to learn about your idea, please hold off to another time or join my next Ask Me Anything live call.

If you’d like to book a 1:1 consult or coaching call to go over SEO, trends, your pitch strategy, or anything else, feel free to email me and include that request in the subject line, as I will be considering those!

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CURRENT EDITORIAL NEEDS

1. National Geographic - Layover Destinations

I'm writing a new piece for NatGeo about extending a layover into its own vacation to make it something to look forward to vs dread. I am ONLY seeking information about destinations in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa that serve as great destinations on the way to somewhere else. For instance, Qatar or the UAE being a great place to layover on the way to Sri Lanka or the Maldives.

To be considered, you'll need to make a case for your destination beyond its strategic location. For instance, does the country's home airline offer a layover option that allows for a certain number of days in-country at no additional cost (like Turkish Airlines or Qatar Airways). Is the airport located relatively close to the city center and are the main attractions easy to get to in a short timeframe? If someone only has 2 days in a destination for a layover, they're not going to want to spend a lot of time getting to far-away attractions on buses and cars.

SIDE NOTE: As I’ll be heading to Bhutan in less than a month, I’m especially interested in hearing from airlines that are good layover destinations to that part of the world (I don’t have my flights booked yet and I’m open to exploring somewhere while working off jetlag on the way to Bhutan).

• Requirements: I am ONLY considering destinations in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia

• Subject line: NatGeo Layover

• Email: cassandra@escapingny.com

• Pitch by: EOD Tuesday, January 7th

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Favorite Articles from 2024

Thanks to those of you who helped me source products, destinations, and quotes for these pieces. Here’s a sampling of what I wrote in 2024, which I think gives you a good idea of the sort of topics I cover for various outlets.

Thrillist: Spilling the Tea on This Indian Ocean Paradise

CNN Outdoors: The Best Bike Lights of 2024, Tried and Tested

Wall Street Journal Travel: For an Outdoorsy Vacation Without Massive Crowds, Look to Your Nearest State Park

Range Best (gorgeous print mag): Scotland Slowly - Why the Best Way to Explore this Rugged Country is by Water

Yahoo: FeatherSnap Scout Smart Bird Feeder Camera Review: An Intelligent, Addictive Addition to Your Backyard

Midwest Living: 11 Must-Visit State Parks According to Locals and Pros

AFAR: This Canadian Island is a Dream Destination Best Explored By Sea

Yahoo: 8 of Canada’s Best National Parks (which got 185,000 views!)

Hilton: Embrace the Season in These Worldwide Winter Wonderlands

AARP Travel: Traveling in Hot and Humid Weather? Here’s What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

AARP Caregiving: What I Learned from My Mom’s Move From Hospital to Rehab

Sierra Club: How Local Parks and Nature Centers are Putting Accessibility Front and Center

Travel + Leisure: I Just Hiked 10 Days in Slovenia and These Boots Kept My Feet Blister-Free

AAA Traveler Worldwise (Print): Urban Access - These Cities are Prioritizing Accessibility

Going.com: I Hiked Scotland’s 96-Mile West Highland Way. Here’s What I Learned

Business Insider: The Coolest Airports in the US

World Nomads: Is Baja California Safe for Travelers in 2024? Tips for Travelers

CNN Travel: This HydroFlask Bottle is Insulated, Ultralight and Perfect for Travel

Forbes Gear: Sleep Like a Baby in the Backcountry with the Best Camping Pillows