After many months in the making, I am so thrilled to invite you to join me on my first blogging retreat! Alongside with Anne Lowrey of Part-Time Traveler, we created Gather + Getaway this year as we both had this deep desire to lead a boutique blogging retreat for women.
Let me share a bit more….
How I know Anne:
First off, Anne & I are two small-town girls (we come from the same home town!) and we connected in San Francisco a few years back. Fast forward to today… We’ve fostered a supportive relationship with each other’s work, danced our way through Cuba, and spent many days brainstorming together. Anne is an award-winning freelance traveler writer and writes her blog Part-Time Traveler that is dedicated to a balance of travel and home. She’s one talented writer and digital strategist (with work appearing in TripAdvisor, BBC Travel, and Eater). So needless to say, I’m incredibly honored to co-lead my first blogging retreat with Anne.
Meet Gather + Getaway: A Boutique Blogging Retreat:
Gather + Getaway is a retreat that will be three nights and four days spent helping female travel bloggers elevate their craft and connect with likeminded creatives. Our first one is on the stunning coastline of California in Carmel on January 17th, 2019.
We’ve designed it to be an intimate space (8 women only) in a destination that sparks wanderlust, fuels your creative tank, and helps you rethink your blogging strategy. We’ll be teaching classes on social media, photography, writing, marketing, and most importantly, how to take your blog to the next level. Alongside the teaching, we will be exploring the incredible destination — imagine hikes on the coast, a photography excursion to Big Sur, wine tasting and exploring the enchanting Carmel-by-the-Sea.
I so hope if you’ve ever considered attending a blogging retreat, that you’ll join me. I am excited to spend time with you, share what I’ve learned along the way, and help you grow as a creative.
You can find all of the information for our first Gather + Getaway Retreat here!
If you have any questions, feel free to email gatherandgetaway@gmail.com!
PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Accommodations
I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for vacation rentals. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
2. Book Your Rental Car
Self-driving is the best way to explore most destinations. I use Discover Cars for our rental cars, select full coverage insurance, and opt for a reputable company like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
I use Viator, Airbnb, and Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check all three as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Private Transfers
For easy, reliable private transfers, I use Welcome Pickups. It’s my go-to for arranging a driver in advance — whether it’s an airport pickup, a hotel-to-hotel transfer, or a day trip. The experience is seamless, with English-speaking drivers and upfront pricing, so you can travel stress-free at every stage of your trip.
5. Get Cell Data for Your Trip
I use Holafly for international cell data. Their unlimited data eSIMs are easy to install, activate instantly on arrival, and let you skip local SIM cards and expensive roaming fees.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, or cancellations).
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
