Denae McGaha on Muck Rack

Denae McGaha

Seattle
As seen in: Business Insider, Flipboard, Yahoo Style Singapore, Matador Network, Fodor's Travel
Covers:  Heritage stays, boutique travel, wellness travel, food and wine

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Denae McGaha’s Biography

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Denae McGaha is a travel writer and former expat who spent seven years exploring Europe while based in Budapest. She now lives in Washington State, where she writes about Pacific Northwest travel, boutique stays, and the journey of starting over. You can find her bylines in Fodor’s, Business Insider, and Matador Travel.

Denae McGaha’s Journalist Portfolio

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5 Ways to Experience the Corinthia Budapest Hotel Beyond Booking A Room | Denae McGaha

5 Ways to Experience the Corinthia Budapest Hotel Beyond Booking A Room | Denae McGaha

The Corinthia Hotel is one of Budapest's oldest and most beautiful. The iconic facade is impressive (it's sai…

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I spent my 20s living a dream life abroad, but returned to the US in debt. There's a lot I wish I...

I spent my 20s living a dream life abroad, but returned to the US in debt. There's a lot I wish I...

After spending seven years abroad, I returned to the US in debt with no savings. I don't regret it, but I wis…

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I spent my 20s living a dream life abroad, but returned to the US in debt. There's a lot I wish I...

I spent my 20s living a dream life abroad, but returned to the US in debt. There's a lot I wish I...

After spending seven years abroad, I returned to the US in debt with no savings. I don't regret it, but I wis…

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I lived in Budapest for 7 years. There are 4 tourist spots I wouldn't recommend - and 4 that are ...

I lived in Budapest for 7 years. There are 4 tourist spots I wouldn't recommend - and 4 that are ...

I lived in Budapest and worked in the tourism industry. There are some popular attractions that are worth the…

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Where to Play, Eat, and Stay in Bellevue, WA, From the Sea to the Sky

Where to Play, Eat, and Stay in Bellevue, WA, From the Sea to the Sky

Matador is a travel and lifestyle brand redefining travel media with cutting edge adventure stories, photojou…

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Monsters, Masks, and Mischief: Scaring Away Winter at Hungary's Traditional Carnival

Monsters, Masks, and Mischief: Scaring Away Winter at Hungary's Traditional Carnival

Hungary's farsang (Carnival) period leads up to Lent, Busójárás (loosely translating to the Busó walking or m…

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Articles

After moving back to my hometown at 30, I felt lost. Starting a new hobby helped me find purpose again. Original

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By Lydia Wang Verified, Denae McGaha, Henry Blodget Verified
| Business Insider Verified
2025 started with a huge and unwelcome life transition: After seven years living in Budapest, I had to move home due to visa issues. Loading audio narration... Transitioning from a bustling city to a small town was a tough adjustment. I felt lost after trading my community, lifestyle, and travel-focused identity for my small hometown in the Pacific Northwest. To pass the time while searching for a new job, I spontaneously joined a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) gym.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (5) Issue with article?

I lived in Europe for 7 years before returning to the US. Here are 3 things I did right and 3 I wish I'd done differently. Original

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By Denae McGaha
| Business Insider Verified
After seven wonderful years in Budapest, I had to move back to the US in early 2025 because of visa issues. Packing up my life and saying goodbye to my community, network, and home was an emotional whirlwind — to say the least. Looking back, there are things I'm grateful I did, and others I would have done differently to make the transition easier. Here they are. Leaving plenty of time to pack helped me maintain my sanity Starting the packing process early was essential.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (5) Issue with article?

After living in Europe for 7 years, I brought 4 new habits back to the US — but there's one American trait I never lost Original

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By Denae McGaha
| Business Insider Verified
2025-12-12T13:45:27.478Z Share Facebook Email X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky WhatsApp Copy link lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. I spent seven years living abroad in Budapest before returning to the United States. I noticed many of my habits changed, like the way I viewed work and how I shopped for groceries.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (5) Issue with article?
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Interview

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Why did you become a journalist?

I started my travel blog as a way to document my 7+ years living abroad in Budapest, and my writing evolved from there.

What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?

Welcome rejection!

When's the best time to pitch you?

I love receiving pitches in the middle of the month so that I can build the upcoming month's calendar.
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