Elysha Beckerman

ONE OF THE many benefits of working at Departures is that I get to (at very least) hear about the most interesting and elevated travel experiences on the planet, which stretch from the surreal glacial cliffs of Antarctica to Elba’s bleached, rocky Italian beaches to the high-altitude forests and volcanoes of Rwanda. I am constantly reminded of how vast this planet actually is — and that modern transportation makes exploring it a tangible reality.

THE PACE OF travel, spurred by the coming holidays, becomes increasingly frenetic, I am more grateful than ever for hotels that feel like an oasis of calm. Having spent so much of the past few months bouncing from place to place and haunting various airport lounges around the world, the pleasure of a beautiful hotel room and a super-comfortable bed have come to feel like one of life’s greatest joys.

ONE OF THE many benefits of working at Departures is that I get to (at very least) hear about the most interesting and elevated travel experiences on the planet, which stretch from the surreal glacial cliffs of Antarctica to Elba’s bleached, rocky Italian beaches to the high-altitude forests and volcanoes of Rwanda. I am constantly reminded of how vast this planet actually is — and that modern transportation makes exploring it a tangible reality.