I am writing this from the airport, waiting to board my connecting flight home from Los Angeles (LAX). In my last blog I mentioned the team was headed to L.A. for the 16th annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards and that this trip included a lot of firsts for me.
My first time in L.A. was fun. I stayed at The Peninsula Beverly Hills and loved every minute. I wish I was there a little longer so I could go sightseeing, but I did get to go to Rodeo Drive, which was cool.
I really enjoyed my first trip as part of the team. The event was fun. We had a good turnout and it seemed like all the guests enjoyed themselves. One of the main highlights was the fire dancer. He did an awesome job, even if I was nervous the whole time he was up there.
As for it being my first flight with a layover, it was a little stressful, but overall it went pretty well. On the way there, Fran, Bill, Dick and I had about 25 minutes to get across Detroit’s airport to catch our connection. Luckily we made it with about five minutes to spare. My trip home, I was supposed to have 90 minutes between flights but ended up with about four hours. My layover in Minneapolis was supposed to take off at 8:26 p.m. but didn’t end up taking off until 10:30 p.m. There were issues with the plane, and we had to wait for a new crew to come.
Overall, my first trip as part of the team and my first time in L.A. went well. Can’t wait to go back and explore one day!
— Mary Melnick, social media and editorial coordinator
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Nov 9, 2026Big Sky, Montana, Welcomes Luxury Vacation Rental Management
Making its Montana debut, InvitedHome, vacation rental and property management company, welcomes 10 luxury penthouses and condominiums to Big Sky. This opening marks the brand’s presence in 11 world-class mountain destinations, from Vail and Aspen, Colorado, to Park City and Alta, Utah.
Sponsored Content
Global Traveler Hosted Trip on the Transcend Connect
JOIN GLOBAL TRAVELER ON ITS NEXT TRIP!
November 2026
Nov 9, 2026Versatile and Vibrant, Modern Asti Spumante Is Not the Simple Party Fizz of the Past
I recall attending a New Year’s Eve party in my early 20s during which our host walked around at midnight filling guests’ flutes with celebratory toasts of “Champagne” or Asti Spumante. Now, the former wasn’t actually Champagne, just a cheaply made domestic Brut more suited to the budgets of people just entering the workforce. But those of us who liked our bubbly on the drier side preferred it to what we viewed as a sweet, simple Italian quaffer.
United States
Nov 9, 20266 Reasons to Put Bozeman, Montana, on Your Travel List
It’s time to start dreaming of your next trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Bozeman, Montana, with us.
Sponsored Content
Luxury Travel in Chilean Patagonia: Where Refinement Meets the Wild Edge
At the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, Los Lagos opens a landscape in constant motion. Volcanic peaks rise sharply above glacial lakes, mist moves through dense forests, and light shifts across every horizon. Here, luxury travel in Chilean Patagonia unfolds moment by moment, balancing raw energy with seamless comfort.
Daily
Nov 9, 2026Google to Revitalize Chicago’s Thompson Center
The James R. Thompson Center is a 17‑story, 1.15 million-square-foot, postmodern office building at 100 W. Randolph Street in Chicago’s Loop, bounded by Randolph, Lake, Clark and LaSalle streets. Designed by Helmut Jahn and completed in 1985, it was originally the State of Illinois Center.
November 2026
Nov 5, 2026Review: Casa Gangotena
ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: Facing one side of San Francisco Plaza in Quito’s Old Town, you’d be forgiven if you, at first, mistook the hotel for a palatial residence or estate, where the fourth or perhaps fifth generation of a family resides. Casa Gangotena, a Relais & Châteaux property, was, in fact, a home for many, built in the 17th century and later home to several presidents. The entrance reminds you you’re on very special grounds, from crown molding ceilings to opulent chandeliers to velvet couches, and staff guided me to check-in, beginning my very own regal stay.
Sponsored Content
The Art of Balance in Seoul: Beyond the Boardroom
The value of a destination is no longer defined solely by infrastructure, efficiency or scale. Increasingly, it is measured by a city’s ability to balance productivity with well-being — creating opportunities for focus, restoration and more meaningful connections.
Daily
Nov 5, 2026Discover a Festive European Fairytale at Rosewood Schloss Fuschl
Rosewood Schloss Fuschl invites guests and locals alike to experience the magic of its holiday season with curated activities, festive celebrations, culinary offerings and other creative workshops. The holiday season arrives Nov. 26 when the resort transforms into a winter wonderland surrounded by the unbelievable Austrian landscape.
ShareThis