Welcome back to Jettset 🐾 — my bi-weekly series (named after my sweet pup, Jett) where I share travel news and tips, my newest and noteworthy essays, plus all the things I’m loving right now.
Housekeeping: This email may be too long for your inbox; for the best viewing experience, considering using the Substack app or a web browser instead.
Olá Amigos,
Happy spring!
Long time no see, friends — and for good reason because life lately has looked a lot like… well, staying put.
We’ve been navigating the residency permit renewal process here in Portugal, which has felt like an absolute slog sometimes (I’m adding an update to this series soon👇🏽).
So while grounded at home, I’ve been busy sending other folks away.
You might have seen on Instagram that bespoke travel planning is officially on the Arrivals menu! In addition to women’s retreats, I also work with clients one-on-one to plan and book trips they love.
Over the last few months, I’ve planned a girls getaway to Paris, a couple’s road trip to the American Southwest, and a solo adventure to Vietnam with more in the pipeline (which I’m hoping may or may not involve a yacht 🛥️).
I know it’s been a minute since the last edition of Jettset. And before we dive in, a quick note: you’ll notice a small change to this series — it’s still very much the same but just more focused on all things travel.
Without further ado, here’s what’s on today’s itinerary:
The Travel Insider 🗺️ | Travel news and possible summer inspo
New & Noteworthy 💡| Latest post & a few untold stories
The Love List 💛 | Quotes that land with a thud
Let’s go.
The Travel Insider 🗺️
SUMMER DESTINATIONS
I love planning trips 1-2 years out — sometimes more.
Recently, I asked Josh how he felt about going to 3 new countries in 2027 and 4 others in 2028.
His response: “Sam, I don’t even know what I want to eat for dinner tonight, much less where I want to travel in two years.” 🙄
Apparently not everyone shares my same level enthusiasm.
Which got me thinking — where do you fall?
*Complete poll in-app for the best user experience.
Based on your answers, I'll be sharing my top destination picks (domestic U.S. and international) in the next post.
One just might surprise you — stay tuned. 😉
TRAVEL TIP
Speaking of planning ahead — these days I’m advising my clients to invest in something we all too often cast aside: travel insurance.
Unglamorous, I know, but if the last few years (or months frankly) have taught us anything, it’s that “unusual circumstances” are basically... just circumstances now.
Most policies cover the usual suspects: delays, cancellations, medical emergencies. What they typically don’t cover? Things like government shutdowns, geopolitical unrest, or deciding you’re simply not comfortable getting on a plane right now.
That’s where Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) comes in.
As the name implies, you can cancel for any reason and still get a good chunk of your money back.
A basic travel insurance policy runs about 4-8% of your total trip cost; with CFAR, it’ll run you 6-12% instead.
A few important things to know:
You won’t get 100% back — most policies reimburse 50-75% of your non-refundable prepaid costs. But hey, something beats nothing.
CFAR must be purchased within 14-21 days of your initial trip purchase.
If you do need to cancel, it must be at least 48 hours before your departure date to qualify for a refund.
But you might be wondering: what about your credit card’s travel coverage?
Honestly, most policies are minimal (at best) and only cover specific out-of-pocket costs. Always compare before assuming you’re protected.
Check out Forbes’ list of top reviewed insurance providers or I am always happy to be a resource!
THE AIRPORT APP
Flighty is the live flight tracking app you didn't even know you needed.
It alerts you to delays often before the airline does — and its newest feature, Airport Intelligence, takes it a step further.
It monitors conditions at more than 14,000 airports worldwide and pulls from the same aviation data that pilots and airlines have always relied on (e.g., Meteorological and Terminal Aerodrome Reports, etc.), translating it all into a simple, easy-to-digest design.
With TSA staffing shortages and security lines making headlines, travelers have never needed something like this more. Airport Intelligence gives you real visibility into what's happening on the ground before you get there.
There's also a forecasting feature so you know when delays will start and when they'll clear. The web-based airport dashboard is free for anyone — but if you want the full experience and extra perks there's a paid tier with the iOS-only app worth exploring.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY 💡
Switching gears entirely, I’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from my recent post: 👇🏽
If you haven’t read it yet, consider it my origin story (well, one of them) but there are a handful of memories from my angsty tween era that didn’t make it into the post.
Here are a few others I thought you’d enjoy:
I got tipsy at my school’s Parents’ Night | In true European fashion, the school served champagne to parents. My mom asked me to hold her glass while she excused herself for a moment. Naturally curious… I took a sip. Then proceeded to drink the entire thing. Turns out that was the very moment, at 12 years-old, that I developed a taste for the finer things in life. 😂🥂
I got a bird’s-eye view from the flight deck. Back in the ‘90s family members were allowed to ride with the pilots in the cockpit (times, of course, have changed!). And I’ll never forget the magic of taking off from that vantage point; a core memory that’ll stay with me forever. 🛫
I almost flunked out of 7th grade. My parents hired a tutor before my brother and I started French secondary school since we didn’t speak the language. After weeks of lessons, my entire working vocabulary consisted of one phrase: il y a une souris sous la table (“there is a mouse under the table”). Spoiler alert: it did JACK to prepare us for school!😤 I didn’t understand a single thing for months (often crying in the back of the classroom) and I almost flunked out of school.
So yes, thanks, Dad... for all the years of therapy. 😂
THE LOVE LIST 💛
Jokes aside, we all know it isn’t truly a Jettset edition without a quote.
With summer travel around the corner (often the biggest trip of the year most folks take), I thought this one was particularly fitting:
And remember, “somewhere you’ve never been before” just might be in your own backyard. 😉
With that, have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
With only more love,
Sam
🧡 If you enjoyed this edition of Jettset, consider giving it a like — it helps others discover my work. And, of course, I always appreciate a share!
📸 If you’re on Instagram, let’s be friends!
✈️ And if you want help planning your next getaway, reach out to me here.