Don’t be afraid to see the world
From the best bathrooms to exploration, news reporter has learned a few tricks
As chief White House correspondent for NBC News, Hallie Jackson earned accolades for her reporting on the 2016 Republican primaries and the rise of Donald Trump. Her current gig has turned the travelloving Jackson into a true frequent flyer; she logged approximately 400,000 kilometres last year, following the president around the globe, from Saudi Arabia to Beijing.
Here are some of her travel tips: The best bathroom in an airport
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is always in the same place.
“When you’re coming off a flight, skip the restroom by the gates and head to the one in baggage claim, which is always cleaner — and there’s never a line ... And hygiene is always a factor.”
An avid solo traveller, Jackson
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has two pieces of advice to encourage others to try a one-woman trip.
“It started out because I work weird hours and have strange days I can take off ... Just enjoy the food, and pay attention to the wine. Don’t be afraid to look awkward.
“Second, make sure all your technology is charged, because you can’t borrow a phone from someone if you get lost. You’ll need Google Maps.”
The best place to try solo travel
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is Asia.
“After the presidential visit to Asia, I spent a couple weeks there on my own. I did Kyoto and travelled through some of Japan solo. I felt very safe there as a female solo traveller, and I think you always need to be conscious of that. When I was in Kyoto, I walked to this sake bar I’d heard of, owned by an Israeli expat. I wasn’t sure what the vibe was going to be on a Friday night, but it turns out it was just me, a Japanese regular and the owner.
“... At first, he was a little gruff, but by the end of the night, I had sort of won him over by my ability to taste all sorts of things.”
You can be camera- or meetingready
■ after a red-eye flight with this one packable tool.
“Two words: travel steamer. I pack one on every single trip, the PurSteam Fabric Steamer. Just that one thing has been revelatory for me on the road: All you need is a bottle of water and a plug to fix your shirt or jacket or whatever it is, so you can look fresh and unwrinkled at any moment. And always have ponytail holders and a couple of bobby pins ...”
The U.S.’s National Parks are too
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often forgotten as hot destinations.
“The National Parks are overlooked and underrated ... I have this annual pass, which is $80 for everyone, and I tend to plan my vacations around parks. I travel so much that staying at a hotel is fine, but to travel and stay at a National Park lodge feels like a really cool experience. It’s a very nostalgic experience, and I also love the outdoors. So being able to hike, being able to rock-climb, being able to spend time outside is really special for me.
“One of my favourites is Joshua Tree in Southern California ... There’s a very special feeling about it in that you’re out in the middle of nowhere; the sky is amazing — it’s just big and as far as you can see. It’s very dark, so you get a lot of good stargazing happening. Grab whatever wine is at the grocery store locally, put it in your backpack, and hike Ryan Mountain at sunset.
“It’s pretty short and steep, maybe a mile (1.5 km), or so, and once you get up there, you have this great view of all of these Joshua Trees laid out underneath you, and there’s some crazy that happens at sunset at that park, which is when the light plays tricks. It looks like rainbow magic all over this place, even if you’ve only had one glass of wine.”
If Jackson ever misses a flight, it ■ will be for a good reason.
“I love the idea of having at least one mini-adventure on every work trip ... We went to Beijing and had three hours before we left for our flight, so I drove to the Great Wall ... Business travellers tend to get in this mode: Pack suitcase and run to the airport.
“But the things you do outside that, even for an hour or two, are the memories that you end up holding onto. Take advantage when you can — and if you miss your flight, there will be another one. And how many times are you going to be in some of those places?”