Rachael Levitt profile page

Rachael Levitt

Managing Editor, Fodors.com

Hailing from Philadelphia with stints in San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Austin, Rachael finally settled down for good in Los Angeles—probably. She’s visited 5 continents and 40 states and acquired a BA and MFA in tacos and creative writing, respectively.

Q&A

Why do you travel?

Because it’s beautiful (and delicious) out there!

What’s one thing you never travel without?

A long, warm scarf—it’s basically a blanket that can also make me look really put together even when I don’t feel it.

What was your worst travel experience?

I missed the last train from Bologna to Florence and had to sleep in the train station. I was not appropriately dressed for the cold night. I was also drunk. What a nightmare.

Where did you have your most unforgettable meal?

On a dock on Chiloe Island in Chile, I watched the fishmongers pluck the shellfish from the sea, steam them up with some potatoes and serve in minutes with a whole bunch of lemons. The ocean tastes so good.

What’s on your travel bucket list?

After visiting Iceland and Patagonia, extreme landscapes really pique my interest. I want to hit Banff, New Zealand, and Mongolia next.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

A tiny cabin in the Redwoods with good extremely good Wi-Fi.

What’s the first thing you do when you arrive in a new place?

Figure out where my point-of-reference coffee shop will be for the duration of my stay.

What's the most unusual place you have stayed on a trip?

I slept under mosquito netting in an open-air yurt-like cabin in Tanzania. I was a little concerned I might be eaten by bugs and/or wildlife. But it was surprisingly pleasant!

What is your favorite genre of book?

I read for the same reason I travel—to get into other people’s minds, to see the different ways they live. There’s so much humanity in the world to savor, and fiction leads me right to the core of a person’s twisted, beautiful perspective.

If you had limitless funds, what would be your dream destination?

I gotta get to the Maldives or the Seychelles. There’s something about being so far away from the rest of the world. It’s dreamy.