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Jillian Dara

Contributor

Bio:

Jillian is a travel and culture journalist with an enthusiasm to learn from the world. She traces her wanderlust back to eight years old when her family relocated to the island of Bermuda. Since then, she has lived in London, Santiago, Boston, and New York City. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Jetsetter, VICE Munchies, and VinePair. Jillian’s simple pleasures include a hotel with an ocean view, a symmetric charcuterie board, and a dry martini—dirty. Follow her on Instagram @jilliandara.

Recent Articles
  • Room Request! AC Hotel New York Times Square

    Room Request! AC Hotel New York Times Square

    Visit an oasis in the center of Manhattan's busiest intersection

    Not many properties can seamlessly fuse minimalism and luxury while avoiding pretension. Yet upon spinning into the simply mod, sizable lobby of AC Hotel New York Times Square—amidst New York’s busiest cross streets—I somehow find myself transported; relaxed, comfortable, and right at home. The Spanish corporation’s chain ... More

  • Why Zambia is The Perfect Place for Your First Safari

    Why Zambia is The Perfect Place for Your First Safari

    And The Bushcamp Company is the operator to book it through

    Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion in anticipation of my first safari. From the three flights between New York City (JFK) and Mfuwe Airport to meandering across the tarmac and patiently waiting for my duffle, my anticipation did not make my travels to South Luangwa National Park go ... More

  • Room Request! The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

    Room Request! The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

    Connect to the Caribbean as you never have before

    Taking advantage of Cayman Island’s prized Seven Mile Beach, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman epitomizes oceanfront luxury, connecting guests with the ocean throughout their stay with their thoughtfully designed, airy rooms, furnished in neutral upholstering to balance a crisp, color palette against the sparkling Caribbean Sea, and ... More

  • The Weekender: Havana, Cuba

    The Weekender: Havana, Cuba

    Savor 48 hours of rum, ropa vieja, and if you’re willing, a little salsa

    Upon landing in Havana, time appears to stand still. All the postcard fantasies of vintage cars and colonial storefronts overwhelm with the accuracy of the reality—it could be 1950, 1980, or 2020—Havana is classically timeless. Though the realities portrayed are authentic, there is no denying the underlying turbulence of its ... More

  • Inside a Glamping Trip to Machu Picchu

    Inside a Glamping Trip to Machu Picchu

    If you're a bit skeptical about hiking, this luxe travel experience is for you

    I slid open the curtain at Lamay Lodge to reveal a lush courtyard with two llamas grazing next to the gardened fire pit. I gazed beyond them to behold the entirety of my vista; 9,705-feet above sea level, terracotta roofing framed the Andes Mountains. After my first day hiking through Peru’s ... More

  • The Weekender: Boston

    The Weekender: Boston

    Head to this colorful city for a winter getaway or a summer retreat

    At the heart of New England’s biggest city, downtown Boston is buzzing with development; and we’re not just talking about within real estate, but also within its food and beverage scene. As the seaport area concludes major renovations, boasting rooftops for seasonal watering holes, and the theater district flourishes with ... More

  • Room Request! Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection

    Room Request! Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection

    Visit a luxurious waterfront hotel in the heart of Australia's most bustling city

    Nicknamed as the "Harbour City," it is no wonder that tourists visiting Australia seek to stay as close to Sydney Harbour as possible. The body of water is not just a city landmark, with Sydney CBD developed around it, but it is also home to the Opera House and ... More

  • Visit The Gem of Australia’s Whitsunday Islands

    Visit The Gem of Australia’s Whitsunday Islands

    Hayman Island encompasses modern luxury with a private island resort to relax and recharge at

    If you’re unfamiliar with Australia’s Whitsunday Islands, you’re sure to recognize the destination’s celebrated attractions, like the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach. The collection of 74 islands are just northeast of the mainland, with one hour flights from Queensland or Brisbane ... More

  • Room Request! Lotte New York Palace

    Room Request! Lotte New York Palace

    Visit this New York City property for the complete royal treatment

    Towering above Madison Avenue, the Lotte New York Palace is a Manhattan icon. Experts in hosting a variety of elite guests and existing as the backdrop for television shows like Gossip Girl and Younger, the Palace is just that—palatial. With a gold-gilded lobby, three bars, including ... More

  • Room Request! Round Hill Hotel and Villas

    Room Request! Round Hill Hotel and Villas

    Get a taste of tropical luxury at its finest at this Jamaica property

    Tucked into 110-acres of tropical hillside and hovering over a tranquil bay carved out by the Caribbean Sea, Round Hill Hotel and Villas is a secluded oasis embracing the unique topography of Jamaica. Just west of Montego Bay, Round Hill has called Hopewell parish home since 1953, when ... More