Andrea Sachs majored in art history at Tufts University, where she wrote about arts and culture for the school paper — mainly to get free food and drinks. She received a master’s degree in journalism at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism (where she learned that journalists should never accept freebies). In between, she lived in Colorado, where she skied, guided whitewater rafting trips and avoided the real world. She spent a year at a sailing magazine in Boston before joining the Washington Post. She bounced around several news departments before finding her permanent home in Travel in 2000.
How did you get started traveling?
My parents started us young. As kids, we would spend our school vacations sailing in the Caribbean. My dad was an avid sailor and could not last an entire winter without sailing. Over the years, the family trips grew more ambitious and adventurous: New Zealand, Thailand, Belize, Costa Rica, Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco. I truly believe that you are never too old to travel with your parents, though the roles reverse, with the kid(s) taking over as trip planner and luggage porter. Right before the pandemic, my mom and I traveled to Antarctica, our seventh continent. Post-pandemic, we are thinking about visiting Labrador — and probably my sister, too.
How did you get started writing?
I covered arts and culture for the Tufts newspaper, but I never imagined I would turn a few wine-fueled art openings into a career. I chose my occupation through deductive reasoning. I knew what I did not want: monotony, fluorescent lighting, disconnection from the world. As a journalist, and especially a travel writer, every day is full of surprises and new knowledge. (Practically speaking, I went to J-school and was hired as a sports copy editor at the Post. During my free time, I wrote as much as I could for a variety of sections and freelance publications.)
What do you consider your first “break” as a writer?
I am not sure if this qualifies as a “break,” but I felt a real sense of accomplishment when my editors in the Travel section changed my byline to Washington Post staff writer. (Previously. I had been Special to The Washington Post.)
As a traveler and fact/story gatherer, what is your biggest challenge on the road?
I am like the diner at the all-you-can-eat buffet whose eyes are bigger than her stomach. I want to sample everything in a destination. Unfortunately, I usually have only a short time to cover the topic or destination, so I must be very efficient and disciplined and stick to my itinerary. But I will usually give myself a short break to wander around and let serendipity play tour guide for a while. (Alternate answer: flight delays and traffic.)
What is your biggest challenge in the research and writing process?
Researching a destination feels like a 1,000-piece puzzle. It takes time to sort out the various pieces — flights, hotels, attractions — and turn them into a cohesive whole. But once I can see the big picture, I feel so relieved and am excited to get on the road. One of the biggest challenges in writing is deciding which anecdotes and experiences to include and which to cut. No one wants to read a laundry list of attractions or a chronicle of your trip. So I need to pick the most compelling stories and sock away the rest for . . . my memoir?
What is your biggest challenge from a business standpoint?
The role of the travel writer has changed, and our industry has expanded to include influencers and other social media darlings. Many readers don’t want first-person narratives anymore; they just want know how they can get from Point A to B, or crawl into that Instagram post. We need to find that balance between providing a service while preserving the craft of writing.
Have you ever done other work to make ends meet
I do dog sit, but not for the money. I love animals and spend my vacation time volunteering at shelters abroad (Thailand, Malawii) or flying rescue dogs to the States for adoption (Puerto Rico, Colombia). I also pet sit in exchange for lodging. I am watching a cavalier king charles spaniel in Malta in August. I can’t wait to see where she takes me — park, beach, pet store?
What travel authors or books might you recommend and/or have influenced you?
I am a big fan of Gerald Durrell’s books. Also, Paul Theroux, Bruce Chatwin and Naguib Mahfouz. I have been on a birding-quest kick lately, reading books by authors who set out to see, say, every penguin or hummingbird species in the world. I am currently reading The Glitter in the Green by Jon Dunn. Did you know that Ian Fleming named his suave spy after an American ornithologist?
What advice and/or warnings would you give to someone who is considering going into travel writing?
Find your niche and stay true to your voice and interests. Avoid cliches. Treat the people and places you are covering with honor and respect. Always remember that we are guests in their home. Fact check with a primary source.
What is the biggest reward of life as a travel writer?
It is easy to fall into the trap of saying, “Oh, I get paid to travel.” Yes, I do, but this career is not self-serving. I see myself as an emissary for people who love to travel but maybe need a little inspiration or help in planning. For me, the greatest reward is hearing from readers who tell me that they decided to take a trip based on one of my articles. They thank me, but I always write back and thank them.
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