Erin Levi

Like many Jewish Americans, I grew up in a household with resentment toward Germany—no German cars, no learning German (for me), etc. But that eventually changed. (My dad now drives a BMW.) So by the time I applied for German citizenship, I had few reservations about it, apart from me wondering, “Is my American citizenship not enough?”

For a travel writer, apparently not :)

Read about my journey to becoming dual national in Terry Ward's CNN Travel article about American Jews obtaining German citizenship.

Unfortunately, there was little room for my grandfather’s own heroic tale of escape and return to Nazi Germany as a Ritchie Boy—one of the 22,000 servicemen who were trained by the US military in intelligence tactics at the top-secret Camp Ritchie in Maryland, which was essentially the precursor to the CIA. Maybe I should write it instead?

From soaking in herb-infused hot stone baths to perusing Thimphu’s budding contemporary art scene, check out my top 15 things to do in Bhutan in my first piece for Extraordinary Journeys.

Read: Best Things to Do in Bhutan

Image courtesy of Como Uma

For TIME's World's 100 Greatest Places 2024, I wrote about a "secret" luxury camp in Haa Valley, the last Bhutanese district to open to tourists. Read the full blurb here. 

Sangwa Camp is owned and operated by MyBhutan, a revolutionary tour operator in Bhutan whose launch I wrote about for The New York Times in 2016. 

Photo courtesy of MyBhutan. 

For TIME's World's 100 Greatest Places 2024, I wrote about conservationist-run Burhan Wilderness Camps in Nepal's Tiger Land, Bardiya National Park. Read the full blurb here.

Photo of Burhan's lodging by Anuj Adhikary.

For TIME's World's 100 Greatest Places 2024, I wrote about the world's only museum dedicated to Mountain Jews. The Museum of Mountain Jews is located in Red Village, Azerbaijan, a centuries-old all-Jewish community in the Greater Caucasus Mountains that some call "the world's last shtetl." Read the full blurb here.

Photo by Erin Levi.

For TIME's World's 100 Greatest Places 2024, I wrote about the epic Matterhorn Alpine Crossing, the world's highest 3s cableway, which connects ski resort towns Zermatt, Switzerland and Cervinia, Italy in just 90 minutes. Read the full blurb here.

Dips in the lake. Free cycling. Bird's eye views from Mont Salève. I spoke to FamilyVacationist.com's Ashley Rossi about why I love Geneva, Switzerland in the summer. Read the full story here.

Contemplating a trip to Bhutan? You might be asking yourself, how far ahead should I plan? How do I get there? Do I need a tour operator? What's the deal with the daily fee? And what should I pack?

You can find all these answers and more in my second Bhutan installment for Lonely Planet, in which I share the 23 essential things you need to know before you plan a trip to Bhutan. Read the article here.

Bhutan vs Nepal? It’s an age-old travel question. In this fun assignment for Lonely Planet, I made the case for visiting Bhutan, the last Buddhist Kingdom on earth.

(In my honest opinion, you should visit both.)

Read the story here.

Bustling restaurants, crowded subways, sold-out shows and exhibits, sky-high rents: New York City is back, baby.

While the pandemic certainly was a blow to the city’s economy and people, the city is undeniably resilient and has a creative spirit and energy that can never be extinguished – and still draws millions of tourists each year.

If you haven’t been to New York City since the pandemic, why not come now? Summer 2022 is proving to be less sticky than usual. Plus, hotel room rates tend to dip in July and August.

Is that a yes? Here are some questions to consider first.

Read on in my second story for Lonely Planet.

Presenting my Lonely Planet debut! An in-depth guide to exploring New York’s Central Park — from foraging to birdwatching to traversing the lesser known northern end — for Lonely Planet’s newest series: The Detour.

Includes tips from experts, such as “Wildman” Steve Brill, climate scientist Alexander More, and pop culture detective Bob Egan.

Who actually “discovered” the Caribbean?

For my first BBC Travel story in 2+ years, I reported on a rare archeological discovery in the Dominican Republic’s secluded Samaná Peninsula that could unlock the mystery behind the Caribbean’s little-known pre-Arawak past.

In my first story for Journal of Dreams, a print-only magazine published annually by Savinien Caracostea (who founded it at the early age of 9 years old), I recount a magical realist adventure where I unexpectedly traverse the Silk Road while meditating atop a craggy sea cliff in Maine.

Buy the Night—Trains issue at McNally Jackson or Albertine in New York City, or order a copy directly from www.journaldesreves.com. You can also read my story here.

If you haven’t yet visited Bhutan, there are plenty of reasons to go in 2020. Why wait?

Travelzoo • Dec. 19, 2019

A summer to remember forever, and a career highlight that’s hard to top: in 2019, I attended the opulent, once-in-a-generation Swiss winegrowers’ festival in Vevey, called the Fête des Vignerons, on assignment with BBC Travel — after having written about it for the New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2019.

This multimedia photo gallery includes 13 slides plus a short video by the very talented Anna Muckerman who worked under my direction (and took all of the photos):

BBC Travel • Nov. 14, 2019

I contributed 13 tips as a local expert to Touring Bird’s inaugural Kathmandu guide. (I lived in Kathmandu for three months in 2017-2018.) Touring Bird is a new web-based travel app from Google’s Area 120 incubator.

Ascend Nepal’s tallest climbing wall

Visit an unusual contemporary art museum

Dine & sing at a North Korean restaurant

Eat yomari at a local Newari institution

Visit the mustard oil town of Khokana

Feast on wood-fired momos in Boudha

Have a romantic dinner in historic Patan

Explore Patan Durbar Square for free

Browse Kathmandu’s famous pottery

Attend a cultural event & meet artists

Unwind at a “note-worthy” new bar & cafe

Spend a night at The Museum

Celebrate the full moon at Yala Mandala

I contributed six tips as a local expert to Touring Bird’s inaugural Bangkok guide. Touring Bird is a new web-based travel app from Google’s Area 120 incubator.

Try regional dishes at a fancy food hall

Eat lunch at a local student food market

Visit Asia’s ‘most beautiful bookstore’

Slurp bowls of heavenly pork noodles

Learn about Thai floral culture & design

Hear music at a unique concert hall

I wrote about four day-long rambles — some better known than others — that access the best of Bhutanese culture, wildlife and beauty.

Kadrinchela (‘thank you’) to editor and esteemed travel writer Robert Reid for assigning.

MO/AD Magazine • April 2019

Established in 1797, the Fête des Vignerons is a Unesco-recognized winegrowers’ festival that takes place every 20 to 25 years in Vevey. The 12th edition ran from July 18 to Aug. 11, 2019.

The New York Times • Jan. 10, 2019

After more than 25 years since the fall of the Soviet Union, the former member country of Uzbekistan — home to some of the most alluring stretches of that historic trail — is finally going through its own perestroika.

The New York Times • Jan. 10, 2019

For pleasure-seekers on a budget, the best things to do in Thailand make this country a paradise on earth.

Time Out • Oct. 30, 2018

A new ride with killer Matterhorn views opens in time for winter ski season.

AFAR • Oct. 24, 2018

I wrote a 1,000 word narrative on visiting Bhutan’s most sacred site: the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro. This piece was commissioned for the season finale of CNN’s Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. RIP Tony.

Explore Parts Unknown • Jun. 20, 2018

Opinion: Don’t forget to put down your phone.

Adweek • March 21, 2018

Temple stays, beachside resorts and the Olympics.

The New York Times • Jan. 10, 2018

Luxury lodges, helicopter tours, and a new airport.

The New York Times • Jan. 10, 2018

My interview with Cuba experts Julia Cooke and Hannah Berkeley Cohen, who share their travel tips and insight.

NeueJournal • May 4, 2015

New reasons to get close to the Matterhorn.

The New York Times • Jan. 4, 2017

An industrial neighborhood’s revival.

The New York Times • Jan. 4, 2017

Until now, choosing a tour operator has been the hardest part of traveling to Bhutan, a country where independent travel isn’t possible and a $200 to $250 daily minimum tour package is required. After receiving an official endorsement from Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, MyBhutan (mybhutan.com), a new one-stop travel portal, hopes to help usher the country into an era of tech-savvy efficiency. . .

The New York Times • May 9, 2016

*A version of this article appears in print on May 1, 2016, on Page TR2 of the New York edition. 

This neighboring country to China aspires to become a fully sustainable state, despite nearby pollution.

Rodale’s Organic Life • Dec. 10, 2015

*Rodale’s Organic Life was sold to Hearst. Sadly, the link no longer exists.