Nancy Besharah of Luxe Travel Family

Nancy Besharah luxury family travel bloggerI met up with Nancy Besharah at the North American Travel Journalists Association's annual convention. She's a freelance travel writer living in Victoria, BC, and the person behind the Luxe Travel Family blog.

We talked about her experience prior to joining us in the competitive content creation world, the advantages of being part of a community, and some lodging faves. 

What did you do in the corporate world before becoming a travel writer, and how did the transition start?

I studied economics at university and worked as an economist, negotiator, and director of business development for a healthcare organization. I've always enjoyed writing. In the corporate world, my writing was technical and not particularly experiential.

After I lost my job, I pursued more creative outlets. I completed a master gardener program, enrolled in painting classes, and studied the craft of writing.

Because I wasn't employed full-time, I could spend more time with my family and travel. It felt like a natural transition to begin writing about our experiences. I love sharing inspiring stories and bringing a destination to life for the reader.

family travel Hawaii

Your baby is the Luxe Travel Family blog, but what other writing projects do you have going on outside of that?

A few years after launching Luxe Travel Family, I started freelance writing. I'm currently contributing to a book about running (one of my passions), writing a travel guide, and working on a few travel stories for various outlets.

What are your income streams like as writer now?

Writing and blogging aren't my primary source of income, so, fortunately, I haven't had to focus on making the numbers work. That being said, monetizing my blog is on my 'to-do' list!

You and I are both on the advisory board at NATJA and just spent some time together at their convention. What have you gotten out of belonging to professional trade organizations?

I really enjoyed getting to know you and the rest of the NATJA community at the board meeting and convention. Belonging to a professional trade organization like NATJA has many benefits. The first and most significant for me is community. I love connecting with other travel journalists and often meet up with fellow NATJA members while traveling.

Professional development and the opportunity to share and learn are also important to me. I came out of our recent conference with lots of great ideas! Plus, I like to give back, so participating on the advisory board is a good fit for me.

You gravitated toward luxury travel naturally, but you also focus on sustainability, an area that luxe hotels aren't normally known for. Are they getting better?

Absolutely. Many of my favorite properties, like Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, are sustainability-focused. At this Hawaiian resort, initiatives include refillable bath products made from locally sourced ingredients, plus housekeeping staffers change the linens every three days to reduce water consumption. I also appreciate the purified water refill stations located throughout the resort to reduce single-use plastic water bottles.

sustainable luxury travel

I'm sure you've stayed in fabulous places and had off-the-charts experiences while in research mode. If you could return to a place or specific resort for a week, all expenses paid, where would it be?

Absolutely! For a beach getaway, I'd return to Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. For a city experience, it would have to be the George V Paris. I first stayed at this property for a milestone birthday. Everything about the George V is exceptional, and I'm a tough marker.

Closer to home, I'd take a seaplane to Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort.

Nancy Besharah is a freelance writer and blogger specializing in luxury, adventure, family, and experiential travel. Riding a road bike to the top of Mont Ventoux the day before the Tour de France pros race to the top, trekking to Tiger's Nest Monastery in Bhutan, and kayaking on Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia are the unique experiences Nancy enjoys. When she is not at home in beautiful British Columbia (and training for her next triathlon), Nancy travels the world, often with her family.

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