Elizabeth Hansen last modified: January 13, 2010

Membership profile

Name: Elizabeth Hansen
Professional title Freelance writer/photographer
Address 2565 Ardath Rd
La Jolla
CA 92037
USA
Telephone (day) 858-459-8851
Telephone (evening) 858-459-8851
Fax: 858-454-8868
Mobile 619-548-8853
E-mail ehansen298@aol.com
Website 1 www.elizabethhansen.net
Website 2 www.LaJollaTravelInformation.com
Biography I love to travel, but I make a lousy tourist.

I want to wander off the beaten path and walk, browse, hike, bike, and kayak at my own pace.

I enjoy talking with local people, benefiting from insider information, and dining on regional dishes. I want to savor the beauty of exotic environments in peace and quiet.

Like other authentic luxury travelers, I also want my creature comforts. I appreciate high-thread-count bed linens, room service, and air-conditioning. I am especially fond of clean, well-equipped bathrooms.

Can we have it all?

You bet we can. As the travel editor of a luxury lifestyle magazine, I’ve learned that the Third World and the Four Seasons are not mutually exclusive. Affluent travelers can have authentic experiences without sacrificing comfort and convenience.

My husband and I have enjoyed the hospitality of New Zealand farmers, “glamped” in Denali National Park wilderness, visited remote Hmong villages in North Vietnam, and watched Kuna Indians making molas in Panama’s San Blas Islands.

These real, very untouristy experiences do not require a youth hostel card and a backpack. We happily forgo tours and cruises, but we don’t compromise on lodging, meals, and modes of transportation – and we always come home smarter, happier, and full of new ideas.

Authentic Luxury Travel just takes a bit of planning – and that’s where I come in. There’s nothing I enjoy more than sharing my experiences with others. That's why I write articles, make available our 60,000+ stock photos, and do public speaking and consulting.

These avenues allow me to relive my favorite memories and share with fellow travelers what I have learned along the way.

Main professional activities Freelance writer/photographer/editor, specializing in story/photo packages for inflight, travel, and lifestyle magazines.

Markets include Ranch & Coast (travel editor), National Geographic Traveler, Interval World, and Christian Science Monitor.
Memberships Society Of American Travel Writers, American Society of Journalists & Authors, San Diego Press Club, Guidebookwriters.com.
Awards San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards 2009: Best Magazine Column, Best Travel Article, Best Blog (www.LaJollaTravelInformation.com).
Most recent publications Books: Frommer's Australia
Frommer's Australia From $50 A Day
Frommer's California
Frommer's New Zealand From $50 A Day
Frommer's San Diego
Nelles Guide California
Other important publications Elizabeth Hansen is the travel editor of Ranch & Coast, San Diego's luxury lifestyle magazine (www.ranchandcoast.com).
Areas of particular interest or expertise Authentic Luxury Travel worldwide

La Jolla (San Diego), California

San Diego, California

New Zealand
Other relevant information