Mindy Poder

California

I hunt down the best travel content for @travelagewest. Executive Editor; NATJA 2015 Travel Writer of the Year; @thetrvlretreat. Hair everywhere.

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Articles

How will the Pope's death affect travel to Rome?: Travel Weekly Asia

3 weeks ago | travelweekly-asia.com | Mindy Poder

Pope Francis' passing is impacting travel to Rome. Heed this travel advisor's advice.
Pope Francis' Death Is Impacting Travel to Rome. Heed This Travel Advisor's Advice. | TravelAge West

3 weeks ago | travelagewest.com | Mindy Poder

Clients traveling to Rome will need to consider if this is still the right time for their visit — but here’s how travel advisors can help prepare them for a historic trip    
Review: Alisal Ranch for Families

3 weeks ago | travelagewest.com | Mindy Poder

An acorn woodpecker was calling as I got off Prettyboy, the palomino horse I rode to the cowboy breakfast at Alisal Ranch, a luxury dude ranch in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. It had been quite a ride. Our group spotted wild turkeys and numerous black-tailed deer, with the ranch's 100-acre lake serving as their backdrop. Brown cows grazed on a breakfast of dewy spring grass, rich with nutrients and dotted by orange poppies, yellow buttercups and purple shooting stars.
A Local's Guide to Tokyo

1 month ago | travelagewest.com | Mindy Poder

Anne Kyle first visited Japan at the age of 13 — and loved it so much that she vowed to move there one day. At 19, she left the Philippines and did just that; she has now lived in Japan for 27 years. After some friends who were visiting told her she had a knack for guiding, she began Arigato Japan food tours in 2016. And last year, the company evolved into Arigato Travel, a full-service destination management company (DMC) that pays 10-20% travel advisor commission.
Season 6 Premiere: Mindy Poder's Journey, From Intern to Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West

1 month ago | travelagewest.com | Mindy Poder |Emma Weissmann

Subscribe now using your favorite service:Most readers of TravelAge West will recognize Mindy Poder's name from the top of the magazine’s masthead. As Editor-in-Chief, Poder oversees everything that happens at the brand, from managing content strategy and editorial mission to working with writers and editors, improving audience engagement and considering the ethical implications of AI use.
Getting to Know Origins Luxury Lodges in Costa Rica Ahead of Its New Astrals Lodge

2 months ago | travelagewest.com | Mindy Poder

Origins Luxury Lodge opened in 2018, launching the Origins boutique brand in Costa Rica on 111 acres of private rainforest. Now it’s doubling its portfolio with Origins Astral Lodge, set to open in November 2025 — with a third yet unnamed property also in the pipeline. Origins Astral will be located adjacent to the first property — newly referred to as Origins Floral Lodge — in the northern part of the volcano chain in Bijagua, Costa Rica.
Checking Out The Brand-New Kids’ Club at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit

2 months ago | travelagewest.com | Mindy Poder

Suiting up for her next activity, my daughter donned a tan vest with oversize pockets, a matching bucket hat and kid-size binoculars that clipped onto her outfit. Our resort just launched a new safari activity as a clever way to introduce kids to the area’s fauna and foliage. But we were not in Africa — not even close. In fact, underneath my daughter’s outfit was her swimsuit.
How to Travel Like ‘The White Lotus’ in Thailand

Feb 14, 2025 | travelagewest.com | Mindy Poder

Rabia Malik, a travel advisor for Fora, has booked 100 room nights in Thailand for 18 clients in the last three months alone. She says that while she has always booked a lot of business in Thailand, this is a marked uptick due, in part, to the country’s starring role in the upcoming third season of “The White Lotus.” The HBO original series follows the exploits of hotel guests and employees at a fictional high-end luxury resort called The White Lotus. The new season starts streaming Feb. 16.
Review: Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita for Families

Feb 11, 2025 | travelagewest.com | Mindy Poder

Two months shy of her fourth birthday, my daughter is squarely in her “why” phase. “Why is it called a ‘lazy river?’” she inquired, tucked into her pool float at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita.
Visit California and Los Angeles Tourism Say Los Angeles Is Open to Travelers

Jan 30, 2025 | travelagewest.com | Mindy Poder

After most natural disasters, there comes a time when the travel industry in that region is ready to come together and officially welcome back visitors. For Los Angeles, that time is now.