Welcome to Checking in.
Hi! I’m Chris, an obsessive traveler and full-time freelance reporter.
In 2020, I started writing about loyalty and credit card rewards for The Points Guy, but I now cover a wide range of travel topics. That includes stories about why I get haircuts on the road, what the rise of sober travel means, how airlines are upgrading their first- and business-class seats, and much more.
I love sleeping in opulent five-star hotels just as much as I do eating at hole-in-the-wall noodle joints. A portion of my personal travel is funded by points, miles, and credit card rewards. And I also take press trips that provide insider access to media.
Checking in is about sharing my diverse interests as a travel writer and social media creator. It’s a phrase that serves many purposes.
You check in to your upcoming flight (ideally online since I’m not checking a bag and avoid waiting at the airport unless I absolutely must).
You check in to that cute boutique hotel while on the road.
You check in with friends you met while traveling abroad years ago.
You check in on that pitch email you sent a week ago but never got a response to.
Most of all, it’s about looking inward — checking in to remind ourselves of our progress, why we do what we do, and at least for myself, how travel has become so integral to my identity. I’m constantly self-assessing, for better or worse.
This newsletter isn’t meant to be one-size-fits-all. Checking in is about sharing my passion for travel and working within an ever-evolving media industry. As to what that means in practice, it’ll be views and perspectives from behind the scenes.
What’s it like when I go on assignment? How did I produce that video for social? What’s an article I’m proud of and how did it come about? What’s the tea on press trips? More broadly, what’s on my mind travelwise?
I hope you’ll stick around to read these snippets as I check in from my travels around the world.
Checking in from my home base in LA,
Chris
You can also check in with me on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
