Jillian Dara

Jillian is a freelance journalist with 10 years of writing and reporting on lifestyle beats from travel and culture to cuisine and spirits. She writes and fact-checks for TripSavvy as well as The Spruce.

• Published in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Michelin Guides, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Forbes
• Raised in Bermuda and lived in London, Santiago, Boston, and New York City
• Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Emerson College

Experience

Jillian Dara knew she would pursue journalism after her first day of interning at her hometown’s newspaper, The Royal Gazette, in Bermuda. Upon graduating, Jillian accepted an Associate Editor position in Santiago, Chile, an Editor-in-Chief position in Boston, and a Managing Editor role in New York, before entering the freelance world in 2018. In addition to TripSavvy, Jillian covers various topics from food and wine to luxury travel and culture guides for outlets such as Travel + Leisure, Forbes, USA Today, Michelin Guides, Hemispheres, and DuJour.

Education

Jillian graduated from Emerson College in 2015 with a B.S. in journalism. As a sophomore, Jillian spent six months studying at Queen Mary University in London, England; this is where she leaned into travel journalism, exploring a new European destination almost every weekend.

About TripSavvy and Dotdash Meredith

TripSavvy, a Dotdash Meredith brand, is a travel site written by real experts, not anonymous reviewers. You’ll find that our 20-year-strong library of more than 30,000 articles will make you a savvy traveler—showing you how to book a hotel the whole family will love, where to find the best bagel in New York City, and how to skip the lines at theme parks. We give you the confidence to spend your vacation actually vacationing, not fumbling with a guidebook or second-guessing yourself. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.