William O’Connor
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woconnor11.bsky.social
William O’Connor
@woconnor11.bsky.social
Now at National Geographic. Subscribe to my weekly travel newsletter: https://gettingaround.substack.com/

Instagram: @woconnor11
Reposted by William O’Connor
"TAKE OUT YOUR HEADPHONES! We all need to stop acting like technology makes anti-social behavior okay. Be polite. Be considerate. Think of others."

This has bothered my a lot recently. If you want service on a flight, take your headphones out when the crew gets to your row. @woconnor11.bsky.social
The one social media account giving me wanderlust
Paris restaurants charging Americans more, bad airplane headphone etiquette, is Albania worth the hype?
gettingaround.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The first feature I’ve edited for National Geographic is up! So pumped 🤗
World War II treasure hunters love this rugged Greek island
Top collectors on the island have amassed hundreds of thousands of artifacts — and there are still more being found.
www.nationalgeographic.com
August 14, 2025 at 1:37 PM
We need to stop w this idea that traveling in and of itself makes you a better person! gettingaround.substack.com/p/rick-steve...
Rick Steves annoys me again; updated Newport guide; a very cool literary trip
Plus, taxing tourists, miserable Positano, free national parks.
gettingaround.substack.com
August 8, 2025 at 1:57 PM
My latest destination guide is out, this time for Amsterdam. Has all my favorite spots, including this relatively obscure gem gettingaround.substack.com/p/amsterdam-...
June 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The post-COVID boom in tourism to Europe may be reaching its breaking point—today Louvre staff went on strike: apnews.com/article/louv...
The world’s most-visited museum shuts down with staff sounding the alarm on mass tourism
The Louvre Museum has failed to open on time Monday, leaving thousands of visitors stuck in long, unmoving lines.
apnews.com
June 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I really don’t understand how anybody who looks closely at what Airbnb is offering w its “relaunched” Experiences and new Services product is impressed or credulously repeating everything the company says is going to happen.
What to Make of AirBnb's Grandiose Plans to Take Over Travel
Plus, Delta preps for business basic fares, United's getting doors, an alcohol ban fails in Scotland, and a cure for baldness would but a damper on Turkish tourism.
open.substack.com
June 2, 2025 at 10:51 AM
This feels insane to me Southwest
March 13, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Letting things go 🧔🏻
March 11, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Wow Southwest is ending free checked bags policy! Going from two free checked bags straight to zero unless you’re Business Select (you get 2 still) or A-list or Southwest credit card holder (you get 1). Real risk of alienating price-conscious fliers at a moment that price-consciousness is increasing
March 11, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The timelines offered are likely absurd, but I’m still enough of a dreamer to love all the possible innovation happening in aviation right now!
The Plane You Fly On Could Soon Look Very Different
Plus, an exciting new hotel in Forte dei Marmi, Four Seasons Yacht F&B renderings, most-visited National Parks, and Southwest sneakily devaluing reward earnings.
gettingaround.substack.com
March 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Yes it’s one of the more awe-inducing man-made things to see, but it’s become a deeply unpleasant experience
Don't Go to This Famous Spring Festival
Plus, another knock against One Key, all the eggs in the rich traveler basket, a True Crime cruise, and crackdowns on nudist beach voyeurs.
gettingaround.substack.com
March 2, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Lololol tix for Fyre Fest 2 went on sale today
Fyre Festival 2 ticket sales, details announced in reboot of infamous event
Tickets went on sale Monday for Fyre Festival 2, nearly eight years after the infamous Bahamas festival that led to its founder being convicted of wire fraud.
abcnews.go.com
February 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
A little exhibit on Sea Cloud (once the largest sailing yacht in the world) reminded me of what Harry Thaw said when he saw Mar-a-Lago…
'I Killed the Wrong Architect'
Plus, Uber's new scammy policy, exoskeletons for hiking, and Mykonos as a risky hotel bet.
open.substack.com
February 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Just a reminder as you’re planning your spring and summer vacations — do NOT go to Giverny
Don't Go to Giverny, It's a Beautiful Nightmare
Plus, one of Morocco's most over-the-top hotels opens a second location.
gettingaround.substack.com
February 20, 2025 at 4:39 PM
My latest destination guide is out! This time for Rio de Janeiro :)
Rio de Janeiro Guide: Where to Eat, Hike, Drink, Stay, and Explore
My guide to one of the most exciting cities in the world.
gettingaround.substack.com
February 10, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Hear me out! Buenos Aires is now an underrated destination devoid of hordes of American tourists
Buenos Aires Has Become an Underrated Destination
Plus, RyanAir's spat with Spain gets nasty, Santorini volcanic activity, a Barragan restoration, and BILT's first cafe.
gettingaround.substack.com
February 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Tucson, Arizona is one of the most magical and charming places to visit in the U.S. w unforgettable hikes, a rich culture, and unique architecture. My latest destination guide is here! open.substack.com/pub/gettinga...
Tucson, Arizona: What to Do, See, and Eat
The first time I went to Tucson, I didn’t get it. There was so much driving, and it was so dry, dusty, and unfathomably cold at night. It wasn’t until my third visit that I fell for this under-the-rad...
open.substack.com
January 21, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Reposted by William O’Connor
It’s one thing for the new administration and his supporters to have an outpost in the middle of official Washington on Pennsylvania Ave, it would be a whole other thing for that outpost to be in the middle of local (very liberal) Washington in Adam’s Morgan. @woconnor11.bsky.social
Elon Musk Wants to Buy a Hotel in D.C. (Reportedly)
Plus, a limit on drinks at airport bars, Japan's staggering numbers, Sofia Coppola's potential hotel project, and bad airline-food collabs.
open.substack.com
January 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by William O’Connor
Rating trails is really hard. Fully agree with @woconnor11.bsky.social here (and prefer Komoot over AllTrails).
A Popular Hiking App Has One Annoying Flaw
Plus, RyanAir goes after unruly passengers, NYT 52 places, people bringing weird things through TSA.
open.substack.com
January 14, 2025 at 11:48 AM
I spent last week visiting 10 of Mexico City’s most buzzed about new restaurants gettingaround.substack.com/p/mexico-cit...
10 of Mexico City's Hottest New Restaurants
Plus, a new hotel in Palm Beach and TSA propaganda
gettingaround.substack.com
December 28, 2024 at 7:54 PM
American Airlines says vendor tech was to blame for outage that led to ground stop this morning. Unclear how long it will take to unravel the delays, as some hubs like Charlotte are facing big delays
December 24, 2024 at 2:52 PM
Tucson for Christmas for 3rd year in row!
December 23, 2024 at 6:24 PM
The FTC just passed a rule banning junk fees for hotels and live events … as I’ve said in my newsletter about the companies fighting this: it’s not great if your business success is predicated on hiding the true cost
December 17, 2024 at 4:06 PM
It stayed under the radar amidst all the Notre Dame news, but Santa Maria del Popolo also reopened recently after a major restoration www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/st...
One of Rome's Most Iconic Churches Just Quietly Reopened
The basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo has a treasure trove of works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, and more. And it just reopened after a two-year restoration.
www.yahoo.com
December 17, 2024 at 2:12 PM
For this week’s newsletter I went to try Ina Garten’s favorite cheeseburger! gettingaround.substack.com/p/i-tried-in...
I Tried Ina Garten's Favorite Cheeseburger
Plus, Jonestown massacre site tourism, an iconic church not named Notre Dame reopens, and people really, really love Santa.
gettingaround.substack.com
December 15, 2024 at 6:05 PM