Welcome! I’m Polly.
Polly Goes is a place to find travel inspiration and resources for planning trips. You’ll find destination guides, travel essays, and helpful tips for becoming a traveler that makes a positive impact on the planet.
When it comes to my travel style I’ve always been a sucker for soul-stirring moments that make great stories and amazing memories. I love art & design and great food, and I’m drawn to quirky people. I prioritize experiences that feel undiscovered by other visitors (they rarely are, but it’s a fun illusion). I prefer small hotels with lots of atmosphere and unique details, and I’ll take character over traditional luxury any day of the week (but, ahem, I also love traditional luxury). I think it’s time to redefine luxury anyway.
I founded Polly Goes in 2011 when I left a career in fashion media to travel internationally and work as an ESL teacher in Turkey and Italy. Polly Goes has shape-shifted over the years. As a luxury travel advisor and travel content marketer since 2017, I specialize in connecting tastemakers and other discerning travelers to the best far-flung adventures that make a positive impact on wildlife conservation and local communities. I am constantly seeking out the best in travel, whether in person or at my desk, so I can help other people understand where, why, and how to spend their money on a trip and I’m happy to share some of that knowledge here with you.
WHAT I DO
LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR
As a luxury travel advisor I am a matchmaker for curious explorers and the world’s most exciting travel experiences. I love planning other people’s dream trips. I’ve sent travelers on their first safari in South Africa and Tanzania, and others on their honeymoon in the Seychelles, Maldives, Bali, Zanzibar, and Mozambique. They’ve explored the most special unknown corners of Japan, gone off the beaten path in the Ivory Coast, and experienced cultural awakenings in India, Nepal, and Thailand. And so much more. There is a growing desire among travelers to spend their time and money more intentionally. If you hire me to plan your trip through The Legacy Untold, I can advise on aspects of sustainability and add in special experiences that make a positive impact.
SUSTAINABILITY ADVOCATE
Since 2017 I have overseen editorial development and other projects at Impact Travel Alliance, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization through educational content that promotes sustainable tourism. I’m a reluctant public speaker but my passion for making a positive impact through travel has led me to speak on this topic at TEDxBeacon Street’s Explore event in 2018, and on a panel on sustainable travel organized by Oceanic Global for the Explorer’s Club World Ocean’s Day event in 2019 (pictured above). In 2020 I was a guest on Catalyst’s Travel With Purpose podcast where I discuss how gorilla trekking is a prime example of a travel experience that makes a positive impact on local communities (and how it’s also a top bucket list experience!)
CONTENT CREATOR
I work with brands in travel, hospitality, style & design. I have written articles for both trade and consumer publications, and my copywriting appears on company websites and social media channels. I’ve written destination guides, hotel reviews, travel essays, shopping roundups, and more. I bring a diverse skillset to my work, having spent more than ten years in various roles doing brand strategy, content creation, blogging, media relations, writing and editing, event planning and production, and influencer partnerships for a diverse roster of fashion and lifestyle brands like Cynthia Rowley, Donna Karan, Burton Snowboards, Sotheby’s, Nicole Miller, W Magazine, Teen Vogue, Glamour, New York Magazine, and more. See my writing portfolio here.