Nikki Vargas

Nikki Vargas

Senior Editor

Originally from Colombia, Nikki is a Senior Editor for Fodor’s Travel digital, a published author, and founder of Unearth Women Media. As a published author, Nikki is represented by the literary division of the Paradigm Talent Agency. Her first book, Wanderess, is an exhaustive women's travel resource combining the wisdom and expertise of leading women in the travel industry. Wanderess was published by the Clarkson Potter imprint of Penguin Random House in February 2022. Nikki is currently writing her second book, a personal travel memoir for Harper Collins. In addition, Nikki is the Founder of Unearth Women, a women’s travel publication she founded back in 2018. Her work with Unearth Women has appeared in The New York Times, Good Morning America, CNN, Vogue Spain, and The Washington Post. In addition to her editorial experience, Nikki is a freelance journalist with bylines in Cosmopolitan, Zagat, VICE, Food & Wine, Roads & Kingdoms, and more. As a public speaker, Nikki has spoken at various travel conferences including the Women’s Travel Fest, Women in Travel Summit, Latino Travel Fest, the Travel + Adventure Show, and the former New York Times Travel Show.

Q&A

  • Why do you travel?

    I travel to gain new perspectives. Whether it is a deeper appreciation of my life back home, a new understanding of a country’s culture, or a better sense of self—travel helps to enrich my view of the world.

  • What’s one thing you never travel without?

    As a writer, I always have a journal and pen with me to jot down how a place inspires me, cool places I’ve come across, and things I want to remember. Writing down my feelings and impressions of a place always helps me to write my stories.

  • What’s the first thing you do when you arrive in a new place?

    I am a nester, so the first thing I do when I reach my accommodation is to unpack completely. Only then, do I feel as though I’ve truly arrived.

  • Carry-on or checked?

    Always carry-on!

  • Where did you have your most unforgettable meal?

    In Hanoi, my first slurp of Phở was nothing short of magical. Sitting on a red plastic stool near a makeshift sidewalk kitchen, I was blown away by the rich flavors.

  • What’s on your travel bucket list?

    There’s a place in Norway where you can snorkel with wild orcas, which happens to be one of my favorite animals.

  • What is your favorite book or genre of books?

    My favorite travel book is “A Cook’s Tour” by the late Anthony Bourdain. This was his second book, and his ability to capture the essence of a place is what I always aspire to in my own travel writing.

  • What are your favorite countries, destinations to travel to?

    As a Colombian immigrant, this is a biased answer, but I can’t get enough of visiting Colombia. It’s the one country I keep going back to.

  • What's the most unusual place you have stayed on a trip?

    A rickety riverboat in the heart of Borneo!

  • What items do you always try to bring back as souvenirs?

    I used to always collect bracelets so I could wear those memories on my wrist. Now, I like to bring back paintings for my gallery wall and ornaments for my Christmas tree.

Most Recent Works