Last Updated on May 12, 2026
8 years publishing · 50+ countries · SATW and NATJA member
Hi, I’m Adrienne Barile, a Washington, DC–based travel writer, photographer, blogger, and video creator behind The Haphazard Traveler. I cover culture and history travel, solo travel, and distinctive stays, with practical, detailed guides and straightforward reviews.
I’m a credentialed member of SATW (Society of American Travel Writers) and NATJA (North American Travel Journalists Association). I’m a contributor to Fodor’s (articles and vertical video), a Yahoo Creator, and I’ve been publishing at The Haphazard Traveler for 8 years. I’m also a licensed drone pilot in the US, UK, and EU, which lets me capture aerial images and video for my own channels and other outlets.
Before working in travel media, I spent years in international exchanges and senior Human Resources roles and still hold an SPHR certification. That background shows up in how I plan trips and how I write: organized, practical, and grounded in real-world experience.
What I publish here:
- Destination guides with clear details and tips
- Culture and history context so you understand what you’re seeing
- Hotel and unique-stay reviews with who-it’s-for details
- Mexico, Portugal, Caribbean, and Europe coverage built from repeat visits
- Travel tips and gear guides tested on actual trips and in-depth research
If you like an itinerary that’s specific, a hotel review that’s honest, and a destination guide that gives you local context, you’re in the right place.
Editorial approach and disclosures
I report from on-the-ground experience and deep research, and regularly update key guides. When content includes affiliate links, I disclose it. When a stay or experience is hosted, I disclose it, and don’t trade coverage for a positive review.
Start here
If you’re new, these pages are a good starting point:
- Destinations: an overview of where I go, with all guides plotted on a map plus highlighted categories
- Mexico Travel Guides: cities, beaches, ruins, and road trips
- Portugal Travel Guides: from major cities to smaller coastal towns
- Caribbean Travel Guides: islands, culture, and coastal stays
- Sri Lanka Travel Guides: temples, trains, and off-the-beaten-path stops
- Travel Tips: planning, solo travel, and virtual travel guides
- Gear: travel gear and packing lists I actually use
As seen in / past collaborations
I’ve created travel stories, guides, and campaigns for:
I’ve also appeared as a speaker and panel moderator at the Travel & Adventure Show.
The story behind the name “The Haphazard Traveler”
I was a travel hot mess, but I got better.
On one of my first international trips for work, I set my coat on fire with a space heater right before leaving my office for the airport, spent hours crying in Frankfurt during a missed connection, and arrived in Bulgaria at three in the morning with a meeting a few hours later. I was exhausted, anxious, and learning everything the hard way.
I started posting “Haphazard Traveler” stories for friends, like when I melted a hair dryer with the wrong voltage, and the time I ended up at a “botanical garden” in Thailand that was definitely as much about tourist animal photos as plants. Each mishap taught me how to plan better, research deeper, and ask harder questions about where my money was going.
The name stuck. Today, The Haphazard Traveler is about avoiding those early mistakes: sharing the researched version of a trip so you don’t have to learn by lack of planning, not enough info, or bad electrical decisions.
Want to get in touch?
Email me here! Or find me here on Instagram.
For brand or tourism board partnerships, please visit my Work With Me page for services, past campaigns, and media kit details.
