About Secrets of a Travel Journalist With Lyn Mettler
Secrets of a Travel Journalist with Lyn Mettler is a reader-supported publication. To support Lyn’s work and receive all features, including direct chat with Lyn, featured webinars and members-only articles, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
Hi, I’m Lyn Mettler, a 20-year veteran travel journalist for USA Today, The TODAY Show and others, who works with travel lovers all over the United States, helping them travel better. I write a newsletter with tens of thousands of subscribers and run the Families Fly Free membership with members from all 50 US states, teaching them my simple system to use miles and points to fly — and travel — for free.
As a longtime travel writer, I’ve been privvy to so many journalist-only events and media trips, interviewed travel experts like Samantha Brown and Rudy Maxa, and traveled all over the world, staying in the most exclusive suites, resorts and hotels. I’ve been blessed, to say the least!
I’ve attended media-only events, for example at Disney with astronaut Buzz Aldrin to promote their MISSION: Space ride and where The Brian Setzer Orchestra and Sugar Ray played exclusively for the media at a closed event. I’ve stayed in the most ridiculous rockstar suite at Disneyland’s Grand Californian, and travel companies have flown me to the Dominican Republic to experience an all-star resort, hosted me at some of our country’s best restaurants, flown me first class to Europe to experience an airline, sent me to San Diego to promote a hotel credit card and so much more.
On Secrets of a Travel Journalist, I spill the beans on all the tips, tricks and hacks I’ve learned over the years firsthand and by interviewing countless travel experts. I share my favorite destinations — ones that are NOT tourist traps — and how to experience them in a beautifully authentic way. And I offer insight into how my family of 4 has been able to fly for free, simply and easily (I like to keep it simple!), at least 6 times a year for the past 10 years, using miles and points. It literally opened up the world to us!
It’s been quite the ride, and through writing, I’m sharing it with you, so you, too, can have a travel experience that is life-changing and avoid as many of the hassles that come along with travel as possible.
I hope you’ll join me on this magnificent ride to experience the beauty of our world…
When you join the Secrets community as a paid subscriber, you’ll get access to…
All posts and publication archives, including member-only articles, videos and podcasts
The ability to comment and interact with the community
Direct chat with me to ask your questions
Audio “sound bytes” with my quick thoughts on travel news, as well as updates from my travels
Travel news updated via “Notes”
1 free featured travel webinar from my Families Fly Free membership that will rotate each month
My Intro to Miles & Points webinar that teaches you the basics of how I teach flying for free
Confidence in knowing you’re on the “inside” of the travel industry with my insight to destinations, hotels and resorts, airlines, hassle-free travel and how to save
Here’s how I hope your life will be different, after a year in the Secrets community. You will…
Be inspired with where to travel and the most impactful, non-touristy things to see and do
Develop a sense of wanderlust (if you didn’t already have one :))
Feel confident navigating the ins and outs of travel from planning and packing to booking, navigating airports, security and customs, and discovering the most memorable places and experiences
Learn simple techniques to use miles and points to help you save on all aspects of travel
Have found a warm and helpful group of fellow travel aficionados
Have a supportive place to ask your travel questions
About me…
A longtime travel writer for world-renowned outlets like USA TODAY, The TODAY Show, US News & World Report and Reader’s Digest, I’ve been traveling at least 6 times a year since 2015 with my family of 4, using a mix of miles and points and enjoying media-only trips with insider access.
I love all kinds of travel, so you’ll never categorize me as a “beach” person or a “mountains” gal. I like it all (except maybe cruising ;-))! Some of my favorite places that I love to return to over and over include Paris, Rome, New York City, San Diego and Telluride, Colorado, but we also enjoy Disney, the US National Parks, big cities, anywhere in Europe and more.
When I’m not traveling, I love to read, usually nonfiction or the classics, study languages (currently aiming for a B1 level mastery of Italian), work on my business, study history and theology, and volunteer at my church. I have almost reached an empty nest with both my boys self-sufficient - one in college and the other a junior in high school - so time has opened wide to pursue my passions. I live in Zionsville, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, and am a grad of Butler University (go Bulldogs!). We love sports and root for Notre Dame, Butler, the Indianapolis Colts and the Indiana Pacers :).
