Feminist Review
blog posting: December 10, 2008
travelgirl - October/November 2008 Issue
While many magazines on newsstands today seem to emphasize what women should fix about ourselves (how to get six-pack abs, shinier hair in three steps, or how to better please your lover), travelgirl magazine doesn't want to change you; instead, they want to inspire you to travel, to enjoy life, and to really live life to the fullest. As Stephanie Oswald, editor-in-chief of travelgirl magazine, puts it: "Our travels are the olives in the martini of life; if life is a toy box, they are the teddy bears."
I don't know that I would necessarily define myself as a "girl" in everyday life. Surely by 25 I'm a woman! But I knew that I defined myself as a "travelgirl" when I read one of the magazine's definitions in the October/November 2008 issue: "You know you're a travelgirl if... you prefer buying souvenirs handmade locally, rather than those mass-produced for a gift shop." There were loads of moments like this, where what the magazine had to say really rang true for me as both a woman and a traveler. I particularly liked the mix of environmentally-friendly travel and philanthropic ideas.
As you would expect from a travel magazine, travelgirl has a selection of brightly colored photos accompanying the articles. To be fair, the photos and illustrations aren't the best that I've seen in a travel mag, but they are all better than photos that I take! Some of the magazine is clearly "mainstream" celebrity profiles and health and beauty tips but a lot of it feels like a collection of the best tips and information from fashion magazines combined with the best ideas and stories from travel magazines. It's the best of both worlds.
The articles are well-written, and many of them are entertaining and witty. I particularly like the "travelguy" section, which in this issue was written by a young man who struck out trying to pick up a girl on a plane. The issue also featured a wide variety of featured destinations: Alaska, Switzerland, Israel and New York City. I also found out where to buy holiday cards that would make a difference, and the top five benefits of touring Europe by river boat.
The magazine retails for $4.99 on newsstands, and I've seen it at major bookstores. It is published six times a year and has been around for six years. In today's economy, and with the volatility of the magazine world, six years is a long time. It's the quality of the magazine that has kept it going strong.
Review by Kristin Conard