I am a multi-award-winning journalist who was USA TODAY's investigative travel editor for 17 years and a founding journalist of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. I publish/edit ShortEscapes.net, an online travel guide based on the Short Escapes book series I developed for Random House's Fodor's imprint. I also published another book series, Best Beaches, for Simon & Schuster’s Frommer’s division. Considered a pioneer of the concept of investigative travel reporting, my career has been devoted to helping travelers hurdle wisely over the travel industry’s many obstacles, ensuring they have an enjoyable, economical, safe and secure experience. My articles won a National Press Club award for "consumer magazine excellence” and many Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism and Aviation/Space Writers Association awards. The articles have been quoted in numerous newspapers and on CNN, ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's Today Show, Oprah and other TV and radio shows.