Kristin Luna

San Francisco, CA USA
Website: http://www.kristinluna.com

Professional Experience

A seasoned traveler, I've been attacked by a pack of hungry mountain goats in the Italian Alps, ridden a camel and camped with a Berber tribe in the Sahara, participated in Revolution Day in Cuba, and jumped out of a plane at 15,000 feet over the Pyrenees in Spain. I travel about 60% of the time and pitch and seek out story ideas when I'm not on the road. While living abroad - in Scotland, Denmark and Holland - I hopped around from country to country for a couple years, broadening my scope of knowledge on the world and its entities. I recently relocated from New York City to sunny San Francisco and work for a handful of national publications, both online and print, but am forever searching for new outlets to keep things fresh. I'm always up for any sort of crazy scheme or story idea, so feel free to approach me with anything that might cross your mind. Chance are, I'll be game!

Expertise

Editor
5 Years
Reporter
5 Years
Writer
8 Years

Specialty

Entertainment
5 Years
Travel
5 Years
Women's Issues
5 Years

Industries


Magazine - Large Consumer/National magazines
3 Years
Newspaper - National
8 Years
Online/new media
3 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

10 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

Entertainment Weekly (10+), InStyle (10+), Frommer's (3-5), ForbesTraveler.com (10+), Glamour (6-10), Travel Channel (10+), Newsweek International (10+), ShermansTravel.com (3-5), People (10+), Real Simple Travel (1-2), Harper's (1-2)

Other Work History

Author, MTV Spain (first ed.), Frommer's, published 2007 Fact-Checker and Freelance Editor, Lucky magazine, 1 year Fact-Checker, Us Weekly magazine, 1 year Freelance Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, 1.5 years Travel Columnist, Tennessee regional newspaper, 2 years

Technical Skills

Photoshop, Lightroom, iMovie, Fireworks

Foreign Language Skills

Proficiency in Spanish; four years of studying at the college level and currently completing my certificate of fluency; studying Italian and Portuguese at the moment

Computer Skills

Microsoft Office, InDesign, Quark, InCopy, Photoshop, AP Style, LexisNexis, PowerPoint, Pagemaker, basic HTML

Equipment

Canon XTi (digital SLR) with multiple lenses, Canon Powershot A700, Canon Rebel 2000, three reporters recorders, Photoshop, InDesign, other editing software

Awards

Atlanta Journal Constitution photography award for Morocco photo, 2005 Multiple photography awards from Tennessee institutions, 2005-2007

Associations

Society of Professional Journalists

Showcase

Travel

World's Most Romantic Private-Island Escapes
(Travel Channel 2/14/2008)
We've scoured the globe's nooks and crannies to find the most secluded getaways. Book a trip to one of these paradises and you may just propel yourself to the Hall of Romantic Gestures Fame. Here are our picks for the most swoon-worthy places in the world.
10 Under-the-Radar Caribbean Islands
(ForbesTraveler.com 10/26/2007)
Long before Club Med and Sandals resorts began cropping up all over its isles, the Caribbean has been a desirable getaway from bone-chilling winters and fast-paced city life. Problem is, when it comes to the southern sea white-sand beaches, pristine blue water and unlimited supply of piña coladas...
World's Best New Year's Eve Parties
(Travel Channel 12/1/2007)
The first of January is a time to start over, to forget the old and relish the new, an opportunity to resolve to change (even if you never quite get there). Whether you're hoping to shed excess pounds or kick a bad habit, before going cold turkey why not have one last fling?
Crash for Free in Cities Across The Globe
(Travel Channel 8/1/2007)
When Swedes Robert Zettinger and Anton Appleberg arrived in the United States for a four-month-long road trip that spanned 25 states, they had their backpacks and a return flight home but not a single hotel reservation - though not for lack of planning.
Four Hours in Utrecht
(Newsweek International Editions 1/14/2008)
With its tree-lined canals and candy-colored houses, this small, scenic city in the central Netherlands could be Amsterdam's little sister. It's also home to one of Europe's largest and best universities, giving it a distinctly hip, youthful feel.
Experience the Ultimate Football Fan-dom
(Travel Channel 10/1/2007)
The sights of brightly painted faces emblazoned with cryptic emblems, whiffs of nachos mixing with the hoppy scent of freshly brewed beer, and sounds of roaring crowds mixing with barbaric-sounding chants can only mean one thing: college football season is in full swing.
Brazil's 'Marvelous City'
(Newsweek.com 3/14/2008)
Forever in a quest for sun, caipirinhas and the world's most perfect beach, travel writer Kristin Luna felt right at home on Rio's white sands among its cariocas. Read her picks on what to do next time you're passing through Brazil's crown jewel.
Last Minute Spring Break Trips That Still Rock
(Travel Channel 3/10/2008)
Spring break is looming before you, mere days away. Maybe you procrastinated planning a trip, or simply didn't have the funds. But the clock's a-tickin', and unless you want to be stuck on a ghost campus while the rest of your peeps are busy living it up, get ready to take our advice...
Oh, There's No Place Like Vacation for the Holiday
(Travel Channel 12/1/2007)
He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. And since Mr. Claus' omnipresence means his navigational ability remains unmatched, don't be afraid to vacation during the holidays for fear that he won't find your chimney. For now, pack up your, um, sleigh and crank the carols up loud...
Hot Spot: Beach House At Manafaru, Maldives
(Newsweek International Editions 12/24/2007)
A welcome change from the international chains littering the country's southern atoll, this new five-star resort offers an intimate experience in a gorgeous setting. Composed of grass-topped huts and lush vegetation, the resort blends a natural environment with cutting-edge technology.
10 Signature Drinks
(ForbesTraveler.com 1/31/2008)
Prost! Skål! Salud! Cheers! You know how to toast in a myriad of different languages, but do you know the significance behind that drink you’re downing and, more importantly, what it’s made of?
Celebrity Wedding Hotels
(ForbesTraveler.com 11/6/2007)
Their actual marriages may last no longer than they take to consummate. Yet, living in a world where Brangelina, Bennifer and TomKat have become staples in the general population’s lexicon, it’s no surprise that we look to celebrities for tips on everything...
Four Hours in Lisbon
(Newsweek International Editions 7/3/2006)
The Portuguese capital was reconstructed after a devastating 18th-century earthquake, creating a mishmash of old and new--and offering plenty of opportunities on your next stopover.
Breathtaking Marathons
(ForbesTraveler.com 3/19/2008)
Just thinking about running 26.2 miles is exhausting. Yet, every year countless fitness fanatics, marathon veterans and curious first-timers actually run these races. If you're going to expend the blood, sweat and tears, you might as well make the scenery something to remember, too—not just the aches and pains.
Budget Spring Break Travel in the Caribbean
(Travel Channel 3/10/2008)
Even if you don't have the luxury of being a trust-fund baby and lavish island holidays simply aren't on your radar, you can still plan to have a fabulous spring break without going broke.
Youth-Friendly Cruises Perfect for Spring Break
(Travel Channel 3/10/2008)
If you think you're far too young - or even too cool - to spend a week aboard a ship with hundreds of strangers, think again. Cruises are no longer reserved strictly for suburban families and senior citizens. Many lines, taking note of the influx of youthful cruisers...
Therapy: Retail and Raku
(Newsweek International Editions 3/24/2008)
The Brazilian jeweler H. Stern has wisely figured out a way to allow women to pursue two favorite pastimes simultaneously: shopping and spa treatments. The high-end retailer recently unveiled its first spa in its home-base store in Rio de Janeiro, a state-of-the-art facility where shoppers...
Holiday in Holland
(Newsweek.com 1/4/2008)
In the past few years, intrepid travel writer Kristin Luna has ping-ponged all over the globe. Here, she rehashes some of her favorite facets of life in Holland.
A Tropical Indulgence
(Newsweek.com 12/14/2007)
Kristin Luna is a New York-based travel writer who spends more of her time in the air than on the ground en route to exotic, far-flung locales, like her latest obsession, the Maldives.
Live-Aboard Scuba Dives
(Travel Channel 3/1/2008)
If a single-tank dive off the coast of the Bahamas isn't enough to satisfy your scuba craving, you're in luck. Scuba companies and tour operators have taken note of the growing number of diving fanatics and, accordingly, now offer an abundance of live-aboard dive trips for the hard-core fish...
4 Hours in Reykjavik
(Newsweek International Editions 10/22/2007)
For those willing to brave the climate, Iceland's thriving capital offers a generous helping of Nordic culture, aquatic cuisine and Viking history. Just don't forget your jacket.
Four Hours in Copenhagen
(Newsweek International Editions 5/8/2006)
Got a few hours to kill in Denmark's captivating capital? Here's a quick way to get to know cosmopolitan Copenhagen.

Books

MTV Spain
(Frommer's and MTV 5/8/2007)
Back Cover: Get the inside scoop on sunny Spain. From beach parties on Ibiza and nightclubs in nonstop Madrid to Bilbao's world-famous Guggenheim, MTV Spain shows you where you want to be, with choices for every taste and budget so you can travel the way you want to.