Editorial Policy

Jetset Jotter runs on one rule I made for myself years ago: don't publish anything I haven't actually done. This page explains how that rule turns into an actual editorial process — how topics get picked, how facts get checked, how product picks get chosen, and what happens if I get something wrong. If you're trying to decide whether to trust an itinerary or a packing list on this site, this is the page that should answer it.

The Mission

I'm Lena Marchetti — former flight attendant, solo traveler of 61 countries, and the person writing every single word here. Jetset Jotter exists because I got tired of travel content that reads like it was written from a press release. My mission is simple: every itinerary comes from a real trip and a real notebook, every cost figure comes from an actual receipt, and every recommendation comes from something I packed, wore, ate, or slept on myself. You can read more about how this whole thing started, including the disastrous Montreal trip that started my note-taking habit, on the About Us page.

How Content Gets Made

Nothing goes up on Jetset Jotter that skips these steps:

• Field notes first. Every destination guide, itinerary, or packing breakdown starts as handwritten notes taken during the actual trip — flight numbers, prices, wait times, the works.
• The Damage. Itineraries include a full, honest cost breakdown at the end, built from real receipts, not estimates pulled from someone else's blog post.
• A cooling-off draft. I let notes sit for at least a few days before writing, so the piece reflects what actually happened, not just trip-high enthusiasm.
• A fact pass. Prices, visa rules, opening hours, and transit info get rechecked against current official sources before publishing, since these things change fast and I'd rather delay a post than mislead someone.
• Expert input where I'm not the expert. For topics outside my direct experience — say, a specific medical travel concern or a regional safety issue — I consult professionals or verified local sources rather than guessing, and I say so in the piece.

How Topics Get Chosen

Everything here falls under the site's core categories: Destinations, Travel Itineraries, Travel Tips & Hacks, Travel Essentials, Road Trips, and a catch-all Others bucket for the stuff that doesn't fit neatly anywhere else. I pick topics based on three things: places I've genuinely traveled to, questions readers actually ask me, and patterns I notice in what's trending in travel right now — new visa rules, shifting flight routes, gear that's suddenly everywhere in airports. I don't chase a trend just because it's hot; it has to intersect with something I can speak to honestly, ideally from a trip I've already taken or one I'm planning specifically to cover it.

Sourcing and Staying Current

Travel information ages fast — a border policy or a baggage fee can change overnight. Where I reference facts beyond my own trip notes (currency rules, entry requirements, safety advisories), I pull from official government and airline sources, and I revisit older posts periodically to update anything that's gone stale. If you ever spot outdated information, flagging it through the Contact page helps me fix it fast.

Product Recommendations

My packing lists and gear picks come from actual use, often shaped by my years as flight crew — I know what survives a hundred overhead-bin slams and what falls apart after three trips. I don't recommend something I haven't packed, worn, or tested myself, and I'm upfront when a product was gifted for review rather than bought outright. My full philosophy and standards on this are laid out in detail in the Affiliate Disclaimer.

Ads, Partnerships, and Transparency

Jetset Jotter earns money through ads and affiliate links, and occasionally through partnerships with brands or tourism boards. None of that buys a positive review — if a product or destination doesn't hold up, I say so, partnership or not. The full breakdown of how the site makes money, and how that never influences editorial judgment, lives on the Disclosure page. For details specific to sponsored collaborations and how those are handled, see the Collaboration page. I'd also point you to the site's Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Terms of Use for the broader legal picture, and the Disclaimer for the limits of the travel advice offered here.

Corrections

I've made mistakes — a wrong opening time, a currency conversion that was off, a visa rule that changed the week after I published. When that happens, I correct the post directly and, for anything significant, note that an update was made. If you catch an error, please tell me at [email protected]. I'd genuinely rather hear about it than have a reader show up somewhere unprepared because of something I got wrong.

Community and Comments

Readers regularly share their own trip notes, corrections, and questions in the comments, and that conversation is part of what makes this site useful. It's moderated to keep things constructive and safe — no spam, no harassment, no shady links. The full expectations for participating are outlined in the Community Guidelines, and I read every comment myself, since this is still very much a one-person operation.

Images and Attribution

Photos used across the site are either my own, properly licensed, or credited to their original source. If you're curious about where a specific image came from, that's detailed on the Image Credits page. I also share travel boards and pins on Pinterest, and how that content is sourced and used is covered separately in the Pinterest Disclaimer.

The Short Version

If it's on Jetset Jotter, I've either lived it, tested it, or checked it against a real, current source — and I'll tell you plainly which one it is. That's the whole standard, and it's not changing.