Frequently Asked Questions

Before you email us a question, please read the following list of frequently asked questions and answers.

Who is your audience?

Our readers are savvy business and vacation world travelers in the top ten percentile looking for unique, comfort and luxury oriented travel opportunities. Though we have visitors from across the globe, SBTR readers are mostly located in the U.S.A, Canada and Western Europe

How does the SBTR select destinations, properties, restaurants, travel products and attractions for review?

We focus on a geographic area and identify potential candidates. We gather information on destinations, properties, attractions or products to decide if they are of interest to our readers. We look for distinctive, comfort and luxury oriented, customer centered candidates who excel at what they do.

Do you stay in every luxury hotel in each destination?

No, we select a few attractions, restaurants, and accommodations and share our findings with you. Some destinations offer limited options while others offer many choices. We strive for a high comfort level as defined by our demanding audience. This includes clean, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable surroundings with good food and excellent customer service.

Do you include properties that are not traditionally considered luxury accommodations?

Yes. We define luxury depending on the location and the standards available at the time we visit. We base our selection on the options available and the features offered at a particular destination. There are wonderful magical places worth sleeping outdoors. If the best or only way to enjoy a remote location with limited accommodations is by staying in relatively modest accommodation like a tent and we find it worthwhile, we will include it.

What happens when a SBTR representative does not like something?

We focus on places and things worth mentioning in a positive light. On the odd occasion, we discover a well-known voyage, property or restaurant that disappoints us. When that happens we tell you. Our goal is to provide you accurate, objective, first hand information from our experiences to entertain and help you make the best choices for your life and travel style.

What about food and restaurants?

We provide information and descriptions of meals in hotels, attractions and during voyages. Restaurant selections focus on gourmet experiences. Whenever possible, we include information on the chef and specialized staff.

Who writes the articles?

SBTR representatives are experienced travelers who have visited dozens of countries. Among our contributors, we have artists, photographers, software engineers, techies, gourmets, published authors and travel writers, some of whom are bilingual or multilingual. Over the years, they have visited more than 50 countries, many islands and most of the U.S.

How can travel writers submit stories to your site?

We are always interested in fun-to-read, well-written luxury and comfort oriented travel stories. Desirable topics include: Ecotourism, voyages/tours, gourmet topics and restaurants, top hotels/accommodations, new and interesting attractions or interesting perspectives on existing attractions, and travel products. If you would like to submit a story, please see our submission guidelines.

Are you hiring?

We have no full-time openings at present. Sometimes there are nonpaying internship opportunities. If you would like to be considered for an internship, please send us your contact information, your dates of availability, amount of hours available per week, time of day you are available, and describe your interests, experience and skills (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, multilingual) by email at info@simonandbaker.com .

What are your submission guidelines?

Though we are unable pay for article submissions at this time, some contributors may be eligible for assignment letters.

Please make sure:

Your submission is about luxury and comfort oriented travel topics
Well written
Submitted for first time publication anywhere in the world
You include photos whenever possible

To submit articles follow these instructions:

Email all proposed articles as Word attachments to info@simonandbaker.com for approval.
On the subject line of the email, write “article submission” and the topic.
In the body of the email, indicate where on our website you think it fits.
Include travel writing experience or bio.
Write any comments regarding the article in the body of the email.
Include your complete name and contact information.
The Word document should begin with the title and subtitle followed by your name.
Spell and grammar check. Double check names of cities, proper names, address and contact information.
Identify photo contents for each photo submission. For example, say “XYZ Restaurant” rather than restaurant.
Identify whether you took the photos or if someone else provided them.
If provided by someone else, indicate the source and any necessary credential requirements.
Images should be in jpg format and ready for publication with the article.
If you have slides, photos or other materials there are many places that will scan them for you. If you are unable to scan them, let us know.
When we approve your article for publication, we will notify you. You may also visit our website to see if it has been published.

To submit an article review the email us at info@simonandbaker.com

Will you accept articles resulting from a fam trip?

Yes, we accept articles resulting from familiarization trips sponsored by a third party.

Article criteria:

Follow submission guidelines
Your article is well written.
The submission was written by you and has not been published anywhere before
You visited the destination or attraction, stayed at the hotel (a minimum of one night) and/or ate at the restaurant within a year of the time you wrote about it/them.
You are not an employee of or received payment from the organization or company featured in your article or from anyone who benefits directly from the story you submit.

I have been invited or want to be invited on a “ fam” (familiarization) trip. How can I obtain an assignment letter?

To be eligible for an assignment letter, you must have four articles published in the Simon & Baker Travel Review. If that is the case, send us a note with information on the trip and the resulting luxury and comfort oriented travel article(s) you anticipate writing.

We will issue one assignment letter at a time. Once we have accepted one of your submissions for publication, you will become eligible for another assignment letter.