Emily Manthei Emily Manthei is a freelance journalist who covers travel, culture, business, and real estate. In addition to Travel + Leisure, her work has appeared in Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, Deutsche Welle, and Los Angeles Downtown News, among others. Prior to becoming a freelance writer, Emily spent 14 years as a screenwriter and filmmaker in Los Angeles. Her 20-plus short films made in the United States, Central America, Eastern Europe, and South Asia have appeared in festivals across the world, and several of her scripts have been turned into short films, including "Voice Over," which won audience awards at festivals in Germany and Italy in 2019. She is currently based in Berlin and Los Angeles.• 8+ years of experience as a freelance travel and culture writer• Received a master's degree in theology from the University of Edinburgh• Finalist in Bluecat, Oaxaca, and Beverly Hills screenplay competitions About Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is a top travel media brand with a mission to inform and inspire passionate travelers. Our expert team includes a network of hundreds of writers and photographers across the globe, all providing a local eye on the best places to stay, eat, and explore. We reach an audience that takes 76 million round trips annually, offering valuable travel tips, ideas and inspiration, and products you need to get you to your destination — whether it’s a small town or big city, beach or lake, national park or theme park, road trip, cruise, or long-haul flight, and everything in between. Learn more about us and our editorial process