Hi, I’m Emily Carter
I’m a travel writer who’s on the road most of the year — sometimes with my husband Michael and our kids, Lily and Ethan, and other times traveling solo so I can focus closely on one place.
Island Hopper Guides started the way most good habits do: by accident. I was documenting my own trips — the ferry times that actually worked, the beach that wasn’t crowded at 9am, the restaurant the guidebooks missed — mostly so Iwouldn’t have to relearn the same lessons on the next trip. Over time, those notes turned into full itineraries, and the itineraries turned into this site.
How I Travel (and Why It Shapes These Guides)
When I’m traveling with my family, I’m always thinking about what will actually work if you have kids — nap-time-friendly stops, realistic pacing, and the details that get overlooked when an itinerary is written by someone without a seven-year-old in tow.
When I’m on my own, I spend more time in neighborhoods, along coastal paths, or in historic areas where daily life unfolds naturally. I move slowly, walk local streets, stop at markets, and pay attention to how a place really feels once you’re there.
Either way, every guide is built around the same standard:
- Real geography, not guesswork. Routes come from actual distances and tide charts, not a list of attractions stitched together.
- Practical details over polish. You’ll know what you’ll actually see, hear, and eat — not just what photographs well.
- Pacing for how you’re really traveling. Solo, family, honeymoon, or a six-hour cruise stop — the notes are written for your trip, not a generic one.
Multiple Islands, One Standard
From Aruba to the Seychelles, every destination on this site gets the same field-tested rigor. No filler content, no recycled listicles — just routes I’ve walked, sailed, or driven myself, or built from the same level of on-the-ground detail.
Get in Touch
Have a question about an itinerary, a correction to flag, or a destination you’d like to see covered? I’d love to hear from you — head over to the Contact page to reach out.