Freda Moon

Travel writer / International toddler wrangler / Twitter skeptic. @NYTimesTravel, @Afarmedia, far and wide. Former: Travel editor @SFGATE.

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

The dissonance between my fear that AI is taking over the world and the reality of dealing with maddeningly stupid, time-wasting customer service robots makes me think that driving us to shout "TALK TO HUMAN" over and over (i.e. slowly driving us insane) is their master plan.

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

@StanleyRoberts As child of 1980s/90s Northern California, I can tell you with 100% certainty that San Francisco was absolutely "the City" to us.

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

The AI future is a nightmare. @malindoair offers ~no~ way to speak to a person. All "customer care" is handled via an AI chat bot or AI form. No phone number. No human chat or email or airport help desk. Nothing.

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

Inevitably, these "36 Hours" guides leave out places I'd hoped to include. Sometimes those spots were featured in a previous version of the guide. Other times they didn't fit well into the itinerary because of geography or timing. (My 2015 guide to SLO: https://t.co/BJhUfxtq0e)

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

My most recent "36 Hours" for @nytimestravel is about one of the most beautiful places on the planet, the Central Coast of California. I spent a week driving San Luis Obispo top to bottom and boiled those 7 days down to 2.5. https://t.co/v5ieakzW8o

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

@Matt_Pinner I've never met a Frances (my grandma's name).

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

This isn’t a political “take.” I’m genuinely interested in understanding how this – coupled with the tariffs — won’t crash the economy. 43 million people = 16% of the population. That’s a lot of discretionary spending for summer camps, date nights, new shoes, household repairs.

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

I’m still learning what Big Beautiful Bill means for our family, but as far as I can tell, we’ll go from repaying our student loans at 10% of our annual income to 30%. Multiply that by the 43 million Americans with student debt, what does that look like for the economy?

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

Aaand…our bed bug @Airbnb is still online. @AirbnbHelp swore the unit was “temporarily suspended” while they confirmed the “absence of bed bugs” and that the issue was “actively being looked into.” There is simply no way that happened in a few days. https://t.co/QAeP7LABFu

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

Checked into an @Airbnb late Saturday. It was crawling with mature bed bugs: in both beds, on the walls. We left (at midnight, in the rain, carrying sleeping kids) and were refunded. Since the reservation was canceled, I was unable to review it. Airbnb said they'd "taken action."

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

Still up! If anyone would like an apartment in the coolest neighborhood in CDMX where the bed is especially “lively,” this is your place. @Airbnb saw our photos and videos and paid for us to relocate (as they should have) but haven’t taken down the listing.

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

Do other parents of 6-year-olds hear Petey the Cat's voice when reading these Trump tweets?

[The White House @WhiteHouse]

"CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR PEACE!" –President Donald J. Trump

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

Would genuinely love to know whether this was an oversight or @AirbnbHelp intentionally allowed an apartment overrun with bedbugs to remain online and rentable two days later. There's no way an infestation that extreme could be remedied in two days.

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

I had photos and videos. Airbnb not only refunded me but covered our hotel stay. That seemed right, considering. I'm not sure what "taking action against the listing" means, but lucky you, it's available for tonight! https://t.co/QZLIK7sS2A

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

Guadalajara isn't a secret, but it is far less touristed and more affordable than Mexico City and every bit as charming.

[The San Francisco Standard @sfstandard]

An easy and cheap direct flight from San Francisco makes Guadalajara and three surrounding towns a perfect summer escape.

📝: @FredaMoon https://t.co/lZRWzKTLuT

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

@MikeIsaac Many parents want their kids to be able to reach them in an emergency. I can understand the fear, but a) the idea that a parent is going to save their child from a mass shooter (the primary fear) seems tragically unrealistic and b) the downsides of phones in schools is very real.

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

@jessesingal One big question of this political moment—in general, not re: this issue—is how does one object, as an engaged citizen, in a way that’s productive? So much has changed in the culture and media that things that were once useful aren’t anymore (and worse, trigger a backlash).

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

@jessesingal It seems like all of it, including letter writing and calling political representatives, is real resistance. The question, I think, is what is effective and what isn’t. Some of these things, including social disobedience, have been productive in the past, but are less so now.

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

No parent is going to let their 4-year-old sit by themselves next to a stranger. Adult travelers can opt out of seat selection, but families—especially families with young kids—can’t.

[Freda Moon @FredaMoon]

Airlines should be required to seat children with their parent/guardian without having to pay seat selection fees, which are essentially taxes on family travel.

[Secretary Sean Duffy @SecDuffy]

Tell me how we can Make Traveling with Family Great Again!

There’s no better place to start a family than the USA so I want to make it easier for you to travel with your kids.

Here’s your chance to tell me, your Transportation Secretary, what I can do to make travel easier for your family. Send me your best ideas!