Derek writes the family and comfort-travel beat at Traveling Today Magazine, covering resorts, cruise lines, and multi-generational trip planning for readers who want a smooth trip more than a bargain hunt. His pieces walk through the details that make or break a group trip — room configurations that actually fit a family of five, all-inclusive properties worth the markup, and how to structure an itinerary so a seven-year-old and a seventy-year-old are both having a good time. He also tracks loyalty programs and points strategies, translating airline and hotel jargon into plain guidance on when redeeming miles is worth it and when it isn't.

Derek is the person in his own extended family who ends up planning every reunion trip, a role he took on years ago and never quite gave back. He treats each assignment the way he treats those trips: start with what the group actually needs, then build the itinerary around that instead of the other way around.