About us

IreneHeadshot About usIrene S. Levine

Irene S. Levine, PhD is an award-winning journalist, author, and blogger who has written hundreds of articles—on health, mental health, travel and lifestyles—for some of the nation’s leading magazines, newspapers and websites (See her Credits).

After a distinguished career as a psychologist and a decade of moonlighting as a freelance writer, feeling torn between two passions, she transitioned into her “second act” as a full-time travel writer. Now, she is a frequent contributor to the travel sections of the Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and other major newspapers and publications, and blogs regularly for The Huffington Post, NBC Universal Life Goes Strong, and Psychology Today.

She is one of some 700 active members of the Society of American Travel Writers, the preeminent travel and tourism media association, and is also a member of the North American Travel Journalist Association (NATJA), and the International Travel Writers Alliance. She was awarded the NATJA Gold Award for the best destination article in a newspaper with a circulation over 250,000. She was awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for articles published in 2012, as well as two honorable mentions.

Irene has also had a long career as a mental health professional. She wrote her first solo book, Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend (Overlook Press) and then collaborated with her husband to write Schizophrenia for Dummies (Wiley). In 2007, she created The Friendship Blog, a highly-trafficked site that is the only destination in the blogosphere where women can obtain free, individualized advice and authoritative information to master the often-tricky etiquette of female friendships. This year, the blog received the About.com Reader’s Choice Award for the Best Friendship Blog.

Jerry2 About usAbout Jerome (Jerry) Levine

Jerome Levine, MD, is Irene’s husband, travel companion and photographer. Jerry retired after a long career in research and public sector psychiatry. Their son, Andrew, is fully launched, working as a software engineer for a leading technology firm. Subsequently, Irene and Jerry have more time to pursue their lifetime interest in travel.