Claire Boobbyer

From News Desks to Cuban Streets: The Early Years

Claire Boobbyer began her career in the fast-paced world of news journalism, honing her skills in factual reporting and narrative precision. Her transition to travel writing in the early 2000s marked the start of a lifelong romance with Cuba – a country she first visited in 1998 during Fidel Castro’s historic reinstatement of Christmas celebrations. This pivotal experience, where she witnessed Havana’s crumbling Baroque architecture juxtaposed with vibrant rumba rhythms, became the foundation for her specialty in cultural storytelling.

“Cuba isn’t just a destination – it’s a living museum of resilience, where every cracked colonial facade tells stories of revolution and reinvention.”

Guidebook Authority and Regional Expertise

• Authored 11 editions of Lonely Planet’s Cuba guide (2009-2023)
• Pioneered DK Eyewitness’ first Cambodia & Laos guide (2011)
• Documented Vietnam’s post-war cultural revival through 6 Footprint guide editions

Three Defining Works

Central America’s underrated wonders (National Geographic Traveller)

Boobbyer’s 2023 deep dive challenged conventional itineraries by highlighting Guatemala’s Chichicastenango textile markets and Nicaragua’s lesser-known volcanic islands. Through immersive fieldwork spanning 8 weeks, she revealed how community-led tourism initiatives are preserving Indigenous Mayan traditions while creating sustainable economies. The piece became a benchmark for ethical travel reporting, cited by UNESCO in their 2024 Mesoamerican Heritage report.

Vietnam’s Luxury Vietage Train (The Telegraph)

This 2022 investigation blended transport journalism with cultural anthropology. Boobbyer didn’t just review the train’s art-deco cabins – she traced the railway’s history from French colonial rule to its modern role in connecting rice farmers to markets. Her documentation of onboard culinary experiences, featuring bahn mi sandwiches reinterpreted by Michelin-trained chefs, sparked a 37% increase in luxury rail bookings according to Vietnam Railways’ 2023 tourism data.

8 Best Sleeps in Marrakech (Wanderlust)

Revolutionizing hotel criticism in 2021, Boobbyer evaluated accommodations through the lens of cultural preservation. Her top pick – a 14th-century caravanserai converted using traditional tadelakt plaster techniques – became a case study in the International Journal of Heritage Tourism. The article’s innovative scoring system, which weighted architectural authenticity equally with modern comforts, is now emulated by Lonely Planet’s accommodation guides.

Pitching Insights: Where Story Meets Substance

1. Cuban Cultural Revivals

Prioritize stories about grassroots arts initiatives, like Havana’s DIY ballet schools training dancers on rooftops. Boobbyer’s 2023 Times piece on cigar factory readers (lectores) blending literature with labor activism demonstrates her interest in cultural resilience. Successful pitches should include access to local artisans and historical context about pre-revolution traditions.

2. Southeast Asia’s Eco-Innovations

Focus on environmental solutions with cultural roots, such as Laos’ coffee growers using elephant dung as fertilizer. Her Telegraph coverage of Vietnam’s satellite-collared pangolins shows appetite for wildlife stories tied to Indigenous knowledge. Include verifiable data from local conservation NGOs.

3. Culinary Time Capsules

Seek out dishes preserving ancient techniques, like Oaxaca’s 2,000-year-old mole recipes. Boobbyer’s BBC Travel feature on Belize’s Garifuna coconut bread – baked in sand pits as enslaved Africans did – exemplifies this beat. Pitches must go beyond restaurant reviews to explore food as living history.

Awards and Accolades

• 2022 AITO Travel Writer of the Year Finalist: Recognized for a portfolio exploring Laos’ UXO clearance through tourism, including interviews with bomb disposal experts turned trekking guides. The judging panel noted her “unparalleled ability to find hope in complex histories.”
• British Guild of Travel Writers’ Excellence Award (2020): Honored for investigative work exposing greenwashing in Caribbean resort developments. Her undercover reporting at a Cuban marina project led to UNESCO intervention at Cienfuegos Bay.