"Between The Lines" with Monica Mendal
plus, how I'm maximizing my credit card strategy for travel perks this year
Hi friends!
After over four hours on the runway at Newark and another forty-five minutes trying to connect to in-flight wifi, I’m writing to you upon the devastating realization that my in-seat power outlet doesn’t work. This, of course, comes after bringing my devices to their ~last legs~ following hours of scrolling and streaming (TG for Landman season two!!!!) whilst in the de-icing queue. Combine my immediate panic with the guilt that I didn’t just crack open a book the entire time?? Yeah, needless to say, we’re getting off to a ROCKY start on this ten-day trip to LA and Cabo.
The thing is, travel isn’t always glamorous. A lot of the time, it’s weather delays. Your upgrade not clearing. The gate agent making you check your carry-on. Old aircraft with broken seats. Sometimes—especially if all of the aforementioned have coalesced in one single journey—realizing you (foolishly) didn’t replenish the snack bag on the day you really need them most can be enough to drive you to the brink of tears. And even then? I still love it.
If you’ve been a reader of The Sunday Series for a while, you likely know that I’ve been working in the travel industry for over a decade. In that time, I’ve gravitated towards the kind of writing that captures the more nuanced parts of both the getting there and the destination itself. So, today’s letter is especially meaningful to me as we’re returning to my “Between the Lines” series with a Q&A featuring writer Monica Mendal whose work lives squarely in that liminal space bridging aspirational and authentic.
And to keep the travel theme going, I’m delving into an adjacent topic, too. Paid subscribers will be privy to a recap of how I’m maximizing my credit card strategy this year to optimize travel perks. Hint, hint for those who are also on Bilt 2.0 TikTok: it involves shifting to Ms. Sapphire Reserve. But, more on that later!
Monica Mendal is a writer, editor and brand consultant focusing on fashion, travel and lifestyle. She contributes regularly to Vogue, T New York Times Style, Architectural Digest, and more. Previously, Monica was a fashion editor at Condé Nast Publications, such as Vogue, GQ and Glamour.
Kayla Douglas: You launched your Substack, So there’s this place... a little over a year ago. What’s the ethos behind it, and what do you hope readers feel when they discover your work there?
Monica Mendal: I’ve been an editor for nearly 15 years, including almost a decade as a travel editor. To be a good editor, I believe having a point of view is essential. It’s not about endlessly rounding up the “best” hotels or spotlighting the same hot spots in familiar destinations. For me, it’s about tapping into the soul of a place, bringing a distinct perspective, and offering something thoughtful or nuanced in an increasingly saturated content landscape.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m drawn to less-traveled places and thoughtful alternatives to the obvious choices. The world is huge! There’s so much to explore and so many fun ways to explore it. Much of my work appears in magazines (both online and in print) but with my Substack I wanted to give my readers a more intimate look at my travels. For the wholeeeee story, I defer you to my first Substack post :)
You made the decision to relocate to Paris—what drew you there, and how has it shaped the stories you’re now drawn to telling?
I spent much of my adult life living and working in NYC across different publications at Condé Nast. When I went freelance and decided to transition into travel writing, I asked myself the tough question: why was I spending a premium on rent in NYC when I was traveling 3/4 of the year!? After a summer living in Milan, I knew I wanted to move to Europe for good.
So as soon as I got home, I gave up my apartment and started the process. While I did try to move to Milan initially, the Italian visa is much harder to obtain than the French visa, so I pivoted and landed in Paris. I studied here for a semester in university and Paris has always felt like home, so it was a relatively smooth transition! Really, what’s not to love about Paris? The move has allowed me to travel more easily around Europe, so I get to visit more places throughout the year. It still blows my mind that in 3 hours and 15 minutes I can be in Athens! I’ll never take that for granted.
What does a “good writing day” look like for you right now?
Oh, my answer is so boring. I’m sorry! But I am not one of those travel writers that can write on a train, plane or hotel lobby. My life would be so much easier if I could! Unfortunately, I rely on my routine to get writing done. I like to enjoy my trips and be fully present while traveling, then when I get back to Paris, I’ll hit my co-working space like it’s a corporate office and work straight from 9-5!
What feels creatively generative for you in this season of life?
Travel! That’s why I’ve made a living out of it :)
How do you approach sharing your work and travels on Instagram versus in long-form content?
I don’t really think about it too much. I’m not an expert on social media by any means. I’m a millennial! Social media was only just beginning when I started working. I sort of just share what I want to! I do think Instagram has been an incredible resource for me professionally though as it’s allowed me to connect with so many interesting people around the world!
What book on your TBR pile are you most excited to pick up next?
Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje.
The Sunday Series was conceptualized as a love letter to my favorite day of the week. If we were with you in Paris on a Sunday, where would you take us to spend the afternoon?
In hopes that it’s an unusually sunny Sunday in Paris, I love walking along the Seine where the bouquinistes set up shop. It offers one of the best vantage points for exploring the city. You can see it all while getting a solid 30k steps in ;)
It’s been just over a year since I last weighed in on my credit card strategy, so between the launch of Bilt 2.0 card this week and my desire to do a proper audit heading into 2026, it felt like we were overdue. Selfishly, this check-in is as much for me as it is for you! In this breakdown, I'm reviewing which cards are truly worth their annual fee for how I travel, where I’m shifting spend, and how I think about maximizing benefits without overcomplicating things.
It alllllll started when, after flying over 20,000 miles with United in December, I found myself poking around their newly redesigned app a bit more than usual. It was then—during the final week of this year—that I realized I was about $1,500 short of hitting the $10k spend threshold on my United card to get a $100 credit towards a future UA flight.
Granted, $100 doesn’t even cover half a flight to Buffalo (where I’m from—and NO I don’t want to talk about the game last night!!!!), but if you’re immersed in the world of points and miles, you know these benefits add up, especially when an annual fee to have the card is at play. Missing out on a perk when I was that close to qualifying would’ve been silly!! And so, that’s the story of how I found myself in Soho on December 31st, within an hour of the store closing, purchasing the checked suitcase I’d been meaning to buy anyway.
The thing is, I was always going to get it—but had I not been paying attention, I likely would have made the purchase in January on my (then) primary card, my Delta Amex. Instead, the last-minute kerfuffle felt like a call to action: 2026 is going to be about paying attention and maximizing more mindfully. Because the goal is to be channeling a whole lot more of what is pictured below—and that spirit becomes easier to embody when we’re optimizing our travel spend…
Before we get into the card mix…some important context!!
A few things worth noting before anyone runs off to open five new lines of credit…
I’m OBVIOUSLY not a financial advisor. Though I have worked with one for over seven years (if you want a referral to someone incredible, let me know!). This breakdown is simply a result of years and years of playing the points game.
I’ve built this arsenal of CCs over more than a decade, never opening more than one new card per year, maintaining a rock-solid credit score throughout.
I’ve redeemed points for countless flights, including frequent transcontinental business class flights, which is a treat that always feels like mastering the art of the sign-up bonus is worthwhile.
I’m currently primarily loyal to Delta, with United as my second choice carrier.
My CC spending skews heavily toward travel, dining, and occasional big-ticket purchases.
Your “right” lineup may look very different depending on where you live, who you fly, and how often you travel. But, let’s see, shall we?
