Jen Ottolino

With Us Since
2023
Photo of Jen Ottolino
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Location
Azores, Portugal
School
Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Expertise
Outdoor adventures, Exotic destinations, Sustainable travel
  • Jen is a dual American-Italian citizen who hails from Chicago and has spent the past 15 years living in Africa and Europe.
  • An accomplished outdoor adventurer, Jen has worked as a rafting guide and a rock climbing instructor, backpacked through Alaska, trekked to Everest Base Camp, and summited high peaks like Rainier and Kilimanjaro.
  • Her experience buying a farmhouse on the island of Faial in the Azores, Portugal was featured in an episode of "House Hunters International."

Experience

Following a decade of work in global development, Jen transitioned to full-time communications strategy and travel writing. As a content creator for Tempest from 2021 to 2022, she developed articles and blogs for destination marketing organizations across North America. In 2023, she began freelancing for Explore and Islands, and two years later, she founded Nine Islands Azores, an independent travel publication focused on Portugal's wild archipelago.

Education

Jen has a master's degree in international public policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, Italy.

Explore Editorial Policies

Explore’s content is created by qualified and experienced writers and editors, bolstered by outside field experts. Our mission is to provide readers with well-rounded and accurate information by way of entertaining and engaging articles that deliver a diversity of content, including everything from detailed guides for exotic locales to easily accessible information on domestic travel.

Our editors consistently review and update articles to ensure they're providing current, relevant, and useful information. Complete information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Jen Ottolino