Welcome to GoingGoneMadd ✈️

This space is for people like me (and maybe like you) who love travel but don’t want to waste time or money on mediocre experiences. The difference between “it was fine” and “we’ll never forget it".

I’m Madison,

but online (here, hi, hello lol), I go by GoingGoneMadd.

I didn’t grow up traveling much. In fact, I was the kid who skipped recess just to sit in the library and read travel books, imagining the places I might see one day. The first time I made it to Asia and Europe was in college, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Forty+ countries later, travel has become the crux of my existence and identity.

What I’ve “gonemadd” for:

traveling right matters. Nothing frustrates me more than watching people spend their savings on an overhyped destination or a “dream hotel” that turns out to be… just okay. I’m confident in my taste of hotels, restaurants, hidden gems, etc., and I want to share that eye with you so your trips feel memorable, NOT regrettable.

For the record: I love boujee travel. Hostels are not my lane (so if that’s yours, I’m not your girl). But I’m also not exclusively chasing Aman resorts and six-figure $$$$ price tags. My sweet spot is the best of the 4–5 star range and boutique properties that feel thoughtful, stylish, and something I’d go mad over not experiencing at least once.

I’m obsessed with all the things to do!!! The excursions, adventures, and experiences that actually make a trip unforgettable. Every time I travel, I’m the person Googling “best things to do in [city]” only to see the same tired lists recycled over and over again. The reality? Some of the most incredible memories I’ve made came from taking a chance on experiences that weren’t plastered across the first page of search results (some of the worst places I’ve been have been from doing this). Here, I want to share those hidden wins and all the tours, activities, and offbeat finds that deserve way more *deserved* hype.

GoneMadd Community

I know what it feels like to be the planner in the relationship. I’ve been in the situation before where someone has handed me a credit card and has said, “Book the trip..surprise me/us.” On the surface, that’s the dream, right?!? But it’s also a curse because suddenly the world is at your fingertips *LITERALLY!!!!* and you’re left staring at endless options, wondering where to even begin. That’s another reason I started writing here: to cut through the noise, share real recommendations, and help you know where to start and how to end.

What you’ll find on GoingGoneMadd’s substack

So what can you expect from GoingGoneMadd? Twice a week, I’ll share the kinds of posts I wish I had when I first started traveling seriously:

• Travel Hacks & Itineraries – how to maximize your time and money at my tried and tested itineraries.

• Hotel & Experience Spotlights – my honest takes on the properties, restaurants, and excursions that actually deliver. I REFUSE TO PROMOTE ANYTHING I DON’T LIKE AND WILL NOT SELL MY SOUL TO REVIEW A PLACE I DON’T LIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Highlights From My Trips – the must-do activities, hidden gems, and the things I’d do differently next time.

• Beauty & Skincare on the Go – routines and product recs that survive jet lag, red-eyes, and new climates.

• Travel Accessories & Style – sharing my travel hauls, resort wear and accessories that make traveling easier.

• DINK-Friendly Getaways – 36–72 hour trip itineraries designed for couples who want to see more of the world without burning all their PTO (Lame, but it’s the real-world a lot of us live in).

So, where to next?

Whether you’re here to plan your next trip from a REAL POV and not ChatGPT or just daydream into story times about amazing places from your couch, I’m so glad you’re here. I hope GoingGoneMadd becomes your go to for the kind of travel that makes you feel something and the kinds that make you go mad to try.

If you’re ready to travel smarter, skip the overhyped Tiktok recommendations, and go mad over the moments that matter, hit subscribe. Let’s get you planned or daydreaming about our next unforgettable trip together!

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