About Us

Upon Return is a travel guide that curates thousands of destinations around the world, personally experienced and adored by our Chief Traveler, Jason Claire. Some three decades ago, Jason made travel one of his main modes of experiencing life. Not just hit-n-run travel, but dedicating significant time to each of 65 countries, hundreds of hotels, thousands of restaurants, then returning again to his favorites. Along the road, Jason’s made countless human connections and taken notes on absolutely everything. For old and new friends, Jason has become the source of highly-satisfying, global recommendations. No one plans a trip without first getting Jason’s list. Where shall I stay in Berlin? Where in Rio should we take my mom for a birthday dinner? What is your favorite gallery in Tokyo? Rest easy, friends. Just get Jason’s list and book away.

The places Jason recommends share certain attributes: passion, soul and local connectedness. His bar is high and specific. Each of the restaurants, hotels, shops and cultural experiences has proven, upon his many returns, that it is faithful to the craft it represents. Every person at a place we recommend feels that they have no choice but to cook, host or sing, because they can’t imagine life otherwise. They unquestionably need to be excellent, and are passionate about bringing joy to their customers and audiences. That relentless pursuit of improvement makes them special, therefore, worthy of a return visit.

Upon Return tackles the overwhelming task of sifting through endless global travel information. We meticulously read public reviews, scrutinize travel magazines, and study the travel sections of major publications. We also talk to people who have been there, and most importantly, Jason personally visits each place to ensure they uphold the Upon Return values—all before we provide our comprehensive recommendations for hotels, restaurants, shopping, and cultural experiences worldwide, all in one accessible place. No more time-consuming effort gathering advice from different sources—we've done the groundwork and everything you need is in one intuitive and beautiful map. We hope to tap into your passion for travel and help you make your one and only life a great one.

Over the years, the requests for Jason’s recommendations have become so numerous that he has decided to publish everything in the UponReturn.com travel guide. This way, anyone who shares in Jason’s need to make the most out of the little precious time we have on this planet can get to it, and skip the sifting through countless other websites that don’t hold the same values and appreciation for unwavering purpose.