Stylist and editor Irene Kim writes one of our favorite fashion Substacks, In Moda Veritas, sharing her unfussy yet elevated approach to style. Originally from Canada, her family realized it was “now or never” to follow their dream of moving from Toronto to Paris, and finally made the leap this summer after a year of sorting out visas, schools, bank accounts, and a tangle of French bureaucracy. The pay-off has been a slower pace, culture woven into the everyday, and the ease of traveling throughout Europe. Read on for all the details of their move—including the logistics of getting her incredible wardrobe across an ocean—and how you can do it, too.

What inspired your move to Paris?  

It was a vibe I picked up the very first time I visited over 20 years ago. Paris is romanticized for a lot of things, but what really drew me in was the general mood and emotional temperature of the people. There’s a reserve here. People are slower to warm, but there’s also a real value placed on conversation and debate. That slower, more thoughtful social energy just felt right to me. Of course, there were other things that made living here appealing. Culture in all its forms is woven into everyday life. Travel is easier and more accessible than from Toronto. Overall, Paris had just the right mix of what I was looking for in a city I wanted to live in.

That was 20 years ago, and while I’d visited Paris and France many times since, I finally made the move from Toronto in July 2025 with my husband and two sons. I still appreciate all of the things that initially drew me in, but now there’s the added layer of wanting to experience this together, as a family. It helps that we all speak varying levels of French already.

What was that process like as a Canadian? Did you work with a person/service in France or navigate it all on your own? Could you share a bit about the visa process?

We contacted a lawyer over a year before our intended move date so we could get a clear idea of what entry options were available to us. I’d strongly recommend speaking to a French immigration lawyer early on—even if it’s just a one-hour consultation—to get an accurate picture of your visa options. You don’t necessarily need someone to handle your entire application, but having a professional walk you through the process can save a lot of time and stress. There’s so much conflicting information floating around online, especially in Facebook groups, and it’s easy to get led in the wrong direction. For us, the VLS-TS (long-stay visa) made the most sense. It’s renewable each year for up to five years, and the checklist for our specific visa type is fairly straightforward. We just worked through it one step at a time. 

Looking back, you could probably get it all done in three months if you really had to. But if you can, I’d give yourself at least a year—not just to deal with paperwork, but to emotionally and physically prepare. That includes things like renting or selling your home, downsizing or storing your belongings, sorting out school or work logistics, getting your finances in order, and saying your goodbyes.

Did you learn about any surprising visa hacks/loopholes worth sharing?

Not applicable to us, but I learned that when applying for a VISA, not to write “moving to be with a boyfriend/girlfriend.” Apparently French authorities are well aware of how often those situations don’t last!  

What about the nitty-gritty stuff—enrolling your kids in school, bank accounts, phone service—did you sort that out before you left, or once you were in Paris? What about housing?

I found a few aspects of the relocation process to be tricky because they created these frustrating chicken-and-egg situations.

First, we could only apply for our visa three months before our intended entry into France. That means we could spend a year getting our house ready to rent/sell, research and pay for schools, etc… only to have our visa denied. That uncertainty definitely weighed on me. Again, this is where speaking with an immigration lawyer is really helpful to give you a realistic assessment of your chances and help you prepare a stronger application.

For our visa, we needed to show proof of accommodation, but getting a lease in France is notoriously difficult if you’re coming from abroad. Most landlords require a French guarantor and proof of income that’s 3x the rent. On top of that, Paris rentals tend to hit the market only about a month before the move-in date, which makes it tough to line up a lease before you submit your visa application. 

To help us through this gauntlet, we contacted real estate agents early, like in August 2024. They all laughed and told me to call back in May 2025. Hoping I could sort out our rental before we submitted our visa application, I tried again in March and we were very lucky to secure our place in April for a mid-July move-in. Our back-up plan was to stay with friends who were willing to sign a declaration stating we’d be living with them, which is allowed under our visa. Another common workaround is to book an Airbnb for three months and look for long-term housing once you’re here. Another chicken-and-egg: I needed to show my signed lease to open a bank account and get a phone number, which I did within the first days I arrived. I’m not sure what you would do if you don’t have your lease sorted out yet.

Figuring out schooling took up most of my time. Our sons were entering Grades 4 and 6 and I ideally wanted them to be in the same school and one that was primarily French. In the Paris public system, grade 6 is collège (middle school) which is separate from primary school, so that motivated us to find a school that would take both. We’ve always been in the public school system in Toronto, so applying for private and semi-private schools was way more time-consuming than I expected. Most of the schools we applied to were 100% French, which meant I needed to get all the boys’ report cards and documents translated at a significant cost. Application deadlines were in fall 2024 for the 2025-26 school year, so the research had to happen well before finding housing or applying for your visa. If you don’t go the public school route, your choice of school will probably determine the area you’ll want to live in.

Is there anything you wish you knew before you made the move?

Other than knowing more French, no, not really. For the big pillars, we were as prepared as we could be. For the rest of it, the fun is in figuring it out as you go.

How is your French? Have you found any helpful resources or tricks to practice?

My French is OK. I learned French throughout school and have done Alliance Francaise on-and-off. Because I studied French academically, my reading and writing is decent, but my spoken French—which never gets practice—is pretty rusty. Having grown up in New Brunswick, my husband is fairly fluent. Did you know that New Brunswick is the only official bilingual province in Canada? It’s not Quebec! My kids were in French immersion in Toronto, so at least they have a base. I’m in a conversation group and when things settle down, I’ll begin Alliance Francaise again.

As a stylist you have an amazing (and presumably large) wardrobe, how did you manage to move all of that across an ocean? 

Oh man, I wrote two newsletters about this (Part one and two).

Part of moving from Toronto to Paris is accepting that people live more densely and in smaller spaces. Our Paris apartment is 1/3 the size of our Toronto home and we have no yard here. Early on, I foolishly thought I’d be taking my entire wardrobe, reasoning that clothes are my job, so of course I needed to take it all! In the end, I ended up giving away or consigning 75% of my wardrobe. I decided that this was a rare opportunity to only keep what I loved without qualification, even if it left a “gap” in my closet. It didn’t matter if I “needed” it and didn’t have something similar in cut, color, or utility. Even then, my wardrobe (including shoes, coats, accessories) took up 10 of these bags. We moved with 16 checked-in blue bags, four carry-ons and four personal items.

Beyond your wardrobe—did you bring furniture/art/books, or start fresh?

We didn’t bring any furniture, because we moved into a fully furnished home that has all the basics, and at the same time, we rented out our Toronto home. We left all our art, books, etc… for our tenants. By comparison, our Paris apartment feels far from lived-in, and I’m having a hard time deciding what to invest in when we’re not sure how long we’re staying (we’re taking it one year at a time!). We brought probably one suitcase worth of sentimental items like our wedding photo, quilts made by grandma, a few of the boys’ favorite books and toys.

Has the move influenced your work as a stylist? Has Paris changed how you dress or the way you approach your projects?

I decided when I moved here that I would continue with my Substack, In Moda Veritas, but scale back on my style consulting until the new year. I want and need the time just to observe and absorb all that is new around me, while also taking the extra time to settle in my family. Come the new year, I’m curious to see how being here will influence my work going forward.

It’s only been a couple of months, but unsurprisingly, I’ve been especially attuned to how people dress in Paris. There’s a discernible difference here from style codes I’m used to back home, and from what I see in other fashion capitals like New York, London, and Tokyo. What immediately stood out is that what’s considered “casual” here feels more elevated than at home. My wardrobe goes from sweatpants to skirts with very little in between, and my Tibi Calder joggers were my faithful go-tos for just about everything. In North America, loungewear has been fully absorbed into the style lexicon, but in Paris, sweatpants tend to remain in the domain of gyms and homes. It’s not that people are in heels and fancy ensembles at 9am; in fact, sneakers are absolutely the norm here. Casual looks different, and I’ve had to invest in some everyday jeans and bottoms.

Any surprising things you’ve learned about culture/life in France?

There’s this impression in North America that the French (and Italians) know how to enjoy life with their morning cappuccinos, leisurely lunches and many vacation days. Vacation is definitely sacred here, but my impression is that the French work long and hard hours. The grass isn’t always greener!

It’s only been a few months, but do you have any neighborhood favorites so far? 

To be honest, I’ve barely left the neighborhood! There’s so much involved in settling in the family, getting your apartment together, developing routines….

It’s been an adjustment for the boys especially to live in an apartment and be mindful of how much noise they’re making. We’ve already gotten complaints from the neighbors! We’re trying, but they need to get their energy out. Expansive green space is hard to come by in Paris, so I love living near Bois du Boulogne and being able to go there a few times a week.

I love the fish markets! I seem to come across them all over the city, and every time I do, it’s settled, that’s our dinner for the night.

I love that I can walk out my door and I have five grocery stores, five cafés, and 15 restaurants within 100m. We lived pretty centrally in Toronto and the nearest anything was a 10-minute walk. 

What’s on your personal Paris bucket list for the next year?

I have a long list relating to the shops I want to visit. There are so many brands here and I want to see as much as I can. All the secondhand shops! Les Puces de Saint Ouen at least once a month. The Singer exhibition at Musée d’Orsay. And just exploring and discovering things with my family.

The post Living Abroad in… Paris appeared first on Yolo Journal.

When I was first in touch with writer and globetrotter Natasha Nyanin a few weeks ago, I asked if she had a recent or upcoming trip that she’d like to base her responses on. She replied, “How about packing for an 8-week trip that went from Venice to Cortina to Sardinia to the Amalfi Coast to Milan to Rome to Paris to Champagne to Marrakech and to London?” Ummm ya, that will do! It’s always impressive to hear how people manage to pack for these long, multi-leg trips and look fabulous while maneuvering through airports, ferry terminals and train stations with a caravan of luggage. Natasha’s approach is equally whimsy and practical (albeit maximalist) and she convinced me that maybe I should start traveling with stationery and wax seal stamps.

What’s your go-to luggage and why?  

Before setting off to Venice, I knew packing for such an adventure would be, in and of itself, a journey. Why? Because Venice was to be only the first leg of a multilimbic sojourn across Europe (I’d be flying back to NYC from Heathrow after making numerous stops across the continent and North Africa), so packing required a deft balance of strategy and whimsy. Thankfully, I was afforded two 70lb checked bags on both my United flights: a relief!

I am an ardent believer that one should aspire to be whatever kind of packer that brings them joy, so I am not here to proselytize for packing one way or the other. That being said, I personally find it stressful to limit myself when packing, as getting dressed is an intuitive exercise calibrated by whimsical factors that I cannot predict far in advance, such as what colors might reflect my mood that day. So, as an unabashed, card-carrying member of the overpackers club, I travel with multiple checked pieces (especially on an extended trip, which is my preferred way to travel), a roll-aboard carry-on and a duffle weekender.

For my checked bags, I have found that luggage with a polycarbonate hard shell works best for my needs. I love my Floyd Check-in for its distinctive red wheels, which make it easy to spot coming down the carousel (and the magnetic closure of the case is a plus, but only if I do not have to overstuff the luggage). I am currently most enjoying my TUMI Extended Trip Packing Case in black for its durability, lightness and capaciousness, allowing me to pack even more while staying within the confines of airline allowances.

When it comes to cabin bags, I am in a rather committed relationship with the Globe-Trotter Centenary trolley, which I have in black with gold hardware but I adored the iteration I had before (which was sadly stolen somewhere at CDG). It’s a two-wheeled (ever the form over function girl here) Japanese urushi lacquered piece from their now-discontinued Orient collection (bring it back, Globe-Trotter!). I plop my camel leather Loewe duffle atop the Globe-Trotter and that’s how you’ll almost always see me rolling through the airport.

How do you approach the basics?  

Asking me to plan outfits in advance is akin to asking a fish to ride a bicycle: I’m simply not wired that way, unless there’s a particular event I’m planning for (a wedding or an invitation to the opera, say), in which case I’d likely have something specifically picked out and packed. I typically go through my closet and make a pile of “take with” and “maybes” which I whittle down as I pack. Making the piles on my bed helps me to visualize what I am packing so that I don’t take too many multiples of a similar thing.  

In general, I also keep a general packing list in my Notes app on my phone that I refer to each time I have to pack so I am sure not to leave any of the necessities like my laptop charger, steamer, socks, scarves etc. 

For this specific trip, since I was planning a black-tie celebratory event in Venice for my 40th birthday, the basics included a couple of gowns and other special occasion pieces, which I packed in a bridal garment bag that I carried on. 

Are you a roller or a folder?

I used to be a roller until working stays at St. Regis Venice and St. Regis Rome afforded me access to their butler service (they will pack for you!) and let me tell you, watching the maestri at work, I now am a believer in the flat fold. I was amazed and how they were able to fit all my suits so pristinely into my suitcase. And not only did they manage that, they even slipped a pair of St. Regis branded house slippers and personalized pajamas into the case!

Any other packing tricks or hero items? 

I always pack a number of silk kaftans (Moroccan djellebas) that I designed and had made by Aya’s Marrakech. They are lightweight, roomy, simple, and work well for a casual moment, but pack enough visual intrigue to be dressed up for dinner.

What’s your shoe strategy? 

For a trip like this that straddles the seasons and where I’ll be walking incessantly, I focus on packing flats. I have a go-to pair of flat Loewe mules that have been my travel companion for the last three or so years. I also packed one pair of flat boots for when the weather begins to dip. In this case, a pair from Gabriela Hearst that I got in 2021, when I was going on my first safari with Elewana and Asalia in Kenya and Tanzania, and which have been treating me kindly ever since. Because there were and will invariably be some formal events during my trip, I pack 1-3 pairs of heels, focusing on pairs that can work as a neutral. I also like to pack a pair of house slippers for lounging. A pair of red leather babouches I bought in the souks in Marrakech a million years ago are still doing that heavy lifting to this day.

How do you think about accessories?

I am not much of an accessory person and, by my standards at least, I keep them to a minimum. When it comes to jewellery, I stick to a uniform: two Hermès enamel bracelets that I stack, and a two-finger 18k gold ring made for me by New York’s Charlton & Lola are items I slip on daily, as a ritual. Add to this one pair of statement earrings packed into my carry-on for special occasions and you’ve got the whole formula. I used to carry my beloved large Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff on all my trips, but it disappeared in that carry-on that was stolen and my dream is to eventually replace it and add to it the Bone Cuff ring.

I literally own only two handbags—one old-school Celine box bag in blue, and a red classic Ferragamo top handle bag. They travel with me everywhere, along with silk scarves that I like to tie on my handbags for a change of vibe. I love sunglasses so I tend to pack a number of alternative pairs, but when I want to stick to one, it would be a black oversized pair like these Saint Laurent Kate SL214.

Do you have a great travel hat? 

I have a great hat! Is it a great travel hat? Probably not. It’s wholly impractical with its extra-wide brim and being wrought from fragile Filipino raffia. But it’s great for the beach and to add a touch of something extra to so many looks. My technique for carrying it is simple—the hat has an elastic band, so I just slip the band over the telescoping handle of my carryon suitcase and the hat rides hands-free. The piece was made by Australian milliner Stephanie Spencer (who does have more practical hats in her oeuvre).

What’s always in your dopp kit/toiletry bag/pharmacy kit? 

Before I get to what’s in the dopp kit, let me talk about my dopp kit itself, which is one of those rare genius pieces that has revolutionised my travel toiletry experience. This is NOT hyperbole. I introduced a friend to the brand and she wouldn’t stop talking about it for 2 weeks. I am talking about the Parallelle toiletry bags that I have in all three sizes.

These kits allow you to stand your products up in them so your toiletries are each neatly nested for easy identification. The sides of the bags fold down when unzipped so you can easily access the array of things. This means I do not have to empty the bag to find items and so is invaluable to multi-leg trips where I have to switch hotels every couple of nights. I use the smallest one as my makeup bag, where I keep my Mac concealer, Lancôme Tient Idole Ultra Wear Foundation, a trio of brushes, Fenty Lip Paint in the shade Uncensored, The Lip Bar Nonstop Liquid Matte lipstick in Bawse Lady,  and Dior Lip Glow Oil.

The medium bag (the perfect size) is the home for toiletries under 100ml. In it lives my array of Surya by Martha Ayurvedic skincare (The Balancing Face Oil, Calming Lip Therapy lip balm, and the impeccable Balancing Collagen Cream), as well as their Kansa face wand, a tool I have come to cherish. I also keep Tata Harper’s Water-Lock Moisturiser, some decanted Shea oil from R&R Skincare, and Supergoop Glowstick sunscreen in the bag. Because my Suri electric toothbrush comes with a carrying case that doubles as a charging case, I don’t have to stuff it into my dopp kit, which is a relief both for space and hygiene reasons.

The largest bag houses my larger toiletries that go into my checked luggage. In there you’ll find a bottle of MARA Algae Cleansing Oil, Surya by Martha Rose Petal body oil, Tatcha The Rice Polish (for exfoliation days) and a tub of Beauty of Joseon Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask.

Pharmaceutically I make sure that besides my prescriptions I have an antihistamine (Zyrtec), Tylenol, and very importantly, an antiseptic throat spray, as it is easy to pick up little viral or bacterial infections on long trips where exhaustion weakens the immune system. 

On a plane, what essentials does your carry-on bag always contain? 

I always carry at least two books: one of poetry and one that is some form of prose, along with a journal and my Pineider fountain pen. I also keep stationery in my carry-on as I like to write letters on the road, especially notes of gratitude to people I may encounter who enrich my experience. Besides my Capri writing paper from Pineider, I even have my wax and stamp with me for sealing envelopes as though I were Jane Eyre, because that’s how committed I am to the fullness of experience or ridiculousness (label it as you will).

You’ll always find a couple of  bottles of perfume in my carry-on. If I’m taking only two, these days it’s likely Fredric Malle’s Portrait of a Lady and the intoxicatingly spicy Metamorphic by Kingdom of Scotland in collaboration with near-perfect hotel The Balmoral in Edinburgh.

And most importantly, I always fold a pair of silk pajamas into my carry-on as the sleep experience should not be compromised no matter where it’s happening.

Any wisdom on traveling with electronics? 

I have a small bag of adapters for various countries and regions that I keep in my carry-on, which includes a car-charger that doubles as a bluetooth connector to listen to music, as sometimes the basic rentals don’t come with those bells and whistles, and good music is essential for a road-trip.

My Macbook Air is kept in a brown leather case I found in Mumbai from the Indian brand Nappa Dori. For earphones, I use the Beoplay Ex from Bang & Olufsen (a red pair from their Ferrari collaboration), but have my eye on their over-ear Beoplay H100, which delivers such crisp sound. 

Do you have a travel uniform?  

There was a time when I always travelled in a suit. I still like to do so, but have expanded that uniform to include any kind of smart trouser and shirt along with a MaxMara trench coat in tow.

Any other hacks?

The importance of a good travel steamer cannot be overstated. I’ve gone through several of them and done copious amounts of research before settling on these two: Steam One for Europe and other areas operating at 220V, and this Electrolux that I discovered while staying at The Madrona near San Francisco for US domestic travel and other 110-120V areas.

In West Africa (I am from Ghana), we have these lightweight, foldable, super cheap bags that come in a multiplicity of sizes that we call Ghana Must Go bags, and I became accustomed to traveling with one folded up in my suitcase (for the eventuality of acquiring a bunch of things on the road and thus needing an extra bag for the return). In lieu of the Ghana Must Go bag, it’s not a bad idea to pack something like this. It weighs nothing, takes up no space, but will rescue you if you find yourself needing to pack an extra bag for the return trip.

For eight weeks on the road, you must be traveling with more than one bag. Do you have any tricks for managing it all? 

When travelling with more than one suitcase, I have a system for getting them around. If an airport trolley is easily accessible, then sure, I’ll use the trolley. An airport employee at Newark once saw me stacking my luggage on the cart and came over to congratulate me saying “I know you must not be from here, the way you did that so expertly. Are you African?” It’s true, Africans are renowned overpackers. Usually though, what I do is place two suitcases back to back, so that their telescoping handles are next to each other, and wheel the pair with one hand (and do the same for a second pair to be wheeled with the other hand). I place my duffle or tote on top of one of the suitcases and might even use one handle of the duffle to yoke to the two suitcase handles together for even easier maneuvering.

I have also used the service Luggage Forward to send luggage unaccompanied with great success when I’ve gone a little wild on craft shopping in Tamegroute, Morocco, and they delivered my ceramics in perfect condition. 

I recently learned that Trentitalia has a door-to-door service for sending luggage ahead if you have a train reservation, and it costs about 20 Euro per bag. Considering how much train travel I do when bouncing around Italy, it is certainly an amenity I intend to take advantage of in the near future.

How do you approach packing for a multi-leg trip with different events and climates?

In this instance, I planned out all of my looks for the special events and packed them in a garment bag. I chose high-heeled shoes that were versatile and would work in multiple situations in order to keep the shoe number to a minimum.

Admittedly, when I was taking advantage of Booking.com’s feature that allows one to book multiple aspects of a trip (flights, accommodation, ground transport) in one go and adding leg after leg to this journey, I was too engrossed in it all, and was not thinking about having to bridge varying climates (Italian summer, French Autumn, Marrakech August heat, London just being, well, London). I solved that by packing layerable pieces such as linen jackets (like a khaki one from Another Tomorrow and a white one from Victoria Beckham x Mango) and two trench coats (a flowy one from The Frankie Shop and a classic tan one from Max Mara) that I could stack on top of each other for the cooler climes.

What’s your laundry strategy for a trip that long? 

For a long trip such as this one, I do laundry either at hotels during the stay that include it as part of the rate such as the charming Su Gologone, where I stayed in Sardinia. While I do not pack anything expressly for doing laundry on the go, I do try to always have a packet of M&S Stain Remover Wipes with me while I travel. They are incredibly effective.

Are there any hero items you found yourself reaching for throughout each leg of this trip?

The ultra-versatile Issey Miyake Madam T scarf/dress is a piece I reach for all the time at home and on the road. It’s this long scarf with a hole in the middle that allows you to tie it in ways for effects ranging from casual to formal. I first fell in love with it when I discovered it at the Pleats Please store in Soho in 2016. It’s a lightweight chameleon that I wear all the time, because I feel so free in it. I draped it like a cloak when a photographer friend suggested a conceptual shoot in a grand Hotel Excelsior Roma that he wanted me to model for; I wore it tied like a piece of origami, along with a tassel belt I had made in the souks of Fez, for long walks in sunny Venice while running errands; and layered with a trench coat over boots for the chillier London days: it saved me so many times that I actually have a children’s book idea inspired by the piece. I own the Madam T in black and red, while the white iteration I once found on eBay was lost in transit by an airline. I’m eyeing the gold version next. 

The post Packing for 8 Weeks and 2 Continents with Natasha Nyanin appeared first on Yolo Journal.

It seems like Lauren Ho, the travel director of Wallpaper*, practically lives on the road, bouncing from one far-flung corner of the globe to another. But she does, in fact, have an address in London, where she spends just enough time to swap out the contents of her suitcase between trips to Greenland or Uzbekistan. She shared her packing approach that’s equally glamorous and practical and some favorite pieces that pack flat, dress up or down, and never wrinkle.

Although I am technically based in London, I live most of the year bouncing around the world out of one suitcase. I try to plan ahead so that when I’m briefly home, I can pick up what I’ll need for my next trip, such as my winter wardrobe for a cold‑weather assignment or hiking gear for an outdoor trip. That said, I tend to chase summer, as warm destinations are easier to pack for and, if I’m honest, I dislike the cold. This year alone I’ve been in Australia, Fiji, Beijing, Bangkok, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai, Uzbekistan and New Zealand. My style is minimal and considered, built around a handful of reliable pieces that work together in different ways. 

What’s your go‑to luggage and why?

One of my pet hates is clamshell suitcases, as having to flip open a heavy side in a tight space –  especially at airport security or on a plane, is impractical. For this reason, my go-to is the Globe‑Trotter Safari Carry‑On, which has one deep compartment and a shallow lid that makes it easy to pack, quick to open, and doesn’t take over the whole bench or floor. I am also a fan of the brand’s timeless design that can fit in anywhere, whether it’s the Rosewood Hong Kong, Aman Tokyo or The Peninsula in Paris. 

For trips under ten days, I only travel with hand luggage as patience is not a strong point of mine, and I don’t like waiting at airport baggage belts. I’ve also had enough bags go missing over the years to know it’s not worth the risk for a short trip.

How do you approach the basics?

I choose fabrics that don’t crease and pack down to almost nothing. Pleats are a favourite as  they lie flat, spring back into shape, and work in almost any climate. They are also great for evening formalwear, as I often get invited to red carpet events. My Issey Miyake pieces travel everywhere with me, and the pleated L’IDÉE WOMAN dress I wore for the last 50 Best Hotels awards ceremony takes up less room than a T‑shirt. I also keep a rotation of linen blends that soften rather than wrinkle, and technical fabrics that look like natural fibres. Everything can be dressed up or down and most importantly don’t need to be ironed, because unfortunately this is a skill I also do not have the patience for. 

Are you a roller or a folder?

Both, depending on my mood. Everything goes into packing cubes, which I swear by. I rarely unpack as most of my trips involve moving every couple of nights, so cubes make it easy to keep things in order and get dressed without dismantling my suitcase.

What’s your shoe strategy?

One pair for each situation: gym trainers, evening flats or heels, and a daytime pair. In summer it’s my beloved Amanu Studio sandals, handcrafted by artisans in Kenya with a 14k gold‑plated toe loop; in winter, it’s my worn Blundstones that I have had for many years. I also try to wear the heaviest shoes I have on the plane.

How do you think about accessories?‘

I like to keep it simple and also have one for each situation: for my carry on, I have a battered safari tote that has seen better days (but has a lot of stories to tell), during the day I use an old COS cross body bag that’s convenient for keeping my phone at hand, and in the evening I have a Bottega clutch that was gifted to me by the Fashion Director at Wallpaper* during my early days when I worked on the fashion team.

Jewellery is the exception—I travel with all my diamonds and antique pieces from my grandmother, which is probably not the most practical decision, but they make me happy and it’s the one thing I never edit down. Now that this is out in the open, I will not be posting my room number on Instagram in real time!

Do you have a great travel hat?

My go‑to is a custom piece by BxmBxm (pronounced BamBam), made by my friend Dave Robledo in Sydney. Dave taught himself hat‑making by reworking a plain cowboy hat—burning it, distorting it, and then re‑stitching it—and turning it into something entirely new. Each one is crafted from rabbit‑fur felt and recycled materials, dyed, distressed and hand‑stitched in his Bondi studio, finished with his stitched “X” mark.

They’re wide‑brimmed and structured, so certainly not foldable or easy to travel with, but I love it and it’s worth the effort. Mine has been with me from the beaches of Fiji to the deserts of Saudi Arabia—it has a presence, and it always feels like part of the journey.

What’s always in your toiletry bag?

I’m actually not precious about skincare and unashamedly will slap anything on my face that works. The only musts are my own shampoo and conditioner—hotel bottles ruin my hair—factor 50 sunscreen and Lucas’ Papaw Ointment, which I use as eye cream! 

On a plane, what’s in your carry‑on?

Silicone earplugs, my Slip silk eye mask, eye drops, HydraLyte sachets, hand cream, my Kindle, laptop, AirPods, spectacles, sunglasses and passport (obviously). Everything has its own place, so I can reach it without digging.

Any wisdom on travelling with electronics?

One universal adaptor, one foldable travel wireless charger for my phone, watch and AirPods. In other words, as few cables as possible as the tangles stress me out. 

Do you have a travel uniform?

I don’t know if this is a good or a bad thing, as I have secret ambitions to one day be as flamboyant and stylish as Iris Apfel was, but I tend to wear athleisure. Leggings, a soft tank, a cashmere hoodie, trainers and a cap. It’s comfortable, it layers well, and I can go straight from the plane to a meeting without changing. As a side note, I interviewed Iris many years ago and she intimidated the sh*t out of me. 

The post Packing with Lauren Ho appeared first on Yolo Journal.

We believe—as we’re sure you do—in starting them young. But often with kids, the best-laid plans are just that, and things can go off the rails when you’ve planned one too many museums or get caught without pens on the plane or snacks in your bag. So we decided to launch a column dedicated to family travel—tapping parents who are always adventuring to share their strategies for everything from packing to mid-air meltdowns, go-to clothing and equipment, and their favorite kid-friendly hotels and destinations. First up? Our own head of strategy, Maeve, who first came into my world 17 years ago as our babysitter when Clara was five, back when I was the travel editor at Cookie magazine and doing my own travel blog, Travels with Clara. She was smart, scrappy, and super creative, and when I was hired at Martha Stewart Living, I brought her there with me. From there she came with me to Traveler, and I’ve been pining for her ever since she left when we did. In a full circle moment, Maeve now has little kids and has just started working with us, and came up with the idea for this column, which we’ll be doing once a month. —Y.E.

Name: Maeve Nicholson

Home base: NYC

What you do: Head of strategy & growth at YOLO and Wm Brown Project 

Paint a picture of your family—how many kids do you have and how old?

Two girls: Winnie (5 years) and Rocky Joy (3 years) 

At what age did you start taking them on more challenging trips?

My husband and kids’ dad is Australian, so we dove straight into the travelsphere when Winnie was just two months old to spend the holidays Down Under. A lot of my friends were horrified that I would take her on a 26-hour flight, but honestly, a two-month-old mostly eats and sleeps, which is exactly the kind of energy I try to channel on long-haul flights.

What are a couple of the most successful trips you’ve taken as a family?

Success is defined by many metrics, but I would have to say our favorite trip so far was our most recent, to the Aeolian Islands and Sicily this August. My kids are finally old enough to really “get it.” Since they’re not technically babies anymore, it’s been amazing to watch them notice things, ask questions, and actually see the world through a new lens. I didn’t travel much as a kid, so watching their little worlds open up, whether it’s tasting something new or looking out a hotel window that feels straight out of a dream, has added a whole new layer to travel for me. 

Do you do anything special to prepare your kids before a trip or certain destination?

For our Sicily trip (partly thanks to YOLO’s postcard from Salina), my husband and I read The Leopard. But I also love hyping my kids up before a trip with bedtime stories loosely connected to our destination—in this case, we read Strega Nona. Once you’re home, the books become sweet little souvenirs for your library. 

Any organizing hacks when it comes to packing a suitcase?

I’m obsessed with packing cubes (Thule are my current favorite), and I honestly don’t know how I ever traveled without them, even pre-kids. I like to organize by activity—so swimsuits, casual clothes, and nicer outfits all live in their own cube and are easy to grab. If I have the space, I always toss in an empty one too, which is perfect for corralling the deeply dirty (disgusting?) clothes that inevitably pile up by the end of a trip.

What are a few essentials that you pack for your kids on most trips?

Both my kids have gotten into the somewhat ridiculous habit of wearing opulent, feather-trimmed faux-silk pajamas to bed, but on our trip, they actually came in handy. They doubled as cute plane outfits, and at the end of the day, they were still pajamas, perfect for catching sleep in transit. With a cute hair style and slip on shoes, dare I say they are also dinner appropriate? The button-up tops also made for great layering pieces, which felt unexpectedly practical for something so over the top.

These soft Bluetooth headphones were an amazing find. They double as a sleep mask, and allow your kid to drift off without losing an earbud. (See below re: MELATONIN!) Genius. We also never travel without these over-the-top goggles, a real rebuke of quiet luxury. A lightweight jacket always earns its keep, and I swear by ballet flats since they are foldable, chic, and surprisingly versatile. And finally, I cannot overstate the importance (forgive me for being obvious) of tote bags. Beach toys, shopping, wipes, diapers, snacks, interesting rocks, the list goes on but they can do it all. I’m partial to ones that double as a cute “lunch purse,” but are in reality a modern upgrade to Mary Poppins’ bottomless everything bag.

Do you have any go-to tricks for preventing meltdowns mid-flight?

I love turning a Muji hanging dopp kit into a kids’ travel kit. I first saw the idea floating around Pinterest, but I like to give it a little upgrade: fresh crayons, cool sticker packs, maybe a tiny toy or two tucked into the zip pockets (gum for altitude changes! Hand sanitizer! Bandaids…). The genius is in the design since the hanger means you can hook it onto a tray table latch or seat pocket so everything is visible and within reach. It’s the perfect thing to bust out during those high-risk moments when meltdowns lurk: pre-takeoff boredom, or the during descent when the iPad is on 5% and WiFi has vanished. For older kids, you can slide in slim paperbacks, comic books, or paper dolls so the kit can be a fit for almost any age. Essentially, it’s a portable bag of crafty, fun activities that feels exciting, keeps them occupied, and most importantly saves you from fishing crayons out of the seatback pocket.

How do you get them to sleep on a long-haul flight?

Melatonin, melatonin, and melatonin. At home, we’re pretty “hippy-dippy” for the most part, but when it comes to long flights, all bets are off. We once made the disastrous mistake of booking a 4 p.m. flight from NYC to Rome, and never again. The lights never really dimmed, and just as the kids’ eyelids started to droop, we were touching down. Now I swear by booking the latest red-eye that’s reasonably possible. Melatonin plus screen time via downloaded YouTube videos and they’re out like lights. One tip: do a “melatonin test drive” a few days before you travel. It’s harmlessly soporific in small doses for most kids, but I’ve heard it can also have the reverse effect. High energy levels at 30,000 feet is not the kind of turbulence anyone needs. 

Do you have any travel rituals with your kids that have become tradition?

Not exactly groundbreaking, but postcards are one of our sweetest travel rituals. Whether you’re sending them to grandparents or mailing them home as little notes to your kids’ future selves (trip highlights, or even just a doodle), they double as both memory-keeping and a kid-friendly activity. They slip neatly into that dopp kit and make the perfect no-mess craft. The only snag is the stamps, so keep an eye out for a local post office. Luckily, many hotel concierges can also handle this, often making it as easy as dropping your cards at the front desk.

Picture approach: are you iPhone-only, or do you travel with film?

Retired hipster that I am, I still travel everywhere with my Polaroid. The kids get such a kick out of it and my eldest now thinks she’s Slim Aarons. Honestly though, I can’t recommend it. The newer Polaroids are temperamental at best, and the film eats up precious suitcase space. What I do love, though, is the idea of tossing a few disposable cameras into your suitcase. Low stakes, no stress: if they lose it or break it, who cares? 

Screens during vacation: survival tool or slippery slope?

Jet lag and late nights are basically part of the package with family travel, so instead of fighting it, we’ve started leaning into screens when we’re fighting the nod. Before a trip, I’ll download a few of my favorite childhood movies (Labyrinth, Chicken Run… I could go on, but I’ll spare myself the embarrassment) and rebrand a nightmare-ish evening of meltdowns into a “family movie night.” The upside? If it’s a film you actually loved as a kid, it’s really fun to curl up and watch it with your own children. And if you’re really feeling wild, crack open the hotel minibar. Why not splurge on some overpriced chocolate covered nuts? You’re on vacation! 

Strategies for traveling with picky eaters?

Before becoming parents, our pre-trip ritual was to avoid anything even loosely related to the cuisine of our destination. Kids, however, have flipped that strategy on its head. I’ve had much more luck doing the exact opposite: in the weeks leading up to a trip, start sneaking in as many flavors from your destination as you can, and see what sticks. Your local interpretations of dishes are perfect warm-up meals, and if you live in a city, you can probably find a specialty shop that carries the real-deal baseline snacks from your destination. Get them hooked early and you won’t be scrambling for Pirate’s Booty and fruit pouches. I also love shopping at local grocery stores wherever I travel. Bringing kids along can be a headache, but I think it’s worth it. On our last trip, my 5-year-old discovered an Italian yogurt brand she became completely hooked on, and just like that, a grocery run shifted from a chore into a semi-fun family outing.

What’s your strategy for eating out at “grown-up” or fancy restaurants with kids and what have been your favorites?

This summer, while in Salina, we visited Hotel Signum’s Michelin-starred restaurant and were pleasantly surprised to find that not only was there a fairly extensive kids’ menu offered during the tasting, but the staff couldn’t have been more kind or accommodating. I’ve also found that even the most elevated dining experiences feel infinitely more kid-friendly when they’re alfresco. It’s a strategy we rely on often in New York, especially when attempting anything remotely “fancy” with kids in tow. Dinner at Altro Paradiso, Charlie Bird, La Mercerie, or Balthazar? All totally kid-friendly under one condition: secure an outdoor table. Ideally, one with a heater as the weather turns crisp.

And as I always say: when in doubt, email ahead. Since having kids, I’ve been surprised by how many restaurants are genuinely welcoming to families. Some of our most peaceful meals have been at high end establishments that happily wrote back to say they would be glad to host little guests. Of course, it depends on the place, but sending that quick email is worth doing for peace of mind

Favorite family-friendly hotels or resorts you’ve been to?

I have to say we were totally blown away by Su Gologone in Sardinia. It’s one of those truly special places with amazing food, warm staff, and a property that feels like it was designed for kids to explore—you don’t have any regrets not leaving the property. (There was also a very sweet stray kitten there that led me down a brief Google rabbit hole around rules and regulations for bringing foreign animals back to the U.S.) We also really enjoy The Miami Beach Edition, specifically because of its two pools. The larger shaded pool has naturally become the “kids’ pool,” and the hotel gets it completely right by keeping the energy relaxed and family-friendly without feeling overrun (or, dare I say, gross). And finally, a shoutout to The Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia, which I have a huge soft spot for. It’s not the most modern, but it’s incredibly beautiful and elegant in that old-school way, and perfectly located for exploring one of the most underrated cities to visit with kids. (And of course it has a pool.) 

What’s your policy on souvenirs?

I like to buy things that are actually useful on the trip. While I’d normally cringe at dropping ~$30 on a kids’ water bottle in NYC, on vacation it doubles as the perfect souvenir, and one that starts earning its keep the minute you leave the shop. Once home, every refill becomes a little reminder of your trip.

Of course, the inevitable floaties and cheap plastic toys will always be a dangerous temptation (in a small Sicilian seaside town, we couldn’t even escape Laboubous…). But I try to steer us toward flea markets or thrift shops instead. In Palermo, we stumbled across a Sunday flea market and found two small, porcelain ballerinas—one in pink, one in blue, and just €3 each. They instantly became my 5-year-old’s most precious cargo, lovingly wrapped in and unwrapped from bubble wrap at every hotel. There’s something about these small, inexpensive treasures that end up feeling more beloved than a suitcase of plastic junk. And if they do lose a limb or two along the way, being out just a few euros is far preferable to hauling home an entire carry-on of cheap toys.

The post Frequent Criers: Taking Kids to Australia (and Everywhere in Between) appeared first on Yolo Journal.

Tell us about Sterrekopje and how you got started down this path.

We both love to travel and explore the world as well as exploring the magic of our inner worlds. What is out there and in here? In discovering the world and her inner world, Nicole stayed at many wellness hotels as well as going on retreats. These hotels were beautiful, but often quite clinical and impersonal. The retreats she went on offered a deeply transformative experience but often in quite a spartan setting. What she missed was love, and what she noticed was that we all are looking for a bit more love. Not being able to find the place she longed for, she decided she had to create it herself. A house of love, where one could heal and regenerate in a gentle, playful and above all warm, loving, home-y setting. A place you can drop in immediately, because you feel you are cared for at all levels of your being. The day after Nicole found the farm, we met and together brought Nicole’s vision to life at the farm during Covid. What we share with guests at Sterrekopje is a way of life. One that is simple yet abundant, rooted in nature and above all joyful and celebratory. They call it the art of regenerative living.

How would you describe your wellness philosophy and practice there?

We prefer the word well-being at our “healing farm.” Healing coming from the old English world ‘hale,’ which means ‘whole’. To us, healing means returning to or remembering our wholeness, coming back into the fullness of our complete body. We create journeys for our guests that guide them out of their head back into their bodies in gentle and playful ways, returning or reconnecting to their wholeness. In essence, we take our guests on a journey of being, of being you, fully, rested, regenerated. We do not have a spa or spa menu. We have turned the original manor house of the farm from 1694 into a bath house with a hammam, two magical massage rooms and a herbal apothecary. We work with an incredible team of holistic therapists who connect with your body intuitively.

How do you approach staying healthy and relaxed when you travel by plane?

We take our own water on the plane as well as home-made snacks. We never drink boiled water from the plane tanks as they are full of germs, and we don’t consume plane food. We either prepare a meal ourselves or get take-out from a lovely traiteur in the area, some fresh fruit and fresh herbs to infuse our water. We mostly take long flights, so we try to get some sleep and read a good book or listen to a podcast instead of watching movies. With our newborn son travel has changed a bit, but most importantly we stick to bringing our own food and drinks. 

Do you do anything special for your skincare on a plane?

We always have our bags filled with some natural oils and creams to keep our face and hands hydrated. We often have a flacon with almond oil with us, some testers from Biologique Recherche or a hydrating face mask—we change up brands. We love Tata Harper and we just discovered skin food from Weleda and an amazing (not natural though) skin brand from South Africa called Environ.   

Any strategies for dealing with jet lag?

Since Covid we have not traveled much to extremely different time zones. However, we recently came back to the farm from a trip across Mexico, via New York, and what helped a lot was walks in nature and a good massage to help us ground back into our bodies, being mindful of sleep time, not too much but where we can we love to take a little nap… regardless of jet lag.

What are a few things you always pack for your beauty/wellness routine?

Natural oils and essential oils to hydrate our face and body and for loving massages. We love almond oil mixed with neroli or pure rose oil essence. We always get our oils, like almond, grapeseed and castor oil, from an eco-shop, while we get our essential oils from a practitioner we work with, as they are pure. A great shampoo, we just never like hotel shampoos. A water bottle/thermos flask, herbs from our garden for herbal teas. Pure cacao for our morning ritual, as well as our journals, a good book and a tarot deck—we love the Wild Unknown Animal deck.

Do you have any rituals you use to reset or ground yourself in a new place?

We love walking and hiking as a grounding practice. Immersing ourselves in a place, connecting to the land and local environment and culture. Nicole loves yoga as a grounding practice, Fleur loves to roam around and explore.

What are a few of your favorite wellness destinations and why?

Nicole loves Como Shambala estate, rooted in Ubud surrounded by the beautiful river. She first visited this place 20 years ago. She liked the warmth of it, and although you could follow a program, it did not feel rigid. Another favorite place is Ananda in the Himalayas. Here you feel closer to spirit as well as the Six Senses in Bhutan. All beautiful places with a spiritual feel, where you feel loved and cared for.

Have you learned any good wellness therapies or techniques through your travels?

Any therapy or technique that a practitioner offers coming from the heart, being deeply intrinsic, will always be transformative. We love to explore the signature offering in a place as opposed to therapies or techniques that are common or that we are familiar with. We recently had the most incredible hammam experience at Dar Ahlam in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco—it was so elaborate, loving, and just a full experience from the moment we arrived to their spa (which was just the most magical traditional Moroccan space, not spa-like at all) to the tea that was served afterward. Upon our return to the farm from our travels, we always have an intuitive massage from one of our therapists. These women know the body and deeply connect with it intuitively, always giving your body exactly what he/she needs in the moment.

Where are you dreaming of going next and why?

Sterrekopje Farm has been open now for 3.5 years. She is a human playground on which we have just started to play. There are so many projects yet to be birthed here. We like to move at a slow pace, really taking our time, connecting and listening to the land and the people visiting and to gently and playfully move from there. Each season at Sterrekopje brings new and unique experiences and offerings that are deeply nourishing from soil to soul.

The post Fleur Huijskens & Nicole Boekhoorn appeared first on Yolo Journal.

I first met Jules Maury, head of Scott Dunn Private, on a media trip to Mallorca with PR founder Julia Perowne, who kept calling her friend “The Duchess.” The nickname fit: tall, elegant, rarely without a Hermès scarf and pearls, she cuts a grand figure. But Jules is also warm and wickedly funny, the kind of dinner companion whose travel tales—she’s lived everywhere from Hong Kong to Switzerland, France to Australia, Vietnam to South Africa—leave everyone cackling into their cocktails. That gift for storytelling fuels her work: orchestrating the yearly travel plans of Scott Dunn Private’s high-net-worth and most loyal clients, and designing tailor-made journeys from scratch. It also keeps her perpetually in motion, hopping from lounge to airport to hotel room, gathering scoops and intel, some which she shares with us here, along with a few memorable bon mots.—Alex Postman

How often do you travel?

Every month, it seems, when I checked the diary—in some form or another.

Most recent passport stamp?

Marrakech! And on my French passport, Peru (as I often travel on my French passport to avoid stamps within Europe).

What’s your travel uniform?

White shirt (either Anne Fontaine or Naracamici), navy trousers (always Raffaello Rossi) or white jeans (I pick up about 5 pairs every year when I go to Cape Town), navy/cream blazer (NM Peal and Stella McCartney), and always one of my large statement Hermès scarves. I have wonderful loafers I have made at Lachoix in Lisbon that I pick up every year in a few colours—perfect for traveling. Always my South Sea pearls.

Go-to luggage for a short trip? Long trip?

Always my Samsonite luggage and BRIC carryon—I cannot travel with hand luggage. Long haul up to three suitcases!

Hardest-working item you bring?

My Birkin

Airport routine? I try to make it 1.5-2 hours at least as the “get to gate and board” gets earlier and earlier—especially if the plane is running late and turnaround time gets shaved right down. Also gives me a chance to pop into the Hermès shop, which is my happy place.

Favorite airport?

St Barths. It is such fun arriving on that epic tiny strip of cement with ocean at the end and to walk through the quickest baby airport straight into the Eden Rock car to drive three minutes to have your feet in the sand and champagne in your hand—heaven! It screams glamour!

Favorite airport lounge/club?

Qatar Doha, as it is the cleanest, slickest check-in on departure straight into that truly amazing lounge. And on arrival, whisked straight through into the Al Mourjan Lounge, where everything is done for you before you are guided to your car. And Fireblade Aviation in Johannesburg: you are either on the private Lear jet to Miavana, with a helicopter at the end, or eased into the Tswalu private plane down to Tswalu. The Oppenheimers own both Fireblade and Tswalu—two of my favorite destinations. So civilized, and if you want a shower and to freshen up before you connect, they have day rooms.

Best duty-free you always stop in and for what?

Dubai or Doha for Hermès scarves, Chanel sunglasses, and cigars for my husband.

Window or aisle? Go-to seat number?

Window 1F on short haul. BA: Window 3 rows back from the beginning of Club Class, usually on long haul. If the Airbus A380, then 52F window (I hate being right at the front). Or row 2 First Class window.

Any in-air rituals?

I always scoop up all the back copies of CNT, T&L, The Week, Tatler, and Country Life that I have not had time to read, and podcasts I have not had time to catch up on. I have a friend who makes endless playlists for me, which are brilliant and suit every country I am heading to. The latest is country & western for my trip to Texas! My go-to skincare has been German skincare brand QMS, and their day and night serum is brilliant at the beginning and end of a long-haul flight.

What’s always in your carry-on?

My personal Bric carry-on (a personalized edition) was a gift from a friend who owns one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. Apple Air Pods. same for chargers. White Company cashmere socks. Apple iPad. Dell laptop. Silk eye mask purchased at Xigera in Botswana! Hermès silk and cashmere large scarf (if I am not wearing) ultra lightweight cashmere and cotton gilet from Falconeri (I love this if it gets cold!). Qatar or BA First pajamas if I am on other flights where they do not give you PJs! Small makeup bag, Phizz rehydrate tablets, hairbrush and small Elnet hairspray. Earplugs—forgotten the name, but will not travel without them! Apple Air Tag and Pingu my penguin jellycat, who protects me from everything!

Three favorite hotels in the world?

Passalaqua (Lake Como), Singita Ebony (Sabi Sands, South Africa) and Miavana (Madagascar)

Consistently favorite hotel brand?

Belmond and Oetker 

Most compelling recent discovery?

Many years ago I worked for the now Sultan of Oman, when his uncle Qaboos was Sultan. Recently, sitting down and talking to one of the owners of The Malkai, a circuit of camps that will open next year in Oman, was a fascinating trip down memory lane. Also the yet-to-be-finished 6-suite Crocodile sur le Nil dahabiya. 

Most memorable meal you’ve had while traveling? Crystal, lobster and caviar years ago when First Class used to be just that! I was married to the head of Air France Asia and Africa for 11 years, and their First Class served fabulous champagne, food and wines.

Any jet-lag wisdom?

Melatonin and Stilnox. For me, the only way through severe time zone changes are drugs!

Go-to room service order?

Club sandwich with extra mayonnaise and fries

Tricks for making a hotel room feel like home?

Room spray and pillow spray I take from the Hotel Bristol—which I love—just in case I do not like the signature hotel scent! My magazines laid out on the coffee table. I am terrible with “lotions and potions,” which probably contribute to my huge weight allowance—but once laid out in the bathroom, it feels like home!

Best in-room amenity you’ve come across?

Eden Rock St. Barths’ heavenly shower hat, leather manicure set, rose quartz facial roller, make-up bags, personalized beach bag, divine signature red flip-flops, along with signature Champagne and homemade chocolates. Passalaqua cannot be discounted with their gorgeous Venetian-style slippers, silver earring box engraved with initials, personalized passport holder, luggage tags and oh so much more….

Best hotel gym?

He was my butler in one of the Amans. Oh, I see gym, not Jim. It’s something I avoid like the plague!

Favorite destination spa/wellness retreat?

I love the whole Spa Safari at Nihi Sumba, which is so much more than a spa!

Your favorite airline/hotel rewards program?

Qatar – BA for the rewards, as I am so locked into the Avios system and BA is so handy for short-haul destinations.

Your dream airplane would have…

A bedroom and gorgeous ensuite stocked with Bvlgari products, which I love. I know Andrew Winch Design and would entrust them with the spec. Their pared-back style today would be perfect to design the interior. Taupes, creams, beiges and a slash of orange to reflect my inner Hermès obsession. A state-of-the-art kitchen. Definitely a bar where you could hang out.

Best in-flight conversation/seat-mate encounter?

On my way to Santiago after the sudden loss of a family member from my husband’s side, I was engulfed in grief, but continued with the long-planned business trip. In that fog of misery, two moments reminded me that someone up there was looking out for me. First, by sheer luck, I knew the captain, who arranged an upgrade to Club Class and asked the crew to be gentle with me. Then, despite my tearful state, the young man beside me introduced himself as George. I tried to retreat into silence after explaining my red eyes and sniffles, but he gently offered: “You can either cry all the way to Chile, or I can at least entertain you through drinks and dinner.” He did just that. A well-connected figure in the copper industry, he even showed me a raw diamond he’d sourced in South Africa for his soon-to-be fiancée, asking my advice on how to propose—after learning I’d had three husbands! I laughed, cried, slept, and woke up feeling like a new day had begun. George guided me through Santiago airport, handed me to my driver, and vanished. A true guardian angel for one unforgettable night.

First thing you do when you get home?

Unless I’ve been on safari, I pack all my clothes on hangers in dry-cleaning plastic and fold them into the suitcase. First thing I do when I’m home is hang them all up, shower, and sit down with a cup of coffee. Or, if it’s the evening, I light a candle, put on some music and pour a glass of wine with my husband.

The post Jules Maury, Head of Scott Dunn Private appeared first on Yolo Journal.

I first met Tanya Rose at the Buchinger Wilhelmi clinic on Germany’s Lake Constance, and liked her immediately. The co-founder of London-based Mason Rose, she’s the powerhouse PR behind brands like Airelles, Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Gstaad Palace—which, I learned when reading about her background, was her “teenage playground,” having grown up in the glamorous mountain town rubbing shoulders with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Roger Moore on school holidays. She’s fun and irreverent, which you’ll get if you listen to her Travel Secrets podcast. Given how much time she spends on a plane, we wanted to get her to download her favorite hotels, in-air rituals, dream airplane, and tricks for making a hotel room feel like home.

How often do you travel?

I usually travel at least once a month, but sometimes two to three times a month!

Most recent passport stamp?

Istanbul

What’s your travel uniform? 

My travel uniform is always from ME+EM: sneakers and a blazer from their travel tailoring collection, plus a cashmere cream shawl from Bamford.

Go-to luggage for a short trip? Long trip?

Rimowa. I never do hand luggage; I always have bags in the hold. I tried it once, I started with one bag and ended up with five and they all fell on the floor!

Hardest-working item you bring?

My cashmere shawl on the plane, which I also wear in the evenings if it’s cool outside.

Airport routine?

I check in, then decamp to Gordon Ramsay for breakfast or the British Airways Business Lounge if it isn’t an early-morning flight. I always get cigarettes from Duty Free and never enter an airport without taking a chance with a Euromillions lottery ticket!

Favorite airport?

London Heathrow as I know I’m leaving the cold in Blighty for new destinations, warmer climates and exciting adventures.

Favorite airport lounge/club?

Definitely the British Airways First Class/Concorde Lounge.

Best duty-free you always stop in/best duty-free score?

I always take advantage of the Duty Free for cigarettes for my husband and Jo Malone Red Roses perfume.

Window or aisle? Go-to seat number?

I prefer an aisle seat in the first row on the left hand side of the plane

Any in-air rituals?  

I don’t travel without my Trinny London miniatures and Lyma laser for my skin. I love to download podcasts and all the Netflix shows I want to binge watch on my ipad which is fully loaded before I fly anywhere.

What’s always in your carry-on? 

The Anya Hindmarch travel bag is my absolute favourite because it fits all of my essentials so beautifully, such as my Sonos headphones, my Bamford cashmere shawl, Trinny London lipstick stacks, Anya Hindmarch eye mask, Werther’s Originals sweets, Victoria Beckham eyeliner, iPad, writing journal. I always take advantage of a long flight to write in my journal and usually come up with very creative ideas and good action plans.

Three favorite hotels in the world?

La Colombe d’Or in St Paul de Vence in France

Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado

Ett Hem in Stockholm

Do you have a favorite destination spa?

I would say the family-run therapeutic fasting and integrative medicine clinic, Buchinger Wilhelmi, located on Lake Constance.  I go there each year for a full reset.

Consistently favorite hotel brand?

Peninsula, Royal Mansour and Airelles. I can’t narrow it down to just one!

Most memorable meal you’ve had while traveling?

I had the most unforgettable picnic made for me to take on the plane by the Peninsula Beverly Hills. The caviar, smoked salmon and Meursault wine were unbelievable… I was the envy of every passenger on that flight!

Any jet-lag wisdom?

I swear by the Lemme Sleep gummy for jetlag (a brand created by one of the Kardashians), but normal melatonin is great too.

Go-to room service order?

A hamburger on arrival!

Tricks for making a hotel room feel like home?

I spritz the room with my travel-size Rachel Vosper room spray!

Best in-room amenity you’ve come across?

The nail drier in all Peninsula hotels without a doubt.

Best hotel gym?

I never go to the gym myself but the reformer Pilates room at Maxx Royal Bodrum is fabulous.

Your favorite airline/hotel rewards program?

British Airways as I’m keen to keep my silver/gold card…

Your dream airplane would have…

A double bed, caviar, and a TV—like the Qsuites on Qatar Airways. But a private jet would be lovely too, as it avoids all of the hassle at the major airports.

Best in-flight conversation/seat-mate encounter?

I never talk to anyone when I’m flying but my husband’s best friend sat next to Whitney Houston on the Concorde and pretended to be the number one horse breeder in the world because he thought that being a banker was too boring!

First thing you do when you get home.

I indulge in a cup of tea because you never get as good a cuppa anywhere else in the world!

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Tell us about you and your company.

We run Bog & Thunder, an eco-travel company specializing in food tours of Ireland. In addition to creating custom itineraries for private trips, we also curate small group tours that are food-based and organized around a theme such as wellness & spirituality, outdoor adventures, and music. Our ideal customers are people who love great food and appreciate artisans and producers, but are also looking for deeper social, cultural, and nature-based experiences when they travel. 

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Nobody moves through the world quite like international man of mystery Zach Weiss. Trying to keep up with his whereabouts will leave you dizzy—one day he’s cannonballing into the Hearst Castle pool, the next he’s watching snow polo in St Moritz, then dashing off to a party in Tokyo or Doha—and somehow always has the perfect outfit for whatever niche situation he’s in. If you’ve ever wondered how the hell does he pack for it all?—same. Luckily, we caught him in one place long enough to share his hacks for shipping things ahead, squeezing in one last swim (without soaking your suitcase), and avoiding cowboy faux pas at the airport.

What is your general approach to packing? How do you manage packing for multi-leg trips with different events and weather?

First things first: I do not subscribe to the “carry on only” lifestyle, and I’m never impressed by those who swear by it. They’re often preachy and a bit smug about it, too. Congratulations to you for saving 20 minutes at baggage claim!

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I usually tackle my packing by making a Word document or note in my phone with an itinerary of things I should dress for, including any particularly important dressing guidelines to keep in mind, often for a wedding, such as *BLACK TIE* or *WESTERN FORMAL* or *OUTDOOR DINNER, BRING LAYERS.* If the trip doesn’t have a set itinerary, I break it up by picking one daytime and one nighttime outfit for each day, and try to take note of where I might be able to repeat a jacket or a pair of jeans to save room.

When it comes to actually putting the items in the bag(s), I start by separating my most valuable or irreplaceable items, and putting those in my carry-on roller bag—vintage clothes, jewelry, shoes, black tie. If there’s room left over, I try to put in one pair of underwear, one undershirt, and one full outfit for the day I arrive, just in case I don’t feel like opening my large bag and unpacking everything.

When I have multiple stops or climates strung together, I try to pack far in advance and use one of two baggage shipping services called SendMyBag or Luggage Forward. I check the price of the route on each, and go with the cheaper option. It basically just entails printing 3 documents: a packing list for the interior of the bag, a label to tape to the front of the bag, and a final set of labels and customs forms zip-tied to the bag’s handle. If you’re feeling weird about sending it ahead, add an AirTag in to keep an eye on its journey.

What’s your go-to luggage?

For my carry-on I use a duffle bag from MAS Brothers. Full disclosure, the brand gifted it to me many years ago, and I loved the way it looked, but over time I came to realize it’s the largest possible bag I’ve come across that could be considered a “personal item.” It fits under the seat in front of me when I’m in an economy seat, and it fits well on top of my carry-on roller bag so I don’t have to lug it on my shoulder through the airport.

For the carry-on roller bag, I use an old Rimowa Salsa trolley bag, which I scored during a press trip with the brand to Oshkosh, Wisconsin (that’s a story for another time!), just before they were acquired by LVMH. It’s an almost-hard-shell case with a little bit of squishiness, so I find it’s the best of both worlds and fits a lot more than the average carry-on sized roller.

If I’m really trying to be fancy, and I know I might be traveling with a group or encountering some folks right when I get off the plane, I use one of my small leather Globetrotter trolley bags. The only caveat when using one of these is that you need to be very, very sure you won’t have to check the bag due to limited overhead bin space. They’re too precious to be tossed around, but if you’re into nicks and scuff, go for it.

For my checked baggage, I use one of two Rimowa trolleys, which can take a beating and still look good. They both have the basic single clasp, not the hinged double latch, of which I’ve heard mixed reviews.

If I know I’m going to shop and need room for new items, I like the Victorinox Spectra collection that can be zipped open and expanded, or if I have a lot of soft winter coats and accessories to bring with me, I have a beat-up rolling duffle that never fails me.

How do you approach the basics?

In addition to socks, underwear and undershirts, I have a few core things that I know I’ll wear on every trip: White jeans from RRL for no stretch but better fit, or Brooks Brothers for a little bit of stretch. Always white denim. Then navy trousers, a plain white button-down shirt, a striped button-down shirt, a navy turtleneck, and brown suede loafers. The brown loafers are either off the rack brown suede George Cleverley penny loafer with a small heel, or for no heel: the Emporio Sirenuse brown suede slipper. I also always try to remember to pack a black silk bowtie and bathing suit, just in case. I find that Thorsun and Frescobal Caraioca suits dry the quickest. Vilbrequin has fun patterns but they’re a bit slower to dry.

If I’m packing anything particularly bulky like a big overcoat or a chunky sweater, I try to make sure I’ll wear it at least twice to make it worth the space.

Are you a roller or a folder?

I fold, unless I am truly trying to cram everything in, and then I resort to rolling. It’s more efficient, but it’s an extra step I don’t always take. During a safari trip to Botswana last Thanksgiving I was limited to one duffle for 10 days. That required some creative rolling and repeating.

Any other packing tricks or hacks?

Bring a waterproof nylon swimsuit bag, or a few large plastic Ziploc bags, in case you go swimming the day you’re departing and don’t have time for your swimsuit to dry. One last swim is a great sendoff on a trip, and bringing one of these simple bags makes it that much easier to enjoy.

What’s your shoe strategy?

I lean heavily on one or two styles of brown loafers, and I go through my packing document to make sure they pair decently with each potential outfit. If I see an opportunity for a more fun and interesting pair of shoes, I follow the same “bulky item” rule and make sure I can wear them twice or more on the trip to rationalize the space and weight they’re taking up.

The one mistake I used to make, mostly due to my ego but also as an attempt to save space, was wearing my cowboy boots in the airport. I love when the airports in places like Texas and Colorado have a bootjack available for you to get them off, but most airports don’t offer it, and you end up looking like a fool trying to get your boots off. Not the most cowboy move.

Do you have a great travel hat?

I usually go for a baseball cap in the airport. I’ve amassed a couple hundred from hotel shops and dive bars and gift bags, and they’re always an easy accessory for the road that I don’t feel bad beating up. My hair’s also too unruly to get off the plane and greet someone, potentially a new acquaintance, without a hat on.

The one thing that always drives me crazy, and also in the cowboy category, is when I have to travel wearing a cowboy hat. It’s cumbersome and prohibits you from putting your head all the way back on your seat, so I try to avoid it at all costs by making room for it in my bag or shipping it ahead. If I don’t have any other choice, and need to wear the hat for the sake of space in my bag, I make sure I don’t wear sneakers. A man in a cowboy hat and sneakers just looks goofy.

How do you think about accessories?

My accessories are minimal, but I’m a big collector of sunglasses, so I bring one pair or more for each day I’m away so I can switch it up. I lay them all out in an effort to resemble Elton John’s sunglasses closet (Google it!), but my room usually just ends up looking like a Sunglass Hut. I have yet to find an elegant and efficient way to pack them though, so if you have any ideas please share them with me!

What’s always in your Dopp kit/toiletry bag/pharmacy kit?

The obvious things—toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant—none of which I’m precious about. After trying every boutique-y brand and venture-backed DTC “disruptor,” I’ve retreated back to the big box, Proctor & Gamble types.

If I splurge on a shipment of it, my friends Bari Baz and Saralynn Feinberg recommended two supplements you mix together in water, LivOn Laboratories Lypo-Spheric B Complex and Glutathione. They taste terrible, but they make you feel great, even if they’re a total placebo.

I just found these small pain relief patches in Tokyo called Nichiban Roihi Tsuboko; basically a cooler, smaller, international version of an Icy Hot patch.

I use the IS-Clinical Cleansing Complex, recommended to me after I saw the great facialist Cynthia Rivas.

I don’t always remember it, but I love when I have a bottle of Downy Wrinkle Releaser. It’s just fabric softener that saves you some ironing or steaming time. If I forget it, I just hang my clothes in the bathroom and run the shower as hot as possible with the door closed.

I bring a new Kaze face mask just in case I’m next to a sick person, and know I don’t have time to get sick when I get to where I’m going. I learned my lesson next to a sick kid on a flight last year who seemed to be parading his pneumonia around for everyone to enjoy.

On a plane, what essentials does your carry on bag always contain?

Eye mask, over-the-counter non-prescription sleep aid, glasses and contact lens stuff, chewing gum, two pairs of wireless headphones (one over-ear and one in-ear, you can swap them out when one dies on a long-haul flight), and one pair of corded headphones if you want to watch a movie on a cheap airline that won’t give you free headphones.

If I’m on an overnight flight, I bring a pair of thin sweatpants from Vuori that pack down to almost nothing. I put them on in the plane bathroom after we take off, and change back into my trousers before we land.

Any wisdom on traveling with electronics?  

I try to isolate all of my cords and converters into a small zipper bag inside my carry on. They always end up in a tangled mess, but I find it’s better to contain them than have them all over the interior of your duffle.

I’ve recently gotten hooked on the over-ear AirPod Max headphones, and if I’m traveling alone I put them on from the moment I get through airport security. They’re especially great to wear when boarding the plane to avoid anyone asking you which group number you are.

My laptop goes with me everywhere. I’m a bit of a boomer in that I bring it with me everywhere more so out of fear that I’ll need it to write something long form or to complete some task that can’t be done on my phone’s browser. I aspire to be an iPad person one day, but I’m not quite there yet. A boy can dream.

Do you have a travel uniform?

I wouldn’t say it’s a uniform, but I’ve found that I prefer some combination of…A lightweight piqué polo shirt, baseball cap, a chore coat with front pockets for easy access to my passport, wallet, and AirPods, a hooded sweatshirt over my shoulders to put on during a cold plane ride, with the hood for extra noise muffling. It can also be folded into a pillow. A pair of jeans with a bit of stretch in them or roomy trousers. I also never fly wearing shorts or wearing shoes without socks!

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Tell us a bit about you and your company—how did you get started down this path?

My interest in beauty and wellness began when I started working as a model at 16 years old. I had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the world’s most talented makeup artists, dermatologists and estheticians—and when you’re surrounded by that level of expertise, you naturally become a bit of a beauty product obsessive.

When I was pregnant with our first child, our pediatrician told me that what you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream. Learning that shifted everything for me. I became deeply mindful of the quality and origin of ingredients, and it sparked a passion for natural, clean beauty.

I knew that our farm in Sicily—La Furtuna Estate—with its rich, bountiful land and rare botanicals, could be the foundation for something truly special. Shortly after, Furtuna Skin was born out of a desire to share the incredible power of wild-foraged botanicals through clean, high-performance skincare. It’s a blend of my background in fashion with a lifelong commitment to wellness, sustainability and regenerative living. It’s a way to share something truly beautiful and purposeful with the world. 

Could you tell us a bit about your farm in Sicily and your experience as an olive oil sommelier?

Our farm in Sicily is truly magical—it’s on over 800 acres of untouched, organic land rich in biodiversity. The estate is home to Italy’s rare “survivalist” botanicals, which we call “extremophyte plants.” These include over 500 species of flora and 50 wild medicinal herbs that have adapted to survive extreme environmental conditions, becoming stronger and more nutrient-dense in the process.

Through natural adaptation and regenerative farming practices—like allowing the plants to grow in their native communities and hand-harvesting each one with care—we help preserve and enhance their potency. These wild botanicals contain significantly higher levels of nutrients and antioxidants than their cultivated counterparts, yielding incredibly powerful bioactives for our products.

As someone of Mediterranean heritage, my love of olive oil runs deep. Anyone from the region knows it’s more than just an ingredient—it’s a way of life. My ancestors used olive oil for everything from cooking, to healing ear aches, to nourishing their skin. That’s where my passion began. As I grew older and more interested in wellness, I became fascinated by olive oil’s health benefits—especially its ability to fight free radicals. I studied its properties more deeply and connected with experts like Dr. Simon Poole, who champions olive oil as a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. 

To further that passion, I became a double-certified olive oil sommelier, which has allowed me to judge global competitions and uphold the highest standards for this extraordinary liquid gold. I’m obsessed with the purity and potency of olives. At Furtuna Skin, we produce award-winning extra-virgin olive oil and incorporate olive leaf water into our formulas for its powerful antioxidant properties.

Do you have any favorite healthy/locavore spots to eat in Sicily? 

Too many! If you’re driving to Agrigento, definitely stop at Ristorante da Vittorio—a seafood gem with stunning sea views and a menu to match. It’s the kind of place where lunch stretches into a long, lazy afternoon.

Further along the southern coast, don’t miss La Madia in Licata. Chef Pino Cuttaia is a true master of Sicilian cuisine, with a focus on seasonal, local ingredients. Every dish is beautifully executed—one of those unforgettable meals that stays with you.

Before you started Furtuna Skin, you were a model and traveled all over. Did you pick up any interesting beauty tips that have stuck with you today?

Absolutely. One of the best lessons I’ve learned is that skin thrives when you simplify. Hydration, rest, and using ingredients with integrity make all the difference. I still follow rituals I picked up on the road—like doing Gua Sha, starting the day with micellar water, and always applying oil to damp skin to lock in moisture. That actually inspired the Biphase Moisturizing Oil—formulated with olive oil and olive leaf water—to deliver the benefits of that ritual anytime, no damp skin required.

How do you approach staying healthy and relaxed when you travel by plane? 

Travel can take a toll on the body, so I’m very intentional. I hydrate deeply, wear compression socks, and stretch often. I bring olive-leaf tea and sip it throughout the flight—it’s calming, immune-boosting, and full of antioxidants. I also refresh my skin mid-flight with our Micellar Cleansing Essence, which delivers a concentrated dose of vitamins and antioxidants to leave skin glowing, soft, and revived. I follow that with the Replenishing Balm—an ultra-nourishing treatment infused with “Soundbath-activated” Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a potent blend of medicinal herbs—to deeply hydrate and help repair skin while in the air. Our proprietary Soundbath method extracts nutrients from botanicals at their fullest potency, which is what makes the products so effective. 

Do you take any supplements prior to traveling or during?  

Before flights, I support my immune system with a daily shot of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and vitamin C. I also take magnesium, which helps with sleep and keeps my nervous system balanced—especially helpful on long-haul journeys.

Do you do anything special for your skin on a plane?

Yes, I avoid makeup and instead focus on keeping my skin barrier strong with a protective layer of antioxidants and moisture as described above.

Do you tend to pack any healthy food or snacks for travel?

I’ll bring some bananas and apples with me—and no surprise, I always have a small bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on hand, too.  

Any strategies for dealing with jet lag? 

Sunlight is key. I try to land, drop my bags, and get outside immediately—even a short walk helps reset my circadian rhythm. I also use breathwork and light stretching to help my body adjust, but more than anything, I like to get into a new rhythm right away and not think about the time I came from.

What are a few things you always pack for your beauty/wellness routine?

I always pack Furtuna Skin’s three-step ritual—it’s truly all I need. The Micellar Essence gently cleanses, tones, and nourishes in one step. Our Face & Eye Serum visibly lifts, evens tone, and strengthens the skin’s barrier. And the Biphase Moisturizing Oil delivers deep hydration and a luminous glow. Together, they replace a full 6+ step routine and keep my skin smooth, radiant, and resilient—wherever I am in the world. They’re fast-acting, transformative, and perfectly sized for travel. 

On top of that, I always pack our Replenishing Balm, which is the perfect overnight mask after a day in the sun, and our Lip Renewal Duo—it gently polishes and primes without stripping moisture, while deeply hydrating the lips.

I’m never without a great zinc-based SPF. Right now, I’m using Ultra Violette. And when I wear makeup, I keep it minimal. My go-to brands are Westman Atelier and RMS Beauty—clean, hardworking, and effortlessly buildable.

What are a few of your favorite wellness destinations? 

One of my favorite wellness destinations right now is Collegio alla Querce in Florence. It’s home to Aelia—a beautiful, holistic retreat that I’m proud to partner with through Furtuna Skin. As our first-ever spa collaboration, it’s incredibly meaningful: the treatments are inspired by the healing traditions of Tuscany and infused with wild-foraged ingredients from our organic Sicilian estate.

In addition to Collegio, I love staying at Boutique Hotel Alhambra—nothing heals like the Croatian waters. I’m also a fan of the Ritz Spa in Paris, which is always such a treat.

Where are you dreaming of going next?

Croatia—it’s where my family and I reconnect, unwind, and embrace the slower rhythms of life. The Adriatic coastline is truly magical, and it holds so many memories for us. I’m dreaming of days spent swimming in crystal-clear water, exploring the islands by boat, and enjoying long dinners under the stars.  

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