Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.
Name: Samantha Brown
Occupation: Travel Host
Hometown: Portsmouth, NH
Residence: Brooklyn, NY
Website: Samantha-Brown.com
Twitter: @samanthabrown
Facebook: RealSamanthaBrown
Pinterest: /samanthaebrown
Short Bio: The host of several series on the Travel Channel including Passport to Europe, Great Weekends and Samantha Brown’s Asia.
How often do you fly: it fluctuates from 4 times a month to 4 times in one week.
How many countries have you been to: 56
How many continents have you been to: 4
Favorite American city: Brooklyn! (its actually a borough) but still
Favorite international city: Berlin
Least favorite country: Belize, I had a really frightening experience there but I would still like to go back and do more of their eco experiences.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Angkor Archeological Park, Cambodia
Favorite airline: Singapore, best 17 hours in the air
Aisle or window: aisle, I’m claustrophobic
Favorite U.S. airport: Minneapolis. Ike’s for brunch and a bloody mary!
Favorite international airport: Changi, Singapore. They have a butterfly garden for goodness sakes.
Favorite hotel: Shutters at the Beach, Santa Monica, CA
Favorite cruise line: tie between Princess and Disney
Favorite island: Mallorca, Spain
Favorite fancy restaurant: Arzak San Sebastian, Spain
Favorite hole in the wall: Marisqueria Leo in Zihuatanejo Mexico
Favorite fruit: the orange-perfect travel food
Favorite food: peanut butter
Least favorite food: foie gras. Ethical or not I just find it disgusting
Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground): Early Grey tea
Favorite travel movie(s): James Bond movies
Favorite travel show(s): I really loved my Asia series for the videography which was stunning and I’m really enjoying Hotel Impossible with Anthony Melchiorri on Travel Channel
Favorite travel book(s): The Collected Traveler is a unique series of travel guides made up of wonderfully written and smartly curated articles on the culture, food, wine and feel of a place.
Right now I am reading: Swamplandia!
Five things you bring on a plane: earplugs, my own tea, melatonin, hydrating spray, fuzzy sox
What do you always seem to forget: toothbrush-every freakin time
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport duty free store?: My husband recently got back from London, I wanted him to pick me up a Paddington Bear-he said Duty free didn’t have them but I don’t believe him.
Favorite travel iPhone app(s): FlightBoard. You can see real time flight boards of airports around the world. I love seeing where people are going and my husband and I have airport code quizzes. Yes, I’m a travel dork.
Most embarrassing/worst travel moment: Oh, God. When my underwear was placed on top of my luggage going around the baggage carousel. Tip: never put anything “intimate” in the front pocket.
What’s your dream destination: India-Kerala, Mumbai, and Darjeeling etc….
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: I love Hipmunk I find searching for travel absolutely excruciating, I get distracted very easily and overwhelmed by all the info. But Hipmunk just creates a more pleasant visit. And I LOVE their walk score system.
Best travel tip: If I detect an accent from the check in clerk or housekeeper I ask what country they are from and where they go to their home cooking. A Hotel staff can give clues to the cultural aspects of a city that maybe too small to be noticed or mentioned in travel guides. For instance Orlando has a very strong Vietnamese population and therefore they’ve got some pretty good Vietnamese restaurants. Also where the hotel staff eats is where the locals eat which means it’s going to be less expensive than the popular spots recommended by Concierges.
She is the greatest. Respect her very much. Love her shows. Wish more [were] cruises. Tips and showing of the cruise ships. Themselves for every day travelers.
My two travel idols! Johnnyjet and Samantha Brown. I have been following you both for years. Great interview! xo
I quite literally ran into Samantha Brown at MSP. I’ve been a fan of hers for years, and it was reassuring to know that she is down to earth and not even remotely a diva like some travel mavens I’ve met from television shows. Love ya, Sam. Hope to see new shows on the tube in the near future!