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: Kendra Larkin
Occupation: Entrepreneur/Consultant
Hometown: Temecula, CA
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
College: New York University
College major: Communications
Twitter: @thekendralarkin
Facebook: Kendra Larkin
Pinterest: Kendra Larkin
Instagram: thekendralarkin
YouTube: Dressed to the 798
Short bio: Kendra Larkin grew up outside of Temecula, California with her loving and supportive parents. She attended New York University and graduated with a degree in Communications and a minor in Mandarin Chinese before starting her career in fashion and marketing in Manhattan. She produced official New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week runway shows while traveling the world in her off time. Kendra has lived and traveled all over the world and speaks four languages, making her a true cosmopolitan woman. Kendra has a passion for music and owns her own business in consulting in Chinese fashion media.
Starting today (November 2), you can also find Kendra on the new docu-series Après Ski—Mondays at 10 pm ET on Bravo.
How often do you fly? I fly about every two weeks, so I basically live at the airport.
How many countries have you been to? Over 30 countries and I might even be forgetting a few!
How many continents have you been to? Every continent except Africa and Antarctica!
Earliest travel memory: My first travel memory was flying overseas to Europe for the summer with some friends during high school. I was 14-years-old and it was my first time leaving the country. We went to Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, London,
Greece, Turkey, and so many other countries.
Favorite American city: New York City of course :)
Favorite international city: It’s a toss up between Barcelona and Amsterdam.
Least favorite country: I have yet to meet a country I didn’t like!
I have no desire to go to: I would literally travel ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE!
Friendliest people in the world: Thailand. Everyone is so sweet and loving and friendly, I just fell in love with each person I met.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: I’ve had the most trouble in Dubai with immigration.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Tough question! It’s a tie between the Dazu Rock Carvings in China and the Great Barrier Reef!.
Favorite airline: Toss up between Air Canada and Emirates Air.
Favorite aircraft type: Boeing 787.
Aisle or window: Window all the way! I can’t live without that view during landing and takeoff. Plus there is something so therapeutic about seeing the clouds at eye level.
Favorite airport lounge: The VIP lounge in the Taiwan airport is pretty incredible. It was so comfortable that I slept in there for 5 hours during a layover once.
Favorite U.S. airport: Chicago—mostly for those beautiful lights in the arrivals area.
Favorite international airport: Hong Kong.
Favorite hotel: Hilton Shanghai Jing’An or the Savoy Hotel in Buenos Aires.
Favorite cruise line: I’ve only been on 1 cruise and it was through the Greek islands, but my memory eludes me of their name. I think it might be time to go on another cruise!
Favorite travel credit card: Chase United Mileage Plus Explorer Card.
Favorite island: Koh Phi Phi.
Favorite beach: Koh Phi Phi. I genuinely thought about leaving my life behind and living there forever. That’s how gorgeous it was!
Favorite fancy restaurant: The Flying Pig in Vancouver is a staple for me. I can’t go to Vancouver without getting the truffle mac and cheese there.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: Pretty much anywhere in the Sichuan province of China. I’m a big fan of spicy food especially when it brings you to tears.
Favorite bar: Ozone Bar in Hong Kong! It’s the highest bar in the world! It’s so breathtaking and the atmosphere inside is perfect. Not to mention the incredible mixologists.
Favorite fruit: Pineapple.
Favorite food: It’s a tie between ramen and all Mexican food. Wait, do gummy bears count as food?
Least favorite food: Sushi…sorry everyone!
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Carmenere red wine.
Favorite travel movie(s): Into the Wild.
Favorite travel show(s): Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown. I wish I could just travel with him!
Favorite travel book(s): All books by Paulo Coehlo. They always inspire me to travel and continue to expand my mind.
Right now I am reading: “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.”
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: Conde Nast Traveler, World of Wanderlust, National Geographic Traveler.
Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com, of course! National Geographic Traveler, TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet.
5 things you bring on a plane: Eye mask, earplugs, the “travel rest” travel pillow, gummy bears, and a new book.
What do you always seem to forget? Lotion!
What do you like least about travel? The boarding process. Let me on the plane already! Let’s go!
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Every single travel size perfume. I love purse size samples.
Favorite travel app(s): TripAdvisor and iTranslate.
Most embarrassing travel moment: Being told to buy pants by police in Dubai because I was wearing shorts! Oops!
I’m embarrassed but I haven’t been to: Portugal. I hear it’s amazing! I can’t believe I lived in Barcelona and never made it there.
Worst travel moment: Being locked out of my Airbnb in Istanbul at 4 am and not being able to get in until 6 am…right before I had to leave for the airport.
What’s your dream destination? The Amazon. Someone get me into the Amazon!
Favorite travel charity: WWF and Earthbox from Global Volunteers.
Best travel tip: Never look lost! I always study maps of new cities in my hotel before going out so I always seem like a local everywhere I go. Confidence is everything!
