Krista Pappas
Krista Pappas

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​: Krista Pappas

Occupation​: Travel Tech Exec

Hometown​: Boston, MA

Residence​: Concord, MA

College: ​Mt. Ida

College major:​ Interior Architecture + Design

Website​: lola.com

Twitter​: @pappas

Facebook:Krista Pappas

Instagram:kpappas

Short bio​: Considered a digital travel media innovator and entrepreneur. Coined the first “Internet Travel Analyst” in 1999, and ever since have been deeply immersed in the digital travel industry. Currently, responsible for driving the commercial business and strategic partnerships at Lola. Prior to Lola, COO of DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. Also, acted as Global Director and Head of Travel of Bing, a Microsoft Company, where I led the commercial team, as well as evangelism and strategy for Bing Travel. Acted as Head of Travel at the New York Times Digital (NYTd) after selling FareChase, the first travel meta search company, to Yahoo!.

How often do you fly? ​12+/year—not even close to the amount Johnny flies!

How many countries have you been to? ​Over 50.

How many continents have you been to? ​All but Antarctica.

Earliest travel memory: ​Ocho Rios Jamaica as a kid traveling with my family and our friends. Having side-by-side villas with a pool having so much fun, staying up all night, meeting the locals, and feeling like they were part of our family. I’ve been traveling to Jamaica ever since.

Favorite American city: ​I have to say Boston because it is my home, second place is San Francisco.

Favorite international city: ​Rome.

Least favorite country: ​North Korea because of leadership not the people.

I have no desire to go to: ​North Korea.

Friendliest people in the world: ​I have really fond memories of so many delightful locals in Costa Rica. It is very friendly there. #puravida

Country with the meanest immigration officers: ​Germany.

Favorite World Heritage Site:​ Yellowstone National Park.

Favorite airline: ​Domestic JetBlue, international Emirates.

Favorite aircraft type: ​Big—with lie-flat seats for long-haul. Otherwise, just safe ones.

Aisle or window: ​Always aisle, I will pick a different flight if I can’t have an aisle. It upsets me when an aisle seater cops an attitude with another passenger who has to get up from the window seat and cross over them.

Favorite airport lounge: ​Virgin LHR.

Favorite U.S. airport: ​SFO.

Favorite international airport: ​GDG.

Favorite hotel:​ I’m pretty woke on the proper San Francisco right now. I also love Public Hotel, Ian Schrager’s newest in lower Manhattan.

Favorite cruise line: ​Royal Caribbean because I love Lisa Falango!! I heard there is a new Ritz-Carlton yacht cruise coming out 2020—so I want to try that!

Favorite travel credit card:​ Amex Platinum since 1996.

Favorite island: ​Martha’s Vineyard and Jamaica.

Favorite beach: ​Martha’s Vineyard—Pohogonot Farm.

Favorite National Park: ​Acadia National Park because I got to go there with my kids and mom before she died. It brings so much joy to me when I think about that trip.

Favorite fancy restaurant: ​Coi, San Francisco and not for the reason you would think. I got into a Twitter argument with the famous chef, Daniel Patterson (Massachusetts native!) about his staff having dinner in the adjacent room with the ketchup bottles on the table while they were charging me $100/bite ;) I do realize they had to forage for my mushrooms—it’s hard work :) We ended up duking it out and ended on very good terms. Regardless, I still fell out of the booth when we saw the bill!

Favorite hole-in-the-wall: ​I love 3Dives in Negril, Jamaica. It’s all outside and only steel drums for cooking. The jerk lobster in one of my favorite things in the world to eat. I love the smells of the jerk cooking and the weed smoke blowing thru the air.

Favorite airport restaurant: ​Logan Airport, Terminal C—Legal Seafoods, tuna burger every time!

Favorite bar: ​Archer Street, London. Super fun, lots of singing on tables.

Favorite fruit: ​Bananas.

Favorite food: ​Jerk lobster, rice and peas, and fish tacos.

Least favorite food: ​Pudding, custard, flan—blech.

Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground):​ Vodka soda with lemon.

Favorite travel movie(s):Up in the Air, Out of Africa.

Favorite travel show(s):Panama Papers.

Favorite travel podcast(s):​ “Travel Tales,” episode 51: “Summer Travel Tips from Johnny Jet.”

Right now I am reading: “​War on Peace” by Ronan Farrow.

Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: ​I like Afar, I consume all the travel content from Vanity Fair, W, Tattler, Town and Country, Financial Times, LOVE 36 Hours from New York Times.

Favorite travel website(s)—besides JohnnyJet.com? LOLA.com, Smartertravel.com, Nytimes.com/travel

5 things you bring on a plane: 

  1. Hermès scarf
  2. Flip-flops
  3. A book
  4. Water
  5. Ostrich pillow

What do you always seem to forget? ​My priority pass card.

What do you like least about travel? ​Delays.

What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Depends on which airport—I always like anything Cartier, Hermès or Gucci ;) Maybe some good rum…

Favorite travel app(s): ​Lola for all travel! Google Maps, Duolingo, Currency Converter, Uber.

Most embarrassing travel moment: Locking myself out of my hotel room, naked in the middle of the night—I thought I was going into the bathroom but opened the door and fast realized I was in the hallway of the hotel with my door shut and locked behind me. #yep

Worst travel moment:​ Getting sick in Peru.

What’s your dream destination? ​Any place with a lot of adventure and the ocean.

Favorite travel charity: ​Summits Education ​Humanity Rises.

Best travel tip:

  1. Don’t overpack—learning how to pack for travel is an art that is worth learning. It makes such a big difference to pack well. Most people travel with way too much luggage. It can really add friction to a trip.
  2. Don’t ever go barefoot into the airplane lav…seriously, it is so gross.
  3. Finally, don’t get locked out of your hotel room in your birthday suit.

 

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