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: Lindsey Ueberroth
Occupation: President & CEO, Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Hometown: Tarzana, California
Residence: Corona del Mar, California
College: Wake Forest University
College major: Communications
Website: PreferredHotels.com
Twitter: @lueberroth
Instagram: lindsey_ueberroth
Short bio: Travel is in my DNA. I joke that I was literally born into the hospitality industry since my mother was a flight attendant while she was pregnant with me and my father has worked in all facets of the travel industry. On family vacations, it was normal to visit hotels instead of museums and monuments—it’s just what our family did. After decades of exploring the world and fueled by my family’s shared passion for hospitality, it was a natural progression that I got into the travel industry. Today, I serve as President & CEO of Preferred Hotels & Resorts—the world’s largest independent hotel company representing 650+ hotels, resorts, and serviced residences across 85 countries.
How often do you fly? I fly at least two times a month—usually 20-30 trips a year.
How many countries have you been to? Over 100, I think at last count around 112.
How many continents have you been to? Every continent except Antarctica.
Earliest travel memory: A trip to Tahiti when I was three-years-old. Sadly, I remember stepping on coral and the mosquitos really liking me!
Favorite American city: Chicago.
Favorite international city: Cape Town, South Africa.
Least favorite country: Do not have one, yet.
I have no desire to go to: Anywhere that is an active war zone. Otherwise, I am open to visiting anywhere and everywhere.
Friendliest people in the world: Bhutan and Colombia.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: Sadly, I think it might be the United States.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Angkor, Cambodia.
Favorite airline: Turkish Airlines.
Favorite aircraft type: Dreamliner.
Aisle or window: Aisle.
Favorite airport lounge: The Turkish Airlines Lounge in Istanbul and the Centurion Lounge in San Francisco.
Favorite U.S. airport: Long Beach. It’s easy to get in and out of, has great food options, and is a cool and innovative space.
Favorite international airport: Hong Kong.
Favorite hotel: I would get in too much trouble for answering this one! Thankfully, I have too many to narrow it down.
Favorite cruise line: Windstar.
Favorite travel credit card: American Express.
Favorite island: Maldives.
Favorite beach: Emerald Bay Beach (where my parents live).
Favorite fancy restaurant: Studio at Montage Laguna Beach.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: TK Noodle Shop on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Favorite fruit: Strawberries.
Favorite food: Flat bread pizza with lots of veggies.
Least favorite food: Olives.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Red wine.
Favorite travel movie(s): Out of Africa, any James Bond movie, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Catch Me If You Can, and Eat, Pray, Love.
Favorite travel show(s): The Amazing Race.
Favorite travel book(s): Monocle City Guides.
Right now I am reading: “My Journey” by Donna Karan.
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: Gostelow Report.
5 things you bring on a plane: iPad, headphones, Ormedic lip balm, a wrap to keep me warm, and a stack of magazines that I haven’t had time to read.
What do you always seem to forget? My iPhone charger. I now own more than 10 of them since I am always forgetting to pack them and have to buy them on the road.
What do you like least about travel? Security lines and rude security personnel.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Absolutely nothing!
Favorite travel app(s): Convert (currency exchange) & World Clock.
Most embarrassing travel moment: Sadly, I could list many! However the one that sticks out is when I booked myself on the wrong flight into Tanzania and only realizing it after I made multiple calls to the ground operator when I was on the ground. It ends up that I had made the mistake and flown into the wrong airport. This is why you should always use travel agents for complex international travel in particular!
I’m embarrassed but I haven’t been to: Israel.
Worst travel moment: Getting a call at 3 am in London to tell me my flight was leaving three hours early due to the volcanic eruptions in Iceland and then racing to the flight knowing that if I didn’t make it I would be stuck in Europe for days, which would cause me to miss a conference with our hoteliers in the US that I had to attend. In the end, I made it, and was very happy because that was literally the last flight out for days.
What’s your dream destination? Anything on my travel bucket list, which includes Antarctica, Israel, Jordan, and Patagonia.
Favorite travel charity: The Clinton Initiative.
Best travel tip: Ask the locals, be curious and get off the beaten path.
