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: Melanie Nayer
Occupation: Reporter (beat: luxury hotels & travel)
Residence: Boston, Mass.
Website: Melanie Nayer
Twitter: @chic_travel
Facebook: Melanie Nayer
Pinterest: Chic Travel
Short Bio: Melanie Nayer is a reporter with a focus on luxury hotels. She has spent time working with hotels to open new properties, consulting with hotel companies on renovations and re-brandings, and working with general managers at hotels around the world to identify key areas of interest for media and guest relations. Melanie is a contributing columnist to various publications including Forbes Travel Guide, The Huffington Post, Wine Enthusiast, 4Hoteliers, The Boston Globe, and more.
How often do you fly: So often that I get confused when I come home and there isn’t a flight attendant call button to push when I need something.
How many countries have you been to: I broke out the map and started counting, made it to around 30 and then got interrupted, so lets go with 30 as a safe play.
How many continents have you been to: 4 (though I’ve flown over 6)
Favorite American city: Whatever city I meet my family in before or after a trip.
Favorite international city: Paris (runners-up: Rome and Shanghai)
Least favorite country: No comment.
Favorite World Heritage Site: The Great Wall of China
Favorite airline: Domestic = JetBlue & Virgin America; International = Cathay Pacific
Favorite aircraft type: Boeing 777-300
Aisle or window: Aisle
Favorite airport lounge: Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong
Favorite U.S. airport: Boston! (there’s something to be said for knowing the TSA agents by name)
Favorite international airport: Hong Kong – best duty-free shopping on earth.
Favorite hotel: I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is my favorite hotel.
Favorite island: Phuket, Thailand
Favorite fancy restaurant: L’Avenue in Paris and 11 Madison in New York
Favorite hole in the wall: The Barking Crab, Boston
Favorite fruit: grapes (they travel so well!)
Favorite food: Depends on what country I’m in: US: French fries. China: Soup dumplings and TsingTao beer. Spain/Portugal: Spicy Paella and a glass of white Rioja. France: Cheese and a vintage French burgundy. Italy: Neapolitan pizza and a bottle of Barolo.(to name just a few, and now I’m hungry!)
Least favorite food: Brussel sprouts
Favorite travel movie(s): Midnight in Paris, Roman Holiday, From Russia With Love, The Wizard of Oz
Favorite travel show(s): I suppose this is the best place to plug Johnny Jet’s show on the Travel Channel?
Five things you bring on a plane: 1) cashmere wrap, 2) computer, 3) lavender antibacterial hand gel from L’Occitaine, 4) face moisturizer, 5) a banana (potassium is great for keeping appetites in check when flying!)
What do you always seem to forget: Gum
Favorite travel iPhone app(s): Currency conversion, and my foreign language apps
Most embarrassing/worst travel moment: I once read the train ticket from Amsterdam to Paris wrong. I kept looking at the arrival time as the departure time, and told my friend who I was traveling with at the time there was plenty of time for an early-morning yoga class. I ended up having to buy two new tickets, and the only seats left on the last train were first class so they were twice as expensive. Moral of the story: Always set your watch to local time so you don’t miss your trains or planes!
What’s your dream destination: Moscow, in the heart of winter, vodka and caviar in hand.
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: Forbes Travel Guide, Hotels.com, Consumer Reports, Weather.com
Best travel tip: Keep calm, and carry on. There will always be glitches, setbacks and complications. The best thing you can do is just go with the flow… remember: travel is an adventure! Keep calm, manage your expectations, carry on and have a great time! (and always leave a copy of your passport with a friend or family member back home.)