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.

Michele Sponagle
Michele Sponagle

Name: Michele Sponagle

Occupation: Travel writer and editor

Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Residence: Paris, Ontario, Canada

College major: Journalism

Website: michelesponagle.com

Twitter: @MSponagle

Facebook: /michele.sponagle

Google+: Michele Sponagle

Short bio: Michele Sponagle is a journalist, author and editor with over 20 years in journalism. She is a prolific contributor of lifestyle and travel features to many top publications and websites. She is the current president of the Travel Media Association of Canada. Her first book, Tales From Dog River: The Complete Corner Gas Guide, was published in 2006 by Penguin Canada. It debuted in second spot among new titles, and was a number-one bestseller for six consecutive weeks.

How often do you fly? Once a month minimum.

How many countries have you been to? 65

How many continents have you been to? 5

Earliest travel memory: Road trips with my family to western and eastern Canada and learning to read a map.

Favorite American city: Los Angeles.

Favorite international city: Paris.

Least favorite country: Spain.

Country with the meanest immigration officers: No comment for my protection. 

Favorite airline: Singapore.

Favorite aircraft type: 787 Dreamliner.

Aisle or window: Aisle.

Favorite airport lounge: Emirates in Dubai.

Favorite U.S. airport: Buffalo, New York. Small and close to where I live.

Favorite international airport: Vancouver.

Favorite hotel: Any Four Seasons will do.

Favorite cruise line: Holland America.

Favorite travel credit card: Aeroplan Visa.

Favorite island: Bali.

Favorite beach: Any of the ones on Anguilla.

Favorite fancy restaurant: Hawksworth in Vancouver.

Favorite hole-in-the-wall: King’s Noodle House in Toronto.

Favorite bar: The Rusty Spur in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Favorite fruit: Maui pineapple.

Favorite food: Pizza.

Least favorite food: Eggs.

Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Champagne, darling!

Favorite travel movie(s): Amelie, set in Paris.

Favorite travel show(s): None.

Favorite travel book(s): Eat, Pray, Love, mainly because I love mocking it.

Right now I am reading: Johnny Cash biography.

Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: Huffingtonpost.com, Travel & Leisure, National Geographic. 

5 things you bring on a plane: iPad (loaded with nextissue.ca and Candy Crush), noise-cancelling headphones, and hand sanitizer.

What do you always seem to forget? Chargers.

What do you like least about travel? Delays in airports.

What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? Great scotch.

Favorite travel app(s): Seatguru.

Most embarrassing travel moment: Walking into the men’s bathroom by mistake in the Lima airport.

Worst travel moment: Being hassled by vendors in Tangiers, Morocco. They were unyielding!

What’s your dream destination: Maldives.

Favorite travel charity: Worldvision.org.

Best travel tip: I love Post-It Notes. I use them to affix messages for hotel housekeeping staff on mirrors and I write myself reminders of what I need to replenish in my toiletry kit as I go.

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