This International Women’s Day 2020, we invited four of our female resident editors of LUXE to spill on the women who inspire them, where they’re jet setting off to next and how to do it in style. Read on to get inspired!
- What was your most memorable trip ever?
One of my favourite trips was Vietnam (northern) and Cambodia in 2000, when tourism wasn’t a commercial practice. My sister was living in Hanoi and we did most of our traveling on an old 1980s Linx motorcycle. There were no pamphlets or guides so it was all about communication, and it was awesome. - Where are you heading to this year?I’ll be all over Italy this year, as well as Egypt, Turkey and hopefully, Lebanon
- What do you love most about travelling?I like the small surprises, like a street food barbecue or a tiny archaeological site. I also like talking with strangers and just taking in the landscapes.
- Your top travel tips and tricks?Dress up the details – like adding a nice sweater or scarf, a pressed dress, a cool bag. In the Southern Mediteranean, details go a long way. And always learn how to say “please” and “thank you” in the local language. I also never travel without sunblock, a hat (get the roll-up visor, easy to pack), tinted lip balm, stylish but comfortable sandals, and a just-in-case bikini for any time of year.
- Who are the women who inspire you, and why?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama and Serena Williams, because they relentlessly fight for their dreams, fight for women, fight for fairness and push the limits for all of us.
Follow Erica on her travels @ericafirpo and get more tips from our Rome Guide
- What was your most memorable trip ever?
Marrakech is a feast for the eyes and senses, and the Hammam experience at Royal Mansour was otherworldly. Just beautiful.
- Where are you heading to this year (trips-wise)?
I’ve been to Ireland, New Zealand, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Egypt. I’m going to Kenya and the UK next.
- What do you love most about travelling?
Learning about new cultures, hunting for local designers and catching up with old friends and family who seem to be scattered around the world at this point.
- Your top travel tips and tricks?
Bose noise-cancelling headphones and not overpacking are key. - Who are the women who inspire you, and why?
Fellow female entrepreneurs like Stephanie Chai and Cathy Chon who support, encourage and share insights while growing their own successful businesses.
Follow Dervla on her travels @dervlalouli
- What was your most memorable trip ever?
When my sister took my parents, my niece and I to India through Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur! It was a colourful, vibrant journey that heightened all our senses and opened our hearts.
- Where are you heading to this year?
Barcelona and Budapest – major European cities that I’ve curiously never been to. I will also be heading to Aegean’s beautiful star, Bodrum in Turkey, for some classic summer loving. - What do you love most about travelling?
Travelling has an “unclogging” effect on me. It helps me let go of things I’m holding on to by opening me up to new experiences, people and landscapes. It unblocks me by showing me a wider perspective of life and helps me feel my grounded as a person. - Your top travel tips and tricks?
Plan ahead. Ask for advice and read up on the musts of each location. Also, prioritize, and remember to leave room for relaxing. - Who are the women who inspire you, and why?
All the women in my family actually – from my grandmother and her sisters to my little niece. Each of them are alluring and talented in their own way, and I love how they carry themselves through life so gracefully and whole-heartedly.
Follow Basak on her travels at Basak Roots and get more tips from our Istanbul Guide
- What was your most memorable trip ever?
A few years ago I went to Tokyo for the first time. I was there on my own for ten days to work on a writing project at the time. On my second night there, I popped into a tiny bar near Yoyogi. The bar was so small it only had four seats, but there was a raucous crowd spilling out onto the street. I got talking to them all, and ended up making friends with the most eclectic group of local creatives from the art, music and fashion scenes. Each day I’d explore Tokyo on my own (based on their local insider knowledge of galleries, neighbourhoods, fashion and restaurants), and each evening we’d meet up at the little bar, and go from there into the Tokyo night. Karaoke until 4am, climbing buildings with a local street artist to watch the sunrise over Tokyo from the rooftop, eating at restaurants where they don’t generally welcome tourists (the raw horse meat was a memorable dish). It was the best trip of my life. - Where are you heading to this year?
I am heading to Tbilisi, Georgia. A creative hub has been emerging at a rapid rate from Georgia the last few years, and there is just so much going on in the fashion, art, food and wine scenes. Tbilisi has become the playground for a new generation of young, cool Georgian creatives and I can’t wait to check it all out.
- What do you love most about travelling?
I love meeting new people. It’s through that human connection that you can really understand a different culture, make lasting friendships, and discover the parts of a city or country that you might not have otherwise experienced as a tourist. As a stylist, I love to discover local fashion designers who are not widely known outside their home countries. If I can introduce my clients to new international designers who create unique fashion, while supporting emerging creatives, then it makes my job all the more interesting.
- Your top travel tips and tricks?
My tip for travel is to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Talk to everyone you meet. Find out what experiences you can do to really get to know the people and place. Sauna yoga in Helsinki? A sound bath at Joshua Tree? Push yourself, and your travel will be all the more rewarding.
- Who are the women who inspire you, and why?
I am inspired by women who live with passion and purpose, with confidence, conviction and a strong sense of self. Women like Michelle Obama and Jane Fonda inspire me for those reasons.
Follow Suzanne on her travels @suzannedelahunty and get more tips from our London Guide
