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: Ava Roxanne Stritt
Occupation: Freelance Travel Writer and Financial Analyst
Hometown: The South – I have lived all over the Southeast!
Residence: Atlanta
Website: Spa Travel Gal
Twitter: @SpaTravelGal
Facebook: Spa Travel Gal
Instagram: Spa Travel Gal
Pinterest: Spa Travel Gal
YouTube: Spa Travel Gal
Short Bio: As a Spa Travel Gal, Ava believes that travel, spa and skincare experiences are not a luxury, but essential to a healthy body and mind. Fox News, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Spa Week and the Atlanta Journal Constitution have quoted her concerning spa, travel, skincare, fashion, travel technology, green initiatives, and various women’s topics. As a freelance writer and editor her articles appear with CBS News, Travelocity’s IguUgo, Spa Week, Working Mother Magazine, H Magazine, Destinations Travel Magazine, Vital Magazine, Upscale Living Magazine, Examiner and various other publications. Spa Travel Gal is also available on your Kindle. Ava is the founder of the twitter chat #SkincareSunday.
How often do you fly: Enough for some of the glamour to be gone, so that is why I make sure I have the best information and travel products to make it feel luxurious at all times. Also a club lounge card is a must!
How many countries have you been to: At least a dozen!
How many continents have you been to: 2
Favorite American city: Savannah, GA –Savannah has inspired people for more than two-and-a half centuries with its hospitality. In fact an old adage states “In Atlanta, they ask where you work. In Macon they ask where you go to church. In Augusta, they ask who your grandparents were; but in Savannah they ask what you want to drink.” Savannah’s riches don’t stop with its hospitality. It also includes parks with trees dripping with Spanish moss and air scented with azaleas and camellias.
Favorite international city: London, England (preferably to shop on Kings Road at shops like Molton Brown and Neal’s Yard Pharmacy)
Least favorite country: Haven’t met one yet!
Favorite World Heritage Site: The Brimstone Hill Fortress on St. Kitts Island. It has the best views of anything I have ever seen in the historical category!
Favorite airline: I love them all if they take me on a fab trip, but Delta is King in Atlanta. Though I do hope to get the chance to become a Virgin and South African Airways frequent flyer soon!
Favorite aircraft type: Private jets with two pilots
Aisle or window: Aisle
Favorite airport lounge: All of them. They are what I search for immediately when I have a layover.
Favorite U.S. airport: Atlanta
Favorite international airport: Atlanta International Terminal
Favorite hotel: Westin Playa Bonita in Panama – where else can you spa, dine and watch ships readying to pass through the Panama Canal!
Favorite cruise line: Royal Caribbean (Allure of the Seas) & Disney (Dream)
Favorite Island: St. Kitts, BVI
Favorite fancy restaurant: The “New” Georgia’s Bistro at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation. I have so many memories with my family over the summers there on Lake Oconee.
Favorite hole in the wall: The Fried Green Tomato Café in Juliette, GA where the movie by the same name was filmed.
Favorite fruit: Key Limes (so versatile!)
Favorite food: Fried Mushrooms with Sour Cream Horseradish Sauce
Least favorite food: Anything with caraway seeds – don’t ask the consequences.
Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground): Key Lime Mojitos (where have they been all my life)
Favorite travel movie(s): Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Favorite travel show(s): Hotel Impossible
Favorite travel book(s): Eat, Pray, Love
Right now I am reading: Inside of a Dog
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines: Conde Nast Traveler
, Travel + Leisure
, Afar
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: A day hardly passes without a visit to USA Today’s for Barbara De Lollis’s Hotel Check-In and of course Johnny Jet’s website.
Five things you bring on a plane: Tumi carryon, iPhone, iPad, Pellegrino, and my Passport (even on domestic trips)
What do you always seem to forget: A nail file along with clippers.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport duty free store? Luxury skincare products
Favorite travel iPhone app(s): The Ritz-Carlton app – it has a surprise when it opens that is just lovely.
Most embarrassing travel moment: Dropped a Welcome Cocktail on my big toe the day before a big hike up a volcano while at The St. Kitts Marriott! Ouch! I still have a dent on my toenail, but the trip was flawless after that! I loved the island and how unspoiled it remains for now!
Worst travel moment: Wore too tight jeans on a red eye 12-hour international flight! Very uncomfortable! My idea was to wear the heaviest items in my luggage so I would not be over the luggage weight limit!
What’s your dream destination: A family safari to South Africa is my dream destination!
Favorite travel charity: Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in Locust Grove, GA. They have been featured multiple times on Nat Geo as a wonderful example of how an animal sanctuary should be involved in an animal’s life and yours!
Best travel tip: Make sure your travel fashion is always smart. That does not mean smart in the Rachel Zoe sense, but smart as in comfortable, dependable and good for the task at hand. You can throw in versatile too!
Great job Ava! This makes me want to sip Key Lime Mojitos with you and watch Fried Green Tomatoes. Let’s make this happen!
Well we can definitely make that happen! Looking forward to seeing you soon!
It’s really helpful! Thanks for share with us….
Hey, Ava! I also love the aisle seat and have a bad habit of forgetting my nail file. Great interview. Looks like fun to be a Travel Style star!
Next trip I will take the window just for you!