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: Chip Conley
Occupation: Founder, Joie de Vivre Hospitality. Founder, Fest300. Head of Global Hospitality, Airbnb.
Hometown: Long Beach, California
Residence: San Francisco
Website: fest300.com, chipconley.com
Facebook: /Fest300
Twitter: @Fest300
YouTube: /fest300tv
Instagram: /fest300
Pinterest: /fest300
Tumblr: /fest300
Short Bio: Founder and former CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality for 24 years. Starting at age 26, transformed an inner city motel into the 2nd largest boutique hotel brand in the world. Author of four books, including PEAK and New York Times bestseller, EMOTIONAL EQUATIONS, he’s been a featured speaker at TED. In 2013, launched Fest300, where he shares his passion for world travel, cultures, and festivals. And joined Airbnb as Head of Global Hospitality, where he’s sharing his proven methods with hundreds of thousands of hosts in nearly 200 countries. His blog is at Fest300.
How often do you fly: A few times a month
How many countries have you been to: 58 (22 this year)
How many continents have you been to: 5
Favorite American city: San Francisco
Favorite international city: Marrakech
Least favorite country: Russia
Favorite World Heritage Site: Petra
Favorite airline: Singapore
Favorite aircraft type: Anything that flies
Aisle or window: Window
Favorite airport lounge: Virgin Atlantic Heathrow
Favorite U.S. airport: SFO
Favorite international airport: Singapore
Favorite hotel: Hotel Vitale, San Francisco
Do you unpack into the dresser/closet? Or live out of your suitcase? Unpack
Favorite cruise line: Don’t do cruises
Favorite island: Bali
Favorite beach: Secret Beach, Kauai
Favorite fancy restaurant: Gary Danko, San Francisco
Favorite hole in the wall: Any taqueria
Favorite fruit: Jackfruit
Favorite food: Quinoa
Least favorite food: Runny scrambled eggs
Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground): Anything with alcohol in it
Favorite travel movie(s): Lawrence of Arabia
Favorite travel show(s): Anthony Bourdain
Favorite travel book(s): Anything by Pico Iyer
Right now I am reading: Smile While You’re Lying: Confessions of a Rogue Travel Writer
Top 3 favorite travel newsletters/magazines/blogs: AFAR, Inside the Travel Lab, Gary Arndt
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: Matador
Five things you bring on a plane: Earplugs, laptop, a great book, a willingness to meditate, sleeping pills
What do you always seem to forget: A baseball cap to block the sun from my bald head
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport duty free store? Nothing, I just want their love
Favorite travel app(s): World Festival Guide
Most embarrassing travel moment: Getting off a plane in Bali and thinking I was in Maui (serious jetlag)
Worst travel moment: Having intestinal parasites while trying to hitchhike on the autobahn in Germany in 100-degree weather
What’s your dream destination: Iceland’s hot springs
Favorite travel charity: Air Charity Network
Best travel tip: If you want serendipity to be your travel partner, travel alone.
