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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.

Jeryl Brunner
Jeryl Brunner

Name: Jeryl Brunner

Occupation: Journalist and author of the books, My City, My New York: Famous New Yorkers Share Their Favorite Places and My City, My Los Angeles: Famous People Share Their Favorite Places.

Hometown: Hastings-on-Hudson, New York

Residence: New York City

Website: www.jerylbrunner.com

Twitter: @jerylbrunner

Facebook: My City, My New York

Pinterest: Jeryl Brunner

Short Bio: Jeryl Brunner is a writer and journalist whose work has appeared in O magazine, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Delta Sky, Every Day with Rachael Ray and In Style, where she was a staff correspondent for many years. She is also the author of My City, My New York: Famous New Yorkers Share Their Favorite Places and My City, My Los Angeles. She has interviewed hundreds of celebrities, including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Madonna, and George Clooney. Jeryl has downloaded an embarrassing number of show tunes on her iPod. She lives in New York City.

How often do you fly: About once a month (sometimes less, sometimes more).

How many countries have you been to: I stopped counting after 20

How many continents have you been to: 5

Favorite American city: New York

Favorite international city: Paris (I always say, I love New York, but Paris has my heart.)

Least favorite country: Can I borrow my Grandma Belle’s mantra? “If you don’t like something, don’t say anything!”

Favorite World Heritage Site: Grand Canyon National Park (and so many more!)

Favorite airline: Porter (Giant bottles of water at the ready, complimentary wifi. So good!)

Favorite aircraft type: How about a type of aircraft that will get me to my destination with no delays and has loads of legroom?

Aisle or window: I was strictly window for years. But now I’m an aisle gal all the way.

Favorite airport lounge: Air France first class lounge, Paris (Oh la la! Just. So. Good.)

Favorite U.S. airport: Any airport with free Wifi rules!

Favorite international airport: The Porter terminal in Toronto

Do you unpack into the dresser/closet? Or live out of your suitcase? Unpack

Favorite cruise line: Would rather kayak than cruise.

Favorite island: Waiheke Island, New Zealand (But hoping to visit the Islands of Atlantic Canada soon!)

Favorite fancy restaurant: A tie between Dovetail and Four Seasons Restaurant, New York City and Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Paris

Favorite hole in the wall: Luigi’s, New York City

Favorite fruit: Very ripe honeydew

Favorite food: A toss up between tuna tartare, chicken parmesan, a mint chocolate chip hot fudge sundae, Mark’s Madison Avenue Salad with grilled chicken at Fred’s. (Each one is pure deliciousness.)

Least favorite food: Beets

Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground): French champagne and ice water — separately!

Favorite travel movie(s): Does Daytrippers count?

Favorite travel show(s): When 60 Minutes went to Bhutan

Favorite travel book(s): Anything by Bill Bryson and My Kind of Place: Travel Stories from a Woman Who’s Been Everywhere by Susan Orlean

Right now I am reading: Wonder (fiction – recently finished) and also Kitchen Confidential (non fiction) and Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, (non-fiction)

Five things you bring on a plane: computer, iPod with extra headphones, socks, water, popcorn, a book

What do you always seem to forget: Socks for the plane!

What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport duty free store? Something that we could share like a great bottle of champagne and chocolates. But really I would love for them to buy anything for themselves to keep that would make them happy!

Favorite travel iPhone app(s): I don’t have an iPhone. (I’m so last century!)

Most embarrassing travel moment: When I was a little girl, we brought our beloved fluffy white cat Snowball to a dude ranch. Snowball escaped from our room and there I was bounding down the hall after this white sprinting ball of fur in my pink pouffy pajamas — at a dude ranch!

What’s your dream destination: So, so, so many. Kerala, Havana, Antarctica, Bhutan, Easter Island, Ilhabela island, Campi ya Kanzi, in the Chyulu Hills of Kenya, Machu Picchu, Rottnest Island, Petra, Copenhagen, Lake Louise, Lord Howe Island, Central Park, NYC, and many, many, many, many more!

Favorite travel charity: Again, so many! I love hotels that do amazing things for their staff and communities like pay college tuition fees or build schools. (Inquire with your hotel if they do something like that.) And check out passportswithpurpose.org, wildernessinquiry.org, SmileTrain,org and www.pencilsofpromise.org.

Best travel tip: Be flexible. Be willing to get lost. Always learn how to say “thank you,” “please” and “hello” in the native language of the country where you are visiting. Have at lest one adventure via foot. If you can, take off your watch. And I like what Lawrence K. Fish said, “Find life experiences and swallow them whole. Travel. Meet many people. Go down some dead ends and explore dark alleys. Try everything. Exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life”

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