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: Kristin Luna
Occupation: Journalist & Social Media Strategist
Hometown: Tullahoma, Tennessee
Residence: Somewhere near Nashville
Website: Camels & Chocolate Tales from a Travel Addict
Twitter: @LunaticAtLarge
Facebook: CamelsAndChocolate
Pinterest: LunaticAtLarge
Short Bio: Luna is a working member of the travel and entertainment media who has written several guidebooks for Frommer’s and contributes regularly to a large variety of national magazines and newspapers.
How often do you fly: A few times a month…I prefer to arrive in a region via plane then travel to surrounding countries by train, ship or bus if possible; it mixes things up and keeps it interesting.
How many countries have you been to: Around 100
How many continents have you been to: 6
Favorite American city: New Orleans
Favorite international city: It’s a three-way tie: Cape Town, Berlin or Edinburgh.
Least favorite country: China
Favorite World Heritage Site: West Norwegian Fjords
Favorite airline: Virgin Atlantic/America
Favorite aircraft type: Boeing 747-400
Aisle or window: Aisle for short domestic flights because I’m claustrophobic and those planes are typically much smaller; window for international and overnight flights on a larger aircraft.
Favorite airport lounge: Virgin Atlantic
Favorite U.S. airport: BNA (Nashville), because the airport is so clean and manageable, easy to get in and out of, and there is never a line at security!
Favorite international airport: AMS (Amsterdam Schiphol airport)
Favorite hotel: Any of the W Hotels, whether Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale or beyond.
Favorite cruise line: The Institute for Shipboard Education’s MV Explorer; the non-profit organization continually operates, annually offering three Semester at Sea voyages, two that go around the world, one that explores the Mediterranean, and two Enrichment Voyage “cruises” open to anyone.
Favorite island: Mataking Island off of Borneo and One Foot Island in the Cooks.
Favorite fruit: Strawberries
Favorite food: Peanut butter
Least favorite food: Cucumbers
Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground): Bulleit bourbon and ginger ale for every occasion…I’m a true Southern girl at heart.
Favorite travel movie(s): In Bruges… even though it’s a pretty violent movie, the panoramas of Belgium are just stunning.
Favorite travel show(s): The Amazing Race
Favorite travel book(s): State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Right now I am reading: Looking for Alaska by John Green
Five things you bring on a plane: Silicone earplugs, eye drops, my MacBook Pro, a Kindle, a stack of Entertainment Weeklys.
What do you always seem to forget: A toothbrush… I’m a walking cliché.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport duty-free store? Chocolate—always chocolate!
Favorite travel iPhone app(s): Yelp, AutoStitch, Skyscanner, Kayak, TripAdvisor
Most embarrassing/worst travel moment: Having a seven-hour connection to Guatemala at LAX and missing it because I took a nap in a hallway and didn’t realize I’d have to switch terminals! To be fair, I asked at the gate to confirm but received false information. From now on, I’ll get to my final gate first and then sleep! That moment tied the time I led a group of students on a tour of Cambodia and almost was denied at the border for not having any empty passport pages.
What’s your dream destination: Micronesia… I’m an avid scuba diver, so I’m keen on places where I can get my fins wet.
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: I read a whole lot of travel blogs on a daily basis, and I really love The Everywhereist, Alex in Wanderland, the Road Forks, Lost in Cheeseland and Inside the Travel Lab, among many others.
Best travel tip: My good friend Johnny Jet told me long ago only ever to travel with a carry-on, and if I’m going somewhere for 10 days or less, I almost always follow his advice.
What a fun post and awesome blog, too! Feel free to use us as a resource anytime you plan on traveling to NOLA!