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: Louise Fili
Occupation: Graphic Designer
Residence: New York City
College: Skidmore College
College major: Art
Website: louisefili.com
Twitter: @louisefili
Instagram: louisefili
Vimeo: louise fili
Short bio: Louise FIli is a graphic designer specializing in restaurants, food packaging and all things Italian. She has written numerous books on graphic design history and Italian culture, including “Graphique de la Rue: The Signs of Paris.”
How often do you fly? 8-10x/year.
How many countries have you been to? 17
How many continents have you been to? 3
Earliest travel memory: First trip to Italy at age 16.
Favorite American city: New York.
Favorite international city: Paris.
Least favorite country: None.
I have no desire to go to: The moon.
Friendliest people in the world: Italians.
Country with the meanest immigration officers: East Germany.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Mt. Etna.
Favorite airline: None.
Aisle or window: Aisle.
Favorite airport lounge: Virgin Upper Class lounge at Heathrow.
Favorite U.S. airport: None.
Favorite hotel: Villa Ducale, Taormina.
Favorite island: Sicily.
Favorite hole-in-the-wall: I Fratellini, Florence.
Favorite fruit: Blackberries.
Favorite food: Artichokes.
Least favorite food: Fast food.
Drink of choice (in the air and on the ground): Campari and soda.
Favorite travel movie(s): Two for the Road.
Favorite travel book(s): “No Vulgar Hotel.”
Right now I am reading: “L’Amica Geniale.”
5 things you bring on a plane: Laptop, a good meal, a good book, Euros, water.
What do you always seem to forget? Chargers.
What do you like least about travel? Air travel.
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport Duty Free store? A bottle of Campari.
Favorite travel app(s): Flightstats.
Worst travel moment: Getting food poisoning in Paris when the exchange rate was particularly favorable to the dollar.
What’s your dream destination? My dream is to spend a year traveling all over Italy in order to finish documenting the shop and restaurant signage.
Best travel tip: Just go.