HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH TRAVELING?

Actually, I was born into a traveling family, and it has occupied the center of my life before it evolved into a lifestyle. Now, I travel for work, leisure, or simply for quality time with my family, whom I travel with almost every month. 

I am grateful for the privilege of loving the work I do. With our motto of “Believe in Travel”, Preferred Hotels & Resorts is about discovering bespoke travel experiences around the world and connecting them with travelers seeking unique lodgings.

WHAT IS YOUR TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY?

To embrace and immerse oneself in diversity and to respect the local people. Travel is the best education in life, so the learning never stops. I’m a student of life and travel is my guidebook.

WHAT DO YOU ALWAYS LOOK FOR IN A HOTEL ROOM?

The foremost aspect is positive energy and the sense of comfort a room creates. The design, touch points, lighting, art, and amenities need to come together to generate an uplifting atmosphere. And so if a room can’t be a soothing living space, everything else becomes irrelevant.

DEFINE AN INDEPENDENT LUXURY HOTEL.

Above all, an independent luxury hotel is an unbound expression of extravagance by way of a unique experience. In fact these are usually storied hotels that embody the destination itself. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore and The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, The Imperial New Delhi and The Siam Hotel in Bangkok are great examples. 

In fact, a different take on luxury hospitality is offered by properties like Montage Hotels & Resorts and The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, for instance. Certainly, these are new build iconic luxury hotels that embrace a sense of destination to the fullest. 

We also work with more than 230 of the finest spa and wellbeing properties, some of which are recognized as leaders in their field. For example: The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming; Bungaraya Island Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; and Burg Vital Resort in Lech, Austria. 

WHAT ARE HOTELS YOU ALWAYS GO BACK TO?

Some of my favorites include The Leela Palace Udaipur for its inspiring setting, uplifting décor, and stunning architecture; and The Siam Hotel in Bangkok for the art fusion of history with edgy modernity. Similarly, both properties are members of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Legend Collection. Lastly, Soneva Fushi in the Maldives is soul stirring and the best place for recalibrating the mind and body.

WHAT IS THE MOST UNIQUE HOTEL YOU’VE STAYED IN?

The Upper House in Hong Kong, which is also a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Legend Collection. In fact, everything is unique, from the sense of arrival to the room layout and design. Designed by Andre Fu, The Upper House’s inspiring spaces are nothing like what we normally see in hotels. 

WHICH NEW HOTELS SHOULD TRAVELERS KNOW ABOUT?

We have exciting launches next year. For instance, Villa Copenhagen in Denmark, opens in late spring, while The Diaoyutai Mansion Frankfurt, will transform the city’s south side in March with a diverse range of fine dining outlets and entertainment facilities; there is also The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, which launched this October in the central business district.

WHAT IS ONE DESTINATION YOU GO BACK TO AGAIN AND AGAIN?

For the love of its earthy serenity and slowness of life, I love traveling to Maldives. Additionally, I experienced several of the destination’s most renowned properties including JA Manafaru, Coco Bodu Hithi, Six Senses Laamu, and Soneva Fushi. 

In fact, my family and I went to the Maldives this Christmas and then back to Dubai soon after to soak up an action-packed week of bright lights and urban festive fervor.

HOW DOES PREFERRED HOTELS & RESORTS ASSIST INDEPENDENT HOTELS?

Our brand is a champion of independent, luxury properties and we provide global reach and credibility. Moreover, we also offer I Prefer Hotel Rewards, the world’s first points-based loyalty program for independent hotels. Certainly I Prefer Hotel Rewards empowers independent hotels to compete with the hotel chains. In addition, it offers points, elite status, special benefits, and room upgrades at more than 700 hotels.

Read more stories about independent luxury hotels in Travelife Magazine.

READ ABOUT ONE OF SPAIN’S BEST NEW HOTELS

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HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH TRAVELING?

15 years ago, I was a student and I did not have a lot of money for traveling. So I found the best deal ever: working as a Mini-Club animator for Club Med during my school holidays. It was a great chance to make new friends, discover cultures, and earn money. Above all, it gave me independence. A few years later, I founded a luxury magazine, which gave me the chance to explore and write about exclusive travel destinations and luxury hotels worldwide.

HOW HAS TRAVELING CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

It completely changed my way of thinking. My first travels were a bit chaotic and mostly based on improvisation. That pushed me to become resourceful and independent – two assets you need when you are an entrepreneur. Traveling always inspires me. When I am abroad, I think differently. I am more open and relaxed to discovering new ideas.

WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER ARE YOU?

It depends if I travel with family or friends. When I travel with my wife and my three-year old boy, I am looking for comfort and rest. When I escape with friends, I am more adventurous.

WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL TRAVEL ITINERARY?

I prefer improvising. I always try to rent a car when I travel, rather than using public transport. When I escape, I love to forget the time and space constraints that are present in our daily lives.

WHAT ARE YOUR TRAVEL ESSENTIALS?

My watch, my alliance ring, my earphones, and a lip balm. When I travel alone, it is mainly for business, so I also bring a sharp suit, a white shirt, a knit tie, my laptop, and my smartphone. When I travel with my family, it is more complicated. My wife loves fashion and she always brings tons of clothes, shoes, and beauty products for her and our son. It is always a big point of discussion between us because she packs the suitcases but I’m the one who carries them.

DESCRIBE THE PERFECT HOLIDAY FOR YOUR FAMILY.

Perfect family holidays combine leisure for parents – sports, spa, cultural tours, and fine food – with a real entertainment program for children. And a family trip is one of the best occasions to reconnect with. An unforgettable trip starts when you turn off your mobile phone and you open yourself to people you meet and places you discover.

Enjoy the moment and recognize the chance you have. loved ones. I always find balance between being together and enjoying individual moments. That’s the reason we never put our child at the kids-club during holidays. We love quality moments with him during excursions and meals. My wife and I are sport addicts so we always choose a place that offers sport lessons and is equipped with a gym and a swimming pool.

WHAT’S ONE LUXURY HOTEL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS GO BACK TO?

Every year we go to the Hôtel Royal in Evian, France. This five-star kid-friendly hotel located between the Alps and the Lake Geneva is a piece of paradise found in the heart of nature. It offers activities throughout the year, such as skiing and ice skating in the winter and golf and mountain biking in the summer. And it gives the perfect balance between family atmosphere and luxury services.

We also have an emotional connection with this hotel, because after my wife gave birth, she and our baby went there to enjoy a Mother-Baby spa cure. The therapists take care of a young mother’s well-being and teach her the essential gestures to massage her baby. That was an extraordinary moment for my wife and our child.

DEFINE THE ULTIMATE LUXURY HOTEL FOR FAMILIES.

The perfect luxury hotel dedicated to families is not necessarily ostentatious. It must be considered as a peaceful place where the staff pays attention to every detail, for both parents and children. When you become a parent, you see life with new eyes. Spacious rooms (or even better – connecting rooms) and kids amenities and menus are primary. Above all, the feeling of being safe becomes more important than ever.

WHY SHOULD FAMILIES CONSIDER FAMILY-FRIENDLY LUXURY HOTELS?

It is the best way to avoid making compromises between the desires of parents and the happiness of children. I am not saying that a child needs to spend holidays in a luxury hotel to be happy. When I was young, I went camping with my parents and I was the happiest boy.

But in retrospect, I realized that this type of holiday was not really a vacation for my parents. They prepared the caravan, drove hours by car, went to the supermarket, prepared food, and washed dishes. It was very tiring for them. Now that luxury travel is more accessible, it is time to enjoy it.

WHICH DESTINATIONS ARE IDEAL FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN?

Every destination in the world is perfect for family travel, as long as your accommodation is equipped to host young children. Cities like Paris and New York are not immediately considered as kidfriendly destinations. But if your hotel offers family-friendly services such as stroller loans, baby equipment, toys and games, and babysitting service, believe me, you will enjoy your stay.

HOW CAN WE HAVE A FUN AND HASSLE-FREE TRIP?

Prepare your family stay. This step takes a lot of time. That’s why we created the quality label Little Guest. It facilitates the choice of your family stay, following a user-friendly interface and anticipating all the questions, wants and needs of the parents.

WHERE DO YOU GO BACK TO AGAIN AND AGAIN?

New York City. This is where I organized a surprise trip to ask my wife for marriage seven years ago, under the starry sky of the Brooklyn Bridge. We discovered the Big Apple a few years back and it was a real love story between this city and us. Since then, I have returned many times. There’s always something new and it has an incredible energy. The same goes for Ibiza, which is why we try to go every year. Not to party in the nightclubs, but to enjoy the beautiful natural UNESCO sites and the wind of lightness inherited from the hippie period.

WHICH CITY IS MOST MEMORABLE TO YOU?

When I went to Beijing for the first time, I felt like I arrived on another planet. It was strange because even though there were many people in the street, I felt alone since even the taxi drivers do not speak English.

TELL US ABOUT A TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH UNTIL THIS DAY.

To top off my boyhood, my best friends and I rented a van to visit the West Coast of the United States. We finished our trip in Las Vegas where we partied all night long – until we lost one of our friends. We were very worried, but a few hours later, in the early morning, a security guard from the hotel came and brought back our friend, who had drunk too much. Two hours later, we were boarding for a 12-hour flight. With his hangover and our jokes, he had the worst flight of his life.

Read more about globetrotters and their adventures in Travelife Magazine.

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HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH TRAVELING?

When I was 16 years old, my best friend who I grew up with in Boston took me to her family home in Connemara. This is in Ireland, outside Galway. It was the first time I had been abroad, an experience that was both a shock to the system and completely exhilarating at the same time. I haven’t stopped traveling since.

It was actually by the pool at the Hotel Il Pellicano on the Tuscan coast that I decided to quit my job and start my own luxury handmade pillow company. Now each and every pillow that I design is inspired by a place in the world I have traveled to. My inspirations have included the patterned dome of a church on the iconic Amalfi coastline and a beautiful wrought iron gate found on the Left Bank in Paris.

Travel directly influences my work as each of my pillow designs are inspired by a place in the world I have visited. I am also the author of a luxury travel blog called Destinations Perfected. So in order to have new content I have to keep traveling.

WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER ARE YOU

My hostel days are over! I am definitely a luxury traveler, so 4-star or 5-star hotels, without a doubt. However, when it comes to food I much prefer eating in a tiny restaurant where a local is cooking in the kitchen as opposed to a Michelin-star restaurant. Authenticity over pretension.

WHAT’S YOUR TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY?

Be open for whatever comes your way and don’t be afraid to veer off a planned itinerary. Interact as much as you can with the local people. Embrace and immerse yourself in the diversity.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR NEXT DESTINATION?

I read a lot to discover new places—from magazines to newspapers and travel blogs; then I add them to a running list of must-visit locations. If a friend returns from a trip absolutely raving about the destination, then I will add that to the list as well.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL ACTIVITIES?

Eating! I love experiencing new cuisines and regional food specialties; it tells you a lot about the culture. A good dose of shopping is always high on my list as I really like buying special pieces that you would not find at home—be it artwork or clothing. If the hotel has a spa, a massage after a long day of sightseeing is definitely an indulgence.

WHICH CITY IS MOST MEMORABLE FOR YOU?

I remember the first time I went to Venice, Italy. I was completely blown away by the fact that it was entirely constructed using a series of small bridges. I still think it is one of the most unique cities in the world. I studied at the University of Padova, so almost every weekend I would take the train 20 minutes to Venice and just wander. There’s nothing like Venice in the dead of winter when you can hear your own footsteps.

DESCRIBE ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WORLD

St. Tropez in the off season before the maddening crowds get there is pure heaven. You can eat your breakfast in the morning sunshine at one of the cafes on the port, then browse the local market in town, and then drive to one of the beach clubs for lunch. I can’t get enough of the local tarte tropezienne, an indulgent cake made with thick cream sandwiched by two brioche and sprinkled with rock sugar on top.

Marrakech. I was blown away by the patterns, designs, hotel interiors, level of craftsmanship, sights, sounds and smells. It is hands down the most inspiring city I have ever been to and truly engages all of your senses.

I’m half Italian so call me biased, but Italy is the one country not lacking in any of my travel requirements: gorgeous landscapes, beautiful coastlines, delicious food that varies from region to region, inspiring fashion and design, and of course, the warm people and their ability to embrace the dolce far niente lifestyle.

TELL US ABOUT A TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THAT BLEW YOUR MIND AWAY

It’s either running out in the dead of winter in a snowstorm wearing nothing but a swimsuit and jumping into the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, or waking up at 4 AM to witness the famous fish auction at the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo followed by a 7 AM breakfast consisting of the freshest sushi I have ever eaten.

WHERE WOULD YOU GO IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?

Boston. It is where I was born and raised and where all of my family live. I would eat my Italian mother’s delicious home-cooked food and sit in the sunshine on Boston Harbor.

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HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVEWITH TRAVELING?

Steve Odell: I grew up right in the south of United Kingdom, in the Isle of Wight, which was right in the doorstep of Southampton, the home of all the big cruise ships and ocean liners.

So even as a kid, I remember seeing cruise ships passing by my window. Combine that with my family’s own hotel, I’ve always had a fascination with travel right from the start.

When I went to the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, I took a business management course, and when I was 18, I was an intern for P&O Cruises, which is a big UK cruise business. I did two internships with them where I experienced the whole cruise business – from reservations to sales to short excursions. By the time I was 21, I was attached to the cruise industry. 

WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER ARE YOU?

Steve Odell: I’m lucky that I experience the ships and the life on board in my working life, so I’m connected with cruising all the time. But when it comes to my own holiday, I like to move away from that. I’m a big snow skier, and I love trekking.

I’m a big fan of treks and walking trips so I really like New Zealand. There are some incredible two-day and three-day treks where you put on your backpack, walk, and stay in a lodge overnight. It’s an incredible way to see unusual landscapes.

WHAT’S YOUR TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY?

Steve Odell: Live life for today, and see and do as much as you can. Don’t leave it too late to start doing it. A lot of people always say that, “When I retire I’m going to do this.” My philosophy has always been do it now, while you’re fit and healthy. Because you see a lot of people waiting and end up not doing it at all.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TRAVEL ESSENTIALS?

Steve Odell: I can’t travel without my music, my headset, and my passport, of course. My laptop–that never goes away.

My other half always says to leave work at home, but I can’t. It’s impossible. When I go on a holiday, I try not to take a suit, because I travel with a suit all the time. 

WHERE WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TRIP?

Steve Odell: It was in Bhutan, where we stayed for 10 days. I would say it was more luxury-oriented. We stayed in Amankora, which has five lodges across Bhutan, and you can stay in one lodge a couple of nights before moving to the next one. What you do in between moving to each lodge is entirely your choice. 

One day we went trekking, so high up since we were 12,000 feet aboveground. At the end of the day we had the luxury of Amankora, with a nice glass of red wine and good food and a beautiful bath to soak in. It was quite incredible. Bhutan was really such a natural environment, and it’s true that Bhutan measures their gross domestic happiness.

DEFINE WHAT A TRUE “LUXURY CRUISE” IS LIKE.

We always use an analogy of hotels. If you go to any city, you’ll find different kinds of hotel experiences. The cruise industry is like that. If you look at the pyramid of experiences, right at the pinnacle, is the luxury business, which is quite small. It is normally defined as small boutique star ships, with mostly only suites where the rooms have private verandas. It’s almost like a private yacht. 

When you step onboard you really have a carefree environment. You don’t have to sign bills because everything is included – from all the tipping to the bottle of champagne in your mini-bar.

With Regent, which is our luxury brand, even the short excursions are included. So when you go on tour, you don’t pay. I think it’s about giving people a carefree luxury experience where you don’t have to worry about dinner reservations.

When there is no exchange of money or signing of bills, people engage more. It creates a relaxed atmosphere because no one is worrying about the next bill.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE CRUISE?

Steve Odell: My most memorable cruise was an arctic expedition. I went on a cruise from Svalbard, in the very north of Norway and we went into the Arctic Circle. We went polar bear searching and walking on glaciers. It was quite an amazing 10 days with just a hundred of us. 

We didn’t see another ship or other people. We pushed right up to about 82 degrees north into the Arctic Circle, where we watched polar bears walking around on the ice.

Expeditions are quite an experience as they take you to really different places.

But I still like going to the Mediterranean. There is something about being in Europe during the summer that makes it very special. And in the Mediterranean, you can go somewhere different every day. You can be in France on Monday, Spain on Tuesday, or Portugal on Wednesday, for example, because they’re all so close.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A CRUISE-STYLE TRAVEL?

Steve Odell: It’s value for money. When you go to a hotel or resort, you pay for your room but you end up paying for everything else that you do. Whereas in a cruise, you’re buying the room, the entertainment, and the food and beverages.

Another advantage is that you only unpack your bag once, but get to see a lot of destinations. You’re not moving to different hotels with the stress of unpacking, repacking, and moving to the next destination.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A TRIP?

Steve Odell: I’m a seasoned traveler; I travel so much for my job that I’m pretty organized. But I tend to be more impromptu, and I don’t like to be too locked into things.

I read quite a lot of travel article and if I see a really good article about a place, I save it. And I have a deck of European places that I’ve saved from travel articles. I don’t want to waste time on thinking about what we’re going to do tonight, and be disappointed by not being able to do something. So having dinner reservations is a good start; it’s a must for me.

I keep the days fairly open and I like to be free-spirited and independent. It’s always good to go to off-the-beaten track places. If you go to the hotel concierge they’ll tell you the best restaurants to try, but they don’t necessarily tell you what the locals like.

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HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR TRAVEL?

When I was young, my parents fell in love with a remote strip of white sand beach on the Alabama Gulf Coast called Fort Morgan, and each summer we would spend a week in a private vacation home rental along this beach.

Those weeks filled with sun, surf, adventures, bonfires, and fireworks created the best memories I have of my family and childhood.

WHAT IS YOUR TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY?

Go slow and take extra time. I tack on days to every business trip to enjoy an area, and I drive instead of fly whenever possible. I like to read and write on the road and find that I’m calmer and more creative in beautiful scenery.

On my last eighteen-month road trip, for my book The Power of a Vacation, I compiled quotes, poems and lyrics by authors who wrote about how much meaning travel adds to our lives.

WHICH DESTINATIONS WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT?

I’ve been traveling a lot over the last three years, so I would like to go back to non-commercialized areas like Vancouver Island, North Captiva Island, and Bald Head Island, although it looks like Bald Head took quite a hit from the last hurricane.

WHERE WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TRIP?

Little Bay in St. Maarten, on the Dutch side, was amazing! I went with some friends, and we spent lazy days swimming and sunning and then had some great dinners and cocktails. Traveling with like minded friends makes everything more fun.

WHAT MAKES A VACATION RENTAL GREAT FOR TRAVELING?

Definitely the space. Having a separate living area and a private outdoor area makes the vacation better. A fully equipped kitchen helps save money with meals, and a washer and dryer means you don’t have to pack as much.

It is just unique to be able to feel like you are “living” somewhere instead of “staying” somewhere.

WHAT ARE SOME VACATION RENTALS YOU GO BACK TO?

I spend every January at Summer House in Orange Beach, Alabama. I’ve visited a few rentals that I will definitely return to: a house called Serendipity on North Captiva Island, Florida; and a cabin called Smoky Mountain Manor in Sevierville, Tennessee.

There was also a beach house called B & Ds on the Beach on St George Island; and The Lodge at Mendham Mill in County Suffolk in England. All the rentals I stayed in, in the United States, had private pools and amazing views. And the one in England had a beautiful centuries old walled garden and it even came with a canoe to use on the river that runs through the manor.

WHAT DESTINATIONS ARE IDEAL FOR VACATION RENTALS?

Most beach destinations have private beach houses and condominiums, while mountain destinations have ski resorts, cabins, and chalets.

In Europe, many of the vacation homes are hundreds of years old, and travelers can choose city flats, castles, or farm houses. We are even seeing tree houses gain mainstream popularity as a holiday rental. In short, if it there is a type of home that is your fantasy, you can find it now as a rental.

WHAT’S ONE TRAVEL ADVICE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

Arrive at a rental home during the day instead of getting there at night. You will have a better overall feeling in the home if you can explore inside and outside while there is still daylight.

If there is anything wrong, you can still get someone on the phone; and if you forget something, you can make it to a store. Getting to a European manor home built in the 1600s or to a cabin in the woods at midnight has a little creepy factor.

WHAT’S THE PERFECT HOLIDAY DESTINATION THIS YEAR?

I don’t think people realize how fun it is to spend the holidays in a rental. The southeast Gulf Coast beach destinations in the United States have amazing weather and low crowds.

I have friends who take their families to a mountain cabin for a week over Christmas. For example, to Whistler, Colorado, Gatlinburg or Blue Ridge. It forces you to get your shopping done ahead of time. So when you get to your rental, you can relax, play games with the family, and roast marshmallows. And many managers and hosts will even help you put up a Christmas tree if you want.

WHAT’S NEXT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST FOR 2019?

After spending a couple of months in Europe, I am dialing it back and exploring new out-of-the-way locations in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.

Where I am in my life today, I want to see more stars and find more peace and quiet, and nature. My goal is to rejuvenate in 2019 and get ready for more travel abroad in 2020.

WHICH CITY IS MOST MEMORABLE TO YOU?

This is tough. In the United States, New Orleans is special because its history, architecture, and culture are unique. And Chicago is surprisingly easy to navigate. There is a lot to do, and the people are Midwest-true blue. Internationally, Barcelona has a whole lot to offer, and Paris is a must-see. If you stay in Paris, check out Paris Perfect if you want a solid city rental. In all these cities, be prepared to eat!

TELL US ABOUT A TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THAT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH.

Figuring out transportation has always been my weakness. The first time I got on a bus in Barcelona, but I didn’t know how to pay. I didn’t know Spanish and I was so flustered. The entire bus was yelling at me while I desperately kept repeating je ne sais pas! — which, of course, is French for “I don’t know.” So it didn’t help the situation. I felt like the dumbest American traveler alive, but it still cracks me up thinking about it!

The post Renting vacation homes around the world appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Galal Mahmoud design

HOW DOES TRAVELING INFLUENCE YOUR WORK?

Whenever we sign up for a new job, I will try and catch a plane to a new destination related in one way or the other to the type of job and challenges we will have to tackle. We signed up for the renovation of a landmark 19th century palace in upper Egypt on the Nile. I am therefore planning to visit recently renovated palaces in Europe and Asia. I will probably start with Italy and then Rajasthan in India.

HOW HAS TRAVELING CHANGED YOU?

I have been traveling with my parents since the age of four throughout Europe and mainly on the Mediterranean coast line. Traveling definitively has awakened my never-ending curiosity and broadened my exposure to different cultures and environments. This has had and is still having a strong influence in my work and in the way I read and understand new environments I design projects in.

WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER ARE YOU?

I tend to become more and more demanding in terms of comfort and quality. I guess age has taken its toll on the extensive flight hours.

Galal Mahmoud

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 TRAVEL ESSENTIALS?

A good book, preferably about the destination to immerse myself fully, an extensive playlist, and contacts of locals that can help me immerse into the destination’s life styles.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR NEXT DESTINATION?

I have it all planned according to a very long bucket list, although, of course, there is always the last minute plan that is full of surprises. But as long as a place is culturally diverse, bewildering and beautiful, I will hop on a plane and go visit.

Galal Mahmoud design

 

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO EXPLORE A NEW CITY?

Depending on which city, I pinpoint important things to see on a map and link the rest by walking or by just getting lost between each if the city is safe. I also like to stop by cafes to get a flavor of the local habits and colors. My favorite indulgences are early morning coffee in a typical café with the local newspaper and late afternoon drinks in one of the old hotel palaces of the city.

WHICH DESTINATIONS ARE MOST MEMORABLE FOR YOU?

Paris remains magical for me at any time of the day. It is so diversified; and after 30 years of knowing it, I still always discover. new things there. But my favorite place in the world is our family retreat on the island of Mykonos. I have been going there for the past 40 years and it is where I feel totally relaxed and in contact with my favorite natural environment, the Mediterranean sea that lies beneath the house.

GALAL MAHMOUD’S FAVORITE CITIES

Paris

New York

Rio de Janeiro

Beirut

Tokyo

WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN YOU FIND THE MOST CREATIVE INSPIRATION?

Sitting by the sea in a typical sea shore Greek taverna having a glass of ouzo, white cheese, tomatoes and Greek olives on a secluded island.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE TRIP.

My first visit to the island of Bali 16 years ago was short, but I was blown away by the simple quality of the traditional Balinese architecture where you live in complete symbiosis with nature around you and where every viewpoint seems to be framed by nature. It is the essence of ecological living since all the materials are sourced locally, and this produces the necessary environment for harmonious living.

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