With the holiday season upon us, we thought it fun and insightful to ask travel-savvy captains of industry for essential advice to ensure a smooth-sailing trip. They may come from highly different industries, from tech to lifestyle, but these frequent flyers have chalked up enough miles to share some laugh-out-loud or embarrassing moments abroad, know where the best places to visit and know how to travel smart. If you’re ready to get bitten by the travel bug again, read on for hot places to visit for 2023 and learn some helpful hacks that will help make vacations less painful.
“I believe in quality over quantity (however cliché this might sound), and so it really isn’t about how long one is gone for, so much as what is memorably, joyfully, and productively squeezed in, while away. The most memorable trip, in a laughable way, was when I travelled to Tahiti. This goes back to a few years ago when I was living in Hong Kong, and it was wintertime then. I remember landing late at night and waiting for my luggage to arrive, only to be told in the end that it had gotten lost. The next day was epic when having to go clothes shopping while fully geared in winter clothes. The climate there is tropical, so you can imagine why people stare at this woman fully clothed in thick layers. I was mortified then, but I laugh about it now. If we cannot allow humour to offset uncomfortable/difficult situations, we simply make it harder for ourselves all around.
I always overpack and have yet to learn the art of ‘travelling light’. This makes my portable digital luggage scale an ‘absolute must’ to avoid exceeding airline luggage weight. The quintessential Type A in me also calls for a pouch for each outfit. I never travel with shampoos or body soap – I buy these essentials at my arrival destination to avoid leakage mishaps. I pack in dryer sheets into my luggage so that it smells like fresh laundry when I open it, and I always, yes, always throw in at least two expandable luggage-size Longchamp Pliage bags, which I always wind up using.
For 2023, I recommend a trip to Paris because I partly grew up there and because, in Audrey Hepburn’s words, “Paris is always a good idea”— but best to avoid the ‘touristy times’, of course. I love Paris in the Fall and Springtime when it is quieter and has a cosy, authentic feel. The Maldives, Sri Lanka and Greece are on my 2023 travel bucket list because I have always wanted to go. The Maldives for its beautiful white sandy beaches, closeness to Singapore and because it’s a snorkelling paradise; Sri Lanka for its rich wildlife, tea plantations and spiritual foundations; and Greece for its history, food, architecture and beaches.
Next year will be busy for me because we have fabulous upcoming collaborations with Longchamp; we are opening many new stores with the new architectural store design concept. I am also working with fantastic companies with Emotional Inclusion to promote sustainable organisational mental health pillars further. I have an incredible lineup of global leaders on my “Emotional Inclusion” podcast, and I have a book with Penguin Random House outlining my vision for humanising work cultures with Emotional Inclusion, out in April 2023. I am genuinely excited!”
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Boon Sian Chai | Managing drector and vice president, International Markets, Trip.com Group
“I wish everyone to travel again extensively, freely and without restrictions. Travel inspires people and rejuvenates our minds and body. I hope more people will be able to plan and embark on their next perfect trip sometime soon!
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I will never forget a trip to Scandinavia, during which I left my luggage in a locked luggage facility at the airport whilst I joined a city sightseeing tour for a few hours. The locker was emptied when I returned to retrieve my luggage! I went to the locker office and was told they had opened the locker for someone who claimed he had lost the keys. I was shocked that they did that but quickly composed myself so that I could decide on the next course of action required to proceed with my travel journey. I went to lodge a police report, and subsequently, the locker office recognised that they were at fault and offered me total compensation for the cost of my luggage and items.
I’d always advise my friends to use a combination of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and brand.com sites to identify and secure the greatest deals possible. Great deals appear on different sites; hence, there is value in researching and shopping for the best deals. For flight options, leverage the Trip.com app, as it can combine flight options from different points of origin, providing travellers with competitive prices. Last but not least, use different country sites on the app or Web settings when browsing for the best deals. You will be surprised to see different deals offered to different nationalities depending on the point of sale.
For 2023, I would recommend South American destinations, namely Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. These destinations have a great combination of city, resorts, history and nature. We can pick up many things during our trips to these destinations. For instance, do you know the most common public transportation mode in La Paz, Bolivia? Well, it’s the cable car! The city is shaped like a bowl, and the cable cars allow people to travel from one point to another efficiently.”
Newby Hands | Global beauty director, Net-a-Porter
“Nothing is better than a few nights away just to enjoy guilty pleasures like room service! Even better if the hotel has a spa, I can see it as relaxation and research. So often, business travel is all work and no play but travelling for leisure is an excellent way of calming my mind and body, allowing me to recharge for the day-to-day grind. It could be an overnight trip or a couple of weeks long. My best memory was my recent Merano, North Italy, San Luis retreat trip. It’s built around a lake, and we stayed in a tree house. It was just so wonderful feeding the red squirrels every day on our veranda and swimming in the lake — the ultimate in luxe nature.
The best travel tip is to bring more, not less. I don’t use travel sizes because they won’t last a week, let alone two weeks. I also think we need more on vacation as we have more time to relax and indulge in those extra beauty steps such as face and hair masks. I use creamy face masks, double as night creams and never stinge on SPF and good after-sun care. I make sure I have multi-taskers to save on space, like Rose Inc Blush Divine Radiant Cheek and Lip Color or Byredo's Bal d'Afrique body lotion (both available on Net-a-Porter), which scents while moisturising the skin. I also love a good hair mask and will either sleep in it or comb it through for the day and then slick my hair back in a ponytail. So when the evening comes, my hair is super healthy, not dry and frazzled.
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On the plane, I always travel with a Slip travel pillow, a silk eye mask, cashmere socks, and a big shawl – plus snacks that always include chocolate – and the Audible app, as I love being read to when on a long-haul flight. With all the above, I usually get a good sleep and often need them when staying in a hotel.
If you’re thinking of a unique holiday destination, I’ll always recommend somewhere sunny. I do love to visit islands, especially smaller ones. There is always that calmness at the end of each day when all visitors have left. Capri, Paxos, and Ischia are my absolute favourites. I also love Seychelles, as the islands can be so different.
2023 will be a busy year for me because it is our 10th anniversary of Beauty at Net-a-Porter. The beauty space is ever-changing, and we strive to curate a prestigious and unique assortment at Net-a-Porter. Evolving the category and maintaining a global perspective requires a lot of hard work from the whole team.”
Terry Smagh | Senior vice President and general manager, Infor
“The pandemic clipped our wings and relegated us to hermits in our homes for far too long, but with borders opening up this year, many have decided to take to the skies. If you fall into this category, you are bound to be a little rusty, just like when I embarked on my first trip out of Changi Airport. Adapting to this new never normal of travel, I always thoroughly research my destination’s and home country’s travel policies. Whilst most have opened up, some select nations still have complex travel restrictions. I am sure to check that I have passed all necessary Covid-19 guidelines and possess the proper documentation to navigate immigration and health checks without delay.
Regarding packing, light is the way to go, with a briefcase for my laptop and a separate cabin luggage for casual and formal wear. In my experience, I always pack handkerchiefs enough for each day – it truly works wonders in a surprising number of situations. For long-haul flights, issues around lost luggage remain, so I am sure to differentiate my own luggage through unique design or personal customisation in the shape of a distinctive luggage tag.
Several of my peers have purchased a suitcase-tracking device which has proven to be a shrewd investment. There are various luggage trackers: Apple’s AirTag is a popular one that only costs $45. Instances of your airline being unable to pinpoint the location of suitcases are more rife than you would expect. Therefore trackers cover the airline’s bases when it fails to do so itself. Keep in mind that your luggage will not rush along with you – being early or at least timely to check in and to select a non-stop air ticket or one with a longer layover grants your luggage sufficient time to make it on board its flight too. Finally, securing your luggage or bags with a lock is imperative: a combination lock always trumps the lock-and-key in case you lose that key mid-journey.”
Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry – the company’s mission-critical enterprise applications and services are designed to deliver sustainable operational advantages with security and faster time to value.
“Through my travels, I’ve learned that it’s good to pick up a few phrases of the native tongue. I’ve found that the locals are more welcoming when a foreigner greets them in their language. So when visiting a non-English speaking country, I would learn some of their familiar words of greeting and thanks. Even if I trip up on pronunciation, they appreciate the effort, which could be an ice-breaking moment. I also try to find out about some cultural norms. For example, during my recent family holiday to South Korea, I discovered that tipping is considered discourteous there. I lived for a couple of years in the US, where tipping is expected and a way to show thanks to service staff. But in South Korea, service staff are happy to carry out their duties which they see as part of their job. It would be an absolute faux pas on the visitor’s part to tip staff in South Korea.
For a glitch-free experience at customs, you need to prepare the paperwork. We tend to think that post-Covid, all travel protocols are back to normal. That’s generally true, but even the most open countries may require health declarations upon entry. Research beforehand what forms need to be completed and what information is required – and get this done before you depart. The tourism websites for your destination country should have all the links to download forms. Some countries may require downloading apps to upload your health documents and information. Do this in advance as it can be stressful doing this in the immigration hall, especially in a country where you might not be able to speak their language. Even re-entering Singapore requires Singapore citizens and PRs to complete an online health declaration form. On my recent return to Singapore, I noted some Singaporeans were not aware of this requirement. Thankfully, airport staff were on hand before the immigration counters to verbally remind returning residents that they needed to complete the form.
Weather in any part of the world nowadays can be unpredictable. When it comes to packing, I choose layered fashion. I always pack in layers, making adding on or taking off easier to adjust to weather conditions. On a flight, I always bring along a cashmere scarf; it’s genuinely multi-functional as it’s both a fashion accessory and an extra layer of warmth; plus, cashmere is lightweight and not bulky.”
Symphony Loo | On-premise channel manager, South East Asia and India, Campari Group
“I have about two to three work trips per month which go between eight to 20 days at most. With all the frequent flying, I started to have a few sets of clothes, skincare, and bar tools that remained in my suitcase. Identify the staples, so you're always ready to go with less time for packing - especially if you're constantly travelling for work. Capitalise on the work travels by having a frequent flyer membership to earn miles for your leisure trips. Set more than 1 alarm if you have an early flight and ensure you arrive earlier at the airport than you're supposed to ease the stress. If you're always in a rush like I am, mark your luggage as fragile so you'd always see them coming out of the belt first!
An exciting trip for me happened about a month ago. I missed a flight from Vietnam to Singapore and almost missed an event I had to host. I was hosting an event in Vietnam for Bisquit and Dubouché, a new cognac label we're launching across Southeast Asia, and was meant to host the same launch in Singapore days later. It's a little embarrassing for a regional ambassador like myself to admit that I probably enjoyed cognac too much, overslept, and didn’t get on the plane. I had a massive panic when I woke up. Thankfully, I managed to book a later flight. Lesson learnt, but not really. So my tip for anyone out drinking the night before a flight is not to forget to request a morning call from the hotel!
If you're interested in cocktails and restaurants like I am, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan and Bangkok are the places to visit. I know that most people have visited the four mostly for shopping or sightseeing, but if you know the right people or research, you'll find that their F&B scenes are very vibrant, and there's always something new and exciting to experience outside of the usual.”
Jake Kowalewski | Executive chef, and director of Taste, LeVeL33
“For leisure, I try to travel about three to four times a year. In my past roles for work, I had to travel a fair amount to Japan, Maldives, Hong Kong, Thailand and Sydney for special events.
I’ve had some less-than-memorable personal trips, one of which never even happened. In October 2018, my wife and I had planned to travel from Sydney (where we live) to London for joint birthday celebrations. As part of the preparations, she scanned her passport a few weeks before our travel dates to apply for her visa. She happened to leave the passport in the copy machine at her workplace. One of her colleagues happened to remove it from the machine, and in doing so, they accidentally tore the passport page with her photo on it in half – this cancelling our entire trip, unfortunately. We had to rebook everything for the following year in January.
Back when I was only 18 years old, I travelled to the UK on a working holiday visa. This was my first trip overseas by myself. When I arrived at Heathrow airport, I was asked what my intention was there. I told them I was going there to play cricket and work. From that, they thought I was a professional cricket player and that I had the wrong visa, so they kept me for questioning. I was there for 4 hours before they were satisfied! After that, I had to find my way and book a new connecting flight to Glasgow, Scotland, as I had missed my connecting flight after being detained. It wasn’t the easiest task as Heathrow is an enormous airport, and my first time travelling alone.
When I travel, I like to pack light. There’s nothing worse than having too many things packed that you won’t use. Always weigh your bag before going to the airport. Plan in advance the places to visit so you don’t waste your time at your destination trying to decide. Always have a universal charger. And use credit cards while travelling rather than carrying cash – it’s much safer and more convenient.”
Ong Soh Chin | President of Aware
“There’s something zen-like about travel. It distils your life into a time where you are unmoored from your usual reality and untethered from your usual possessions. It is both liberating as well as stressful. For many who travel incessantly and regularly for work, it can also be mundane and soul-sapping. How one approaches travel is a canny reflection of one’s state of mind.
There are many practical travel tips on the Internet, most of which are probably superior to any I can offer. But I believe it all starts with a well-packed, well-thought-out suitcase. As such, I usually open mine on the floor a week before I set off, throwing in items when I think of them. On the day of departure, I take out half the pile. This approach has never failed me. Most people I know tend to over-pack – maybe because of insecurity or a need to be attached to concrete things. But it didn’t take me long to recognise that I didn’t need four pairs of shoes for a week away. In today’s world, when overconsumption is a big problem facing our planet, learning to live with less while away from home could be a good way to reprogram ourselves to be more responsible consumers in our everyday lives.
Other than that, the best travel tip I can give is always to keep an open mind, no matter where you are or where you go. Life is one big journey of ups and downs. What you get out of it depends mainly on your attitude and willingness to go with the flow.”
Aware is Singapore's leading women's rights and gender equality advocacy group. It works on three levels of society - individual, community and state - providing specialised support for women, educating the public on gender equality, and promoting equitable laws and policies.
