We asked travel writer and Secret Trips contributing editor David Annand for his guidance on your most pressing globetrotter conundrums
Years of fashion modelling and, later, writing assignments have taken David Annand all over the world. Over the years he has written about his adventures for all kinds of outlets including Condé Nast Traveller, GQ, the Telegraph, and Mr and Mrs Smith. As such, Globe-Trotter couldn’t think of a better person to pitch your frequently asked travel questions to. Here, he shares his expertise and insider knowledge.
We asked travel writer and Secret Trips contributing editor David Annand for his guidance on your most pressing globetrotter conundrums
Years of fashion modelling and, later, writing assignments have taken David Annand all over the world. Over the years he has written about his adventures for all kinds of outlets including Condé Nast Traveller, GQ, the Telegraph, and Mr and Mrs Smith. As such, Globe-Trotter couldn’t think of a better person to pitch your frequently asked travel questions to. Here, he shares his expertise and insider knowledge.
How do I plan the perfect itinerary?
On the eve of your trip, your ideal holiday schedule should resemble a piece of Swiss cheese: 80 per cent solid with a few holes here and there. Solidity is key. Getting the most out of a destination requires some pre-planning: if you rock up at Core or Banzarbar without a reservation, you’re not going to get in. Equally, the better you plan, the smarter you can travel: your experience at a hot-ticket exhibition or a beloved but tiny space will vary wildly depending on when you go; London’s Sir John Soane’s Museum, for example, is at its best first thing on a weekday morning. But pre-planning can only take you so far – the best trips always involve an element of spontaneity and whimsy, so make sure there are holes that can be filled with the amazing things you didn’t know were going to happen until they did.
How do I plan the perfect itinerary?
On the eve of your trip, your ideal holiday schedule should resemble a piece of Swiss cheese: 80 per cent solid with a few holes here and there. Solidity is key. Getting the most out of a destination requires some pre-planning: if you rock up at Core or Banzarbar without a reservation, you’re not going to get in. Equally, the better you plan, the smarter you can travel: your experience at a hot-ticket exhibition or a beloved but tiny space will vary wildly depending on when you go; London’s Sir John Soane’s Museum, for example, is at its best first thing on a weekday morning. But pre-planning can only take you so far – the best trips always involve an element of spontaneity and whimsy, so make sure there are holes that can be filled with the amazing things you didn’t know were going to happen until they did.
How do I avoid jet lag?
Back in the day, the only advice I remember getting about avoiding jet lag was to eschew wine and drink bloody marys on the plane (the minuscule amounts of vitamin C in the tomato juice were doing a lot of heavy lifting here). These days, the thinking has moved on. Avoid alcohol in the air. Caffeine, too. If you can, time your flight so that you land at daybreak in your destination. Do restorative yoga before you leave and in your seat, and then when you arrive, get straight out into the sun and do dynamic yoga to reboot your system. Also, be under 40 years old. That helps massively.
How do I avoid jet lag?
Back in the day, the only advice I remember getting about avoiding jet lag was to eschew wine and drink bloody marys on the plane (the minuscule amounts of vitamin C in the tomato juice were doing a lot of heavy lifting here). These days, the thinking has moved on. Avoid alcohol in the air. Caffeine, too. If you can, time your flight so that you land at daybreak in your destination. Do restorative yoga before you leave and in your seat, and then when you arrive, get straight out into the sun and do dynamic yoga to reboot your system. Also, be under 40 years old. That helps massively.
Do you have any stress-free packing for frequent travellers?
The Globe-Trotter Centenary Carry-On obviously gets you off on the right foot with its voluminous capacity. Nonetheless, choices need to be made. When it comes to clothes the key is versatility: you want a pair of trousers that can be jauntily rolled up when lounging by the pool, and look just as good worn straight in the evening with a jacket. Two crisp white T-shirts. A shirt that looks just as good buttoned as it does loose (packing cubes are great for keeping clean and worn clothes separate). Beyond the wardrobe essentials, there are a few non-negotiables: tortoiseshell Wayfarers, ear buds for destination-specific holiday playlists and a wanderlust-inspiring book: either Footsteps by Richard Holmes, or Laurie Lee’s As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning.
Do you have any stress-free packing for frequent travellers?
The Globe-Trotter Centenary Carry-On obviously gets you off on the right foot with its voluminous capacity. Nonetheless, choices need to be made. When it comes to clothes the key is versatility: you want a pair of trousers that can be jauntily rolled up when lounging by the pool, and look just as good worn straight in the evening with a jacket. Two crisp white T-shirts. A shirt that looks just as good buttoned as it does loose (packing cubes are great for keeping clean and worn clothes separate). Beyond the wardrobe essentials, there are a few non-negotiables: tortoiseshell Wayfarers, ear buds for destination-specific holiday playlists and a wanderlust-inspiring book: either Footsteps by Richard Holmes, or Laurie Lee’s As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning.
How do I organise a family holiday that works for everyone?
The trick to family holidays is to not veer too far in one direction or another. Two weeks of hotdogs and water slides is no adult’s idea of a perfect getaway, just as a 10-day walking tour of Romanesque churches isn’t going to fly with any six-year-old I’ve ever known. The key is balance: you want a destination that encompasses a bit of everything – wild abandon for the children; culture and cuisine for their parents. Crete is a perennial family favourite for precisely this reason: the island has splash-about beaches, aquariums and ruins that you can clamber over, as well as being one of the great sites of antiquity. Similarly, the French Atlantic coastline around Bordeaux has lovely saline lakes and sand bars for the little ones, brilliant breaks for teenagers and the world’s best wine.
How do I organise a family holiday that works for everyone?
The trick to family holidays is to not veer too far in one direction or another. Two weeks of hotdogs and water slides is no adult’s idea of a perfect getaway, just as a 10-day walking tour of Romanesque churches isn’t going to fly with any six-year-old I’ve ever known. The key is balance: you want a destination that encompasses a bit of everything – wild abandon for the children; culture and cuisine for their parents. Crete is a perennial family favourite for precisely this reason: the island has splash-about beaches, aquariums and ruins that you can clamber over, as well as being one of the great sites of antiquity. Similarly, the French Atlantic coastline around Bordeaux has lovely saline lakes and sand bars for the little ones, brilliant breaks for teenagers and the world’s best wine.
Which destinations are up-and-coming?
Modern travel is all about the secret city. Visitor numbers are overwhelming some destinations to the detriment of those who live there and also to the experience of visiting them. Marrakech’s medina is a magnificent place but too often it can feel Glastonbury-busy with huge volumes of tourists clogging up the narrow alleyways. Tangier, by contrast, is a wide-open field and it is jam-packed with delights like Villa Mabrouka, Yves Saint Laurent’s one-time home, which was reimagined as a hotel by Jasper Conran. Similarly, Girona and Zaragoza are great alternatives to Barcelona. And Aarhus is a terrific place that is due its day in the Danish sun.
Which destinations are up-and-coming?
Modern travel is all about the secret city. Visitor numbers are overwhelming some destinations to the detriment of those who live there and also to the experience of visiting them. Marrakech’s medina is a magnificent place but too often it can feel Glastonbury-busy with huge volumes of tourists clogging up the narrow alleyways. Tangier, by contrast, is a wide-open field and it is jam-packed with delights like Villa Mabrouka, Yves Saint Laurent’s one-time home, which was reimagined as a hotel by Jasper Conran. Similarly, Girona and Zaragoza are great alternatives to Barcelona. And Aarhus is a terrific place that is due its day in the Danish sun.