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Traveler Spotlight: Meet Paula de la Cruz, Designer & Global Explorer

Traveler Spotlight: Meet Paula de la Cruz, Designer & Global Explorer

Hometown: New York, for the past 20 years. (I was born in Mendoza, Argentina).

Occupation: Designer and writer.

Favorite destinations: Bhutan, Chile, Bangkok, Argentina. But I'm fickle: My favorite destination is usually my latest trip.

Dying to visit: China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Burma, Finland.

Bizarre travel rituals: I always do a mini-facial at duty-free with cleansing lotion and lather on thick moisturizer before getting on the plane. I also try on several perfumes in case the plane smells.

In-flight relaxation regime: Pills. I'm not even sure if the cocktail I take is altogether doctor-approved...

Always in carry-on: Anti-bacterial wipes, a neck pillow, two inflatable foot rests, mask, earplugs.

Concierge or DIY? Both.

See it all or take it easy? Take it easy, focusing on a few things in depth.

Drive or be driven? Be driven.

Travel hero: My husband James Sturz. He has boundless energy and tries everything at least once but mostly twice.

Weirdest thing seen on travels: I saw a man in Vienna chewing on chip wood at a cafeteria, and he wasn't homeless.

Best hotel amenity: For a city hotel: a great bottle of red wine at the George V in Paris. For a beach resort: A super stylish straw bag with matching slippers at Cocoa Island in The Maldives. 

I dream about my meal at Yam'Tcha in Paris.

Everywhere I go, I check out the art or paper supply stores.

When I arrive in a new place, I learn the lay of the land by taking a walk with a map.

I always bring home textiles, bizarre sauces, lots of seeds, beach shells.

If I never return to Homestead, Florida, it'll be too soon because everything is fried with ketchup.

I travel for the culture.

MORE PAULA

Websites: Pauladelacruz.com


Travel Notes
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