As the founder of www.hermioneolivia.com, Hermione Olivia knows a thing or two about exploring the most coveted destinations while embracing culture and diversity. The stylish jet-setter lives out of a suitcase and is constantly exploring a new city each week. She provides a daily dose of inspiration to her followers and channels her creativity into special collaborations, including being the new face of Sereni & Shentel and Bowerhaus.
How do you pick your next travel destination?
My schedule is so crazy, I never really know where I’m going next. I usually try to plan a few months in advance but sometimes, I get pulled somewhere else. I get a lot of opportunities to go to beautiful places and it’s usually out of the blue. I tend to cover a lot of Europe because I live in London. But being an Australian, I do spend a lot of time in Sydney as well, which allows me to comb through Asia.
How do you cope with jet lag?
I never had jet lag until six months ago. I only get it on long-haul flights, but I try to get out in the sunlight and set my clock to the destination before I leave. I don’t eat plane food, so I always eat before I get on the plane. I also hydrate by drinking plenty of water.
What is your favourite travel destination?
I absolutely love the Italian Riviera; I love the Italian culture and people. As cliché as it sounds, Paris is also my favourite city as I feel that no matter how much time I spend there, I always find a new area or street to explore. I love going back to Sydney and seeing the place as a tourist. In Asia, Kuala Lumpur is my favourite city as it’s modern and fast-paced, but it also has a grungy old-world charm.
Can you share with us a tip on how to pack light while still looking effortlessly chic?
I usually wear my jacket on the plane and a lot of black clothing as it’s easy to mix and match with a different lipstick shade or accessory to switch up the look. I’m obsessed with accessories. You can put on a big pair of earrings with a black dress and instantly glam up your look. The thing is that people travel with too many toiletries and that take up a lot of space, so I would just travel with the absolute basics or go into a pharmacy to buy toiletries.
What does it take for someone to make travelling as their full-time job?
You just have to be relaxed and easy-going about it. Flights get delayed or cancelled and luggage gets lost, so just don’t worry about it. I went to the Maldives for four days and my luggage only showed up on the third day, so I wore a robe around the resort for three days. I do suggest carrying the absolute basics on board, so I’ll bring my make-up products, a change of underwear, spare jumper and jacket, in case of anything.