Travel TV presenter Sophie Falkiner has travelled the globe throughout her career.
We asked the frequent flyer and Lotte Duty Free brand advocate to share some of her best tips, and most memorable destinations.
Flying to America to see my grandmother who lives in Dallas, Texas. In the 1970s! I was sitting on the plane and opened my thousand island dressing , and it exploded all over the communal and large movie screen, I was very young and suitably embarrassed . Let’s just say people couldn’t see the screen very well on the long flight to the Honolulu stopover … and I had a lot of death stares. There were orange smears for the whole flight. Also, seeing my fabulous grandmother who I miss very much.
It would have to be Whitehaven beach in the Whitsundays. I’ve choppered in and had a picnic there, I’ve been on a wonderful yacht with one of my best friends and had a magical day, plus I’ve taken my kids there when they were young. The combination of the white silica sand, the crystal clear turquoise water, plus it being completely untouched, with no houses or hotels makes it feel very special . I’ve had beautiful memories there and I adore a stunning beach.
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Sunscreen with a high zinc, a hat, hydrating facial masks ( SK2) . A fabulous exfoliant, I like the Kora Organics brightening turmeric one, facial wipes for when you’re tired and want to go to bed quickly. A dry shampoo when you’re time poor. A great facial oil to hydrate your face and under eyes, plus my Omnilux mask it really helps with jet lag.
Definitely Africa, it was other wordly, the sights, the sounds, the smells, it was sensory overload. I’ve had the good fortune to trek with mountain gorillas in Uganda, do a horse-riding safari in Botswana and stay at some incredible luxury resorts in the Kruger, while going out on safari each day. Tracking animals with the Kalahari bushmen in the middle of nowhere. Visiting orphanages and hearing gorgeous children sing powerfully and happily while dancing and stamping their feet ( a lot who had aids and lost their parents ) which was unbelievably moving and had me in tears.
They were all unforgettable memories that will always stick with me.
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It’s actually quite funny, I was doing a story for a travel programme in Romania at a farm stay. First up was a cooking story. We went to the basement and there were literally multiple rotting carcasses on the bench with cats eating at them, the powerful and raw stench and all the blood and half eaten animals made me very ill . I’ve never vomited from a smell before! Needless to say, the cooking story was cancelled. That night, I went to go into my bedroom, and an old Romanian lady kept coming in, trying to get a bit frisky! She was persistent to say the least. It was very hard and amusing to communicate in a different language that I wasn’t interested. Then it got better, to my horror, when I got into bed, I felt something and pulled out someone’s else’s stockings and underwear. I realised these people had given up their marital bed for me. Which was both sweet and horrifying at the same time!
Worst was bulls’ testicles, a fruit bat and deep-fried insects. Best would be pasta, pizza and gelato in Italy. Heaven!! Croissants in Paris. Amazing burgers in America. The best guacamole and margaritas in Mexico.
If I’m being healthy a chicken salad, however most of the time a burger and fries if I’m being honest. An omelette or poached eggs in the morning with a side of avocado and spinach.
A post shared by Sophie Falkiner (@sophie_falkiner)
Have a sense of humour, it can be torrential rain, you can lose things, places can be unexpectedly bad, just go with it and make the most of it. It’s all an adventure. Some of the hardest places I’ve travelled to too, I have the best memories from.
Always pack trainers and walk first thing in the morning before the tourists come out. You really get to see a lot that way and really take in a country and appreciate all it has to offer.
I always get a special SIM for my phone, so I can look at Google maps on long walks. Also, look up things, like “ the best coffee near me”. It’s super helpful and I never have had a bad meal or coffee / drink that way. I always like to go to places that have a 4.4 or above rating.
Finding out where your local gyms are and joining a class helps you to meet locals and get some great travel tips for that particular area. Plus, you won’t feel guilty eating all that amazing food! Asking locals their favourite spots always uncover hidden gems too.
Make the time to do some duty-free shopping ahead of your trip to save money on all the beauty items you need for the year. Lotte Duty Free in Sydney CBD is where I would head to, so you don’t have to rush at the airport.
People yelling at staff and air hostesses when flights get delayed, or something annoys them onboard. Loud snoring right next to you, or people coughing all over you. When people decide to drink so much, they get obnoxious and reek of it when you have to sit next to them. Passengers who like to constantly bash into the back of your seat, when you’re trying to sleep! Rudeness and impatience in general, it’s not necessary. Treat people how you’d like to be treated yourself.
Just before Covid hit, I was flying from San Francisco to Canada. There was smoke in the cabin, a sudden drop, an emergency landing, people having panic attacks, people hurting themselves jumping off the wing of the plane onto hard cement as we were told to evacuate and drop our bags) fire crews, news crews, you name it. It wasn’t much fun.
Simone has been a fan of travel ever since an early family holiday when she discovered chocolates had been left on her pillow in turndown service! Her favourite travel experience has been dancing with a 90-year-old grandma on a table in Crete after a long lunch. Her worst travel experience has been fainting in the street in Tokyo after enthusiastically eating a takoyaki ball that was way too hot.
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