This duo are our go-to for travel inspiration. Florencia Cavallo was born in Argentina and lived in Buenos Aires until her family moved to Australia; while Elise Labau Topaloglu was born in the south of France and grew up in St Barths in the Caribbean. They both found their way to New York, where they met through their work in fashion PR. And together, they have a combined 20+ years experience leading communications strategies and brand positioning for some of the world’s best lifestyle brands.

In 2018, they launched their e-commerce site Golden Edit (which is currently on vacation), and they are now focused on Stories Consulting, an agency that offers expertise in communications and curated storytelling. When they’re not building brands, they’re traveling the world in search of sun-drenched destinations.

Part of our Insiders series, this is your window into the worlds of the coolest people in Safara’s network. These are the contacts we’d hit up for travel inspiration, whether it’s a hotel recommendation, a new track for our in-transit playlist, the best mini-products to pack, or just to daydream about where we’d open a boutique island hotel (this changes with each Insider guide we read – we’re easily and happily influenced).

Read on for travel inspiration from Florencia Cavallo and Elise Labau Topaloglu.

Name three of your favorite hotels?

Belmond Hotel Splendido in Portofino. One of the most glamorous resorts in Italy, where you can truly enjoy ‘la dolce vita’. The views! The food! The décor! It’s an absolute dream.

Hotel Can Simoneta in Mallorca. Exclusive, intimate and oh-so romantic. The property sits on a cliff in Canyamel overlooking the sea and is made up of a number of restored 140-year-old buildings.

Twin Palms in Surin Beach, Thailand. A stylish boutique hotel with a jaw-dropping lagoon pool where you can truly get away from it all. A sweet smell of fresh lemongrass lingers throughout the entire resort. It’s pure bliss. 

What are your favorite “offices” while traveling?

The best part of travel is discovering new places, so it’s always a welcome surprise when you stumble across a gorgeous tucked away café where you can work for the day, while people watching the locals. For a place that feels like “home”, we love The Wing in NYC.

What do you always bring with you in your carry-on?

Portable phone charger, Lucas’ Papaw Ointment, water (staying hydrated in-flight is key to beating jetlag!), a straw hat that’s too big to fit in checked baggage, noise-cancelling headphones and a set of bikinis in case bags get lost.

If you’re going to a new place, and your friends have not been there, where do you look for travel inspiration?

We try to do as much research as possible before heading to a new destination, but the magic really happens when you arrive and start wandering around and getting lost in a new place. Talking to the local community is the best way to discover hidden gems. Locals always give the best advice – whether it’s in a big city, or a small seaside town.

Who is your dream travel partner? 

Frances Mayes (played by Diane Lane) in Under The Tuscan Sun.

What’s your go-to outfit for getting through security quickly, and still looking good?

A white tee, linen pants, straw bag large enough to fit our laptop, and Birkenstocks we can easily slip on and off. 

If you could quit your job and follow the Mamma Mia dream (ie. open a small hotel in another country or on a remote island), where would you do it? 

Florencia: My husband and I dream of opening a little restaurant in the south of Italy (not that there’s shortage of them!); an intimate space offering simple, home-cooked food and local wine. Of late, it has become more of a ‘goal’ than a dream… stay tuned!  

Elise: As for us, we dream of turning a plot of land we recently bought in a natural reserve in southwest Turkey into a beautiful glamping destination. Picture the glamorous African Safari experience in Tanzania or Kenya without the wild animals, and overlooking the Aegean instead.

You have an hour to spare at the airport, what would we find you doing? 

Dream: reading our favorite book. Reality: sending last-minute emails. 

Where’s your next trip – give us some travel inspiration?

We’re headed to Mallorca, Puglia, Calabria and Sicily for a never-ending summer!

Beach, city or mountains?

Beach, always! 

Early check-in or late check-out?

Early – so we can change and go straight to the beach!

Window or aisle?

Window (to daydream while looking at the clouds).

Read more from our Insiders series, here.

Annabel Herrick is a freelance travel journalist and copywriter, with a background in PR for tourism boards including Visit California and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Originally from Wales, she’s now based in London, and describes herself as a” reader, writer, fair-weather swimmer and avid yogi”. 

All in pursuit of a story, her articles have included glamping in New York for Stylist, seeking out yoga shalas in Sri Lanka for Vice, snowshoeing in Quebec for The Week, trying ‘vino-therapy’ in Bordeaux for Suitcase and writing UK travel guides for Condé Nast Traveller. She balances adventures with commercial copywriting for brands including Starling Bank, Casio, Google and Coca-Cola, and often consults for wellness brands, too.

Part of our Insiders series, this is your window into the worlds of the coolest people in Safara’s network. These are the contacts we’d hit up for travel inspiration, whether it’s a hotel recommendation, a new track for our in-transit playlist, the best mini-products to pack, or just to daydream about where we’d open a boutique island hotel (this changes with each Insider guide we read – we’re easily and happily influenced).

Read on for travel inspiration from Annabel Herrick.

Name three of your favorite hotels?

One that always sticks in my head is Source de Caudalie near Bordeaux, run by a sister and a mother, surrounded by vineyards and a stunning ‘vino-therapy’ spa.

Burgenstock Resort in Switzerland was huge, but the views were phenomenal (so much so I cried when they showed me my room).

I also stayed in The Parker in Palm Springs once, which was a dream and I’m still getting through the amazing freebies, like Acqua Di Parma products.

And, not exactly a hotel, but I slept with Lady Liberty at my feet when glamping on an island off Manhattan for Stylist. I’ll never forget that.

As a creative, where do you find inspiration for your work?

I find I work really well in airports, because there’s a time limit! I like the bustle. Hotel rooms work well too, especially if there’s a time difference, as it means the UK is asleep and emails calm down.

Dream places to visit as a travel writer?

California has to be up there – working for Visit California changed my attitude to ambition. I stopped hiding it like a classic Brit. I think we could all do with a dose of their positivity. If you have a creative idea, they’re all for it.

What are your favorite “offices” while traveling?

I had a day pass at Fora the other day (a hospitality/coworking hybrid), which was beautiful. The founder, Katrina, launched the Big Chill festival and there’s lots of musical influences in the design, like vinyl record players.

Montreal also does cafe culture beautifully, especially in the winter when people hide from the cold.

Where would you go for a digital detox or just generally to get off the grid?

Home to the Brecon Beacons in Wales. There’s no signal in my mum’s house, which is a beautiful little listed building sloping up a hill in Crickhowell. It’s the only place I can really switch off.

You travel a lot for work, was this something you were seeking in a career? And how do you make it as relaxing and fun as possible?

I worked as a waitress in a luxury hotel for the whole of my teens and through that got a job at a PR/marketing startup. Coming from a national park and doing a French degree, I think it’s built in me. But it also means I have incredibly high expectations – nowhere has been as beautiful as my mountains at home (yet).

When I went freelance, the biggest draw was freedom. Not being restricted to a 9-5 is so liberating and I realised it suits me so well. Being jolted out of my comfort zone through travel (seeing other cultures, meeting various nationalities, hearing languages) is really good for inspiration. I always come home buzzing with ideas. The line between work trips and holidays is blurred, but I’m working on it…

If you’re going to a new place, and your friends have not been there, who, what or where do you consult for advice?

Culture Trip is incredible for city break roundups, they seem to have everywhere covered. My favorite travel magazine Suitcase is great for long-form writing. I also do shout-outs on all social media channels and that works well.

Anxiety and burn out are big topics these days. How do you combat them, and how do you use travel to do so?

I always put an OOO on explaining the time difference. If I’m working remotely, I try to balance that with exploring by getting all my work done first thing in the morning, so doing half and half if I can. It normally means I don’t get much sleep, but I just power through.

Do you have any tips or tricks for beating the dreaded jet lag?

I interviewed the ‘sleep scientist’ Matthew Walker for Vice once and he gave some really good tips, such as having least 12 hours of wakefulness from the moment you get the plane to when you go to sleep in the new time zone. As well as getting as much natural daylight as possible once landed.  

Travel can be about the little luxuries, like an amazing cup of coffee. Where was the best one you’ve had?

I lived in Paris for a year and I miss the coffee there so much. And the bread.

If you could quit your job and follow the Mamma Mia dream (ie. open a small hotel in another country or on a remote island), where would you do it?

At home. I plan to open a yoga retreat at some point. Having lived in Wales, Manchester and Bristol, I really try to push UK travel, as I think we have so much to offer outside of London. I love it there, but the capital does soak up too much attention, in my opinion.

Beach, city or mountains?

Mountains! I’m from Wales after all. The higher up, the better.

Favorite subscription service you’ll never delete?

NY Times probably now I have it, I’m addicted. I could give or take Netflix and Spotify.

Favorite travel app?

I’d love to mention my walking app client Go Jauntly, which is free. They offer user-led trails guided by photos. They’ve just launched in the US!

Read more from our Insiders series, here.

An expert in finely tuned event planning, Stephanie Muhs has worked with myriad brands, from major media to charities, including Town & Country Magazine, WWD, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Based in New York, she’s now on the events team at 1stdibs; the leading marketplace for the most beautiful things on earth, bringing together some of the world’s best designers and curators. It’s a selection that makes for addictive scrolling.

Despite the fact that she’s a professional planner, Stephanie is a big advocate for spontaneity when it comes to travel. And, having honed her eye for luxury and design throughout her career, her hotel tips are always worth noting.

Part of our Insiders series, this is your window into the worlds of the coolest people in Safara’s network. These are the contacts we’d hit up for travel inspiration, whether it’s a hotel recommendation, a new track for our in-transit playlist, the best mini-products to pack, or just to daydream about where we’d open a boutique island hotel (this changes with each Insider guide we read – we’re easily and happily influenced).

Read on for travel inspiration from Stephanie Muhs.

Name three of your favourite hotels?

Cavas Wine Lodge, Mendoza, Argentina. You’re made to feel like family as soon as you arrive. The property is small and they go out of their way to get to know all of their guests, plus their wine cellar is legendary.

Four Seasons, Lanai, Hawaii. One of the only Four Seasons properties I’ve visited, and definitely the nicest! The poolside service offers everything from frozen fruit to a sunglasses cleaner, as well as organising authentic and engaging activities. It works – you never want to leave the property (except to go to the golf course, which has the most spectacular views in all of Hawaii).

Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond, Scotland. Visiting Scotland in the fall is really hard to beat and this hotel makes you want to make it an annual trip. There are plenty of amazing and authentic dining options on site, plus so many nearby local spots that are always happy to have you.

What is the most unique hotel amenity you’ve ever encountered?

Places that genuinely represent and support the local culture. Whether they are a large resort or a small boutique property, it’s important the staff appear genuine in showing their enthusiasm about their local customs. That could mean food, activities or a concierge whose energy is contagious. These interactions drive a large part of my experience.

What hotel room design element can you not live without?

Access to fresh air! Even if it’s a window that I have to pry open, I need to be able to get a breeze in the space.

Where would you go for a digital detox or just generally to get off the grid?

I head to my family’s cabin on the coast of Maine, Mount Desert Island. I went there for eight weeks after my son was born and barely turned on the TV. The nature changes so quickly and dramatically – it’s wildly entertaining.

You travel a lot for work, was this something you were seeking in a career? And, how do you make it as relaxing and fun as possible?

It’s definitely not something I planned on. However, traveling for an event is the last step after months of planning. I try not to get out of a routine too much, so I bring my own tea, try to exercise at local fitness spots and always have my travel-sized amenities packed and ready to go. My skin can’t take switching products, so I am always stocked with minis of my favorites. Plus, I throw in samples collected from my online shopping habit.

What are your favorite travel hacks?

For reservations, if I can’t get our party in at the time we want, I almost always book for a smaller number, and then call on the day to say we forgot someone!

What do you always bring with you in your carry-on?

Avène Thermal Spring Water, I spritz it religiously. And compression socks, which I wear shamelessly.

Best travel advice you’ve ever received?

In Punta del Este, Carlos Melia (who helped us plan our honeymoon) made sure we never had a dinner reservation earlier than 11pm. We thought that sounded crazy, but he could not have been more right! We tried one of the ‘early’ seatings at 9pm, and were surrounded by a crowd who were a lot younger or way older.

If you could quit your job and follow the Mamma Mia dream (ie. open a small hotel in another country or on a remote island), where would it be?

Palma de Mallorca.

Is in-flight wifi a good idea?

Yes.

Lost luggage, or lost phone?

Luggage.

Early check-in or late check-out?

Late checkout.

Read more from our Insiders series, here.