Carissa Barrett is a Long Island-native who started out working on the NYC club scene in the 1990s, booking DJs for the TriBeCa and Soho Grand hotels (her parties there were pretty infamous). She then moved to San Francisco for a “break”, taking cooking classes at Kitchen On Fire (taught by Michelin-starred chefs), and learning about wine from master sommelier Peter Granoff. It was there that she realized her passion for scent.

After stints managing retail at Prada, Jimmy Choo and Saint Laurent, that same passion led to her current role as Vice President of Retail at Byredo. If you’re looking to switch up your Santal 33, Byredo is the one. As well as an olfactory expert, Carissa describes herself as a “connoisseur of restaurants, hotels, recipes and travel” – which, incidentally, are exactly the qualifications we look for in a Safara Insider.

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 Carissa Barrett.

Name three of your favorite hotels?

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok for the service; Soho Beach House Miami for the view and beach beds to relax; and the Hidden Hotel Paris for the room with the handcuffs.

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

T-shirts and a rain parka, found in the mini bar – so smart.

What hotel room design element can you not live without?

A “do not disturb” switch by the bed, so you don’t have to get up to put the sign on the door.

What are your favorite “offices” while traveling?

The beach at the Soho Beach House Miami, The Standard pool in LA, Dumbo House pool and lounge area in NYC, The Standard Miami pool, and the Design District outdoor cafes in Miami.

What three songs are on your travel playlist?

La femme a la peau bleue, by Maree Basse. Rearview Mirror, by Pearljam. And By the Way, by Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

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

This is a tough one because most hotels have terrible coffee, but in Morocco, it’s great – and La Mamounia has the best.

Anxiety and burn out are side effects of modern living. How do you combat them?

Always stay at a hotel with a beach or a pool to decompress every morning – even if you get only 20 minutes of sun, it helps with the natural vitamin D and leaves me feeling fresh. Soho Beach House Miami has both options so you can choose amazing pool or beach, I love it there. 

You travel a lot for work – what are your tips for making it as easy and relaxing as possible? 

I always travel with a steamer, so that I can easily steam my work clothes (simple tip, but a super useful one, we think!). Good pillows and a great mattress are key- I always look for that in a hotel. Sometimes I call ahead to make sure they have foam pillow options, and enquire on the mattress situation- if I don’t like their answers, I don’t stay. Some hotels will make sure they have the foam pillows for me (and bring them in). The Hotel Therese in Paris always takes care of me, and Hotel 1898 in Barcelona does, too.

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

Nike track pants and zip-up hoodie, with a cool baggy T-shirt underneath. I don’t believe in wearing jeans on the plane – you get bloated up in the air, and they leave marks on your legs, so if you need a quick change to a dress or skirt for a meeting after the flight, you look terrible. Comfort first. I also wear my Saint Laurent leather jacket on top, to add my own style element.

If you could swap suitcases with anyone in the world at baggage claim, who would you swap with?

Lady Gaga. I am sure her wardrobe is ridiculous, and I would be all over it.

Who is your dream co-pilot or travel partner?

My husband, because he lets me choose everything, and goes along for the ride, and in the end is super happy with the results. He is flexible and able to adapt if we get somewhere and decide to change the entire itinerary. 

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

Tons of places: Tripadvisor, Google to look at hotel websites and restaurants, local food apps (if applicable), Eater lists, Condé Nast articles, Culture Trip, and I ask people on social media.  No one option in my opinion is 100% – so I need to dig deeper to find the right information for my lifestyle.

Best travel advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice has been from other foodies that travel the world, if I trust you choosing my food, I can trust you with my hotels and other recommendations. But I also like to be independent, and look for the best restaurants myself. I research hotels and places to go for months, and I feel nobody else can do this for me – so I feel like I take people’s advice with a grain of salt, add it to my list, and then pick it apart to find what suits me best. 

What is your favorite travel book?

Life and Death on the New York Dance Floor, by Tim Lawrence Brooks, because it reminds me of my youth and my home.

What’s your favorite room service experience ever?

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

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?

Turks and Caicos or the Maldives, or Lake Como in Italy.

Beach, city or mountains? 

Beach.

Alone or with someone else? 

Depends – usually with someone.

Is in-flight wifi a good idea?

Yes.

Lost luggage, or lost phone? 

Luggage.

Airplane food? 

No.

Fantasy mini bar/fridge item? 

Green juice.

Early check-in/ late check-out? 

Early check-in.

Favourite subscription service you’ll never delete? 

iTunes.

In-flight cocktail? 

Yes, champagne: Billecart-Salmon rosé.

Favourite travel app? 

One Fine Stay.

Read more from our Insiders series, here.

Joey Kotkins was one of the original Safara founders, before heading off to continue his tech-industry path at Brandlive, where he’s currently COO. Meanwhile, Rachelle Saletto is a brilliant interior designer, who has worked with the likes of Starbucks, We Work, and now Design Well Spent Co. Together, they’re one of our favorite power couples – and always a great source of travel tips.

The pair met when they were both living and working in Seattle, WA, and they now call London home. Though they love the UK, a huge reason they re-located was to be in a better position to explore Europe and beyond. From the French Riviera to Paris, Berlin and further afield, they’re in the process of ticking a lot of places off that list. And below, they’re serving romantic travel inspiration.

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 Joey Kotkins and Rachelle Saletto.

Favorite vacation to take as a couple?

Renting a car and getting lost in the Cote d’Azur. The food, wine, fishing towns, beaches, glamorous history, and dramatic landscape make it hard not to have an incredible time.

What would you say are the benefits of traveling separately from your partner?

Beyond “absence makes the heart grow fonder”, we like to share our new discoveries and play tour guide for each other on later trips.

Most romantic hotel? 

Anywhere in Paris, but maybe above all, the Hotel des Grands Boulevards where we stayed for our mini-moon. The little design touches make it the perfect amount of Parisian romantic, while maintaining a casual atmosphere. No cliché Louis XVI style here. The cosy bar is an ideal start or end to any date night.

Is going away together is an important part of your relationship?

We moved to London to travel more, and we’ve become big fans of weekend trips. We try not to stress and over-plan, preferring to pick neighborhoods to explore on foot, stumbling into random adventures. It always gives us something exciting and new to look forward to, and reinvigorates our love for our home city.

Must-have hotel room amenity when you’re traveling together?

We’re both a little too obsessed with fancy travel-sized bath products. I’m not sure what we’re going to do with all of the mini shampoos, conditioners, and body lotions we’ve collected, but we’ll figure something out.

What’s a must-have design feature for a romantic trip?

Rachelle is an interior designer, so this list is long, but lighting is on top. The Sir Savigny in Berlin does layered light well. Each room has a feature chandelier along with various floor lamps and table lights that allow you to get the lighting just right.

Do you have different in-transit preferences?

Joey likes to get to the airport early, and Rachelle prefers to walk through security and straight onto the plane. We’ve accepted this tension will persist forever.

If only one of you got upgraded to 1st class, what would you do?

Rachelle gets it every time. It’s an investment Joey is happy to make.

Splurge on the flight or the hotel?

Hotel.

Yoga or mimosas to kick off a trip together?

Yoga.

Pack together or separately?

Separately.

You know those people who seem to live the life that you dream about, traveling the world, while you’re still sipping your coffee and plugging away at a Google doc? Well, one of those people is Nicole Humphreys.

Nicole traded in her job at a non-profit in LA to move to Bali for the better part of a year, and she now splits her time between the two. Using Bali as her launch point, Nicole has explored much of Asia, and continues to preach the digital nomad life – which, of course, we are fully on board with.

It was in Bali that Nicole founded August Effects, which sells beach- and home-wares that are 100% hand-crafted by local artisans. Bonus point? Every purchase equals a donation to Bali Children Foundation. Her latest brand, Bandits Bandanas follows a similar sentiment, creating sustainably made bandanas that feature original artwork and support charities worldwide.

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 Nicole Humphreys.

Name three of your favorite hotels?

Aetas Glamping, Palawan, Philippines. One of a kind glamping experience overlooking the rice fields in El Nido, Philippines. The service is truly out of this world exceptional!

Four Season, Chiang Mai, Thailand. One of the most gorgeous hotels I have ever stayed in. The room was essentially a glamorous tree houses with unbelievable views.

Korakaia Pensione, Palm Springs, CA. A romantic, serene, gorgeous bed and breakfast with tons of special touches. Highlights are the incredible breakfast served on their patio each morning. Plus, the old movies they play outdoors every night, and the exceptional service.

What are your favorite “offices” while traveling?

In Bali, I am always on the go and work primarily out of coffee shops and co-working places. My go-to is called Dojo and it is located in the heart of Canggu, Bali, right next to Echo Beach. It is set up as an open-air concept with a bamboo roof overhead and a big pool if anyone needs a work break. They have an amazing café there to keep you well fed and caffeinated while you work. Every night Dojo offers different lectures,speaker, and activities for their members. The vibe is collaborative and everyone helps each other out. When you sign up, you join their Facebook group where everyone shares tips, apps, business advice, etc. Highly recommend the Dojo as your office if you pursue the digital nomad life.

A similar co-working place is Hubud in Ubud, Bali. The structure and vibe are incredible and the people are all amazing.

Lastly, my favorite coffee shop in Bali to work from is called Koloni. Great food, coffee, fast Wi-Fi, and comfortable set up.

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

The Philippines! I just went for my 30th birthday and it is the ultimate way to get off the grid and have a digital detox. This is because there is pretty much no Wi-Fi so you can’t be tempted to get on your phone. It is also a pretty difficult place to get to – think multiple flights, long car rides, boat rides to different islands, etc. It is worth it though. You feel like you are completely off the grid and forced to live 100% in the moment!

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

My August Effects bikini bag. It’s the perfect size for toiletries, noise cancelling headphones, my kindle, and my night shades (this is a must have for being able to sleep!).

Best travel advice you’ve ever received?

I am kind of adapting this question, as I learned a lot about the importance of packing when I went on Semester at Sea, and traveled to 13 countries in four months. I find it so helpful for all my travels that I want to share it:

“Focus on making sure you have all the toiletries you need to feel clean and stay healthy while traveling and don’t focus so much on clothing.” 

You can always buy more clothing wherever you are in the world, but it is difficult to buy essential cosmetics and toiletries in certain countries.  This made me realize that the clothes you do pack should be multi-purpose if possible. One of the things I always have in my carry-on is my August Effects sarong, since it’s lightweight and I can use it over my shoulders, as a blanket, or as a cover up.

Anxiety and burn out are side effects of modern living. How do you combat them?

Meditate. This is something I started doing a few years ago and it has not only changed my life, but changed how I travel. I use the app Headspace and do a 10 to 15 min meditation every morning right when I wake up.

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

Peloton Supershop. This is my favorite café/coffee shop in Canggu, Bali. It is fully vegan café with some of the most gorgeous, unique and delicious food I have ever had in my life. It also has my all-time favorite cup of coffee. I order the flat white with coconut milk. Pro tip: ask them for the large size (it is not on the menu!).

From most to least important, what do you seek in a hotel experience?

Location, comfortable, doesn’t break the bank, locals hang out there, unique, has a pool, architecturally intriguing, dope minibar.

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?

Gili Air! There are three “Gili” islands off of Bali that are around an hour or two boat ride. My favorite of the three is called Gili Air. It is tiny island that no cars are allowed on. People get around via bike or horse and buggy, and you can walk around the entire island in about 45 min. There are bars and restaurants that line the island and everything is right on the beach. I spent my 1-year honeymoon there at a tiny hotel that a couple from Europe opened. They have been there for 15 years now and have never looked back. This would definitely be an amazing place to live out the dream of opening a small hotel on a remote island!

Is in-flight wifi a good idea?

No!

Fantasy mini-bar/fridge item?

Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee.

Favorite travel app?

Maps.Me – it is a free app where you download a map of the destination you are headed to (do this when you have wifi). Then when you are at your travel destination, you can use the app without wifi to look up anything you need while there!

The person we look to when we’re in need of a restorative reboot? Kat Heiberger. Kat was a Project Manager at The Martin Agency before committing to becoming a full-time yoga teacher. She traveled to Rishikesh, India to complete her training, and later became certified as an Ayurvedic Health Coach at Ayurveda World NYC. She gains inspiration from each of her trips, and continues to explore as much as she can.

Kat’s New York-based health coaching practice focuses on plant-based nutrition, food as medicine and natural remedies to help her clients achieve lasting health and harmony. Her drive to get to the root of any issue is what feeds her holistic approach to working with individual clients. And we’re here for the tips she share’s on Instagram – whether a recipe for an anti-inflammatory ginger tisane or guidance on meditative breathwork rituals.

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 Kat Heiberger.

Name three of your favorite hotels, anywhere in the world?

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Aguas Calientes, Peru.  Inkaterra a sprawling commune literally inside the jungle with hummingbirds flitting around outside your door. I also took a lot of design inspiration from this place: white walls, dark wood, soft velvety browns, shiny copper, bright pops of orange and red and lots of eucalyptus.

El Albergue, Ollantaytambo, Peru. This is a farm-to-table hotel in a quaint little village in the Sacred Valley of Peru where you can walk around the grounds, tour the farm and enjoy an authentic and very special pachamanca lunch outdoors. I don’t know what’s better, their local coffee or the mountain view from bed.

Ripplewood Resort, Big Sur, California. I mean Big Sur, in general, what a special place. This resort offers a series of log cabins right on the river. You can make a fire indoors and outdoors, go swimming, fishing and just take in the cool, crisp mountain air. It’s rustic, it’s simple, it’s a dream.

What hotel room design element can you not live without?

Wood-burning fire place in the bedroom. Once you experience falling asleep to the crackling of a simmering fire at the foot of your bed, you really can’t not put that on your “must have in my dream house” list. 

What are your travel wellness tips for staying healthy on the go?

Hydration! My number one tip is to drink more water than you think you need or than you even want to. I also try to keep up with as many daily, Ayurvedic rituals as I can while traveling (tongue scraping, drinking hot water in the AM before coffee, using essential oils, finding any place, any time to do a little yoga). Keeping up with the little things help a lot.

And then just let the rest go and don’t worry about eating all the croissants or having a bottle of wine at lunch. Wellness is also a state of mind!

What three songs are on your OOO playlist? 

Going Up The Country by Canned Heat. Meet Me In The Morning by Bob Dylan. And By The Light Of A Magical Moon, by T.Rex.

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

Essential oils. I always carry travel bottles of lavender (to chill out), lemon (to add to drinking water for internal cleansing & immune boosting effects), doTERRA’s DigestZen (a blend to help prevent digestion from being a problem), and a homemade blend of eucalyptus & tea tree (to help keep sinuses clear during cabin pressure). Oh and ginger chews – these also help with cabin pressure, nausea and boredom.

Have you or would you travel alone?

Yes! I would definitely and I have, sort of. I went to a remote town in northern India in 2017 to do my 200hr yoga teacher training. It was the first time I had ever traveled solo, and so far away! Of course I made friends with my fellow students once I got there but just making the decision to do it, preparing for it, navigating foreign airports and transportation and adjusting to a whole new world on my own was a big adventure for me. I think I learned a lot from that experience and would encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zone like that at least once. 

From most to least important, what do you seek in a hotel experience?

Comfortable, unique, close to things, architecturally intriguing, doesn’t break the bank, locals hang out there, has a pool, dope minibar.

Anxiety and burnout are side effects of modern living, how do you combat them?

The main way I combat anxiety and burnout is yoga. Even though teaching yoga has changed my relationship with it a bit, I still always, without fail, turn to my own practice whenever I feel stressed, confused, sad, overwhelmed (and all the in between). I didn’t have a huge AHA moment with my yoga practice but when I reflect back on it, I recognize that I would be a mess today had I not discovered it’s unique ability to help you silence all the noise.

And travel is honestly a close second. I think it’s essential for people to get out of their bubble, out of their comfort zone, see how other people live (the good and the bad). Travel gives you the kind of fresh perspective to which almost nothing else can compare.

Is in-flight wifi a good idea? 

Nah.

Lost luggage, or lost phone?

 Lost luggage.

Favorite travel app?

Units Plus! I’m so bad with conversions.

Read more from our Insiders series, here.