Meet the Writer: Crystal Meers
Strolling through a garden in Salzburg, Austria.
Hometown: Los Angeles via New York City via Sag Harbor via San Francisco.
Occupation: Writer, editor.
Favorite destinations: New York, Jamaica, Japan, France, England, Big Sur, the Studio at Verana in Yelapa, Emily's couch in Chelsea, Portland, Oregon.
Dying to visit: Sweden, Denmark, Russia, India, Ireland, Blackberry Farm.
Bizarre travel rituals: Packing beauty products 24 hours in advance; packing clothes an hour before running to the airport.
In-flight relaxation regime: Who can relax? Travel is exciting!
Always in carry-on: Lip balm, eye cream, snacks, magazines.
Concierge or DIY? 99 percent DIY, 1 percent "Where's the cheap fluff-and-fold around here?"
See it all or take it easy? See it all while making a list of things to see next time.
Drive or be driven? Be driven. I live in L.A. I spend enough time behind the wheel.
Travel hero: The lady in coach with the two kids who aren't crying.
Weirdest thing seen on travels: The German-meets-Argentine breakfast plate at Boca Chica in Buenos Aires. A vision of lunch meat, aspic, eggs, and olives. No thanks.
Best hotel amenity: Free high-speed wifi feels like a gift. Pillow menus. The Gramercy Park Hotel's collection of indie beauty and grooming products.
I dream about my meal at Koya in London, Rose Bakery in Paris, Chez Panisse in Berkeley.
Everywhere I go, I check out the local grocers, vintage stores, community bulletin boards, and people.
When I arrive in a new place, I learn the lay of the land by exploring via suggestions from friends, friends of friends, and total strangers that strike me as in-the-know.
I always bring home lots and lots of scraps of paper (matchbooks, business cards, hand-drawn maps, completed and half-completed to-do lists).
If I never return to Kunta Hora in the Czech Republic it'll be too soon because a church made of bones is just plain creepy.
I travel for the change of scenery.