Meet the Hotelier and Blogger: Veronique Lievre
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We're getting to know the people behind our 24 Best Travel Blogs and Websites. Here's Veronique of Been Seen.
Hometown: Topanga, California.
Occupation: Hotel owner, decorator, editor for Boutique-Homes.com and Been-Seen.com.
Favorite destinations: Corsica, which is called the Isle of Beauty for the right reason, keeps me returning and discovering new things after so many years.
Dying to visit: Japan.
Bizarre travel rituals: I always take my echinacea with me and gulp it down during the flight. I have not been sick in years.
In-flight relaxation regime: It's relaxing to be on an airplane because nobody can contact you. I also love staring out the window.
Always in carry-on: Moisturizer, water, and trail mix.
Concierge or DIY? DIY.
See it all or take it easy? Take it easy.
Drive or be driven? Drive.
Travel hero: Richard Branson because he'll be taking people to the moon.
Weirdest thing seen on travels: There's always something new to discover in Los Angeles. In the San Fernando Valley, there's a weird fish store where I saw a dogfish for the first time. Its face really is exactly like a dog's!
Best hotel amenity: The spa products.
I dream about my meal at Nick's Cove in Point Reyes, where I sat savoring a plate of the freshest oysters on the deck of the Nicolina cottage looking out at the lagoon.
Everywhere I go I check out the antique stores and the real estate office. I look in the window to see what's for sale and how much it costs. You can discover incredible places even if you don't want to buy anything.
When I arrive in a new place, I learn the lay of the land by walking and driving wherever it looks good.
I always bring home something I find at the flea market, like miniature cars or miniature chairs and a cool rock.
If I never return to...There's actually no place that I don't want to return to because there's always something interesting no matter where you are.
I travel for the design.