Meet the Literary Publicist: Kimberly Burns

Hometown: Manhattan.

Occupation: Literary publicist, Kimberly Burns PR.

Favorite destinations: Paris, Rhône-Alpes, Gulf of Morbihan, Berlin, Los Angeles (all of it), Southern Maine, Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Dying to visit: The Jura and the Vosges for the skiing, the water, the air, the Alps, the forests, the châteaux, the food, the cheese, the wine, and the people. 

Bizarre travel rituals: Double vodka tonic at airport bar + one phone call to BFF + one conversation with a stranger.

In-flight relaxation regime: Watching sports on satellite TV until I fall asleep for 20 minutes. (Repeat until arrival at destination.)

Always in carry-on: The orange ear plugs and blue eye mask kits that Air France gives out. I collect them like a little kid collects candy.

Concierge or DIY? DIY because that's half the fun.

See it all or take it easy? Take it easy, hopefully with a boat, so I can see it all from a different vantage.

Drive or be driven? Drive so we can pull over wherever we want.

Travel hero: My fiancée, for falling asleep on taxi and take off every single time. Worship.

Weirdest thing seen on travels: All the people begging outside the Vatican and, right inside, the most obscene display of wealth. It makes me want to go all Robin Hood.

Best hotel amenity: A view. (Also: a cushy clean robe, bottled water, and kind people at the reception desk.)

I dream about my meal at Blue Hill, NYC. The service, the vibe, the food. They did something with an egg and gold leaf we still can't figure out. And the wine pairings...just beyond. 

Everywhere I go, I check out the English language bookstores.

When I arrive in a new place, I learn the lay of the land by setting out, walking around, and getting lost.

I always bring home toothpaste from whichever country I visit. Theirs always seems less sugary and better.

If I never return to a youth hostel it'll be too soon because life is too short to tie your shoes to a bed post. (I'm looking at you, Finale Ligure. Twenty years later, I'm still scarred.)