ArcaMax

Q. Have you traveled to a place that stood out so much that you felt compelled to incorporate it into your work?

A. I do find that when I've done something unusual on a trip, like swim with the sharks in Australia or sit in a sauna in Finland, then jump naked into the iced-over Baltic, that it has given me an appreciation for the comforts of home. Nothing makes you love fried chicken and a warm biscuit even more than eating limp meat from a roadside stand in Croatia.

Q. What are your five favorite cities?

A. Atlanta, Amsterdam, London, Helsinki, Auckland.

Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A. Books, whether they're on my reading device or not. My skin care products because I'm sensitive to everything. Lots of water. And I have the way coolest travel chargers that were ever invented. I like to fly seat 3C on Delta when I go overseas because no one has to crawl over you to get to the bathroom. Also, the plane will go down if I don't get that seat, so there's no way I can trade with anybody even if they just got married and want to sit together, so don't even ask.

Q. What would be your dream trip?

A. At least three months in Australia and New Zealand so that I could really see all those things I've missed when I've been before. Flying over the islands of New Zealand is like being inside "The Lord of the Rings." It's so verdant and magnificent. Anyone who has seen the movies should know that nothing was enhanced. That's really how it looks. Fun fact: New Zealand has its own internationally recognized breed of sheep dog. Because the grade is so hilly, the dog responds to voice commands rather than sight commands.

Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?

A. Subway. Am I the most disappointing world traveler ever? I have a lot of allergies, so mostly I spend my mealtimes overseas praying I won't go into anaphylactic shock. I lost five pounds the week I stayed at Raffles in Singapore. There's something called Koan Float in Amsterdam where you float around in an isolation pod, then you can get a massage. That's always relaxing to me -- that sense of floating in the warm water in total silence. The facility is right beside the Hotel Ambassade, which is also a lovely hotel and I always try to get a float in when I am touring.

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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column by visiting her website at www.jaehakim.com. You may also follow "Go Away With..." on Twitter at @GoAwayWithJae where Jae-Ha Kim welcomes your questions and comments.)

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