Celebrity Travel: Go Away With Tiffany Boone

Television viewers know Tiffany Boone from her work in "Southland," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Once Upon a Time." But it's her meaty roles in Lena Waithe's Showtime series, "The Chi," and Kevin Bacon's "The Following" that made her famous. Raised in Baltimore, Maryland, the actress fondly recalls a childhood trip she took with her mother: "I was 8 years old and we went to Walt Disney World in Orlando. In preparation for my trip, I would watch a travel video about Disney World every single day. It was my very first time on an airplane and I was slightly nervous, but my excitement gave me courage. We had the time of our lives! To this day, it is still one of my favorite travel memories." Based out of Los Angeles, Boone will spend the summer on location in Chicago filming new episodes of "The Chi." She stays in touch with her fans on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Tiffboone) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tiffmonet/).

Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?

A. Tokyo. I went to visit family there a few years ago and I am still looking for the perfect time to return. There is so much to do in Tokyo. Even though I was there for nearly two weeks, there is still a long list of things I want to see and do. I would suggest that a first-timer go to Shibuya Crossing. It is supposedly the busiest intersection in the world and makes for an incredible picture or video. First-timers should also try Ramen Nagi, which is known for their fish-based broth. I thought I knew what ramen was before I had a bowl from Nagi, but nothing has tasted the same since. The Tsukiji Fish Market is the largest and busiest fish market in the world and must be seen to be believed. Lastly, I would say to visit one of the many arcades and try the photo booths inside. These are not your average photo booths and will leave you with souvenirs to keep you laughing for years.

Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A. My travels have taught me to be thankful for the differences that each place and culture has to offer. I often observe travelers being rude in foreign lands, because they simply do not understand the customs and traditions. In those moments when I feel uncomfortable about the customs of a new place, I try to remind myself to surrender to the experience. Once I open myself up to the experience, I am always grateful. I carry a piece of each culture I've encountered with me and I hope that I've done the same for the people I've met. I studied abroad in Glasgow, Scotland, when I was 19. Honestly, I was miserable during the entire experience. I was so resistant to meeting new people and putting myself in different situations. When I returned, I realized that I'd robbed myself of having a full experience. Ever since then, I have vowed to go new places with an open heart and mind.

Q. Have you ever gone away during the holidays?

A. I (brought) in the new year in Kenya. It has always been a dream of mine to visit Africa, and to spend New Year's there made it even more special. At midnight as 2017 became 2018, I was surrounded by travelers from every corner of the world as we celebrated with the local Maasai people at our safari camp. The only piece of advice I would give to anyone who is planning a safari is that one to two days is enough. We did a three-day safari and were very ready to move on by the end; having said that, it was a nearly perfect experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Q. What are your five favorite cities?

A. New Orleans, Chicago, Tokyo, New York and Reykjavik.

Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A. The list goes on and on. Indonesia -- Bali specifically -- the Maldives, South Africa, Greece and Italy are at the top of the list.

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

A. I am a germaphobe so I must always have antibacterial hand soap and wipes. I load up my iPad with at least four new books and take earphones, phone, charger and a little cash.

Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?

A. I am a huge fan of TripAdvisor. It covers so much information that you need to plan a trip. I am particularly picky when it comes to hotels, so I spend hours reading reviews and closely examining traveler room photos. Bathrooms are the most important to me, so I spend the most time searching for traveler photos that feature the shower and vanity setup.

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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.)