Celebrity Travel: Go away with Jesse Palter

While remaining at home during the coronavirus pandemic, singer-songwriter Jesse Palter said she channeled her creative energy into making new music. “My single ‘Better Days’ really stemmed from being stuck in quarantine and daydreaming about these types of future (vacation) experiences,” said the Los Angeles-based musician. “(Italy is) magical — the food, fashion, the Euro-ness of it all. I also love Thailand. I honeymooned there. It's a really special place. And then Kauai is just everything. Oh, my goodness, I'd love to go anywhere right now!”

Q: When it’s safe to travel again, what advice would you give to people visiting a place for the first time?

A: Find out where the locals go and go there! Avoid tourist traps, people-watch. As they say, when in Rome...

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

A: I've heard amazing things about Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot, which apparently rivals with Tuscany. I truly have a thing for Italy.

Q: What was the first trip you took as a child? And did you love it, or not so much?

A: Probably somewhere to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I'm from Detroit. I don't remember much, but those pure Michigan summers are pretty spectacular.

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

A: That there's a great big world outside of my little bubble, that there's value in getting lost and that all roads lead back home.

Q: If you could only pick one place to eat, would you choose a casual meal at a street cart or fine dining at a nice restaurant?

A: Oh, that's a tough one. I love both for different reasons. However, I'm a sucker for experiences and so I'd pick fine dining at a nice restaurant, because you get both the food and the overall process.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: Santa Barbara and Palm Springs.

Q: Where is the most romantic destination?

A: Santorini is pretty darn romantic. I didn't go there with a lover, but it's on my bucket list.

Q: If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?

A: I haven't spent too much time away from home during the holidays, but I did spend one a few years ago in Palm Springs and it was totally a vibe.

Q: Do you speak any foreign languages? And in the same train of thought, do you pick up new languages easily?

A: Un poquito Espanol. I will say, being a musician, I'm very tapped into sounds and so I'm fascinated with languages.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: Chicago, Sienna, Chiang Mai, Manhattan, L.A.

Q: Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?

A: I think certain north suburbs of Chicago remind me of the suburb of Detroit that I'm from.

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

A: Paris! Tokyo! Vancouver!

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

A: Disinfecting wipes and sanitizer — long before COVID — a Humidiflyer mask, my iPhone, a notebook for when my travel inspires song ideas and a leather jacket. It’s such a transitional piece!

Q: What would be your dream trip?

A: An extended Mediterranean trip that ends in the Amalfi Coast.

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

A: Eating gluttonous amounts of indigenous food.

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

A: I tend to prefer to go with the flow when I travel and play it by ear. I get most of my intel from locals and round it out with TripAdvisor.

Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?

A: Best memory (is) the romantic and carefree nature of my honeymoon in Thailand. Or the one time my best friend took me as her plus one on Oprah's Harpo company Mediterranean cruise. It was so baller! And worst (was) probably one of the many times I've had travel days from hell while touring, which usually involved delayed or canceled flights and rushing to make it to the bandstand just in time for my gig. It comes with the territory.

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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.)