Best city you’ve ever travelled to and why?
Bangkok! It has madness and heart. What I mean is that it’s a megacity with skyscrapers and people with a strong hustle mentality, but at its core, it is a city filled with culturally aware individuals, so there is heart behind all the madness. Also, it offers great food, bars, restaurants, shops, and many options to explore. Outside of America, this is the city I can envision living in without getting bored.
Worst city you’ve visited, and why didn’t it work for you?
I keep darting between Marrakesh and Cairo in my mind. I am going to dismiss Marrakesh because I just travelled with the wrong crowd. So, I will say Cairo: the misogyny I encountered was unlike anything I have ever experienced. Also, the food and hospitality experience was incredibly disappointing. Case in point: I paid top dollar to stay at the St. Regis Cairo, and it was a dump. Yes, this is definitely not a city or country I would consider returning to.
Where in the world did you feel the freest?
A road trip my partner and I took back in 2015 from Chile to Argentina! We rented a camper van and drove from Valparaiso, Chile, to Mendoza, Argentina. We slept and ate in the camper van, camped at wild beaches alone beneath millions of twinkling stars, saw wild flamingos, and experienced so much more. This was the first time in my life that I truly ever felt free.
Best party city you’ve experienced?
Lagos! There is nowhere like Lagos to party, but there is especially no place to party in December like Lagos – great DJS, clubs, beautiful people, hospitality and generosity like nowhere else too. Do yourself a favour and run there. You’ve got to be there.
City with the best food overall?
Copenhagen! Read my city guides and run there!
City with the best market/street food?
Bangkok! Nothing beats Bangkok street food. Avoid fancy restaurants because they all water down dishes to suit European palates.
A city or country that surprised you the most?
Gothenburg! Uber cool, with stylish people, great restaurants, coffee shops, incredible Galapagos, and the list goes on and on. Run here!
The most beautiful place you’ve ever seen.
The Vatican. Just the most beautiful place on earth! Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, I mean, simply stunning.
The most overrated destination you’ve been to.
Bali! It’s crowded with Europeans and Australians. If I wanted this version, I’d go to Brighton, and it would be way cheaper and more authentic. And a close second would be Cairo.
The most underrated destination you’ve visited.
Romania offers great food and a wide range of experiences, with much to discover. Begin your trip in Bucharest, then explore Brasov, Transylvania, and Sighisoara.
The city with the friendliest people?
New Orleans! Oh no, my, the hospitality and generosity of spirit here is unlike anywhere in the world. If I could live anywhere in America, it would be New Orleans.
The city with the unfriendliest people?
Tel Aviv! But I also think that Israelis are just incredibly direct people, even more direct than we Lagosians.
The city that felt the safest for you?
Copenhagen! Unlike in other cities like London, where I usually depend on taxis or pickups after a certain hour, I walk everywhere in Copenhagen at any time and always feel safe.
A destination that pushed you out of your comfort zone in a good way.
Torn between China and India. I would choose China because most of the population doesn’t speak English, so navigating that was tricky. Also, I am a very picky eater, but I pushed myself to try foods I wouldn’t in China because I wanted to push my boundaries, and I am so glad I did because I experienced Shanghai and Beijing as a local rather than a tourist.
Where did you experience the strongest sense of culture or identity?
America! If there's one thing I admire, it's the American spirit and the patriotism everyone in the country displays for their nation. I love their flag displays, I love their USA chants when something excites them, and I love how loud and brash they are – very honestly and unapologetically American.
A city with the chicest and most stylish people?
Torn between Copenhagen and Lagos, I would choose Copenhagen since I haven’t been to Lagos in years and don’t know the current scene. Copenhagen has the most naturally chic and stylish people. The desire to always present the best version of oneself—publicly and privately—resonated with me when I moved there. This experience greatly influenced my approach to style more than any other city I’ve visited or lived in.
Which trip taught you something about yourself?
A December 2024 return trip from Miami to New Orleans. This was my first time travelling to this part of the world, and I loved the trip entirely, including the pit stops in Jacksonville, Alabama, and others. What I loved was the freedom of the road and the cultural diversity from one city to the next. It really opened my eyes to just how much I love America, and if I could, I would live there without hesitation.
A hotel or Airbnb that felt genuinely special?
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. Wow! If you want to experience true luxury, stay here.
What’s the next city or country at the top of your list, and what’s pulling you there?
Tokyo, Japan! It’s been on my radar for several years now, and I would really love to visit.