Caroline de Maigret Reveals How to Travel Like a French Girl

As a general rule of thumb, it’s always a good idea to take your packing cues from a super hip French girl, like model and muse Caroline de Maigret. She’s spent her life jetting around the globe, both for fun and business, and she pretty much never travels without a pair of simple white sneakers, blue jeans, bathing suit, cashmere sweater, and a long black dress. “It’s important to think that anything can happen, that way anything can happen,” said de Maigret, who recently teamed up with Eres, the go-to swimwear brand for the jetset crowd, on a playful short film titled “Poolside Realness” (directed by Bertrand Le Pluard). Sounds like a simple mantra, but it’s sage advice. Whether you’re invited at the last-minute to a pool party, or you meet a cute guy on the plane, you want to be ready for anything that may come your way when you’re on-the-go. Here, de Maigret shares more expert travel tips, and an exclusive first look at the new short film (watch it below, and you’ll instantly wish you were lounging poolside in an uber chic bathing suit).

What’s your summer vacation destination? I am going on a three week road trip in Sri Lanka. I’m super excited, I have never been.

Favorite off-season destination? The Amalfi Coast.

What’s your favorite hotel in the world? Golden Buddha Beach Resort in Thailand. It’s so tiring and hard to get, that you end up all alone in paradise.

Favorite mode of travel? Train. One day, I’ll take the Orient Express with my man or even the Trans-Siberian railways for a few days, it’s a dream of mine.

Chic! When you fly, do you like to dress up or be comfy for the flight? I’m comfy, yet I stay stylish. I would not wear sweatpants nor a super tight dress.

Best travel shoe? A simple pair of white sneakers

Who is the best or worst person you have ever been seated next to on a plane? One day, I arrived to the plane and the air hostess comes up to me and says, “Miss, you’re going to be happy, I was able to change seats around and your husband will be able to sit next to you. Behind her, a cute guy I had never seen before was standing smiling at me with all his teeth. That was a funny Paris-NYC flight!”

Best freebie you’ve stolen off a plane? I always bring back home the business class bags, the Air France ones are super cute. My son or my nieces are always happy to play with them.

Airline with the best or worst food? Korean Air has great food!

Favorite airport lounge or restaurant? The Barcelona Airport is like a mall so it’s fun to shop there. I love to eat at Laduree in the Parisian airports, I always order the cheese croque-monsieur, they’re amazing.

What’s one thing that always saves you when traveling? Sleeping pills on the plane. It’s the only way for me to be ok wherever I go and avoid jetlag.

Favorite piece of travel advice you have ever received? Wear compression/support stockings on long flights like the air hostess, it changes everything.

What’s a big packing mistake to avoid? It’s important to think that anything can happen, that way anything can happen. Always pack something dressy, a bathing suit and a warm sweater, you never know!

Name five essential pieces of clothing/accessories you can’t travel without: A pair of blue jeans, white simple sneakers, a bathing suit, a cashmere sweater, and a long black dress.

What swimwear brand is always in your suitcase? Eres.

Best beauty products for travel? Lancome Nutrix moisturizer that I put on during the whole flight and lip balm from La Roche-Posay.

Best souvenir from a trip? My boyfriend.

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