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Travel Tuesday is a weekly column that brings together top travel journalists, celebrities, and influencers who share their love for exploring the world. Created by Christopher Parr, an award-winning travel journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of Pursuitist, this column offers insider travel tips and recommendations for the best hotels, spas, and restaurants worldwide.
Ana O’Reilly is a seasoned traveler who enjoys a peaceful long-haul business class flight to a warm destination. An avid traveler, Ana follows her mother’s motto: “If you leave home, it has to be better.” Despite moving to the quiet English countryside for love, Ana lives out her travel dreams through her award-winning blog, Mrs. O Around the World. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.
Ana shares that her blog started by chance. While finishing her MBA in 2011, she explored social media and created a Twitter account, which led to the birth of Mrs. O. The blog launched a few months later to share travel advice more easily.
Based just outside Henley-on-Thames, Ana finds that her location offers easy access to London and Portugal. She loves that she can reach Portugal in under three hours when she feels homesick.
Ana’s home airport is London Heathrow, which she considers the best airport in the world. She frequently flies with British Airways and appreciates the cleanliness, free luggage trolleys, and convenient access to The British Airways First Wing. Despite some recent challenges with the airline, she still values her OneWorld Emerald status.
For luxury brands, Ana favors Bottega Veneta, Chanel, and Tiffany, choosing timeless quality over trend. Her must-have travel gadget is the Amazon Fire 10 HD, which she finds great for storing films and TV shows.
When entering a hotel room, Ana does a room tour and takes photos or videos before anyone uses the bed, ensuring she captures the perfect shots. If she could fly anywhere tomorrow, she’d head back to the Maldives. She also wants to visit Oman, having recently explored the Middle East.
Ana recommends Benares in London for a fresh take on Indian fine dining, Chez Andre in Paris for a charming neighborhood bistro, and Cinco Jotas in Spain for its exceptional Iberian ham. Her favorite cocktail is a very dirty gin martini, with a memorable one enjoyed at the Four Seasons Surfside bar near Miami Beach.
Ana’s top urban destinations are Los Angeles, where she stays at the Four Seasons; Madrid, with its classic Villamagna hotel; and the Valverde boutique hotel in Lisbon. For secluded resorts, she loves Finca Cortesin in Spain, Belmond properties in Mallorca and Santa Barbara.
For hotel spas, Ana recommends The Golden Door in California for its unique self-care experience, Park Igls in Austria for detox, and Almar Jesolo in Italy for its exceptional setting and spa services.
Traveling, for Ana, is a way to learn about herself and others, with a special fondness for exploring local supermarkets. When it comes to jet lag, she finds it challenging and is open to more tips.
Ana’s least favorite destinations are Cabo in Mexico and Dubai, which she doesn’t see as ideal vacation spots. Her next travel plans include skiing in Austria and seeking some sun in March.
Join Ana O’Reilly on Travel Tuesday and explore her amazing travel tips and recommendations. Follow her blog, Mrs. O Around the World, and her social media channels for more updates.
