By Preeti Bali

There’s something thrilling about watching your passport slowly fill with stamps, each one a quiet reminder of the places you’ve been and the conversations you’ve helped shape.

Over the past few years, my work has taken me across the world—from New York City to South Africa, Brussels, Doha, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Phuket. As the founder of The Media Connector, international travel has become part of my life, whether it’s curating global events, attending international summits, connecting marginalized voices and experts with global media, or helping build conversations across borders.

While travel can certainly be glamorous, frequent trips—especially for work—require careful planning. Every detail matters: the right flight, the right place to stay, and an itinerary that aligns with your schedule.

That’s where My Savvy Traveller comes in.

Travel, but savvy

Many people today rely on comparison websites and booking platforms. Flights are chosen by algorithms and accommodation by online reviews, which, as we all know, can sometimes be deceiving. I’ve learned that having a trusted travel advisor makes the entire process far smoother.

These trips are rarely simple holidays. They often involve tight schedules, early morning interviews, evening events, and navigating multiple time zones. Having someone who understands my travel style means flights are carefully chosen, connections make sense, and accommodation works for both work and rest, whether that’s a hotel close to meetings or a comfortable Airbnb for longer stays.

From securing the best flight routes to finding the right accommodation, My Savvy Traveller handles the logistics so I can focus on the purpose of the trip itself. But the service goes far beyond simply sending over an itinerary. Booking with My Savvy Traveller is a truly personalised five-star experience that extends well beyond flights and hotels.

My travel advisor regularly checks in before trips, from arrival to departure, making sure everything is running smoothly behind the scenes. Small gestures like this make a big difference when you’re travelling long distances.

On one recent journey with Turkish Airlines, he even reached out to the airline’s press team ahead of my flight, asking them to look after me. I had no idea about it.

So, when I arrived at the airport and settled into my economy seat, I was surprised to be told I had been upgraded to business class, a first-time experience for me, and one I certainly took full advantage of.

The spacious cabin, attentive service and the simple luxury of being able to genuinely relax mid-air turned the flight into something entirely different from the usual long-haul experience. What might have been a slightly anxious journey instead became an opportunity to slow down and rest after a demanding but successful work trip.

It was also a reminder that sometimes the most thoughtful touches in travel happen quietly behind the scenes.

At the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg

A global year of travel

In 2024, my travels took me to New York City, as well as India for a family wedding.

In 2025, I travelled to Brussels, South Africa (Johannesburg and Cape Town) and Doha.

And this year alone my work has taken me across Asia, including Hong Kong, Bangkok and Phuket.

Each destination comes with its own rhythm: events, interviews, meetings, and the occasional moment to immerse myself in the local culture. Having someone who understands my travel style means the logistics are taken care of long before I arrive at the airport.

The Savvy Traveller lesson

Travel has also taught me one of the most valuable lessons of all: stay calm when things don’t go according to plan.

On a recent trip to Johannesburg, a colleague suddenly realized—just before our flight—that he had left his smartphone in a ride-hailing vehicle. In a moment like that it would have been easy to panic. Instead, I focused on solving the problem: we contacted the driver through the app, explained the situation clearly, and worked quickly to arrange its return. Within a short time the phone was back in our hands—and we still had plenty of time before boarding.

Experiences like that reinforce a simple but important rule of travel: always allow extra time before departure and double- and triple-check for your valuables.

My personal travel habit now is simple. I always place essential items—passport, smartphone and boarding pass—in the same place every single time. When you’re moving quickly between cities, airports and time zones, small routines like that can make a big difference.

Travelling with intention

In a world where travel is increasingly automated, the value of a trusted advisor is often underestimated. But from my experience, the real value lies exactly there: human insight, trust and personal care.

Travelling savvy isn’t always about finding the cheapest flight. It’s about knowing your journey is being handled with intention and care.

And if you’re lucky, that might mean discovering you’re flying at 35,000 feet in a seat you never expected.

And that, to me, is what travelling savvy is all about.

Ms. Bali is founder of the UK-based The Media Connector

Travelling Savvy at 35,000 feet