\"Since you write for a travel magazine, I'm going to be straightforward and tell you how I feel... Travelling has become almost unbearable... whereas it used to be a great pleasure. Because of my job, I have to fly sometimes every week. Of course, I have the advantage of often travelling first class. But I realise that I have the same constraints as all passengers. I'm not discriminating, I'm just trying to explain that when you travel in economy or first class, you face exactly the same problems, on departure and on arrival.<\/p>\n
First there's the hellish wait, you have to be at the airport a long time in advance, then you have to go through customs - fairly easy at first, but sometimes a nightmare on arrival, as in the United States - then the increasingly fussy checks: removing your belt, shoes, etc. Once on the plane, even though I have a slightly wider seat and the food is better - between you and me, it's often tasteless - I don't see what the real advantage is. Once on the plane, even though I have a slightly wider seat than the others and the food is better - between you and me, it's often tasteless - I don't see where the real advantage lies. I think that the airlines should ask themselves the real questions and start thinking about new ways of making travelling more enjoyable, so that at least those who pay more - mostly for professional reasons - can stop waiting for hours in airports for security reasons and so that much simpler standards can be set for boarding.<\/p>\n
When I arrive at a destination, whether it's Las Vegas, Marrakech or Mexico City, I always try, as part of my work, to choose a hotel that exudes the atmosphere of the country where I'm staying. I don't really like these chain hotels, which look the same and have no soul, whether you're in China or Switzerland. The same goes for trendy design addresses with the same d\u00e9cor in every capital city. What's more, I find that throughout the world, countries and provinces are gradually losing their identities; everything is becoming banal, the same shops and restaurants are everywhere, whereas I really need to feel the identity of the place I'm visiting, especially if it's strong. So, as soon as I can, I go down to the boutique-hotels, because there I find a real atmosphere and I prefer to sacrifice a little comfort to be in a charming universe.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, when I'm not away on business, I do a lot of cultural travelling. I'm passionate about the Orient, Syria and India. But I often travel to Europe, which has so much to offer in terms of history. And, at least twice a year, I take to the roads of France. France is magnificent, the landscapes are so varied. Each time, it's a pleasure to discover the gourmet restaurant, the charming little hotel, the typical inn, the Romanesque church and the flea markets; that's really France. And now I'm happy to say 'cocorico'!<\/p>\n
The internationally-renowned decorator's hotel creations include La R\u00e9serve in Geneva, the M\u00e9tropole in Monte-Carlo and, since last December, La Mamounia in Marrakech. A palace to which he has restored the lustre of a true Moroccan palace.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":55657,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1455],"tags":[1005],"type-darticle":[],"n_magazine":[],"class_list":["post-15305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-carnets-de-voyage","tag-carnet-de-voyages","vapo-free"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n