Witty Conversation With…. is back for 2016 and today I’m excited to be featuring a woman who many might consider having somewhat of a dream job. Erina Pindar is managing director of SmartFlyer, an agency that creates and executes high-level leisure design and executive corporate travel all over the world. Erina herself is a traveler at heart and was actually introduced to me by a former WCW profile, Irene!

Get to know Erina’s favorite travel destinations, how she plans a trip & what she can’t bear to leave home without when she sets out for her next adventures in this edition of Witty Conversation With…

You have such an interesting background! Tell us about your role at SmartFlyer.

I wear a few different hats, but the coolest part of my job is the opportunity to manage the growth of a really exciting travel agency within the luxury travel space.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I’m on the road at least one week out of the month for conferences, strategy sessions, partnership engagements, etc. We also have multiple offices stateside and just launched in Sydney and Melbourne, so I travel quite a bit for that as well. On days when I’m traveling, the day starts early, followed by meetings, hotel site inspections, networking events, and I always try to sneak in some time for exploring. When I’m home, I’m in the office every day, hang out with guy, dinner with friends, and when I’m lucky – do absolutely nothing.

You’ve lived in Jakarta, Singapore and New York. Do you have a favorite city and if so why?

New York! It’s unlike anything else in the world. The city is absolutely intoxicating – it’s intense, inspiring, and energizing.

What are your top 3 favorite places to eat and drink in NYC?

Café Cluny is my favorite brunch spot in the West Village, it’s a classic and you really can’t go wrong, they also serve a beautiful dinner. The original Café Gitane in Soho for Avocado Toast and Café au Lait, this little spot has been at its little corner on Prince and Mott for as long as I can remember. I love sitting at the bar, you meet the coolest people here. Left Bank in the Village is a sweet neighborhood restaurant where the food is consistently delicious and the cocktails are just right.

Favorite place you’ve traveled to?

Bali.

What’s on your travel bucket list for this year?

This year, I’m super excited to head out to Tasmania for oysters + scotch and South Africa for safari/wine land/and some city fun.

How do you plan for a trip? Any advice for less experienced travelers?

I pick the hotel first, the destination second. Don’t underestimate the power of a really fabulous hotel to let you escape from your day-to-day, which is really the whole point of traveling if you ask me.

What are 3 things you can’t bear to travel without?

Macbook Air, my Fuji X100S camera and my passport.

What are your 3 favorite Apps?

Uber, Classpass, and Instagram.

Favorite designers you love to wear?

For everyday, I wear a lot of Vince and Rag & Bone. During my travels, I like to pick up local designers, my favorite lately is this scarves company out of Australia called Bird & Knoll – they do these amazingly soft, oversized cashmere blend scarves printed with travel images from all over the world, essentially making it wearable art – perfect for travel.

What’s a piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

Everything will work themselves out eventually.

A big thank you to Erina for partaking in this! You can connect with Erina on Twitter & Instagram via @MissSmartFlyer.

See past Witty Conversation With features here and stay tuned for a Wednesday Wish List later this afternoon!

[Photos thanks to Erina Pindar]