Constant travel to glamorous places has a way of catching up with your skin, your sleep, and your sense of equilibrium. Just ask Kelly Wearstler. As one of the most influential hotel designers today, the Los Angeles-based Wearstler spends much of her life skipping time zones for hotel openings, project check-ins, and scouting trips.
Since first reshaping Los Angele’s ’s boutique-hotel scene with the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills in 1999 and the Viceroy Santa Monica shortly after, Wearstler’s portfolio has expanded alongside her global footprint. Today, projects like L’Apogée Courchevel, Four Resort Seasons Anguilla (formerly the Viceroy), and her ongoing collaboration with Proper Hotels routinely pull her from California to points around the globe.
Lounge area at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel
Last fall, she started Side Hustle, an art and design gallery where she showcases her impeccable, wide-ranging tastes. Plus, she loves to travel — most recently India, for a family vacation with her three children and husband, Brad Korzen, a real estate developer.
That kind of schedule requires stamina, but also well-honed rituals: beauty regimens that work for any length of journey, wellness habits to survive jet lag, and retreats that are genuinely restorative. Here are some of Wearstler’s favorite tips and routines for staying healthy and fresh while on the road.
The Hydrogel Face Mask by Augustinus Bader.
Augustinus Bader
What’s the one travel beauty routine you refuse to compromise on when flying?
My routine is non-negotiable. I travel with my pillows—three of them—and a cashmere throw. Hydration is a priority: I drink at least 60 ounces of water with chia seeds and electrolytes. I eat before I fly and bring nuts for snacks so my energy stays steady.
I treat flying like my recovery time. I’ll do a hydrating face mask from Augustinus Bader, keep my skincare simple, and use an eye mask to downshift. I always have podcasts downloaded and use the travel time as a window for focused work. I rarely watch movies.
How does your routine shift when you’re traveling for work versus leisure?
Work travel is more intentional and outward-facing—site visits, meetings, events, sourcing—so I’m disciplined about protecting my energy. Movement stays consistent, but it’s usually solo: hotel gym, a run through the city, early mornings before the day takes over.
Leisure travel is still active. But it becomes play, especially with my family. We move together: long walks, swimming, padel. We discovered padel in Brazil years ago and it stayed with us so deeply that we built a court at home.
The one constant is cultural immersion. I always bring my boys to artist studios, museums, and markets. It trains their eyes, and I’m endlessly inspired by the way they see.
What’s your approach to packing?
I’m a major over-packer. I rarely have time to plan full looks in advance, so I pack a range of pieces and let instinct take over once I arrive. I also like leaving room to shop, especially in Paris, Milan, and Tokyo, so I can fold new discoveries into my wardrobe and let the trip shape how I dress.
On the wellness side, I’m extremely organized. I travel with a cold pack to keep all my skincare, beauty products, vitamins, and supplements cool. Everything is pre-packed and labeled, which gives me a sense of control even when the schedule is intense. I always bring my red light from Current Body. And no matter where I’m staying, access to a great gym matters.
Is there one item you never leave behind?
My noise-canceling AirPods and a sleep mask. Together they create instant calm and a sense of privacy, whether I’m on a plane or in a hotel. Quality sleep and mental quiet are essential when I’m moving between time zones, and those two things protect my energy as much as my rest.
Guest room at the Crosby Street Hotel.
Crosby Street Hotel
How important is scent in shaping your memory of a hotel stay?
I love a proprietary scent. Crosby Street Hotel is a perfect example. The fragrance in their bath products is so specific and memorable. I’ll bring bottles home with me, so that scent becomes a reminder of the place and the feeling of being there.
I just stayed at Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, and they had an incense and fragrance I completely fell in love with. Now, even catching a hint of something similar takes me right back to that trip—the beauty of India, the warmth, the textures, the pace of the days.
After a long flight, what’s the first thing you do to reset your body?
Movement comes first. If I can fit in a gym session, I’ll do it. It’s the fastest way for me to reset my energy and feel fully in my body again. Then it’s about recovery: water, and a sauna or steam if it’s available. Then I take a shower or bath, I’ll do a face mask and aim for an early night so I wake up truly refreshed and ready for action.
How about mentally? How do you stay grounded?
I try to hold two things at once: structure and openness. I stay relatively tight with my workouts and wellness because that’s what keeps me steady and energized.
I also protect time for discovery, leaving space for places I hear about from a friend or find through research. And no matter where I am, I FaceTime with my family throughout the day. That connection keeps me anchored, even when the schedule is intense.
A treatment room at the Le Bristol Paris spa.
Le Bristol Paris
What makes a hotel’s gym or spa truly worth your time?
I’m always drawn to hotels where wellness feels architectural and intentional, not overly programmed. Le Bristol in Paris is a favorite, and the new gym and spa are incredible, with high ceilings and beautiful natural light on the second floor. It completely changes how you start and end your day.
The Faena Hotel Miami Beach also stands out for its gym. And Aman properties consistently get it right. I recently stayed at Amanbagh in the Indian countryside, and the gym was stunning: calm, beautifully designed, and deeply connected to its surroundings.
When fitness and spa spaces are treated with the same care as the rest of the hotel, it makes all the difference.
