Tour guide names best value country and what you’ll always find in her carry-on

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As told to Andrea Black.

Brigid Kennedy is hosting Renaissance Tours’ 12-day “Wines of the Rhône Valley and Provence” tour from September 8-19, 2025. These are her travel tips:

I travel for…

Work and holidays, often to France, where a love of wine and travel has become a vocation. I usually stop in Paris, my favourite city, before heading to wine regions to see what’s new. Across Europe, vineyard visits are a must; the rolling vines and cool cellars excite me as much as the wine.

Every winery has its own story. We’ve recently routed trips via San Francisco to explore Napa, and via Turin for Barolo, always seeking out local wines and the people behind them.

This year, I’m excited to be leading a tour to the Rhône Valley and Provence with Renaissance Tours, and having lived there, can’t wait to share how special this region is.

For longer holidays, we go further culturally – Mexico, Cuba, Peru, Argentina, or Canada for hiking and landscapes. For short breaks, I love Asia and Vietnam in particular. These trips are all about delicious food, shopping, and poolside happy hours.

A guided tour is best for…

Local knowledge and when things go wrong. A guide once tracked down a bag I left in a Chilean town and returned it that night. Later, unrest in Bolivia forced a last-minute route change – our guide safely rerouted us across a river. We were oblivious. I’ll always be grateful for their know-how.

It’s important to learn a language of the region one travels to…

When it’s more than a holiday. Learning French before moving to Paris made a huge difference to my independence and connections. Even just the basics, greetings, booking a room, ordering a meal, can go a long way. You can get by without it, but you miss so much happening around you.

I plan the trip…

Myself but use a travel agent for flights, especially to places I know like France. I prefer a travel agent to book tickets. As soon as those flight changes or cancellations appear on your phone, you know the travel agent can help.

Inside my carry-on you’ll always find…

My iPad and a notebook, a cashmere scarf, Sony headphones, eye drops, the Ordinary brand moisturiser, NIOD Hydration Vaccine face cream, a bag of roasted macadamias, and bottled water.

As soon as I check in, I…

Walk as much as I can. It feels like I’m prepaying for the inactivity of a long flight.

The destination I think is best bang for your buck is…

Vietnam – it has amazing food, affordable shopping, and daily spa luxuries.

I pack my suitcase…

Neatly to start. Outfits are planned and everything placed in cubes. Somehow, I always arrive home with a disordered mess.

My tip for keeping valuables safe is…

Use the safe in the room and take a picture of your jewellery, just-in-case. But I lose one earring every third trip on average, so don’t listen to me.

My preferred plane meal is…

Something light with a glass of wine.

I never get travel insurance because…

My husband insists our Amex card covers travel insurance. I’ve never tested the theory.

I am not loyal to one airline because…

Flying is expensive, so the best price for comfort wins.

When people ask what’s so amazing about French wine, I tell them…

It’s where the world’s great grapes come from. Pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, syrah, all born in France. But more importantly, French wine is about place. The same grape tastes different depending on where it’s grown, that connection to the land is what makes it unique.

My best tip for beating jet lag is…

Be kind to yourself. Spend time outside during daylight hours, walking or other light activity. Eat early, enjoy a glass of local wine, and take something to help you sleep.

I save money when travelling by…

Buying fresh produce at a market for breakfast or lunch, or quietly following locals to see where they eat. I’ve found amazing places that way.

The city I always use public transport in is…

Paris. The Metro is amazing, but I also love Paris buses. It’s like a free sightseeing tour (just remember to get off).

My favourite type of travel companion is…

My husband or someone friendly but not looking for conversation outside of mealtimes. I’m quite happy travelling solo, catching up on movies, doing a bit of work or sleeping.

The travel app I swear by is…

TripIt, which helps manage schedules and bookings. It’s especially useful for customised itineraries.

This article first appeared in Escape.com.au as Tour guide names best value country and what you’ll always find in her carry-on.