Celebrity Travel: Go away with Chiara Aurelia

For Chiara Aurelia (“Luckiest Girl Alive,” “Cruel Summer”), getting to travel is a major perk of her job. “I was recently filming a project that had to take an unexpected hiatus, which provided me with the perfect opportunity to take the European summer adventure I've always dreamed of,” said the New York-based actress. “Within a couple of days of the show pausing, I had purchased a one-way ticket to London and ended up spending two months in Europe. It was a great opportunity to visit family and friends. I also got to spend a lot of time traveling alone. That summer became one of the most informative and significant periods of growth in my life.”

Aurelia will next be seen in the Peacock series “Hysteria!” ( https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/hysteria ), where she plays a member of a heavy metal band. Fans may stay in touch with her via Instagram (@ChiaraAurelia).

Q: Do you have any upcoming trips planned?

A: I'm heading to Los Angeles to promote my new Peacock series, “Hysteria!” I'm originally from Los Angeles and most of my best childhood friends and family still live there. This will be my first trip back since moving to New York City, so I'm lucky to have such a great excuse to visit and catch up with everyone. Even though I decided to switch coasts, L.A. will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Q: Have you visited places for work that were so nice that you traveled back there later for a personal trip?

A: When I was 19, I spent two months filming in Toronto. I was working on a movie called “Luckiest Girl Alive” and it was truly one of the best experiences. The city totally spoke to me. I was there just after Covid and it had just started coming back to life. The streets were filled with outdoor dining spaces and the gorgeous sunny weather of Toronto in the summer. I spent most of my days in Trinity Bellwoods Park and trying out different cuisines on Ossington Avenue. I haven’t had a chance to go back there yet, but would love the opportunity to go back for a personal trip or for work.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: My dad's side of the family is from Belgium and France. They take a yearly trip to my aunt's hometown in Brittany. Anytime that I can join that trip is a huge treat.

Q: Do you speak any foreign languages?

A: OK, so, I only speak English fluently, but my family is French and I took six years of Spanish in school. Judging by that and the fact I can still only get about a sentence out in either language, I don't think linguistics is my strong suit.

Q: How do you separate work from vacation trips?

A: I'm lucky enough to say that my job doesn't really feel like work. I do get to travel so much for work, though, and I always try to use whatever downtime I have to go out and explore. Filming in a new city is such an interesting experience, because you get the opportunity to see a city as not just a tourist, but also as a local.

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

A: The Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.

Q: What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A: I've come to understand the importance of having compassion for everyone. People come from such diverse backgrounds and environments. It’s often difficult to truly put yourself in someone else's shoes.

Q: If you could only pick one place to eat, would you prefer a food truck or fine dining?

A: Nothing beats a great food truck! Good food is good food and street tacos are a favorite of mine.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: Ojai is one of my favorites.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: New York, L.A., Toronto, Brussels, Belgium and Padova, Italy.

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A: My mom and her two best friends from college all have daughters around the same age and we've been discussing doing a big group trip to Greece since I was really young. “Mamma Mia!” was a family favorite growing up, so this is a trip I’ve really looked forward to. Traveling this summer, I was near Greece but decided not to go. I want to wait to fulfill this trip with my mom.

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A: Sunscreen, power converters, a not-heavy suitcase, Laneige lip mask and a jacket that goes with everything.

Q: What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?

A: I want to find out a little about the history of a place and what makes it unique. Asking for good food and restaurant recommendations is a must.

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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)