Celebrity Travel: Go away with Marcia Kimpton

Growing up as the daughter of the late Bill Kimpton – the founder of the Kimpton Hotels – Marcia Kimpton was accustomed to staying in some of the world’s nicest hotels. But the filmmaker and author also remembered staying in youth hostels, just like other twentysomething adventurers looking for ways to save money. Since then, she has launched the Kimpton Travels and Films app, as well as her travel show, “Bright Lights Late Night.” Splitting her time between Lake Tahoe and Hawaii, Kimpton updates her travels and projects on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/marciakimpton/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/marciakimptonfilms) and X (https://x.com/marciakimpton). This interview was conducted while she was traveling around France.

Q: What can you share about your Kimpton Travels and Films app and “Bright Lights Late Night”?

A: I took my two passions of loving to watch great films and loving to travel, and put it on the app for a very low, one-time yearly price. It’s so difficult to find great films, so if I find one, I update the app immediately. I have a really long curated list with the goal to have a film to watch with every country you visit. I have a special curated list of all my favorite places I have traveled, which now includes 40-plus countries. My pilot episode "Bright Lights Late Night," which was filmed just outside Cape Town in the wine country of South Africa, is on the app, along with my new film, “An American in Amsterdam.”

Q: Traveling can be a challenge these days. What's your stance on passengers asking other passengers to exchange seats with them so that families and friends can sit together?

A: What an interesting question! I feel very strongly about this since I have moved for a family before. But when someone asked me to move to a middle seat and I had an aisle seat, I guess you could say I wasn’t as accommodating. But if it was a child, of course, I would move. The issue is that I always plan my tickets and my seats way ahead of time, so this couple that obviously hadn’t planned wanted me to give up my aisle seat for a middle, and they were adults! Plan ahead is my advice.

Q: Do you plan your own travel itinerary?

A: I book everything, and always have in 40 years of travel, except for when I went to India and Myanmar with four women. We used a travel agent. For [traveling around] Africa, you kind of need a safari expert agent. Otherwise, you could make some real mistakes. But I have been so many times that I can now book safari trips myself.

Q: Have you worked on any of your projects while you were on the road?

A: Every project has been a destination where we were staying in hotels or renting homes. The only exception was my first film, which was [shot] in San Francisco and a little bit in Mongolia. I have filmed in Northern Thailand, South Africa, France, Greece, Turkey, Netherlands and Portugal. I love traveling the world and filming, because those are two of my favorite things to do in the world!

Q: What were some of your recent trips?

A: I [was] in my favorite country of France and was just in Paris, [then] Nice, Cannes, Cap du Ferrat, Vence – where I used to live – then to Venice, Italy, Athens and Hydra Island in Greece, before heading home. In August, I am going to Croatia for the first time for the Croatian International Film Festival because they selected my movie “An American Abroad” for the closing night.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: France is my favorite country because of the food, wine, fashion, different landscape, fun cities, stunning countryside [and the] mountains to ski. I love the language, which for me is very difficult to master, but I am determined.

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

A: Bhutan, because it feels other worldly with its traditional dress, stunning architecture, magical festivals, kindness and peaceful people. The Himalayans have been called Shangri-La, and it really feels like it when you visit Tiger's Nest temple.

Q: What was a trip you took as a child that stands out?

A: I remember going to New York City for the first time when I was eight years old and loving it so much. New York City has always been my favorite city in the United States and I knew I wanted to live there at a young age. I did end up living there when I was 20 with a summer internship for “The Today Show,” and then lived there for a total of five years later on. That trip as a young girl made a huge impact on me.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: I think St. Helena in Napa Valley is a gem. One of the great hotels there is the magical Meadowood [Napa Valley]. Or one that is a bit more affordable is the Solage in Calistoga. I also love Bernardus Lodge & Spa in Carmel Valley.

Q: If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?

A: I celebrated a big birthday in Courchevel, France. Because my birthday is three days before Christmas, it was also time for the holidays. I have to say the unbelievable food with the DJ blaring for après-skiing on the mountain was truly one of the best times in my life. The French know how to make everything fun and beautiful and this town is made for Christmas in the French Alps.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: Amsterdam, Venice, Bangkok, New York and Tokyo.

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

A: St. Petersburg, Russia. I cannot believe I haven't been to Russia. I hope I can go someday soon!

Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?

A: Trying the amazing wine in each country. Granted, I don’t think Greece or Bhutan have wine that makes me travel to their countries, but they have other special things. Great wine is my weakness, hence my favorite country is France.

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

A: I do research for days and days. It’s something that gives me so much joy. I ask the concierge of the hotel what restaurants they recommend and then I cross reference with magazines and different travel Instagram posts. I then look at the websites to make the final decision as to where I will eat. I try to find a great local guide who will show me the area on the first day if it’s a new place. I look hard for those unique boutique family-owned hotels like the Ambassador Hotel in Amsterdam. It just makes it magical on the canals and there are so many hotels to choose from in that stunning city.

Q: What is your best vacation memory?

A: There are so many, but seeing the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest [in Uganda]. There is nothing like seeing a silverback and knowing it’s so huge, but so gentle, or watching the baby gorillas play just like little kids.

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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).)