How I travel: with photographer, Carla Coulson

Ever wondered what an international photographer packs when they jet set? We speak with one of our favourite photographers Carla Coulson, about must-packs, travel tricks and her favourite place.

Carla Coulson is one of those lucky individuals who has managed to parlay a passion – in this case for photography – into a very successful career, thank you very much.

To date the Australian-born photographer has a swag of books to her credit – including Italian Joy, Chasing a Dream, Paris Tango – all of which pay homage to Italy and France, her former and present home respectively.

Her latest, Naples: A Way of Love (Penguin Books, $49.99), is a collaboration with like-minded writer Lisa Clifford. Here, Coulson reminisces on journeys past, extols the virtues of packing light and dreams of destinations yet to come.

What is your first memory of travelling?
I was four years old and it was the 1960s. My parents put my big sister (then five years old) and me onto a plane from Bourke to Newcastle to see our grandparents.

I have a photo of us walking across the tarmac with my teddy bear accompanied by a very glamorous hostess in a pillbox hat and mini skirt. It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened; getting on the plane, seeing the interior, eating the food, the uniforms. The smell of an airport still fills me with hope.

What do you absolutely love about travelling?
I love the hope, the build-up, the dreams of what awaits you. I adore different cultures, understanding the way others live, to see their architecture, food and unexpected encounters.

What is the next destination you are planning to visit?
I am about to touch down in Australia and this fills me with the same kind of happiness as landing in a new country. I can’t wait for the physical freedom after Paris, my family and friends, the beaches, the coffee and the food.

Do you travel predominantly for work or for pleasure?
Both: I spent my first 12 years as a photographer doing travel photography and always seemed to be in a new town or country. I love it. I love not knowing how things work and slowly discovering them.

Have you mastered the art of travelling light or do you favour the opposite approach?
The luggage thing drives me nuts and lugging heavy unmanageable bags across a bridge in Venice or through cobblestoned streets in Naples takes away from the experience. The lighter the better and, of course, summer is easier.

Cities or beaches?
Beaches.

Where is your ultimate dream location?
Italy – I have been many times. Something happens to my heart when I cross the border into Italy. It is at once so familiar but so foreign and Italy always surprises me.
I would like to go to the island of Pantelleria. I love the sensation of being on an island, of life slowing down and I adore the Mediterranean. It has always fascinated me, halfway between Italy and Africa and the local architecture looks stunning.

What can you absolutely not leave home without when you travel?
My cameras: my Canon 5D Mark II or my Leica M8.

What is your favourite souvenir you have bought home from your travels?
When I travel with my husband for pleasure we always buy something. We have some school posters of Greek heroes we bought on the island of Amorgos and they now hang in our living room with other treasured objects of good times and good places.

Bespoke luggage or backpacks?
Backpacks.

What do you pack into your carry-on for a long haul flight?
Earplugs and an eye mask: that way I feel I have a little privacy.

Do you have a secret for beating jetlag?
Australian Bush Flower Essences’ Travel Essence. It’s not a cure but it takes away the anxiety of being overtired.

What is your favourite hotel?
I have a penchant for simple places near a beach somewhere with no staff. But on a job recently I did stay at Il Pellicano hotel in Monte Argentario and it was truly special. In a knockout location, you had the feeling of staying in a private home, with warm staff and wonderful food. Loved it!

What was the last book you read on your travels?
A history of the world in 100 objects by Neil MacGregor. It’s a wonderful read and a vicarious trip throughout history and the world via objects at The British Museum.

What one piece of advice can you share with holidaymakers to improve their happy snaps?
Really look at the framing of your photo and ask yourself if you can improve it before you click the shutter. Often holiday snaps are taken in a moment of excitement or in a hurry and legs are cut off or the shot is blurry.

Luxury or adventure?
Adventure.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.