Travel expert, Sami Lukis knows all you modern, smart and independent women don’t want to be crammed into a tour bus during your dream trip to New York! If your perfect idea of experiencing the Big Apple is shopping, hitting all the foodie hot spots and picking up expert tips from the locals – look no further! This is the ultimate holiday experience hosted by one of Australia’s best loved media personalities.
Rescu. chats to Sami Lukis about her Big Apple!
RESCU: What inspired you the first time you visited NY?
Sami Lukis: I first visited New York with a friend about 20 years ago. My most enduring memory of that trip is that we got trapped inside Macy’s Department store during a blizzard. We shopped ourselves into a blizzard-induced-spending frenzy.
RESCU: How many times have you visited and why do you keep going back?
Sami Lukis: I’ve visited New York countless times. I started going there on a more regular basis about 5 years ago, visiting some close friends which allowed me to discover a different side of this incredible city, and not just the “touristy” New York that 50 million visitors experience each year.
RESCU: Tell us about your great business idea and how it came about?
Sami Lukis: It just struck me that New York is THE perfect travel destination for women. With the amazing combination of great sightseeing, shopping, Broadway shows, museums, galleries, eating, drinking, socializing – it really is impossible to get bored.
I’d heard the quote : “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” … so that’s what I did.
I believe I have a really good understanding of what modern, independent, smart women want from a holiday. My itinerary includes a variety of daily female friendly sightseeing activities, but it also allows enough free time to explore the city at your own pace. We also enjoy a gorgeous outdoor yoga class in Central Park – now that’s something you don’t get to do back home !
A really important feature of my tours are the nightly dinners. No-one wants to be sitting alone in their hotel room at night eating room service in such an exciting city like New York. So each night, our group of fabulous women meet for a meal. I have tables booked at New York’s hottest restaurants.
I do all the planning. Together with my travel agency TravelEdge, we take care of their every travel need, from the moment they book, until the moment they arrive home safe, sound, satisfied (and probably shopped-out)!
RESCU: Who would you recommend your tours to?
Sami Lukis: My tours are designed for women over the age of 30 who love to travel – and not necessarily just for single women. Sure, it’s ideal if you’re single and you don’t want to travel alone. My tours are also popular with busy mums, who need a break and are desperate for some much needed “me-time”.
RESCU: How much time would we need to get the most out of a trip to NY?
Sami Lukis: The simple answer is – there’s never enough time to experience New York, but my tours are 7 nights.
RESCU: What are the top beauty destinations you always recommend to friends and clients?
Sami Lukis: The great thing about buying beauty in New York is that it’s usually around 30% cheaper than what you pay here in Australia.
Sephora is a must-shop for beauty addicts. An unparalleled assortment of cosmetics, fragrance, hair and beauty products.
One of the highilights of my last tour was the Bloomingdales Master Class. We were invited into Bloomingdales before the store opened for a private beauty class with Laura Mercier. Each lady had their own personal make up artist for an hour, and we were guided through all the latest products. The ladies loved it !
RESCU: Do you have any favourite destinations for a great spa or facial?
Sami Lukis: Celebrity Facialist Tracie Martyn on Fifth Avenue is famous for her Resculpting Facial. She calls it a “gym for the face”. Clients include Kate Winslet, Brad Pitt, Susan Sarandon.
The Red Door Spa on Fifth Avenue is the original day spa from Elizabeth Arden. A little old fashioned compared to the modern spas, but with a rich history.
RESCU: Where are your favourite spots to eat?
Sami Lukis: Café Habana is an old NYC favourite. Home style cheap Latin Food. Always crowded but worth the wait. Perfect location in Soho for a mid-shop bite.
Torrisi Italian Specialties in Soho was my most memorable recent dining experience in NY. It’s been listed in the top 10 restaurants in Manhattan. A little pricey, but very intimate and an absolute taste sensation in every single bite.
La Esquina is a great late night venue. It’s located in a slightly dodgy looking roadside taco diner and you actually need to walk through the working kitchen to get to the bar. I hear Madonna is a regular.
RESCU: Who’s the best celebrity you have spotted in NY?
Sami Lukis: On my last trip, I saw Calista Flockhart walking through the airport and Keanu Reeves was sitting in my hotel lobby while I was checking in. A girlfriend who lives in Manhattan sees Matt Damon every morning when she drops the kids off to school. Anne Hathaway likes to pop in and grab a coffee from one of my favourite brunch cafes.
Tours are for scheduled for June and August 2012 please visit the website www.samilukis.com for more information!
You can contact Sami via email: sami@samilukis.com
