Celebrity traveller Q&A: Sami Lukis

What does an average day in the life of Sami Lukis look like?
Monday to Friday I wake up at 4.15am and start work at 5am where we spend an hour prepping and planning. Then we’re on air live from 6-9am. Once we’re off air, we usually spend another three hours planning future shows and doing interviews. Then I’m home for lunch and an hour walk with my dog Lolli. I spend another few hours working in the afternoon. If I don’t have evening TV to watch for work, I’ll try and catch up with friends for an early dinner or try and squeeze in a late afternoon yoga class.

Tell us about what it’s really like working in breakfast radio?
I’ve been working breakfast hours for most of my career. I spent almost four years on Channel 9’s Today Show presenting the weather then I moved into radio 10 years ago, where I’ve spent nine years in Breakfast and one year in Drive. So this has become a lifestyle I’m very familiar with. People usually assume the main issue in working these hours is waking up at a ridiculous hour, but the main challenge for me is making sure I go to bed early! If I haven’t had enough sleep, I can’t expect to be alert and articulate for three hours of live radio, so bedtime is usually around 8-9pm … and unfortunately, that does not make for an especially exciting social life.
You’re a regular in New York thanks to your ladies-only NYC getaways. What is it about the Big Apple that keeps you coming back?
Everything! I have realised that New York really is the world’s best holiday destination for women – it’s impossible to get bored in this city, with an unbeatable combination of shopping, sightseeing, shows and socialising! The skyline is guaranteed to take your breath away, no matter how many times you’ve seen it. And there REALLY is a “New York state of mind” – every time you go, you just feel fabulous. That’s why I decided to set up my own business hosting tours of this gorgeous city for women who love to travel, but don’t want to travel alone.

Where are your favourite places to eat in NYC?
I could spend my entire holiday EATING my way around Manhattan so I always leave the diet at home. Dining out is my favourite thing to do in New York (shopping comes a close second).
Some of my faves are: Babbo (old school Italian), Cafe Habana (cheap Latin, world’s best corn on the cob), Fred’s at Barneys (great for lunch and people watching the REAL “NY housewives”), La Esquina (it’s got a secret entrance and I love love love the jalapeno margaritas), Beauty & Essex (they have a champagne bar in the ladies toilets), The Spotted Pig (trendy gastro pub in the west village – always crowded and buzzing), Bistro Bagatelle (where Sunday brunch turns into a party, with pumping music and dancing on tables) and the list goes on …

And what about where to shop?
My top 3 must-shop spots in New York are:
1. Soho: Spend a day wandering around the pretty criss-cross grid of cobblestone streets where you’ll find a seemingly never-ending string of cute little boutiques and all the big famous chain stores. There’s a really great Vintage store called A Second Chance (they have another outlet on the Upper East Side with an entire room of vintage Chanel!). And pop into the Bite Lip Lab where you can customise your own lipstick colour.

2. Bloomingdales Flagship Store at 59th and Lexington: I really love the range of affordable clothing you can find here, and plenty of brands we don’t get at home. Sale time is unbelievable … that’s when you’ll find racks of already discounted sale items with signs that say “take an ADDITIONAL 50% off the already marked down price”. I’m not even kidding. My best buy there was an amazing pair of Ivanka Trump knee high suede boots marked down from $600 to $75. After all these years the little brown bag still is a girls’ best friend.
3. Woodbury Common Premium Outlets: OK I love a bargain. Why pay full price if you don’t have to? This gigantic outlet mall is a one hour drive from Manhattan but it’s always worth the trip – with more than 200 discount stores, many of them designer. For example, there’s a Diane Von Furstenburg outlet store where you can score DVF wrap dresses for $150. I always stock up!

What are your must-have items for any overseas trip?
For a summery destination … a few maxi dresses, some cute scarves and comfy flats. I love to walk as much as I can – it’s the best way to see a city.

Tell us about your favourite holiday.
My favourite holiday is always the NEXT one I’m planning! I’m heading to Europe in December for some sightseeing in Prague and Budapest, and then some skiing and socialising in Zermatt and St Anton.
What’s your favourite spot in Oz for a getaway?
I love a ski trip to Thredbo … if there was a high speed train I’d go EVERY weekend in winter!

Packing: do you roll, fold or shove it all in there? Any tips to share?
I prefer the “fold” to the “roll”. The secret to packing is to pack what you think you need and then RE-PACK, removing at least 20% of what you originally thought you needed. And always make sure you leave enough room for all that shopping … no-one enjoys that last minute juggle at the airport check in a desperate attempt to avoid those hideous excess baggage fees.
Any tips for managing jetlag?
Set your watch at the time of your destination as soon as you get on the plane and try and spend some time in the sunshine if possible as soon as you arrive.

If you could sit next to any celeb on a plane who would it be?
Prince Harry. Especially if he was flying home from a weekend in Vegas … I think we’d have plenty to talk about.

Catch Sami on Sami Lukis & Yumi Stynes 6am to 9am weekdays on Mix106.5 in Sydney. Follow her at facebook.com/mix1065sydney and check out her site at samilukis.com/.