There is a particular elegance to the way Irma travels—never over planned, yet never unprepared. Her method is less about ticking boxes, and more about curating a mood, a rhythm, a sense of place before she has even arrived.
Preparation, in her world, is not logistical—it is editorial, necessary, and for most, lots of fun.
Here, eight practical ways she approaches it:
1. Begin with a feeling, not a destination
IRMA never starts with where to go, but how she wants to feel. Restless or restored? Urban or elemental? Once the mood is clear, the destination follows—be it the hush of the Engadin or the charged energy of Bangkok.
2. Build a visual narrative before you go
She collects fragments—hotel interiors, colour palettes, street scenes—stored in a single folder. Think less itinerary, more storyboard. Instagram & Pinterest are useful, but so are old editorials, books, even film stills. By departure, the trip already has a visual identity and gets you in the mood for travelling.
3. Map lightly, but precisely
IRMA pins everything—restaurants, galleries, cafés—onto a digital map but never schedules them rigidly. The rule: one anchor per day (a lunch, an exhibition), everything else remains fluid. Structure without suffocation.
4. Trust local voices over global lists
Rather than relying on predictable ‘Top 10’ guides, she looks for local tastemakers—artists, stylists, chefs, small boutique owners. A single, well-chosen recommendation often replaces five generic ones. Contact them for their favourite address they stand for. For example, a restaurant owner for his/her favourite farmers market, an artist for a favourite niche gallery. Create your personal travel guide.
5. Edit your packing like a collection
Her suitcase is curated as tightly as a capsule wardrobe. Pieces must layer, transform and serve more than one purpose. A scarf becomes a wrap, a dress shifts from day to evening. The aim: fewer items, more combinations.
6. Research through stories, not just places
Irma reads into the context of a place—the history of a house, the philosophy of a restaurant, the people behind a hotel. It transforms a stay from transactional to meaningful. A dinner becomes a narrative, not just a reservation, and, if you are lucky, also a cooking inspiration.
7. Leave space for the unknown
No matter how well researched, she always protects empty time. A morning with no plan. An afternoon to wander. Often, these unscripted hours become the defining moments of the trip.
8. Prepare rituals, not just logistics
From skincare minis (link zum heutigen Post) to a signature travel scent, Irma builds small rituals into her journey. They create continuity across places—so that, whether in a city hotel or a remote villa, there is always something familiar.
To prepare like IRMA is to think like an editor: refine, reduce, and curate. The goal is not to control the journey, but to give it just enough structure so that spontaneity can unfold beautifully.