Welcome to Pretty Curated
Hi! What to expect from this newsletter, notes on my recent Egypt trip, long-haul flight essentials, packing for Wimbledon, and why I need to go to Portofino.
Welcome to the first edition of Pretty Curated — a newsletter that is part travel journal, part style guide, and part diary of life in New York, written by me, Laura Shepard— a luxury travel advisor and stylist based in NYC.
This letter will allow me to share more on my travel experiences than what fits in a snappy reel or instagram story, as well as more style tips & inspiration, and the spots I’m loving in New York (when I’m in town). I plan to publish weekly or bi-monthly, so rest assured that if you subscribe, you won’t receive too many emails from me.
A note on the name… As a stylist and travel advisor, curation is one of the best single-word descriptions of what I do. I start with a broad idea for a trip (“two weeks in Italy”) or a general dress code (“beach formal”) and curate, from all the possible options, something that is personalized to the individual(s). This is also a reflection of how I live my life — I'm pretty discerning about where I spend my time (and money), what I wear, how I decorate my apartment, and so on. That said, I like to have a touch of imperfection and spontaneity in the mix — hence, Pretty Curated. Also, not everything has to be serious and this will be a place to share pretty places and things — hello, escapism.
In today’s letter: I share reflections from my recent trip to Egypt, my long-haul flight essentials, Wimbledon style inspo, and the latest addition to my travel wishlist.
Notes on Egypt
It's been three weeks since I got back from my trip to Egypt, and… I’m not over it.
I was there as part of a “familiarization” (aka FAM) trip, meant for travel advisors to learn firsthand about a destination. I saw a lot of the country over my two-week trip — visiting Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, El Gouna, and more via a three-night cruise down the Nile River. One of my biggest takeaways from the trip is how much variety Egypt has— yes, you will see many temples, tombs, and archaeological sites, but there’s also a rich religious history, the captivating banks of the Nile, and stunning beaches.
Cairo is one of the largest cities in the world with a population of ~23 million. That was the first thing I had to adjust to post 20-hour travel day — the volume of people, traffic, buildings, everything. I slept off my jet lag and the trip officially kicked off the next day with a private tour of the Pyramids of Giza. It was surreal to suddenly be standing inches from the Sphinx and I would highly recommend the private tour for anyone looking to add a special experience to their trip. It is an investment, but because you have the place to yourself and can get closer than the average tourist, you’re able to slow down and really take it all in.
Other highlights from of our time in Cairo include: a day trip to Saqqara (the oldest stone building complex), visiting a carpet school, learning about the city’s religious history (educational and beautiful), shopping in the Khan el-Khalili bazaar (where I bought a mother-of-pearl backgammon set), and the incredible GEM museum.
From Cairo we flew to Aswan, a city on the bank of the Nile in the south of Egypt known for many historical sights (Philae Temple, the unfinished obelisk) and the vibrant Nubian culture. It is one of the most beautiful parts of the Nile river and is also where Nile cruises either start or finish (the route is Luxor <> Aswan). We stayed at BenBen, one of the island hotels, which was a unique experience and so peaceful on a secluded area of the river. We also visited the Old Cataract hotel, which is a totally different vibe and a better option for those looking for a luxury experience.
The river cruise was the most relaxing part of the trip. We didn’t even have that much time on the ship, but there was something so calming about sailing that it felt longer. I was mesmerized by all the different scenes along the river — from the farmers and fishermen to the changing landscapes and occasional temple sightings. A Nile Cruise is an essential part of an Egypt itinerary because you get to relax, see this slice of life, and it’s an efficient way to see many key temples along the way.
The Nile Cruise ended in Luxor, and we disembarked to check-in to what was my favorite hotel of the trip, Al Moudira. (The hotel is woman-owned, sustainable, impeccably decorated, and was one of the best meals of our trip.) Luxor sits on the site of ancient Thebes, the pharaohs’ capital at the height of their power, which is why it's home to so many historic sights — including the Valley of the Kings (where King Tut’s tomb was discovered), Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple, and Luxor Temple. It was veryyy hot when we were there (think 105+), but we powered through to explore the tombs, which featured some of the best-preserved and most colorful hieroglyphs.
The next morning was one of my highlights of the entire trip — a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings. Watching the sun rise over the Nile River while looking over such a monumental historical sight dotted with balloons was pretty magical (and worth the 4am alarm).
Later that morning we headed to El Gouna, on the coast of the Red Sea. Before this trip I had no idea that beach destinations like this existed in Egypt. (It is a recent development— El Gouna was built up in the 80s.) After many days of sightseeing and history lessons, our time in Gouna, spent boating, beaching, and exploring the town was a great change of pace. I was impressed by the diversity of hotel options — from boutique-luxury to family-friendly resorts and eco-chic properties — as well as the town’s focus on sustainability and supporting local businesses (no chains are allowed). And the water is so stunning — a shade of turquoise so bright it looks fake even in person.
LAST THOUGHTS…
Egypt is a destination that was firmly on my travel bucket list, but one I thought was many years in my future — so when I had the chance to go, I jumped on it. I love history, and to see such incredible sights (that are SO old!) firsthand was incredible. Our Egyptologist guide travelled with us throughout the trip, so we were constantly learning and discussing what we were seeing— which amplified the experience.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about safety and how I felt as a woman. I always felt safe and didn’t experience the treatment I had been warned about — even when dressed normally. That said, it’s important to note that we were always accompanied by at least our guide and a driver, which undoubtedly contributed to how comfortable I felt. Security throughout the country is definitely tight — metal detectors at hotel entrances, for example — and while that felt a bit unnerving at first, I later learned it’s a government-mandated effort to protect tourism, which is a key industry for Egypt.
I wouldn’t recommend doing this trip yourself (that’s where I come in) as there are a lot of logistics and cultural differences that would be challenging to navigate alone. Our guides made these things seamless and allowed us to be present and enjoy the experiences. It’s truly a once in a lifetime trip — if you’re considering it, reach out (email, instagram) — I’m happy to answer questions and share more about my experience — I couldn’t even cover it all here!
Long-haul flight essentials
My flights to Egypt totaled over 20 hours each way, so I had to be properly prepped to make the travel bearable and mitigate jet lag. In an ideal world, I’d always fly lie-flat— but that’s not my current reality. Below are some of my tried & true essentials for long-haul flights:
Prescription sleeping pills. This has to be first on the list because I have no hope of sleeping upright without them. If you can do it on melatonin alone, I’m happy for you.
Hanging footrest. This is not chic at all, but I recently started using this on long flights and it’s a total game changer.
Eye mask and ear plugs (I recently decided to buy my own pair vs. relying on the airline handout).
Compression socks. These aren’t chic either, but nothing is worse than the footrest, so might as well double-down on comfort.
Moisturizing supplies: Cerabalm (this is a non-negotiable, it doubles as a cleanser and hydrating sleep mask), moisturizer (I love how lightweight the DIEUX Instant Angel one is), lip balm, hand lotion, and sheet masks (I typically reserve this for a 10+ hour flight because it is a little cringe to be that girl, but a facialist recently told me this is one of the best ways to keep skin hydrated on a flight.)
Hydration supplies: like LMNT, or I recently started using the Arrae clear protein+ with electrolytes
Protein bar and nuts to avoid needing to eat the plane food
Bonus: this is a little extra, but I got an IV drip before my Egypt flight (for hydration and an immune boost) and I definitely think it helped my jet lag and I successfully avoided getting sick on the trip despite little sleep.
Wimbledon loading…
I’m heading to London later this week with tickets to Wimbledon (!) and my trip style is shaping up to be a mix of refined and preppy English vibes with a dose of inspiration from Morgan Riddle (Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend) — I am loving her looks this tournament. If you’re also doing last-minute Wimbledon packing, planning ahead for the US Open, or just love tenniscore, I’ve put together my moodboard and shoppable assortment of looks here.
The latest addition to my travel wish list
Belmond Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Italy recently reopened after a three year renovation with design efforts led by Martin Brudnizki. When he’s involved, a hotel quicklyyy moves up on my list — I love his style (see Broadwick Soho, Fouquet’s, Le Grand Mazarin). The pool with panoramic views, tennis court, and new Dior spa are calling my name.
If they’re calling yours too — reach out and I’ll get you booked with added perks :)
your trip through Egypt sounds so cool! Did you stay at the Chedi in El Gouna? What was your experience there?