Traveller | Adriana Kostov

If the regional director of the Australia Hedge Fund Association ran her own airline, she would offer adults-only flights.

First, business or economy?

Business where possible.

Most frequented destination


The world’s financial centres – New York, London and Hong Kong – and Perth to visit family and friends. I would like to say I take regular holidays but that’s not really the case. Work dictates my travel schedule. However, if I can attend a fashion show/art exhibition, et cetera while I am abroad, I will.

If I ran my own airline I would . . .


Offer a child-free/adults-only service.

Worst place you’ve been lost

I am quite fortunate that I haven’t had a negative experience of being lost. My sense of direction is luckily quite accurate.

Most memorable overseas dining

The selection of fresh seafood in Genoa, Italy, is fantastic. It isn’t exactly classified as dining but the My Lady by Monaco cocktail at the Blue Gin Bar at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel is one of the best I have had.

In the suitcase

I try to take carry-on luggage only where possible. I pack corporate attire for work and always also a few evening dresses to change into afterwards, with heels to match.

A spare afternoon in a strange city

I’ll go for a coffee at a venue where the locals go and while I’m there will usually ask the barista to recommend dining and cultural/entertainment venues, as well as local markets to find a few unique pieces to bring home. I also like to skim the local newspapers to gain an insight into current state of affairs of the country I am in.


Travel tips

Be patient and have an open mind. There are likely to be delays and things may not go exactly to plan, but that is part of the adventure.

What technology do you use?

The basics: phone and laptop.

Best overseas purchase

Clothing and skincare from Tel Aviv, Israel. Tel Aviv is a hidden treasure for fashion, dining and culture. It’s a fantastic city.

Best travelling tale

My first trip to the Charging Bull on Wall Street, as a university student, was rather memorable. While I was posing for the mandatory tourist photo by the bull, I met a fellow university student/traveller from London who asked if I could take a photo for him. Fast forward to 2014 and he is the founder and chief executive of a large financial services firm in Los Angeles. We have decided that (apart from consistent hard work) perhaps the photo by the bull was our career lucky charm.


Best thing about travelling

You can momentarily forget it all and, generally speaking, it is associated with new experiences and fun, which is always a good thing.

Top travel gripe

Losing a day (or two) when travelling back to Australia from abroad, and noisy children on planes and in airports.

lifeandleisure@afr.com.au

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