Most travelers only focus on where they’re going.

I also focus on how I’m getting there.

When planning a European journey from New Orleans, it’s easy to assume the goal is to get across the Atlantic as quickly as possible. On paper, that makes sense. Find the shortest route. Make the connection. Arrive in Europe.

But after years of designing journeys across the pond for others —and plenty of personal travel of my own—I’ve learned something important:

The beginning matters.

In fact, it often shapes the entire experience.

Pro Tip: Spend a Night in NYC

For our recent adventure through Italy and Switzerland, Poor Kent and I didn’t rush straight from New Orleans to Europe. Instead, we began with an overnight in New York.

A little Broadway. A beautiful hotel. A wonderful dinner. A proper night’s sleep.

Waking up to the sweet Spring sounds of the Upper East Side and a lovely lingering lunch and afternoon in Manhattan.

Only then did we board our flight to Milan.

Was it the most direct route?

No.

Was it the right route?

Absolutely.

Even if it meant hauling all 49 of our bags through Manhattan for less than 24 hours.

Why I Sometimes Recommend a New York Prologue

Travelers departing from major gateway cities have an advantage. New Yorkers, Chicagoans, and Atlantans often enjoy a wide range of nonstop international flights and premium cabin options.

New Orleans travelers don’t always have that luxury.

Many European itineraries begin with an early morning departure, a connection, and a long-haul flight. If anything goes wrong on that first segment, the rest of the day can unravel quickly.

For milestone journeys, special celebrations, premium cabin experiences, and longer itineraries, I often explore a different approach.

Instead of treating New York as a connection, I treat it as the opening chapter.

Suddenly the trip doesn’t begin at the airport. It begins with an evening in one of the world’s greatest cities.

The Lowell: A Perfect Beginning

For this journey, we departed a day early, flew into LaGuardia, and were met by our favorite driver for a seamless transfer into Manhattan, where The Lowell awaited on the Upper East Side.

It is exactly the sort of hotel I adore before an international departure.

Elegant without being flashy. Refined without being formal. The kind of place that feels more like a beautiful private residence than a hotel.

There is just something wonderfully civilized about unpacking for the evening, enjoying a proper dinner, taking in a show, and waking up rested rather than rushing through a crowded terminal.

Luxury often isn’t always about extravagance.

More often, it’s about ease.

A Little Broadway Before Europe

One of the unexpected benefits of a New York overnight is that it creates space for experiences that would otherwise never fit into the trip.

For us, that meant Broadway. Specifically, Titanique.

Equal parts hilarious, ridiculous, and surprisingly brilliant, it was the perfect way to kick off a vacation. By the time we returned to the hotel, we were already in vacation mode—a far cry from the usual airport-hotel-airport shuffle.

Travel should create memories from the very beginning, not simply once you’ve arrived.

Better Flights. Better Timing. Better Experience.

Of course, there are practical advantages as well.

New York often offers:

• Better premium cabin availability
• More international carrier options
• Convenient departure times
• Reduced risk of missing long-haul connections
• Access to airlines and routes unavailable from smaller markets

In our case, it also gave us the opportunity to fly Emirates Business Class for the journey to Milan—an experience that would become one of the highlights of the trip itself.

Sometimes the routing becomes part of the adventure.

When This Strategy Makes Sense

While this “think out of the box” beginning has become my new norm, I don’t recommend a New York overnight for every journey.

If you’re headed to Europe for a quick getaway or simply want the fastest possible route, a same-day connection may be the perfect choice.

But I often suggest this option for:

• Anniversary trips
• Milestone birthdays
• Multi-country itineraries
• Premium cabin travelers
• Bucket-list journeys
• Travelers who prefer a slower, more intentional pace

When the journey itself matters, how you begin can transform the experience.

Travel Design Versus Travel Booking

This is one of my favorite examples of the difference between booking travel and designing travel.

A booking answers the question “How should we get there?”

Travel design asks “How should this feel?”

Sometimes the answer is a direct flight. Sometimes the answer is a private driver. Sometimes it’s an extra night at the end.

And sometimes

it’s a New York prologue before Europe.

Because the best journeys aren’t assembled.

They’re designed.

And every great story deserves a wonderful beginning.

Imagine Your Story

Whether you’re dreaming of European story with an NYC prologue ,

or simply a journey designed with intention from beginning to return,

we’d be delighted to help shape what comes next.