‘Below Deck’ Star Kate Chastain Has Very Strong Feelings About Baggage Claim

Travel gives you perspective. You learn about the world and yourself. When I first started traveling as a yacht stewardess, I was like, “This is so exciting, this is so thrilling.” Traveling for work seems really glamorous and you’re taking the photos out of the plane window. After a while—five, six, seven years—what seems exciting is having throw pillows and a dog and just being home.

I’ve spent a lot of time traveling and I still love it. I love the South of France, but not because it’s so chic or it’s where all the people that want to see and be seen are. It just really is so beautiful. It feels like a fairytale. Obviously I’ve also spent a lot of time in the Caribbean and I would say the British Virgin Islands are unmatched in their beauty. St. Barts is also very special.

The first time I ever traveled was when I went to visit some relatives in Texas. My first trip that really gave me the travel bug, though, was during spring break in college when I went to Puerto Rico for seven days. Those were the best seven days of my life.

My number one place that I want to go to next is Lake Tahoe during the summer. I hear that it’s like the Caribbean with the crystal-clear blue water, but you’re surrounded by alpine trees. I think that contrast would just be so amazing. I went to DC last week, which is a beautiful city. There’s the monuments and the statues and it’s so civilized, but it’s still a city.

Rapid fire

Window, middle, or aisle seat?

I’m totally window. Totally window. Never middle.

Window shade up or down?

I am windows up for takeoff, and I think it annoys some people sometimes because you’re letting light in. But I don’t care how often you travel on a plane, it’s still pretty incredible to be soaring 30,000 feet in the sky. That’s not a viewpoint you get every day. I never lose my awe and appreciation for seeing the world from that perspective. And then once the seat belt light comes on, I shut it.

Pack light or overpack?

Pack light. Over the years yachting, I just had a suitcase. For two years, I didn’t know what country I was going to the next day or how long I’d be there. So I really dialed in my packing. Keep in mind, I was always going to coastal places where boats would be, with warm weather, a beachy holiday vibe. I would always go for things that were lightweight, versatile, could be dressed up, could be dressed down, could be used in many ways. And who doesn’t love shopping? Packing light gives you an excuse to shop.

Favorite way to pass time on a plane

I am always over-ambitious and think, okay, this is the time I’m going to go through my phone and delete old things, or I’m going to get ahead of my taxes this quarter, or I’m going to go answer all those emails. Never. I always order a cocktail, watch a movie, and hopefully fall asleep. Every time, I bring my big tote with all my pens and my planner and a highlighter and they never get touched.

Biggest travel pet peeve

I hate it, hate it, hate it when you’re at the baggage claim and people go right up to the edge. You don’t know what order your bag is coming out in. What if my bag comes out first and now you’re in the way? Everyone should stand four feet away, and you only approach the belt when you see your bag and then you step back.

Biggest travel fear

My biggest travel—and this used to happen, though it doesn’t happen so much anymore—is when you’re traveling and your bank sees that you’re overseas and you’re going to purchase something, and it’s declined. I’m like, no, no, no! You have to call the bank and you’re embarrassed, but for no reason. Also losing your passport or your ID and then being stuck, or getting sick.

Favorite travel snack

My favorite travel snack is champagne or rosé, because everybody loves an airport. It’s lawless. You can order a glass of rosé at 11 am and nobody judges you.

Go-to drink order on a plane

I usually do what’s called a Skinny Bitch; it’s a vodka-Diet Coke. I want something strong so I can go to sleep.

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