TV star Catriona Rowntree shares her travels do’s and don’ts

Aussie TV star Catriona Rowntree has shared the one thing she does the moment she lands in a country – and also the biggest mistake she made in Paris.

Catriona Rowntree has hosted Getaway for more than 30 years – so if anyone is authorised to talk on the topic of jet lag (and travel dos and don’ts), it’s her.

The beloved TV presenter of the much-loved Aussie travel show has been to almost every corner of the world, assuring that the Catriona you see on TV truly is travel-obsessed.

“Let me assure you that what you see on TV is authentic – I absolutely love travel just as much as I love to shop,” she laughed, during a candid interview with news.com.au.

The 54-year-old, who has been gallivanting around Paris and will soon take on the sights of Tahiti for the show, revealed the three things everyone should do to help minimise jet lag.

“The moment you book a flight, grab your phone and put two things in, ‘world clock’ and

adjust your body to the location of where you are going,” she advised in her role as Compare the Market’s travel expert.

She sometimes takes an over-the-counter sleeping tablet like Ashwagandha (from Nature’s Way) and sleeps on the flight, depending on where she’s going. She also avoids drinking alcohol on flights.

Catriona Rowntree has shared her dos and don’ts when it comes to travel. Picture: Instagram/catrionarowntree

“The moment you land, walk it out, don’t run, don’t go to the gym, don’t over-exert the body,” she said.

“You want to walk and get as much vitamin D as you can. Vitamin D is the key.”

You’ll rarely catch the seasoned presenter wearing dark-coloured clothes while exploring the streets – mainly during summer.

“Wear white and or cream so you have a natural reflection on the skin.”

She also said it’s important to stay awake until around 9pm and above all, “do not have an afternoon nap”.

To help prepare her body before any travel she stocks up on the vitamins at least two weeks before her trip.

“This is because you generally will catch the cold in the first week of your holiday when your defences drop,” she said.

“I’ve never had Covid. I’m as healthy as a clam and I travel more than anyone. So trust me on the vitamins.”

When asked what her big travel no-no is, especially when gallivanting around Europe, she said to avoid “clam suitcases”.

The 54-year-old has been gallivanting around Paris. Picture: Instagram/catrionarowntree

Catriona has hosted Getaway for more than 30 years – so she’s well-equipped to give advice on all-things travel. Picture: Instagram/catrionarowntree

In fact, she shared a clip about it on Instagram that went viral.

She titled the reel ‘dumb things I’ve done in Paris’ showing her suitcase barely fitting in a lift and having to send it down on its own as she couldn’t fit beside it.

“Learn from my mistakes,” she joked.

But even she still makes mistakes – and warns why you should avoid travelling with a ‘clam suitcase’, particularly in Europe. Picture: Instagram/catrionarowntree

She shared another snap of her ‘clam suitcase’ in the boot of a car, showcasing that in small spaces it was impossible to open.

“You just need one of those surfer suitcases that open from the top because those ‘clam suitcases’ do not work.”

Meanwhile, she advised to take a small, everyday bag for when you’re sightseeing during the day.

“You don’t want something too big throughout the day when you’re travelling, you just want something cross body that’s easy.”

She’s collaborated with Blue Illusion, an Australian-owned, French-inspired brand, to design her own crossbody strap bag, aplty titled the ‘Catriona Crossbody Bag’.

“I’ve never actually had a problem with pickpockets but I did design this bag so it has a magnetised fall-over top.”

She said it’s the perfect everyday travel bag that easily fits your phone and has enough pockets to securely store things like passports.

The self-confessed overpacker said it’s best to pack light, avoid expensive suitcases and if you can, stop off at a surf shop and try and get a suitcase that opens from the top.

The avid traveller said the one thing she loves the most about her job is the “constant learning”.

“I just adore meeting people, learning from them, and living every day as though it’s my last,” she told news.com.au.

“Every day is hectic and tiring and I love it. We are so fortunate to have the good health to be able to travel.

“[Just] go for it. Book a trip. Don’t put things off because none of us know what each day will bring. That’s certainly a lesson I’ve learned the hard way.

“My dad always said to my mum, ‘when I retire, we’ll do this’. And unfortunately, he passed away from cancer way too young. And so now I try to spoil my mum with those trips, but I really learned that lesson the hard way.”

Catriona said her bucket list is fluid, ever-changing and always extensive but the three things high on her list are The Galapagos Island, Antarctica and swimming with the whale sharks in Ningaloo.