Max Aniort’s
Insider Travel Tips
For the type-A, always-optimizing travelers among us: Our ongoing Q&A series uncovers the secrets of professional voyagers and worldly connoisseurs. From planning and packing to navigating new terrain like a local, discover insider tips that elevate every journey to unforgettable heights.
Max Aniort
Co-founder and CEO of
Le Collectionist
Max Aniort, co-founder and CEO of Le Collectionist, grew up between Brittany’s coast and far-flung places including Saudi Arabia and Greece, where an early love of travel took hold. After graduating from HEC Paris, he spent several years in finance across Hong Kong, Paris, London, and New York, before realizing that his true interests lay elsewhere. In 2014, he joined two friends to create Le Collectionist—an idea born from a desire to bring soul, style, and service to luxury holiday homes. Some 10 years later, Le Collectionist has evolved into an international company with eight offices and a close team spread across Europe and beyond. As the only founding member still at the helm, Aniort continues to foster the personal, family-minded spirit that has guided the company since its beginnings. He lives in Paris’s 9th arrondissement with his husband and their daughter, and remains as passionate as ever about crafting what he calls “the most beautiful holidays in the world.”
You’ll never catch me departing for a trip without…
Dried mango, my favorite coffee, and my Kindle.
The luggage brand I’ll always invest in is…
Floyd.
The one thing I always have tailored before a trip is…
Getting a fresh haircut from my good friend David Lucas.
Favorite season to escape to Southern Europe is…
New Year in Ibiza, where the best party is at Circoloco on January 1.
My go-to travel read when I need pure escapism is…
A Le Collectionist guide curated by our local concierges, with personally tested restaurants and experiences.
Packing for a weekend in NYC, carry-on only?
I recommend packing clothes for just two days and shopping in Soho and LES—Bode and John Elliott are favorites.
The single most versatile item of clothing for a summer weekend jaunt is…
My vintage Ralph Lauren shirt, which works for both a fancy dinner and as an overshirt with a swimsuit at the beach.
When choosing a private travel concierge, the three must-haves are…
They should know me by heart, even better than I do; always be available; and never be judgmental—just like the concierges we carefully select at Le Collectionist, chosen for their intuition, warmth, and genuine care.
My greatest travel extravagance that’s become an essential is…
My mushroom-based coffee—from the trendiest company in Paris right now and the best coffee alternative I’ve found.
My favorite in-flight wellness ritual or remedy is…
A tailor-made auto-hypnosis session to ease my fear of turbulence, followed by a glass of champagne—the only time I drink it.
Jet lag cure that actually works for me every time is…
Going to sleep late, getting up early, and heading to the best gym in town. In NYC, that’s The Class.
My go-to way to capture travel memories is…
I do nothing and simply rely on memory.
For travel safety and intel, my ultimate insider source is…
Any official government website.
My method for securing a last-minute table at a starred restaurant is…
Calling our in-house concierge team.
If I have a day off in a city, my perfect agenda starts with…
Planning something fun for my daughter, followed by a Pilates Reformer session and lunch with my girlfriends.