Henry Golding is a globetrotter at heart. Born in Malaysia and raised in England, the actor’s unique CV has taken him all around the world, from Singapore and Malaysia for Crazy Rich Asians to Capri, Italy and Rome for the recent Amazon thriller Another Simple Favor. Needless to say, there are few other Hollywood A-Listers whose travel tips we’d so implicitly trust. So when Golding partnered with Citi for the launch of their new Strata Elite Card, we took the opportunity to sit down with him and find out all of his travel intel, from his favorite hotel (it’s in Bali) to the bags he’s unpacking when he gets there—carry-on only, please!
ELLE Decor: How has traveling impacted your design taste?
Henry Golding: I love eclectic color and design. We’re actually going through a renovation of the property we just bought and my Pinterest is just all colored walls, bright ceramics, patterns, very bold color. We’ve lived in a lot of white box houses and I’m just so bored of it. So this next house, we’re going all out with the color and all the schemes.
ED: What is your favorite piece that you’ve brought back from a trip?
HG: The latest piece is from Mallorca. We did a trip last month, me and the girls. And they’re quite famous for their very summery ceramic bowls. We were staying in a town called Santanyí, and they had a ceramic shop where we found this huge sort of fruit bowl with a beautiful blue octopus painted onto it. So we took that and we wrapped it up in clothes and wished it luck in transit back to London. Luckily it made it in one piece to the other side.
ED: If you could live in any hotel, what would it be?
HG: Man, that’s a tough one. Nothing beats somewhere in Bali. I think maybe the Bvlgari Hotel, on the cliffs of Uluwatu.
ED: What three essentials do you always pack when you travel?
HG: I’m a bit of a nerd, so I like my technology. But the best purchase, and I recommend this to anyone, is to find a travel plug that has USB-C. Second, I would say eye mask and earplugs and some melatonin: a little sleep pack. Trying to get onto the right time zone as quickly as possible is key. I think for my third choice it has to be the Citi Strata Elite Card. It just elevates my travel and dining—it’s the perfect card for my lifestyle.
ED: Are you usually a carry-on only person or do you check a bag?
HG: As much as possible just carry on, to get out of the airport as quickly as possible. But when you’re on an extended trip? No one’s going to Japan with carry-on only. You’re going with two extra empty bags to be honest, because you always end up taking stuff home. A hard case with an expandable zipper—that’s the only way.
ED: Lastly, how do you feel about Crazy Rich Asians being everybody’s go-to plane movie?
HG: I’ve heard that on so many occasions. It’s great. It’s like comfort food, but a comfort movie. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Sean Santiago is ELLE Decor’s Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality and travel, culture, and luxury shopping. Since starting his career at an interior design firm in 2011, he has gone on to cover the industry for Vogue, Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, PIN-UP and Domino. He is the author of The Lonny Home (Weldon Owens, 2018), has produced scripted social content for brands including West Elm and Streeteasy, and is sometimes recognized on the street for his Instagram Reels series, #DanceToDecor