Rei Ami has made a name for herself with bold red carpet style, from the embroidered cape at the Oscars to the cherry red fur at an after party and a feathered, fringed corset at the Grammys. But when she connected with Condé Nast Traveler over Zoom while packing for Paris, she was refreshingly low key. Surrounded by garment bags in her closet, she opened up about her travel philosophy, in-flight beauty routine, and the boarding habit that drives her crazy.
Rei Ami may be the voice behind the KPop Demon Hunters anthem “Golden,” but her travel style is all about ease. As she prepared for a summer trip to Paris, she explained that most of her event outfits come from a collaboration with stylist Ayumi Perry. “For days off, if I’m going to dinner or a tourist attraction, I usually come up with outfits for myself, whatever’s comfortable,” she said. “Paris in the summer is really hot, so I’ve packed a lot of athleisure-style activewear and sneakers.” She keeps packing lists in her Notes app before every trip.
Her In-Flight Uniform
Ami knows exactly what she wants to wear in the sky. “It’s always something comfortable, like a matching set or sweats,” she said. Her two essential accessories are a hat and sunglasses, but she never wears both at once. “Wearing both looks sketchy, so you have to choose either/or,” she noted. “Hats are great when your hair is a mess. If you wake up on the plane with dark circles, shades are good to go.”
The First Flight She Remembers
Rei Ami was born in South Korea and moved to Maryland as a child, and her first flight was the journey to America. “When I was emigrating to the US from Korea, we flew on Korean Air. I had the window seat,” she recalled. “My sister was freaking out. She was crying hysterically when we were taking off, but I was having the time of my life. I was like, ‘This is so cool!’ I had never been on a plane.”
Her first business class experience happened later, on a Delta One flight to New York for KPop Demon Hunters, courtesy of Sony and Netflix. “I had never felt so expensive and appreciated,” she said. “The lay flats are life-changing. You get spoiled rotten, and I’m so ashamed right now, even admitting that.”
Her In-Flight Ritual
Once Ami is in her seat, she sets up a complete toolkit for the journey. “As soon as I get in my seat, I do a whole setup of all my tools and goodies that I’m going to need throughout the flight,” she explained. That includes bags for skincare and makeup, chargers, and an arsenal of masks. “I lay out my eye masks, face masks, foot masks, hand masks.”
She starts with a movie and a meal, then heads to the bathroom to begin her bedtime routine. “I use hypochlorous spray to clean my face, brush my teeth, and do a whole bedtime routine, because I try to take advantage of long-haul flights to sleep and get ahead of jet lag,” she said. After skincare, she sleeps as long as possible, then wakes up to refresh, brush her teeth again, and apply light makeup with SPF. “I’m semi-presentable for the day,” she joked.
Beating Jet Lag
Her advice for long international flights is simple: don’t sleep beforehand. “This is kind of reckless,” she admitted. “If you’re traveling internationally, I would say don’t sleep at all. Try to hold off until you get on, and knock out then.” She uses melatonin or ZzzQuil when she’s struggling, and skips caffeine entirely.
A Memorable Escape to Catalina Island
One trip that stands out for Ami is a visit to Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California. “I was flying back from Sweden, and I had to go straight from the airport to catch the ferry there,” she recalled. The group went parasailing, had dinner, and explored the island. They stayed in a villa with five or six floors overlooking the ocean. “It had the most beautiful mornings because the house faced the sun rising,” she said. “It was just a very close getaway that still felt a bit foreign, it kind of reminded me of Italy.”
How She Plans Group Trips
Ami is usually the planner among her friends. “I love having an itinerary, just a loose itinerary,” she said. “Some people do better when you present them with ideas or a list. I like to get ahead and be in charge of that, because then I can sneak in the things that I want to see and do.” She shares her plans in a group chat and welcomes feedback. “I do like having a say in group travel, for sure.”
The Perfect Vacation for Rei Ami
When it comes to a dream getaway, she knows exactly what she needs: a beach. “I am a tropical, put-me-in-the-water kind of girl,” she declared. Her favorite destinations include Hawaii, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas. “There are so many islands I want to visit on my list right now,” she said. She appreciates the contrast with her work life, which often takes her to crowded cities. “Being away, off the grid, is more beneficial to the psyche,” she noted.
Why Hawaii Keeps Calling Her Back
Though she has only visited Hawaii twice, she is already obsessed. “There’s just something so different about the waters out there,” she said. “I think everyone should experience water like that one in their lifetime, and the culture and food.”
Keeping Her Voice Healthy on the Road
As a singer, Ami is careful about her throat while traveling. “At the core, you’ve got to take care of your body if your voice is going to be okay,” she said. She carries Airborne or vitamin C, along with supplements, Manuka honey sprays, and Grether’s pastilles. “These throat jellies are supposed to lather and protect your throat,” she explained. “People say they are a placebo, but I don’t care if it feels good.” She also emphasizes hydration with water and electrolytes.
The Hotel Amenity That Wins Her Loyalty
For Ami, the best hotel amenity is a proper sauna. “Sometimes you need a massage, and sometimes you need to go sit in a sauna,” she said. “Saunas really help you fall asleep. If I’m struggling to sleep, I could just pop down in the sauna for a quick 15 and then come back up.” A good spa makes her want to return. “A wellness situation or a spa speaks volumes about how a hotel runs and how they care about guests.”
Her Biggest Air Travel Pet Peeve
One thing that drives Ami crazy at the airport is people crowding the gate before their boarding group is called. “Listen, unless I have the privilege of flying first class, where I’m going to be in my nice big-ass seat, I want to spend as little time as possible on the plane,” she said. “Even if I’m boarding group A, I will board at the very last possible minute.” She is baffled by travelers who line up early regardless of their zone. “Do you read? Can you read?! It just slows everything down. PSA: If it’s not your boarding zone, please sit down.”
Next Up, Madagascar
Looking ahead, Ami has her sights set on Madagascar. “I’ve heard the nature there is insane, just beautiful,” she said. Her interest dates back to the animated movie that shares the island’s name. “I was obsessed with the movie Madagascar when I was younger,” she shared. “It’s a destination that not many people go to, or at least I haven’t met somebody that’s been there. I’d love to experience the wildlife and culture out there.”
Rei Ami is gearing up to release new music of her own, with more details to be announced soon. Until then, her travel stories offer a glimpse into how she balances glamour with comfort, and how a little planning and self care can make any journey feel special.
