Frequent flyer: Rachel Perkins

Rachel Perkins, filmmaker, director and co-artistic director, Mbantua Festival, Alice Springs, October 9-14.

HOTEL

The Albergo il Monastero is an ancient monastery carved out of a rugged island about 200 metres off the coast of the Italian island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples. The whitewashed interiors of the hotel are minimal and elegant. I stayed there with my husband in summer when I was pregnant and we would retreat from the bustling beaches of holidaying Italians to our quiet monastery, which was perfect for a mother-to-be.

AIRLINE

It really has to be Qantas for the service and the Australian movies. I remember getting on a plane from Sydney to Cairns and they were showing our film Mabo. I couldn't believe they were showing such a political film on "inflight entertainment". It was something I will always be proud of.

RESORT

My vote for best resort in Australia is Sails in the Desert at the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park. You fly across thousands of kilometres of desert to land right into the heart of our country. Uluru and Kata Tjuta are among the few things that are not overhyped in the world. In their presence you sense the sacred nature of this place.

LUGGAGE

I am in love with my small lightweight Samsonite bag my sister gave me for Christmas. It easily fits into the plane cabin and can spin around in all directions. I often supplement this with one of those good old red and white laundry bags you can buy for $2. I am always amazed to see it still intact on the baggage belt on arrival. I resort to this to cart last-minute stuff between Alice Springs and Sydney.

KIT

I always travel with my laptop as the only time I can work uninterrupted is on a plane.