What A Leather
Restoration
Needs For
Travel
Salina Chai
Cofounder, Margo & Smith Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia
With nearly 175,000 Instagram followers, Salina Chai has spent over a decade curating and chronicling Singapore’s ever-evolving style. Known for her polished, classic aesthetic and eye for detail, the 30-year-old is also cofounder of Margo & Smith, a specialist in the meticulous care, maintenance and restoration of luxury leather goods.
When she travels with her husband and cofounder, John Chung, the trip becomes a chance to unwind and an opportunity to gather new ideas for her business. Inspiration is always just a moment away, whether it’s browsing a shop, appreciating the latte art or enjoying the panorama from the hotel window.
Salina’s Travel Must-Haves
A Great Shopping Scene
For Chai, no trip is complete without setting aside time to shop, not just to score a structured bag or timeless dress, but to gather inspiration for Margo & Smith, as well as her husband’s company, Mason & Smith, a shoe salon and restoration atelier.
She often researches brands on social media or gets tips from friends to build a shopping list. But she's just as likely to veer off course if a barista or server recommends a must-visit spot.
“I make it a point to check out local brands, especially leather handbag and shoe designers,” she says. “If I want to buy a bag myself, I’ll look for something timeless.
When I was in Seoul, I visited a few Korean leather brands just to see what’s trending, what people are buying and how the pieces are made.”
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Shopping in Seoul after extending a work trip just to see the stores.
Visa Travel Tip No. 1
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Entrepreneur
She’s just as interested in the marketing as the merchandise. “If it’s a really cool or trendy brand, I’ll study how they market on social media and how the retail space is designed. I even pay attention to the paper bags they use.” It all gives her ideas for how to message and position her brand back home.
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Visa Travel Tip No. 2
Celebrating her 30th birthday with a latte in Barcelona.
“We love coffee and love to try out different beans and experiences,” she says. “We make a point to visit at least one a day, and I’ll always order an iced latte.”
These casual cafe visits augment memorable dinners at critically acclaimed restaurants. “The dining experience really fulfills me creatively,” she says.
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Chai and her husband are coffee connoisseurs and enjoy stopping at cafes while traveling to unwind from their hectic routines back home. So even when the itinerary calls for getting out and seeing new places, Chai still ensures there’s plenty of time for sitting and daydreaming.
One Iced Latte, Please
You see the menu, you see the branding. It really gives me the
idea and inspiration to see if
there's any ideas to incorporate into my business.”
As cofounder of Kura Kura, Wiranatha blends global inspiration with island roots — which also reflects the brand’s recent expansion into spirits. Kura Kura, which means turtle in Bahasa Indonesian and nods to folklore about how the island sits on a turtle shell, just launched a vodka line in July 2025.
When the 30-year-old is not building his beverage business, Wiranatha’s chasing the best snowboarding conditions, discovering new music festivals and hunting down the most exciting table in town. His upcoming itineraries include a group tour of Mongolia and repeat visits to London and New York City.
Cofounder, Kura Kura Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia
Putu Wiranatha
Travel
Needs For
Executive
Craft Beer
What A
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Visa Travel Tip No. 3
Unwinding and relaxing at a villa in Ibiza with friends.
“Location is always, for me, number one,” says Wirantha. “I definitely prefer the more quirky boutique hotel. Maybe the room is a bit smaller but the design element is a bit more fun and it's in a really good location,” he says.
A lot of hotels are really spending more money on their gyms, their saunas and having healthier options, which is great.”
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For Wirantha, wellness is critical. He seeks out hotels that have a standout gym,
spa or wellness space. “I definitely like to stay healthy when I travel,” says Wirantha. “And I do a lot of very unhealthy things when I travel, like eating and partying, so it’s nice to counteract that.” Sometimes, he finds local gyms or trainers to work with when he’s on the road.
A Hotel With Health In Mind
Putu’s Travel Must-Haves
The right table can make the night, and Visa Concierge can help land it. This 24/7 digital lifestyle assistant, accessible through chat apps, makes scoring hard-to-book restaurant reservations easy, whether you’re planning ahead or hoping for a last-minute miracle.
Visa Travel Tip No. 4
Dining in Mexico City during a tequila sourcing trip.
Every time I leave, I bring back a new mindset and new ideas. I'm always getting new ideas from other tourist destinations around the world, and also I'm meeting a lot of people that are potential future investors.”
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For Wiranatha, a meal is a chance to observe plating trends, ambient energy, service style and ingredient pairings, among other nuances. Whether sampling Bali’s vibrant local flavors or hunting a hidden gem in London, New York or Cape Town, he’s scouting ideas that might someday ripple back into Kura Kura’s ethos or spark a new venture in spirits.
Wiranatha treats dinner as both a ritual and a resource: Part social connection, part market research. Before any trip, he leans on social media to crowdsource recommendations, looks through “best of” lists and factors in influencer recommendations. The rule: A place that looks like nowhere he’s ever eaten. “I’m always looking for something novel.”
Inspiring Dining Experiences
