Seatmates: Margot Lee

On the romanticization of documenting your travels and preparing for, recording, and reflecting on a journey

Jul 24, 2024

What kind of traveler are you?

Are you a nomad, following your heart over an itinerary? Maybe you’re a collector, looking for tangible treasures you can take home from each trip. Or maybe you’re an individualist: someone who prefers to veer off the beaten path versus a capital-T tourist who doesn’t feel like a trip is complete without visiting major attractions. Most likely, you’re a combination of each depending on where you’re going, who you’re with, and a number of other factors.

Me? I consider myself a documentarian. I get so much joy from chronicling my travels to share with friends, family, and followers alike. I love putting people on to a new-to-them hotel, sharing my experience at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, or showing off the beauty of a place in a unique or interesting way (which is what makes writing this newsletter so fulfilling, by the way).

If, like me, you also find yourself documenting your travels—whether you take photos, journal, or collect keepsakes—you’ll adore today’s Seatmate, Margot Lee. You might know her as a fashion and travel content creator, as someone who has shared thoughtful journal prompts over the years, or as the creator of No Particular Order, a brand that provides guided reflection through beautiful everyday objects.

Read on to find out which hotel she’d revisit year after year if she could, learn which chic item she travels with that doubles as a neck rest, and get the intel on her latest product launch—a prompted travel journal called Off the Grid.

Tell us a little about you.

Hi! My name is Margot, I am the founder of No Particular Order and have been creating content on YouTube and Instagram for over 13 years. I’m also launching a Substack this week called If Walls Could Talk, a newsletter about the spaces—literal and figurative—I find myself in. The platform is just too good to stay away from (but I’m preaching to the choir).

You’ve been sharing your journaling tips online for years, eventually leading to the creation of your brand, No Particular Order. What inspired you to create Off the Grid, a travel journal to help you prepare for, record, and reflect on your journey?

There is something so special about handwritten, tangible, weathered mementos. I’ve held onto travel journals since I was 10 years old, and it has been such a gift to return to them now. The prompts in Off the Grid will help you tune into and record every part of your journey, not just the things you’d typically snap a quick picture of. These include interesting people you met, meals you shared, clothes you wore, conversations you had, lessons you learned…Once the trip is booked, the next step is to actually revel in it!

What kind of travel is Off the Grid best suited for? Longer bucket list trips, shorter weekend stays, or any kind of holiday?

Off the Grid is designed to be used over the course of one trip, but this can be interpreted in many ways. I filled out the journal on a four-day trip to Antibes, France, and my cousin is currently filling it up on a seven-city, month-long trip in Thailand and Bali. The journal is split into three parts: before your trip, during, and after, so you’ll be surprised how easy it is to fill up all the pages. Long story short—any kind of holiday.

What’s most exciting to you about bringing Off the Grid into the world? What do you hope it will bring to others?

Apart from being a beautiful keepsake once you return home, I really hope it will also enhance the trip itself. This could mean taking some time off technology to journal and reflect on your days or using the prompts as conversation starters with people you’re traveling with or meeting.

ML: I love this picture of our server, Leo, in Antibes sitting down with us to complete the “would you rather” page (left).

As someone who’s been in an across-the-pond, long-distance relationship for several years, what are some of your favorite places in England?

England is tiny compared to the States so I’ve really been enjoying road trips across the country. My boyfriend lives in Bristol which is a great starting point, but some of my favorite places we’ve traveled include St. Ives on the southern coast of Cornwall and The Lake District up north in Cumbia.

What’s been your most memorable hotel stay?

Ees Wycke Country House in Ambleside, England, was one of the most special hotels I’ve had the privilege of staying in. The grounds are absolutely beautiful, so much so that Miss Beatrix Potter would stay there while she was building her own property, Hill Top, up the street. We were welcomed with sherry in the rooms and bid farewell with an award-winning breakfast spread. The whole experience was so magical, I’d make it an annual trip if I could.

Is there a destination or property at the top of your wishlist?

Japan! Your travel guide only solidified this…We’ll see if I can make it happen in 2025.

What are your must-haves for luggage and items you travel with?

Re: luggage—I’m an Away girl ‘till I die. I love their Bigger Carry On in Black. As for other items, I begrudgingly became a Kindle user, and it has unfortunately changed the game for me and…Dare I say…Turned me into a reader?

What is your go-to airport outfit?

Any form of pleated pants (these strike a good balance of being comfortable and looking somewhat put together), a cashmere crew, and sneakers. I also love traveling with a big scarf as a chicer and dual-purpose alternative to a neck rest.

Do you have any rules or rituals when it comes to air travel?

I usually love flying, but I had a scary solo travel experience when I fainted twice on an overnight flight to England. I was completely dehydrated after running around for pre-travel errands and didn’t take the time to drink water and eat a proper meal—I will never do that again. Long story short, listen to your mother and HYDRATE.

Last question: Aisle or window seat?

Window seat, always!

To hear more about travel and journaling from Margot, you can follow her on her personal or brand Instagram, TikTok, or Youtube. Also, make sure to subscribe to her Substack!

Interested in being featured in Seatmates or know someone who should be? Drop me a line here. Thanks for reading! x Tori