26-Time US Open Tennis Star Venus Williams on Paris, Partying, and the Perfect Pair of Heels

If there’s one thing about Venus Williams, it’s that she has stamina. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion is currently playing in her 26th US Open—making more appearances than any other player in tennis history. The California-born athlete played her first professional match at just 14, meaning she’s been not just a tennis pro, but also a travel pro, for more than three decades.With life constantly on the road, she admits that her idea of vacation is when she gets to relax at her Florida home. But that also means that she prioritizes comfort when it comes to hotels, opting for ones with a homey feel.“I do not compromise on hotels,” the 46-year-old told Condé Nast Traveler during a pre-US Open event at The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue. “I will compromise on my flight and sit almost anywhere, it doesn’t matter to me. But I just have to be at an amazing hotel.”She admits that when she was younger, she was lured by the “newest, coolest, trendiest” design-forward accommodations. But now, she opts for “extremely established hotels that have amazing service”—plus a "beautiful bed.”While she mused about her favorite city in the world being Hong Kong (she’s contemplating a fall tournament there just to revisit) and her enthusiastic passion for escape rooms (her favorites include The Escape Game, Escapology, and PanIQ, but her goal is to compete in the World Escape Room Championships. which was last in Bulgaria), Williams chose to hone in on a trip to Paris, a city that has helped her redefined her life’s priorities.The tripWhat trip are you unpacking for us?There have been many trips to Paris Fashion Week, but let’s go back to the one in the winter of 2024, before I was married. I was going to go to one or two shows. Two, for me, is a lot. It involves a ton of getting ready. And on this trip, I took my sister Isha.Can you tell us more about the itinerary?I try to fit in gym sessions here and there, some tennis as well. But most of all, I know I’ll be out every night, so I have to bring clothes to be ready for my nightlife, which is extremely important.Had you been to Paris before?My first time in Paris, I was 16 years old playing the French Open. So in that sense, I go at least once a year. But during this time, I really wasn't working, so I was constantly in Paris. I had this streak where I was there every month for like six months in a row. It finally broke. I was so sad. I just love Paris—it’s such a magical city for me.What makes the city so special?A few years before this, the French Open, which always happens in May, was in October during the pandemic. They put us in a bubble. We were only allowed to have a one-hour walk a day. So once I unfortunately did lose at the tournament. I checked myself into a luxury hotel and started shopping and partying. This was before the second shutdown. Paris became my new favorite city, as it represented freedom and choice. I hadn’t done much in my life out of the court. A friend of mine said, “You should come to the Louis Vuitton show” and I was like, “I gotta get home.” But I went to the show, and it felt like my whole life got started.What she packedWhat do you usually wear on a flight?It depends on how I feel. If I want to be chic, a cardigan and a turtleneck. I used to always fly in Ugg boots—they’re not that popular now, so I'm like the only one wearing them. Other than that, I love Wolford leggings and definitely a long-sleeved sweater since I'm always cold.UggWomen's classic short iiWolfordPerfect fit leggingsMost unusual thing you pack for every trip?A karaoke mic! It’s got to be a quality mic. My family is a karaoke family and you never know when you need the mic. I don't have a go-to song—I have a whole list! The last one was probably “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins. My husband loves Michael Jackson, but I’ve learned a few Italian songs from him—we do an Italian duet. [My sister] Serena likes to do The Little Mermaid’s “Part of Your World.” She likes Disney standards.What clothes did you pack?I'll bring two to three workout outfits from Lacoste. I figure I can wash them. I'm probably not gonna be doing cardio. It's most likely going to be strength training, so I could maybe wear it over again. I was more concerned about my evening outfits. I was a single girl. I'm wearing short dresses and preparing for any and every party that I don't even know I'm gonna be at.So then, we have to ask: what shoes did you bring?My heels—the ones that I can dance in and still wear for hours because I love dancing. Christian Louboutin 80 centimeters were my go-tos. They’re high. I’m 6-foot-1 and I love being tall. I’m not afraid of it.Christian Louboutin80mm miss z patent pumpsWhat other scenarios did you pack for?I brought one Wilson racquet—that's not a lot of racquets. On another trip, when I was kind of down and out on my own tennis career, I didn't even bring a racquet. Then I suddenly realized I wanted to play tennis and had to get one, which was challenging. I managed to get one of Serena's racquets! Otherwise, I didn't really repeat outfits, so I always had to have something a little bit new. I was also going on dates—many of them not serious at all. But I had to have my date outfits for the daytime, possibly even a lunch date.Which outfit did you wear first?The night we got in, my sister and I were done because we already had to get up in like four hours. We’d taken showers, washed our hair, and put on face masks— all the things. Then a friend texts that there’s a party in so-and-so’s room. I ask my sister if we should go, and she’s awful and says yes. So I grab a Louis Vuitton shift dress. I don't know how I got my hair together so fast, and here's the thing: I didn't take the mask off. It was a clear Tata Harper resurfacing mask—the pink jelly one!Louis VuittonMonogram accent trapeze dressTata HarperResurfacing maskSo how was the party?The hotel was close, so we ran in the freezing winter night and there was nothing happening at this party! There was one guy there who had a crush on me, but he was not someone you would ever date. Finally we went home and had to wake up two hours later feeling miserable and start hair and makeup for the show. This was my lifestyle and I loved it—I got to live it! I’m not living it now, but that was when you’ve got to have that second outfit ready for that very random moment!What souvenirs did you buy on this trip?Well, I used to have a major shopping addiction. So I took home pretty much everything in Paris. My motto at the time was, "I'm not winning, but I'm spending." I was laughing until the credit card bill came, and then it wasn't funny anymore. I bought watches that I've never worn—that was bad. For the most part, I try to buy timeless things. I don't shop anymore, but deep down I'm just waiting for that moment where I start up again. It's not today. It's not tomorrow. I'm under control…for the moment.Have you found any jet lag cures?If you land at night, stay up on the flight. That rhymes. If you land during the day, go out and play. I'm a rapper now! But if I land in the day, I allow myself an hour or two nap, then I go to practice and stay up. The minimum is 10 o’clock. When you do that, you’ll pretty much be on the time zone. But if you allow yourself to just sleep, you're going to just be miserable.Is there something you bring with you as a piece of home when you're on the road?My dog Harold. He’s a 19-year-old Havanese.On this trip, did you over pack, under pack, or get it just right?Slightly overpacked. When I travel on short trips, I insist on just carry-on. It's very liberating. Packing for tennis is a little challenging because I have to pack my match clothes, practice clothes, and clothes for off the court. There are so many tennis shoes—you need at least two, in case one goes out. It’s happened to me and if you don’t have that second pair on the side, you’re screwed. You also need racquet string, an ice machine, and a bunch of stuff. So I travel with four bags—I give one to my husband, so it’s three, but it’s hard.Finally, what makes the US Open special compared to other Grand Slams?It’s a city that never sleeps. The energy here is so much that people who live here need to get out of the city—that says a lot! And the crowd is just boisterous, but once they're locked in, they're there for you. Then they're not leaving you. It’s just a very special experience.