The Savvy Travel Planner

The Savvy Travel Planner I am a luxury travel advisor/planner who ignites a passion for travel and creates itineraries focuse

Explora Journeys is not your average cruise. Not even close.Smaller ships. More time in port. No assigned dining times. ...
06/18/2026

Explora Journeys is not your average cruise. Not even close.

Smaller ships. More time in port. No assigned dining times. An onboard experience that feels like a boutique hotel that happens to be moving. And itineraries that reach places the larger ships simply can't.

The Monaco Grand Prix itinerary is one of the most requested experiences I book: race weekend access, the right vantage point, and a ship positioned in the harbor where the view is part of the event.

If cruising has never quite been your thing, this is worth a second look. Get in touch.

The pyramids of Giza are visible from the pool. Let that sink in for a second.Built as a hunting lodge in 1869, Marriott...
06/17/2026

The pyramids of Giza are visible from the pool. Let that sink in for a second.

Built as a hunting lodge in 1869, Marriott Mena House has expanded and transformed over the following decades, and is now one of the most historically rich hotel experiences in the world. Winston Churchill, Agatha Christie, and heads of state have all been guests.

The position at the foot of the Giza Plateau means early morning access to the site before the crowds arrive. A private sunrise at the Great Pyramid is one of the more reliable ways to shift how someone thinks about travel entirely.

Get in touch to learn more!

There's a version of travel planning that's about finding the lowest price. There's a version that's about getting the m...
06/15/2026

There's a version of travel planning that's about finding the lowest price. There's a version that's about getting the most out of what you spend. They require completely different approaches.

Planning smarter starts before the destination is chosen. The right trip for the right season. A property that delivers on what you're actually looking for, not just what photographs well. An itinerary paced for how you actually travel, not how a highlights reel says you should.

It also means understanding where value really lives. Flying business class on a long overnight flight and staying somewhere quieter on the ground often produces a better trip than reversing those priorities. A private guide for two days in a complex city changes the entire experience of being there. And it means knowing when to move quickly. The best rooms at the best properties in the best seasons don't stay available. Waiting to see what's left is a planning strategy with predictable results.

Smarter planning isn't about spending more. It's about spending better. That's what I help clients do. Get in touch to learn more!

What does the most ultra-private, most exclusive island resort in Southeast Asia actually look like? This.Amanpulo sits ...
06/14/2026

What does the most ultra-private, most exclusive island resort in Southeast Asia actually look like? This.

Amanpulo sits on Pamalican Island in the Philippines, in the Sulu Sea, accessible only by chartered flight from Manila. Here's what you can expect at one of the world's most exclusive addresses:

42 private casitas spread across the island, a house reef you can snorkel directly from the beach, dive sites with some of the most remarkable visibility and coral cover in Southeast Asia, and not a single day visitor in sight. The beach is yours, the schedule is yours, and the only transportation on the island is a golf cart.

This is one of the most exclusive trips I plan. Reach out if you'd like to be next.

Ready to experience Spain beyond Madrid and Barcelona? This is the property I keep circling back to.Abadia Retuerta LeDo...
06/13/2026

Ready to experience Spain beyond Madrid and Barcelona? This is the property I keep circling back to.

Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine is in the Duero Valley of Castilla y León, about two hours from Madrid, and one of those regions that hasn't made it onto most Spain itineraries yet.

The estate covers nearly 1,800 acres; the vineyards produce some of the most decorated wines in the country; and the property's restaurant, Refectorio, has held a Michelin star for years.

What makes a stay here different: guests have access to the full estate. Vineyard walks, wine tastings with the winemaking team, and cellar visits that go well beyond what most hotel wine programs offer. The spa is built into the original 12th-century abbey structures, and the courtyard pool, flanked by stone walls and formal gardens, is among the best hotel pools in Spain.

Get in touch to learn more.

Peak season in Europe doesn't have to mean crowds. It means knowing where not to go.A few destinations that deliver the ...
06/11/2026

Peak season in Europe doesn't have to mean crowds. It means knowing where not to go.

A few destinations that deliver the quality of Europe's best without the experience of its most visited:

Madeira: A subtropical island off the coast of Morocco that most travelers underestimate. Not to miss: the hiking trails along the levadas and the food scene in Funchal.

The Azores: Nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic with crater lakes, whale watching, thermal springs, and landscapes that feel unlike anywhere else in Europe. Still largely under the radar.

Slovenia: Ljubljana is one of the most pleasant small capitals in Europe, and Lake Bled is the kind of destination that photographs cannot do justice to.

Norway: The fjords in summer deliver some of the most beautiful scenery on the continent, and the quality of light at northern latitudes in June is something clients consistently say they weren't prepared for.

Vienna. Consistently overlooked in favor of Prague and Budapest. The museums, the coffeehouse culture, the concert season, and the food scene are all at a level that Vienna's reputation doesn't fully convey.

Ready to experience Europe without the crowds? Let’s start planning!

There's a version of the Caribbean that doesn't involve a packed resort corridor, a beach chair you had to claim by 7am,...
06/09/2026

There's a version of the Caribbean that doesn't involve a packed resort corridor, a beach chair you had to claim by 7am, or a cocktail that's more umbrella than drink.

COMO Parrot Cay is that version. A private island in the Turks and Caicos with no day visitors, a beach that comes up in client conversations for years after the trip, and a COMO Shambhala spa program that runs on longer protocols than most Caribbean spas offer.

The privacy here is real in a way that's increasingly rare in this part of the world. The combination of natural setting and COMO's approach to wellness and hospitality has made this one of the most consistent recommendations I make anywhere in the Caribbean.

Ready for Turks and Caicos? Let's start planning.

Wondering where you can spend two weeks in Italy and never once feel like you're sharing it with everyone else? (Hint: Y...
06/07/2026

Wondering where you can spend two weeks in Italy and never once feel like you're sharing it with everyone else? (Hint: You just have to go south.)

Vista Ostuni is a masseria property in the Valle d'Itria, perfectly positioned to experience everything Puglia has to offer. Ostuni's whitewashed hilltop streets are minutes away, the trulli of Alberobello are within easy reach, the sea caves at Polignano a Mare are worth the drive, and the coastline here is some of the most beautiful in Italy.

The property also delivers on what Puglia does best: local produce and some of the finest olive oil in Italy. And somehow, despite the growing word of mouth, it hasn't tipped into the kind of overtourism that has changed the experience elsewhere in Italy.

Ready to explore southern Italy? Message me to start planning.

If Japan is on your list, Kyoto is non-negotiable. And within Kyoto, so is this.Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto opened on the sit...
06/05/2026

If Japan is on your list, Kyoto is non-negotiable. And within Kyoto, so is this.

Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto opened on the site of the Mitsui family estate near Nijo Castle, and the grounds reflect that history. A natural hot spring runs below the property, and the onsen program is among the most considered in Kyoto. The pool, spa, and quiet of the gardens set this apart from most city hotel experiences in Japan.

The location works well for everything Kyoto offers. Nijo Castle is steps away, Arashiyama is within easy reach, and the Gion district is close enough for an evening without requiring a taxi.

Ready to experience Japan? Message me to start planning!

If a beach trip is on your mind, this one is worth a look.St. Regis Punta Mita is on a private peninsula about 45 minute...
06/04/2026

If a beach trip is on your mind, this one is worth a look.

St. Regis Punta Mita is on a private peninsula about 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and the recognition speaks for itself: Forbes Four-Star, AAA Five Diamond, and ranked among the top resorts in Western Mexico by Condé Nast Traveler readers.

A few of my favorites: Bahia, the main restaurant, is one of the best dining experiences on the Riviera Nayarit with seafood pulled fresh from the Pacific daily. The two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses include the famous Tail of the Whale hole, an island green only accessible at low tide. And every villa comes with a dedicated butler.

Advisor Tip: Sayulita is 20 minutes away and worth an afternoon. Bohemian surf town, great tacos, a farmers market on Sundays.

If Mexico is on your calendar, reach out and let's start planning.

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