Critics Choice Vacations

08/30/2026

Ask us where to stay in Napa, and we won’t even pause. Neither will most sommeliers and chefs, by the way. The answer is the same.

Auberge du Soleil began as a restaurant in 1981, on a Rutherford hillside covered in olive trees, and the rooms came later. The Michelin-starred restaurant remains the heart of the property, and the terrace looks straight down the valley over some of the most famous vineyards in America.

A few reasons clients return: the adults-focused calm, the hillside spa, and a location that puts you 10 minutes from more legendary tasting rooms than you could cover in a week.

Napa deserves a proper stay. Get in touch and let’s start planning!

08/29/2026

Two continents, one city. Istanbul is split between Europe and Asia by the Bosphorus Strait, and hopping between them is just the morning ferry. No other major city on the planet can say that.

And that's just the geography. The Hagia Sophia has stood for 1,500 years, longer than most countries have existed. The Grand Bazaar runs 4,000 shops deep, with unlimited apple tea while you haggle. And at sunset, ferries glide across the Bosphorus while the call to prayer rolls over the water.

Advisor tip: Istanbul is one of the world's great flight hubs, so it works brilliantly as a standalone trip or a few nights tacked onto almost anywhere east.

Message us to start planning your trip!

08/28/2026

Here’s a piece of hotel trivia we love sharing with clients: Ritz-Carlton has around 100 hotels worldwide. Fewer than ten carry the word Reserve. Zadún is one of them.

The Reserve designation is the brand’s most exclusive tier, and it changes the experience completely. At Zadún, in San José del Cabo, that means villa-style rooms built into the desert dunes above the Sea of Cortez, a personal host assigned to your stay, and a pace that feels nothing like a big resort.

The spa, Alkemia, is a destination on its own, and dinner at Humo, the wood-fire restaurant, is one of the best meals in Los Cabos.

Advisor tip: winter brings whales right offshore, and this stretch of coast near Puerto Los Cabos is calmer than the Cabo San Lucas end. Reach out to learn more.

08/28/2026

Want to be the person in your group chat who found the place first? Here's your head start.

Cap Karoso opened on the far western tip of Sumba, an Indonesian island one flight past Bali where megalithic tombs still stand in villages and traditional houses rise 80 feet into the sky. The resort itself could not be a bigger contrast: sleek, modern architecture filled with Sumbanese art and textiles, plus 44 rooms and 20 pool villas overlooking a turquoise lagoon.

At the heart of it all is a three-hectare organic farm that supplies the restaurants, including Julang, where visiting chefs from around the world cook in residence. Beyond the resort, Sumba's famous sandalwood ponies gallop the beaches at sunset, a sight worth the trip on its own.

Ready to be early to a destination instead of late? Let's talk Sumba.

08/27/2026

A softer corner of Patagonia awaits in Chile's Lake District, where volcano views, glacial lakes, and peaceful fjords replace the rush to the summit. Discover why slow adventure shines here, then reach out to start planning your escape. 🌋🏞️

📷: Laura Macías Acuña

Puerto Varas, Lake Llanquihue, Reloncaví fjord, and Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park reward travelers willing to trade summit fever for a slower pace.

08/26/2026

Flown recently? Then you’ve felt it. Record passenger volumes, tighter ID requirements, and construction at major hubs have changed the math on getting to your gate. Here’s how we protect our clients from all of it:

We build realistic buffers. Tight connections that worked five years ago don’t work now, especially through the busiest international hubs.

We arrange fast-track and VIP services. Many airports offer expedited security, private escorts, and lounge access that most travelers never hear about. We book them routinely.

We watch your flights. Delays and cancellations get handled while you’re still in the air, not after you’ve landed and joined a rebooking line of 200 people.

And a reminder for U.S. travelers: REAL ID is now required for domestic flights, so check that license before your next trip.

The airport is part of the trip. We plan it like one.

08/25/2026

Big anniversary? First trip without the kids? A honeymoon worth the 20-hour journey? Our answer is an island that's still flying under the radar: Mauritius.

Off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius has long been where Europeans go for their most special beach trips, and One&Only Le Saint Géran is one of the reasons why. The resort occupies its own private point on the island's northeast coast, with a calm lagoon on one side and the open Indian Ocean on the other. That geography means protected swimming, sailing, and paddleboarding in the lagoon.

The service is what clients remember. Butlers with every room category, a kids club that parents genuinely trust, and a level of polish that made this the property that put Mauritius on the luxury map in 1975.

Mauritius pairs beautifully with South Africa. Safari first, beach after. Get in touch to start planning!

08/25/2026

Exceptional dining doesn't happen by chance, especially at sea. Get an inside look at the cruise lines raising the bar with gourmet cuisine, thoughtful sourcing, and world-class culinary experiences, then reach out to plan your next voyage. 🛳️🍽️

An inside look at how Oceania Cruises, Abercrombie & Kent, Atlas Ocean Voyages, and Silversea serve gourmet meals at sea.

08/25/2026

This month’s newsletter takes us behind the scenes at Virtuoso Travel Week, shares a closer look at Annecy’s lakeside charm and looks ahead to the 2027 solar eclipse.
Be sure to click the link to review all details.

- https://mailchi.mp/criticschoicevacations/augusttravelinspo

08/25/2026

A little secret from behind the advisor desk: two rooms in the same hotel can deliver completely different vacations. Same lobby, same pool, wildly different experience.

This is why we spend so much time on room categories. A few real examples of what we’re weighing:

Which building or wing is closest to the beach, and which one hears the pool bar until 11pm. Which “ocean view” means panoramic and which means a sliver between palm trees. Which suite layout actually works for a family of five, and which one just says it does. Which floor gets the sunrise.

We know these details because we’ve stayed in these hotels, walked the properties, and heard years of honest client feedback.

Booking sites show you a category name and a photo. We tell you the room number to request. That’s the difference. Message us before your next booking.