Cape Town should not be a pit stop on your way to your safari lodge or to your gourmet trip to Franschhoek. Cape Town is a destination in and of itself. Because the city on the very southern tip of the African continent has it all: beaches, mountains, wildlife, an incredible food scene, luxury hotels, and some solid wellness offerings to round off the top. We would recommend spending at least a week in Cape Town to get a good…
There’s glamping, and then there’s kicking it up several notches to Singita Sabora. If you’ve ever dreamt of having your Out of Africa moment, Singita’s tented camp deep in Grumeti country is where to plan that lifetime trip. Atmosphere There is a version of an African safari that lives almost entirely in the imagination. The golden-hour light, the silence of nature, and magnificent animal sightings. In the most unspoiled part of Africa, there’s the feeling of sleeping close enough to…
If you’ve been limiting your wine-focused travels to Bordeaux, Napa, and Tuscany, it’s high time to switch gears and book yourself on a trip to South Africa. But not just anywhere in South Africa – you want to go to Franschhoek. Dubbed South Africa’s gourmet capital, the beautiful town of Franschhoek is packed with high-end wineries and restaurants. There’s even a train, the Franschhoek Wine Tram, to take you from one wine estate and tasting venue to another. And because…
If you’re in the early stages of booking a safari, there’s one thing you ought to know: Safari lodges and safari camps aren’t the same thing. A safari lodge is like a boutique hotel in the bush. It has amenities such as restaurants, a pool, a spa, and Wi-Fi, and offers guests spacious, brick-and-mortar accommodations. A safari camp, however, is much more rustic. Accommodations are under canvas and there are very few amenities. Both safari lodges and camps can be…
Dad did well when he built you the treehouse of your dreams as a kid. He did so well that you still have treehouse goals, but your standards have evolved. Whether it’s in Rwanda, Ubud, or New Zealand, these are the treehouse hotels that are worth traveling for. The World’s Best Treehouse Hotels There is something about sleeping suspended in a canopy of ancient trees that throws back to your childhood. But treehouses have evolved from childhood goals into luxury…
When you’ve been to the top hotels in the world like Singita, it’s hard to find better. But then, you go to a sister hotel of Singita, and you realize that with even the best, there is the possibility for better. Singita Kwitonda is a lodge for the goals list. Overview I’ve had the fortune to be in Rwanda several times, for both gorilla trekking as well as humanitarian work with partner organizations. Sometimes, when you’ve already been to a…
There are some places that stun you, in the best of ways. Maybe it’s because you’re greeted with song and dance. Or, maybe it’s because you see the highest sand dunes of any desert in the world. It could possibly be because of the billions of stars that light up the sky. Whatever the reason, this is a hotel that should be on the lifetime goals list. Overview andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is the kind of hotel that answers a…
Sometimes you get inspired to be one with nature. You know, to unplug from city slicker life and dial it back with an ancient desert. Maybe take a gorilla trek in a remote jungle in Rwanda. Or channel your inner cave man in a lodge built into a boulder. But of course, you’re not willing to rough it, and with these hotels, you don’t have to. Because connecting to nature and staying in a luxe abode are luckily not mutually…
If you want a luxury island vacation, you have plenty of options at your disposal. But the creme de la creme for well-to-do travelers is St Barths, the Maldives, and the Seychelles. Luckily, Cheval Blanc, the luxe hospitality brand owned by none other than LVMH, has properties in all three. And, of course, they are all perfect in every aspect, but we have a preference for Cheval Blanc Seychelles. It could be the setting – the combination of a white-sand,…
The farm stay has officially grown up. Gone are the days of rustic charm meaning a lumpy mattress and questionable plumbing. At the next gen of farmhouse hotels, Egyptian cotton 1,000 thread count sheets are table stakes, as are Michelin-caliber kitchens. And yes, there are actual cows somewhere on the premises. Whether you want to press your own olive oil in Andalusia, ride Lusitano horses in Portugal, or detox in the Philippine jungle, there’s a luxury farm for that. These…
