Our Favorite Experiences from 2023

We enjoyed many memorable destinations and special moments and so did our many traveling clients. Thanks to all of our partners, colleagues, and friends who made 2023 such a wonderful year in travel. Let's make 2024 even better!

How about a floating breakfast in your villa's private pool in the Maldives? Thanks to our friends at Jumeirah Maldives, Olhahali Island, we enjoyed this special treat. Next, thanks to our friends at COMO Maalifushi Maldives for any amazing stay, wonderful food and service, sensational spa treatments, and of course fly fishing the remote flats around the atoll with new guide friends. And a special thanks to JOALI Being Maldives, such a wonderful and welcoming staff, and our pick as the best wellness resort in the world. And our first trip to Dubai, what a fun and unique city - thanks to our Jumeirah friends for all the hospitality, and to the sensational Atlantis The Royal, for a memorable stay in one of the most luxurious resorts we've ever visited. Happy New Year to everyone, and wishing you all a tremendous 2024 wherever your travels may take you! 

Magnificent Italy, Spain, Portugal - Sun and Sand, Food and Wine, Culture and History - ​Want an unforgettable experience on Capri, that's easy, stay at Jumeirah Capri Palace and treat yourself to dinner in their fabulous two Michelin-starred restaurant, L'Olivio, simply sublime. 

And as long as you are in the Naples area, why not visit the Ruins of Pompeii, the vibrant city of Sorrento, and of course, the Amalfi Coast. We loved it all, but a special lunch at the The Caruso grill in the Belmond Hotel in Ravello was our favorite stop. 

Sticking with sand and sea fun, we loved our week-long stay on Spain's gorgeous island of Majorca, especially our time at the Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel. Stunning cliffside location overlooking the Balearic Sea, and the charming town of the same name. Our favorite moment, close, but we go with our romantic sunset dinner at Jumeirah's signature seafood grill restaurant. And second favorite, lunch at another Belmond Hotel, La Residencia, great food and tasty craft cocktails.

We also enjoyed our time in Majorca's main city, Palma, cool culture, some salsa dancing, fine dining, lots of street art and fun shopping. Then on to our favorite European country, Portugal. It's always good, and easy traveling, to stop in Lisbon first, to enjoy the local vibe and culture, luxury hotels, fine restaurants, shopping, and of course Latin Dancing - Cuban Salsa and Sensual Bachata. We love staying at the Corinthia and the Four Seasons, but for this trip we chose our favorite boutique spot; Valverde Hotel, a Relais & Chateaux property, so if you don't feel like going out, the food here is spectacular, casual (not really) for lunch, fine dining for dinner, with a sensational wine list. And don't forget to ask them about their extensive selection of Ports. And for this trip, our favorite dining experience was at Davvero, in the Sublime Hotel. 

And we'll wrap this up with our overall favorite place in the world, the Atlantic coast of Portugal south of Lisbon, and the Algarve, maybe our next home - what's not to love - warm sunshine, gorgeous beaches, charming seaside villages, casual tapas bars, restaurants on the beach where you have your toes in the sand, lights out fine dining, villas with private pools, small boutique hotels, and world-class resorts with golf, tennis, and more. On the way driving from Lisbon to the Algarve, Comporta is the new hot stop, and staying at Sublime Comporta is wonderful. But even more, we especially love staying in Palmares Beachouse Hotel, on Praia Meia beach adjacent to Lagos and across the lagoon from Alvor. And here, our favorite Michelin-star dining experience at Al Sud.

Well, while we enjoy a little skiing here at home (and praying for more snow), we are still dreaming of those beaches in Portugal and Spain. Hasta pronto......and Happy New Year to all.

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