Are you in a vacation rut? Are you ready and eager for a much-needed break to relax. rejuvenate, see the things you have only seen on TV, to immerse yourself in a new culture and country, try new foods and wake up every day in a surprisingly luxurious adventure of the senses?
Yes, I already know your answer. You are ready...but you don't know where to go!! Which beach, country, cruise, hemisphere, tour, continent, tropical island, ancient ruins, center of urban energy or architectural wonder should you go to next? Here are five destinations you haven't explored yet.
Ha Giang, Vietnam
Arriving in Ha Giang, a six-hour drive north of Hanoi, feels like being let in on a true travel secret. The remote, less-trodden province is home to Vietnam’s Indigenous hill tribes (including the H’mong and Red Yao), who invite travelers into their villages to learn more about their culture and history. Ha Giang is great for well-traveled people who love trekking and motorbiking; the area remains an authentic and intact mountain destination, offering spectacular nature and landscapes.”
Get There: I work with my onsite partner Trails of Indochina to arrange trips and cultural experiences in Ha Giang, along with cooking classes, voluntourism opportunities, and hikes into the province’s surrounding mountains and tiered rice paddy fields.
Kent, England
Skip Tuscany and Bordeaux this summer. There’s a stellar – and under-the-radar – wine-tasting region ripe for discovery in the United Kingdom. With only a handful of big names in English wine, most travelers are surprised to find that there are hundreds of wineries around England, from the sunny Isles of Scilly to Kent’s chalky cliffs and even as far north as the Yorkshire Wolds. Kent, a bucolic county an hour’s drive southeast of London, has beautiful coastline, top-notch culinary scene, and heavy concentration of wineries.
Get There: On your London vacation, I can arrange a day trip from the city, where, later this year, the 120-room Raffles London at the OWO (Winston Churchill’s former Old War Office) will become the latest five-star to open in the city.
The Río Negro, Brazil
An adventure on the Amazon River is already trip-of-a-lifetime material, but for intrepid travelers, the 1,400-mile Río Negro – an Amazon tributary accessed from the Brazilian city of Manaus – promises even more wild access to this tropical wilderness. The Amazon rainforest is the lungs of the planet, and the preservation of the forest and the growth of sustainable tourism are fundamental to the region's economy. A visit here is great for those who care about sustainability and love nature and adventure, and who want to disconnect. On the world’s longest blackwater river, travelers explore Anavilhanas National Park, a UNESCO-protected island archipelago teeming with lush rain forest and diverse wildlife, including jaguars, anacondas, and the Amazon’s endemic pink dolphins.
Get There: Dive into the area on a private yacht on the river.
Namibia
All aboard for an unexpected safari experience.
Namibia is a country of superlatives: the world’s oldest desert (the Namib) and tallest sand dunes (Sossusvlei), plus Africa’s largest canyon (Fish River) and one of its most extensive collections of rock art (Twyfelfontein). And it’s all easy to see in one captivating trip. If you have traveled to Africa and want something different, Namibia is your country. It is also one of the few safari destinations you can explore by luxury train, sipping sundowners on the open-air deck, and hopping off for game drives and overnights in Etosha National Park and Sossusvlei. Traveling across the stark landscape in the comfort of your suite is much better than driving.
Get There: I'll design your 11-day train journey from Pretoria, South Africa, to Walvis Bay, Namibia.
Todos Santos, Mexico
This is not 'the next Cabo' – this town has an atmosphere all its own.
Just north of Cabo San Lucas lies an enclave for artists and surfers with white-sand beaches and formidable offshore swells. Todos Santos' population numbers only a few thousand, which can leave visitors feeling as if they’ve discovered a spot untouched by outsiders, where you can escape the crowds of more-touristed destinations in Mexico. Part of its enchantment is the slower and more community-centered pace, a thriving local art scene for gallery-hopping among pastel-colored colonial buildings in the town center. A trip to the mountains also belongs on your itinerary, for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. And be sure to get out on the water at nearby Cerritos Beach where the waves are considered ideal for novice surfers year-round; you pros can access challenging breaks up and down the coast.
Get There: Stay at the recently opened adults-only Rancho Pescadero's 103 suites and villas decorated in neutral tones overlook the Pacific Ocean or the Sierra de Laguna. Guests can discover local flora and fauna at the botanical garden and bird sanctuary when they’re not at the hotel’s secluded beach. And let's not forget your Virtuoso amenities!
That's just FIVE places you had not thought of. Imagine how many more there are. On your consultation call with me you'll tell me your ideas, your wishlist, the flavor of the trip you want, the magic you want to feel, and the memories you want to make. I'll take care of the details so you don't have to.
'til next week.
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Contact Juliet: GLOBAL EXOTIC ADVENTURES