Travelers Just Back: Real Reviews That Show The WOW List Works

Wondering what a WOW trip looks like? Read the trip reviews below, all written in your fellow travelers’ own words. WOW trips are custom-tailored exactly to your interests, maximizing your experience, minimizing logistics, whisking you past lines, and avoiding crowds (yes, even this summer in Europe—read on to see how that’s possible).

Learn how to get your own WOW trip. Then, browse our WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts to find the right specialist for the trip you’re dreaming of. If you’d like help figuring out where to go or how to plan it, write to Ask Wendy. And you’ll find lots of other ideas in our other compilations of traveler reviews.

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North Atlantic Isles: hospitality from a village of 70, Viking ruins, hiking remote islands

JAN HEININGER | JUNE 11, 2026

Sea Spirit expedition cruise to the Orkneys, Shetlands and Faroe Islands
May 14-18, 2026

My husband and I had planned to take an expedition cruise to the Orkneys, Shetlands and Faroe Islands in May 2026. We’d chosen to go on the Sea Spirit operated by Poseidon Expeditions—the same ship on which we went to Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia Island in 2015. We’d loved the ship, especially because it held only the maximum number allowed by international treaty to land in Antarctica at any one time (100 plus 14 kayakers—something most operators don’t tell you). We booked through Wendy’s expedition cruise specialist Ashton. At almost the last minute, my husband was unable to go due to illness and I invited my college friend Martha Johnson to join me. This entailed Ashton getting Poseidon to make a special exception for passenger name change (for a fee of $300). Martha had quite a job ahead of her, since ships require a lot of paperwork, all of which Ashton’s superb staff Megan and Christine coordinated with ease. It also entailed changes in our hotel reservation at the designated Edinburgh hotel and transfer arrangements from ship to the Edinburgh airport.

Our expedition cruise was excellent and I was reminded again of why I am so fond of this lovely ship. As it is not one of the name-branch ships from National Geographic, Lindblad or Viking, it is lower in price and actually has superior accommodations, excellent food, and superb expedition staff. Not only did we see how these very remote islands in the North Sea are today (sheep outnumber their tiny populations by up to 13 to 1), we explored Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Viking ruins—all amidst some of the most spectacular scenery I’ve ever seen. We were welcomed into a tiny village of 70 people, all of whom turned out for the day to show us how they live, feed us delicious homemade fish stew and pancakes for lunch, show us their school for only four children (3 from one family) guide us on hikes to gorgeous overlooks, and have them tell us how much they appreciated our coming to celebrate with them for the day. Wow.

Ashton is a fount of knowledge about expedition cruises and tailors his recommendations to what clients are looking for. He’s been in the business for 30 years (though he doesn’t look it), has been everywhere (usually more than once or twice) and knows every line and pretty much every ship. We had been guided to the Sea Spirit by a trip specialist on a much earlier list of Wendy’s experts, and since it had done so well for us, I asked Wendy at one point why she replaced that specialist with Ashton Palmer. She said he was even better and moreover, knew the entire expedition cruise industry – not just those focused on Antarctic and Arctic cruises. You want to see Madagascar via ship? Or the Indian Ocean islands? Ashton is the person to consult. You want one of the name brand companies—he’ll set you up. He not only focuses on what clients are looking for, but expands their vision of what might interest them that they don’t even know about.

We had one glitch on this trip when we arrived in Edinburgh to find no hotel reservation, and most distressingly, no local contact to get the problem resolved. (Be sure you are provided with a local contact or someone you can contact at a moment’s notice to resolve problems. And remember the rest of the world is far more accustomed to using WhatsApp than Americans are.) Our hotel issue eventually got resolved and we were reassured when Ashton discovered it was an error made by the hotel—not his company, nor Poseidon, but the hotel itself. Ashton even got me a substantial refund I had not asked for.

You can’t go wrong using Ashton. He and his staff are terrific.

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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France: perfectly choreographed days of Calanques cruising, guided hikes, and Luberon villages

KAREN LINDFORS | JUNE 10, 2026

South of France and Paris, May 14-June 8, 2026
From food tours to ancient Roman sites to Luberon villages to hiking in the Calanques, our journey to southern France was impeccably planned by Joel. He listened to both our desires and our budget and delivered on both. He suggested lovely hotels which were well situated. We especially enjoyed our four nights at Vallon de Valrugues in St Remy de Provence. The hotel is an easy walk from the village, but out of the busy tourist center. A bonus is that it has an outstanding new restaurant, Oria, that is yet to be discovered, but is worthy of Michelin star recognition.

We also loved our three nights in Aix en Provence at the Villa St Ange, which has an inviting pool and lovely gardens. The sightseeing and tour options Joel suggested were varied and enjoyable. We marveled at how many pieces were fit together to make each day a perfect experience. We chose not to drive ourselves so, as an example, on one day we were picked up at our hotel by one driver, taken to our morning boat tour of the Calanques, then picked up by another driver and transported to a few miles to a point where we met our guide for an afternoon hike, and finally met by a driver to take us back to our hotel. Joel and his team are always available and answered our questions promptly. We would not hesitate to use him again for travel in France.

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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Spain: Basque bowling, Rioja wineries, Valencia cycling, pintxos bar crawl

CHRIS KLOES | JUNE 9, 2026

Pablo helped us plan an 18-day driving trip around eastern Spain. We had a rough idea of where we wanted to go, and Pablo helped us flesh out the details to take it to the next level. Rather than just going to large cities, we wanted to weave in stops at smaller destinations. Working hand in hand, we crafted an itinerary that had just the right feel—stops at several larger cities, as well as lesser-known towns. We wanted our trip to be moderately paced, avoiding too much driving on any given day. Pablo helped us craft just the right itinerary.

We arrived in Madrid and made our way North to Burgos. On the way, we stopped at a town called Segovia. This town is known for having one of the biggest and best-preserved Roman aqueducts in Europe. And also for suckling pig! It was a great first stop for lunch on our journey.

After Burgos, we headed to Haro in the Rioja wine region. We have to compliment the Hotel de los Angeles, where we stayed for 3 nights. This is a world-class 5-star hotel that recently opened in the center of town. It’s in a restored 18th century Baroque palace that is grand, but not pretentious. The room was perfect, with some of the nicest amenities we have ever seen in our travels (the Rowenta ionic hairdryer was the best we have ever used in our life!) Service was top notch and we were very happy that Pablo recommended this hotel as one that was worth the splurge.

We also thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Rioja wine. We decided to compare and contrast a large producer with a few small, independent wineries. The Marques de Riscal winery tour was fascinating—such scale and history! The Frank Gehry building highlighted the blending of old and new at this winery, which is a huge and prestigious producer of wine in Spain. Pablo also connected us with a guide who took us to two very small, independent wineries. We met with the owner/winemaker at both, and really enjoyed the personal connection during these tastings.

We were driving north from Haro when we had one of our favorite adventures. We stopped at a small Basque town called Orduno for lunch. As we walked toward the city center, we passed a large community center that was filled with people. We peeked in and saw that they were playing a game that looked like Basque bowling! The bowlers threw a beach-ball sized leather ball down a U-shaped alley, trying to knock over wooden pins at the end. Families lined the hall, chatting and supporting their favorite team. Everyone was very welcoming, even though no one spoke English. They even showed us the best spot from which to get a photo. And, once we got into the town, we learned that it was a day of festival. Everyone, young and old, was out and about, wearing red bandanas and celebrating the town. Again, we were the only tourists, but everyone was very welcoming. We love this type of unexpected slice-of-life experience on our trips!

We were very excited as we headed to San Sebatian, which is a foodie paradise. The town is charming, with art nouveau architecture and a buzzy old town. The weather was unpredictable but we didn’t mind an atmospheric storm or two. We would have our biggest meal at lunch, feasting on fish and then work our way from pinxtos bar to pinxtos bar for dinner, trying one delicious pinxto at each.

One tip: We’d heard about how charming the small medieval fishing Getaria is. It is in fact very charming, but we were disappointed when we had fresh chargrilled fish at one of the restaurants, and were shocked by how expensive it was.

In San Sebastian we learned about txakoli wine, which is light, dry, and slightly effervescent. It is often poured from on high making for a little show with each glass! We were really pleased that Pablo suggested a 4-star hotel, Villa Favorita, right on the beach. The hotel had 5-star service, and floor-to-ceiling windows in our room overlooking the beach provided and a 10-star view!

Another stop that we really enjoyed was Valencia, along the Mediterranean coast. Valencia felt young and vibrant and very livable. Pablo helped us choose a e-bike tour of Valencia, and we are really glad that we did. Our guide was fantastic, the best of the trip. We rode all over Valencia, contrasting the medieval cobbled old town with the fantastically visionary new park in a former river bed and a well-planned cultural center. The e-bike tour was one of our favorite activities on the trip.

Grenada was amazing, as we expected. Our guided visit to the Alhambra was fascinating, and we enjoyed learning about the Moorish history and architecture of the city. We had our standout meal here at a teeny restaurant called Albidaya, owned and run but an up-and-coming star chef named Michelin Bib Gourmand. The location is a bit off the main area, but the food was out of this world! We had a fantastic, creative six-course tasting menu, which was a blend of Andalusian and Moroccan influences. We had amazing wines paired with each dish, and the service was very attentive. Finally, we were amazed that such a spectacular meal with wine pairing would be less than 70 Euros each!

Our last stops were in smaller towns as we slowly drove back toward Madrid. We spent one night in Jaen, the olive capital of Spain. We stayed in a parador high above the city that once was a castle. There were olive trees as far as the eye could see, in all directions. We also stopped one night at the small town of Almagro to break up the drive to Madrid. We stayed in a very quirky and fun hotel here called the La Casa del Rector and Spa. This is the kind of place we would have never found without Pablo. The town had a lovely square and we spent our last night dining alfresco with all of the town locals who were out and about for the evening.

We definitely recommend Pablo to those looking for a bespoke travel experience!

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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Italy: e-biking through Puglia, burrata farm visit, olive oil tasting with grove’s owner

ANNE MCCROSKEY | JUNE 9, 2026

Hi! My husband and I had a wonderful trip to the Puglia region of Southern Italy May 10-26th. Antonello planned our trip and Valeria was our lead contact. They did a fantastic job. Valeria always responded to our emails and questions promptly and thoroughly. My husband and I love being active on our trips, and they did a great job listening to us and getting to know what we like (and don’t like), tailoring a great trip. We loved all our hotels and their locations were great.

Our trip experiences:
-We did an e-bike excursion, “Puglia on Wheels,” with a burrata experience that was super fun. Gaetano was a magnificent guide and host, very flexible and patient (we usually don’t do “guided” bike rides but this was well worth it). Not only did we ride to the burrata cheese farm but we went to Alberobello, the town known for its unique Trullis and we also stopped at Locorotondo, a beautiful little village perched up on a hill…so fun exploring its tiny streets and shops. This was one of our favorite days!

We rented bikes for our next two destinations as well, and they transported them to our hotels where they were waiting for us ready to go…so nice! Gaetano also mapped out some great “self-guided” rides for us to do on our own out of Lecce and Minervino which were wonderful.

-We had an Olive Oil experience at Masseria Salamina that was lovely, interesting and fun. Our host/guide was the actual owner which was cool.
-Our guided tour of Matera was very informative and made our visit to this unique city more meaningful and interesting.
-Probably our favorite experience was the “Culinary journey/Baby DiCecca. It wasn’t crowded that day and we got some personal attention from the owner Vito and his girlfriend, Roberta. All the food and wine were amazing. Apparently Stanley Tucci visited here when making his show about food in Italy.
-Sadly both of our “water” excursions had to be cancelled because of high wind (boat tour to sea caves out of Polignano a Mare and a kayaking/snorkeling afternoon). The water was really cold so I don’t think we would have snorkeled anyway. I guess Puglia is a windier region.

One other thing that Valeria did for us that was very helpful (and unexpected) was that she gave us parking suggestions in all the towns we visited. Many of the towns can be tricky to park in and these suggestions made things so much easier!

We would recommend Antonello’s team to anyone wanting to visit Puglia!

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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Spain: coastal hike with winery stop, exploring pork and cheese production with Basque farmers

CHRISTINE ZUFELT | JUNE 7, 2026

We loved our late May visit to San Sebastian and Bilbao, organized by Pablo. We have visited many places in Spain, but not these, and we were very satisfied both with the beautiful places and the hotels and experiences that Pablo had planned for us.

His hotel recommendations—the Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, and The Artist Grand Hotel of Art in Bilbao—were spot on, especially his recommendation to get rooms with a view. River views in San Sebastian and Guggenheim views in Bilbao, along with extremely comfortable rooms and excellent staff, made these lovely places to stay.

We had four different day trips in San Sebastian, including a scenic coastal hike with a much-enjoyed winery stop mid-hike to enjoy the local txakoli wine. We stumbled across a local Basque celebration on that hike. So fun! We travelled to the French Basque country another day, including Biarritz. Another enjoyable day was spent visiting the Basque Highlands, a beautiful rural area where we visited award-winning pork and cheese producers who showed us their farms, explained their centuries-old production methods and we enjoyed tastings of it all.

Our various guides—Ellie, Maria and Vicky—were all friendly and informative. With their guidance, we tried many of the best pinxtos (San Sebastian’s version of tapas) on offer! And our excellent driver Inigo was with us the whole time.

Without Pablo’s suggestions, we wouldn’t have found the guides or the out-of-the-ordinary experiences. We thoroughly enjoyed this mini vacation and are very glad to have had Pablo’s help.

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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France: private Burgundy barge, wine and cheese tastings, biking medieval villages

JOANNE DEARTH AND GREG BEAN | JUNE 5, 2026

What an amazing travel experience we had that was planned by Caroline and Ellen’s team. We had looked into taking a river cruise on a large boat, but the occupancy for the months we wanted was full. We contacted them to get information about what they could offer. A Zoom conference call was quickly set up, and the travel planner explained the options available for a barge tour on the Nivernais Canal in the region of Burgundy, France.

We settled on the Papillon, a “small barge” that can host four. We booked the barge for just the two of us, which gave us privacy and a chance to enjoy the experience together. The travel planner had everything arranged—from the pickup at Charles de Gaulle Airport to take us to the Papillon to the return to Paris at the conclusion of our travels. The communications with the planner were thorough and personal; our added requests were fulfilled. The Captain was even able to drive to a town to buy Gatorade and Coke Zero which were there upon our arrival.

The Papillon was perfect. I had expected to see a small boat, but the barge was 90′ long and was spacious, beautifully decorated, and comfortable. The crew was exceptional! Our captain Philippe was outgoing, attentive, and energetic; our chef Clare prepared outstanding gourmet meals for lunch and dinner, our guide Harry was personal and well-educated, and our hostess Olga quietly served us and kept the interior spotless. For those who fear getting seasick, have no worries. The cruise is smooth and relaxing.

We enjoyed all of the activities. We were able to take excursions, walks, and bike rides, or sit on the deck or in the sitting room to relax. The quiet countryside views were beautiful; how wonderful it was to be surrounded by large trees, farmland, vineyards, and small towns. We especially enjoyed touring the medieval towns and seeing the historic architecture. Highlights include the Basilica in Vézelay with the intricate, interesting carvings above the entrance; Vauban’s military estate with the coat of arms genealogy display ; the quaint and quiet medieval towns where some buildings were smaller at the bottom and were built wider as they rose higher because of the shortage of property; the cliffs made of coral that were covered by the ocean and tropical vegetation during the Jurassic Period; the expansive vineyards with the grape vines observable in all stages of growth; the medieval cathedrals, cobblestone roads, and old-fashioned fire pumps. Might I add that we are geocachers, and we had fun finding the hides along the cruise as we walked and biked while exploring the areas. Highlights not to forget were the wines and cheeses from Burgundy; Philippe presented informative facts about each wine, and Olga explained the flavors and types of the cheeses. Philippe treated us to a memorable dinner at L’Elegant in Vézelay.

Our cruise started in the quiet town of Chevroches and ended in Auxerre, a lively historical village. There are benefits of starting at either town; our departure site was perfect for us.

Without hesitation, I would recommend Caroline and Ellen’s team and this tour. We were so fortunate to explore the canals in the private accommodations of the Papillon rather than being aboard a large cruise ship. This trip was planned so expertly that we had no worries about the logistics of our tour.

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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Peru: meeting women weavers, ancient Pachamanca lunch, guided Machu Picchu and Vinicunca hikes

ANNE DHANDA | JUNE 5, 2026

My daughter Isabella and I just returned from a wonderful mother-daughter trip to Peru. With our WOW List travel planner Tom Damon, we arrived the last week of May and had perfect sunny 70+ degree days and no rain. Tom matched us with amazing guide Romulo, and his stories of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Cusco, and Vinicunca (rainbow mountain) made it unforgettable. We wanted to learn about the textiles of Peru, and Tom designed a trip which included a community of women weavers, where we saw where natural dyes come from, and patterns from different parts of the country. Now that we are home, the natural dyes look even more rich and luminous. We were treated to a Pachamanca lunch, an ancient technique of cooking in an earth pit with volcanic rocks, at a Sacred Valley lake—delicious, as was all the food in the Sacred Valley and Peru in general.

After a couple days of smaller hikes and acclimating to the altitude, we were ready to hike into Machu Picchu. The one-day hike was more rigorous than we imagined, but there was nothing in our lives like emerging from the jungle, up the last set of stairs (another traveler told us it’s called “the gringo killer”) to see Machu Picchu for the first time! That moment will stay with us forever. Our guide Romulo grew up on a farm below the city and shared many special stories from his grandparents—what a unique experience. Staying at the Belmond gave us an early start into the ruins, and a place to rest and eat, to re-enter later, and the staff there was gracious and helpful.

We loved our time in Cusco, with its incredible Incan history and sites. Our stay at the Belmond Monasterio Hotel was perfect—we walked out to local shops and designers, and enjoyed the street market to buy chocolate, muña tea, and aromatic salts to bring home to friends. Overall, we had such a lovely time that we’re already talking about what we could do when we return to Peru! Many thanks to Tom for designing a great trip and to our outstanding guide Romulo and his team.

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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Italy: cooking in a Roman home, private Prosecco canal tour win over a reluctant-traveler spouse

MAGDA KUHN | JUNE 4, 2026

Our trip to Rome and Venice was great! Maria and her team did such a great job organizing all the details, pickups, guides, and hotels. I wish we could have traveled two weeks earlier, as the crush of tourists was already in gear. The cooking class was very special; it was nice to be in a Roman home and cooking in a real kitchen. The WOW Moment in Venice was fantastic—the private water taxi tour of the Grand Canal with a guide was a real highlight.

I was so worried that my husband (a nontraveler) would not enjoy the trip, but he came back very excited about what he saw and all of our experiences. Day to day, our experiences were seamless and ran very smoothly. I do believe the travel planner did add value to our trip. Her guides were very good and all details worked like clockwork. I would definitely use Maria and her team again!! Thank you for recommending them, Wendy!

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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Spain: market-to-table cooking with a chef, winery visit in Penedès, e-biking Barcelona

NICOLE ELIEFF | JUNE 3, 2026

Our trip to Spain was incredible! Without Wendy Perrin, we would not have known about some of these treasures we discovered along our journey. Every aspect—from time spent in each city to tours of the highlights and significant destinations—our time was well managed and we could not have planned this ourselves. We did e-biking in Barcelona, saw Gaudi’s architecture in many buildings, La Sagrada Familia (a must see!), and took a day trip to Montserrat (also a must!) and Penedès. Penedès with our guide David was so special. Visiting a winery, having an unforgettable experience with the locals, enjoying the scenic views and sharing great wines will always be one of our fondest memories.

In Sevilla, we enjoyed our tours and most of all our day with a chef, shopping at the local market and then cooking with her at her private kitchen. So fun! A day trip to Cordoba to visit the Mosque-Cathedral was awe-inspiring. From there we had a driver take us to Ronda where we saw so much storied history and breathtaking views.

After a wonderful lunch we continued on to Malaga—a beautiful beach town with day trip to see Mijas and Marbella. Our advice…don’t miss these smaller towns with so much tradition and history. You will not regret it!

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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Indonesia: tea with a village chief, traditional whip dance, Komodo dragons without crowds

CHRISTINE STOLL | JUNE 1, 2026

We knew very little about Indonesia other than it has a rich culture, beautiful scenery, and Bali. So when Tom Baker suggested a trip there, we thought about five minutes and said, “Yes.” This began a trip full of experiences and memories. But, how could you begin to see a country made up of over 17,000 islands? Tom planned an itinerary as varied as the country we were visiting.

Once committed, Tom directed us through the maze of paperwork necessary for our trip. We needed visas, arrival cards, and an “I Love Bali” payment receipt. With the right guidance, all worked smoothly on arrival. The trip began in Yogyakarta where our first meal was a Rijsttafel dinner with Jodhang ceremony. It was our first encounter with the warm and welcoming Indonesians who encouraged me to “play” their instruments after the ceremony. The next day we were escorted to some of the most important sites in the city.

Day 3 changed our whole trip. What follows is the reason the right trip advisor can be indispensable in an emergency. As we were climbing up the 127 steps of Borobudur Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, my husband fell on step #126 and got a nasty, nasty wound on his shin. Instantly our guide moved into action. The only thing available to deal with the bleeding was the guide’s emergency ponchos and string. Pretty ingenious. As we worked our way to the bottom of the steps, we were met by a cart that delivered us to the first aid building where we declined an ambulance. The care was clean and efficient.

Even though we declined further emergency care, Tom recognized that my husband needed to be seen by a doctor. We were flying the next day to Ubud. Tom arranged for us to be picked up in a private car where we were taken to a clinic near our hotel. We found out later that the local trip advisor had researched a clinic that could handle wound care and that had doctors who spoke excellent English, even though a guide was there to translate. We ended up going back to that clinic three times for the wound to be dressed. The end of that part of the story is that, since we have returned to the U.S., two doctors have confirmed that my husband received excellent care in Indonesia. Tom and his team are to be highly commended for their quick action and best use of the resources available. Ours is a story of how you need, in Wendy’s words, a “Local Travel Fixer.” We used a team of fixers and are thankful for them.

Of course, this put the brakes on the water portion of our trip. Even though we couldn’t snorkel or swim in the beautiful pools, there was much to love. Our hotel in Ubud was spectacular with gorgeous views and an outside shower complete with a monkey audience. A walk through the rice terraces gave an appreciation for the hardworking people of Indonesia.

A short flight took us to the Labuan Bajo where our guide took us to his mountain village. There we shared tea with the village chief in his home and watched their traditional whip dance and Rangku Alu, a rhythmic dance with bamboo poles. As the sun set, it was magical.

A highlight of the trip was a speedboat ride out to an island in Komodo National Park. The plan was to go to a smaller, but more remote island than the one where the crowds were. We were almost alone with those dragons, save the park rangers! They are truly nasty creatures, but fascinating. It was a thrill for us as we’ve made seeing animals in the wild a travel goal.

Our hotel at Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach was stunning, with gorgeous sunsets on the dock and a terrace dinner that was delicious.

We were so pleased with Tom’s planning, from hotels to meals to activities. But, of course, we most appreciated his professionalism in supporting my husband’s health emergency. It certainly pays to have an advisor with experience and a personal touch.

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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Turkey: Ephesus with an archaeologist, private Bosphorus cruising, culinary tour in Pera

GAIL YESTER | MAY 31, 2026

Türkiye – May 2026

Karen and her team created an unforgettable trip for us in Türkiye. We were two couples who landed in Istanbul for four nights and five days prior to a cruise down the west coast of Türkiye and into the Greek Isles.

The VIP treatment started immediately when we landed in Istanbul, with a warm welcome and pickup at the airport, being whisked through the airport terminal and immigration, and then driven to our beautiful hotel in the Old City.

Asli, our lovely and very knowledgeable guide, took us on varied multi-day tours in various parts of the city, including the Old City (the famous Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, the surprisingly beautiful Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul’s fabulous spice market, a private boat ride and tour to the Asian side, and finally a culinary tour in Pera and Galata). Thanks to Karen’s deep connections in Istanbul, we had a very enjoyable time at a high-end Türkish rug shop and a specialty Türkish kaftan/scarf maker as well as several delicious authentic meals at local restaurants.

Karen and her team thought of everything. In our hotel room when we arrived was a gift bag, filled with treats and helpful items—even head scarves and shoe bags for our use in the mosques.

After we boarded our cruise ship, we had two more stops in Türkiye where Karen and her team organized wonderful private tours for us. On the first one, we spent a fabulous day on the Dalyan River (Gocek, Türkiye) where we were so taken by the ancient tombs carved into the hills above the river bank. We had one of our best authentic Türkish lunches at La Boheme, a marvelous local restaurant on the river. Our second stop was in Didum, Türkiye, where we visited the incredible Ephesus. We pinched ourselves when we learned the guide that Karen had arranged for us was an archeologist and professor who had actually worked at Ephesus for many years. We hadn’t known what to expect in Gocek or Didum, but both of these locations provided very memorable and educational experiences, and we were so happy we went with our own private guided tour versus the ship excursions.

We were so impressed with everything—the hotels, the restaurants, the guides, the drivers and of course, beautiful Türkiye itself. We never doubted that we were in great hands at all times, and we all agreed it was definitely the way to go. Many thanks to Wendy for introducing us to Karen, and to Karen and her team for planning what will go down as one of our favourite trips.

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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Sweden and Denmark: royal yacht cruising, private court theater tour, backstage at Tivoli

TONY FORD-HUTCHINSON | MAY 30, 2026

A board meeting in Helsinki opened the door to a trip to Sweden and Denmark, two countries we had yet to explore. Jan and Miriam developed a wonderful itinerary for Stockholm and Copenhagen. In Stockholm we spent five nights at the magnificent Grand Hôtel, ideally located with sweeping views of the Royal Palace from our room. The outstanding guide Jan chose for our walking tour, Karin, works at the National Museum, which allowed her to take us through its highlights with exceptional insight.

Another highlight was the island of Lovön in Lake Mälaren, where we visited the Royal Palace of Drottningholm and enjoyed a private tour of the 18th-century court theater. Our final day brought a boat trip through the Stockholm Archipelago aboard the wooden M/Y Merceditas, originally built for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco.

In Copenhagen we had our WOW Moment: a visit to Tivoli Gardens, the oldest amusement park in the world, where our guide was Anne, the art consultant for the gardens. The true highlight was a backstage tour of the famous Pantomime Theatre, built in 1874, led by one of the dancers in the troupe.

An important part of the trip for us was exploring the best of Nordic cuisine, and Miriam made restaurant reservations that alternated between high-end and more local venues. The standout was Geranium in Copenhagen, where we enjoyed a multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings. Its wine list was among the most extensive I have ever seen. Where else could one purchase a large-format bottle of 1982 Screaming Eagle for a mere $78,000? Fortunately, the wine pairings were offered at four price levels, and even the lowest tier included several excellent wines.

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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Italy: private pesto lesson, secret paths through Cinque Terre, mountaintop farm dinner

ADAM AMSTERDAM | MAY 29, 2026

Our niece was getting married in Langhe wine country in the Piedmont region of Italy. Having never visited that region before, we decided to make a full-blown trip out of it and turned to Andrea and her team for ideas. They recommended exploring Liguria, which neighbors Piedmont, and we are so glad we did.

We stayed in Santa Margherita Ligure at the Grand Hotel Miramare. It’s a gorgeous grand hotel that has been updated with every modern convenience. We were upgraded to a gorgeous suite with a balcony overlooking the Ligurian Sea. Santa Margherita is the perfect home base from which to explore the Italian Riviera. Our driver Nicola, who picked us up from the airport and took us to all of our planned activities, is a native of Santa Margherita. He made excellent restaurant, gelato, and shopping recommendations, and could not have been more helpful. During our stay on the Italian Riviera we visited Portofino, the Cinque Terre, and Rapallo. Our guide for our day in the Cinque Terre was Filippo, a local who knew all of the small back streets in Cinque Terre that allowed us mostly to avoid the crush of tourists. Filippo took us to a great restaurant in Vernazza for lunch, perched on a cliff right over the sea. In Rapallo we had a private food tour with Guido, who owns a beautiful shop near the marina that sells wine, dried pastas, olive oils, cheeses, vinegars, etc. Guido gave us a hands-on lesson making authentic Pesto alla Genovese. We were supposed to have had a full-day private boat tour of the Italian Riviera, but the sea was too rough the day it was scheduled. The cancellation gave us more time to explore Santa Margherita.

Our WOW Moment was on our last night in Liguria. Nicola picked us up at our hotel and drove us to Portofino, where we got into what appeared to be a miniature van that took us on narrow roads and paths about 800 feet up a mountain overlooking Portofino. We got out of the vehicle and hiked up even narrower paths until arriving at La Portofinese, an eco-farm, hop plantation, and winery. We were served a private dinner at a beautifully set table with spectacular views. About 90% of what we ate came from the farm, including the wine, beer, fruit, vegetables, and honey. It was magical and exactly what you imagine when you think of a WOW experience. We couldn’t have hoped for a better way to cap our visit to Liguria.

The rest of our trip centered on our niece’s wedding. We met other members of our family in Turin for a few days before heading to Monforte d’Alba, the wedding venue. Even though we didn’t need Andrea’s team to plan any activities or experiences in Turin or Monforte d’Alba, they did arrange hotel reservations for my wife and me, plus our adult children at the Hotel Principi di Piemonte. Andrea’s team really went above and beyond by arranging for drivers to take our children and us to the various activities connected to the wedding (wine tasting, rehearsal dinner, the wedding itself, and a day-after gathering). Andrea’s team knew that Ubers and taxis and rare in Monforte d’Alba so arranging for drivers was perfect.

Another five-star trip planned by Andrea and her Italy-based team!

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Australia: cave barbecue with champagne, helicopter to Mitchell Falls, pearl farm visit

JOHN AND SUSAN MUELLER | MAY 28, 2026

We just returned from an exploration of the Kimberly coast of northwest Australia aboard the 30 passenger Paspaley Pearl luxury ship arranged for us by Jacki and her team in Sydney. We boarded in Broome and visited amazing islands and reefs in the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean (although we could not swim in them because of sharks and crocodiles) on our 10-night journey to Wyndham.

Each day was another treat, featuring the cuisine of Australia, Indonesia and the South Seas courtesy of the onboard chef and his staff. One day the crew treated us to a barbecue inside a massive and picturesque cave on one of the many islands we visited, complete with tables, chairs, white tablecloths, silverware and champagne.

We boarded zodiacs daily to explore islands and the rocky mainland, sometimes viewing rock art painted by indigenous people, or to explore the various colorful bays and rivers. We saw native birds, sharks, crocodiles, trees, flowers and plants. The ship had four knowledgeable expedition guides, including a former Australian park service ranger. The ship also had a tender equipped with the latest tackle and fish finding gear, which was available for use along with a former professional fisherman as a guide.

The rainy season had just ended, but the waterfalls were spectacular. We took a helicopter from a white sand beach up over the outback to the top of Mitchell Falls, where we viewed the four tier falls and then swam briefly in a small pool. Another day we took zodiacs to the bottom of the double King George falls. We also experienced the massive movement of water from the tide changes at Horizontal Fall.

Along the way we visited a remote pearl farm operated by Paspaley to hear about the intricacies and techniques of growing pearls in the Indian Ocean, watch a pearl being harvested, and taste meat from the oyster.

We felt as though we were in a world of our own because we saw few other boats or people on our “expedition.”

It all was a wonderful experience. Thank you, Jacki!

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Peru: lunch at a desert winemaker’s home, Amazon cruise, Incan treasures with a curator

BUNNY AND BOB LENHARD | MAY 27, 2026

Our trip to Peru designed by Mark was spectacular from the moment we were welcomed at the Lima airport until we boarded our flight home.

Peru is a country of astounding geographical diversity and incredible natural beauty. We wanted to see as much as we could within 2 1/2 weeks, and Mark created a wonderfully balanced itinerary beginning in Lima, a beautiful colonial city with a fascinating history. From Lima we traveled to Paracas on the South Coast, where we flew over the mysterious Nazca lines, went on a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands for wildlife viewing, followed by a drive into the desert where we visited a Pisco winery and distillery with lunch and a tasting in the winemaker’s home. It was an amazing experience to see vines growing in desert sand.

We then flew to the Sacred Valley for 3 days, Machu Picchu and 3 days in Cusco, and ended our travels with a 5-day cruise on the Amazon.
On each destination, we were accompanied by fabulous guides and drivers who ended up becoming “family.” Every destination was unique and special. In the Sacred Valley we visited the popular town of Ollantaytambo, but left the bustling market for the secluded streets and a marvelous museum experience with the curator, who allowed us to touch and feel the sacred items from Incan history. This was followed by a wonderful outdoor lunch at the museum.

One of our most memorable experiences was high in the Andes, where we visited with the rural people of the Lamay community who live in the traditional way. We learned about their farming practices, weaving, dyeing wool, and participated with them in the preparation of our lunch. We will cherish the memories of their kindness and generosity.

The Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu is an experience not to be missed. The ceremony before we boarded, the singing, the dancing and the food were all extraordinary. Machu Picchu exceeded our expectations in its magnificence and grandeur, and the hotel in busy Aguas Caliente was an exquisite oasis. Indeed all of our hotels throughout the entire trip were breathtaking in their beauty, comfort and service.

Cusco is a gorgeous city surrounded by snow-capped mountains. We were treated to our WOW Moment at a beautiful lunch overlooking the city. After lunch, while wandering around the gardens, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see a sweet alpaca gently resting its head on my shoulder…a magical “wow moment”…. but that’s Peru, one incredible experience after another.

From Cusco, we flew via Lima to Iquitos for our excursion on the Amazon. The Delfin is a beautiful river boat with outstanding guides, marvelous crew, and incredible food. Every day, we had different excursions viewing wildlife, including the legendary pink dolphins and the extraordinary vegetation of the Amazon. We were entertained by many varieties of monkeys swinging through the trees and beautiful birds. We swam in the river, took a jungle walk where we were thrilled to see an anaconda climbing a tree, a huge tarantula, and other interesting wildlife. We also visited a village where we spent time with the local schoolchildren.

The planning team in Peru was absolutely outstanding during every aspect of our trip. Every detail was covered. From the time we landed basically all we ever had to do was show our passports. We never had to worry or even think about logistics, as all was taken care of for us. The communication and responsiveness could not have been better. It is a joy to travel with Mark’s team and we are so appreciative of all they do.

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Nepal: Everest helicopter tour with a Sherpa, expert context for Kathmandu’s sacred spaces

MICHAEL SCHOR | MAY 27, 2026

Kathmandu Valley, Nepal | Dates: April 17–19, 2026

I recently traveled to Nepal with a friend on a private 3-day tour of the Kathmandu Valley, arranged by Sanjay. For anyone considering visiting Nepal, I completely recommend his team.

Despite a compact itinerary, Sanjay delivered an experience that felt expansive. Highlights included Kathmandu’s Durbar Square and Hanuman Dhoka, the Swayambhunath and Boudhanath stupas, the sacred Pashupatinath Temple, the medieval UNESCO city of Bhaktapur, and the remarkable Patan Durbar Square. Every site was expertly guided, with cultural and historical context that made each visit genuinely meaningful.

The standout of the entire trip was the private helicopter flight to the Everest region on Day 2—alongside a Sherpa who has personally summited Everest. It was humbling, thrilling, and utterly unforgettable. This kind of curated, authentic access is exactly what separates a specialist like Sanjay from a generic tour operator.

Logistics were seamless from start to finish. The itinerary was well-paced, the guides were knowledgeable, and the contingency planning (a built-in backup day for the mountain flight) showed the kind of professional foresight that seasoned travelers deeply appreciate.

If you are considering Nepal, hire Sanjay’s company. Their expertise transforms a remarkable destination into a truly life-changing journey.

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Japan: taiko drumming lesson, Toyosu tuna auction, meditation with a Buddhist monk

KATHYE FARIES | MAY 25, 2026

We spent three fabulous weeks in Japan and had some experiences that we will always remember. The Japanese people are respectful and welcoming. We felt safe everywhere we went—which included large cities and small towns. We traveled throughout the country via the shinkansen (bullet train) which made it a breeze. Japan is the cleanest country that we have ever visited—every train station, convenience store, shrine and temple were sparkling.

My husband and I had a wish list that included watching the Toyosu Tuna Auction, having a Taiko Drumming lesson, experiencing an authentic Japanese tea ceremony, exploring Japan’s fresh food markets, trying our hand at kintsugi with a master artisan, having a meditation ceremony with a Buddhist monk and learning about his life, enjoying dinner with two geiko (in Kyoto the geisha are called geiko) and seeing Mt. Fuji. Andrea delivered!!

Our guides were knowledgeable and very willing to adjust the itinerary on the fly, which we needed to do a few times due to weather and logistics. That’s one of the values of working with Wendy Perrin and her WOW List experts.

We did not plan our trip to make sure we saw the cherry blossoms, but we were delighted to see them at several stops along the way. Seeing large numbers of cherry blossom trees in full bloom was icing in the cake. Put Japan on your list if you’ve not already done so; it’s a beautiful country to visit.

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Portugal: vintage sailing on the Douro, stargazing with a naturalist, market tours and tastings

BARBARA FIERMAN | MAY 24, 2026

In early 2020, my husband and I worked with Nuno (Goncalo) to plan a trip to Portugal for the two us. But just before we signed off on it, COVID hit and the trip was cancelled. Fast-forward to 2025 and we started the planning process again, this time with friends. All I can say is that it was worth the wait! Nuno planned a comprehensive but easily navigated 14-day Portugal experience that was just awesome!

From the tilework, street art, Fado, and restaurants in Lisbon and Porto to ancient sites from Jewish history in medieval villages; from a high-tech olive oil production facility in the Alentejo to the Pinhais Sardine Factory in Porto, where sardines are processed today in the same method as in 1920, we learned about the history, culture, and people of Portugal. We toured food markets, tasting cheeses, meats, and the famous Pastel de nata (custard tart); we visited a village known for its centuries-old pottery production, a museum showcasing the prehistoric rock art of the Coa Valley, and the Joanina Library, a baroque masterpiece at the University of Coimbra. We sailed down the Douro River in a vintage boat, sipping our Porto tonico (Port rosé and tonic!) and enjoying the scenic vineyards, and ended our trip along the coast in the surfing town of Ericeira.

Our hotels were top-notch and well-located. Our overall favorite was Sao Lourenco do Barrocal, in the Alentejo region. It is known for its understated elegance and gorgeous grounds for hiking, biking, or just relaxing on your private patio or by the pool. We spent the better part of an afternoon with a local expert who took us on a walk and shared his knowledge of plants and birds. That same evening, he brought out his telescope and guided us in viewing the night sky.

Each of our guides in the various locations was gracious, well-prepared, and engaging. Our shopping and cooking experience was so much fun—and delicious. But the best surprise was meeting Nuno himself, as he was our guide for our history/Jewish tour of Lisbon. After almost six years, it was a pleasure to meet and learn from him.

This trip was arranged by a WOW List candidate. Here’s what that means.

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Benelux: behind a diamond cutter’s wheel, classic car touring, artisan chocolatier visits

JACK KOLPEN AND BETH ANN WAHL | MAY 23, 2026

BENELUX April 2026

We are delighted to write this review of Tom, who planned our trip to the Benelux countries.

Tom and his team did an outstanding job organizing every aspect of our journey through Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. His recommendations reflected deep local knowledge, thoughtful planning, and careful attention to our interests and travel style. From hotels and transportation to dining and sightseeing suggestions, everything was seamless and exceptionally well-coordinated.

Equally important was the absolutely outstanding array of guides—and drivers too—that Tom selected for us in each of our destinations. Every guide and driver was knowledgeable, engaging, professional, and clearly chosen with care. They added tremendous depth and personality to the experience and transformed the trip from simply sightseeing into something far more memorable and meaningful.

We thought we would pick out some of the more memorable experiences from the trip, but quickly realized that our entire 18-day journey was packed with memorable moments, making it difficult to separate one experience from another as being “better” than the rest. How does one even begin to compare the memorability of standing in glorious fields of tulips outside Amsterdam, sitting behind the polishing wheel of a diamond cutter, standing before great works of art, touring the Bruges countryside in a classic car, delighting in creations of artisan chocolatiers, to experiencing the sobering feeling of standing in the now-calm Ardennes where so many young soldiers gave their lives for our freedom?

We actually had the pleasure of meeting Tom twice during the trip—once unexpectedly in the lobby of the Botanic Sanctuary Hotel in Antwerp (a jewel of a hotel not to be missed), and again, intentionally by Tom but a complete surprise to us, on the final afternoon of our journey at Laurent Gerbaud, the acclaimed Brussels chocolatier known for his inventive approach to traditional Belgian chocolate. Both encounters reinforced how genuinely invested he was in making sure everything went well and that we were enjoying ourselves.

In many cases, a travel company thanks you for using their services. In this case, we feel obligated to thank Tom and his team for the truly brilliant ideas they gave us for this trip. Tom anticipated details we never would have considered ourselves, and helped make the journey both relaxing and unforgettable. The itinerary struck a perfect balance between major highlights and unique experiences we almost certainly would have missed on our own.

We highly recommend Tom and his team to anyone looking for personalized, professional, and highly knowledgeable travel planning services in the Benelux. Ten stars!

If you would like to read more details about the trip Tom designed for us, please visit my travel blog at youdontknowjacktravels.com.

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Washington, D.C.: Perfect trip for an 80-year-old dad with astronaut-led museum tour, insider DC dining

ANDREA REED | MAY 23, 2026

The directive was to plan a trip to our nation’s political capital but keep it non-political! What a task!

Yet Dani delivered in a big way. Dani was so responsive in the planning, you would almost think she was waiting by the phone just for me!

The trip was with my 80-year-old father who had never been to Washington DC, so we thought what better way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Deciding how to spend 5 days May 15-20th-was overwhelming, but Dani ‘s contacts curated the perfect first-time itinerary with enough variety to minimize “museum fatigue” but also showcased some of the must-see collections.

The arranged transportation provided comfort and spot-on precision for a seamless point-to-point experience. One especially memorable event was the special arrangement Dani was able to make at the Air and Space Museum. We surprised my space-enthusiast dad with a private tour led by an actual astronaut! He was so kind and funny and a LITERAL rocket scientist! It was truly priceless to see him and my dad chattering away.

Oh! Can’t forget about the awesome restaurant reservations Dani got us! From a place where the movers and shakers of DC gather to the spot where JFK proposed to Jackie… all were great in both ambiance and delicious food.

Dani has set the bar high for travel specialists! We are so grateful!

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Central Asia: dancing in family homes, eagle hunting and artisans, a serenade over Qurotob

EDY NETTER AND ASHLEY BROWN | MAY 19, 2026

How do we (my husband and I) describe our 5-country (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan) month-long trip designed by Zulya and her team, without using so many superlatives you’d think we were making things up? We don’t know how, so all we’ll say is—it was a fantastic trip, one we’ll be thinking about for a long time. Our trip was well-planned: the logistics worked well, the sites were well chosen and our guides, we had one for each country, were either excellent or very good. As promised, they were flexible—they suggested itinerary changes where appropriate and responded to our requests if we wanted something changed. We learned a lot from them and enjoyed their company.

The planning team made us feel like we were the only travelers they were working with. They kept in touch (we were part of a WhatsApp chat which included Zulya and our guides) and provided us with many wonderful experiences. Some examples: in Uzbekistan we visited a family’s home, enjoyed their gracious hospitality and watched their children and eventually the adults dance; a visit to a home where suzanis (fabric, usually silk, hand-embroidered with silk thread) were made and a factory/shop where women made plush velvet garments embroidered with gold thread; at a beautiful tea house in Tajikistan we dined on Qurotob (the national dish made of a flaky bread, yogurt, cheese and vegetables, which was made in front of us) as a musician serenaded us with a tanbur (a string instrument); in Kyrgyzstan we watched eagles hunt (it was breathtaking) and men on magnificent horses play polo-like games; in Kazakhstan we marveled at the first floor of the newly-opened art museum, which had local art and wonderful explanations about it.

We learned about civilizations long gone—the Ancient Town of Panjakent (Tajikistan), the ruins at Merv (Turkmenistan), the Ashgabat National History Museum (Turkmenistan), and of course, life along the Silk Road. In the two weeks we spent in Uzbekistan: the minarets in Kiva, Samarkand’s Registan (public square and madrassahs), and Shah-i-Zinda funerary complex and the synagogues of Bukhara stood out. And—the handicrafts and the people who made them were a joy to see and to meet. It was a trip we’ll remember!

A few additional thoughts: We saw few American tourists. I think this is because Americans don’t know about Central Asia and they think it’s not safe. In fact, the opposite is true—we never worried about our safety. Turkmenistan is a strange country, but not as unusual as I thought it would be. Ashgabat, the largest city, is a strange place. At night it’s lit up like Las Vegas; the buildings and the cars are white and very clean. There are plain-clothed police on many, if not all, the street corners. And finally, we saw magnificent, snow-covered mountains in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. We had no idea these countries are trekking meccas!

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Spain: behind-the-scenes equestrian access, private chef by the sea, lunch with a bull breeder

SANDY AND ART COLLINS | MAY 17, 2026

We just returned from a fantastic trip to Spain curated by Ivan. If you’re considering working with Ivan—stop searching. Just book him.

We are experienced world luxury travelers, and this 11-day bespoke journey through Andalusia was one of the most exceptional trips we’ve ever taken. From the very beginning, Ivan truly listened, and what he created was seamless, deeply immersive, and perfectly paced—every moment felt intentional without ever feeling overplanned. We didn’t have to think about anything—just enjoy ourselves.

The itinerary unfolded beautifully across Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Ronda, Setenil de las Bodegas, Cádiz, and the white villages—each destination distinct, authentic, and memorable. Highlights included a fascinating private tour of the Alcázar in Seville, the extraordinary Great Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba, the breathtaking Alhambra in Granada, and a visit to a private Sherry bodega in Jerez.

What elevated this trip were the experiences we never could have found on our own. An intimate flamenco performance that was raw and unforgettable. A visit to a brave bull breeding farm, where we met the remarkable woman who runs it and enjoyed an incredible lunch while learning about the traditions of breeding bulls and horses. A private chef experience overlooking the Mediterranean that felt straight out of the world’s top culinary circles.

And then, a true WOW moment crafted by Wendy and Ivan—private, behind-the-scenes access at the Royal School of Equestrian Art. As an equestrian, this was extraordinary: watching the horses warm up, speaking with the riders, and experiencing something so rare and personal.

All the hotels were well appointed, beautiful (especially Hotel Seda Club) and right in the middle of towns where the walking, getting to know the locals was such a great experience.

One of the most memorable moments came as a complete surprise. Our guide Lily told us one morning that we were going somewhere special—we found ourselves driving down a quiet dirt road with no idea where we were headed, only to arrive at Ivan’s home on a Sunday overlooking the sea. Sitting with him there, taking in the view, was incredibly personal and something we will never forget.

Every detail was handled flawlessly. We had seven wonderful guides who were all insightful and engaging, and the drivers were warm, professional, and always punctual. The entire journey felt completely seamless.

What truly sets Ivan apart, however, is his care. When I unfortunately got food poisoning during the trip, he was immediately available at 3AM!—guiding us to the right hospital, acting as a translator, and staying with us every step of the way. That level of support was truly remarkable.

This was, without question, one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever taken with a WOW List expert, and we have over 10+ trips over the years—and a perfect example of what true bespoke travel should feel like: effortless, personal, and unforgettable.

Our only regret? Not making it longer.

Thank you so much Ivan!

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Vietnam and Cambodia: a monk’s blessing, picnic amid floating markets, a private concert

MARIA AND JOE FRIEDMAN | MAY 17, 2026

Three and a half weeks in beautiful Southeast Asia! Wanting to travel with friends who were also well traveled, we selected an area neither couple knew much about. We’d heard about the Wendy Perrin group through friends, and decided to work with a travel planner she recommended. Enter Ethan and his excellent network of hosts, drivers and local families who made our trip so memorable. Our goal was to learn about the history of these countries, as well as experience their local culture and customs.

Beautiful Vietnam created many special memories: a two-night luxury cruise on Halong Bay; lunch at the home of a retired couple sharing stories of life and family; a private concert using traditional instruments; a calligraphy class; and a Vespa tour through the night market. Ethan’s team did an outstanding job making it all happen with seamless logistics and excellent accommodations.

In Cambodia, we were hosted yet again by an affable guide steeped in his country’s history, and spent several days in Siem Reap. We visited both well-known temples and those off the beaten path, riding bikes through Angkor City; a private cleansing and blessing with a monk and Abbott; a boat ride through the floating markets with a picnic lunch, and watching the art of weaving water hyacinths into baskets. A special treat was a private multi-course dinner in a field while watching the sunset. Experiencing Siem Reap would not have been complete without a stay at Jaya House, a boutique hotel. Thanks to the relationship with Ethan’s group, the hotel upgraded us to a 2-story suite and we were treated like family by the staff.

Bangkok was our last stop, and our fifth host and driver gave us a “deep dive” into the city and Thai history. We started our visit with a private tour of the backwaters of Bangkok in a longtail boat that picked us up at our hotel. Our highlights included honoring all manner of the Buddha: the reclining Buddha, the heaviest Buddha, and one of the highest Buddhas atop The Golden Mountain. Our last day before heading home, we appreciated the flexibility of our host when we asked to rearrange our day to accommodate a visit to a meditation center, an authentic Thai meal, and respite by the hotel pool.

All in all, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We couldn’t have done it without the deep and intimate connections provided by Wendy Perrin and her well-curated team of experts across the Southeast Asia.

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Slovenia and Croatia: private historical walking tours, farm-to-table meal at an oyster farm

JULIE AND MAX SILBERMANN | MAY 15, 2026

We had another successful and fantastic Wendy Perrin adventure! This time to Slovenia and Croatia in April. We worked with Ala and Arina, who crafted a perfect itinerary for us.

We started in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Our guides and drivers were wonderful—taking us on a walking tour of Ljubljana, day trips to neighboring towns, and guiding us through a food and wine tour. Then it was a drive through Istria, Croatia, to our first stop in Rovinj. Istria is a beautiful peninsula that we got to experience town by town. From there to Pula, where we saw a coliseum and ruins from the Roman Empire. The history of this area is fascinating, as so many different ethnic groups were in power over the centuries. The culture, food, and architecture all reflect these influences.

Then it was onto Split, where we stayed for 5 days, using this as our home base for day trips. One of the highlights for us was the oyster farm in Ston where we saw oyster farming, sampled oysters, and had an amazing dish of mussels all prepared for us by the local oyster farmer. Our last stop was Dubrovnik where we walked the old city and dined on fish right out of the Adriatic.

All of the accommodations were outstanding—each hotel with its own personality. Food was incredible—farm to table fresh, fish caught that day, local wines from the vineyards. Guides were incredibly knowledgeable and answered our hundreds of questions. Drivers made us feel very safe and secure. Once again, Wendy Perrin had us on a fabulous trip through a beautiful part of the Dalmatian countryside.

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Armenia and Georgia: an unexpected detour through cave villages and ancient history

PEGGY SCHUEMANN | MAY 14, 2026

Kenny planned an awesome trip for me to Armenia with one day in Georgia, as I transited to Turkey. I had planned to travel to Iraq, but that trip was cancelled due to the war in the Middle East. With plans in place to travel to Turkey following Iraq, what was I to do?

Well, Kenny knew exactly what to do when I asked about Armenia. This is an amazing country full of history dating back to the Stone Age! In only a matter of weeks Kenny had an itinerary set. It included history, culture, hiking, gastronomy, and a real overview of the country. My guide, Gaya, was so knowledgeable and fun to be around. And, Ashot, our driver, was the best. Kenny asked whether, in transit to Turkey, I might want to spend a night at the cave city of Vardzia, in Georgia. I said yes, and if you have the opportunity, you should too! It was just amazing walking up and down the stairs and through the tunnels.

While in Goris to see the ancient sights like the cave village of Khndzoresk, Gaya and Ashot heard that the prime minister of Armenia would be in the town square to deliver an election speech. We decided to go and Ashot was determined that I have my photo taken with the prime minister. Mission accomplished! Not only did I have my picture taken with him, but I also spoke with had had a photo with the President of the Parliament. I highly recommend the country of Armenia!

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Peru: artisans and village life, condors in Colca Valley, exploring Tinajani and Lake Titicaca

DIANE BOAS | MAY 13, 2026

Peru, April 2026
Thirteen years ago, Marisol’s company planned an incredible trip for us to Machu Pichu, Cusco and other sites in the sacred valley. Based on our excellent experience, we asked them to plan a two-week trip to areas we hadn’t yet visited, including Arequipa, the Colca Valley, and Lake Titicaca. Our first day in Lima we were surprised to meet the same guide we’d had 13 years ago. John knows everything about Lima and almost everyone who lives there. While the breadth and depth of his knowledge is impressive, we took Wendy’s advice about speaking up about our guiding experience. “John,” we said, “you are amazing, but we can’t absorb any more historical facts. Instead, please introduce us to local artists and take us to your favorite contemporary galleries.”

And so he did, and we had an amazing second day meeting and learning about many of Peru’s under-the-radar artists. After Lima, we spent 5 days in Arequipa and the Colca Valley with our amazing guide Patricia. The Colca Valley is over 11,000 feet above sea level, and although we were taking Diamox, we still had altitude sickness. Patricia excelled at leading us on hikes that reflected our respiratory capacity (meaning easy!) while ensuring we still experienced some of the valley’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. Patricia introduced us to the most photogenic llamas and alpacas, took us to secluded spots to observe condors close-up, and initiated conversations with local farmers and craftsmen who maintained the traditions of their ancestors. The last days of our trip were spent exploring the canyons of Tinajani and the islands of Lake Titicaca. Our phenomenal guide, Abel, took us to Uros, a floating island built on reeds, and to Taquile, a UNESCO site recognized for its weaving traditions.

Our planners have a team “on the ground” making sure that every aspect of our trip, from the moment we landed to the moment we headed to the departure gate, was going smoothly—which it did. Notably, Raul helped us at Lima’s airport at the end of our trip. When we learned that our scheduled 11pm flight back to the States was going to be delayed for at least 6 hours, Raul worked his magic and got us on an earlier flight with a different airline.

While Machu Pichu is Peru’s most famous site, it was on our second trip to more remote areas that we gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for Peru’s pre-Columbian and Inca cultures, in addition to an opportunity to experience contemporary art and cuisine.

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Barcelona: a return visit dedicated to passions—architecture, Gaudí, and excellent tapas

SONJA HAGGERT | MAY 11, 2026

Have you ever been to a place and said, “We’ll go back.” We did, to Barcelona on May 4th and 5th of this year. Thanks to our trip planner, Virginia’s colleague Daniel, we saw and did some amazing things.

On our last visit, we marveled at Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia. This time, we wouldn’t be visiting, so our guide, Carles, drove us by to see the cross that now crowns the structure, signifying another step in its completion. Seeing the Gaudí houses was on our list. Carles took us to the Apartment building, which has become a museum. Even some rain couldn’t keep us from going on the roof to see the extraordinary sculptures and view of the city. As a surprise, a porcelain representation of one of the rooftop figures was given to me for my birthday.

There are two amazing sights in the city not be missed. The Palau de la Musica Catalana. A concert hall unlike any we had seen anywhere. Best of all, we got a short organ concert. The other is the original downtown hospital, with its array of buildings, that is now a museum. We tend to marvel at Gaudí because of his notoriety, but his teacher, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, designed these two edifices, and he is much more revered in Spain.

We always do a food tour in any city we visit, and this was no exception. Karin, our guide, picked two of her favorite local restaurants, and they gave us a delicious taste of some of the best tapas Barcelona has to offer.

The city was already teeming with tourists, but when you have wonderful guides like ours, you don’t feel it.

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Benelux: private canal dinner cruise, Battle of the Bulge insights, Brussels chocolate class

MICHAEL MODAK | MAY 10, 2026

Flowers, chocolate, and beer! Just back from the Benelux region. What started as a trip to see the tulips in The Netherlands and the family that hosted my wife when she spent a semester there turned into a wonderful 2-week excursion throughout the region.

Thomas and his team put together their ideas for a wonderfully diverse agenda and after a few discussions, we had a great plan that included sites, museums, flowers, chocolate, and beer.

In the Amsterdam area we enjoyed the city and tulip fields in Flevoland, the Aalsmeer tulip auction, and Keukenhof Park. En route to the Hague we had a great WOW Moment in the diamond district of Antwerp. A stop in the beautiful city of Leiden allowed us to learn about the pilgrims stopping there before sailing to the US. The Hague offered nice art museums as well as easy access to the Delft area and the windmills at Kinderdijk.

Luxembourg offered very nice scenery and the remarkable Vianden Castle as well as Castle Beaufort where a local version of Cassis was a welcome beverage. And our time in Belgium included stops in Bruges, Ghent and Brussels. Great chocolate and beer in all of these places. And a visit to Waterloo provided a good understanding of Napolean and his rise and fall.

Out of so many wonderful stops and events on the trip, our top 3 would be (1) a private boat dinner cruise on the canals of Amsterdam (2) a tour of the area where the Battle of the Bulge took place, and (3) a chocolate making class at Neuhaus at the Galerie in Brussels.

All hotels were marvelous and logistics were flawless. And the guides were all superb. Very knowledgeable and flexible. I’m keen to give my top rating to Thomas and his team.

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Italy: private cruising on Lake Como, winery lunch above Amalfi, cooking with a Florence chef

GARY LUCKMAN | MAY 8, 2026

My wife, Cheryl, and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Italy curated by Andrea’s colleague Elana. Our trip included visits to Milan, Lake Como, Florence, and the Amalfi coast. The two five-star hotels we visited—Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como, and Il San Pietro di Positano—are two of the best hotels we have ever experienced.

The highlight of our visit to Lake Como was an invite to have luncheon with Andrea’s staff at their offices in Bellagio. The warmth and efficiency of this group was apparent. Both in Lake Como and Positano we were treated to many hours of cruising to see the sites from the water. True highlights of our trip were a personal visit and cooking class at the home of Stefani in Florence, and our visit to the winery above the Amalfi coast, where we participated in a wine tasting and wonderful luncheon prepared by the staff.

We had excellent hands-on transfers throughout our trip, and as promised, we never had to touch our luggage. Often when you plan a long trip like this, things tend to not work out as planned at times. This trip was perfect from beginning to end and we can’t thank you enough for this wonderful experience.

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Colombia: customized family journey through “welcoming” Medellin, the coffee region, Cartagena

VERONIQUE PADALECKI | MAY 7, 2026

We recently returned from an incredible 10-day family trip to Colombia with our family of six, including kids ranging from 11 to 17 years old, and it exceeded all of our expectations.

Our trip included time in Medellín, the beautiful coffee region, and ended near Cartagena and the stunning Rosario Islands. Every part of the journey was thoughtfully planned and offered something unique for both adults and teenagers.

Boris did an outstanding job organizing the trip. He was extremely thorough, attentive, and helpful throughout the planning process, and the company he works with prepared us very well before we left and also periodically checked in throughout our trip. Everything felt seamless and personalized, which made traveling with four teenagers much less stressful.

One of the highlights of the trip was the people of Colombia. Everywhere we went, people were incredibly warm, friendly, and welcoming. We especially want to recognize Jaime, our guide in Cartagena, who was truly exceptional and made our experience there unforgettable.

We also absolutely loved our stay at Sofitel Barú Cartagena, which was a fantastic way to end the trip. The property was beautiful, relaxing, and perfect for our family.

This trip gave our family such wonderful memories, and we already know we’ll be returning to Colombia again soon. We would absolutely use Boris and his team again and highly recommend them to anyone considering a family trip to Colombia.

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Morocco: private river lunch, tile-making with artisans, sunset camel ride and ballooning

CAROL ZUCKERMAN | MAY 4, 2026

We just returned from a 16-day trip to Morocco planned by Hicham’s team, and what a wonderful experience we had. We started the trip with gifts from the company, including a leather bag with our names in Arabic, a converter, leather passport case, and some initial local money (dirhams) to get us through the first days without needing an ATM. We traveled to Casablanca to see the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, then to Rabat where we had a wonderful tour of the city with an excellent local guide. Wendy Perrin surprised us there with our WOW Moment, a lovely private boat ride on the Bou Regreg River with a full authentic Moroccan lunch including wine.

From Rabat, we travelled to Fez and experienced a walking food tour, cooking class, and all the smells and sounds of the medina. We even spent an afternoon at a winery near Meknes, where we were treated to a wine tasting and full lunch under an ancient fig tree. Then, we were off to the Sahara for two nights at a desert camp including a hunt for fossils, tea with a nomad, and the highlight—a sunset camel ride over the dunes. Next, we visited the Dades Canyon area, where we stayed at an amazing property built into the mountains, the Eden Boutique Hotel, which offered gourmet quality breakfasts and a multi-course dinner, and arranged for a local guide to hike with us into the famous Monkey Fingers rock configurations.

Our next stop was Marrakech, where we settled in for five days and visited the souks, Jewish quarter (mellah), a contemporary African art museum with a tour led by the museum’s curator, tried our hand at making mosaic tile with a local craftsman, and experienced a sunrise hot air balloon over Marrakech with the High Atlas Mountains in the distance. Finally, we ended our trip in the High Atlas Mountains at the spectacular Kasbah Tamadot, where we were able to relax before heading back to the US.

Throughout the trip, we were well taken care of by our driver Hafid, who was keen on pointing out sites to us during our long drives. We would not have had the trip we did without Hafid with us, making sure things ran smoothly and that we were comfortable and had plenty of bottled water and snacks along the way. The planning team also chose very experienced and knowledgeable guides to work with us in Rabat, Fez, Marrakech, and most of the other places we visited.

Morocco is a large country with so much to see. Sara helped guide us from the start, planning an itinerary that incorporated all our interests but also considered our desire not to move from place to place too quickly. There were so many highlights that it is hard to pick just one, but for us the sunset camel ride in the Sahara, the cooking class in Fez, our WOW Moment boat ride with lunch in Rabat, the hot air balloon ride over Marrakech, and the tile-making workshop in Marrakech were all phenomenal and just some of the experiences that made our trip so special.

There were definitely a few glitches on the ground in Morocco (e.g., we were scheduled to visit the art museum on a day it was closed; our riad in Marrakech did not have us scheduled for the hammam including massage that had been booked) but, when notified, Sara and her team stepped in quickly to make things right. Though things weren’t always perfect, as they rarely are when traveling, we highly recommend this team as a trip curator. They provided an excellent array of experiences, considered every detail, and saw to it that we were well taken care of. Thanks to Sara and to our driver Hafid, the memories of our trip to Morocco will remain with us always.

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Argentina: early Iguazu Falls access (plus kayaking), horseback at “incredible” hacienda

LINDSAY LANAUX | MAY 2, 2026

Paul and Lucinda planned a fabulous mother/daughter trip to Argentina in April. We started off in Buenos Aires, where we stayed at a wonderful boutique hotel, Legado Mitico, in the Palermo area. My daughter took a bike tour of the city. Her guide was extremely knowledgeable about both history and politics. So she had some interesting conversations as well as getting some great exercise. I walked around the Botanical Gardens. We also saw a really great tango show and went to a really interesting wine tasting. Lucinda was able to make reservations for us at several vegan restaurants in a meat-centric city since my daughter doesn’t eat meat.

Then it was on to Awasi Iguazu Falls. The resort is incredible and our guide was excellent. We were able to visit the Devil’s Throat before the general public. We also went on several boat rides where my daughter got to swim under a waterfall and kayak and I got to eat cheese and drink wine. On our last day, we went to the Brazilian side (don’t forget to get a visa before you go) and took a boat ride on the rapids and got drenched under a waterfall.

Our last stop was Rincon del Socorro in the Ibera Wetlands. We stayed at an incredible hacienda in the middle of nowhere. We took nature walks, visited the Ibera Lagoon, and my daughter got to go horseback riding. We loved sitting on our Winter Garden reading books and watching the wildlife roaming the yard.

We had one glitch when our light aircraft was unable to take us to Posadas to catch our flight back to Buenos Aires for our flight home. Paul was on the spot and made reservations for us to spend the night in Posadas so that we could make our flight. Paul and Lucinda also did a really good job of putting together a trip that accommodated both of our activity levels as well as my daughter’s dietary restrictions. We are already thinking of planning another trip with them.

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Italy: a “superb” mix of cooking classes and artisan experiences for multigenerational family

JAN HEININGER | APRIL 30, 2026

April 10-26, 2026

My husband Jamie Reuter and I spent eight days in Puglia then eight days in Florence, Bologna, Modena and Rome with three of our grandchildren and their parents in April 2026. This is the fourth trip Jennifer has planned for us and it was as wonderful as her other trips have been. Her excellent Italian senior specialist Luna put together a trip filled with wonderful activities, excellent accommodations, terrific guides, and lovely drivers that was superbly executed.

Puglia was new to Jamie and me and we loved it. We had a great cooking class at Masseria Garrappa with “Mama” and her son, where we learned a new set of techniques. We visited Altamura and Matera in part to learn about their special breads; visited Masseria Salamina to learn about olive oil, and a new technique to determine whether it really is extra virgin olive oil; visited Giorgio’s farm to learn about his wonderful charcuterie, mozzarella and burrata; had excellent wine tastings at very different wineries; and constructed our own luminarie, a regional highlight. I made a sculpture out of the unique Leche stone under the guidance of a sculptor, made jewelry with Radice Nomade, a lovely jewelry designer, and so much more. Puglia is a less discovered part of Italy filled with warm and caring people. We had specifically asked for “experiences” rather than sightseeing, and Jennifer and Luna delivered the most wonderful mix of great activities with local Puglia people.

When we joined our kids and grandchildren in Florence, we had eight days focused on what the kids would enjoy—and so they did. What a terrific mix of sightseeing and experiences, including a private guide to see Michaelangelo’s David; a terrific experience making marbleized paper that we all loved; a very fun truffle hunt where the kids all got to dig up truffles that Stella the dog found, then we ate at a wonderful lunch; a lovely time in beautiful Bologna with an excellent food tour (also one in Florence); a visit to San Gimignano; guided tours of the Colosseum and the Forum in Rome; visits to Parmesan and Balsamic vinegar factories in Bologna and Modena; the Ferrari museum and the Vatican, where our four-year-old woke up at the Sistine Chapel and said “Look at the pretty pictures on the ceiling!” The trip was a big hit with the kids—as was all the gelato we ate, since as we all know, there are no calories in gelato when you’re on vacation. The pizza-and gelato-making class was a true highlight.

What a great trip Jennifer and Luna planned for us with superb execution throughout. Jennifer’s team is a standout, filled with caring and kind locals and staff who superbly handled every aspect of the trip. Jennifer and her team have a real knack for putting together trips that focus on what will interest kids. Kudos to all of them.

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Australia: waterfront house and chef, Kangaroo Island picnic, Indigenous guide in Daintree

WENDY TUCKER | APRIL 30, 2026

Another perfect trip planned by a Wendy Perrin WOW List travel expert! Before we even left on our 2-week trip to Australia, I knew it would be wonderful due to my pre-trip interactions with Kylie. Kylie is organized, responsive, intuitive and truly listened to who we are and what we were looking for.

Our resulting trip was fabulous—luxurious, intimate accommodations, friendly, knowledgeable local guides, wonderful fresh food and experiences off the beaten path learning about each locale. We began with a very short stay in Sydney with an unforgettable view of the iconic Sydney Opera House at the Park Hyatt. Next we went to Port Lincoln, which I had never heard of but am so glad we put our trust in Kylie. Port Lincoln, the seafood capital of Australia, provides incredible empty rugged coastline, wonderful up close wildlife encounters, and a four-wheel-drive adventure in the sand dunes. We loved staying in a house right on the water with a fantastic private chef creating our dinners each night. Shout out to our friendly and informative guide Doug.

We next flew by private plane to Kangaroo Island and stayed at the magnificent Southern Ocean Lodge. Our guide Craig was stellar—he seemed like he knew everyone on the island. And the next day when my husband Marco required a hospital visit due to a blood clot, Craig and his wife showed up to check in on us. Craig then followed up over the next few days to see how Marco was doing. True kindness that meant so much to us.

Our next stop was in the hills of Adelaide where we stayed at Sequoia Lodge. We loved our day in the Barossa Valley. The wineries we visited were truly special. We very much appreciated that our guide Andrew was able to pivot when we did not want to visit a third winery. We loved our coffee stop and the drive back through small towns.

Our final stop was at Silky Oaks Lodge in the Daintree Rainforest. We loved this lodge—from our room we heard the constant sound of the river and the food and staff are exceptional. Our guides Frank and Cathy were fantastic—so much local knowledge and connections. A highlight of the trip was our walk in Mossman Gorge with Skip, our indigenous guide. The next day we were scheduled for a half day trip to the Great Barrier Reef, but Cathy called us to recommend we not go due to choppy water. Instead, she put together an incredible visit to the Botanical Ark, a very private botanical garden created and maintained by the Carles. They have spent 40 years creating this paradise with plants from all over the world.

What makes a truly wonderful travel expert is when things don’t go to plan. Our trip was exceptional despite the hiccups of Marco’s blood clot and the cancelled reef visit. The passion and caring of Kylie and her team in creating a perfect experience for us despite these challenges really showed us how wonderful they are. We are definitely planning on returning to Australia and Kylie’s perfect travel experience!

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Japan: seven-week immersion including Zazen with a priest, indigo dyeing lesson, sumo match

DAREN TOBERT | APRIL 28, 2026

We spent 47 unforgettable days in Japan (March 5–April 20, 2026) on a journey curated by Andrea and his exceptional team. Although our trip began and ended in Tokyo, what unfolded in between was so rich and varied that we know we’ll be reflecting on it for years to come.

Our goal was to experience multiple regions of Japan and truly immerse ourselves in local culture—and the planning team exceeded every expectation. From exquisite ryokans with restorative hot springs to hands-on experiences like indigo dyeing, knife-making, sushi and cooking classes, every detail felt intentional and deeply authentic. We explored shrines, museums, and many places far off the typical tourist path, each adding another layer to our understanding of Japan.

One of the most memorable contrasts of the journey was attending a sumo match in Osaka—the energy, tradition, and collective anticipation filling the arena—followed by time on Amami Ōshima, where life slowed and nature spoke more quietly. Together, these moments captured the breadth of Japan’s spirit: vibrant and contemplative, dynamic and deeply still.

An added layer of complexity—and joy—was that our three adult daughters joined us during different portions of the trip. Andrea’s team seamlessly coordinated all of those logistics, ensuring smooth transitions, thoughtful overlaps, and a sense of continuity that allowed each of us to share in the experience in meaningful ways. It made a multi-generational journey feel effortless.

A recurring highlight throughout the trip was the extraordinary quality of the guides. Andrea’s network is remarkable. Sarah in Tokyo, Van in Kyoto, Matt on Amami Ōshima, and Shohei in the Kiso Valley were all outstanding—knowledgeable, warm, and deeply connected to their regions. They didn’t just show us places; they helped each location come alive.

The daily support from the “Guardian Angels” was equally impressive. Their thoughtful updates—whether about guides, drivers, navigating train stations, or what to expect for meals—created a seamless experience. The Travel Portal app kept everything organized and accessible, allowing us to relax into the journey.

One moment that captures the spirit of the trip was a Zazen experience with a Buddhist priest in Kamakura. We were invited to quiet our minds and “listen to the earth sing.” In many ways, that is what this journey offered us—a chance to hear the song of Japan over seven weeks. And it was, simply, beautiful.

We are deeply grateful to Andrea and the entire team for creating such a meaningful and unforgettable experience.

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New Zealand: private guided rainforest hike, tasting experience on Waiheke Island, twilight kayak to beach BBQ

KATHY GIANNANGELO | APRIL 27, 2026

Five Perfect Days

With only limited time to spend in New Zealand, I choose to concentrate my five days (April 20-25) in and around Auckland. Sarah and Sara organized my solo trip. It included private transport, stays at The Hotel Britomart in Auckland and The Boatshed on Waiheke Island, along with several tours and activities.

My first tour was with Justine, an excellent guide, who taught me about Auckland while stopping off for tastes of a variety of local food. These included wagyu beef pie, Anzac biscuits, kahawai on sourdough, a variety of chocolate such as Manuka honey and pear and Hokey Pokey, New Zealand whitebait fritter, and Manuka honey.

The next day Tony, my exceptional driver and tour guide, took me out of the city to experience the Waitakere Ranges for a 40-minute walk through the rainforest. Tony joined me for the walk among the giant tree ferns and New Zealand’s famous kauri trees. It was fantastic. After a stroll on a west coast black sand beach, Tony dropped me off at St. Heliers Bay for my twilight kayaking activity with Daniel. Only accessible by private craft, the weather was perfect for the trip to Motukorea Island, where Daniel explained its history. He then cooked up some steaks for our BBQ dinner on the beach. As the sun set, we headed back to St. Heliers Bay with gorgeous views of the city. Daniel provided an amazing experience. I highly recommend kayaking at night for an unforgettable time.

I concluded my trip with a three-day visit to Waiheke Island. While there, Fi took me on a superb sightseeing and tasting tour. With great commentary on Waiheke Island along the way we visited Oneroa, Palm Beach and Onetangi beaches. Our stops included tasting at the Allpress Olive Estate (olive oil), The Heke Brewery (beer, whiskey), and Tantalus Winery (six different wines). More sightseeing followed by an excellent lunch with Fi at Three Seven Two. You couldn’t beat the company and the view of the water was incredible.

Justine, Tony, Daniel, and Fi all made for a fantastic solo five-day trip. A call out also to Ciaran for exceptional service at The Hotel Britomart.

I look forward to returning to New Zealand next year.

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Switzerland: making Swiss chocolate, hiking with Saint Bernards, special access to championship hockey

 ANDREA MATHIS | APRIL 25, 2026

Nina and her team planned a spectacular adventure for us in Switzerland. Our trip, inspired by our daughter’s global studies school curriculum, was an educational and adventurous experience for our family of five. We skied in the shadow of the Matterhorn, made chocolate with the experts at Cailler, hiked with Saint Bernards, and explored the gorgeous cities of Lausanne and Zurich.

Our guides were fantastic and tailored our tours to our interests; including an epic surprise moment of meeting a member of the Swiss women’s Olympic ice hockey team, who even let our children try on her bronze medal. We also enjoyed an unforgettable WOW Moment: a behind-the-scenes tour of Swiss Life Arena, followed by watching the Zurich Lions in a championship game from a luxury box. Our trip was thoughtfully designed to help us understand the fascinatingly distinct regions of Switzerland and the people who make it one of our new favorite countries.

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Ireland: six couples enjoy great local restaurants, Rory McIlroy’s golf club, a hurling match

JULIE HOLDER | APRIL 23, 2026

Katie planned a 9-day trip for six couples to Ireland and did a great job. The hotel selections were fabulous, with a highlight being our two-night stay at Dromoland Castle, where we did falconry, high tea and ate at the Earl of Thomond Restaurant—service was impeccable and the grounds were fabulous.

Our driver guide, Martin made our trip very special. He got the guys tickets to a hurling match, which was a highlight of the trip for them. He also helped us get into great local restaurants as a group of 12! We were able to visit Holywood Country Club, Rory McIlroy’s home club, the day after his second masters win, and visit the trophy room and pub there. Our visit to the Cliffs of Moher on a beautiful day was another amazing experience for all of us

This trip was arranged by WOW List candidates. Here’s what that means.

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Italy: planner turned “scattered ideas” and overly ambitious goals into the trip of a lifetime

MARCUS CONRAD | APRIL 21, 2026

I took a leap last May and booked plane tickets for an Italy adventure with no real plan in mind. I filled out Wendy’s questionnaire and she recommended reaching out to Martina.

After reaching out to Martina and a quick Zoom call to discuss our vision, my wife and I spent the next 10 months eagerly anticipating what turned out to be the trip of a lifetime.

Martina and Sabina (who helped with the details of our trip) took our scattered ideas and overly ambitious travel goals and turned them into a seamless, unforgettable experience. Over 10 days in mid-April, we traveled through Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and Sirmione, with every detail thoughtfully handled. They ensured a truly luxurious experience while helping us avoid crowds, enjoy more intimate moments, and make the most of our time together.

Even when minor hiccups arose—like canceled trains—they were immediately available and ready to help, making sure everything stayed on track.

I can’t recommend Martina and Sabina highly enough for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of planning an international trip. Thanks to their team, this is a journey we’ll be talking about for the rest of our lives

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Egypt: an intimate Nile dahabiya cruise, personal experiences at a camel market and family farm

TAMARA TSOUTSOURIS | APRIL 20, 2026

My husband Wolfgang and I recently returned from an incredible trip to Egypt. We traveled from April 6 to 18th, 2026. The trip was planned through Jim and his associate, Seema. Everything about this journey was superlative—from the excellent and knowledgeable guides to the gorgeous accommodations. We were taken care of from start to finish—no concerns or worries at any step of the way.

Seema worked closely with us to craft an itinerary that included everything we wanted, and worked within our budget. A highlight of our trip was a cruise on the Nile on the Dahabaya Safiya, an intimate 12 cabin Nile cruiser. We especially appreciated the cultural experiences we were given—not just the typical tourist sites. For example, we visited a camel market during a market day, had breakfast at a local family’s home, and visited a family farm. We also highly recommend splurging on a stay at the Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan—one feels that one has stepped back in time 100 years. Truly magical.

We could not possibly have had the experience we had without the expert help of Jim and Seema. Traveling in a country where we can neither speak the language nor read it, it was essential to have their expertise and care. We are already talking about our next trip with a WOW List planner!

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Italy: cultural conversations across five Sicily cities, invited into winemaker’s home for lunch

CLAUDIA ALSTON | APRIL 18, 2026

We spent 3 weeks in Sicily and WOW!! Thanks to Alberto, Lorenzo and team—this trip was fabulous. Everything was seamless, and any last-minute changes we requested were handled and quickly adjusted for us—I really appreciated the flexibility. All our guides were warm—I felt like I was making new friend—and they had so much information. Any questions we asked were answered, whether it was about ancient or modern history, life today, food, culture. Everyone was open to discussing anything. We stayed in 5 cities, all totally different and wonderful in their own way—Palermo, Marsala, Noto, Ortigia (Siracusa), Taormina. Our driver was great getting us from place to place—always on time, and so accommodating if we needed an extra stop or extra time. Even at the 4am pickup for airport he had a big smile on his face.

Our trip planner made our time a dream. I would never have selected these diverse locations and varied excursions on my own—it took people who knew and loved Sicily to put together the perfect itinerary. We had wine, pistachios, street food, saw ancient sites, reflected on the many influences on the culture and the cities themselves. We had many great moments, but one that stands out is our time at a small winery outside Palermo—just me and my husband, and we were invited into the winemaker’s home for tasting in front of a warm fire, and then they cooked us lunch!

Thanks so much! Can’t wait to return to Sicily!

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Scotland: after many Edinburgh visits, “super-knowledgeable” guides still deliver intrigue

ADAM AMSTERDAM | APRIL 18, 2026

We had another great trip to Scotland planned by Katie and her team. With our son studying at University of Edinburgh, we’ve been going to Edinburgh regularly to visit him. And we had another fabulous stay at 100 Princes Street. It really feels like our home away from home at this point. Almost all of the staff from our first visit (November 2024) are still there and still delivering world class service.

We loved our Dean Village and Leith walking tour with Jill, with whom we’ve had several other wonderful guided tours. At this point we feel like we’re walking around Edinburgh with a super-knowledgeable friend. We also had our first visit to Glasgow. Our guide Stuart was fantastic! He is a retired detective (DCI) who spent his career solving crimes in Glasgow. He solved one of the biggest murder cases in Scotland that was the subject of a multi-part documentary in the UK called “Limbs in the Loch” (you can imagine the details).

We’ve already booked our stay at 100 Princes Street for our son’s commencement in November!

This trip was arranged by WOW List candidates. Here’s what that means.

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French Polynesia: An escape beyond Tahiti to a private-island paradise

EMMA JACOBS | APRIL 17, 2026

Kleon did an excellent job from start to finish. He’s very through and detail-oriented and we had several Zooms with him leading up to our trip. We were adding on to a cruise that we had already booked that ended in Tahiti, and wanted a few days to just chill at a beautiful resort.

He certainly found us just that. The Brando is in a stunning and very special location on its own island, accessible only by their plane. The resort is beautiful and our beach villa was gorgeous. They certainly had thought of every detail. Kleon handled every transfer expertly and even when I reached out to him from our cruise (which was not booked by him) he was able to find us a private charter for the day. I would highly recommend him as an agent for the South Pacific.

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Italy: Rome golf cart tour, Tuscan truffle hunt and lunch, Venice gondola serenade

LAUREN SCHOR | APRIL 15, 2026

Just back from an amazing spring break in Italy planned by Jennifer and Luna, a colleague on her team. My husband and I had both been to Italy multiple times, but not in over 20 years and we were excited to go back and experience Italy together with our 15-year-old daughter. As it was our daughter’s first time, we decided to focus on Rome, Florence and Venice in our eight days. We wanted to see the highlights in each city, experience some memorable activities, and also have time to explore on our own. Jennifer’s team helped us outline the perfect balance of all three along with amazing guides and seamless transfers between cities!

We started our first day in Rome with a golf cart tour of the city, which was a perfect way to see so much in just a few hours and not have to be on our feet after the long night of travel and jet lag. We couldn’t believe how many places we got to in one afternoon—highly recommend this for your first day! We also did private tours of ancient Rome, the Vatican, and a food tour (which was fantastic)! We still had plenty of free time for exploring and shopping on our own. Each afternoon I’d receive a text with the confirmation and details of the plan for the next day, which was really helpful, and if I needed anything it was very easy to text and get a quick reply. For example, we were running late for a few dinner reservations, and Jennifer’s team called to let the restaurants know.

Then it was onto Florence, where we did a walking tour of the city our first afternoon after arriving via train. We have always talked about going truffle hunting, and Jennifer made it happen with a day trip to Tuscany. After finding way more truffles than we expected, we were treated to an amazing truffle-based lunch and wine tasting at a family-run farm and vineyard. We spent the next morning back in Florence doing a private cooking class and we brought our prized truffles along—the chef was very excited and planned our menu around them. We loved that we were able to enjoy the fruits of our labor from the day before! We do cooking classes all around the world, and this was definitely one of our favorites!

After a morning train to Venice, we spent the afternoon seeing the highlights of the city and stopping for the most amazing gelato in a local neighborhood we would have never found on our own. Our tour ended with an incredible WOW Moment. When we arrived for our gondola ride (which we knew about), there were two musicians in our gondola; a guitar player and a singer, along with a chilled bottle of prosecco.

For 45 minutes we rode through the canals of Venice being serenaded while it felt like the entire city was watching us. Tourists on every bridge were filming our gondola and locals even came out of their homes to listen to the music. Clearly this was not an everyday occurrence on the canals of Venice, rather it was something very special and unique just for us. Our ride ended with our arrival to our dinner at Da Ivo, which has their own private canal entrance to the restaurant. That in itself was exciting and special, rather than walking through the front door like most diners. The WOW Moment was a real pinch-me moment, and my daughter joked that we are going to be in thousands of social media posts from all the people who were filming. It’s definitely an experience we will all remember!

On our last day of the trip, we traveled to the islands of Murano to visit a glass-making factory and Burano to see the colorful homes of the fisherman and the traditional lace-making of the island. It was well worth the day trip and both islands were very special.

It’s not always easy to find hotels in Europe that will accommodate a family in one room, but Jennifer and Luna were really helpful in finding us great places to stay with ideal room layouts. We especially loved the new(ish) La Gemma boutique hotel in Florence. Jennifer’s team also made all of our dining reservations for us—food is really important to us when we travel, and I knew where I wanted to eat in each city. When I needed an extra suggestion here and there, they of course came through with amazing places I hadn’t heard of.

If you’re planning a trip to Italy, I would highly recommend Jennifer and her team—they helped plan one of our favorite trips we have taken to date!

To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

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India: intimate experiences with block printing in a village, and a Hindu astrologer

DAN SPEARS | APRIL 13, 2026

We just returned from an extraordinary trip to India! Victoria put together the perfect itinerary with the perfect guide! My wife, sister and I agreed the trip was a 10 out of 10. It was a fantastic mix of wildlife sightings, cultural experiences, and glimpses into the daily lives of Indian men and women.

However, the highlight of our 11 days in India was spending it with our guide VJ and our driver, Dineesh. VJ is an encyclopedia of knowledge and stories who takes incredible care of his guests, but most importantly, he is a wonderful human being and by the end of the tour we all became close friends. We look forward to repaying him for his hospitality some day when he visits the US. Dineesh is a wonderful, unflappable man who kept us safe despite the chaos and congestion that comes with driving in India.

Victoria did an amazing job of recommending unique experiences that allowed us to really immerse ourselves in the Indian culture, including visiting a historic block printing operation in a small village where we got to make our own blocks prints, as well as a session with an astrologer who made me into a believer! Astrology has been a part of the Hindu culture for hundreds of years. Who knew?

This trip was worth every penny because we experienced India from the comfort of a small, comfortable van where the three of us enjoyed an intimate and personal tour of some spectacular sites. For me the highlight was going on the tiger safari in Ranthambore National Park. What an extraordinary experience seeing a tiger in the wild. We can’t wait to have Victoria plan our next trip to India with VJ and Dineesh!

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Seattle and Vancouver: A private, chef-guided experience of Pike Place Market, followed by a cooking class

DANIEL DAVENPORT | APRIL 10, 2026

Melissa planned a wonderful trip for my family to Seattle and Vancouver (Mar 28-Apr 4). She booked some nice hotels with the accommodations we needed and provided a balanced trip itinerary with scheduled activities and time on our own. She was super easy to talk to when planning our trip, and she listened to our preferences and interests.

The Pacific Northwest is beautiful and has a great vibe. We loved being by the water, the indigenous people’s history, the nature, and the food. For Vancouver, we highly recommend the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, the Aquarium, and Granville market. For Seattle, Pike Place market (of course), Ballard Locks, PacSci, Snoqualmie Falls, and the Space Needle (definitely worth it). There is a lot of stuff we wanted to do but didn’t have time, so we are talking about a return trip.

Our favorite activity that Melissa arranged was a private chef-guided tour of Pike Place followed by a cooking class for lunch. This was fun, educational, and a great way to experience the huge market.

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India: Thrilling tiger safari, artisan weaving and printing, joining Jaipur’s Gangaur Festival

MOLLY O’NEILL-EMMI | APRIL 9, 2026

During our recent travels in India, we discovered that nearly anything is possible. Whether it’s tracking Bengal tigers in the wild, learning the art of block printing, or playing an Indian instrument, Victoria and her team will make it happen.

Victoria demonstrated remarkable patience as I flooded her with questions throughout the planning process. Her insightful feedback helped us shape an itinerary that perfectly matched our interests. The trip seamlessly blended cities and villages, crafts and music, textiles and hands-on experiences, as well as nature, all designed to showcase the diversity of India and its people. Victoria and her team granted us access to experiences seldom available to travelers, including a visit to a master weaver in a rural village and a meal at the home of a beloved cook, deeply rooted in family traditions.

Our guide, Harsh, impressed us with his patience, adaptability, resourcefulness, calmness, and kindness. He was eager to learn from us as much as we learned from him. We discussed a wide range of topics, from Hindu beliefs and rituals to castes, cow sanctuaries, family values, politics, and arranged marriages. No subject was off-limits, and we gained valuable insights into Indian culture thanks to Harsh’s openness and expertise.

Our driver, Yuhraj, was equally outstanding. He skillfully navigated all types of roads, deftly avoiding obstacles such as cows, tuk tuks, and motorbikes. We often remarked that we could never drive in India ourselves! Yuhraj always positioned the vehicle for swift departures, ensuring we never got stuck in crowds at popular sites. He remembered our beverage preferences and had them ready each day, displaying a caring and attentive demeanor throughout our three-week journey.

Some of the most memorable moments were spontaneous: walking past a small music shop led to a demonstration of various instruments; mentioning a desire for Chaat Masala prompted Yuhraj to stop at a local market to buy it for us; and on a hot day, Harsh introduced us to kulfi, stopping at a shop where we learned how it’s made and enjoyed this delicious treat. Attending a temple service and witnessing the devotion of worshippers was a moving experience, made even more special when Harsh and Yuhraj gave us garlands to wear proudly throughout the day.

When recent rains brought mosquitoes and affected our planned water activity, Harsh quietly made arrangements for us to attend the annual Gangaur Festival in Jaipur instead. The festival was unforgettable, with fantastic balcony views and insightful explanations of each group of musicians and dancers. We were captivated by the pageantry and the enthusiasm of the locals, grateful for this unexpected change in schedule.

Our wildlife experiences were extraordinary. We saw not just one, but six Bengal tigers, coming extremely close to them as two followed our jeep. At one point, a tiger napped across a dirt road, blocking our path near closing time—an utterly surreal moment. Witnessing tigers in their natural habitat was awe-inspiring. We also visited an elephant sanctuary, feeding two rescued Asian elephants and walking with Lakshmi, a gentle giant. These creatures left a lasting impression, and we hope more will be rescued and allowed to thrive.

We gained firsthand insight into India’s remarkable craft traditions, meeting villagers who produce beautiful dhurries (rugs), learning about hand block printing in a private workshop, and exploring handicraft centers. We met artisans whose families have mastered their crafts over generations, facing challenges to keep these traditions alive.

Victoria and her team provided us with an insider’s perspective on India’s history, spiritual practices, and vibrant culture. We left India with full hearts and a desire to return. We highly recommend Victoria’s team for anyone seeking a truly immersive and unforgettable experience.

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Spain: vineyard chef’s lunch, flamenco lesson and show, Alhambra and Alcazar tours

PATTY ARMACOST | APRIL 8, 2026

Our group of 14 friends recently spent a week in southern Spain to celebrate my husband’s 70th birthday. The trip, expertly planned by Ivan, was nothing short of magical!

Ivan worked with us to plan a trip that included all the must-see UNESCO World Heritage sites as well as off the beaten track experiences to highlight the local culture, food and wine. It’s hard to pick a favorite site—how to choose between the Alhambra, the Cordoba Great Mosque-Cathedral, the Alcazar, the Seville Cathedral? All amazing to see and enhanced by the excellent guides who helped us understand the complex history of the region.

While the historic sites were enjoyable, Ivan excelled in providing experiences to immerse us in the local culture, which provided some of our favorite moments of the trip. While in Granada we visited a tropical fruit plantation, enjoyed an al fresco lunch at the house of a local chef, and visited a distillery making rum from local sugarcane and aged in sherry casks. In Seville we visited a dance studio for a flamenco lesson, followed by a professional flamenco performance. We also visited the Sierra de Aracena Natural Park and learned about the production of premium Iberico ham—baby pigs are adorable!

We learned about olive oil production at a beautiful farm where the charming owner hosted a tasting of his delicious products, followed by a fantastic lunch in the whitewashed village of Grazalema, where our guide selected some of the best wine of the trip. We ended our tour with a visit to a vineyard that is making white wine with the palomino grape, most often used to make sherry, and then enjoyed a lunch of traditional local food among the barrels, cooked by the winemaker’s chef wife. Ivan surprised us by joining us for lunch and shared more of the history and culture of his home town.

All of the guides were truly exceptional, with deep knowledge, passion and humor, and presenting the information in an engaging way. Arranging a tour for 14 people and moving them is not an easy task, and Ivan made it seamless. Each day Ivan communicated with us to make sure we were enjoying the activities, guides and hotels, and helped with restaurant recommendations and reservations.

Ivan gave us a phenomenal trip, providing authentic experiences that highlighted the culture and traditions of this beautiful part of Spain. We highly recommend Ivan for your Spain adventure!

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Paris: Eiffel Tower dining, teen shopping with stylist, Notre-Dame guided tour

DIANE THORMODSGARD | APRIL 8, 2026

My daughter, 13-year-old twin granddaughters and I just returned from a trip to Paris for Spring Break. This is the third trip where we’ve used Jennifer’s team for travel assistance. Once again, we had great recommendations with top notch guides. Although we had been to Paris together in 2023, we had new experiences this trip.

Our top activity was the Teen Shopping Experience. Iza, our stylist, identified preferences quickly and introduced us to different boutique stores. The shopping trip was indeed a success (even for the non-teens).

We were then surprised with our WOW Moment between the shopping experience and dinner at the Eiffel Tower that evening. A makeup artist came to our hotel room and completed makeovers for the twins. They were delighted with the experience.

We also had guided tours of Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, and Luxembourg Gardens, where the girls played with the sailboats.

The tasting tour in St. Germaine with Andres was amazing. Besides providing us a handwritten list of the stops we made, he also gave us excellent restaurant recommendations. We always book a tasting tour wherever we visit and highly recommend it as a way to learn about the city and country.

I highly recommend Jennifer/Wendy Perrin for travel assistance. Our travel planner, Jennifer’s colleague Etienne, was exceptionally responsive and thorough.

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India: Taj Mahal and Golden Triangle, Holi festival in Jaipur, Kerala houseboat stay

SUZY CRABB | APRIL 7, 2026

Victoria and her team planned a trip of a lifetime for us. We were in India for four weeks February 27- March 27 (we started in the UAE for two days and ended in the Maldives for a week, but a different WOW List expert arranged that part). I knew I wanted to see the Golden Triangle including the Taj Mahal, but that was about all I knew. Victoria put together an amazing itinerary—Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, a stay at Dev Shree (a heritage home run by a royal family), Udaiper, Kolkata, a tea estate in Himalayas, Mumbai, and Cochin. From the minute we landed until we left India, we were so well taken care of. It was one of the least stressful trips we have ever taken.

Our hotels were spectacular and service was impeccable. We had the same guide and driver for the first two weeks. Harsh, our guide, was fantastic! He was a wealth of information, enthusiastically answered all of our questions, taught us about the birds and trees of India as well as history/culture/food and religion, and had a great sense of humor. He was also extremely kind to the local people we met we along the way. Our driver Gtoo was fantastic. How he maneuvered in the streets crowded with cows and scooters and no apparent traffic rules was amazing. I really enjoyed the bicycle rickshaw ride in Delhi—our guide was in one right in front of us. We felt extremely safe at all times. Victoria added Jodhpur and Udaipur to the Golden Triangle and they were two of our favorite places. We stayed in palaces and at a boutique penthouse hotel and a night on a houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala. One of our hotels was the filming location of a James Bond movie (which we watched while staying there, which was really fun).

We ended our trip at a lake resort in Kerala, where we met Indian families who visit there every year. Victoria had given us a list of restaurants and helped us make reservations everywhere, and our drivers would take us to restaurants at night if we were not eating in the hotel. We had some magnificent meals and many of the breakfasts were incredible—with huge buffets as well as cook-to-order both European and Indian breakfast foods. My husband was more adventurous than I was at breakfast, and has become a spicy Dosa fan.

Our guides and drivers in Kolkata, Mumbai and Cochin were also excellent. One of our favorite moments was seeing the Ranakpur Jain Temple. Another memorable experience was celebrating Holi in Jaipur. Our planners arranged for us to participate in this fun and colorful holiday and it was a blast. We happened upon a festival in Mumbai and our excellent guide Ranjana asked if we wanted to get out of the car and go see it—this was one of the highlights for me—everyone was dressed up and celebrating. Another highlight was the Chinese restaurant our guide took us to for lunch in Kolkata—operated by the same family for 80-plus years in a building that looked like it should be condemned—where we had an excellent meal. He also recommended a local place for dinner with some suggested dishes—we went there and had an excellent meal and were the only tourists.

We stayed at a Tea Plantation in the Himalayas, which was a nice break from all of the art and history, and it was a bit cooler, with laundry included. We spent a day in Darjeeling and the clouds parted enough for us to see the highest peak in India—the third highest in the world—from the tea plantation. We are not shoppers, but our guides took us to see many beautiful art processes, textiles and jewelry—and we shopped, so would advise anyone traveling to India to plan on shopping. We had everything shipped home.

Victoria really arranged for us to see so many highlights and to truly feel immersed in the culture of the country. People were very friendly and welcoming everywhere. Victoria and our guides really listened to and understood what interested us. There is not enough room here to describe all of the wonderful and memorable moments of this exceptional trip. I could not imagine seeing a country as diverse and complicated and different from home as India is without Victoria’s knowledge, arrangements and people. I can’t recommend Victoria and her staff highly enough.

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Spain: Alhambra history, tapas and flamenco evening, Andalusian cooking class

VIRGINIA SOCOLOF | APRIL 7, 2026

I went to southern Spain with my dear friend Lee Jan 16-23, 2026. We were celebrating our new empty-nester status—it had been 21 years since we travelled together without kids! Pablo put together an amazing itinerary, and despite the chill (and sometimes the rain) we enjoyed the best of Granada, Seville, and the surrounding areas.

Pablo advised us to fly into Malaga and out of Seville, and it was very easy. We stayed at the Hotel Palacio de los Patos in Granada, and we loved its excellent location, super-helpful staff, and spa! Our Alhambra guide Rosa was a great guide to begin the trip, as she really made the history come alive. We visited Ronda on our way to Seville, and Antonio made a convincing case for returning to Ronda for a longer visit, although I’m not sure I am ready for the reportedly very rambunctious Holy Week celebrations. The Hotel Gravina 51 was a perfect home base with a spectacular breakfast spread.

The 2 highlights of our trip were the tapas tour and flamenco show we enjoyed with Pilar, and the market/cooking class with Amelia and Carmen. All of these women were warm, hilarious and welcoming, and we left each of these experiences feeling like we’d made new friends. Our last 2 days were spent in Cordoba and Jerez de la Frontera, both of which were well worth the driving time. Every one of Pablo’s drivers were professional and helpful, and I’m so glad we heeded his advice and skipped the car rental. I would absolutely call on Pablo again!

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Morocco: Sahara luxury camp, Skoura oasis, candlelit dining in djellabas, Marrakech sidecars

JULIE HEIMARK | APRIL 6, 2026

My husband, 18-year-old son and I just returned from 12 days in Morocco over spring break. Hicham’s team planned and executed a fantastic journey. The pre-trip planning and communication was very comprehensive. I particularly appreciated the suggested Moroccan reading list and Spotify play list. Nabil in particular was incredibly helpful with our dinner reservations and airline changes. The final itinerary documentation was one of the most comprehensive/easiest to navigate we have ever received. Merci!

That same high level of organization and execution continued once we were in country—we felt incredibly well looked after the entire time. This was our first time (successfully) using fast track immigration services and now we never want to do it any other way. Our guide Abdel was solicitous and informative and made a special effort to engage and encourage my son in practicing his Arabic. A special thanks goes to our driver Mohammad. There were violent rain storms during our visit—much needed after the years of drought—and many of the roads were flooded. Mohammad got us through safely and we were so glad to have him and his calm competency. Only a professional driver could have accomplished what he did. At one point we thought we wouldn’t make it to the next destination due to washed out roads but we weren’t worried because Abdel and Mohammad were on it, making contingency plans and getting us where we needed to be.

Our itinerary was Rabat (Fairmont La Marina), Fes (Riad Fes), Merzouga (Desert Luxury Camp), Skoura (Dar Ahlam), Marrakesh (La Mamounia), and the High Atlas (Kasbah Tamadot).

Dar Ahlam was the highlight of our trip. We followed Wendy’s advice and flew to the Sahara to maximize our time. Hicham’s team recommended driving back to Marrakesh so we could stay at Dar Ahlam. And we are so glad we did! Dar Ahlam is a historic Kasbah in the Skoura oasis. It may not be everyone’s cup of atay b-na’na (mint tea) but we found its quiet luxury magical. One night our dinner was in a room lit by hundreds of candles. The next night we were given djellabas and followed our guide through the mist and moonlight to an ancient storage room, where we dined on couscous amongst drying herbs and spices. We felt like we were in a Dan Brown novel. We can’t wait to return (but now that we have done the drive and seen Benhaddou and Tizi N Tichka, which everyone should do once, I’d fly into Ouarzazate).

La Mamounia in Marrakesh was worth every penny. It’s one of those hotels you fall in love with—no wonder it was Churchill’s favorite. Both the public and private spaces are exquisite.

My son’s favorite experience, besides practicing his Arabic and drinking 20 cups of mint tea a day, was the sidecar motorcycles in Marrakesh. It was unlike anything we had done before and it was exhilarating. We felt like Indiana Jones zipping through the narrow streets of the Medina. When we finished he exclaimed, “That’s the funnest thing I’ve ever done.”

Morocco is such a hospitable and varied country, Marrakesh is our new favorite city, and we can’t wait to return.

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Italy: early Doge’s Palace access in Venice, Chianti vineyards, Lake Como’s beauty

SALLY AND ROGER BELL | APRIL 6, 2026

We just returned from a fantastic 11-day trip to Italy (March 20-31), expertly planned by Jennifer & Giulia. We visited Orvieto, Florence, Cinque Terre, the Chianti wine region, Bologna, Venice, the Valpolicella wine region, Milan & Lake Como. Although we were very busy & covered a lot of territory, each stop, excursion, tour, restaurant reservation, winery visit, etc. was seamless. Everything from airport transfers to boat & train transfers were well planned and effortless. We definitely felt well cared for on every step of the way. We had very knowledgeable and entertaining guides as well as outstanding & professional drivers. Everyone was prompt and professional. Our WOW Moment was extraordinary as we had a private tour of Doge’s Palace in Venice before it even opened to the public. A truly memorable experience! All of our hotels were lovely with wonderful staff & delicious breakfasts.

While we had hoped to avoid the crowds by traveling in March, that wasn’t the case. There were many student groups that were traveling for school trips as well as other travelers. Florence and Venice were very crowded.

Jennifer and her team were personable, responsive, & great to work with. They promptly and kindly addressed our every question and need. We highly recommend them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are WOW List travel experts vetted?

We are constantly vetting and road-testing destination-specific travel specialists who come highly recommended by sophisticated travelers. First, we evaluate these candidates to determine whether they meet our high standard. Then we send travelers their way and monitor those trips closely. If we receive enough stellar feedback, that travel specialist earns a spot on The WOW List. This testing process takes at least a year, more typically two or three.

What’s the difference between The WOW List and a regular travel agent?

Unlike regular travel agents who try to cover the entire world, the specialists on The WOW List are all experts in a particular destination or type of travel. A trip planned by a WOW List expert will be custom-tailored, wisely designed, non-touristy, sophisticated, and hassle-free. It will eliminate inefficiencies, crowds, lines, and other headaches, and get you priority status, insider access, and VIP perks.

How do Trusted Travel Experts enhance cultural experiences?

Trusted Travel Experts create one-of-a-kind trips full of unique cultural experiences thanks to their insider connections. They leverage those relationships to get you behind-closed-doors access, pair you with the best private guides, and introduce you to noteworthy local people and artisans.

If you want insider access and a custom-designed itinerary, here’s how to request your own WOW trip.

 

* Although we have compiled and reviewed these reviews for trip planners to earn a spot on The WOW List, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or truthfulness of the reviews we receive and cannot assure that all travelers will have the same experience.

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