Thanksgiving week is an extremely busy time for travel within the U.S., with air and road travel at their peak. By contrast, overseas, late November is low season. Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated internationally, so by heading abroad for that holiday week, you can escape peak pricing and crowds. Wendy loves taking her family to Europe for Thanksgiving—it’s great timing for visiting Europe’s cultural capitals and Christmas markets—while Brook has taken her son to Egypt, Norway, and even Antarctica over his week-long school break. Read on to learn how your fellow travelers have maximized their Thanksgiving time off, thanks to help from the right local fixer who optimized their itinerary and logistics. Here’s what it means to get a WOW trip.
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Tulum, Mexico, for a private villa vacation with exquisite beaches and snorkeling
Traveler Jessica Tolmach and her family snorkeling in Mexico.
“We just returned from an extraordinary WOW trip to Tulum, Mexico. We had a challenge: A blended family with 5 grown kids from all corners of the country and with different backgrounds, interests and styles. It was also a 60th birthday celebration. We wanted exquisite beaches, Mayan history, a private villa with chef, and planned, safe activities as well as private beach.
Zach found it! Casa Ixchel took our breath away and exceeded all our expectations. The accommodations were spectacular, everyone had a gorgeous, well appointed, beautiful designed room, the Casa had marvelous open common rooms with views of the gardens, pool and beach, the beach itself was beyond imagination, and our excursions were marvelous. We spent one half day biking at the Coba ruins and another day snorkeling off Cozumel island. The other two days we had free—to ride bikes, walk on the beach, lounge at the pool and just be together.
The meals were beyond delicious—and accommodated a variety of dietary restrictions! The villa staff was professional, kind, helpful and responsive. Mostly we had a beautiful, breathtaking week. It was a trip we will cherish and remember always. Thank you, Wendy! Once again, we couldn’t have done it without you.” —Jessica Tolmach
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Belize for a Caribbean island “family celebration adventure”
Belize’s islands are relatively affordable for Thanksgiving, compared with other Caribbean islands, Photo: Shutterstock
“To plan for our 50th anniversary family celebration adventure in Belize, Wendy introduced us to Patricia, a native Belizean with a passion for introducing her country to the world. A year of planning with Patricia culminated in a 10-day trip, five days in the jungle and five days on an island. With us were four grandchildren, ages 9-12, so a lot of thought went into making sure we had lots of kid-oriented things to do.
Imagine four kids flying into Belize City airport and being escorted across the tarmac and realizing they were about to jump into two helicopters and fly to their jungle resort, or their excitement of being whisked from the jungle, via private plane, over to Placencia, then jumping on a boat and arriving on an island? Their reactions when they walked into their luxurious accommodations, complete with plunge pools, were priceless.
Chaa Creek Resort in the jungle didn’t disappoint, upping the “WOWs” to new levels each day. We were spoiled with private dinners for 10, breakfast deliveries early in the morning, fresh fruit drinks when we returned from a day of touring, even babysitting so the adults could dine together. We had a dedicated driver and guide, Darryl, throughout our 5 days of touring the jungle, and when rising water closed the ATM cave tour, Darryl seamlessly changed plans. Darryl introduced us to the Mayan world, helped us explore their temples, took us to a local coffee plantation and to a women’s local co-op where the grandchildren were able to hand-grind coffee beans, fresh corn for our tortillas, and try their hands at ancient pottery making. A trip deep into the jungle delivered us to zip-lining at the end of our cultural immersion day!
Ray Caye Resort beach days were spent in total relaxation mode so snorkeling, jumping off the two-story diving platform, kayaking, canoeing, sailing the Hobie cat, and even scuba diving kept us engaged. But enjoying gourmet meals, sipping drinks around the pool in the near-perfect weather, and playing family volleyball and puzzle games brought us together after far too many years of separation. The island was magical, the staff always ready to help us, anticipating our every need, and on our last night there, they surprised us with a 50th anniversary family meal on the beach. The resort covered the whole island and at one point there were only 16 vacationers on it. Patricia ensured that the whole trip worked seamlessly and not once did we have a glitch!” —Judith Rodwell
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London for a “seamless” and “vibrant” cultured holiday season
Thanksgiving is a cheery time in London, with holiday decorations and Christmas markets. Photo: Shutterstock
“Our London trip over the Thanksgiving holiday was fantastic—fulfilling the wishes of a family of four, including two teens. We all needed a seamless getaway from work and school, with enough activity to engage without the worry of language translations. We had heard the Christmas lights could be grand (they were) and that the streets wouldn’t be crowded (not true). The trip was energetic and vibrant—a great refresh.
Jennifer planned a packed itinerary meeting all our specs. She added value in many ways: organizing a one-direction route for our activities, taking into consideration the timing of all activities and our walking stamina. There was no backtracking and all new material to see. They also provided guides that had extraordinarily deep knowledge of the subjects we wanted to tackle each day, from London history, architecture, Savile Row and the Tower of London to the new demands on the city from an environmental perspective. We are foodies, and our food tour was over the top, even the vegan cheese!
In the end, the teens loved the London Eye (priority tickets cut so much time), Cabaret, Winter Wonderland, Tower of London, and the RIB ride. The historians in the family enjoyed St. Paul’s, changing of the guard, financial district, judicial buildings, and the many detailed stories from the guides. My husband enjoyed Savile Row, the changing architecture seen from rooftops, and the night lights. Me, I loved the personal photography shoot at night. We all loved the food tour. Other travelers can’t go wrong with any of these.
If you are booking with Jennifer, specify your interests in detail, where you want to spend your money (hotel, shows), and all the things you want to see. She listens, follows direction and has great suggestions.”—Peti Stone
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Portugal for family bonding over e-biking, star gazing, and Jewish history
“I cannot say enough positives about our trip to Portugal over Thanksgiving. We were traveling with two of our kids, boys ages 26 and 28. Goncalo planned the perfect trip, understanding that we wanted to experience the country without an overload of sightseeing, and we had the perfect amount of planned tours and free days. With busy work schedules, we wanted a balance and time to relax.
We started in Porto, where we, of course, took a port-tasting tour. We also had a private tour of the city to learn its history, see some of the main sites, and try its famous dessert wine. St. Francis Church, the train station, the Stock Exchange Palace, Bolhao Market, Cristal Palace Gardens, and so much more to see in Porto. It is a beautiful town on the river, and we loved it.
From there, Goncalo recommended two nights at Sao Lourenco do Barrocal in the countryside, and on our way, we stopped at a charming town, Tomar. We went to see one of the oldest synagogues and the castle. In the countryside, we had a stargazing tour, we rode E-bikes to a small nearby town called Monsaraz to visit a castle, and we amazingly happened upon a small interactive Jewish History Center. The scenery on the bike ride was spectacular, and the castle was really cool to see, but we were shocked to find the Jewish history center in this tiny town. It depicted the story of the Jewish community from medieval times, and it was fascinating and incredibly meaningful.
From there we went to Lisbon, a fun and lively city. Our hotel had a fun rooftop bar with an amazing view. The boys loved it! We had a fun tuk-tuk half-day tour and a day trip to Cascais and Sintra. We also had a Fado concert in an underground reservoir, delicious meals, and some fun shopping.
You would never imagine this trip was planned so close to departure; it’s one of the good things about traveling off-peak. We had beautiful sunny days with temperatures in the mid 60s. Overall, I cannot say enough great things not only about Portugal but how Wendy Perrin and her recommended trip-planning expert stepped in to make sure we were able to enjoy the time with two of our kids who had taken the time off work to spend with us.” —Elizabeth Schwartz
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Cuba for a kid-friendly “adventure” connecting with local culture
“We truly got a genuine sense of the culture and of life in Cuba,” reports traveler Andrea Mathis. Photo: Terraversed
“Rob and Ana planned a spectacular Thanksgiving week adventure to Cuba for my husband, our three young children (8, 5, and 2), and me. They thoughtfully integrated our interests while taking meticulous care to ensure we fulfilled the terms of our “support for the Cuban people” visa.
Every paladar at which we ate was delicious and unique. Our guide, Raquel, was kind, knowledgeable, and quickly became part of our family. Rob and Ana’s connections in Cuba also provided priceless experiences, such as dinner at their friend’s house, which was my personal favorite. We truly got a genuine sense of the culture and of life in Cuba. We can’t wait to return, and we will absolutely ask Rob and Ana to plan our next adventure!” —Andrea Mathis
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Costa Rica for wildlife and thrills, from zip-lines to surf lessons
Costa Rica is lush and green in November. Photo: Shutterstock
“Irene helped our family plan a wonderful trip to Costa Rica over Thanksgiving week. We loved the Arenas Del Mar resort in Manuel Antonio! It was the only one on the beach and even had its own private beach. The monkeys and sloths were thrilling to watch. We saw them all the time! Irene set us up with a zip-line tour that was fun for the whole family, and some of us did a surf lesson too. We also spent time with a guide in Manuel Antonio National Park. It was pretty busy, but our guide knew where to go for a quieter experience. The park is beautiful, and there was so much to see!
Our other destination was the Osa Peninsula. We got there by an exciting boat ride through the river and mangroves and into the ocean until we reached La Paloma Lodge. It’s a lovely luxury eco-resort, and we had a room with a spectacular view and plenty of space for our whole family. We enjoyed scuba diving, kayaking, exploring Corcovado National Park, and we even did a guided night walk to see some of the evening creatures. We saw macaws, toucans, many types of monkeys, sloths, agouti, crocodiles and even a tapir! We did have some rain on our trip— we heard it had been a very rainy year—but we didn’t mind: It makes everything so lush and green!” —Alana Jacobson
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Southern Spain for family-friendly tapas, flamenco, and dancing white horses
Traveler Gina Melton and her family enjoying a Thanksgiving boat trip in Seville, Spain.
“Pablo and his team planned a wonderful 11-day itinerary for our family’s Thanksgiving trip to Southern Spain. We spent a significant amount of time in Madrid and then headed to Seville and Granada. Without a doubt, the success of this trip was largely attributable to Pablo’s wonderful guides who showed us a little of their world. Not only were they incredibly flexible with our sons, aged 10 and 8, they found ways to bring the Spanish culture to life for them.
In Madrid, that meant trying the city’s best Tortilla in one of the city’s vibrant markets, stopping for churros, going to rooftops to teach the boys about the landmarks in a fun and interesting way and finding tapas restaurants that were authentic and family-friendly.
In Seville, I was pleasantly surprised to see the boys connecting with the Flamenco show Pablo arranged for us; it was an authentic experience that the adults enjoyed too! We loved our day trip to Jerez de la Frontera to see the dancing white horses at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. And, our tour of Alhambra Palace and Generalife was perfectly timed for the family—we were able to see the entire complex without rushing, but also held the kids’ interest. Spain is a wonderful place for children, and this was one of our very best family vacations to date.” —Gina Melton
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Morocco for a totally new culture just across the Atlantic—plus camel rides and ATVs in the desert
November is an optimal month for experiencing Morocco’s deserts and ancient cities. Photo: Wendy Perrin
“This was an absolutely amazing trip for a first time to Morocco. First, our guide, Amine, was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about all of the locations and sites we visited. Second, the sites and towns themselves were absolutely spectacular.
We started our trip landing in Casablanca, but then found our guide and driver and immediately drove the 3-4 hours to Fes. I was a little nervous about whether that would be comfortable after a long, overnight flight, but it turns out, sitting in the car and watching this unfamiliar scenery go by was absolutely perfect—especially since it allowed Amine to orient us to Moroccan culture, a little bit of history, and our trip logistics.
When we got to Fes, we were able to immediately check into our hotel, and we then went out and began to see the souks of Fes. We did this again the next day, complete with a trip to see Moroccan ceramics-making in action, a working tannery, and any number of mosques and other cultural sites.
Marrakesh was the highlight of the trip. On our last day, we made an absolutely fascinating trip hiking on the High Atlas and then ATV-ing and camel riding in the desert. It was an absolutely once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I would recommend it to anybody.” —Sarah Rathke
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Baja, Mexico, for sea-and-beach fun, from scuba to sandboarding to surf lessons
What you can see underwater in Baja California. Photo: Los Cabos Villa Vacations
“Baja California is such an easy destination to get to from southern California, so when Zach and his team suggested a Thanksgiving trip for my family of 4, including 2 teen daughters, we jumped on it, as we had not explored the other parts of Baja beyond Los Cabos. As up-and-coming areas, we saw the charm of Todos Santos town, hiked along the hills above the ocean, and had surf lessons at Los Cerritos. Next up was La Paz, which has potential to become a wonderful destination, as there are plenty of adventure activities to choose from.
We went on a sunset sandboarding excursion on the oceanfront dunes one late afternoon, and it was beautiful and remote. We also took a full-day boat trip to scuba dive with friendly, juvenile sea lions, took another dive through a shipwreck, and then anchored at a remote beach for a wonderful lunch.
Our last stop was Grand Velas on the Los Cabos corridor. What a property! The rooms, the views, the service, the spa, the food…it was all amazing! We left the property for a few activities: horseback riding on the beach and in the hills, and a jam-packed adventure up in the mountains with zip lines, rappelling, free-fall jumps, climbing, and polaris vehicle driving, all seamlessly organized by Zach’s team. But coming back to the resort was the best part of the day, and their Thanksgiving night celebration on the rooftop deck was over-the-top spectacular! We ended up with a memorable holiday break and were all recharged going into the holiday season!” —Andrea Phillips
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Italy for canals and e-bikes through piazzas—with any travel challenges well-paved by experts
View from the 10th-century monastery above Piazza Michelangelo, experienced on bike tour.
“Our family group of four adults worked with Jennifer to plan a long-awaited trip to take my daughter to see Italy, the land her 91-year-old grandmother immigrated from years ago. We arrived in Venice on 11/20/2024 for three days and were met by our driver at the airport for the drive to the private speedboat ride to our hotel. Right at that point I knew we were going to be happy that we worked thru a WOW planner rather than doing it ourselves. Having the transfer arrangements handled in advance removed a pinch point in personal travel that allowed us to spend every moment enjoying our surroundings and sharing every moment with our family, without the distractions of finding our way out of a strange airport and thru the hassles of public transportation.
In Venice we had arranged three private tours. The private gondola ride at dusk, led by a three-generation gondolieri, was a highlight for us as our guide led us thru the main canals but also the private quiet local canals. My daughter and her partner really enjoyed the private rowing lesson on a barca. And of course we had a guide to see the highlights of the city (shout-out to Alvise!) along with just enough historical context to make it interesting without making us feel like we were back in school.
Jennifer’s team upgraded us to first-class seats on the train to Florence, where we stayed for three nights. The highlight for us was the bike tour through Florence. We are all cyclists on the flat ground and wide sidewalks of our native Michigan, but were nervous to ride through the hilly crowded streets of Florence. Our guide was friendly and skilled at leading us thru the busy streets to Piazza Michelangelo across the Arno on eBikes that made it a breeze to cycle uphill. We had been to the Piazza before, but our guide took us further up the hill to the 10th-century monastery above the Piazza for a more stunning view and, more importantly, without the crowd of people (even in November). We were able to enter the monastery church, and it was a unique moment that we would not have found on our own.
We took two days to rent a car ourselves and drive to the town of my ancestors and visit with remaining relatives. This part of the trip, not managed by Jennifer, was full of the minor delays and difficulties that we usually experience in traveling ourselves. It made us appreciate our travel planner’s skill at smoothing away the bumps of travel. We found our own way back to Rome and into the hands of our WOW guides and were grateful!
A highlight of our four nights in Rome was the golf-cart tour of the city at dusk with Daniele. He was fun, knowledgeable, and really good at showing us parts of the city we had never seen before. Also skilled at finding points in the city that were less crowded but provided perfect spots for pictures.
Finally, on the last day of our trip, 12/1/2024, we went to check in online for our flight (we had made our own flight arrangements thru Delta and their partner KLM) and KLM’s website was down. We spent almost two hours that day on the phone with Delta and KLM, trying to assure we would be able to check in at the airport in time for our 6 am flight the next day. We have experienced times when arriving early at airports for 6 am flights only to find the airport was not yet open that early. We were especially concerned because we expected to find the airport crowded, as it was the Monday after Thanksgiving—and it was! In desperation, we called Jennifer’s emergency line for help (even though they did not make the flight arrangements) and they came thru for us. Within 1/2 hour they called us back with two options for making sure we made our flight on time. We chose to have one of their airport experts meet us at drop-off and help us through the process. We were glad we did, as there were crowds and delays for us through security that he helped smooth for us.” —Gloria Wallace
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Peru for a family-friendly experience of both the Amazon and Machu Picchu
The ruins at Machu Picchu, Peru. Photo: Shutterstock
“We traveled from the U.S. to Peru for the week of Thanksgiving, and Marisol and Mark did a great job creating the trip for us. We traveled with three teenagers and we visited an ecolodge in the rainforest in the Amazon Basin, and then went to Cusco to visit the Sacred Valley area as well as Machu Picchu. We really got to see so many wonderful parts of Peru, thanks to all of the help from Mark’s team—thank you!” —Laura Virkler
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Copenhagen for kickstarting the holiday season with early spirit
Traveler Jeannie Mullen at Frederiksborg Castle, outside Copenhagen, for Thanksgiving.
“When I was looking for a place to spend Thanksgiving this year, Jan listened and delivered exactly what I asked for. What I did not appreciate ahead of my arrival was just how much of a kick-start to the Christmas season this trip would be. Copenhagen was already decorated for the ‘Jul’ season, and a number of Christmas markets had already opened on November 16th, the day of my arrival. The hotel that Jan chose was perfectly located on Kongens Nytorv (the King’s New Square) for the market on the square, harbor walks, and great shopping in general.
Britt, the guide that Jan arranged in Copenhagen, did a great job of introducing me to the art and architecture, urban development and repurposing of buildings and land, food and spirits, culture and moods of Copenhagen’s various neighborhoods. When I inquired about more local, neighborhood markets, she took me to a ‘pop-up’ Christmas market, off the beaten path, that was there for only two days.
Jan alerted me early on that Copenhagen is a city known for its food and, in particular, its Michelin-star restaurants. When I expressed my interest, he used his ‘fixer’ to secure a table at Geranium (ranked the best restaurant in the world in 2022), one of the two 3-star Michelin restaurants in Copenhagen. It was an experience more than a meal, which included a private tour of the wine cellar and the kitchen. From beginning to end, a visual as well as gastronomic experience.
A word about the temperatures and the crowds: I’m always looking to get away from crowds, lines, and traffic, and I don’t mind traveling in the off-season to do so (as Wendy so often suggests). The weather in Copenhagen at this time of year alternates between cool and crisp with gorgeous, blue skies to heavy and overcast, with occasional rain. No worries if one packs with that in mind.
I cannot say enough about the lengths to which Jan went to make this trip seamless. Not one detail was missed. It was a terrific and different Thanksgiving getaway that has me prepped for Christmas earlier than usual.” —Jeannie Mullen
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Southern Africa for an “incredible journey” for three generations of a family
Even when the water is low, Victoria Falls is spectacular. Photo: Timothy Baker
“Our trip could not have been more perfect. All eleven of us, aged 7 to 77, had incredible experiences we will never forget. I feel so very fortunate to have been able to share this magical time with my family. Watching my grandchildren experience the excitement, enthusiasm and warm African culture was priceless. No doubt they will become lifelong travelers exploring the world with an eye to appreciate different terrains, culture and people.
All three safari camps were comfortable, clean and welcoming. We especially enjoyed the watering hole just outside Camp Savuti. All the safari guides were extremely knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions and respond to comments, even from an inquisitive seven-year-old. Even though they told us the water was low at Victoria Falls, it was worthy of its place as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
I don’t think I can accurately convey the worth of this incredible journey. I know my grandchildren will forever savor the wonders of Africa and I’m certain they will become better people for it…we adults too.” —Jackie Dickson
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India for family-friendly activities suited to everyone’s different interests
Traveler Amy Evers’ daughter and their private guide at a block-printing workshop in India.
“This trip was with my husband, two kids (ages 12 and 13), my mother-in-law and I. We all loved it. Victoria and Diggi did a wonderful job planning a trip that would cater to all of our interests and abilities. November was a perfect month to visit, highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s in Rajasthan. I don’t think there were any activities that we didn’t like, but the things that received special mentions by the group are:
- Food tour in Delhi. Everyone pushed themselves out of their comfort zones just a bit.
- Jaipur by dawn tour, including a very authentic experience at an active Hindu temple.
- Impromptu walking tour in Udaipur, resulting in feeding a random elephant walking down the road.
- Block printing workshop, a fascinating village visit and a hands-on creative experience.
- Elephant experience. Who doesn’t love spending close time with elephants?
- Jain temple visit and lunch with the pilgrims.
- Astrologer reading. My kids thought this was spectacular.
- Street food Indian breakfast.
Traveler Amy Evers with her son at a Jain temple in India.
Ultimately this was just the cultural and fun trip I was hoping my kids would have. We learned so much about various religions, culture and history. My kids truly are catching the travel bug and this trip has definitely contributed!” —Amy Evers
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Vietnam for thorough, diverse exploration— top to bottom—in just one week
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Photo: Shutterstock
“WOW seems like too weak an accolade for Sandy and Ethan‘s magical trip suggestions and planning expertise in Vietnam. We have exquisite memories of a wonderful country and its people.
Starting in Hanoi and ending in Saigon worked perfectly and really felt like the right direction for us. Hanoi was charming and delightful. And then the following stops in Ha Long Bay and Hoi An were totally different and unique, upending any expectations. And then ending in Saigon felt like re-entering the modern world. There is clearly so much to see and do. And all of it is interesting and important and beautiful. So even though we had an abbreviated time in each of the spots, all of the activities were perfect. And just made us excited for a return trip some day.
This was everything and more that we wanted out of a Thanksgiving break in Vietnam. We really appreciate the time and hard work it took to bring all of this together. These kinds of trips are the ones that stick with us the most…the ones where we have a chance to get a bit off the beaten track and have a chance to connect with local people (now friends).” —Anne and Alex Leary
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Yunnan, China, for hands-on experiences with food, music, and dance
Traveler Kathryn Wilson and family enjoying a Thanksgiving feast in Yunnan, China.
“Our family spent Thanksgiving in the gorgeous province of Yunnan, China. Our trip was expertly planned by Mei and Alice, with two guides on the ground in our first stop of Guangzhou and then in three different stops in beautiful Yunnan. Our drivers were excellent navigating city traffic and mountain roads alike. We saw historic, cultural and natural sights in days that were full, but not overly crowded.
The small, hands-on experiences we had were most memorable. We saw indigo plants, stirred indigo dye, and then made our own tie-dyed samples. We made cheese, rolled out local flat bread, and prepared flower cakes with roses at a rose farm. We had a visit with a village shaman. We traveled to a small village where we had a fabulous dinner of food grown on site and then were treated to music, folk lore and dance, at the end of which we were invited to join in the dancing!
Our hotels were comfortable and we enjoyed all that we ate. A highlight was seeing the sun hit the snow on the peaks of mountains around Dali, with the lake shining at the bottom. An incredible trip!” —Kathryn Wilson
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Australia and New Zealand for sun, adventure, and adrenaline in only 12 days
Travelers Jesse and Alison Deutsch on Kangaroo Island during their late-November trip to Australia.
“New Zealand and Australia are truly magnificent destinations, and my recent trip with my wife Alison was nothing short of extraordinary and expertly organized by Stuart and Sarah. Our adventure began in Auckland, where we were captivated by the stunning skyline and vibrant culture. We explored the picturesque waterfront, indulged in local cuisine, and even took a ferry to Waiheke Island for some hiking and wine tasting under the sun.
Next, we traveled to Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. Surrounded by breathtaking mountains, we embraced the thrill of jet boating and took a scenic cruise on Lake Wakatipu. The adrenaline rush was matched only by the stunning views as we took a helicopter to Milford Sound and a boat ride on the sound, making it a highlight of our trip. We also hiked the Routeburn track and Lake Alta.
After a quick flight to Australia, we landed in Melbourne for a great couple of days touring the city. Our journey continued to Kangaroo Island, a nature lover’s paradise. We marveled at the stunning landscapes, and encountered koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitat. The Southern Ocean Lodge was spectacular. A quick stop in Adelaide for wine tasting and then off to the Great Barrier Reef and Lizard Island. The resort was spectacular and we went snorkeling each day to a whole new world of life under the water.
From there our final stop was Sydney. The iconic Sydney Opera House took our breath away, and we enjoyed dinner and a show there. We also made sure to visit Bondi Beach, where we soaked up the sun and savored delicious seafood at a nearby café. A boat ride on the harbor and a tour of the beaches up to Palm Beach were highlights.” —Jesse Deutsch
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Oman for castles, beaches, mountains, desert, and warm hospitality
Late November is warm enough for swimming in Wadi Bani Khalid in the Omani desert. Photo: Timothy Baker
“Oman is a fascinating country. Huge variety of scenery, from lush date and coconut plantations on the coast to quite high mountains to deserts with lots of sand dunes. The history is interesting: The country has made huge strides in the past 60 years, from an underdeveloped country in 1970 to a modern, prosperous environment. Traveling is easy: Roads are great, there are lots of hiking trails, Oman Air was on time, etc.
The government has spent a lot of effort preserving old forts and castles (there are many of both). Our touring included many of these historical structures, hikes through old towns, visits to several mosques, two stays in the desert, a visit to a Bedouin household, and stays in three of the most luxurious hotels we have ever seen.
This is a beautiful country, with long white sand beaches, that is just being discovered, mostly by travelers from Europe. I highly recommend it for people who have an interest in the history and culture, or just want to enjoy the warm weather and beaches. Daniel did a great job of the arrangements—everything unfolded exactly as planned.” —Robin Louis
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