Tag Archives: travel tips

Malta: The Mediterranean Islands To See Now, Before the Secret Gets Out

Imagine a magical place where:

there are ancient temples older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids; in fact, they’re the oldest freestanding structures in the world.
there are Blue Grottoes and a Crystal Lagoon.
so many different civilizations and empires have left their mark that the culture, art, and traditions are uniquely fascinating.
you’re still in Europe but it’s warm in winter.
the flight time from Rome or Athens is less than two hours, and English is an official language.

It’s not just a dream. There IS such a place. It’s called Malta. And if it’s not on your radar, it should be.

Wendy Perrin having a picnic on the beach on Gozo Island, Malta.

A private picnic on the Maltese island of Gozo. Photo: Timothy Baker

That’s me on the Maltese island of Gozo last fall. (Yes, Malta still has beach weather in mid-October.) It was my third time in Malta, and each time just keeps getting better. That’s because this trip was arranged by the Malta experts on The WOW List.

Malta may be 8,000 years old and well-known to Europeans, but right now its medieval cities and dramatic coastlines are being “discovered” by everyone else. Tourism in 2024 grew more than 20% over 2023, thanks to an increase in flights and the addition of new cruise-ship piers. The mostly uninhabited island of Comino will be getting a Six Senses resort in 2027! Need I say more? Go now!

Wendy Perrin with a medieval church in the background, in Malta.

Wendy in Mdina, the fortified city that was the island’s former capital. Photo: Timothy Baker

The coast of Gozo. Photo: Timothy Baker

St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta.

St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the Baroque masterpiece in Valletta. Photo: Timothy Baker

MALTA HAS IT ALL: HISTORY, CULTURE, ADVENTURE, AND SUN IN THE OFF-SEASON

In addition to its historic importance and cultural riches, Malta is a place for beach-vacation-style adventures, from quad biking to scuba diving.

Wendy Perrin driving an ATV in Gozo, Malta.

Wendy went quad biking all over the island of Gozo. Photo: Timothy Baker

Timothy Baker scuba diving in Gozo, Malta.

That’s Wendy’s husband, Tim, scuba diving in Gozo in mid-October. Photo: Lotta Partanen

Malta’s got beach and boat weather from March through October. This was the beach scene in mid-October on the island of Gozo:

People swimming and sunbathing on the beach in Gozo, Malta.

In Malta it’s bikini weather through the end of October. Photo: Wendy Perrin

And it’s warm enough for dining al fresco through much of November. This was the evening scene in the capital city of Valletta in mid-October:

View of a busy street and restaurants in Valletta, Malta.

Malta’s capital city of Valletta has a vibrant dining scene. Photo: Wendy Perrin

Malta is even that rare Mediterranean island that’s a great choice for Christmas or spring break. To understand why, read these Malta reviews shared by travelers who arranged their trips the WOW way, including this Christmas review and this spring-break review.

WOW INSIDER EXPERIENCES

Many of you love getting special access to places and people that are normally behind closed doors. If you book through the right Malta expert, there are many such experiences to be had.

Room in Palazzo del Prelato, in Mdina, Malta.

Inside the Palazzo del Prelato. Photo: Timothy Baker

I made a private visit to the Palazzo del Prelato, for instance. It’s a medieval mansion in Mdina that was once home to the prelate of the grand cathedral across the square. The palazzo’s owner, Francis Lanfranco, showed us his private home, which his family has lived in for centuries.

Chapel in Palazzo del Prelato, in Mdina, Malta.

Francis Lanfranco shows us Christian relics in the Palazzo del Prelato’s chapel. Photo: Timothy Baker

From the ancient Christian relics in his chapel (upstairs between the stairway and the dining room) to the Egyptian funerary mask in the parlor, the house is practically a museum…with glorious rooftop views.

I also got to meet sixth-generation gilder and restorer Pierre Darmanin in his studio . If you’re Maltese nobility or a church and you have a gilded treasure that needs restoration, Pierre is probably your go-to.

Restorer Pierre Darmanin in Valletta, Malta.

Sixth-generation gilder and restorer Pierre Darmanin in his studio in Valletta. Photo: Timothy Baker

I loved learning about his disappearing craft and seeing the 17th-century tools passed down from his ancestors. What’s special about experiences like this is the visceral, unforgettable glimpse you get into local people’s lives. It’s living history.

Wendy’s husband with the curator of Ggantija, the world’s oldest freestanding structure. Photo: Wendy Perrin

Even with sites that are open to the public, such as Malta’s 5,600-year-old megalithic temple of Ggantija, it’s special when you can see it through the eyes of the people who know it best. Above is curator Albert Zammit explaining the world’s oldest freestanding structure—yes, older than the Pyramids of Egypt—to my husband.

IT’S THE PEOPLE YOU MEET

The itinerary arranged by our local fixers in Malta introduced us to their friends all over the Maltese islands. As happens on most WOW trips, the WOW fixer’s local friends become your new friends too.

I met Gulinu and Nancy Scicluna, for instance, who taught me how to make pastizzi, a traditional Maltese savory pastry, in their kitchen. Very few people make pastizzi from scratch anymore—it’s just too much work—but Gulinu learned how as a child and still does it that way as a labor of love.

Pastizzi makers Gulinu and Nancy Scicluna ccoking.

Gulinu and Nancy Scicluna in their kitchen, teaching me how to make pastizzi. Photo: Wendy Perrin

I also met Manny Buhagiar at a bocce club on the island of Gozo. Manny grew up in Malta and then spent years working in Manhattan two blocks from where I grew up! Now he’s back in his beloved Gozo. While we traded stories, he taught me how to play bocce (and let me win).

Wendy Perrin talking to Manny Buhagiar in Gozo, Malta.

Meeting Manny Buhagiar over bocce on the island of Gozo. Photo: Timothy Baker

Speaking of meeting people, meet Wendy’s WOW List Malta experts Jason and Damon Camilleri Allan, who surprised us at the airport.

Wendy Perrin with Jason and Damon Camilleri Allan at the airport in Valletta, Malta.

Jason and Damon Camilleri Allan, Malta specialists who make the magic happen. Photo: Timothy Baker

To be recognized as a VIP traveler, with priority status and the other benefits of my WOW way of trip planning—in other words, to get the maximized experience you read about in these reviews —click the black button below and fill out my trip questionnaire. You’ll hear from the experts shortly!

START A WOW TRIP TO MALTA

Be a smarter traveler: Sign up for Wendy’s weekly newsletter to stay in the know. Read real travelers’ reviews, then use the black CONTACT buttons on Wendy’s WOW List to reach out to the right local fixer for your trip.

Is Greenland The New Travel Frontier?

Leave a reply

Greenland has been in the news a lot recently, and not just because of geopolitics. This summer, for the first time ever, it will be possible to fly directly there from the U.S. United Airlines is starting twice-weekly nonstop flights from Newark to Greenland’s capital city of Nuuk on June 14.

The news sets intrepid travelers dreaming about a remote, almost mythical land: Spectacular icebergs and cliffs, dramatic mountains and Inuit culture, and a shimmering hologram of northern lights dancing above an ice sheet three times the size of Texas. Nordic countries have experienced growing popularity as summer spots to beat the heat. For some adventurous travelers, Greenland may represent the cold new thing.

But what can visitors really expect to find in Greenland? And how prepared is it for an influx of travelers? Its national tourism authority is already adjusting expectations by sharing why Greenland may not be for you.

Wendy in Kulusuk, Greenland, ten years ago.

Based on Wendy’s experience of Greenland ten years ago, she echoes the tourism authority’s advice: “If you are planning on visiting Greenland, it would be helpful if you were aware of what you’re getting into.”

So we asked Nordic travel experts on The WOW List for the real story on what travelers arriving in June can expect.

“Greenland is not for everyone,” concurs expedition-cruise specialist Ashton Palmer. “From a scenery perspective, it’s spectacular. It can be very beautiful for photography, and it can be appealing to visit a remote place that’s not boiling hot in the summer. The people are welcoming and open to the world. But I would say travelers heading there have to have a specific interest to go to Greenland—not just to see new wildlife and architecture.”

Is Greenland For You?

While there are whales and sea birds galore, land-based wildlife may not be as plentiful as anticipated. With all the ice, there’s little food for large land mammals. And, with settlements scattered around the coasts, there’s little infrastructure. Accommodations are limited, simple and durable. Roads aren’t designed for long scenic drives. Restaurants aren’t omnipresent, and the national dish is seal soup. It’s quiet.

“It’s a place that’s fairly untouched by tourism,” says Palmer. “People often have a romantic view of it, but the reality is quite different, carved out of living in such a harsh environment.”

It’s important to have the right expectations. “Travelers who have been to Rome and London and Greece in the 100-degree summer are excited by the Nordic ‘cool-cation,’” adds Mads Tange Christensen, a Denmark-based expert on The WOW List. “But a lot of people don’t realize you can’t just drive places; almost every place needs to be accessed by boat or helicopter. And Greenland does not have the hotel capability to live up to expectations of more and more high-end travelers.” Which is why many people choose comfy expedition-style ships focused on sightseeing along the coastline.

The logistics of travel to remote places around the globe with limited infrastructure are easier and more rewarding with the right local fixers. And that is especially true of places that don’t lend themselves to traditional drive-by sightseeing.

If you’d like to be connected to an expert for Greenland or other remote locales, we can help; click the button below to get started.

GET A PERSONALIZED TRIP RECOMMENDATION

Where to Travel in Italy during the Jubilee

Leave a reply

“Should I travel to Italy this year?” It’s a question we’re asked every day. That’s because this is the year of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee, which happens in Rome once every 25 years. Some sources anticipate 35 million visitors to Rome, many of them pilgrims focused on the Vatican and Rome’s other religious sites. The potential impact on WOW-caliber travel in Italy is a conversation I’ve been having with WOW List Italy experts Maria Landers and Brian Dore ever since I visited them last fall in the town in Umbria where they live.

Wendy Perrin, Maria Landers and Brian Dore in Umbria, Italy.

Wendy with Italy insiders Brian Dore and Maria Landers in Foligno, Umbria, last fall.

Maria’s prediction about the impact: “I think it’s going to be a big nothing. The Jubilee is not going to affect what most American travelers do in Rome because pilgrims travel very differently than U.S. travelers do.” Most Jubilee pilgrims travel in groups and come from Europe, which means their trips are relatively short and focused on religious sites, rather than winding itineraries throughout Italy, says Maria. In Rome, they aren’t staying in centrally located four-star and five-star hotels. They’re staying outside the city center, in monasteries, hostels, and two-star hotels. They’re not taking up tables in Rome’s best restaurants; they’re eating in monastery cafeterias and tour-group restaurants with set menus. And they’re coming for designated events at specific sites on specific days—events that aren’t happening every day—so if you’re with a first-rate private guide who knows where the groups will be when and what routes they’ll take around the city, “the crowds are absolutely avoidable,” says Maria.

For travelers with flexible schedules, there are reasons why certain windows of time this year could actually be advantageous. With the huge increase in the number of nonstop flights to Italy in 2025, there are likely to be good airfares and mileage-award seats. Hotel prices in Rome have not increased since last year, says the head of Rome’s hotel association, Giuseppe Roscioli, who also says the forecast for hotel traffic is similar to last year.

Maria thinks this year is actually a good time for Rome–except during holy holidays such as Easter and Christmas due to the Jubilee events planned for those times—because of all the cleaning and repairs that have been done to the Eternal City’s piazzas, facades, and public spaces in preparation for the Jubilee. “The travertine marble of the fountains and other monuments, now restored and cleaned of smog and the wear of time, can now be admired in something close to their original color, the way the artists conceived them and as they were viewed centuries ago,” says Maria. “This is a priceless and unique opportunity.”

Italy is the #1 most-booked country for WOW trips this year. Many of these travelers have been to Rome before and are skipping it this time, focusing instead on Italy’s charming, uncrowded, under-the-radar locales that the vast majority of tourists don’t even know exist. Read on for a sampling of lesser-known delights discovered by your fellow travelers, and if you’d like a personalized trip recommendation, we’re at the black button below.

GET A PERSONALIZED TRIP RECOMMENDATION

UMBRIA AND EMILIA-ROMAGNA: “Although it was crowded in Italy, we always felt as if we had our own private pathways to each activity…”

Street in Old Town Montefalco, Umbria, Italy.

The ancient hill town of Montefalco in Umbria, Italy. Photo: Shutterstock

“My husband and I decided to go back to Italy, where we had been a number of times, but wanted to do something different. We contacted several agents who said that we had done so much in Italy that they could not suggest anything. We then contacted Maria and Brian. Maria met with us by Zoom, and we discussed our interests and the kind of trip we wanted. Maria really listened and planned an amazing trip for us. From the moment we were met at the airport and whisked to Montefalco by our driver, it was perfect.

Montefalco is a charming Umbrian town nestled in the hills with a focus on wine and olive oil. We went truffle hunting and shared perhaps the best meal of our trip with the family. Each of the seven courses was delicious, and I could have eaten the entire tray of the homemade onion focaccia.

The next morning was our WOW Moment. WOW does not do justice to the opportunity to meet Marta Cucchia, the great-granddaughter of weaver Giuditta Brozzetti, who has carried forward her textile workshops. Working on looms from the 15th century, she provided us with a look into the art of weaving. Her joy in the work and understanding of the complexity and history of this art form was enthralling.

This experience set the tone for the remainder of the trip, meeting artisans, wine growers, balsamic-vinegar artists, parmesan cheese makers, prosciutto ham makers, sculptors, cooks, and guides and hoteliers that made us feel welcome. Although it was crowded in Italy, we always felt as if we had our own private pathways to each activity.

One of the most surprising events was a last-minute opportunity, provided by Maria, to go to the opera in Parma. It’s in an old theater that is built like the opera house in Venice. Maria got us perfect seats to see Pagliacci. My husband, who is not an opera fan, has been telling everyone that one of the highlights was seeing the opera with 280 performers on stage. This may be the highest of compliments for a perfect trip.” —Lynne Golomb

Read about more under-the-radar finds. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START AN OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH TRIP

THE PIEDMONT: “The Piedmont region is completely underrated!!! It has the beauty of Tuscany without the crowds…”

Serralunga d'Alba castle, medieval village in Piedmont, north Italy

The medieval village of Serralunga d’Alba in Italy’s Piedmont region. Photo: Shutterstock

“The Piedmont region is completely underrated!!! It has the beauty of Tuscany without the crowds. My husband is an avid wine collector and had requested a tour of the Gaja winery in a local village. Gaja is not open to the public for tours. Andrea used her connections to set up a private tour and tasting for us.

We were also taken to a private home of two brothers who truffle-hunt. After a truffle tutorial, we made our way up into the hills with our truffle-hunting dog, Leesy. It was so exciting to actually find truffles in the ground! We proceeded back to the house for an amazing selection of local cheese, salami and olive oil…with a generous portion of truffle slices on top!

Our guide took us to an amazing lunch in a local hilltop village and then dropped us off in the town of Alba, the largest town in the area. We explored Alba on our own and ended up wandering the narrow streets filled with locals for several hours…trying to forget that it was our last day!! Northern Italy was a special area that we can’t wait to go back to again!!” —Jennifer Mann

Read about more unusual locales in Italy. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START AN OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH TRIP

FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA: “Inexplicably, the region doesn’t seem to be on the tourist radar, so of course we decided that this was the place for us!”

Morning seascape of Adriatic sea with the Miramare Castle.

Miramare Castle in Trieste, Italy, on the Adriatic Sea. Photo: Shutterstock

“Jennifer helped us plan a two-week trip to Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The area is a melting pot of northern Italian, Austrian and Slovenian cuisines and has great wines (mostly white). Inexplicably, the region doesn’t seem to be on the tourist radar, so of course we decided that this was the place for us!

After two days in Trieste, our driver took us to the Collio wine country, with a stop at Miramare Castle on the way. The accommodation Jennifer suggested to us in the Collio was outstanding, just what we were hoping for! The property was lovely, with a spa and walking paths through the surrounding vineyards. We also spent an amazing day visiting local wine producers and sampling their wares. (Our favorites were Friuliano and Schioppettino!)

After our break in the countryside, we moved on to Udine. A highlight was seeing Tiepolo’s amazing ceiling frescoes. From our base in Udine, we visited the lovely town of Cividale del Friuli, with beautiful Lombard art and architecture, and day-tripped to Kobarid in Slovenia to learn about the Italian front in the First World War. We also had a WOW Moment while staying in Udine: We had a private cooking demo in the kitchen with chef Anna Barbina and her mother, who serves as her sommelier. Anna made five traditional dishes for us to sample (with wine served by her mother, of course), then we had lunch in her restaurant, AB Osteria Contemporanea, where she serves contemporary twists on traditional cooking. Heavenly!

FVG was full of beautiful scenery and art, brimming over with fascinating history, and the food and wine were simply spectacular. We’ve had many incredible meals in Italy over the years, but we had more standouts on this trip than any other. If food is your religion, you should make your way to FVG.” —Rachel Webber

Read about other hidden Italian gems. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START AN OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH TRIP

LIGURIA: “While very close to the Cinque Terre, we avoided all the crowds associated with it…”

Historical Old town of Sestri Levante in Liguria, Italy.

Sestri Levante in Liguria, Italy, is close to the Cinque Terre but not nearly as crowded. Photo: Shutterstock

“Our first stop recommended by Emanuela was Sestri Levante. We stayed at a fantastic hotel right on the water. The ocean views, the people and the restaurants were wonderful and, while very close to the Cinque Terre, we avoided all the crowds associated with it.

She arranged a great boat and captain, Marco, who took us on a great tour of the Bay of Poets, seeing several fishing villages, some massive yachts, the Italian Naval Academy, great scenery and a stop at Porto Venere. We explored the small town and had an excellent lunch at an oceanfront restaurant. While in Sestri Levante we also had a chance to visit Portofino and had a great lunch at a beach club close to town.” —Jeff Stengel

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

START AN OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH TRIP

PUGLIA AND BASILICATA: “We were greeted by the owners and treated like royalty…”

Beautiful town of Alberobello with trulli houses among green plants and flowers, Puglia.

Cone-shaped trulli houses, like these in Alberobello, are Puglia’s signature architecture. Photo: Shutterstock

“Antonello and his team planned experiences that we will never forget. We stayed in a palace with 10 rooms in Lecce, a trulli resort surrounded by the countryside where we were greeted by the owners and treated like royalty, and a cave hotel in Matera where we were wined and dined.

Our guides were top-notch, a marine biologist, an archaeologist and experts in all fields. We had lunch at an olive grove and we were served an exceptional lunch by the farm’s owners. We took a private cooking class in someone’s home!! Our most cherished experience was with a ceramic maker. We not only took a tour of his workshop—he invited us to his home to see his acquired antiquities.” —Janis Marcus

Read more about Puglia and Basilicata. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START AN OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH TRIP

Where Everybody’s Traveling in 2025: The Most Popular Countries for WOW Trips

Leave a reply

As you plan your travels for the year ahead, you’d be wise to keep in mind where everybody else is going. These are the most popular countries for 2025 trips already booked the WOW way:

Italy
United Kingdom
Tie: Japan and Norway
France
Spain
South Africa
Vietnam
Botswana
Tie: Cambodia, Chile, New Zealand, Portugal, Zimbabwe
Australia

It’s no surprise that Western Europe is so popular. What’s surprising is how early people have booked 2025 trips there. They’ve learned from the past few years that planning ahead often means gaining access to better, more reasonably priced options.

One reason for Italy’s popularity is that 2025 is the Vatican’s Jubilee Year. Rome is expecting 35 million visitors, many of them pilgrims on group tours who will be focused on visiting the Vatican and Rome’s churches and religious sites. Rome-bound travelers would be wise to avoid crowds and inconveniences by hiring one of the Italy experts on Wendy’s WOW List to plan and book a savvy itinerary customized to their goals.

Wendy Perrin at the top of Vittorio Emmanuel monument in Rome, Italy.

In Italy, there are always clever ways to escape crowds and get better views, as Wendy did in Rome in October 2024.

Japan, New Zealand, and Australia—three countries that were among the last to reopen post-pandemic—are, two years later, still in high demand. That’s not just because they were off-limits for so long but also because the best experiences and places to stay in these countries tend to book up many months, if not a year or more, in advance.

Our advice: Consider places not on the list above. For instance, since southern Africa is the most popular safari region in 2025, what about East Africa?

Scroll down and click on the articles below—collections of trip reviews from your fellow travelers—to discover smart destination choices for each month in the first half of 2025. We guarantee you will be surprised and wowed by options you’ve never considered. Sicily in January? Paris in February? Morocco during Ramadan? Take it from your fellow travelers who did it and loved it. And if you could use a personalized trip recommendation, we’re at the black button below.

GET A PERSONALIZED TRIP RECOMMENDATION

April Trip Ideas: Traveler Reviews to Inspire You

Leave a reply

Maybe you’re keen to take part in international spring celebrations—or maybe you want to avoid the crowds that Easter and other April holidays bring to certain destinations. Perhaps your kids have their school break, or you’re seeking a peek of blooms abroad while traveling solo.

Good news: Your fellow travelers have ideas for you that work perfectly in April, from eating your way through Italy’s less-crowded piazzas and having Egypt’s ancient wonders virtually to yourself to getting sporty during the southern hemisphere’s temperate autumn. These trips were all made possible through the knowledge and insider connections of the local fixers on our WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts.

You’ll find even more ideas in the April installment of our Where to Go When series, and you’ll find more traveler reviews here, including amazing ideas for spring break.

Unsure where to go in April? Click the black button below for our help.

GET A PERSONALIZED TRIP RECOMMENDATION

Ireland for stunning greenery and warm, welcoming locals

The hiking trail at the top of Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park, Ireland. Behind, the sun plays with the clouds reflected in the sea. - Image

Connemara National Park, Ireland: The Emerald Isle hits its namesake season in April. Photo: Shutterstock

“We had a fantastic trip to Ireland planned primarily by Katie on Jonathan’s team, who got us to spectacular parts of the country and opened doors we couldn’t have on our own. We focused on the west coast of Ireland mostly along the Wild Atlantic Way and enjoyed stunning scenery, excellent food, and welcoming locals. Dromoland and Ballynahinch Castles were amazing properties to stay at, and our driver Fergus went out of his way to make us feel welcome in his country and to make sure we were getting the best experience.

The true highlight was a private food tour in Galway with Sheena, who highlighted the best of the new Irish culinary scene in the city. The WOW Moment Sheena and Katie arranged was something we never would have thought to do on our own but was amazing. We had a private Irish dancing demonstration and lesson with a highly accomplished dancer and musical accompaniment by an excellent fiddle player. While I can’t say I got any good at Irish dancing, I can say that my wife and I had a blast and can’t wait to go back to Ireland to explore even more.” —Harrison Earl

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

START A TRIP TO IRELAND
MORE IRELAND REVIEWS

Belize for idyllic weather and Mayan ruins

empty white sand beach with a few green trees and light turquoise water in Belize

It’s not hard to find a secluded beach among Belize’s hundreds of cayes. Photo: Shutterstock

“We travelled to Belize from March 28th to April 4th. Patricia was our customized trip organizer and Dave was our personal, well-educated, and super-friendly guide. Providentially, Dave is a birder and so are we! He was also our travel photo/video journalist. What a gem we found in Dave as he showed us around the Cayo district of Belize. My husband and 2 of our grown children accompanied me on this amazing journey. We stayed at Gaia River Lodge, where the staff were authentically friendly and engaging. Starting with a day of Mayan cultural immersion, we learned so much from local Mayan people about their culture, farming, cooking, artistic, and chocolate-making traditions and were honored to actually use their tools and techniques to try our own hand. The exploration of ancient Mayan ruins was amazing in itself, but added to the sights and climbing was Dave’s knowledge of the ruins, local flora and fauna, and the birds! We spotted toucan and Dave took pictures of Montezuma oropendola with his telephoto lens and shared them with us. We went cave tubing and zip lining and swam in the pools made by the falls.

And this wasn’t all! We then travelled to Ambergris Caye. So sad to say goodbye to Dave. We snorkeled in the beautiful turquoise waters, up close and personal with sea turtles, rays and sharks. We spent a fantastic day fishing and the crew made delicious ceviche and fed us the fish we caught, bbq’ed on a secluded beach. So sad to have to leave.” —Peg Billetter

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

START A TRIP TO BELIZE
MORE BELIZE REVIEWS

Italy for truffle hunting and quieter piazzas

Kathryn's son frolics in the hills of Umbria during their truffle hunt, Italy.

Hunting for truffles brings travelers up and into the hills of Umbria. Photo: Traveler Kathryn Blaze

“I cannot say enough good things about our recent trip to Italy planned by Maria. I traveled with my husband and 9-year-old son to Umbria and Rome during our school spring break.

When Maria recommended making restaurant reservations in the weeks before our trip, I was too overwhelmed to even begin to choose, so I asked her if she could just book for us. We had wonderful meals every night (not a tourist trap in sight), and not having to stress about where to go was priceless.

Also notable was that a number of our (amazing!) guides mentioned that they typically have their own businesses, etc., and they currently will only do tours for Maria—a true testament to her relationships in the area.

We started off with five days in Umbria based out of Montefalco at the Palazzo Bontadosi. We all fell in love with this intimate hotel right on the piazza. It was quiet (but not too quiet), intimate (but not awkwardly so), and we often felt like the only ones there, while still having attentive service whenever we needed it. This was the perfect jumping-off point for daily excursions to the nearby towns of Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto, Spello and Orvieto.

Standout moments were: (1) A truffle hunt in the hills above Spoleto. We loved getting to hike through the hills of this beautiful farm, trailing behind the truffle dogs. After the hike, we sat down to lunch with the farmers and enjoyed an incredible 6-course meal with food from their farm and local area. (2) A wine tasting and meal at an enoteca in Spello. One of those absolutely perfect evenings (which happened to be my husband’s birthday). We had the place to ourselves, dined outside, a perfect temperature…and a truly incredible menu that paired perfectly with the wine poured for us by a master sommelier and his sommelier son. Unforgettable.

We then moved on to Rome, where we stayed at another lovely hotel, away from the crush of tourists, but just minutes away from the action. We were worried about how our son would handle the Vatican tour, but thank gosh we kept it on the itinerary because the guide was AMAZING. She was so passionate and turned the whole experience into a game to keep him engaged, giving him things to seek out and assigning points when he succeeded. Maria was also able to get us (very hard to come by) soccer tickets for the Rome vs. Lazio derby. We also had an AMAZING walking food tour with the loveliest guide (yet another expert who only does tours for Maria).” —Kathryn Blaze

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

START A TRIP TO ITALY
MORE ITALY REVIEWS

The Netherlands for beating peak crowds to the tulips

tulips and windmill at Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands

With an early start, you can tiptoe through the tulips before the majority of tourists descend on the most popular spots. Photo: Keukenhof Gardens

“The trip Tom designed for us was fabulous. We could describe many examples of superb sights and activities, but here we highlight just one. Our primary initial reason for the trip was to see the spring flowers. Tom’s plan and our driver’s skill got us to Keukenhof a few minutes before it opened. We were among the first few people to enter the park. For almost 90 minutes, we had the park to ourselves (plus a few of our flower-loving friends).

We spent almost three hours there and our souls were filled up. (NOTE: When we left, there was a sea of people entering the park and traffic jams all around the site.) We also had a wonderful morning at La Floralia just outside Brussels. This has been called a mini-Keukenhof, and in some ways it is. However, it is wonderful in its own right.” —Richard Ashmore

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

START A TRIP TO THE NETHERLANDS
MORE NETHERLANDS REVIEWS

France for a slow sail through Burgundy’s countryside

Barges passing the Canal de Bourgogne in Burgundy, France.

Enjoy Burgundy and baguettes by barge. Photo: Timothy Baker

“Caroline suggested a week-long cruise in northern Burgundy aboard La Belle Epoque, a 12-passenger barge to ply the inland waterways of wine country. She was spot on. Caroline got me an upgrade to a suite, and I was ready to cast off. Captain Craig, pilot Luke and matelot Brice safely and SLOWLY (at two to four knots) ferried myself and six other vacationers around the farmlands southeast of Paris. Chef Jan and his hostesses, Ola and Emma, kept plying us with wines from the region, cheeses made from the cows we passed on our cruise, and fresh baguettes and croissants every morning (and tasty fish and beef entrees)!!

We visited châteaux, churches, abbeys, and vineyards, sampled (more) local fare, and were entertained by amazing people. Imagine being buzzed by an eagle during a falconry demonstration or dining with the baron and baroness (friends with the former Queen Mother and Diana), tasting their family’s latest champagne vintage!!” —John Bradunas

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

START A BARGE CRUISE TRIP
MORE BARGE CRUISE REVIEWS

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Oman for combining city, desert and beach

Lauren Schor and her family riding camels in Dubai.

Lauren Schor and family riding camels in the Empty Quarter outside Dubai.

“Justin planned an amazing spring break week for our family of three. We spent four nights in Dubai and three nights at a beach resort in Oman. There are so many areas to stay in Dubai, but he suggested staying downtown (at the Armani Hotel) because he thought our teenage daughter would like being in close proximity to the Dubai Mall, and he was right!

Justin arranged a private yacht cruise around the harbor, which was amazing, as we got to see so much of the city from the water (vs. sitting in traffic to drive around and see everything). The next day we went on a luxury desert excursion. Having been to the Sahara in Morocco, we were skeptical about doing something so similar, and Justin was confident that it would be a completely different experience than we had in Morocco and again, he was correct! We loved it, definitely one of the highlights of our trip!

We also did a day trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai, which was great! While we could have stayed by the beach here for a few days, Justin instead suggested we take the two-hour drive to the Six Senses resort at Zighy Bay in Oman. Once again, Justin was right! We have traveled a lot all over the world, and this was one of the most special and amazing resorts in the most gorgeous setting that we have ever been to. The resort offers incredible activities such as paragliding, which I would highly recommend—an unforgettable and bucket list experience!

But the biggest thing that Justin helped with was jumping into action when our international flight from the States got canceled at the last minute and we couldn’t get onto another flight for 48 hours. Justin communicated with me over a holiday weekend and at all hours of the night so that we could get everything pushed back by two days on our itinerary, and in the end it was seamless and everything worked out perfectly! A lot of people have asked if we felt safe being in the Middle East and I can say, without hesitation, that we felt 100% safe 100% of the time.” —Lauren Schor

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

START A TRIP TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES & OMAN
MORE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES & OMAN REVIEWS

Italy for hiking, food experiences, and an authentic local scene in the Cinque Terre

Hiking in Cinque Terre while enjoying the beautiful beach view.

Spring is the ideal time to hike above the Cinque Terre. Photo: BeautifuLiguria

“We traveled to Liguria during April. Emanuela planned some wonderful day trips that ran seamlessly. She was able to keep us away from the Easter chaos while experiencing and learning about the region. We stayed in a small town, Sestri Levante, that was beautiful and luxurious without being overstated. It was not American touristy but more local—a small Italian seaside escape with wonderful food options and friendly people. Each night when we came back from our trip it felt like home.

Emanuela planned a mix of food experiences (cooking classes and food tours) with hiking (Cinque Terre) and some informative tours in Florence. We loved our day in Lucca and our tours of the city and food market in Genoa. Emanuela was able to individualize the trip for us and was in contact through to make sure things were going well. She even went out of her way to meet us in Genoa.” —Bonnie Cimring

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

START A TRIP TO ITALY
MORE ITALY REVIEWS

Germany and Prague for history and culture without peak-season crowds

Ian and Suzy Crabb on the Charles Bridge in Prague.

“We were in Berlin, Potsdam, Dresden and Prague. It was fantastic and Claudia and Juliet were amazing. They added SO much value to our trip. Claudia personally knows the guides and they were all wonderful. All had personal stories about the history that really made it come alive and touch us. Claudia and Juliet helped us get concert tickets and dinner reservations. I had done this myself for a trip to Spain and having someone else do it was such a relief.

We had so many amazing experiences. We visited two brothers we had hosted who then hosted our children, and we had not seen them for 20 years. Took a train to Braunshweig which Claudia arranged for us. We had a really interesting dinner at CODA in Berlin where every course looks and tastes like a dessert but it’s not. Having a guide in the Palace and Monastery in Prague was invaluable, and Claudia arranged for us to have lunch within the walls with a magnificent view of the city. Touring the Meissen factory was also not on our agenda—a Claudia suggestion—and that day trip (boat down the Elbe to Meissen) was great. Everything went incredibly smoothly and we were SO pleased with our first WOW experience.” —Ian and Suzy Crabb

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

START A TRIP TO GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE MORE GERMANY & CENTRAL EUROPE REVIEWS

Athens for feasts, ancient ruins, & temperate days

What are Greek delicacies to a visitor are everyday foods for a local. Photo: Shutterstock

“The trip Mina prepared for us in Athens was spectacular. Shortly after our arrival in Athens, we were mysteriously picked up at our hotel and driven to a residential area. Imagine our delight when we were greeted by our host, Dionysia, who prepared a meal fit for kings and queens but which represented everyday food in a typical Greek household.

Then we took off to see the Greek ruins outside of Athens. We had an incredible guide who was an encyclopedia of knowledge. We went to the Corinth Canal, Athens’ version of the Suez Canal (fantastic) and then to the Mycenaen ruins, the Great Theatre of Epidaurus and the unforgettable healing center.

The next day we experienced a walking tour to introduce us to the five districts of Athens, did some good shopping at unique places discovered by our guide, and had a tasting tour as well. On our last day we went to the Acropolis, of course, and enjoyed the Parthenon and surrounding ruins, as well as the Acropolis Museum, a sight not to be missed.” —Victoria Jones

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

START A TRIP TO GREECE
MORE GREECE REVIEWS

Egypt for smart logistics and savvy guides to avoid heat and crowds

The Sphinx in Giza with no travelers around.

Staying a step ahead of the crowds in Giza with quiet access to the wonders of Egypt. Photo: Billie Cohen

“For spring break in early April, my husband and I took our 8- and 9-year old children to Cairo, Aswan, Abu Simbel — and then did a spectacular Nile cruise for a few days on a small dahabiya, ending in Luxor. Thanks to Jim‘s great team (and Arlene’s endless patience!) we were able to have the bucket-list family vacation of my dreams! We were taken care of every step of the way, met by kind guides and cool cars that helped us beat the heat while seeing loads of spectacular sites efficiently.

In Cairo, Max met us at the airport and sped us through security — he was a consummate gentleman. Iman, our guide, was deeply knowledgeable, and her ability to stay one step ahead of the crowds really made the difference when we visited the pyramids and Sphinx — where we had the Sphinx all to ourselves, silent in the morning! When our children faded early on our first day (a combination of much walking and the heat), Iman transitioned smoothly into dropping us off so the kids could rest.

We were grateful to have Max’s assistance navigating the Cairo airport for our domestic flight to Aswan. The Philae temple and the quarry were astonishing. Our day trip down to Abu Simbel was a memory we will all cherish as well — the engineering feat that the Egyptian government & UNESCO accomplished by moving the temples to higher ground was truly an astonishing feat.

Our Nile cruise on a five-cabin dahabiya was beautiful and calm, and a lovely respite. I worried about bugs, but we didn’t have any problems, and the food was delicious! Our favorite temple was the Temple of Horus at Edfu; the Egyptologist on the boat was terrific and really picked up on our kids’ favorite gods and made a point of highlighting them when we’d tour sites, which really brought the temples to life for them.

We were a little trepidatious because it was Ramadan — but we had no problems finding food, nor were we ever in an uncomfortable position eating in front of our guides. We felt safe the whole time, and are eternally grateful for everyone’s kindness!” —Nicole Neily

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

START A TRIP TO EGYPT
MORE EGYPT REVIEWS

Argentina for indigenous cultures, vineyard lunches, and lakeside hiking

Church in the city of Bariloche. Argentina

“Terrific hiking” in Bariloche alongside a glacial lake in the Patagonia region. Photo: Shutterstock

“We chose Bariloche and the Salta region to see a wide range of landscapes, as well as to have exposure to indigenous culture in the Northwest. We stayed four nights in Bariloche and enjoyed terrific hiking and a variety of lake views. We loved staying at the Aldebaran, away from town and in a beautiful setting. Flying north to Salta for 11 nights, we stayed in four different communities (Purmamarca in Jujuy Province, and Salta, Cachi and Cafayate in Salta Province). Although the trip involved some long drives, the scenery was unbelievably gorgeous and the landscapes totally engaging.

We had a fabulous evening in Salta enjoying a local peña (not a typical tourist show); visited three different weavers (including a very special visit at Tejedores Andinos); indulged in three lunches at different vineyards; had other amazing meals and wines in beautiful settings; and visited three museums that are among the most unique we’ve ever seen. Working with Jordan and Krista is an absolute pleasure: They have fabulous local contacts, and each of our two guides greatly enhanced our understanding of Argentina as well as made certain we were always comfortable and pleased with our activities.” —Rhoda Schulzinger

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

START A TRIP TO ARGENTINA
MORE ARGENTINA REVIEWS

New Zealand for adventure during the South Island’s mild autumn

Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Hiking, fishing, and exploring “beyond breathtaking” Milford Sound, in Fiordland National Park. Photo: Rob-Suisted/New Zealand Tourism

“My grandfather was in the Dutch Navy and spent time in New Zealand many years ago. He always spoke about how beautiful it was and how it was his favorite place he had ever visited. So when we asked my dad where he would like to go for his 80th birthday, he said New Zealand! We were traveling with 6 people from 13 to 80 years old, and Jean-Michel did a great job finding activities that we would all love.

We had only 9 days so we stayed on the west coast of the South Island and there was plenty to explore. We started in Te Anu at the Fiordland Lodge and loved the beautiful lodge and surroundings. We hiked, went fishing, and explored Milford Sound by boat. The scenery was beyond breathtaking everywhere we went! Our next stop was Queenstown and we stayed at the historic Eichardt’s Private Hotel. We had a lovely wine-tasting day in Central Otago with the best guide and driver (Beau Rapley) and our daughter even went bungee jumping from the Kawarau Bridge. She loved it!! The city of Queenstown & surroundings were great—plenty of walking trails, gardens, gorgeous lake and mountain views. Not to mention great food and wine!

The last place we visited was Wild Earth Lodge in Makarora. It was the most serene and beautiful little inn run from the home of Pete and Janine. They took great care of our whole family & cooked the most delicious meals! We spent our days there hiking to the Blue Pools and having some relaxing down time. We also had our most exciting day—a helicopter tour over Mt Aspiring National Park, a hike through Siberia Valley, and a thrilling jet boat ride back down the Wilkin River. The whole trip was outstanding and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without Jean-Michel.” —Alana Jacobson

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

START A TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND
MORE NEW ZEALAND REVIEWS

Romania for traditional Easter celebrations, spring flowers, and village inns

View from a medieval fortified church in Transylvania.

Staying in the countryside in Transylvania means remote villages and local craftsmen. Photo: Tim Baker

“This was no ordinary touristic trip. After years of genealogical research, my siblings and I planned a trip to those areas where our parental grandparents had roots. With Raluca’s expertise, an itinerary was developed that touched the many towns and villages where our grandparents and great-grandparents were born, lived, worked, and died.

We started our adventure in Hungary in the small town of Aldebro, known to be the Wagner family nest going back to the early 1700s. Raluca made sure we had a good guide, and our visit in Aldebro was unbelievable. By pure luck—and perhaps some divine intervention by my deceased grandparents—we were able to meet up with a real relative of ours!!!

Our first stop in Romania was Arad, and with the help of our guide and driver, we were able to locate both the homes of my grandparents and that of my grandfather’s sister! Then, once again, a fabulous experience occurred. We went to the cemetery to look for my grandfather’s sister’s grave. Our guide, Andrei, was able to talk to the recordkeepers, and they identified the exact location of her grave! It was overgrown, and there was no marker, but it was the right place. Our family of four (all living siblings) brought flowers and candles. (Andrei educated us on the Romanian custom to bring candles and he took us to the marketplace to buy beautiful flowers.) It was a very moving experience for all of us. We had the site cleaned up, removing the overgrown weeds on top covering it. We knew that my grandfather’s sister died alone, her life forever altered by the arrival of communism.

We visited beautiful Timisoara and had the good luck to have Raluca join us. She was phenomenal and so interested in our experiences thus far. She gave us one and a half hours of her time, and what fun we had with her! What a great travel agent choice we made, thanks to Wendy Perrin’s WOW List of travel agents around the world.

Our next incredible experience was in Petrosani and, specifically, Petrila. We had a 1930s picture of my grandfather and my father at a coal mine and wanted to replicate that picture. Alas, the now defunct coal mine was locked, and we could not access the site. There was, however, one man there, and Andrei went to see if we could gain access. While this individual did not have the authority to do so, there was to be a meeting of volunteers with a guest speaker, and if we wanted to wait, we might gain access. Sure enough, men started gathering there, and the head of this group and the guest speaker eventually arrived. They were astounded we had that picture and, of course, allowed us to take pictures there. We were then invited to visit the small museum in what was previously an office building, and the guest speaker insisted on giving us a personal tour. Amazing!

My great grandfather worked for the railroads so, again, Andrei was diligent in taking us to all the sites where my great grandfather had worked and most likely lived. My grandfather was born in one of those buildings!

With the visits to our ancestral sites finished, we then toured many beautiful parts of Transylvania, enjoying great food, amazing castles, and the charming towns of Sibiu, Viscri, and then Brasov on our way to Bucharest. Our long-awaited trip could not have been better. Raluca’s personal attention to every detail was phenomenal.” —Victoria W. Jones

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

START A TRIP TO ROMANIA MORE ROMANIA REVIEWS

China for a glimpse of life there post-pandemic

Emma Jacobs and her husband dining on the Great Wall of China.

“Our trip to China was excellent. We had an amazing dinner prepared and cooked in a private space by a chef and his team, curated by Mei’s office, as our WOW Moment in Beijing. Having a gourmet lunch prepared on the Great Wall was a very special moment. One of a kind!! Shanghai took us by surprise, what a great city with exceptional food. We had a wonderful foodie tour there too.” —Emma Jacobs

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

START A TRIP TO CHINA MORE CHINA REVIEWS

Botswana for verdant landscapes—and attractive pricing—just after the rainy season

The end of rainy season means viewing wildlife during dry, sunny days and cooler nights. Photo: Ryan Damm

“When we arrived at Botswana’s Duba Plains Camp in the afternoon it was clear that we had entered another world and another time. The camp is actually a 5-suite luxurious Relais & Châteaux 1920s African safari-style 81,000-acre private reserve without borders. Each raised platform ‘tent’ has multiple beautifully appointed air-conditioned rooms with a private verandah and plunge pool overlooking the floodplain. We were warmly greeted by the staff with local songs and refreshments and promptly set out on our first evening game drive where we were surrounded by antelope herds, warthogs, hippos, rhinos, and many other beautiful creatures. Plus, we experienced one of the most beautiful sunsets we had ever seen while sharing a glass of wine with our charming, knowledgeable guide Carlos, who grew up in a nearby village.

Over the next three days we were wowed by early morning and evening game drives, and even more so by the hospitality and culinary skills of our hosts. We saw lions every day, not by luck alone, but by the tracking skills of our guide. Each game drive turned into a grand adventure, as if we were in an episode of Storm Chasers, but in our case chasing madly off-road in our tank-like Jeep across bumpy grassland, over bushes, and through muddy marshes to witness the action that our guide knew was about to unfold. One day our guide spotted two new young lions that had entered the reserve looking to take over the pride of the existing lion king. Our guide heard a distant roar from the lion king, as did the two young lions who immediately shifted into high gear in the direction of the roar to go on the attack and meet an uncertain fate. We raced after them the best we could for quite a while until they swam across a river through which we couldn’t pass. Another one of our favorite experiences was doing an evening game drive by boat on a beautiful river lined by papyrus and filled with families of hippos. It got a little scary when we were returning, and the guide astutely spotted the bow wave of an underwater hippo charging us. We quickly zigged and zagged just in time as he surfaced and roared next to us.

One of the most surprising things about Duba Plains Camp was the astoundingly good food. And it wasn’t a matter of the food being better than could be expected in the middle of nowhere. The food was better than could be expected anywhere. The chef had trained at the Culinary Institute in Botswana and produced masterpieces for every meal. Her soups were to die for. Because each of the guests had their own schedule, we ended up dining alone and the chef had to prepare each meal separately. It was very romantic.” —Conrad Ehrlich

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

START A TRIP TO BOTSWANA
MORE BOTSWANA REVIEWS

Morocco for “perfect” weather and a local welcome during Ramadan

The arts in Fes were a highlight, with “fascinating” merchants in the Medina. Photo: Tim Baker

“This trip was for myself and two daughters, aged 50 and 46. We went to Morocco in April during Ramadan. All three of us concluded that the trip was beyond expectation. The weather was perfect this time of year, the Riads were exceptional, the sights were amazing, and the Moroccan people were very warm and welcoming. The trip was paced perfectly, but definitely the highlight for us was our absolutely wonderful guide Mohamed and driver Majid. They were such a pleasure to travel with, always on time, always with a smile or a joke, always with our safety a priority.

Our favorite cities were Fes and Essaouira. The ceramic work and tannery in Fes were especially interesting and dinner at a local host was most enjoyable. The Medina was fascinating. The cooking class was so much fun going to the market with our chef. In Marrakesh we had the honor of being invited to Mohamed’s house to break fast with his lovely family. We learned so much about Islamic architecture and religion, and we were very impressed how our two guides were able to fast all day and still be bright and cheerful without ever complaining.

In Essaouira we got to see the goats climbing the Argan trees and visit a women’s cooperative where they processed the oil. Also of interest was visiting the old Jewish quarter and the synagogue. Every city and place had interesting things to see. We would definitely recommend a trip to Morocco arranged by Hicham and Radia, and many thanks to Wendy for the recommendation.” —Leon Malkin

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

START A TRIP TO MOROCCO
MORE MOROCCO REVIEWS

The Galapagos for all the animals and sun, but fewer tourists

underwater photo of a sea lion in the Galapagos islands

“We never sought out sea lions because as soon as we hit the water, they found us, swimming within inches of us in circles and loops, trying to get us to play with them.”

“My family of four (two parents, 10yr old, 12yr old) took a one-week Galapagos cruise aboard the Elite. Allie planned the trip. EVERY aspect of the journey was incredible, and none of us wanted to leave.

With Allie’s guidance we chose a small boat (the Elite has a 16-person max). Small boats can be rocky, so she steered us toward a catamaran for more stability, to minimize the risk of seasickness. The water was generally smooth, but on one or two nights with bigger waves, we were very happy to have two hulls, especially while watching how tippy the monohulls were.

We saw blue-footed boobies, courting frigate birds, gulls, Galapagos hawks (hunting and eating marine iguanas!) and more. We encountered a number of Galapagos tortoises in the wild. In the water, on numerous snorkeling activities, we saw more types of reef fish than I could name, from little gobis and half-inch baby puffers up to tuna. Small sharks skimmed the bottom, oblivious of us. Penguins flashed by, within a few feet, as they hunted, and we actually saw them catching fish. We never sought out sea lions because as soon as we hit the water, they found us, swimming within inches of us in circles and loops, trying to get us to play with them. Pods of sea turtles munched on algae as we floated above, swimming so close to us at times that we actually had to struggle to swim away in order not to contact or disturb them. It was simply mind-boggling how many amazing animals we saw up close.

My 12yr old was captivated by being on a boat and got to know Marcello, the captain, and Rey, the first mate. They let him take the wheel a few times. Both were great with the kids aboard. On the zodiac boats that took us from the Elite to the shore, the guys who drove those boats also let our kids take the helm a couple times.

One unexpected aspect of the trip was the beauty of the islands. Had we never stepped ashore, the trip would have been memorable just for the gorgeous islands, striking sunsets, impressive vistas, and stunning beaches. We badly want to go again, bringing aunts, uncles, and cousins to share this exceptional experience.” —John Strachan

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

START A TRIP TO THE GALAPAGOS
MORE GALAPAGOS REVIEWS

Paris for baking, boating, and sidecar tours before the crowds descend

The Eiffel Tower with the river Seine in the front.

“A private cruise on the River Seine gave us splendid views…including the Eiffel Tower.” Photo: Shutterstock

“My daughter and I took my 10-year-old twin granddaughters to Paris for their first trip overseas during spring break. Although my daughter and I have both been to Paris many times, Jennifer’s group suggested activities geared to the girls, which included several activities we had never done before.

We did a private walking tour through Montmartre with tastings. Nicolas indulged us in tastings including ‘meringue et de crème fouettés,’ chocolates, crepes, and macarons. Our tour concluded at the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur. A private cruise on the River Seine gave us splendid views of many places, including the Eiffel Tower.

Who would have thought that a private macaron making with a professional chef could be so much fun for everyone! We had plenty of macarons to eat and take back with us. The game at the Louvre was an excellent way to learn about the paintings and artwork by finding hidden clues in them and answering questions.

Finally, the sidecar tour with drivers in sidecar motorcycles gave us a view of Paris from the street. It was an absolute blast!” —Diane Thormodsgard

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

START A TRIP TO FRANCE
MORE FRANCE REVIEWS

The Philippines for ideal weather and diving conditions

Two travelers on a boat about to do a dive.

Andrea Phillips and her daughter diving in the Philippines.

“Taking advantage of the time left before my 18-year-old daughter leaves to start college, the two of us jetted off on a 10-day scuba diving trip to the Philippines. After in-depth planning with Andrea, an expert on unique travel in Asia, we chose the Dauin coast and Panglao Island, off Bohol, for our trip, as this was an excellent time to visit for great weather and diving conditions. Our goals were simple: level up our scuba certifications, immerse ourselves in welcoming cultures, and, finally, cross off swimming with whale sharks from our bucket list!

Andrea and his team planned it perfectly, starting with a special airport welcome that whisked us from the arrival gate and quickly through a chaotic Manila airport. Our first stop was Atmosphere Resort, where my daughter earned her Advanced Open Water Diver certification under the guidance of their skilled dive masters. We explored local dive spots and Apo Island, a beautiful marine reserve. The relaxing resort was wonderful after diving, with its refreshing pools, delicious food, a sanctuary spa, all while being cared for as a VIP guest by the warm and friendly Filipino staff. It all brought back memories of doing my own AOW certification in Asia 25 years ago.

Moving on to Amorita Resort, we spent our days diving at Balicasag & Pamilacan Islands with another great dive team recommended by Andrea and earned our Enriched Air Diver certifications. Andrea also surprised us by sending an underwater photographer along on our first dive to capture a forever moment on our mother-daughter adventure under the sea. Saving one of the best days for last, our Bohol countryside tour was incredible, from swimming with a group of large whale sharks to cruising on a private Lomboc River boat with live music, hanging out with Tarsier and macaque monkeys, admiring the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol and even enjoying coconut wine at a local’s home. It was a perfect conclusion to our unforgettable journey in the Philippines.

This trip was tailored-made for our needs, combining the best dive resort locations for our goals, avoiding crowded tourist spots for the whale shark encounter, and adding in authentic cultural stops and touches to make each day unforgettable, including celebrating my birthday. Pushing ourselves to try somewhere new, and doing it together, made it even more thrilling.” —Andrea Phillips

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

START A TRIP TO THE PHILIPPINES
MORE PHILIPPINES REVIEWS

These 2024 Winter Holiday Trips Are Available Now—But Not For Long

Leave a reply

If you haven’t made travel plans for the December holidays yet, we understand: It can be hard to focus on a winter trip in mid-summer. But the wisest options for a festive trip are dwindling, and with each passing week, availability shrinks further. So that you know your best options, we asked experts what travel experiences for Christmas and New Year’s are still available now but won’t be by fall.

First, a few general tips that apply regardless of destination:

If possible, travel before Christmas or after New Year’s. This year, you’ll find lower prices and fewer crowds before December 21 and after January 5.
Stay longer in one place. Many resorts and hotels offer a better deal the longer you stay—perhaps in the form of a free fourth, seventh, or tenth night.
Don’t plan complicated logistics right around Christmas or New Year’s. Customer-service people are on vacation or very busy, and alternative options are in short supply if something goes awry. On the other hand, it’s often a good idea to:
Fly on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day. Flights are often less expensive on these days.
Venture to smaller towns and out-of-the-way places. That way, you’re more likely to connect with locals, avoid crowds, and be a part of meaningful holiday traditions.
Get creative about timing. You may need to arrange components of your trip to fit with holiday closures and reduced holiday hours. Fortunately, WOW List trip-planning experts know what is closed when and can coordinate all the moving parts so that you’re never shut out.

Not sure where to go over the holidays? We can help. Just ask us via the black banner below.

GET A PERSONALIZED TRIP RECOMMENDATION

Skiing in the Rocky Mountains

Skiing in Vail, Colorado. Photo: Meg Austin

“There’s still great availability at U.S. ski resorts for the holiday season,” advises WOW List ski expert Meg Austin. “Prices are high, but not as high as they were during the pandemic.” For now, Austin can negotiate for extra amenities and even extra nights, but as time passes and families rush to book last-minute trips, demand will drive up prices.

If you’re traveling with adults and/or older teens, Austin recommends adults-only resorts. “They often lower their prices during the holidays, and some will take kids 16 and older. These can be great options, and you’re not surrounded by babies,” she says. If you need a rental house or condo for your group, Austin can stock it with a decorated tree and a fridge full of holiday provisions for your arrival.

There are direct flights from Newark to Eagle, Colorado, with a 45-minute drive to Vail, and it’s a similarly quick drive from Salt Lake City to Park City. And there’s plenty for non-skiers too, from spa treatments to free concerts.

START A HOLIDAY SKI TRIP

Isla Mujeres, Mexico, for Beachy Beauty

Isla Mujeres is a small island that’s close to Cancun yet feels remote. That’s Wendy and her sons having a picnic! Photo: Timothy Baker

If beaches are more your vibe, Cancun is an easy nonstop flight from many U.S. cities—and from there it’s a quick ferry ride to tiny Isla Mujeres. The island cranks up the holiday spirit, and the town square fills with twinkly lights, vendors, parades, and plenty of family-friendly island charm.

ATELIER, a luxury all-inclusive on Playa Mujeres, got a Michelin mention for its modern Mexican restaurant María Dolores—but if you want a table here over the holidays, you’ll need to book soon.

START A HOLIDAY TRIP TO ISLA MUJERES

Italy’s Lake Region, Including Lake Como

View of the Town of Menaggio and lake Como, Milan, Italy.

The town of Menaggio on Lake Como, Italy. Photo: Shutterstock

The busy season on Lake Como and northern Italy’s other lakes is from June to September. But Andrea Grisdale, an Italy expert on The WOW List, lives on Lake Como and knows firsthand that the holidays can be a smart time to visit. “There are local festivities and a great atmosphere,” says Grisdale, “and gorgeous festive lights. The towns are all lit up.”

Acclaimed hotels like Passalacqua and Villa d’Este, which used to close for wintertime, are now open through January 6—but word has gotten out and space is already limited. (Don’t plan a visit for later in January or February, as such properties are busy with maintenance and construction, and many restaurants and cafes shutter for off-season.)

If you’re focused on a tourist magnet such as Lake Como, “get out into smaller towns and villages,” Grisdale advises. “You’ll get much better value for money and really get to have a slow and authentic experience—a restaurant manager might be able to sit down and have a coffee with you. Those are the memories people really take away with them.” Grisdale likes to arrange such experiences where travelers can connect with interesting local people.

START A HOLIDAY TRIP TO ITALY

Nativity Scenes in Naples, Italy, and the Amalfi Coast

Fireworks in the village of Albori on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

New Year’s Eve fireworks illuminate the village of Albori on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

Naples is full of buzzy culture, and it really shines at Christmastime, with classical music concerts and themed art exhibitions. The concept of a nativity scene actually developed in Naples in the 15th century, and they’re more than just depictions of the birth of Jesus—they’re incredible works of art. San Gregorio Armeno, also called “Christmas Alley,” is the center of this age-old tradition, full of artisan workshops and displays that range from gorgeous to funky. Booking now will give you access to a broader pick of curated experiences, choice English-speaking guides, and unique seasonal cuisine.

Naples also makes a smart wintertime base for day trips to nearby islands and the Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi Coast is famous as a warm summer destination, but it’s beautiful in wintertime too. Grisdale recommends heading to Ischia, a volcanic island known for its mineral-rich thermal waters, instead of Capri. “It’s the same length ferry ride from Naples, and you’ll get a more authentic experience.” Since Ischia is home to more locals than touristy Capri, in winter it’s still full of life. There’s a festive-season ice rink in Ischia Porto and a Bosco Incantato (“enchanted forest”) with a dazzling display of lights.

START A HOLIDAY TRIP TO NAPLES & THE AMALFI COAST

European Christmas Markets and Musical Events

The Christmas market in Rathausplatz, Vienna.

The Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz is one of Vienna’s many holiday markets.

Christmas markets in some European countries are starting earlier every year. Austria’s holiday markets used to open circa Thanksgiving; now they start on November 8. Budapest’s and Prague’s Christmas markets open the following week. In Germany, however, the markets are open only during advent season, starting four Sundays prior to Christmas.

The holiday season in Central and Eastern Europe also brings an array of cultural offerings. “There are so many incredible cultural events: opera, ballet, symphonies,” says WOW List Austria and Germany expert Gwen Kozlowski. For art lovers, “it’s the perfect time of year to visit museums; there is always a good show going on, including special exhibitions for locals.” For example, through January 12, Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum is showing an unprecedented variety of Rembrandt’s major works. These tickets sell out quickly, so don’t delay.

River cruise ships are also now cruising through the festive season, making for a scenic, effortless option. “They’ll be busy, but nowhere near the levels of busy-ness you see in summer,” says Kozlowski.

To add to a festive trip, Kozlowski can even organize holiday dinners in local homes and visits to Krampus runs, which involve curved horns, terrifying masks, and occasionally the flick of a whip. Pro tip: Don’t wear expensive clothes—Kozlowski’s friend got her favorite cashmere scarf swiped with soot.

START A HOLIDAY TRIP TO CENTRAL OR EASTERN EUROPE

A Galapagos Land-Based Adventure and Mainland Ecuador

Blue-footed Booby on rocks, in Galapagos Islands.

Blue-footed boobies in the Galápagos Islands. Photo: Shutterstock

The Galapagos Islands are enormously popular over the holidays: Kids are out of school, and December is the start of summer, so the water is warming up for more pleasant swimming and snorkeling. Many ships are already booked up, but if your heart is set on a holiday-season Galapagos trip, WOW List Ecuador specialist Allie Almario suggests a land-based trip, where you stay in a lodge and take a boat each day to nearby islands. “A land-based trip is great if you’re a little more independent or want a lot of downtime and beach time,” she says. Whereas a cruise might travel to five or seven different islands, the land option is “more relaxed, and perfect for families, and there are now at least three islands with good hotels.” That includes The Finch Bay Hotel, a little resort tucked away from the town of Puerto Ayora, with gorgeous private coves and boats available to visit nearby islands. These are selling out too, so time is of the essence.

Mainland Ecuador is also a smart option for Christmastime travel, offering particular value. It’s convenient too, with “hardly any time-zone changes, the same voltage as the U.S., and even the U.S. dollar,” says Almario. Direct flight options are plentiful, especially from Miami. Just one example of a lodge option that works well for a family holiday is Hacienda Zuleta, the 17th-century Andean hacienda and working farm of former Ecuador president Galo Plaza Lasso and his family: Festive food like just-caught rainbow trout, melt-in-your-mouth cheese, and organic produce are sourced from the grounds, and the Christmas decorations are beautiful.

Bonus: “Ecuador is a very Catholic country, so they have cool religious ceremonies you don’t see anywhere else,” adds Almario. She recommends catching a New Year’s Eve parade where communities burn paper mâché effigies to symbolize saying goodbye to all the bad in the year behind them. “There are fireworks and bonfires, and it’s great fun.”

START A HOLIDAY TRIP TO THE GALAPAGOS & ECUADOR

The Northern Lights in Norway (and Possibly Sweden for Heli-Skiing)

Northern lights explosion on snowy mountain range near coastline at Lofoten islands, Norway

Northern lights in the Lofoten Islands, Norway. Photo: Shutterstock

December through March is peak season for an experience of the northern lights—here is more intel on how to maximize your chances of seeing them—so “if you’re looking at the holidays, move now because it’s already getting really full,” says Torunn Tronsvang, a Norway expert on The WOW List. Her advice: “Choose either Christmas or New Year’s to highlight. So, the celebration itself could be below the Arctic Circle, then the other half of the holiday could be focused on the northern lights.”

Norwegian hotels are known for gorgeous Christmas celebrations, replete with stunning decorations and foodie-acclaimed fare. Tronsvang suggests celebrating Christmas in the fjords, like the Hjørundsfjord. Use Hotel Union Øye or Hotel Storfjord as a base, then travel north to view the aurora borealis.

Refrain from flying anywhere between December 22 and December 27: “Schedules are just so irregular, and it’s hard to get help when something goes wrong. Back-up solutions are limited because everything is full.”

For a blow-out trip, top it off with Sweden for heli-skiing! More specifically: Start your itinerary in Norway, combining Lofoten (northern lights, the midnight sun, and small villages) with Narvik (home of the world’s northernmost zoo), then take the Arctic Circle Express—an icy, gorgeous Arctic train ride—to Niekhu for heli-hiking and skiing.

START A HOLIDAY TRIP TO NORWAY & SWEDEN

The Pyramids, the Nile, and a Warm Welcome in Egypt

Balcony view from the Old Cataract hotel in Aswan, Egypt.

People have been traveling in Egypt safely—and receiving an unusually warm welcome—despite (and perhaps because of) the Israel-Hamas war. Read these Egypt trip reviews from WOW List travelers to understand what it’s like now.

Start in Cairo. “Counterintuitively, Egyptians take great pleasure in revving up for the holiday season,” says Jim Berkeley, an Egypt specialist on The WOW List. Even though some 90% of Egyptians are Muslims, “they are great hosts, and they know Westerners are traveling for the holidays. They really make the effort to help foreigners feel welcome on an important holiday.” The Four Seasons and the St. Regis in Cairo have spectacular trees and Christmas decorations, Berkeley says—ideal for family photos.

After Cairo, move on to a Luxor to see the ancient treasures and tombs, and a Nile cruise. By New Year’s, you want to be in Aswan, at the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract hotel. “It’s the place to be,” says Berkeley, “with cocktails, champagne, a belly-dance show, live music, hats, everything you can imagine, and a million balloons falling from the ceiling.” Tickets to the hotel’s New Year’s Eve Gala and rooms in the hotel are still available now, but not for long, says Berkeley, so don’t delay.

START A HOLIDAY TRIP TO EGYPT

Cape Town and an African Safari

Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Cape Town Tourism

Safaris are popular for the holidays, and because the best lodges and camps are small, they fill up fast, but with creativity and insider connections, you can find availability.

Start in Cape Town, says WOW List safari specialist Cherri Briggs. “Cape Town is unbelievably beautiful for Christmas, but move fast before European crowds descend,” she urges. Continue to Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Why? The Delta has “small lodges that haven’t been promoted much yet, and some great new lodges,” says Briggs. “Plus, they’re more water-based, which is a big advantage for the heat.” In fact, many lodges and camps will charge low-season rates because of the heat. This can save you thousands of dollars per person. If you’re sensitive to high temperatures, though (remember, December is summer in southern Africa), this is not the time for you.

December is sometimes called the “secret season” or “emerald season” in southern Africa: It tends to be not only hot but also wet and green. In the Kalahari Desert, game concentrates on the open plains starting in early December, says Briggs, so “there will be a ton of animals.” The continent’s largest population of elephants is in Botswana, and you can also see hundreds of species of birds, crocodile, hippo, buffalo, lion, leopard, hyena, the highly endangered wild dog, as well as many other rare species such as cheetah and aardwolf.

START A HOLIDAY SAFARI

Sail the British Virgin Islands

Tropical beach with white sand, turquoise ocean water and blue sky at Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands in Caribbean.

Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. Photo: Shutterstock

If your dream is a week aboard a private yacht, it’s hard to beat the British Virgin Islands during the holiday season. Much of the rest of the Caribbean is off the table, as the easterly trade winds—aptly named “the Christmas Winds”—make the water too choppy for sailing. And, of course, the Mediterranean Sea is too cold and windy in December for a yacht charter. But the Virgin Islands’ mountainous terrain protects the sea from the winds—and many boats there are still available for the holidays.

With copious water sports, parties, and live music on the beach, this is a fun trip for families or groups of friends. Prices go up as the holiday season approaches, so the best time to secure a spot is now. Fair warning: Many boat owners will only accept charters that end on December 26 or 27, and begin on December 27 or 28, so they can make the most of the two holiday weeks.

START A HOLIDAY YACHT CHARTER

Get More Elbow Room When You Travel

Leave a reply

I won the lottery earlier this month. No, not Mega Millions, but something almost as good: I flew from California to Europe in economy class and had three seats all to myself. And I wasn’t the only one—about 20 of us in the back of the plane had three or four seats each.

Here at WendyPerrin.com, we love getting more elbow room when we travel, especially when it starts with the first flight of a trip.

I asked a flight attendant why the plane was so blissfully empty. He explained that I was flying a seasonal route (San Francisco to Zurich, on United) soon after the season had begun, and such routes often take time to build up a full passenger load. I immediately regretted not booking the same route for my trip home: On my return flight from Munich a week later, I could count the plane’s total number of empty seats on just one hand.

If you want to take advantage of this tip yourself, you can find seasonal flights from your home airport in Nonstop Flights to Make Your Travels Easier.

Another reason why the coach section of my flight was so empty? San Francisco and Zurich are popular start and end points for business travelers. The airline may have been willing to operate my flight with a mostly empty economy cabin because they made enough revenue from business travelers sitting up front. That’s another tip for trying to get an empty seat (or two) next to you in coach: Fly heavy business-travel routes. Think flights from business hubs like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., to business hubs like Brussels, Geneva, London, Milan, Mumbai, Singapore, and Zurich. (Those hubs need not be your final destination; they are where you can connect to your final destination.)

Executive Editor Brook Wilkinson at an empty airport

WendyPerrin.com editor Brook Wilkinson shares tips for getting more personal space when you fly.

You may not score an empty row every time (I certainly don’t), but here are a few more strategies that I employ to maximize my space in economy:

Fly on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, when planes are less crowded. Fly in low season too, of course.
If you think your flight won’t fill up, choose a seat toward the back of the plane. If there are two of you, take the window and aisle in the same row. The middle seats in the back are the last ones to fill up, giving you the greatest chance of ending up with an empty seat beside you. I love having a window—partly for the view, partly so that I can rest my head against the plane’s fuselage when I sleep—but if you don’t need a window and you’re flying a widebody, choose an aisle seat in the center section in a row where the other aisle seat in that center section is already occupied. Chances are the middle seats between you will be occupied only if the entire plane is full.
Download your airline’s app and check your flight’s seat map so that you can change your seat if your row fills up. In the last week before a flight, I check the seat map daily. (Note that not all airlines allow you this visibility or flexibility: My ticket from Munich to San Francisco on Lufthansa required that I pay for a seat assignment, and then I could only change my seat by making a phone call.)
At the airline gate, ask the agent if there are any empty seats on the plane, and if so, politely request to sit beside one. (It may help to tell the agent that you’ve got a lot of work to do on the flight and you could use the elbow room.)

Consider carving out more elbow room for yourself after your flight has landed too: Work with a local fixer who will sprinkle your trip with secluded meals in special locations, rooftop restaurants with plenty of breathing room, private boat rides, and other hard-to-book experiences that provide an oasis from the masses. That’s how our travelers got the WOW trips you can read reviews of below.

START A WOW TRIP

China: “Having a gourmet lunch prepared on the Great Wall was a very special moment…”

Emma Jacobs and Patrick Woerner dining on the Great Wall of China.

Read more reviews of China trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO CHINA

Italy: “A day on a private boat in Portofino was magical in every way…”

Elaine and Gregg Patterson on the rooftop of the Marrone Winery in La Morra, Piedmont, Italy after a lunch in their restaurant and before the private tour of the winery.

Elaine and Gregg Patterson on the rooftop of the Marrone Winery in La Morra, Piedmont, where they had lunch and a private tour.

“We had been to different parts of Italy about a dozen times before we started working with Maria and Brian and quickly learned that they can deliver itineraries and experiences that we could never arrange on our own. (And I say that even though I love doing travel research and have planned dozens of trips for us over 40 years.) For this trip, we gave Maria our wish list of Turin, Piedmont wine region, Genoa, Portofino and Lake Maggiore.

Her recommended itinerary checked every box. Wonderful hotels with spacious rooms and beautiful views, private vineyard/winery visits (most with amazing lunches), and the best tour guides who were great travel companions and also helped us plan our free days. Maria’s recommendation for a day on a private boat in Portofino was magical in every way, the restaurants she suggested were all local, delicious, and down to earth, and all the transportation arrangements (excellent drivers, comfortable vehicles) were totally seamless.

Our WOW Moment—a private lesson making cocktails at Martini & Rossi headquarters near Turin—was completely unexpected and completely fun! We learned so much and have so many unforgettable memories from this trip, thanks to Maria and Brian and their network of exceptional people on the ground.” —Elaine Patterson

Read more reviews of Italy trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO ITALY

France: “A 2-hour private tour after close at Sainte-Chapelle at the Golden Hour…. YES PLEASE!!!!”

The stained glass windows of Sainte Chapelle in Paris.

Saint Chapelle in Paris, France. Photo: Shutterstock

“What an amazing trip with a lifetime of memories! A 2-hour private tour after close at Sainte-Chapelle at the Golden Hour…. YES PLEASE!!!!

I have been to Paris many times. I have always done my own thing and enjoyed it. This trip we were taking my 82-year-old mother, who mentioned she had always wished she had gotten to Paris. Needless to say, I wanted to make it extra special for her and do a few things I hadn’t previously done. I knew that meant reaching out to someone on Wendy’s WOW List and, let me tell you, after giving Jennifer some background, she came back with a sample itinerary that was just jaw-dropping. She offered things I didn’t even know were possible!!!

On our first evening in the city, we took a 2-hour tour of the city in a vintage French car. It was such a cool experience, it felt like we were in a movie! We got to zip around the city with our informative guide who also expertly and strategically parked the car and took amazing pictures of us all over the city. It was the perfect way to kick off our stay in Paris.

We had a fantastic walking tour of the Marais with a focus on Jewish history. It was informative, moving and tasteful, as it incorporated a lot of food tastings at specialty shops as well. We had a gourmet picnic set up for us in the Luxembourg Gardens; it looked like a postcard! It was a gorgeous day and perfect for some down time and lounging around while enjoying the gardens and former palace grounds.

Jennifer and her team planned two half-day trips for us to get out of the city for a bit. I didn’t want to do Versailles again and she suggested Vaux-le-Vicomte, the inspiration for Versailles! The story behind Vaux-le-Vicomte, the owners and history were so interesting. Truly a beautiful chateau with a tragic history and—no crowds!!! The second half-day tour we spent in Giverny. I had always wanted to go but never made it. Well, I finally made it and it did not disappoint. One of my favorite places.

To cap off our trip, the crème de la crème, we were given a 2-hour private tour of Sainte-Chapelle after close!!!! Two hours all to ourselves in Sainte-Chapelle at the Golden Hour! It was absolutely magical. There are literally no words to describe how special this was. Perfect way to end our trip.” —Christine Stephenson

Read more reviews of France trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO FRANCE

Malta: “Loved being able to visit a private palazzo in Mdina, which the owner had not yet opened to the public…”

The inside of the Palazzo Falson, in Mdina, Malta.

Palazzo Falson, in Mdina, Malta. Photo: Shutterstock

“Damon made arrangements for us to stay in a quieter part of Valletta, and all of our activities were structured to avoid the crowds arriving and departing on two huge cruise ships. Our hotel was in a 16th-century building, with a lovely view of the harbor, friendly staff, and excellent breakfasts. We could walk or take a little dghajsa boat during our free time to visit other parts of the city. We got to contemplate the two Caravaggios at St. John’s Co-Cathedral a bit ahead of the crowd.

Wendy arranged for us to have a unique WOW Moment, touring the Villa Guardamangia with the curator—and it was a WOW! It is not currently open to the public due to renovation; it is where Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip lived during the early years of their marriage, while Philip was in the Navy. We all loved the TV series The Crown and, of course, were thrilled to be able to visit!

We also loved being able to visit a private palazzo in Mdina, which the owner had not yet opened to the public. We learned about his family history, including a political murder that took place on his balcony, knick-knacks and treasures found in the attic, and what it takes to renovate a home dating back 400 years!

We also loved a private dinner at the Markus Divinus Winery during which the owner told us what is involved in growing grapes and making wine on this relatively small island. My inner nerd was pleased to visit the Hagar Qim, a prehistoric temple built to worship the fertility goddess and, according to UNESCO, the oldest continuously standing structure in the world.” —Stephanie Wright

Read more reviews of Malta trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO MALTA

Vietnam and Cambodia: “Our guide was able to time our sunrise visit to Angkor Wat so well that we thought we had the temple complex to ourselves…”

Travelers Mike and Lindsay Lanaux during sunrise at Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Mike and Lindsay Lanaux—and no one else—at Angkor Wat at sunrise.

“After listening to the way that we like to travel, Sandy and Ethan planned a trip that catered to our interests in history, architecture, culture and food. We started in Hanoi where we stayed at the Metropole. We really appreciated the history and architecture of the Metropole, as well as the bunker tour of the hotel. In Hue, we were simply awed by the Imperial Palace and the Tombs of the Emperors. Lunch at the home of a local family was one of the highlights of the trip. It was fascinating to see the kitchen where they cooked and to talk to the host about his family history. It truly was one of the best meals of the trip.

In Hoi An, we loved our hotel situated on the river. Watching the boat traffic at night was magical. We also enjoyed our eco tour where we got to ride bikes through the rice paddies and try farming and fishing Vietnamese style. In Saigon, we loved the rooftop bar at our hotel and the history associated with it. The powerboat ride down the Mekong River to the Cu Chi tunnels was fascinating. But the highlight had to be the nighttime Vespa tour exploring the back alleys of Saigon and eating some great street food.

Ending the trip in Siem Reap was a dream come true. The Jaya House River Park Hotel is an excellent mix of luxury and intimacy. Another rooftop bar and spa treatments every day. Our guide was able to time our sunrise visit to Angkor Wat so well that we thought we had the temple complex to ourselves. But the most outstanding experience was being blessed by a 19-year-old monk at his temple and being able to talk with him afterwards. It was truly an exceptional trip that we will always remember.” —Mike and Lindsay Lanaux

Read more reviews of Vietnam and Cambodia trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA

Germany and Czech Republic: “Having a guide in the Palace and Monastery in Prague was invaluable, and Claudia arranged for us to have lunch within the walls…”

Ian and Suzy Crabb on the Charles Bridge in Prague.

Read more reviews of Germany and Czech Republic trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO GERMANY OR THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Norway: “We essentially had this fjord to ourselves while we rowed and fished…”

Beautiful Nature Norway natural landscape aerial photography. lovatnet lake.

Lovatnet Lake, Norway. Photo: Shutterstock

“What a fantastic trip! Jan did an excellent job planning an amazing self-drive itinerary in Norway. Norway is breathtakingly and relentlessly beautiful. Driving above, around, and on (via car ferry) the fjords is the perfect way to see it. One stunning sight after another comes into view. Waterfalls are everywhere, mountain views, glaciers, fjords, fields in the mountains all overwhelmed with us their beauty. We had so many unique and incredible experiences on this trip but will list only a few:

RIB boat adventure: This three-hour private RIB boat trip from Gudvangen on the Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord, and the Sognefjord eventually docked in Solvorn at the Hotel Walaker, our home for the next two nights. Along this exhilarating fast boat ride we saw stunning beauty, cascading waterfalls and other sights that are too beautiful to adequately describe in words. You might ask what happened to our car while we were zipping along the fjords? No problem—Jan arranged for someone to drive our car the two-and-a-half hours to the hotel for us while we had all the fun!

A day on the fjord: Perhaps the most unique and beautiful experience of the trip was a full day with Sverre and his dog Rondor on an antique rowboat on the fjord just outside the Hotel Union Øye where we stayed. We essentially had this fjord to ourselves while we rowed and fished. We caught two small haddock and Sverre rowed us to shore where he cleaned, deboned and cooked the fish over a fire he built in minutes. His love of nature and his ability to share the beauty of Norway with us was truly special.” —Jonathan and Suzanne Scharfstein

Read more reviews of Norway trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO NORWAY

Travel Photo Tips: How to Ask People to Take Their Picture

Leave a reply

Have you ever fallen in love with an exotic food or crafts market abroad—the people, the treasures, the colors, the smells, the sounds—but you didn’t take photos because you didn’t know how to ask the local merchants for permission? You’re not alone. It’s a question that so many of us have grappled with: How can we approach people while we’re traveling and ask to take their photos? How can we better bridge that (potentially awkward) gap?

Even if you’re shy, it’s absolutely doable, as I learned by talking to our own Tim Baker, Wendy’s husband and globetrotting photojournalist. Tim is accustomed to asking people all over the world—such as these ladies at a market in Uzbekistan—if he can photograph them, and he is rarely turned down. Here are Tim’s key tips:

Uzbekistan old woman smiling with gold teeth

Gold teeth are something of a fashion statement in Uzbekistan. Photo: Timothy Baker

Indicate why the moment is worth capturing. “First, remember that everyone is different,” says Tim. “Some people love having their picture taken. Others, not so much.” If there’s no language barrier, explain why you feel moved to photograph the moment. Maybe the light is gorgeous, or their blue shirt reflects the blue sky.
If you don’t speak the local language, raise a camera halfway, pause, and look at the person. That is a universally understood gesture. “You will definitely be able to tell whether they’re okay with it,” says Tim. With the Uzbek woman above (in the same market), Tim conveyed through gestures why he felt moved to photograph her: He gestured that he admired her gold teeth, and she was proud and happy to be photographed.
Work quickly. Have your camera–or phone–ready to go, as Tim did at a roadside stop during a drive through Morocco, below.

Moroccan man dressed in blue and yellow turban stands.

A stranger we met on the side of a road in Morocco. Photo: Timothy Baker

As a thank-you, you can offer to share the picture with them. You can do so via Airdrop— which does not require exchanging contact info—or WhatsApp. Taking someone’s photo can be a way of sparking a friendship.
If you have the luxury of time, become a familiar face. You can introduce yourself to a merchant or a street artist one day, then come back the next to take pictures. That way, you’re a familiar face rather than a random passerby.
If they are selling something—art, food—pay them, ahead of time if possible. “It may be their source of income,” says Tim. And you might get a nice remembrance.

Keep in mind too: It’s relatively easy to get pictures of people, and you with them, when you’ve got locals with you who are smoothing the way, as the WOW List travelers below had.

START AN EXCEPTIONAL TRIP

Morocco: “With Jamal and Majid at our sides, it felt like we were traveling with friends we had known for a lifetime…”

Travelers Craig and Stephanie Smith with their driver and guide having dinner on the rooftop terrace of Essaouira's Salut Maroc, Morocco.

Craig and Stephanie Smith had a farewell dinner on the rooftop terrace of Essaouira’s Salut Maroc with new friends, private guide Jamal and driver Majid.

“We just returned from an amazing two weeks in Morocco. We told Radia that what was most important to us was to have a stellar guide. We also told her that we have a strong interest in music and would like to incorporate learning about Gnawa music in some way. And we told her that our hotel preference was to stay in riads instead of international chain hotels.

From the moment we were met at the Casablanca airport by our private guide Jamal and private driver Majid, we knew that we were in for an incredible trip. They were both so hospitable! Jamal was incredibly knowledgeable about the culture and history of his country. He was very attentive to all of our needs, and he made us laugh a lot. He made sure that we saw everything on the itinerary and then some.

We stayed in beautiful riads with a very personal touch and enjoyed all kinds of delicious food. In addition to seeing many historic sites (mosques, synagogues, palaces, medinas, souks, tanneries), we also had adventures. We went for a camel ride and rode ATVs in the desert. We went for a hot air balloon ride outside of Marrakech. We went for a hike in the High Atlas Mountains from Imlil to Armed. One of our favorite activities was the sunset motorcycle sidecar tour of Marrakech, suggested by Radia. We felt like we were in a movie, riding through the Palmerie and the medina in comfortable, roomy, sidecars. A definite must-do!

Another highlight was an impromptu visit to the Todra Valley for lunch at Jamal’s family’s home. We were so honored and humbled to be invited into their home for lively conversation and a delicious lunch. And, to satisfy our musical interest, Radia organized a thoroughly enjoyable private Gnawa music workshop with master musician Najib Soudani in Essaouira.

With Jamal and Majid at our sides, it felt like we were traveling with friends we had known for a lifetime. The itinerary was wonderful, but they made the trip into an experience that we will cherish forever.” —Stephanie and Craig Smith

Read more reviews of Morocco trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO MOROCCO

Sri Lanka: “Miguel set up a cooking class, a mask carving and painting workshop, and visits to a cinnamon plantation and to a tea factory. He had us hike a segment of the Tea Trail…”

Travelers surrounded by village kids on their Tea Trail hike in Sri Lanka.

Jan Heininger and husband Jamie Reuter meeting village kids on a Tea Trail hike.

“We had a three-week trip to Sri Lanka planned by Miguel. This very interesting trip covered almost the entire country, from the Cultural Triangle with its archaeological ruins, cave temples and Buddhist sacred sites, its historic capitals of Anuradhapura and Kandy, its largest national park (Yala) famed for its leopards, its gorgeous Indian Ocean beaches, its colonial past displayed in the Galle Fort, and its myriad of agricultural products, especially tea and cinnamon.

Miguel also ensured that we had a flexible schedule. Our driver, Thissa, could say, “Let’s stop and see that bird,” or we could stop and taste a Golden coconut or visit a local market where we were introduced to many unfamiliar vegetables and fruits that are essential elements of Sri Lankan cuisine.

Miguel had us stay in wonderful places, including two Aman resorts on the south coast. At Amanwella, we took one of the best cooking classes we’ve ever had with the Executive Chef. At Amangalla in Galle Fort, we went for a bike ride in the countryside (beware of heat exhaustion), toured the Fort with a terrific local guide, and had a workshop making and painting traditional Sri Lankan masks. Miguel also booked us into Castlereagh, a five-room, former tea plantation manager’s bungalow. We were told to treat it like our home—just tell them what we wanted to eat and when.

Travelers with the chef at their cooking class in Amanwella, Sri Lanka.

Jan Heininger and husband Jamie Reuter cooking with the chef of Amanwella.

Miguel set up wonderful experiences including the cooking class, a mask carving and painting workshop and visits to a cinnamon plantation and to a tea factory. He had us hike a segment of the Tea Trail where we interacted with women tea pickers and with kids and villagers we encountered along the way.

We could not have planned this trip by ourselves. Miguel has access to unique experiences. We spent an afternoon in Kandy with an artist and his artist daughter. Miguel directed us to accommodations he knew would meet our not-even-known-to-us needs. The night before we left Sri Lanka, we were lucky to have dinner with Miguel and his lovely wife. It was a treat to meet with and talk to the man who was behind our trip.

What makes Wendy’s trip specialists stand out from the usual run-of-the-mill travel agents is that they—and Miguel—listen carefully to what you’re looking for in a trip. They have access to experiences you could never find on your own and include things you had no idea you wanted and end up delighted you experienced them. The mask my husband carved from a block of balsa wood and the two we painted are off being framed right now and will always be physical reminders of our time in Sri Lanka.” —Jan Heininger

Read more reviews of Sri Lanka trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO SRI LANKA

Belize: “The Belizeans are creating a wonderful and mixed culture ripe for all sorts of tourism…”

Our travelers Salena and Allen Kern with WOW Lister Patricia Johnson in Belize.

WOW Lister Patricia Johnson joined Salena and Allen Kern for lunch one day.

“My criteria was a direct flight from Newark, warmth, a place we’d never been to with lots to do if we wished, and a Wendy Perrin advisor. It took about a minute to find Belize and Patricia. And we were off…. Patricia recommended a few places to stay, and two of the resorts (one in the jungle and the other on the beach) were owned by Francis Ford Coppola. Who knew? Not I, for sure. Well, my husband was an extra in Apocalypse Now many years ago and that was that. He was thrilled to be seeing what Coppola had created in Belize. Both resorts were beautiful but Blancaneaux Lodge was one of the nicest places I have stayed in my life.

We climbed ruins, rafted through a cave that should have been a cathedral, and visited an entrepreneurial coffee ‘factory’ amongst other things. Most important to me, however, was that we got to know something about the current economy of this young country and much about its varied cultures.

On our first full day, we were surprised by our WOW Moment. At this most beautiful site, overlooking a series of waterfalls, we were served lunch by a local family (now, Patricia did know that I am a bit of a foodie) who served us a traditional Mayan lunch, nouvelle-style. The family has a catering company called U Janal Masewal, Ancient Recipes for a Modern World. That sort of sums up my worldview too. We were happy! And Patricia met us there for lunch. Thank you, Patricia and Wendy.

This lunch opened our eyes to what was happening in the local communities. The Mayan culture isn’t stuck in the past or lost, as it is in Chiapas, Mexico, where I visited last year. The Belizeans are creating a wonderful and mixed culture ripe for all sorts of tourism. Our week in Belize was full of surprises. I would recommend it to older people like us, to young families, well, to anyone who likes travel.” —Salena Kern

Read more reviews of Belize trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO BELIZE

South Korea: “Endless exploration of food, and an opportunity to witness the magic of the rural countryside…”

A tea sommelier at the Rakkojae Seoul Bukchon Village Hanok Hotel, South Korea.

A tea sommelier leads a tea tasting in Korea. Photo: Traveler Michael Ruma

“Drawn to Seoul to attend a business meeting, we decided to extend our Korean journey to explore a loop of the southern half of the country. With limited knowledge of the culture, food, and scenery of South Korea, we reached out to Wendy, who pointed us to Grant. Grant was easy to reach, listened attentively to our travel interests, and collated a well-curated agenda for my wife and me, along with two friends joining us from Saipan.

Getting to Seoul is not the hard part. The excitement starts as you begin to journey into one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Fortunately, with Grant as our travel organizer, we did not have to worry about managing the language barrier, the poor functionality of most US-based map apps, or the extensive Seoul transit system. Prior to departure, Grant asked important questions about our likes and dislikes and then created an itinerary which evolved into a spectacular journey of big cities, endless exploration of food, and an opportunity to witness the magic of the rural countryside.

Our first stop was the Park Hyatt Seoul, a stunning and well-situated hotel with superb service. During our time in the Korean capital, we sampled the highest quality Korean BBQ, innumerable variations of seafood, a tea tasting and a Korean liquor tasting. Despite a population of over 25 million in a concentrated area, we were struck by the city’s cleanliness, convenience, and kindness of its people.

Following Seoul, we travelled to Jeonju. After an efficient high-speed train ride, we checked into the Lahan Hotel overlooking the traditional Hanok village, which allowed for an easy stroll to any of the shops or restaurants that make this area a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Following the recommendation from the chef who taught us how to make beef bulgogi in Seoul, we went to her favorite place for bibimbap and seafood pajeon.

After eating and drinking our way around Jeonju, we traveled by car to Gwanju in the southwestern portion of the country. On our drive, we were immersed in the beauty of the Korean countryside, taking a moment to stretch our legs with a nice autumn walk at Hwaeomsa temple. A stunningly beautiful site of quietude, we wandered the numerous Buddhist temple buildings and pagodas, with each vantage point offering a better view of the surrounding mountains. Informed by our guide that guests are allowed to reside overnight in this special place, we plan to come back soon to try out a ‘temple stay.’ ” —Michael Ruma

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

Ask Wendy

Chile, Peru, and Bolivia: “My Quechuan guide and driver introduced me to so many aspects of the local culture…”

Milinda Martin with her private guide and driver in Chile’s Atacama Desert.

“Recently, Wendy has been recommending South America, and I’m so grateful I took advantage of this. Despite the warm temperatures, there were few tourists, which ensured a really authentic experience. Ashton helped me plan an extended trip to all my desired destinations: Torres Del Paine, the Amazon Basin, Lima, Santiago, Valparaiso, the Atacama, and the Altiplano of Bolivia.

For the Amazon, I asked for somewhere that didn’t have a ton of tourists, which took the cruises out of Iquitos off the agenda. Instead, Ashton recommended Posada Amazonas, an indigenous cooperative that sits on the Tambopata River in Peru. Here, I was the only guest for the first two days, so fully enjoyed my hikes, boat rides, and village visits that allowed me to see how life is lived in this region. The rooms are open to the rainforest, which made for magical evenings full of sounds. And it did rain on several days, which sounded one thousand times better than any recorded soundscape!

Then it was time for a few cities—Lima, Santiago, and Valparaiso. In Lima, Ashton and Wendy arranged a WOW Moment, which was right up my street: a ceviche lesson, tasting, and tour with Marisol. We went all over the city, sampling different types of ceviche and learning about this rich Peruvian tradition.

My last stop was my favorite part, four days in San Pedro de Atacama, followed by a four-day ‘travesia’ across the Altiplano to the Uyuni Salt Flats. My Quechuan guide and driver introduced me to so many aspects of the local culture, including participating in the carnival celebrations. We hiked up volcanoes, sat in hot spring pools, rode bikes through slot canyons, and ate all the local dishes. On our final evening in Uyuni, after indulging in a wine/tapas al fresco meal, it started to rain, which meant the salt flats became a mirror of the skies.

My favorite aspects of working with one of Wendy’s experts is the ability to customize when/where I’m going, to focus on places that are not overrun with tourists, to meet the local people and see how they live, and to get outside and really feel a part of the stunning landscape. Onwards!” —Milinda Martin

Read more reviews of South America trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA

Vietnam & Cambodia: “The lunch they had prepared for us, hosted by a lovely Cambodian family on their floating dock, was amazingly delicious…”

Traveler Sharon Theroux and her husband were hosted for lunch by a local family in the floating village of Prek Toal near Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Sharon Theroux and her husband were hosted for lunch by a local family near Siem Reap.

“My husband and I just returned from our second trip to Southeast Asia, both of them through Sandy and Ethan’s office. Someone once said, ‘We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.’ That couldn’t be more true about our experience. This year, we spent one week in Saigon, followed by one week in Siem Reap.

In Saigon, we stayed at the Majestic Hotel, which was a perfect location on the Saigon river and at the heart of the city. Sandy and Ethan were able to get us the same room on the same floor we had last year, #317, which had an outdoor garden where we had coffee in the morning. So beautiful. The ride up the Saigon river to Can Gio nature reserve provided a well-needed ‘Nature Bath’ while boating through mangroves, hiking through jungles, and feeding crocodiles and monkeys. What a major de-stressor and complete departure from our day-to-day life back home!

Our next leg of the trip was the Jaya House at Siem Reap, which is where we stayed last year. The Jaya House is one of my favorite places on earth. Upon arrival, we met with Christian, the property manager, who made sure we were scheduled for our daily massage. After recently experiencing a running injury, I was very happy to take him up on that offer! Those daily massages really helped me to heal from injury, as well as reduce a year full of stressors from back home.

We took an excursion to the margins of Tonle Sap Lake, the largest lake in Cambodia. On this boat tour, we traveled back in time to see a floating fishing village, where people survive with very little, some without electricity. And yet, the people there smiled and waved at us as they went about their life, and we saw the children happily playing with each other and swimming in the water. I learned that if they could be happy with so little, I don’t need to sweat the small stuff at home. And the lunch they had prepared for us, hosted by a lovely Cambodian family on their floating dock, was amazingly delicious, with a charcuterie that rivaled that from NYC! I would highly recommend traveling to Southeast Asia in general, and with Sandy and Ethan more specifically, if you are looking for a truly authentic, immersive, and life-enhancing experience.” —Sharon Theroux

Read more reviews of Southeast Asia trips. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.

START A TRIP TO SOUTHEAST ASIA

Here’s Why Your Family May Want to “Pool” Your Airline Miles

Leave a reply

More and more airlines are allowing passengers to “pool” their miles in a shared account. What does this mean? It’s a quicker path to award tickets, particularly for families. If two parents and two kids each have 15,000 miles in separate accounts, those miles aren’t particularly useful. But a combined pool of 60,000 miles can probably cover at least one person’s flights on the family’s next trip.

Here’s how it helped me snag two free seats: My husband and trumpet-playing son are headed to a trumpet conference. By pooling the mileage they had collectively earned on past United flights, we were able to accumulate enough miles to cover this trip. Airlines that don’t allow mileage pooling extract hefty fees when you don’t have quite enough for an award ticket: You must pay either to “gift” miles to someone else or to buy the extra miles you need.

In this case, my husband and son each had enough miles for one ticket, but purchasing their flights separately would have required identifying my son as an unaccompanied minor—even though his dad would be on the same flights under a separate ticket—and it risked having their reservations rebooked separately if anything went wrong. So pooling their miles provided additional benefits to make their travel smoother.

United is the latest airline to adopt mileage pooling, but a bunch of other airlines already have this system in place, from JetBlue and Hawaiian to British Airways and Emirates. The rules of who can pool mileage and how to do so vary by airline, but I can tell you that United’s process takes several days—you have to wait 72 hours after you join a pool to contribute or redeem miles, and there’s an additional 24-hour waiting period between when you transfer miles into a pool and when you can use them to book a flight. By the time I jumped through all those hoops, the miles required for the flights I wanted had gone up, so I had to add more miles and wait an extra day. But it was still preferable to shelling out more than $600 for the flights; next time I’ll make sure our pool has more miles than what’s needed for the flights I have my eye on, in case the required redemption amount goes up in the interim.

So now that it’s easier for your family to redeem your collective frequent-flier miles, where do you want to go? If you know when you can travel, check out our favorite destinations by month. You’ll also find inspiration in our travelers’ reviews of their best trips, organized by traveler type, trip theme, destination, and more. If you’d like our advice on where to go, click the black button below.

GET A PERSONALIZED TRIP RECOMMENDATION

Brook’s Tips for Peru, including Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lima

Leave a reply

The goal:
My main goal was to get the best experience of Machu Picchu. It’s a mythic site in most travelers’ imaginations, built centuries ago by exacting craftsmen in the unlikeliest of locations: set high atop a peak in the cloud forest, as the Andes descend toward the Amazon. I had visited 15 years earlier—and that experience surpassed even my exalted expectations of the legendary Incan redoubt—but this time I wanted to see how a new entry system, with prescribed paths through the ruins, affects travelers’ experience of this magical place.

The challenge:
Most of all, I wanted to avoid potential crowds. In the peak months of May, June, and July, up to 5,600 people can enter Machu Picchu per day. So I went in low season, when no more than 4,200 people can visit (and often far fewer do). There are now signposts and ropes that guide you along one of four routes based on your entry ticket; route #2 provides the longest and most complete experience of the site. The good news is that—in low season at least—I was able to walk freely along my route, stopping whenever I wanted to take photos or ask my local guide a question.

Low-profile ropes and signage guide visitors around the ruins.

The highlight:
It’s awe-inspiring to wander through the ruins and imagine how the Incas managed to quarry, shape, and stack so much rock to build a city in such a vertiginous spot; their exquisite craftsmanship is evident in the carefully aligned stones, each laid on top of the others with no mortar.

Machu Picchu on a cloudy day with mountains in the background.

A quiet January day at Machu Picchu.

Smartest route:
There are two ways to get to Machu Picchu: on foot via the Inca Trail, or by train. (Technically, the train takes you to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the mountain on which the ancient citadel sits, and from there you take a bus up a switch-backing road that dead-ends just outside the ruins.) My favorite approach to Machu Picchu captures the best of both worlds: Start on the train—with a seat on the left side, which gives you a view of the Urubamba River—then get off a few miles short of Aguas Calientes and hike the last portion of the Inca Trail. That way you arrive on foot via the Sun Gate, as the Incas once did, with the ruins spread out before you.

Smartest timing:
Afternoons are usually the quietest time of day to visit Machu Picchu, since day-trippers need to leave by early afternoon to catch their train back to Cusco or the Sacred Valley. The busiest hours are from 10am to 1pm. Permits to hike Huayna Picchu—the iconic peak in the background of every Machu Picchu photo you’ve ever seen, which makes for an exhilarating climb—are only available between 7am and 11am.

The vertiginous Huayna Picchu towers over the ruins.

Best surprise:
The splendid weather I experienced even in January’s “rainy season.” During my eight days in Peru, it rained overnight several times, but on only three occasions were there showers during the day—and each time those were brief. The nighttime precipitation, along with the buildup of clouds during the day, made for spectacular vistas in my photos, and the farmers’ fields were a striking patchwork of purple, yellow, and white flowers. January is also a beautiful time to be in Lima: Instead of the fog that the city is infamous for, think summertime warmth with an ocean breeze to cut the humidity.

Brook biking along a seaside path in Lima, Peru.

Brook spent a sunny afternoon in Lima biking along a seaside path.

Worst surprise:
The Sacred Valley is far more built-up than on my last visit; land that was once most valuable when cultivated is now covered by suburban sprawl. A new international airport is under construction in Chinchero, above the valley. Based on what I saw of the progress so far (a graded dirt rectangle) I don’t expect the airport to open in 2025 as publicized—but when it finally does, I do expect this beautiful corner of the world to get even busier. Get there soon if you can.

Peru's Sacred Valley surrounded by mountains.

Parts of the Sacred Valley are already even more built up than this.

Coolest example of living history:
I spent an afternoon exploring Cusco’s historic center with Teo Allain Chambi, whose grandfather Martín Chambi was a renowned indigenous photographer of the early 20th century. Charmingly modest and yet so proud of his grandfather’s legacy, Teo carried with him a scrapbook of Martín’s street-scene photographs from the 1920s, guiding us to the same spots where his grandfather had composed those shots a century ago. What was most impressive was how little had changed: The buildings have been carefully preserved, many streets are still rough cobblestone, and graceful wooden balconies overlook flower-strewn plazas to this day.

Teo Allain Chambi at Plaza de Armas in Cusco showing photos of from the Plaza.

Teo Allain Chambi in Cusco's Plaza de Armas.

The Coricancha temple in Cusco from the outside on a cloudy day.

Spanish conquistadors made a habit of usurping sacred Incan sites; here, the Convent of Santo Domingo sits atop a wall of the Incas' Coricancha temple in Cusco.

Brook with raised hands in front of the Inca wall.

Brook offers a bit of scale beside the enormous stones in an Inca wall in Cusco.

Best hidden hiking trail:
On my last day in Peru, I wanted to stretch my legs before my overnight flight home. So I met up with a private guide who showed me a seldom-used hiking trail outside Cusco that took us past potato and fava-bean fields, through stands of hardy polylepis trees that somehow thrive as high as 16,000 feet above sea level, to the archaeological site of Inkilltambo. Here were sturdy terraces built many centuries ago, and a shrine carved out of rock and reserved for Inca elites. Apart from a nearby farmer working his crops with hand tools, we had the place to ourselves. It was a Sunday, and on the shorter, gentler path we took home, we greeted several cusqueño families heading out for a picnic.

A field of blooming potato plants near Cusco.

Inkilltambo inn Cusco in the mountains of Peru.

The archaeological site of Inkilltambo, near Cusco.

Incan walls were built around natural limestone outcroppings at Inkilltambo.

Best museum you’ve never heard of:
There’s much more to Peru’s rich history than the Incas, and the Larco Museum in Lima is a worthy spot for delving deeper into the country’s past. Spend an afternoon admiring vessels, jewelry, and textiles from the Moche, Nazca, Wari, and other pre-Columbian societies, then segue to the bougainvillea-draped patio for dinner at the museum’s excellent restaurant.

People dininng at the Larco museum restaurant in Peru

Dine under a canopy of greenery and stars at the Larco Museum in Lima.

Local flavors to try:
Peru has earned enormous respect lately for its cuisine, but you don’t have to wait months for a reservation at Lima’s Central (considered by some to be the world’s best restaurant) to appreciate the country’s flavors. I tried delicious fruits like aguaymanto, cherimoya, and lucuma at a market, watched chefs bury potatoes and fava beans and ears of corn and guinea pigs for a traditional pachamanca lunch, and tasted local dishes like causa, ceviche, and tamales at Cumpa, a “creole tavern” with a hipster vibe in Lima that is only open for lunch, and where office workers and laborers in t-shirts compete for table space.

A variety of fruits at the Surquillo Market in Lima, Peru.

Did you know that the cacao fruit—the starting point for chocolate—looks like this?

A vendor dressing in colorful clothes at the Lima market in Peru selling variety of vegetables.

A vendor sells packets of vegetables for soup at a local market in Lima.

Shopping at the Surquillo market in Lima.

The ingredients spread out on mats before they're placed underground for the cooking process.

Burying food between hot stones for a pachamanca lunch.

The start of the cooking process with all the food below the stalks.

The chef blesses our pachamanca lunch.

Brook’s lunch in Peru with a buffet full of dishes cooked underground.

The resulting, delicious buffet.

Over the top image of Tamale Cumpa on a black plate.

A tamale at Cumpa in Lima.

Over the top image of cauza cumpa on a blue plate.

Cauza at Cumpa in Lima.

Preparing pisco sours behind the bar at Lima's Miraflores Park hotel in Peru.

Pisco sours are practically the national drink of Peru. Here's Brook learning how to make one from the bartender at Lima's Miraflores Park hotel.

What to look for after dark:
I was fascinated to learn that the Incas saw images in the negative space of the night sky. Yes, they connected the dots between stars to draw constellations—but they also found creatures (a snake, a llama) hidden in the dark spots of the Milky Way. It’s a reminder of how we are all so similar, yet at the same time can see things so differently.

Language lesson:
Quechua, the language shared by many of Peru’s indigenous groups and still spoken by some today, has no word for “friend.” Instead, one of my private guides explained, Quechuans simply address each other as brother or sister—everyone is considered family. This small detail went a long way toward explaining the warm welcome that I felt throughout my time in Peru.

START YOUR OWN TRIP TO PERU

Transparency disclosure: Some experiences described here were provided to Brook for free, or at reduced rates, by local hotels and suppliers. In keeping with our standard practice, there was no promise of editorial coverage in exchange: Complimentary or discounted travel never influences our reportage. All of these experiences are accessible to every traveler who uses Wendy’s WOW questionnaire. Thanks to Wendy’s WOW system, you’ll get marked as a VIP traveler.

Where and When to Travel in 2024

Leave a reply

UPDATES
We are continually updating this article, as the travel landscapes shifts, to alert you to your smartest moves in 2024.

7/10/24 You’d be wise to lock in your Christmas/New Year’s trip now
6/30/24 There’s still plenty of availability for the Paris Olympics
5/15/24 Take advantage of low business-class airfare to Europe for fall and winter
4/10/24 New international nonstop flights to make your travels easier
4/7/24 It’s now easier to pool your family’s airline miles
3/27/24 Think South America for this summer (winter in the southern hemisphere)
3/17/24 Right now you can get your passport renewed in just 2 to 3 weeks
3/13/24 Get to Thailand before the White Lotus crowds do
2/20/24 How the Olympics could affect your travels: Paris this spring and summer
2/17/24 Five great spring break ideas that combine relaxation, culture, and thrills
1/21/24 Why you should go to Europe this winter (before the spring/summer rush)
1/17/24 The key to big family trips in 2024
1/10/24 How to maximize your vacations this year
1/7/24 Spring break: Unexpected places where prices are not inflated in March/April
1/3/24 Wendy’s 2024 travel resolutions

Are you thinking about traveling in the Middle East? Read these reports from WOW List travelers:
Just back from Egypt
Just back from Turkey
Just back from the U.A.E. and Oman
Just back from Dubai and the U.A.E.
Just back from Jordan and Oman
Just back from Morocco

Are you thinking about traveling near Ukraine? Read these reports from WOW List travelers:
Just back from Poland
Just back from Romania

SMART TRAVEL IN 2024

This year is shaping up to be another huge one for international travel. Travelers are booking trips farther in advance than in past years, and they’re headed to Western Europe in particular. We’re predicting that Europe’s most popular locales will be packed again this year, and that peak season will extend from late April through early October. Sadly, we’re not seeing any relief from the sticker shock that grew out of the post-Covid demand for travel, given the big events that will coincide with Europe’s summer season: Add the Olympics in France (in July), the G7 Summit in Italy (in June), and Taylor Swift concerts all over the U.K. and Europe (from May through August) to the usual annual events in tennis (Wimbledon and the French Open), soccer (the Champions League), and Formula 1 racing. If you’re seeking true value for your dollar, watch our WOW Week Travel Talk below (recorded on February 5, 2024), and read on to learn where and when to travel this year.

Fast-forward the video to 2:30 to skip the WOW Week preamble. Scroll down for the list of the 20 most popular countries for 2024 that we refer to in our talk.

SOUTH AMERICA: Get it all close to home. South America continues to be an underappreciated destination—even though it has both staggeringly beautiful and enormously varied landscapes, and a cultural fabric that weaves indigenous civilizations with colonial influences. Many destinations there are no farther from home than Europe is, and there’s little to no jet lag (a big plus if you’ve got school-aged kids and you’re traveling during a short school break such as Thanksgiving week or spring break). Brook shares discoveries from her January trip to Peru here. Read WOW South America trip reviews.

ASIA: Japan is back. After finally reopening its borders in late 2022, Japan was our travelers’ favorite spot in Asia in 2023. If you’re keen to go in 2024, keep in mind that 5-star hotel rates are particularly high for popular periods such as the spring cherry-blossom season. Compare that with China, where luxury brands often charge less than half what they do in Europe. Opportunities also abound in Sri Lanka, which still struggles to attract visitors even though the political situation has stabilized since 2022’s unrest. Read WOW Asia trip reviews.

PACIFIC: Consider Australia and New Zealand only if you can travel at off-peak times. These countries are our travelers’ top two destinations for 2024. If you’re still thinking about traveling there this year, look to the “shoulder seasons,” when the weather is still good but the crowds aren’t there and prices are a bit lower. The good news is that the U.S. dollar is very strong compared to its Australian and New Zealand counterparts, so prices are lower than they were pre-Covid. Read reviews from travelers just back from Australia and New Zealand.

EUROPE: Choose your timing wisely.
The high post-pandemic travel demand for Europe that we saw in 2023 taught travelers that if they want a certain caliber of accommodations and experiences there, they must book farther in advance than before. The result: More of Europe has already been booked for spring and summer than was ever the case in past years. This demand, exacerbated by inflation, will assure that prices remain steep there. If you’re bound and determined to see Europe’s most popular countries—especially Italy, France, and Greece—you’ll find the best value in under-the-radar locations. Experienced local trip-planning experts know which hotels and other service providers most successfully handled 2023’s flood of travelers and are therefore the best bets in 2024. If you can only travel in summer, which in 2023 saw extreme heat and wildfires in southern Europe, learn how our travelers beat the heat in 2023 (hint: stay close to the water) and where you can go to avoid the crowds. If your schedule is flexible, get ideas for successful winter trips here.

Opt for nonstop flights. Every connection creates an opportunity for something to go wrong: a missed flight, lost luggage, an inconvenient delay. The good news is that there are more and more flights from U.S. cities to interesting international locales. If a stop is essential, choose one of the smartest airports for making connections in, and get as close to your destination as you can, as quickly as you can. (In other words, if you’re flying to Croatia and have to connect somewhere, do it in Europe rather than in the U.S.) If you must make a domestic connection to an international flight, consider overnighting at the connection point. (For instance, if you’re flying to Africa via JFK, missing your connection could seriously disrupt your safari plans, so consider spending the night in New York.)

The larger your group, the earlier you need to plan. Since Covid we’ve seen travelers bring more family and friends along—often because they are celebrating a milestone like a graduation, or making memories as a clan of grandparents, their adult kids, and the grandkids. When you only need one hotel room, it’s usually possible to develop the ideal itinerary to suit your interests and trip goals, and then book suitable hotels. But when you need two or more rooms, you may have to patch together hotel availability wherever you can get it and let that dictate your schedule. With a multigenerational trip or other large group, booking early will maximize your options.

Buy travel insurance and evacuation assistance. It can protect your financial investment, cover any medical expenses, and give you peace of mind. If you’re sick or injured, the right travel insurance policy will cover your care at the nearest appropriate facility; you need a second layer of protection if you want to be treated at home.

These are the most popular countries in 2024 (as of January) for our travelers:
1. Italy
2. United Kingdom
3. France
4. New Zealand
5. Spain
6. Vietnam
7. Australia
8. Costa Rica
9. Norway
10. Portugal
11. Cambodia
12. Greece
13. Japan
14. South Africa
15. Ecuador (and the Galapagos)
16. Chile
17. Switzerland
18. Thailand
19. Argentina
20. Iceland

Links to Useful Resources

Just Back: Reviews of our Travelers’ Recent Trips

Where To Go When: Ideal Destinations For Each Month of the Year

Nonstop Flights To Make Your Travels Easier

The WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts

How to Take Better Travel Photos with Your Phone

Leave a reply

Photojournalist Tim Baker has been Wendy’s personal photographer (not to mention her husband) for decades. Not only has he shot gorgeous landscapes and emotive portraits all over the world, he’s also covered the action in war zones and pro football stadiums. Even with all that professional experience, Tim stands by an old saying in photography: “The best camera is the one you have with you.” And for many travelers these days, that’s their smartphone.

So, for our closing Travel Talk of WOW Week 2024, we asked Tim to share how to get great photos from your phone’s camera. Watch the full video below, and scroll down for his most important tips.

Clean your phone’s lenses. Tim cleans his before almost every shoot, especially when around salt water or sunny weather. (You might be wearing sunscreen and accidentally brush your arm up against the lenses, giving them a coating of SPF 100 and your photos an unwelcome misty quality). You can clean the lenses with anything you would use to clean your glasses.

Take action shots. Ask yourself: What is the verb in the picture? Rather than having people pose for every photo, try to capture interaction and movement. For instance, shoot your family taking part in a cooking class, interacting with local people at a market, or bobsledding down a mountain—not just standing beside the chef, the fishmonger, or the bobsled.

Instead of using the flash, use a flashlight. Since the flash on phone cameras produces horrible results, borrow someone else’s phone and use its flashlight feature to light the backlit subjects. (Watch the video above to see a few examples of the pocket-sized lights that Tim also carries.)

When shooting a food photo, light it up. Food pictures should look delicious! Use someone else’s phone in flashlight mode to light the dish. Food often looks the best with backlighting.

If a group of people is posing, take multiple photos. Often one person in the group will have their eyes closed or won’t be smiling at the exact moment when you snap the photo. Shoot several times, then choose the shot where everybody in the group has their eyes open and is smiling.

For portraits, turn the subjects away from dead center to the camera. Have them point their feet an eighth of a turn away from square to the camera. Their shoulders will naturally turn too, giving a more pleasing, less driver’s-license look.

Use the phone’s camera grid to follow the “Rule of Thirds.” The rule basically says: Don’t put a horizon line or subject in the dead center of a frame. Turn your camera’s grid on and place the subject at any of the four points where the horizontal and vertical lines intersect.

Use the sun-icon slider to adjust the light. Learn to use the exposure compensation feature (which you can pull up by simply tapping your phone’s screen while in camera mode). The exposure of a subject can be “fooled” by very bright or dark scenes. Using exposure compensation can improve the photo; it’s especially useful with scenic shots.

When shooting close-ups, tap the screen to select the part of the image that you want to be sharpest. When shooting foods or busy scenes, the camera may pick one focus point, whereas you want another. Tapping on the specific focus point that you want tells the camera to focus on that.

Take horizontal photos. We naturally orient our phones vertically, but many shots are best composed horizontally, in what’s called “landscape.” Try both orientations—unlike in the days of film, it’s free to shoot, and you can delete what doesn’t work. (Also, if you’re planning to submit photos with your trip review to post on WendyPerrin.com, keep in mind that we can only publish horizontal images.)

Avoid using the zoom. When you zoom, all you are doing is cropping the original image, which can result in blurry photos because of their small file size. It’s better to walk in closer to your subject instead. (But if zooming is the only possible option, go ahead and try it.)

Use burst mode for shooting fast-moving action. Say your spouse is in the Tour de France and they will pedal by in a heartbeat. Using burst mode (approximately 10 photos per second) will greatly increase your chances of getting THE shot. Once you decide which shot was THE shot, you can delete the other nine to save space.

When shooting video, know that you can take still photos at the same time. Videos are great when you want to capture sound or action. Once you start recording a video, a white button will appear above the red record button; that is now the shutter button that allows you to take still photos while still recording.

Don’t oversaturate. If you’re using the in-phone editing tool, experiment with moving the various sliders around, but don’t boost the saturation too much. It can give your photo a phony Chamber-of-Commerce look.

Last but not least, overshoot and overedit. Don’t hesitate to shoot a lot of pictures, since this will give you more options when you’re ready to edit them. But then make tough editing choices, so that you show people only your very best. Everyone will think you’re a great photographer!

To see some of Tim’s work—and get inspired to shoot better photos on your next trip—click to these articles:

Farm Visits: WOW Trips That Get You Back to the Land Around the World

A Private Gulet on Turkey’s Aegean Coast: Wendy’s Family Trip

How to Know if a Barge Cruise in France Is Right for You

What the Right Local Fixer Can Do For You in Israel (or Anywhere)

Wendy’s Romania Trip Photos and Experiences

What Made Uzbekistan Special

South America Now: Smart Choices and Good Value

Leave a reply

South America contains fascinating diversity—of cultures, landscapes, and activities ranging from wine tasting to wildlife viewing to bucket-list hiking. And while parts of the continent are once again receiving as many travelers as they did pre-Covid, those numbers are still an order of magnitude smaller than the crowds flocking to Europe’s most popular spots. While 2023 saw 35 million tourists visit Rome, for example, just 7 million visited all of Argentina. So often overlooked, and yet so rich in possibilities: You’d be wise to put South America on your 2024 travel calendar.

During our WOW Week 2024 Travel Talk on February 6, WOW List experts for South America joined Wendy and Brook to share what’s new in South America, what might surprise you, and how to ensure your trip there goes smoothly. Watch the full video, and scroll down for the top takeaways:

Top Takeaways

If your heart is set on the Galapagos, book far in advance, advises WOW Lister Allie Almario. Only 70 ships are allowed to cruise around the islands, and most carry just 20 to 48 passengers. So that your choices aren’t limited, start planning 8 to 9 months ahead—especially if you’re a family that needs multiple cabins.

Animal lovers should know about “Blue Patagonia,” says WOW Lister Maita Barrenechea. While this region is best known for mountains and hiking, its coastline is home to an abundance of marine wildlife: penguins, whales, sea lions, elephant seals, orcas, and dolphins. You’ll find the greatest concentrations of animals from October through the first week of December.

Colombia is maturing as a luxury-travel destination, reports WOW Lister Boris Seckovic. The Four Seasons will soon open its third hotel there, which will be in the Caribbean city of Cartagena. Colombia also checks a lot of boxes for families and multigenerational groups, with colonial towns, mountain ranges, rainforest, and beaches all in close proximity.

Bolivia’s Uyuni salt flat is a photographer’s dream, shares WOW Lister Marisol Mosquera. It’s equally beautiful in the rainy season (November to March)—when it turns into a lake with islands dotted by giant cacti—and in the dry season (May to October), when you can drive across the crystalline surface.

Trekking in the Andes isn’t just about the Inca Trail, says WOW Lister Tom Damon. For instance, he can arrange a glamping experience in Peru’s Sacred Valley with tents large enough to stand up in, cots fitted with mattresses and pillows, a staff to cook for you, and animals to carry your gear.

Chile’s wine regions are vastly underrated, according to WOW Lister Jordan Harvey. A few of his favorites within driving distance of Santiago are the Casablanca Valley, for soft reds like pinot noir, and the Colchagua Valley, for more robust varietals like cabernet and carménère.

Live Answers to Your Travel Questions: Join Us on Zoom for WOW Week 2024, February 5–9

2 Replies

UPDATE: WOW Week 2024 is now over. Thank you all for joining us! We have posted the Zoom recordings below, in case you missed any talks or want to share them with your friends. Stay up to date by signing up for our newsletter.

This year is shaping up to be another huge one for international travel. We’re seeing more travelers booking trips farther in advance than in past years, as well as travelers taking more family and friends along. Based on these bigger groups locking more trips in place earlier— especially to Western Europe—we’re predicting that Europe’s iconic locales, from Italy’s Amalfi Coast to the Greek island of Santorini, will be packed again this year, and that peak season will extend from May through early October. Sadly, we’re not seeing any relief from the sticker shock that grew out of the post-pandemic demand for travel, what with Europe’s summer season coinciding with events such as the Olympics in France in July, the G7 Summit in Puglia, Italy, in June, and Taylor Swift concerts all over the U.K. and Europe from May through August.

Not to worry: We’ve got solutions, and Brook (pictured above in Norway in November) and Hannah and I, plus special guests, will be sharing them during WOW Week, February 5-9, when we’ll host a Travel Talk every day at 7 pm EST. Bring your burning questions!

NOTE: If you have trouble signing up for our Travel Talks, make sure you have a free Zoom account that is associated with the email address you are using.

Where and When to Travel in 2024

Monday, February 5, at 7pm EST

Last year broke travel records, and you should expect—and prepare for—more records to fall in the year ahead. Wendy, Brook, and Hannah reveal what’s shaping up for 2024: opportunities to take advantage of, challenges to zap, and the coolest under-the-radar places, off-season values, foodie experiences, and more.

WATCH THE ZOOM RECORDING

South America Now: Smart Choices and Good Value

Tuesday, February 6, at 7pm EST

Wendy and Brook explain why the continent should be on your list for 2024, and WOW List experts for South America share what’s new, what’s best, what you haven’t thought of, and how to ensure your trip goes smoothly.

WATCH THE ZOOM RECORDING

Successful Family Travel in 2024

Wednesday, February 7, at 7pm EST

WOW List experts with the latest intel for maximizing your travels and minimizing stress—in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and beyond—will share solutions. Learn how to keep everybody in your travel group happy, whatever their ages or conflicting needs and interests. Bring your questions!

WATCH THE ZOOM RECORDING

Travel Insurance and Emergency Assistance: How to Protect Yourself

Thursday, February 8, at 7pm EST

Learn how to prepare for the unexpected, from surprise injuries to natural disasters to political unrest. Experts explain and simplify how to minimize your risk, both financial and medical, and they’ll take your questions live, so bring your list of what’s been perplexing you!

WATCH THE ZOOM RECORDING

Take Better Travel Photos with Your Phone!

Friday, February 9, at 7pm EST

Photojournalist Tim Baker (a.k.a. Mr. Wendy Perrin) reveals simple tips to help you take much better travel photos with your smartphone–better action shots, group shots, food shots, night shots, video, and more. Tim’s advice is device-agnostic: Apple and Android users welcome!

WATCH THE ZOOM RECORDING

A big thank-you to our WOW Week sponsor, Medjet:

Medjet is a global air medical transport and travel security membership program that can give travelers greater peace of mind. Their sponsorship enables me, Brook, Kristine, and the rest of our growing team to spend time answering your travel questions (via our Get a Personalized Trip Recommendation feature) and finding the smartest trip-planning specialists for you (see Wendy’s WOW List).

Don’t miss this special WOW Week discount:

Medjet is offering our WOW Week audience an exclusive discount of up to $50 off New Medjet Annual Memberships. The deal is available from Monday, February 5 at 9am EST till Monday, February 12 at 5 pm EST. You can learn more about Medjet and get the deal by clicking the red button below.

GET THE DEAL

How to Maximize Your Vacations This Year

Leave a reply

January is a great time to grab a calendar, look at the year ahead, and plot out where in the world it might take you. First, planning out your vacation days in advance helps ensure you don’t lose that workplace benefit. Second, it enables you to get the accommodations and experiences you really want, at the best prices, rather than settling for what’s left over after everyone else has booked their trips. Third, it gives you something to look forward to throughout the year. So, each January, I sit down with a calendar and approach my vacation planning the same way I approach my household budget planning, so as to maximize my travel dollar, time, and enjoyment. Here’s how I do it:

Grab your calendar and look at when the school breaks and long holiday weekends fall.

Check the dates for Presidents’ Day, Easter, Memorial Day, and so on. These dates will dictate either when to travel or when not to, depending on whether you’re tied to a work schedule and/or have kids in school. If you are holiday-schedule-bound, ask yourself where you could add one or more days onto the start or end of a holiday weekend. If you’re not tied to a holiday schedule, by all means avoid traveling at these times. Instead, travel between these holidays, to take advantage of lower airfares, lower hotel rates, and fewer tourists. (While you’re checking your and your family’s work and school schedules, also check everyone’s passport expiration dates. If anyone’s passport is expiring this year or early next, read this.)

Predict what weather-related escapes you will need when.

I know, for instance, that when February arrives each year, my husband will need a snow-free getaway or we will all go nuts. I also know that, in the dog days of August, I crave someplace cool—or, at least, cooler than home. I’ve learned that that doesn’t necessarily mean a higher latitude. While my family has loved our August escapes to cooler climes—Newfoundland, British Columbia, London, Iceland)—I’ve also found that southerly places can provide first-rate relief as long as there’s an ocean breeze (Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay; the beaches of Charleston, South Carolina; St. Simon’s Island, Georgia; Playa del Carmen, Mexico).

Know what destinations are in “shoulder season” at those times when you can travel.

Shoulder season is that time between peak and low seasons when you usually get the most value for your dollar because the weather is good yet prices are lower and tourists fewer than in peak season. Our Where To Go When series will give you plenty of shoulder-season ideas for those windows of time when you have availability. My family once spent a phenomenal February school break in sunny Andalusia, Spain, for example, and we once spent a festive Thanksgiving exploring Central Europe’s Christmas markets on a European river cruise. Here are smart shoulder-season options for spring break 2024.

Consider where your money will stretch furthest internationally.

It’s smart to factor exchange rates into your decisions. Central America is always one of the most affordable regions in the world. Read these Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama trip reviews to gain an understanding of what a fun and authentic tropical vacation you can get at a better value than on many Caribbean islands. At the other extreme, Japan and Scandinavia are always among the world’s most expensive countries, as are France and Italy at the 5-star level. Airline routes and fares also determine trip cost and convenience, of course. Check out Nonstop Flights To Make Your Travels Easier.

Set up low-airfare alerts.

Now that you have a sense of which places interest you most for the time slots you’ve got available, pinpoint the right time to buy your airline tickets. There are websites (Google Flights, Kayak, Hopper, SkyScanner) that will send you notifications when fares drop on specific routes or specific dates or both. If you’re considering a long-weekend getaway and can take only two days off work, remember that it’s usually less expensive to fly on a Saturday and return on a Tuesday than to fly on a Thursday and return on a Sunday.

Especially if you’re Europe-bound, book early.

Italy, France, Greece and other Mediterranean and Western European countries have been extremely popular in the wake of the pandemic, and with all the events coming to Europe this summer—from the Paris Olympics to Taylor Swift concerts—airfare is not the only component of your trip that should be booked well in advance. Say you want to go to the Netherlands to see the legendary springtime tulips—and, while you’re in Amsterdam, visiting the Anne Frank House is a must. Tickets for that become available six weeks ahead and sell out quickly. If you figure out your Netherlands dates in January, you can snap up tickets to the Anne Frank House and Keukenhof Gardens as soon as they are available.

Pinpoint the right destination specialist.

If your end goal is the most rewarding travel experience possible, the smartest way to approach booking your trip—the way that will deliver the greatest value for money—is not to book all the various components (accommodations, activities, transportation, hard-to-get tickets, special guided experiences) piecemeal but, rather, to hand the whole thing over to an excellent destination specialist who knows all the insider tips and tricks in the place where you’re headed. How do you find the best specialists around the world? Use our WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts as your first resource. Click the button below to get started:

START A WOW TRIP

If you are mulling over a resort stay, book it now, as long as you can cancel with no fee.

If you think you might need a room at a popular resort, reserve your spot, as long as you can do so with no cancellation penalty. The more in-demand your destination and timing, the harder this will be. Islands in particular have limited flights and limited hotel options, leading to high prices and cancellation penalties. So that you’re not shut out, book a spot but be sure to mark on your calendar the date when you need to cancel in order to avoid paying any fee.

If the resort you want is fully booked, ask when cancellation penalties set in for the dates you want.

First, call the resort directly (not a website, not the 800 number) and ask whether it’s truly sold out (the resort itself might have different inventory) and whether there’s a waitlist. Then, ask when the cancellation fee sets in for people who are booked on the day you’d like to arrive. Mark your calendar to call the hotel the day before that fee sets in: That’s when other people will be cancelling and you can try to scoop up a room that has just opened up.

It is easier and likely more effective, of course, to contact the right destination specialist and have them work their magic via their local hotel connections. But destination specialists typically won’t book hotels only, so contact them only if you plan to book local activities and experiences through them as well.

Start thinking about Christmas/New Year’s now.

I’m not kidding. Get ideas from these Christmas/New Year’s trips most loved by your fellow travelers. If you need a beach or ski resort, remember that you’ll find peak prices and minimum-stay restrictions at this time of year. Some of Hawaii’s top resorts, for example, are already fully booked for the December 2024 holiday period. These resorts save their rooms for loyal guests who return year after year. If those returning guests should cancel—and sometimes they do when deposits come due—then a few rooms may open up to new travelers at that time. Get yourself onto the waitlist now.

Include in your 2024 calendar both a “vacation” trip and a “travel” trip.

Trip sellers use the words “vacation” and “travel” interchangeably, but they are actually very different. “Travel” comes from the French “travail” (meaning, work)—and it is indeed a lot of work to cope with unfamiliar languages, customs, currencies, etiquette, logistics—but it expands one’s mind and horizons. By contrast, “vacation” is the opposite of work (in fact, it’s recovery from work). Each year we all need a good dose of both vacation and travel. If what you really want is both in one trip—exploration that’s as relaxing as possible, with all the hassles removed!—that’s when to use a WOW List trip-planning expert.

Include in your calendar a new destination you’ve never been to before.

We all need the comfort of the familiar (e.g., the annual family trip to the lake), but we also crave novelty and excitement. Getting slightly out of your comfort zone leaves you with a sense of accomplishment, not to mention unforgettable memories. I insist that my kids get to at least one new country each year. If life gets in the way and you can’t get to a new place in 2024, at least, when you’re in the old familiar place, try a new activity you’ve never done before. Mastering a new challenge—say, learning to surf or cook the perfect tiramisu—makes a trip vividly memorable.

Need help perfecting your 2024 travel calendar? We can help if you click the button below and tell us what you’re seeking:

GET A PERSONALIZED TRIP RECOMMENDATION

Takeaways and Photos from our 4th WOW Travel Summit

Leave a reply

Our mission is to keep raising the bar on travel experiences, so that WOW trips just keep getting better. One way we do this is by gathering together every few years with the Trusted Travel Experts on The WOW List for brainstorming, problem solving, and innovating. That’s what our WOW Travel Summits are all about.

Our 4th WOW Travel Summit happened earlier this month, when Wendy, Kristine, Florie, Hannah, and I gathered with our WOW Listers in Oslo, Norway. These experts carved out time in their busy calendars and flew to our chilly but beautiful Summit headquarters, the Scandic Holmenkollen Park hotel, from as far away as Thailand, New Zealand, and Mauritius.

The sunset outside the summit conference room.

During a Summit break, WOW Listers captured the sunset outside the Scandic Holmenkollen Park hotel.

The unique brain trust in our meeting room combined expertise in travel across all seven continents with a collective mission to continue making WOW trips more and more wow—“pushing the limits of extraordinary,” in Wendy’s words.

This year’s Summit was a particularly special one, as our last gathering took place just on the cusp of Covid, in January 2020. The trip planners in the room this time around were the ones who had survived—and thrived—in spite of a worldwide pandemic, the subsequent head-spinning return to travel, and the inflation and conflicts that have since affected many parts of the globe. So there was time for celebration, from our opening-night cocktail party to toasts of aquavit after a festive dinner of reindeer with beets and root vegetables—and even a lucky glimpse of the northern lights, a rarity in Oslo.

Jennifer Virgilio, Wendy Perrin, and Maria Landers at Summit cocktail party.

Wendy with WOW Listers Jennifer Virgilio and Maria Gabriella Landers.

Florie Korani, Brook Wilkinson, and Sarah Farag at Summit cocktail party.

Florie, Brook, and WOW Lister Sarah Farag.

Zach Rabinor, Irene Edwards, and Rachael Wilson before dinner.

WOW Listers Zach Rabinor, Irene Edwards, and Rachael Wilson.

Stuart Rigg, Cherri Briggs, Sarah Farag, and Stefano Sancassani

WOW Listers Stuart Rigg, Cherri Briggs, and Sarah Farag, and WOW List deputy Stefano Sancassani.

Sheri Doyle, Greg Tepper, Gwen Kozlowski, and Melissa Ladvala before dinner.

WOW Listers Sheri Doyle, Greg Tepper, and Gwen Kozlowski, and WOW List candidate Melissa Ladvala.

Talking travel over dinner at the Scandic Holmenkollen Park hotel.

Reindeer and root vegetables for dinner.

The main course—reindeer with roasted root vegetables.

Wendy is served a Scandinavian specialty, aquavit.

Jennifer Virgilio and her team at dinner.

Jennifer Virgilio and her team of deputies have helped many of you design trips to Italy, France, and England.

Northern Lights glimpsed from outside the hotel.

A rare sighting of the northern lights over Oslo.

During the Summit, the WendyPerrin.com team shared recent trends we’ve discerned from the trip requests we receive every day. A sampling:

New Zealand and Australia are the top two countries so far for 2024 trips, followed by Egypt. Morocco also made the top 10, showing that our savvy travelers trust our network of local fixers to keep them safe amid disasters both natural and human-made.
October, June, and May are our travelers’ favorite months to travel. They wisely opt for “shoulder-season” periods over the peak pricing and crowds of summer.
More and more, our travelers are seeking out active experiences that help them engage directly with locals. They often travel to celebrate a milestone, such as a special birthday or anniversary, or a high-school or college graduation.

WOW Lister Dan Fraser.

Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui at the WOW Travel Summit.

WOW Lister Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui.

Irene Edwards, Patricia Johnson, and Allie Almario at the WOW Travel Summit.

WOW Listers Irene Edwards, Patricia Johnson, and Allie Almario.

Goncalo Correia at the WOW Travel Summit

WOW Lister Gonçalo Correia.

Torunn Tronsvang at the WOW Travel Summit.

WOW Lister Torunn Tronsvang.

As a number of Trusted Travel Experts shared how they’ve continued to raise the bar for WOW trips, a theme crystallized: While A.I. and other technology can streamline certain simple tasks, nothing will replace the human touch essential to designing one-of-a-kind, custom-tailored trips:

Ecuador and Galapagos specialist Allie Almario talked about how the little details of a traveler’s hobbies and personal taste—a love of yellow roses, say—that she picks up during her first conversation with them spark inspiration when she’s crafting WOW Moments.
Morocco specialist Hicham Mhammedi Alaoui described how he empowers local guides to pivot, problem-solve, and enhance travel experiences on the spot.
Southeast Asia specialist Daniel Fraser has built connections with remote temples and schools that now host his travelers for memorable, off-the-beaten-path meals beside monks and students.
Sri Lanka specialist Miguel Cunat logged many miles on foot as he personally developed a new multi-day walking trail across the country, bringing new opportunities to underserved rural communities.
Portugal specialist Gonçalo Correia explained how he’s managed to buck the trend of rising prices in southern Europe by constantly uncovering new, more affordable hotels, unusual local guides, and off-limits-to-the-public experiences that deliver top value.

Polar explorer Børge Ousland described his latest adventure: creating a travel destination in the middle of nowhere.

World-renowned explorer Børge Ousland regaled the group with stories of his impressive exploits: He’s the first person to have completed solo, unsupported journeys across Antarctica and to the North Pole, but his latest achievement is thoughtfully designing and building (sometimes as a one-man construction crew) Manshausen, a remarkable resort on a remote private island in northern Norway, with glass-fronted cabins that let in sweeping views of the sea—and sometimes the northern lights.

Kevin Roberts from Cranky Concierge talked airline trends for 2024.

Kevin Roberts, from flight-booking service Cranky Concierge, joined us to share a host of new routes; you’ll find these new nonstops to smaller European cities, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia in Nonstop Flights to Make Your Travels Easier. He also shared his perspective on when to book flights—the upside in holding out for a lower price is usually smaller than the potential downside of higher fares and fewer seats—and a strategy to fend off the inevitable airline delays and cancellations these days: Get as close to your destination as you can, as quickly as you can. In other words, if you’re flying to Poland and have to connect somewhere, do it in Europe rather than in the U.S.

We are deeply grateful to WOW Lister Torunn Tronsvang, who tirelessly worked her connections in Norway to make this Summit happen. I lost count of the number of WOW List trip-planning experts who told me how energized they were by the knowledge shared at the Summit, and how many new ideas they’d be bringing back to their offices. Here’s to even more extraordinary trips in 2024 and beyond!

The wendyperrin.com team at the Christmas Market in Oslo.

After the Summit, the WendyPerrin.com team unwound at Oslo’s Christmas market.

START A WOW TRIP

Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

Tag Archives: travel tips

Malta: The Mediterranean Islands To See Now, Before the Secret Gets Out

Is Greenland The New Travel Frontier?

Where to Travel in Italy during the Jubilee

Where Everybody’s Traveling in 2025: The Most Popular Countries for WOW Trips

April Trip Ideas: Traveler Reviews to Inspire You

These 2024 Winter Holiday Trips Are Available Now—But Not For Long

Get More Elbow Room When You Travel

Travel Photo Tips: How to Ask People to Take Their Picture

Here’s Why Your Family May Want to “Pool” Your Airline Miles

Brook’s Tips for Peru, including Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lima

Where and When to Travel in 2024

How to Take Better Travel Photos with Your Phone

South America Now: Smart Choices and Good Value

Live Answers to Your Travel Questions: Join Us on Zoom for WOW Week 2024, February 5–9

How to Maximize Your Vacations This Year

Takeaways and Photos from our 4th WOW Travel Summit

We may receive a referral fee from trip planners for trips designed for and purchased by travelers referred through us.

Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

Stay in the Know With Our Newsletter

Be a Smarter Traveler

We may receive a referral fee from trip planners for trips designed for and purchased by travelers referred through us.