the insider newsletter: august 2024
Abbay (King) Lovell
Travel Advisor | Entrepreneur | CPA | Helping professionals and busy families plan seamless travel
Good morning! While schools are back in the US, schools here in England are only recently out for summer which means we're all still enjoying these gloriously long days and as much alfresco dining as possible.
Chris and I are also packing our bags again, as next week we are headed to Barcelona to set sail on the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection's newest super yacht, Ilma.
This an exclusive 3-night "preview voyage" for travel professionals only, so we will be among the very first to experience Ilma as she takes to the seas.
In this month's newsletter, you'll find:
an update from abbay's desk
Setting Sail with the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection
If you don't consider yourself a cruise person but are open to an adventure at sea, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers an experience that blends the charm of a boutique hotel with the serenity of a private yacht. We’re excited to be among the first to set sail and will soon share our exclusive insights with you.
Our journey will take us on a three-day voyage, beginning in the vibrant city of Barcelona and leading to the glamorous shores of St. Tropez. Then, we’ll enjoy a relaxing day at sea before returning to Barcelona.
For anyone seeking a similar adventure, the Ilma invites you to explore the Med during late fall and summer. With itineraries ranging from 7 to 12 nights, you can discover the hidden gems of Monaco, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal. You can view the inaugural season’s sailings here .
Ilma spans 790 feet in length and accommodates 224 suites, or 448 guests. Service boasts a 1 to 1.2 crew to guest ratio. And all-inclusive fares cover on board gratuities, on board dining venues, 24-hour in-suite dining, beverages in-suite and throughout the yacht, onboard enrichment and entertainment, and premium wifi.
We can't wait to share our full review with you - stay tuned for the ultimate luxury travel inside scoop!
insider tips
Havana: The Perfect Long Weekend Destination for Friends (and Birthdays ??)
Lately, we've been getting requests for special 40th birthday trips where groups of travelers only have 3-4 nights max. We love to suggest Havana, featured on the NYT List of Places to Go as the perfect destination for this type of cultural trip with friends.
Multiple?daily nonstop flights from?Miami, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, and Houston?make traveling to the island easier than ever.?
Long weekend in Havana experiences we recommend ??
Visit Dador , a clothing design collective in Old Havana featuring?off-the-rack or made-to-measure, 100% sustainable pieces?that incorporate and reinterpret traditional Cuban motifs. Meet with the designers for insights into the resourcefulness needed to run a fashion business in Cuba.
Enjoy an exclusive private rum tasting?with the Head Sommelier of Havana Club Rum. This special tasting of aged rums can also be paired with the art of cigar smoking?(not just for men).
Loosen your hips with professional dancers and?one-on-one?salsa lessons?at the oldest salsa school in the Americas.?
Enjoy a?classic 1950's convertible ride combined with an exclusive photoshoot?as your photographer uses a chase car to capture the experience.?A link to all the professional photos will be shared post-trip.
Reply to this email or fill out our intake form to ask us about what it's like to plan a trip to Cuba with us.
The Glamour of the French Riviera
Didn't get to summer in the south of France this year? Don't worry - we didn't either. Nonetheless, we have the relationships to give our Riviera clients the ultimate experience, and we're sharing our insider tips below.
This is how to experience the South of France
Sail away to Cannes and the ?les de Lérins. No trip to the Riviera is complete without a day aboard a private yacht sailing in the Bay of Cannes (pictures above). Spend the morning swimming, snorkeling, or relaxing on the deck and then disembark at the ?le Sainte-Marguerite for a laid back lunch at the renowned, La Guérite. Enjoy the vibe before meeting your captain for your sail back to shore.
Shop in style in Cannes and Monaco. Whether shopping independently or with a professional shopper and stylist, feel like a true fashionista as you are welcomed to the Riviera's most prestigious stores, from the famous Croisette in Cannes to the elegant streets of Monte Carlo.
Privatize the cellars of the H?tel de Paris. Indulge in the ultimate wining-and-dining experience during a privatized tasting and dinner in the cellars of the legendary H?tel de Paris in Monte-Carlo. Begin with a private tour of the largest hotel wine cellar in the world, led by a master sommelier, then enjoy a tasting of selected grand crus and a five-course wine-paired dinner.
Release your inner race car driver. In the company of one of our expert guides, explore the Private Car Collection of His Serene Highness the Prince, consisting of more than a hundred vintage cars and supercars (see pictures below). Then, experience the thrill of the race, following the GP circuit behind the wheel of a Ferrari or Lamborghini.
Escape to Provence for a day. We recommend boarding a private heli and escaping to Provence, a short hop from your coastal heliport. Take in the views while flying over the cliffs and turquoise waters of the Gorges du Verdon, and then touch down at Moustiers-Sainte-Marie for a leisurely lunch at Alain Ducasse's Michelin-starred restaurant, La Bastide de Moustiers.
Reply to this email or fill out our intake form to ask us about what it's like to plan a trip to the Riviera with us ????.
领英推荐
Luxury Travel Trends this Summer
There are two things that we have noticed that make August 2024 very different than last year.
Airfare prices to Europe have fallen over the past few weeks.?For many destinations, airfares are the lowest they have been in years, especially business and premium economy. Examples include London, Milan, Rome, Naples, Dublin, and Edinburgh. [ above: our recent July flight from Atlanta to London.]
Hotels are actually available for last minute requests! Last year if someone called us for last-minute Amalfi Coast or Ireland, we would have far fewer solutions. For September-December, there is availability across destinations like this, and sometimes, we can make it work! This is especially true in Italy’s coastal areas and major cities as well as the UK & Ireland.
There are also great values across London. Lately, we've seen a few promotions such as a complimentary fourth night free at the new Raffles London at The OWO through March 2025, among complimentary nights at other hotels.
If you have a last minute idea in mind, let us know, and we can advise you whether it's best as one of our hotel-only bookings or if we have the capacity to help with a last minute custom trip.
latest travel news
blog posts you'll love
Get to know the founder: 12 facts about me (Abbay!)
Travel is personal. Between all the calls, emails, and texts from the first discover call to the time my clients get home, my clients usually end up becoming my friends (which makes this a super fun job!). So let’s get to know each other, shall we?
Click here to read the article.
Do the Toilets Flush the Opposite Way in New Zealand?
12 common questions I get about my 5+ years spent living in New Zealand.
"It wasn’t until my friends began asking me for videos of a toilet flush, that I knew I needed to do a better job at educating."
Click here to keep reading.
upcoming client trips
Looking for inspiration? Check out some of the places where our clients are traveling this month:
We have a lot of departures this month! Did any inspire you? Want to learn more? Get in touch.
client love
Colombia Trip. "Working with Abbay and Chris was great. They planned the entire trip other than flights which we handled ourselves. Gave us plenty of options for activities. Coordinate of transportation/logistics saved us time. Organizing Spanish speaking hosts was extremely helpful. They coordinated before, during and after the trip. I would highly recommend them for any future trip planning and we would gladly use them again". Chris, July 2024
Check out our?Reviews and Recommendations ?page to read more about what our clients are saying.
That's all for this month. I hope you've enjoyed it!
Travel Advisor | Entrepreneur | CPA | Helping professionals and busy families plan seamless travel
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