A Personal Perspective on Travel
I love beautiful hotels, wonderful food and wine, and the feeling of being completely taken care of while I travel. But when I think about my favorite journeys, luxury is rarely what I remember most.
I remember where I was.
The centuries-old street I wandered down with no particular destination. The tiny restaurant I almost walked past. The view that made a long hike completely worthwhile. A conversation with someone who changed the way I understood a place.
For me, the best luxury travel isn't about surrounding myself with luxury. It's about combining comfort with curiosity—and leaving just enough room for adventure.
Time Is the Rarest Luxury
The Freedom to Linger
The more I travel, the more I value time.
Time to explore without watching the clock. Time for another glass of wine. Time to sit in a café and watch a city go by. Time to walk instead of immediately calling a car because you noticed something interesting a few blocks away.
Some of my favorite days have a plan without having a schedule for every minute.
I want to see the important things, but I don't want to race from one attraction to another simply because they're all on someone's list.
Sometimes luxury is having enough time to actually experience where you are.
Comfort and Adventure Can Coexist
I like adventure. I also like a very comfortable bed at the end of it.
Fortunately, I don't think I have to choose.
One day might involve museums, architecture and dinner at an exceptional restaurant. The next might mean boarding a Zodiac, hiking through an unfamiliar landscape, looking for wildlife or exploring a place that feels wonderfully remote.
I want to visit the famous sites, but I also want to know what is beyond them.
That doesn't mean every trip needs to be physically adventurous. Sometimes adventure is simply going somewhere unfamiliar, trying something you can't pronounce or following a recommendation that takes you completely off your original itinerary.
Comfort and Adventure Can Coexist
I like adventure. I also like a very comfortable bed at the end of it.
Fortunately, I don't think I have to choose.
One day might involve museums, architecture and dinner at an exceptional restaurant. The next might mean boarding a Zodiac, hiking through an unfamiliar landscape, looking for wildlife or exploring a place that feels wonderfully remote.
I want to visit the famous sites, but I also want to know what is beyond them.
That doesn't mean every trip needs to be physically adventurous. Sometimes adventure is simply going somewhere unfamiliar, trying something you can't pronounce or following a recommendation that takes you completely off your original itinerary.
One day might involve museums, architecture and dinner at an exceptional restaurant. The next might mean boarding a Zodiac, hiking through an unfamiliar landscape, looking for wildlife or exploring a place that feels wonderfully remote.
I want to visit the famous sites, but I also want to know what is beyond them.
That doesn't mean every trip needs to be physically adventurous. Sometimes adventure is simply going somewhere unfamiliar, trying something you can't pronounce or following a recommendation that takes you completely off your original itinerary.
A little uncertainty can make travel much more interesting.
Experiences over excess
There are certainly times when I want the fabulous hotel, the beautiful suite or the unforgettable meal.
But given the choice, I would rather invest in the experiences that help me understand where I am.
A knowledgeable guide who can bring centuries of history to life. A small ship that reaches places I might otherwise never see. A meal built around ingredients from the surrounding region. A wildlife encounter in its natural environment. A hotel with a story behind its walls.
Those are the luxuries I remember.
My Kind of Luxury travel
The Freedom to Linger
My version of luxury travel is comfortable but curious, polished without being predictable, and thoughtfully planned without removing every possibility for surprise.
I want beautiful places and exceptional experiences, but I also want history, culture, wildlife, regional food and wine, interesting people and a sense that I've actually experienced the destination.
Most of all, I want to come home with stories.
Because years later, I probably won't remember the thread count of the sheets.
But I will remember what I saw when I opened the window.
What Does Luxury Mean to You?
Perhaps it’s an intimate ship exploring extraordinary destinations, a private journey rich in history and culture, or simply the freedom to travel at your own pace. At Travisle, we take the time to understand what matters most to you and help you select exceptional ocean, river, expedition, and land journeys that reflect your interests and the way you love to travel.