Torres del Paine, Patagonia

WHERE TO NEXT?

Good morning Traveler,


Last Friday evening at 5:55pm my heart sank.

"Mimi, We just received an official statement from the Torres del Paine National park informing that the access of visitors to the Base Las Torres and Valle del Frances paths will be temporarily restricted due to the low temperatures and low visibility and the presence of white wind. This is to avoid any accidents in the area.


Park rangers are assigned to the area and will be monitoring and assessing the situation. 


Juliana contacted Las Torres to better understand the situation since Jessica and her friend are in the affected area."


Not the message you want to receive when you teenage daughter is in the middle of Patagonia sleeping in tents with no cell reception.


White wind?

What is that?!


In my brain it was Mt. Everest-style winds fiercely blowing about banks of snow, blocking their vision and possibly making them take a wrong turn onto a trail to nowhere.


I immediately did what I could to gather more intel and figure out if there was a way to find out if she was ok. My partner gave me the number to the refugio.


I called.


No answer.


I emailed with various people I knew who reassured me that campers will be provided with extra blankets if needed (that didn't seem like quite enough!). My partner told me their guide would be in the area the next day and they would look for Jessie to make sure she and Siska were ok (that actually gave me a light hearted moment wondering what it would be like to be in the middle of Patagonia and have a stranger walk up to you and say "your mom would like you to call her." Imagine!)


Then I took my own advice that I gave her not even a week earlier as she was preparing to head out on a 3 month adventure with no real structure.


Worry pretends to be necessary. Productive even. But it's not. It accomplishes nothing.

Instead I helped her populate her brain with more helpful thoughts like "I've got this." "No matter what happens I can figure it out."


So I talked myself into not worrying.


I had existing dinner plans with friends that night. I went. I was a little preoccupied so I told them what was going on. But I enjoyed myself and appreciated their company as a distraction. We all agreed she was ok.


18 hours and 11 minutes later at 1:06pm on Saturday afternoon I received a WhatsApp and a very brief conversation followed:


Hi mom it's Jessie!!!! All is well. We just arrived at camp Frances!


Me: You're alive!!! Are you ok? We heard about the weather.


Jessie: Yes! We made it up to hike yesterday before it closed. Left at 3am. All good!


Me: Whoa! Because you knew weather was coming?


Jessie: Nope. Because we wanted sunrise! Okay got to go! Love you all!

Oh the relief!


And they woke up at 3a to catch the sunrise. I love those girls! They are determined.


We raised a strong, capable daughter. And then we let her go.


She's using her knowledge, experience and preparedness to adventure around South America with no script.


An experience of a lifetime!

As if you needed another excuse to go to South Africa (besides the wildlife). This week's Highlight takes us to an incredible restaurant in Cape Town.


And our Hot New Hotel Opening this week is actually also a Where to Next? as we have clients arriving there next week. It's in Dubai, and as you might expect it is OTT (over the top)!


Below there are many great articles in the newly renamed Inspiration + Information section... new floating treehouses at beloved Blackberry Mountain, new book recs for vacation, a Caribbean island perfect for hiking, solo travel ideas and the impact of strikes in Europe on your travel plans plus so many more!


Have a great week!

Warmly,

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Below:

  • This week's highlight - FYN in Cape Town
  • Hot New Hotel Opening & Where to Next? - Atlantis the Royal
  • Where in the World is Jessie? Patagonia!
  • Inspiration + Information

FYN

One of the bonuses of going on safari to South Africa is flying in and/or out of Cape Town.


Cape Town is a destination that stands on its own. If it were as close as Western Europe I would go there multiple times a year. But since it's about as far as you can get from the US, it is typically paired with a safari.


I think the question is do you add Cape Town on to your safari or do you add your safari on to your trip to Cape Town? ;)


Cape Town has too many pluses to count. Today we'll just focus on one.


Food.


Fyn (pronounced feign) is by definition a culinary treasure. A foodie's paradise in the heart of Cape Town.


With an African inspired menu accented with a Japanese flair, the photos of their food have me obsessed. The tastes, flavors, textures and eclectic cooking styles add a dimension to the food and the dining experience that you will not find anywhere else.


They serve five-course, kaiseki-style menus. Each course has been described as "a taste explosion that leaves you wanting more."


Cape Town's publication, Mail & Guardian, says it's "Ideal for: Impressing someone on a date or closing a deal with clients. The restaurant’s mood is sultry and sophisticated. You’ll love the ceiling of wooden disks inspired by the soroban (a Japanese abacus) swelling into the double volume space."


Where are the best seats in the house?


  • Choose between a table on the mezzanine in front of the triple-height windows - giving you a spectacular view of the sunset or


  • Sit at the kitchen counter tables overlooking the open kitchen, enjoying an interactive experience with the chefs.


Sometimes my trips are inspired by relatively small things. The tuna dish at FYN (below) is one of them. Get yourself to Cape Town - you will be impressed in so many ways! But of course also add on a safari.

📷 FYN

🌟 In February 2023 a new resort officially opened in Dubai. Atlantis the Royal is a one-of-a-kind property at the end of the Palm facing the Persian Gulf.  Atlantis The Royal is all about making the impossible possible. Beyoncé performed at their opening party (earning a mere $24 million) and their most fabulous suite is $100,000/night (which is where she stayed). Condé Nast Traveler attended the opening party and described it in this article. The resort is over-the-top in every way.


“Atlantis the Royal is about experiencing something you never imagined could be and the architecture sets this up masterfully,” says Tim Kelly, managing director. There are “six towers joined together by a 90-foot infinity pool, redrawing the Dubai skyline and creating a new icon on the Palm.” 


Why visit Atlantis the Royal?

  • The property is an architectural beauty - resembling a super-size Jenga game. A series of angular boxes set on top of each other with pools, restaurants and experiences scattered throughout the 43 floors. 
  • Every room has a balcony and floor to ceiling windows with a view of the island and Dubai skyline or the Gulf. Our clients will be staying in the Sky Pool Villa (pictured below).
  • A 295 foot infinity pool sits 315 feet above sea level on the 22nd floor with cabanas available for luxuriating all afternoon.
  • The 17 restaurants include Michelin star, celebrity chefs, and casual dining experiences that rival some of the best in the world. 
  • Sea life is immersed throughout the property. The lobby holds the world’s largest jellyfish tank with more than 2,000 jellyfish. The Lost Chambers Aquarium has 65,000 marine animals and offers educational programs for children, snorkeling options and aquarium yoga.
  • For an over-the-top experience, book the 11,000 square foot Royal Mansion. It has four bedrooms, an infinity pool, personal butler and outdoor kitchen. Beyonce has already stayed here!


Of course it comes with the VIP treatment and amenities as a Truvay Travel client. I can not wait to hear what our clients have to say about it!

📷 Atlantis The Royal

As you know from above, Jessie just finished hiking the W Trek in Torres del Paine, Chilean Patagonia. She arrived to her hostel at 10pm last night and at 5:45am this morning she was on a bus to Argentinian Patagonia for more exploration and adventuring.


Patagonia is on the bucket list for many of my clients because the landscape is stunning, the adventures are plentiful and if desired, the accommodations are luxurious. One of the other benefits of Patagonia is there are so many options for how to experience it! Today I'll focus on one of the favorites - hiking the W Trek. We'll gloss over the most absolute basic option and start with what Jessie did, which I term the Basic option.


  • Basic - staying at a platform campsite next to a refugio, that includes an outfitted tent, blankets, pillow etc. (first photo below), getting a meal package so you have warm breakfasts and lunches and a picnic lunch for you each day made by the refugios. You also have access to warm showers and bathroom facilities. You carry your own gear. Hiking the full W Trek.
  • Upgraded basic - similar to above but staying in a bed at the refugios with the meal package and having a porter carry your gear. You can do this with or without a guide.
  • Luxe - staying at one of the luxury lodges within or near the park and enjoying portions (but not all) of the W Trek on outings each day, as well as many other types of adventures. Then going back to sleep in a comfy bed, luxuriate in the spa, eat incredible food and drink the best Chilean wines.


In a way, the various options have some similarities of visiting Machu Picchu - you can make it a multi-day trek with more primitive accommodations, a multi-day trek with upgraded accommodations or visit Machu Picchu as a day trip from a luxury hotel. The choice is yours!


Which would you choose?


Whichever you select in Patagonia, I highly recommend you do the hike that takes you over the suspension bridge to Grey Glacier - it's incredible! See Jessie's photo of the Grey Glacier below. Also for more stunning photos, including of the suspension bridge, check out Michael Matti's instagram and website. He also has many other photos that are sources of inspiration for me!

📷 Above 4 photos by Jessie

INSPIRATION+INFORMATION


Lufthansa Unveils New Cabins With Over-the-Top First and Business Suites—Here’s a First Look, AFAR


13 Small Towns in Spain That Will Make You Forget About the Big Cities,

Condé Nast Traveler


11 Tricks to Turn Your Boring Layover Into a Luxury Escape, Fodors

I did many of these tips on my 12 hour layover in London in December


These New ‘Floating’ Treehouses Literally Bring Blackberry Mountain’s Luxe Resort to New Heights, Robb Report


Skiing Town to Town in a Magical Corner of Vermont, NYT


World Wildlife Day: 6 incredible wildlife experiences for 2023, Wanderlust


Need a New U.S. Passport? Don’t Delay, Wait Times Have Climbed, AFAR


Where to see Japan's stunning cherry blossoms without the crowds, Wanderlust


St. Lucia Introduces New Entry Requirement for Visitors, Travel + Leisure


This Five-Square-Mile Island Has Some of the Caribbean’s Best Hiking, Virtuoso


Our Favorite New Vacation Reads, Virtuoso


Greta Thunberg on How We Can All Be Climate Positive Travelers, Condé Nast


Going Once, Going Twice: How to Bid on a First-Class Seat, NYT


Strikes in Europe Are Leaving Some Travelers Stranded. What You Need to Know., NYT


Black Soldiers Cycled 1,900 Miles Across the U.S. So He Did, Too, NYT


I’ve Been a Solo Traveler for 15 Years—These Are My Tips for Doing It Right, Sunset


(If you aren't able to access an NYT, WSJ or Washington Post article, send me a note and I'll send it to you in a PDF.)

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