Sky Lodge & Machu Picchu | WTN? Tokyo EDITION | Highlight

WHERE TO NEXT?

Dear Traveler,

One of the favorite parts of my week is writing this newsletter to you. I love sharing my favorite finds and insights from around the world in the hopes you will learn something new or be inspired to go somewhere different.

I also love reading, learning and being inspired. My chosen book genre is usually a type of non-fiction, but this week my beach read is Olga Dies Dreaming. While lounging by the pool I'm also reading lots of travel content. One opinion piece I came across resonated with me and I'd love to get your take on it. You can read it here:

A Luxury Brand’s Weakness? Getting The Human Connection Right

It's not from a publication I usually read, but the opinion of the author is one I agree with - whether it's with luxury travel or really any consumer experience.

I'll pull out a few quotes:

Friendliness is simply the minimum expected state in a luxury context.

Many luxury brands have become too focused on the product itself, forgetting that the real value lies in the experience and emotional connection that it creates for the consumer. The challenge for these brands is to find ways to create meaningful, personal connections with their customers that are genuine and authentic.

Ultimately, the key to success for luxury brands is to recognize that human connection is the foundation of their business. From the brand story, to highly trained sales associates, t0 technology-enabled personalization, luxury brands must find ways to create meaningful and genuine human connections with their customers if they want to thrive in the long term. This requires a commitment to authenticity, transparency, and a deep understanding of what their customers truly value.

What do you think about the opinions expressed above?

I agree that a feeling of connection is essential in creating a luxury experience

Connection is a nice to have but not an essential part of a luxury experience

The feeling of connection is not a relevant factor in my enjoyment of a luxury experience

OK now on to the Bahamas...

I'm at the BahaMar Resort. It is made up of three hotels - the SLS, Grand Hyatt and Rosewood, all on the same property with a shared waterpark, beach and restaurants.

Many teenagers would consider it a perfect spring break spot and I've sent many families here. We are traveling with friends and between us have 5 teens. We bumped into other friends from Hanover who are here with kids as young as 8 and the grandparents.

There is a lot to please a variety of tastes - 40+ restaurants, 10 pools, a huge waterpark and the Caribbean Sea.

There are flamingos, macaws, sharks and fish. You can jump off a huge boulder into the pool, swim through an area surrounded by sharks and stingrays, zoom down a vertical slide, lounge in a lazy river, play mini golf, take out kayaks, play tennis, pickleball and basketball, workout in the huge fitness center or luxuriate in one of the two spas.

Off property play golf, charter a boat, go fishing, snorkeling or swimming with pigs. Head over to the local fish fry or sail out to a more remote beach.

Oh - and a casino. The HUGE casino that makes me forget I'm in the Caribbean and feel like I'm in Vegas.

For real.

I haven't been to Vegas in 20 years and I'm now reminded why. Although I do love playing craps. In my early 20's I learned how to play. And what I love about knowing how to play craps is that it gives me the ability to teach others how to play. Which on this trip is my son and his friends, as well as other bystanders looking over my shoulder trying to make sense of the game.

The other beneficiaries of my craps knowledge are the seniors at our high school's all night graduation party. I play the role of the croupier next month. I guess I enjoy demystifying things - whether it be preparing you for the perfect African safari, hiking in Patagonia or how to immerse in the culture of Peru.

Back to The Bahamas...

Everyone is different and for some people or under the right circumstances, this place is perfect. Although I admit, it's not my usual destination as I prefer boutique sized hotels that are more low key.

Despite the not great weather the last two days, we are all having a fun! We've learned waterparks, pools, beaches and even golf can all be enjoyed when the weather isn't ideal. And when you are with people you love hanging out with, it doesn't matter where you are.

With three hotels on one property, how do you choose where to stay? If you are looking for the most luxury, exclusive experience, that's easy - the Rosewood. If you are looking for lots of action and energy for a family visit - the Grand Hyatt and if you are young-at-heart adults wanting a scene - the SLS. Yes there are some nuances, but that's a good general delineation.

This week's articles highlighted below take you to Montenegro, Patagonia, New Zealand, Greece, St. Tropez, Uruguay, the Amalfi Coast and Mexico. Also learn about the 15 best new hotels in the world, upgrades at airport lounges and guidelines for tipping everywhere. And please read an important Q&A on passport expirations.

Enjoy your week!

Warmly,

Below:

This week's highlight - glamping above Los Angeles
Where to Next? Tokyo EDITION
Where in the World is Jessie? Machu Picchu
Q&A: My passport expires in November. Can I safely travel with it to Europe this summer?
Articles to Inspire+Inform

GLAMPING ABOVE L.A.

I love unconventional accommodations.

A luxury glamping tent perched high above Rodeo Drive is a fun and unconventional choice when visiting LA.

"Climb a staircase to the hidden entrance of a private 2,140-square-foot terrace that’s been transformed into a luxurious campground. Awaiting on this tenth-floor terrace is a 10-foot-high tent illuminated by a crystal chandelier and marble lamps. Outfitted with a queen-size bed, antique nightstands and fur rugs, the setting is so grand that it’s easy to forget this is not a romantic safari but central Los Angeles."

Enjoy a chef prepared eight-course tasting menu.

Or design your own...

Wagyu beef? Ossetra caviar? Vintage champagne?

Whatever your heart desires.

You get the best of both worlds - a beautiful room with a king bed and full size bathroom plus

a terrace with a luxury tent.

And this is not an ordinary tent.

It comes with a plush Four Seasons mattress and electricity.

Your terrace also includes a firepit.

And with a firepit and tent, s'mores are essential.

Yours will be extra special, trimmed with 24-karat gold.

Where is this?

At the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

If you'd like to explore while you're in LA, consider...

attending an NFL, NBA or MLB game

seeing Drake, Taylor Swift or Beyonce in concert

taking a VIP studio tour or

dining at world famous Mr. Chow, South Beverly Grill or

on the $28 3 course prix-fixe lunch at the Hideaway.

📷 Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire

🌟 Our clients recently spent time in Japan, now fully reopened to travelers. On arrival they stayed at the stunning Tokyo EDITION, a skyscraper in the Toranomon neighborhood.

Why is the Tokyo EDITION so special?

The rooms and suites all have iconic skyline views that include Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Bay. 15 rooms have outdoor terraces - a rarity in Tokyo.
Three distinct dining options are within the hotel - The Gold Bar, The Blue Room and The Jade Room & Garden Terrace.
The Gold Bar is on the ground floor, easy for late night drinks and known for their unique cocktails like the Tipsy Riceman and Curious Cacao Fizz. Enjoy the DJ on Friday and Saturday nights (definitely reserve ahead) at one of the most hard-to-get-in night entertainment venues in Tokyo.
The Blue Room serves a menu with international dishes, including plant-based signature salads, local fish and sharing platters.
The Jade Room & Garden Terrace, spearheaded by Michelin star chef, Tom Aikens, offers both a la carte and tasting menus. The outdoor terrace on the 31^stfloor is covered in greenery and offers a breathtaking view of the Tokyo Tower. Dine there during the warm weather!
A family friendly hotel, you can surprise your children by reserving a play tent and toys set up in the room for you on arrival.

Do as much or as little as you like:

The private pool area is designed like a conservatory for relaxation.
Swim in the 45 foot heated lap pool or work out in the 24-hour state of the art gym.
The full-service spa has 6 treatment rooms, including a couples' suite for massages and facials and uses only products organically sourced in Japan.
Complimentary bicycles are available to borrow for a few hours or entire day for exploring the city.

‼️ Don’t miss… exploring Mt. Fuji, about 60 miles outside of Tokyo. Day trips can be arranged for a hike, from beginner to more advanced trails.

Use your credit from booking with Truvay Travel for sake and sushi at the Jade Room & Garden Terrace.

For more Tokyo inspiration, see the EDITION's guide to local shopping, dining, nightlife and design here and NY Times article on 36 Hours in Tokyo.

📷 Tokyo EDITION

(For those new to the newsletter, Jessie is our 19 year old daughter on a gap year. She spent the fall exploring Europe and is now adventuring around South America)

Last week you read Jessie and Siska had arrived in Cusco, a city with something for all types of travelers. It caters to both backpackers (lots of hostels, inexpensive cafes and fun things to do that cost next to nothing) and luxury travelers (two Belmond hotels plus many more luxury options).

From Cusco they went to the only accommodation that is an overlap with my recent trip to Peru- the SkyLodge Adventure Suites - glass capsules secured into the side of a vertical cliff. To reach them intrepid travelers spend a few hours scaling a via ferrata to eventually arrive at the "dining room" pod for dinner.

I suggested to Jessie that they sit on the platform above their capsule (caribeenered in of course) at night after dinner. She wrote me so happy she did it. The stars covered the sky and there was a brilliant full moon.

The next morning after a breakfast of eggs, coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice they took a series of ziplines to get down the cliff.

It's fun.

It's adventurous.

It takes you out of your comfort zone.

And Jessie said they are 100% thrilled they opted to splurge on the experience.

Next they spent more time in the Sacred Valley, based out of Ollantaytambo. I feel so fortunate that my guide, Carlos, was available to take the girls to the local Inca terraces and salt mines and then enjoy lunch with his teenagers. It was a special day.

From there - to Machu Picchu! The girls again listened to me (love that!) and did the full day hike on the Inca Trail. They were lucky to have great weather for the climb, but sadly cloudy weather when they reached Machu Picchu.

However, on the bright side when planning we scheduled them a second visit the next day to spend more time exploring Machu Picchu. See what a difference that made in their view:

Day 1

Day 2

That also gave them the opportunity to climb one of the two steep hikes to get high above Machu Picchu. They chose Waynapicchu and you can see the terrain below. One hour straight up vertical steps! And it involves a bit of a narrow tunnel - see Jessie going through it here.

Was it worth it? Jessie says ABSOLUTELY!

She loved the Machu Picchu guide I found for them - he was fun, engaging and deeply knowledgeable on Incan history. For me, guides and people in general, can make or break any experience. So when I have a traveler tell me how much they loved a guide, it makes my heart happy.

Yesterday they left Cusco to fly on to Medellín, Colombia for the next part of their adventure.

QUESTION

My passport expires in November. Can I safely travel with it to Europe this summer?

ANSWER

First with passport dates and validity, exact information is essential. In this case that is referring to dates and countries. For this purpose I'll assume you are traveling on a US passport.

For many countries of the world passports must be valid for 6+ months (to the day!) from the date you will exit the country. However with many Schengen Zone countries in Europe it is not 6 months, it is only 3 months. But, as often happens with traveling, the airline agent in front of you often makes the call and sometimes they incorrectly may think a European country is like the rest of the world and needs 6 months validity. The US State Department page specifically says "European countries within the Schengen zone generally have a three-month validity requirement." I bolded the word generally because that is important! Make sure the specific country you are going to is included.

You may think that you have accuracy on your side, which may be true, but in the case above, it's entirely possible that the time it takes to resolve the issue with an ill-informed gate agent delays you and you miss your flight. No need for added stress!

If you've read some of the articles in the last weeks' newsletters you know passport turnaround times are at a high. I called our local passport office this week and they told me expedited is running 7-9 weeks and regular 12-14 weeks.

Personally, I've been confronted with this issue as my son's passport also expires in November. We are in the Bahamas this week so he needed it with him. But we go to Italy in June so even if we renew it the day we get home from the Bahamas, expedited is cutting it close. The alternative is to have him travel with it to Italy, knowing it has less than 6 months of validity.

It's a risk.

And this time I'm taking it.

Normally I wouldn't cut it so close but I'm hoping it all works out. In the back of my head I'll feel more relieved once he's on the ground in Italy!

See the US State Department's up to date estimates on passport processing times here. If you have international travel within the next 14 days call 1-877-487-2778 to make an appointment at an agency for an extra expedited passport.

As a general rule, so you don't have to get in the weeds on this, simply ensure your passport is valid for 6+months from your return date no matter where you are going.