Exclusive Experiences
When a travel advisor says they can book you exclusive experiences that you can’t book online, what exactly does that mean? Travel advisors work through in-destination partners that work exclusively on a business to business level. These partners on the ground curate unique experiences that you literally cannot book on the internet. What kind of experiences could these include? Read below to see my round-up of some of my favorites.
1) London - Go ‘behind the scenes’ at the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace! Ever wanted to know what music the Queen likes? Who nearly caused a diplomatic incident by stopping to admire the paintings? This is your chance to find out! Don’t leave without trying on the helmets and breastplates of the Household Cavalry and the Bearskin Hat and Red Tunic of the actual Guards themselves for the ultimate photo opp.
2) Spain - Have lunch at the well-known Gastronomic Club of San Sebastian (a temple for foodies!), an experience typically only accessible to members. Your day will start with a walk to one of the Central Markets of San Sebastian where you will meet local farmers and producers to buy a variety of seasonal products. Afterwards, you will head to the private Gastronomic Club for a lunch based on seasonal products.
3) Croatia - Join a chef at his private table at one of Dubrovnik's best restaurants, where you'll be treated to a one-of-a-kind culinary journey through the flavors of the region with breathtaking views of the Old Town's harbor. With years of experience in the industry and a track record of success running some of Dubrovnik's most popular restaurants and working as a private chef for celebrities and for yachts and private villas, the chef is the perfect guide for this culinary adventure.
4) Tanzania - Enjoy a safari picnic shaded by an Acacia tree surrounded by the great migration while enjoying a menu crafted by a Michelin-star Chef. You’ll enjoy a gourmet lunch in the wild while animals parade by on their quest to find food and water.
5) Costa Rica - Enjoy a rare opportunity to experience life as a traditional Sabanero (a Costa Rican cowboy). Embark on a horseback riding adventure through wildlife-rich trails with a Guanacastecan Sabanero, try your hand at herding cattle, and visit a traditional gallada, where you can savor authentic Guanacaste cuisine.
6) India - Sit down for a meal at the home of India's nobility and savor an array of royal recipes that have been passed down through generations. These noble families have hosted dinners for a number of famous figures like Queen Elizabeth and Jackie Kennedy.
7) South Africa - Hop into a helicopter and fly to an exclusive location for an unbelievable day of champagne and seafood. Mussels and oysters are farmed right in front of the property here so they are incredibly fresh and delicious. Your delicious meal of mussels and oysters will be prepared in a boma (over a fire in a traditional African fashion) and served with champagne, bread, smoked fish, and soft drinks on the beach. After lunch, go for a swim on the beautiful beach, before hopping back into the helicopter for your ride back to Cape Town.
8) Ireland - This off-the-beaten-path journey offers private overland discovery with not a tour bus in sight along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Drink in the views as you make your way to quite literally, the edge of Europe in an expedition 4x4 vehicles to enjoy the vistas undisturbed. Enjoy whiskey tastings and pairings along the way, in addition to a private-chef prepared barbeque, a lesson in Gaelic games, ax throwing, rock climbing, hiking - the possibilities are endless!
9) Portugal - A Portuguese native, this mixologist spent several years training in mixology in some of London’s top cocktail bars. When she decided to move back to Lisbon, she opened her own bar that focuses on using freshly foraged or locally-made ingredients and supporting local producers to create signature cocktails. This immersive experience has two main stages - first, you'll go for a foraging expedition in Monsanto Forest Park to collect ingredients and then you'll head to her stylish cocktail bar and embark on a private mixology class using the ingredients foraged. You'll get to play with the portable distillation machines in order to extract flavors and aromas and then learn how to mix them to create a custom cocktail just for you.
Interested in working together to craft a perfect itinerary for your trip, full of exclusive experiences that you can’t book online? Fill out my Trip Design Form to get started. Have a question? Fill out the form below and let me know!