Elsewhere by Laura

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Elsewhere by Laura Elsewhere by Laura luxury travel design services
Condé Nast Top Travel Specialist for 2023, 2024 and 2025
Affiliated with Travel Edge Network - TICO 50013138

What do I recommend to clients who have already done the classic safari? A salt pan the size of a small country!Jack’s C...
10/22/2026

What do I recommend to clients who have already done the classic safari? A salt pan the size of a small country!

Jack’s Camp is set on the edge of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans, and it does safari like nowhere else on the continent. The signature experiences here exist almost nowhere else: sitting at sunrise with a habituated colony of meerkats (they’ll climb onto your shoulder to use you as a lookout), walking the desert with Zu/‘hoasi San guides who read the land like a book, and riding quad bikes far out onto the pans to sleep under a ceiling of stars.

The camp itself is legendary, rebuilt in its original 1940s expedition style with Persian rugs, brass fittings, and a tent that doubles as a working natural history museum. In the wet months, a little-known zebra migration moves through the grasslands.

Consider this the safari that surprises even the seasoned. Let’s get you out on the pans!

How does being one of the very first guests on the Riviera’s newest private island sound? 🇫🇷Zannier Île de Bendor opened...
10/20/2026

How does being one of the very first guests on the Riviera’s newest private island sound? 🇫🇷

Zannier Île de Bendor opened this May, bringing a new kind of escape to the coast, just seven minutes by boat from Bandol. The car-free island has been reimagined as a small village, with 93 rooms across three distinct houses, each with its own character.

Days here can be as active or unhurried as you like: swimming in a secluded cove, diving into the Mediterranean, moving between eight restaurants and bars, or spending an afternoon at one of the region’s largest spas.

For those who love discovering a place before everyone else does, this is one to have on your radar. ✨

Get in touch to start planning your stay!

South Africa is one of the most itinerary-flexible destinations in the world, with so much to offer! Here’s how my clien...
09/28/2026

South Africa is one of the most itinerary-flexible destinations in the world, with so much to offer! Here’s how my clients are experiencing it on their journey this week…

Cape Town first. It’s one of the most visually striking cities on earth, and the design hotel and restaurant scene here is incredible. Table Mountain, the Atlantic Seaboard, the Cape Peninsula. Most clients who go for a few days wish they had more!

For w**e: Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are truly world-class. The estate stays in Franschhoek in particular, with long lunches, cellar visits, and mountain scenery that doesn’t match most people’s image of Africa at all.

For wildlife: Combining Thornybush and Victoria Falls River Lodge offers a wonderful pairing of two very different sides of Southern Africa. At Thornybush, settle into the rhythm of the bush with expertly guided game drives, Big Five sightings and intimate moments in the wilderness, followed by time to relax and enjoy the lodge. From there, continue to Victoria Falls River Lodge for a more water-focused experience along the Zambezi River, combining wildlife viewing by boat with the spectacular landscapes and natural wonder of Victoria Falls. The result is a beautifully balanced safari journey—immersive, adventurous and varied, with both the thrill of the African bush and the magic of the Zambezi.

This is a really special way to experience South Africa for the first time. If safari is on your travel bucket list, let’s talk through what makes sense for your trip!

“How far in advance should I book?”It’s probably the question I’m asked most often — and the truth is, it depends.As a g...
09/23/2026

“How far in advance should I book?”

It’s probably the question I’m asked most often — and the truth is, it depends.

As a general rule, here’s when I recommend starting to plan:

12+ months out: Safaris, Antarctica and expedition cruises, Japan during cherry blossom season, festive holiday travel, and river cruises.
9–12 months: Australia & New Zealand, European summer at the best properties, and multigenerational trips where you need connecting rooms or a villa.
6–9 months: Most European trips, Southeast Asia, and Caribbean winter travel.
Under 6 months: City breaks, shoulder-season Europe, Mexico — and, occasionally, some last-minute magic thanks to the relationships I’ve built with hotels and local partners. (More on this tomorrow!)

The biggest factor isn’t necessarily the destination - it’s availability. The smaller the property, the more specific the dates, and the more in-demand the season, the earlier I’d recommend booking. This helps you secure the best rooms, at the best price.

So if you have a trip in mind but aren’t sure when you should start planning, send me a message! I’m always happy to help you figure out the timing.

The Orient Express is now a sailing yacht. And not just any sailing yacht — the largest ever built. 🛥️The Corinthian beg...
08/31/2026

The Orient Express is now a sailing yacht. And not just any sailing yacht — the largest ever built. 🛥️

The Corinthian began sailing this summer, and it’s one of those new ships that really is worth paying attention to.

Three masts rise 328 feet above the sea, with just 54 suites across 722 feet of yacht. There are five restaurants overseen by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, a 1930s-inspired speakeasy, and even a Parisian cabaret at sea.

The interiors draw on the glamour of the golden age of ocean liners, reinterpreted through contemporary French design and craftsmanship. And I particularly love the itineraries: one to four-night voyages that can be combined, without repeating a single port.

The Mediterranean season runs through October before the Corinthian heads to the Caribbean for winter.

It’s rare that something this new actually feels this special. I have a feeling these first seasons are going to be the ones people talk about for years.

The Orient Express, reborn under sail. 🌊

Reach out if you’d like to see the itineraries or learn more!

It was such a joy helping this family with their last minute getaway to Europe this summer, including stays at some of m...
08/26/2026

It was such a joy helping this family with their last minute getaway to Europe this summer, including stays at some of my favourite properties that I’ve personally visited in Paris Hotel La Fantaisie ✯✯✯✯✯ , Puglia Palazzo Presta and Venice Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione .. memorable stays with spacious suites and lovely added amenities for the whole family!

Looking to elevate your next trip with the kids? I’m here to help!

New clients are sometimes surprised by how many questions I ask before I start planning a trip. There’s a reason for eve...
08/24/2026

New clients are sometimes surprised by how many questions I ask before I start planning a trip. There’s a reason for every one!

When I ask how you like your mornings, I’m thinking about whether you’ll be happier with breakfast delivered to your room or a great café downstairs.

When I ask about your favourite moment from a past trip, I’m trying to understand what actually makes travel memorable for you — not just what you think you’re supposed to want.

And when I ask how you feel about long travel days, I’m figuring out how to build the route so the journey feels like part of the experience, not something you have to get through.

The little details matter. Your answers shape the hotels, the pace, the destinations, and all the recommendations I make in between.

Because the goal isn’t just to plan a great trip. It’s to plan your ideal trip.

So when I ask a lot of questions, answer honestly. And with that, I’ll bring your vision to life!

“Wait, hotels have Michelin ratings now?” I’ve been asked some version of this a dozen times this year, so let’s decode ...
08/20/2026

“Wait, hotels have Michelin ratings now?”

I’ve been asked some version of this a dozen times this year, so let’s decode it!

Michelin Keys: launched in 2024, awarded to hotels rather than restaurants. One Key means a special stay, two means exceptional, and three places a hotel among the world’s very best.

Forbes Travel Guide Stars: the long-standing gold standard for service. Inspectors visit anonymously and grade hundreds of touchpoints. Five Stars is the top honour and genuinely hard to earn.

As a travel advisor, I see these awards as a great starting point, not the final answer.

A Three Key hotel might be spectacular, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right hotel for your trip. In fact, some of my favourite properties are smaller, independent hotels that don’t have the awards—or the marketing budgets—to put them on everyone’s radar.

The ratings tell you a hotel is excellent. My job is to tell you if it’s excellent for you!

That’s the difference, and the value of working with me and my firsthand knowledge, personal experience, and relationships that come from knowing these hotels beyond what you see online.

Ready to elevate your hotel stays? Let’s work together! ✨

“How far in advance should I book?”It’s probably the question I hear most often — and the honest answer is: it depends o...
08/13/2026

“How far in advance should I book?”

It’s probably the question I hear most often — and the honest answer is: it depends on the trip.

So, consider this your travel booking cheat sheet:

12+ months: Safaris, Antarctica and expedition cruises, Japan during cherry blossom season, festive holiday travel, and river cruises.

9–12 months: Australia & New Zealand, European summer at the best properties, and multi-generational trips where you need connecting rooms or a villa.

6–9 months: Most European trips, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean in winter.

Under 6 months: City breaks, shoulder-season Europe, Mexico — and the occasional last-minute trip I can pull together thanks to the relationships I’ve built with hotels and partners around the world.

The general rule? The smaller the property, the more in-demand the destination, and the more specific your dates, the earlier you should start.

And if you’re wondering where your trip falls on the list, just ask me. That’s what I’m here for! ✈️

Four New York hotels. Four completely different versions of the city.I recently spent time exploring some of New York’s ...
08/10/2026

Four New York hotels. Four completely different versions of the city.

I recently spent time exploring some of New York’s most distinctive luxury hotels with The Leading Hotels of the World and the biggest takeaway? Choosing the right hotel is less about finding the best one and more about finding the one that feels right for how you want to experience New York.

Swipe to choose which is best for you..
Gilded glamour → The Fifth Avenue Hotel
Downtown cool → The Greenwich
Bohemian history → Hotel Chelsea
Upper East Side elegance → The Lowell

This is exactly why I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all hotel list. The right hotel can completely change the way a city feels.

If New York is on your list, I’d be happy to help you find your version of the city. ✨

The Fifth Avenue Hotel
Glamorous & quietly grand
A beautifully restored Gilded Age mansion meets sleek modern design, with an intimate, residential feel. Think old New York elegance with a contemporary edge — and an address that puts you right in the middle of NoMad.

The Greenwich Hotel
Cool & discreet
Tucked away in Tribeca, this is the kind of hotel that feels like a secret. Rich interiors, serious privacy, a legendary courtyard and a distinctly downtown sensibility. Perfect if you want to feel like you’re actually living in New York.

Hotel Chelsea
Iconic & artistic
Few hotels have a story quite like the Chelsea. Legendary, eccentric and steeped in New York history, with a creative energy that still feels very much alive. Come for the history, stay for the atmosphere.

The Lowell
Classic & understated
A true Upper East Side institution. Residential, refined and wonderfully removed from the buzz of Midtown. This is New York at its most polished — think fireplaces, terraces, impeccable service and a timeless sense of place.

Address

Toronto, ON

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

2493602216

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