The Departure Travel

10/09/2026

Catch the 2027 total solar eclipse on land or at sea, with the moon’s shadow tracing a path across Spain, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. With some destinations set to experience five to six minutes of totality, this rare celestial event is one to plan well in advance. 🌑✨

Reach out to plan your journey to witness this celestial show ⬇️

📷: Getty Images

These luxury cruises and hotels lie in the path of the August 2, 2027, solar eclipse, which will trace the eastern Atlantic, Spain, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula.

08/09/2026

Provence has a different rhythm when you experience it from the river. 🇫🇷

A journey along the Rhône with AmaWaterways pairs vineyard-dotted landscapes, historic cities, and unhurried mornings on a private balcony with evenings spent savoring regional cuisine and celebrated wines.

From Avignon to Arles, the Colors of Provence itinerary offers an immersive way to experience one of France’s most captivating regions. ✨

Discover more here: https://virtuoso.com/advisor/mackenziebrumley/travel/luxury-cruises/cruise-lines/6215377/amawaterways

08/09/2026

Welcome to Arctic TreeHouse Hotel in Rovaniemi, Finland. The suites sit up on stilts among the pines, each with a huge glass wall facing due north, so on a clear winter night the aurora shows up while you're still under the covers.

And on the nights it doesn't show? You won't be disappointed. The suites are a destination on their own with warm wood, clean Scandinavian lines, and that giant window framing a snow globe forest.

Santa Claus Village is just minutes away, which makes a trip here with kids about as magical as travel gets.

Lapland books far in advance for winter. Message me to learn more!

05/09/2026

Two continents, one city. Istanbul is split between Europe and Asia by the Bosphorus Strait, and hopping between them is just the morning ferry. No other major city on the planet can say that.

And that's just the geography. The Hagia Sophia has stood for 1,500 years, longer than most countries have existed. The Grand Bazaar runs 4,000 shops deep, with unlimited apple tea while you haggle. And at sunset, ferries glide across the Bosphorus while the call to prayer rolls over the water.

Advisor tip: Istanbul is one of the world's great flight hubs, so it works brilliantly as a standalone trip or a few nights tacked onto almost anywhere east.

Message me to start planning your trip!

03/09/2026

San Francisco has always known how to reinvent itself, and the city is in the midst of another comeback. New art trails, illuminated landmarks, buzzy restaurants, and revived neighborhoods are bringing a renewed sense of energy to the Bay Area's beauty. 🌁🥂

Read on about its new golden age, then let’s work together to plan your next vacation:

📷: Natasha Lee

New restaurants, buzzy bars, and fresh openings – from JouJou and Frankie’s to the Big Art Loop and A Bathing Ape’s new flagship – are fueling a comeback in this Bay Area beauty.

03/09/2026

One of Greece's best-kept secrets isn't an island. It's the mainland.

Kinsterna is a centuries-old mansion estate in the southeastern Peloponnese, named for the ancient cistern at its heart, and it has become one of the coolest stays in Greece. Many suites come with private pools. The spa runs on old Greek bathing rituals, steam and all. You can ride horses through the vineyards, take a boat down the coast, or plant yourself at the infinity pool with a glass of the estate's own wine, made a few hundred feet from your chair. And in season, guests are welcome to jump into the grape stomping, which I'm told is impossible to do with dignity and absolutely worth it.

Greece the way the mainland keeps it. Reach out to plan it.

01/09/2026

In the heart of Rome, Hotel Hassler Roma offers a welcome sense of calm, with gracious service, elegant rooms, and aperitivi served just so.

Here are five reasons this storied stay is a must-visit, from its vast wine collection to its enviable location above the Spanish Steps. 🇮🇹❤️

The Roman standby recently reopened with two refashioned lounges and a facelift for Michelin-starred Imàgo.

31/08/2026

Want the Tuscany you’ve seen in the movies, without a single tour bus in sight? I know exactly where to send you.

Borgo Santo Pietro is a restored 13th-century villa in the Val di Merse, south of Siena, surrounded by 300 acres of organic farmland, gardens, and vineyards. Nearly everything on your plate comes off that land, and the estate even produces its own skincare line, Seed to Skin, used throughout the spa.

My favorite afternoon here: a short drive to the Abbey of San Galgano, where a real sword in the stone has been embedded in rock for 800 years.

Twelve guest rooms, one working farm, zero crowds. This is the Tuscany clients ask me to find. Reach out, and I’ll plan it.

29/08/2026

Want three trips for the price of one flight? That’s Thailand.

Bangkok first: rooftop dinners, riverside hotels, street food that outperforms restaurants triple the price.

Then north to Chiang Mai for temples, artisan villages, and ethical elephant encounters in the hills.

Then the islands. Powder beaches, limestone cliffs rising out of green water, and some of the best beach resorts in Asia.

The routing between regions is where a trip gets made or broken. That’s my job. If Thailand is on your list, message me.

27/08/2026

A softer corner of Patagonia awaits in Chile's Lake District, where volcano views, glacial lakes, and peaceful fjords replace the rush to the summit. Discover why slow adventure shines here, then reach out to start planning your escape. 🌋🏞️

📷: Laura Macías Acuña

Puerto Varas, Lake Llanquihue, Reloncaví fjord, and Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park reward travelers willing to trade summit fever for a slower pace.