Trips by Simone

09/05/2026

A trend I fully support: skipping the winery day trip and just sleeping at the winery.

Villa Cordevigo is a 16th-century Venetian villa in the hills above Lake Garda's eastern shore, surrounded by 100 hectares of its own vineyards and olive groves. The estate grows, presses, and pours everything itself, so the wine at dinner and the olive oil at breakfast were made a short stroll from your room.

And this is no farmhouse. The villa has been in noble hands since the 1600s. Frescoed ceilings, a private chapel where counts once heard Mass, gardens laid out with Italian precision, and a pool that looks straight down the vine rows. Dinner is at Oseleta, where a Michelin-starred kitchen cooks from the harvest happening outside the door.

Advisor tip: Verona sits 30 minutes down the road, which puts the Roman Arena, Juliet's balcony, and Italy's best aperitivo hour within easy reach of any stay.

Reach out, and I'll start planning.

09/04/2026

Five places on Earth that don't feel like Earth. Consider this my favorite category of trip to plan.

Iceland: black sand beaches, steaming lava fields, and ice caves glowing blue from within.

Namibia: red dunes the height of skyscrapers in the world’s oldest desert.

Bolivia: the Salar de Uyuni, a salt flat that turns into a perfect mirror of the sky.

Antarctica: blue ice, emperor penguins, and silence you can hear.

Cappadocia: valleys of stone spires with hundreds of balloons rising at dawn.

No spacecraft required, just a good plan. Message me and pick your planet.

09/03/2026

A shift I’ve noticed in this fall’s bookings: clients are choosing the culture first and the destination second.

Seeing the landmark is easy. Understanding what you are looking at is the part that changes the trip. A temple ceremony in Bali, a festival in Mexico, and a market or fortified village in Morocco each ask something different of the traveler. Timing, local context, etiquette, and the right guide turn a colorful stop into an experience that makes sense.

This is why cultural travel cannot be reduced to a list of famous places. I plan around what is happening, how clients want to participate, and how much time the destination deserves. Some days need a guide. Others need a free afternoon after the introduction.

If there’s an art form, a tradition, or an era you love, that’s a trip. Tell me what moves you, and I’ll start planning.

09/03/2026

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.

09/02/2026

That dinner on the beach looks effortless. The planning behind it is not.

A private setup depends on timing, weather, dietary needs, the right table, and a team that knows what the occasion is meant to feel like. The same is true for airport assistance, a guide at the exact right hour, connecting rooms, or a surprise waiting after arrival.

These details rarely appear in the headline itinerary, but they are often what clients remember. I track them early, confirm them again, and make sure they work with the rest of the day. A special moment loses some of its appeal if everyone arrives rushed or hungry.

Tell me what matters, even if it seems small. Those are often the details worth planning most carefully.

09/01/2026

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.

09/01/2026

The Dewberry might be the most stylish reason to visit Charleston right now, and I'm far from the only one saying so.

Virtuoso just named it the best independent hotel in the world. Add a Michelin Key, a spot on the Travel + Leisure 500, and a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice award, and the trophy shelf is getting crowded.

The hotel occupies a restored 1964 federal building facing Marion Square, reimagined in brass, walnut, and marble as one of the finest examples of mid-century design in the South. The Living Room bar has become a destination in its own right, and the Citrus Club rooftop looks out over church steeples to the harbor, a view almost no one else in this low-rise city can offer.

You're also perfectly placed. King Street shopping, the historic district, and Charleston's celebrated restaurants are all within walking distance.

A different side of Charleston, same Southern welcome. Message me to start planning!

08/31/2026

Flown recently? Then you’ve felt it. Record passenger volumes, tighter ID requirements, and construction at major hubs have changed the math on getting to your gate. Here’s how I protect my clients from all of it:

I build realistic buffers. Tight connections that worked five years ago don’t work now, especially through the busiest international hubs.

I arrange fast-track and VIP services. Many airports offer expedited security, private escorts, and lounge access that most travelers never hear about. I book them routinely.

I watch your flights. Delays and cancellations get handled while you’re still in the air, not after you’ve landed and joined a rebooking line of 200 people.

And a reminder for U.S. travelers: REAL ID is now required for domestic flights, so check that license before your next trip.

The airport is part of the trip. I plan it like one.

08/30/2026

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.

08/29/2026

Planning Portugal and only thinking about Lisbon? Allow me to make the case for the north.

Porto is one of Europe’s great second cities, and Infante Sagres is its grande dame.

Opened in 1951 as the city’s first luxury hotel, it has hosted royalty, heads of state, and film stars ever since. The stained-glass staircase alone is worth walking up and down twice.

The location is the other reason I book it: you’re in the heart of downtown, an easy walk to Livraria Lello, the Ribeira riverfront, and the port wine lodges across the river in Gaia.

Insider tip: pair Porto with the Douro Valley, about 90 minutes away, for wine country after the city. Reach out to start planning.