Windward and Crown

08/31/2026

Here’s a piece of hotel trivia we love sharing with clients: Ritz-Carlton has around 100 hotels worldwide. Fewer than ten carry the word Reserve. Zadún is one of them.

The Reserve designation is the brand’s most exclusive tier, and it changes the experience completely. At Zadún, in San José del Cabo, that means villa-style rooms built into the desert dunes above the Sea of Cortez, a personal host assigned to your stay, and a pace that feels nothing like a big resort.

The spa, Alkemia, is a destination on its own, and dinner at Humo, the wood-fire restaurant, is one of the best meals in Los Cabos.

Advisor tip: winter brings whales right offshore, and this stretch of coast near Puerto Los Cabos is calmer than the Cabo San Lucas end. Reach out to learn more. ?

08/30/2026

If Australia has been on your list for years, consider this your sign. Here’s the geography quirk that trips people up: their summer is our winter.

December through February is Australia’s peak season, and it’s booking right now. The dream version of the trip: Sydney Harbour on a warm evening, the Great Barrier Reef in prime visibility, wine country lunches in the sun, during our coldest months, and the best properties are small enough to sell out nearly a year ahead.

The distances are the other reason to start early. A well-built Australia trip usually covers three or four regions, and the internal flights, island lodges, and reef experiences all need to line up.

August is exactly when this planning should happen. Message us and let’s get started! ?

08/28/2026

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 our job. If Thailand is on your list, message us. ?

08/27/2026

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.

08/27/2026

“How far in advance should we book?” It’s the question we hear more than any other, and the honest answer is: it depends on the trip. So we made you a cheat sheet.

12+ months: safaris, Antarctica and expedition cruises, Japan in cherry blossom season, festive holiday weeks, and river cruises.

9 to 12 months: Australia and New Zealand, European summer at top-tier properties, and multi-generational trips needing connecting rooms or villas.

6 to 9 months: most European trips, Southeast Asia, and Caribbean winter.

Under 6 months: city breaks, shoulder-season Europe, Mexico, and last-minute magic we can occasionally pull off through our relationships.

The pattern is simple: the smaller the property and the more specific the dates, the earlier you book.

Not sure where your dream trip lands on this list? Ask us. That’s what we’re here for. ?

08/25/2026

Planning Portugal and only thinking about Lisbon? Allow us 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 we 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. ?

08/23/2026

Of everything we book, this is the trip we get the most questions about. Fair, because fewer people have stayed here than climb Everest in a season.

White Desert operates the only luxury camps on the Antarctic continent. You board a private jet in Cape Town, land on a blue-ice runway about five hours later, and check into a camp of just a handful of heated pods with a private chef.

The days are unlike anything else we plan. Ice tunnels, gentle summits, champagne picnics on the ice, and the option to visit a colony of thousands of emperor penguins. Some guests even continue on to the South Pole itself.

The season runs November through January, and with so few beds on the entire continent, this books out far ahead. If Antarctica is the trip, this is the way to do it. Message us to learn more! ?

08/22/2026

Give us 24 hours in Paris and here’s exactly how we’d spend them:

Morning: coffee and a croissant at a neighborhood café, then the Musée d’Orsay right at opening, before the crowds fill the impressionist galleries.

Midday: lunch in Saint-Germain, then wander the Marais. Boutiques, galleries, and the prettiest squares in the city.

Golden hour: a private boat on the Seine as the light turns and the Eiffel Tower begins to sparkle.

Evening: dinner at a bistro where the menu is handwritten and the waiter argues with you about the wine. In the best way.

Twenty-four hours or a full week, we’ll make every one count. Get in touch to plan Paris. ?

08/20/2026

Private appointments, hidden boutiques, and expert guides offer a fresh perspective on shopping in the birthplace of couture. Learn how to experience Paris like an insider, then reach out to begin planning your journey. 🇫🇷🛍️✨

📷: Carole Poirot

Private suites, tucked-away boutiques, and in-the-know guides reveal a more thoughtful way to shop the French capital.

08/20/2026

"Which Greek island should we pick?" is our favorite trick question. There are over 200 inhabited islands, and the right one depends entirely on who's asking. (And no, the answer isn't automatically Santorini or Mykonos.) Four we keep matching clients with:

Paros: for the traveler who wants the classic Cyclades, but livable. Whitewashed villages and great beaches, plus real ferry connections, a walkable main town, and prices that haven't gone Santorini yet.

Milos: for the geology nerd who doesn't know it yet. The island is volcanic, so its 70-plus beaches come in white moonscape rock, gold sand, and silver cliffs, many reachable only by boat.

Crete: for the traveler who gets bored on beach trips. Minoan palaces, mountain villages, a food culture Greeks themselves rave about, and resorts big enough to swallow a full week.

Corfu: for the one who wants Greece to look different. This is the green island, Venetian architecture instead of white cubes, cypress hillsides, and a run of new five-star openings.

Island-hopping between them is where trips get complicated: ferries, flight connections, and hotels that sell out by spring. Tell us which island sounds like you, and we'll start planning. ?