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Craft Travel, 3006 Aviation Avenue, Suite 4a, Miami, FL (2026)

03/16/2026

In planning our epic two week trip across Kenya, I intentionally saved for last. I wasn’t yet certain of the overall experience we’d encounter at this luxury lodge, but at a minimum I knew we’d lack for nothing when it came to creature comforts.

A frequent topic of discussion both on our trip & on our page here is what does the term “luxury” really mean, and why does it matter? Relative to other iconic Big 5 destinations, the Mara has traditionally fewer properties that qualify as boasting over the top luxury hard product, and only a select few that do really excel at it. Understanding why is probably a discussion for another day, but with this in mind I had to wonder: would the Ishara concept actually work in practice? Might it feel forced, or even worse -the cardinal sin at Craft- cheesy?

Our team’s conclusion was unanimous & resounding: it works. Ishara excels, and exceeds expectations in nearly every way. They are doing things differently, and not just for the sake of it. A guaranteed private vehicle is perhaps their most significant value proposition relative to the competition. But the inclusion of not only Canon cameras for each guest but also a professional photographer essentially at your disposal for both instruction & on-demand photo shoots is downright revolutionary.

Little touches like heated pools, thoughtful tent design, innovative dining concepts & integrated wellness program don’t feel like afterthoughts. They are intentional, part of a master plan to make your time at Ishara much more than just game drives.

Perhaps that was my initial skepticism about Ishara: as safari purists, do we even want more lodges in the bush that aren’t strictly about wilderness? But Ishara is anything but a generic luxury product: it only works so well because it IS in the Mara, preordained with an extraordinary sense of place along the Talek River.

Don’t be like me & save Ishara for last just because it’s the most luxurious. Save it for last to lock in the magic of the Mara in the Ishara way that transcends the traditional safari experience. You’ll depart Kenya feeling not just like you’ve seen the wild, but like you’ve been restored by it.

10/27/2025

My thoughts on Chenot...

We’re all very likely guilty of having -at least once- uttered the phrase “needed a vacation from my vacation”. And at Craft we’re perhaps the most egregious abusers of the cliché because let’s be honest: experiential travel isn’t typically synonymous with doing nothing.

Yet ironically there is perhaps nothing as experiential as what happens during (and after) a seven-night detox program. And never have I ended travels feeling so revived. In fact I’ve never felt this ALIVE before, period.

I’ll save the nitty gritty for an email & blog post, but what I’d like this post to convey is the sheer gratitude and awe I feel toward my experience. I came to Chenot with a modest expectation of looking and feeling better but could’ve never imagined how trivial any vanity component of it might seem in comparison to the way I’d be made to feel. And how do I feel? Like my mind, spirit and body are now working in perfect unison and in optimal condition for the first time ever.

In an industry where terms like “wellness” and “luxury” have been rendered generic, boring and meaningless, Chenot reminds us of the power of exceptionalism, both in what it demands of its guests and in what it bestows upon them as a result of decades of passion and ingenuity.

Chenot is an investment I would make in myself time and time again. With any luck (particularly as it relates to the stock market 😂) I’ll be back next year. As Donald said, he’d gladly starve me for free at home without a need for eight days in Switzerland. But there is a reason that nearly everyone you meet at Chenot is a return visitor: it’s a magnificent self-inflicted gilded cage that makes you the best version of yourself, inside and out. Upon checkout, you do not arrive home desperately craving further rest; you but instead leave Lake Lucerne ready to seize the world. And, in the end, what could be more priceless?

10/21/2025

Spain 2025: four weeks, seven cities, two very different trips mixing the personal and professional. But like always, I arrived with a profound excitement and departed with the conviction that there is no better place in Europe, at least for me.

Yes I know I’m biased (see my post from summer 2024!), but even putting on my objective travel advisor hat, the proof is in the pudding. Best food, best fashion, best music, best climate, greatest geographic and cultural diversity, best parties and increasingly best in hospitality.

I was truly honored to be invited to first-ever Spain & Portugal event. DUCO is one of the industry’s most prestigious shows and the fact that they view Spain the same way I always have - as a true competitor with France and Italy - is very telling. Every moment we had at the and is a testament to the Spain that I fell in love with and to the elegance and magic of a destination that just doesn’t have to try particularly hard to be exceptional.

In some ways I feel admittedly possessive of Spain and preferred when it was under the radar and no one really “got it”. I don’t want it to become the next Portugal where you have to work increasingly hard to find any modicum of authenticity. But ultimately it’s truly rewarding to be able to share with our clients a part of the world that means so much to me and has for so many years. A part of the world that still has so much to be discovered if you know where to look.

España, eres tú. TQM ❤️ 💛

09/30/2025

We’re going to be honest: when we were invited to inspect the new , we certainly did not expect to be devoting an entire post to it. But the reality is that this hotel is worth dissecting, for a variety of reasons.

Firstly, Canopy is one of the coolest new hotels to come to market in Cape Town for quite some time. Hilton’s Canopy brand has one implicit mission: to make you forget that you are in a Hilton. We feel they’ve succeeded in said mission, with thoughtful design and endless commissioned pieces from local artists showcasing the Mother City’s vibrant personality. The owners are local and literally everything in hotel - minus the amenity kits, for now- has been sourced within South Africa.

Secondly, the price point is unbeatable. We’re talking $300 per night in peak season for a room with a balcony and view of Table Mountain. And these rooms are nice: spacious, equipped with steamers, fab bedding, gorgeous upholstery. They have thought of everything, including various still and sparkling water stations on each floor that can be used with your room’s own personal glass bottles.

Thirdly, we love Canopy’s location in Gardens. Forget the Waterfront: this is the neighborhood where we locals are all going out to eat, shop and socialize. There is no better area for proper city strolling; Gardens is Cape Town’s most cosmopolitan urban enclave.

And speaking of restaurants, Canopy is home to one of the city’s hottest new restaurants, , from celebrity chef . We have eaten here for both lunch and dinner and can say it’s worth the hype: a much-needed tapas style addition to a food scene saturated with exhausting tasting menus.

We’ve said it before and will say it again: we are not a big brand company. Even when it comes to the most iconic luxurious ones, we’re typically on the prowl for a more authentic, high-touch option. But we will give credit where credit’s due: Canopy by Hilton Cape Town has built something very innovative, with remarkable value. If this allows a client to see Cape Town on the cheap and in turn splurge on a top safari, it is definitely something we can get behind.

08/20/2025

Our ever-expanding Cape Town office is delighted to welcome its newest exceptional Travel Designer: Meredith McCormac.

For Meredith, as with the rest of our team, joining the travel industry was the natural culmination of an international footprint that has defined her life’s trajectory. She’s not just traveled the world: Meredith has lived in nearly all its corners, including Austria, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya and South Africa.

Meredith was born and raised in Oklahoma, and the itch to travel began as a teenager after visiting her grandmother’s birth home in Northern Ireland. After studying abroad in college and earning her Ph.D in international education policy, she developed a desire to keep exploring and built a career in international development, which provided ample opportunity to travel and work abroad. Before joining Craft, Meredith led multi-country projects in the international development sector, managing large-scale partnerships and complex operations.

She’s hiked Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, explored glaciers in northern Pakistan and witnessed extraordinary wildlife throughout the African continent. These experiences demanded curiosity, creativity, and the ability to navigate different cultures.

Now, based in Cape Town with her young family (fun fact: did you know that everyone in our CT office is parent to two daughters?), Meredith brings insider knowledge of Africa together with a profoundly nuanced world view. She understands the transformative power of travel—and how a journey crafted with meaningful insight can open hearts and broaden perspectives.

Please join us in welcoming Meredith and wishing her every success as a master of her craft.

08/15/2025

Reinventing the safari wheel: gimmicky or the real deal?

We don’t need to tell our discerning clientele that safari is so much more than spotting the Big Five on a game drive. It’s something we’ve said for years and a concept they inherently understand. You may have seen the recent viral posts from the Serengeti where hundreds of tourists inside (and even outside) their vehicles lined up along key river crossing points, blocking wildebeest from their migration routes. We can all agree that this behavior is not only highly dangerous, it’s the antithesis of what any of us want to promote or engage in.

In response to these trends, we have seen a boom of alternative safari properties that mainly emphasize two USPs: exclusivity and a different way of experiencing the bush. In theory, we love this trend. In practice, “reinventing the wheel” doesn’t always work.

has gotten it right. At 55,000 hectares, the fully private Lapalala Wilderness is almost as large as the entire Sabi Sands, yet boasts only five vehicles for a maximum of 28 people, split between the 8-bedroom exclusive use Melote House where we stayed & the equally gorgeous 5-unit Noka Camp.

The pristine reserve is one of South Africa’s most stunning, and that’s saying a lot. Is there Big Five? Yes. But the owners, who run Lepogo as a nonprofit, understand that safari enthusiasts are increasingly craving something deeper. Guests interact with their Anti-Poaching Unit, stroll on river cruises, hike some of the Waterberg’s most scenic hills and visit a Pangolarium (Netflix’s “Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey” was filmed here).

Lepogo is malaria-free and drivable from Joburg. The food is the best we can remember. Every detail has been considered.

Lepogo is not just another luxury lodge in the middle of nowhere chasing trends. There is something special here and it’s about more than wildlife. Or even just the luxury of space. It’s a place where you stop and think not only how necessary but just how beautiful -and tangible- conservation is. You partake in their efforts, and reap the benefits of their wild success.

08/06/2025

The magic of a silver lining ✨

We had different plans for our last few nights in Puglia, but an unexpected - and highly serendipitous - development led us to Masseria Calderisi. It ultimately felt like fate: I simply cannot fathom how this gem was not previously on our radar. But this of course is the benefit of spending weeks at a time years in a row in one destination. You start to hear things. In this case, a conversation with some chic locals led us to the masseria of our dreams!

My expectations for our originally anticipated hotel had been high, but life has a funny way of redirecting us toward where we’re meant to be.

07/30/2025

It’s been a while since these two have been together, so what better way to reunite than with an Italian summer?

Julia and Andrea are spending several weeks in their beloved Puglia scouting hotels, villas, experiences and restaurants.

While we can no longer say that Puglia is “untapped”, the authenticity largely remains. Even proper five-star properties here feel unassuming and guests are not coming to be seen. When you take your evening stroll through the whitewashed villages of the Valle d’Itria, you’ll hear far more Italian than English; it’s the preferred spot for second homes of many wealthy (and beautiful) Milanese.

Puglia is what summers in Europe used to feel like and it’s utterly refreshing. Of course, now that the cat is out of the bag, major growth is coming, with big-brand luxury hotels descending upon Italy’s heel to market the “next Amalfi Coast”. And no doubt they will be wonderful, and good things may come of them. But our recommendation to you is to come now, as soon as you can. Consider a Masseria (farmhouse) or one of the hidden villas we love most. Because the magic of authentic Puglia is palpable.

07/18/2025

Our favorite thing to hear

Thoughtful feedback from our recent summer travelers has kept us smiling. We want to know everything our clients have to say, but the four simple words “you just get it” is exactly what we to aim to hear. It’s how we know we’ve succeeded in our role.

If we are doing our job properly:

1. You don’t need to explain to us what is needed. We just get it. Not because we are geniuses, but there are two things we do know well: our clients and our destinations. Excellence in travel planning cannot be achieved without these two components working in tandem.

2. We have asked the right questions, but even more importantly have listened to you. We’ve inferred and picked up on nuances. We’ve drawn upon our extensive experience both as advisors and lifetime travelers to truly discern what will make you return home feeling as if there would not be a single moment you would change.

3. You feel appreciated at every moment. You are made to feel like a true VIP, and not just because of some generic welcome amenity or free breakfast at your hotel. But rather because we are surprising you along the way with tokens of our appreciation for you.

4. Logistics are an afterthought because every detail has already been considered and handled. Any problem that arises will never be your problem to deal with. We are at least two steps ahead, something we can achieve because we’ve been there and done it ourselves.

5. We have gained your trust, because we have shown you what a meaningful collaboration looks like when planning high-touch travel. You can say with confidence as you sit down on that long flight home that the ladies of Craft “just get it”.

07/07/2025

We’re not usually ones to push boring, big-brand hotels, especially those dominated by loyalty programs. But when it comes to finding a satisfying Mediterranean escape without a major splurge, it would be wrong to gatekeep this find.

For our family’s annual Greece trip this year, I wanted to include Crete, and more specifically the Chania region. , part of the Marriott Collection, seemed like the best kid-friendly option. We couldn’t book peak dates with Marriott points & I ultimately paid full price (though we did meet a family who were able to use points with a very last min booking). However, even with the 2-bedroom villa that can fit a family of 5 & boasts a private pool, the cost felt very reasonable.

The food was a standout: Crete is known as Greece’s top culinary island destination and Domes did not disappoint. Included in our 2-bedroom villa booking was a very flexible half-board offering, which we typically used for a sprawling 3-course dinner. Domes’ food surpassed the quality of some of the top European resorts at which we’ve stayed, without even taking into account its increased value.

Equally impressive was the staff, once again outperforming their peers at bonafide 5-star resorts.

The sleek, modern decor will satisfy most elder millennials who cringe at the sight of dated bathroom tiles and tacky upholstery. Nothing is overtly fancy, but everything is well devised: who doesn’t love a sexy outdoor gym or a pop-up restaurant from a famed Athens chef? And what parent won’t sigh a breath of relief when their kids are elated to spend eight hours everyday at the kid’s club? It gives you time to explore Chania (just 15 min by taxi), visit a vineyard or hike waterfalls.

From a purely logistical standpoint, Crete is so great to incorporate into a Greece itinerary as it has fantastic connectivity with other islands & nearly all major EU airports. You can even do the overnight ferry to/from Athens, my ultimate family logistical solution.

Was it the trip of a lifetime? No, but like Verdura, it was exactly what we needed & I’d gladly return or book it for clients looking for an easy European family beach vacation that won’t disappoint.

06/05/2025

Craft just got a little bit bigger and brighter ✨

We are thrilled to welcome Rachael Sundholm to the team as a Travel Designer based in our quickly growing Cape Town office.

Originally from the Midwest, Rachael relocated to London in 2008, where she found success in both financial services recruitment and later as the co-founder of a cosmetics brand that she eventually sold. In 2019, Rachael, her husband, and their two young children embarked on the ultimate adventure, making a permanent move to South Africa. She has called Cape Town home ever since, bringing a passion for the African continent and all things safari to her new role.

Rachael has traveled the world many times over, most recently with her family in 2024 on a year-long journey spanning six continents. Her broad international perspective, curiosity and all-around awesome personality make her a truly perfect match for our team 🥂

Please join us in welcoming Rachael and wishing her every success as a master of her craft. You can follow along with her adventures at .detours

Craft Travel

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