SafariSmiths

07/07/2026

✨ The golden age of travel is back. Think candlelit dinners aboard a vintage rail car winding through Transylvania, prosecco at sunset on a sailing yacht along the Côte d'Azur, and a fifteenth-century Venetian palazzo turned dreamy hideaway. Orient Express is bringing old-world glamour into 2026 — and we'd love to help you step into it.

Curious where a journey like this could take you? Send us a message — let's dream up your version of it.

Our Orient Express luxury travel guide includes the best hotels from Orient Express, Orient Express trains, Orient Express cruises, Virtuoso travel advisors that specialize in Orient Express, and more.

05/19/2026

The most unforgettable trips happen when you see a destination through the people who call it home. I’m sharing a quick link to experiences that connect you more deeply—while traveling responsibly:

Travel becomes something entirely different when you experience a place through the people who live there. The most meaningful journeys are not only about where you go, but about who you meet along the way. Local guides, artisans, chefs, and storytellers bring destinations to life in ways no guidebo...

03/14/2026

There is one travel insurance tool that gives you complete flexibility — regardless of what’s happening in the world. CFAR: Cancel For Any Reason coverage. It allows you to cancel a trip for any reason and recover 50 to 75 percent of your prepaid, non-refundable costs. The catch: it must be purchased within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit. After that window closes, the option is gone. In an environment where the unexpected has become routine, that flexibility is worth building in from the beginning — not after the situation has developed. This week on the blog: everything you need to understand about travel insurance before your next international journey. Link in bio.

03/12/2026

Most travelers don’t read the war exclusion clause in their travel insurance policy until they need it. Right now, that clause matters more than it has in years. Nearly every standard policy contains language that limits or excludes coverage for losses arising from an act of war. Whether it applies to your situation depends on your specific policy wording, when you purchased it, and the exact nature of any disruption you experience.

The details live in the definitions section — not the summary page most of us read at purchase. If you have an upcoming international journey and any part of your routing touches the Gulf, it’s worth making a call to your insurer and asking the direct question: Does this conflict affect my coverage? Full breakdown on the blog this week.

01/29/2026

Wellness doesn’t always look like a spa robe and a juice cleanse.

Sometimes it looks like sunrise over the savanna, deep breaths between game drives, walking barefoot in the sand, and falling asleep to the sounds of the wild.

A safari has a way of slowing everything down — reconnecting you to nature, movement, and presence. This is wellness, rewilded.

Thinking about a safari that nourishes both body and soul? Let’s plan it.

01/25/2026

Ecuador’s Mashpi Lodge: A Model for Sustainable Tourism 🌿

Hidden deep within Ecuador’s Chocó rainforest, Mashpi Lodge is redefining what luxury travel can — and should — look like. This is not a lodge that simply sits in nature; it actively protects it.

Built with minimal environmental impact, Mashpi Lodge supports scientific research, conservation initiatives, and local communities while offering guests immersive experiences, including guided biodiversity walks, the Dragonfly aerial gondola ride through the canopy, and up-close wildlife encounters that can’t be found anywhere else.

Here, sustainability isn’t a buzzword — it’s the foundation. Every stay helps preserve one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, proving that responsible travel and unforgettable experiences can go hand in hand.

✨ Why this matters:
• Protects critical rainforest ecosystems
• Funds ongoing conservation & research
• Supports local employment & education
• Delivers meaningful, low-impact luxury travel

Travel that leaves the destination better than it was found — that’s the future of tourism.

🌎 Curious if Mashpi Lodge is right for your next escape?
Let’s talk about how to experience Ecuador responsibly, beautifully, and intentionally.

📸: Mashpi Lodge

01/22/2026

Pittsburgh, meet your most romantic Valentine’s escape. 💘✈️🇬🇧

Did you know you can fly non-stop from Pittsburgh to London on British Airways? No connections, no hassle — just settle in and wake up in England.

From London Heathrow Airport, it’s a quick 20-minute drive to Great Fosters, a historic country house hotel straight out of a romance novel. Think roaring fireplaces, candlelit dining, manicured gardens, and a Valentine’s experience designed for couples who want something truly special.

Whether it’s a surprise getaway or a shared adventure, this is Valentine’s Day done differently — effortless travel, timeless luxury, and a little British charm.

❤️ Ready to swap chocolate for castles and cocktails by the fire?
Let me curate the perfect Valentine’s escape from Pittsburgh to England — flights, transfers, and a stay you’ll never forget.

✨ DM me to start planning or inquire today.

📸: Great Fosters

01/14/2026

The Retreat Costa Rica invites guests to experience transformation through wellness—on their own terms. Perched atop a quartz mountain in Atenas, this serene sanctuary is rooted in the five pillars of wellness travel, blending deep rest, conscious nourishment, cultural connection, mindful movement, and spiritual renewal into a truly holistic escape.

Ask me about this wellness resort—I spent a restorative seven days here setting intentions, slowing down, and resetting my own wellness journey. It’s a place that meets you exactly where you are and gently guides you toward where you want to be.

Ready to prioritize your wellbeing this year? Let’s start planning a wellness journey designed just for you.

12/27/2025

Thanks for a wonderful 2025 and here’s to a fantastic 2026 filled with travel and adventure 🫶

#2026 #2025

10/27/2025

Meet the team of SafariSmiths Travel. 🙌 Our founders video is now live on our YouTube channel. Subscribe for more episodes of our travel experiences and more coming to you soon 🛫🌅