Martha Rhodes Travel

05/05/2026

Cheers to a true legend! 🥂✨
Today, the Martha Rhodes Travel family is celebrating a very special milestone: our Director of Travel Design, Jim Journigan, is turning 60! 🎂✈️
Jim is truly irreplaceable. Whether he’s mapping out a complex global itinerary or mentoring our team, he does it all with a level of patience and dedication that is second to none. His vast destination knowledge is the "secret sauce" behind so many of our clients' unforgettable memories, and we are so lucky to have his expertise leading the way.
Jim, thank you for your unwavering commitment to your work, our team, and our clients. You make the world a smaller, more beautiful place for all of us.
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Jim!

04/21/2026

A Love Letter to The Cotswolds: Part II 🌿✨

My journey through the heart of the English countryside continues, and I’ve found a place that feels less like a hotel and more like a beautifully curated dream!
The trip began with a wonderful night at Calcot & Spa (slide 1-4), a quintessential Cotswold manor set on 220 acres of meadowland, where the blend of honey-stone charm and modern spa luxury provided the most relaxing start to the adventure.

From there, I moved on to .england, a breathtaking 150-acre "village within a village." Founded and owned by the Hibbert family, this isn't just a destination—it’s a deeply personal, multi-generational labor of love. It’s a seamless blend of a farm, spa, cookery school, and restaurant, all built around a profound commitment to land stewardship and design. The Hibberts describe Thyme as an extension of their own family home, and you feel that warmth in every single corner.
Here are a few highlights from this magical stay (slides 5-13):
🌿The Gardens at Thyme: I had the absolute honor of touring the grounds with Caryn & Jeremy Hibbert, hearing the rich history of how this estate came to be.
👨‍🍳The Cookery School: Rolled up our sleeves for a pasta-making class with Charlie Hibbert—such a fantastic way to connect with the local flavors!
🐏 🍸The Baa: You can’t visit without grabbing a drink here. The iconic sheep stools are just as charming as you’d imagine.
🍽The Oxbarn: We ended our evenings with incredible dinners in this stunningly restored space.

We also ventured out the The Pig in the Cotswolds for a spectacular lunch (slides 14-20). Walking through the ornamental gardens designed by the legendary Rosemary Verey was a highlight, followed by their signature "25-mile menu" in their rustic restaurant. Between the Kitchen Garden produce and the cozy Village Pub atmosphere, it was perfection.

After a relaxing stay at Calcot and two nights immersed in the world of Thyme, I am officially enchanted.
Stay tuned for the final chapter of my Cotswolds immersion! 🇬🇧🌾

04/13/2026

The Cotswolds Chapter 1/3 ✨
Stepping Back in Time in Bath 🏛️
​There is something truly magical about the golden glow of Bath. We spent the most incredible day exploring this historic gem.
We started at Bath Abbey with a deep dive into history. A huge thank you to Donna from Essentially London —her stories made the Abbey come alive in a way I never expected.
​You can’t visit without seeing where it all began; The Roman Baths. Walking along the ancient stones is a total must-experience.
​We stopped at The Salamander for a delicious lunch, and ended the day wandering through iconic landmarks; The Circus & Royal Crescent. The scale of Georgian architecture here is simply breathtaking!

03/11/2026

03/10/2026

How exciting to be celebrating 15 years in the travel business with this announcement! 👏 Long before I ever envisioned a career planning luxury travel, I longed to be a traveler. My wanderlust was unfulfilled, and I satisfied it by devouring every monthly issue of Condé Nast Traveler magazine. I studied the top hotels in every destination (because of course that’s where I planned to stay!) and read articles about wonderful adventures to imagine for myself in fascinating places around the globe.

So, you can imagine how very much it means to me to now be in that same magazine and living that dream!!! Heady stuff for sure.

I thank my amazing team, Jim, Dotty, Joanna and Karla, who are equally responsible for our incredible success in the last few years and the accolades we receive from our beloved clients who trust us to deliver meaningful experiences and unforgettable family memories.

I also want to acknowledge the inspiring people we know in every destination who partner with us to design creative, thoughtful itineraries. They welcome our clients to their countries as honored guests and “friends of friends,” and their hospitality, kindness and dedication make all the difference.

What a joy it is to share this news!!!
Condé Nast Traveler Brownell Travel

02/04/2026

I’m proud to share that I’ve been named a 2025 Brownell Griffin Award Qualifier, and especially touched that this represents my 10th consecutive year among this remarkable group of advisors.

The Griffin Award is the highest echelon of travel achievement and recognises the top 10% of Brownell advisors— a community of extraordinary professionals dedicated to creating truly exceptional travel experiences. To be included among this group year after year is both humbling and deeply meaningful.

Behind every milestone is something far more important — the relationships built over time. To our loyal clients who trust us with their most important journeys, and our trusted partners around the world who help bring these experiences to life - thank you for allowing us to do the work we love and for continuing to travel the world with Martha Rhodes Travel. And of course, a huge thanks to our exceptional team at Martha Rhodes Travel, whose passion, precision, care and commitment ensures every journey is delivered with the highest standard of service.
This recognition belongs to all of you as much as it does to me.

Here’s to another year of designing unforgettable travels! 🥂

02/02/2026

I highly recommend staying at the iconic Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental when visiting Abu Dhabi—an expansive, opulent property originally conceived as a royal palace before being transformed into one of the world’s most extraordinary hotels.

Located on a pristine private beach, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is the epitome of luxury in sun-kissed Abu Dhabi. Accommodations are palatial; each guest room and suite is steeped in Arabian decor, has a private balcony or terrace, and offers 24-hour butler service for suites. Rejuvenate on a 1.3-kilometer private beach at two temperature-controlled pools and at the award-winning Emirates Palace Spa. There are 14 dining venues serving unique concepts, tantalizing even the most discerning of palates.

02/02/2026

Dubai 🇦🇪 | Where the future takes shape

If Abu Dhabi is rooted in history, culture, and Islamic tradition, Dubai is unapologetically focused on what comes next. It’s bold, fast-moving, and endlessly imaginative—a city that feels like it’s always building toward the future.

Staying at The Lana Dubai was a standout . The views over the Dubai skyline—anchored by the Burj Khalifa—are incredible. The 30th-floor pool is a destination in itself by day, and by night it transforms into a bar and nightclub high above the city.

Dubai’s future-forward mindset really comes into focus at the Museum of the Future, a space dedicated to innovation, possibility, and big ideas. Going to the 163rd floor of Burj Khalifa reinforces that sense of scale—this is a city that thinks vertically and without limits.

For a softer counterpoint, One&Only The Palm offers something entirely different: a quiet, boutique-style retreat with a beautiful sandy beach and a calm, understated elegance.

What makes Dubai so compelling is the contrast—ultra-modern architecture, world-class design, and moments of unexpected serenity. It’s ambitious, visually stunning, and always looking ahead.

01/31/2026

Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪 | Quiet power, deep roots

Abu Dhabi is the capital and largest of the seven emirates of the UAE. It is the seat of the government and the cultural heart of the country. Adjacent to headline-grabbing Dubai, Abu Dhabi feels more authentic and is clearly committed to protecting heritage and tradition.

The emirates came together as a nation in 1972, uniting what was once a tribal society, under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan after the discovery of oil. His legacy of unity and cultural preservation is woven into the culture.

I stayed at the iconic Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental —an expansive, opulent property originally conceived as a royal palace before being transformed into one of the world’s most extraordinary hotels. Just next door is Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace. Still an active government building, it opened to the public to showcase Emirati governance, craftsmanship, and knowledge. Inside, you’ll find soaring domes, the Great Hall, and exhibitions dedicated to diplomacy, history, and the UAE’s vision for the future.

Saadiyat Island—“Island of Happiness”—is a major draw with the breathtaking Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum, and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi offering digital art immersion.

✨ I recommend at least two nights in Abu Dhabi to truly appreciate its rich offering and gain a deeper understanding of the culture and heritage of this remarkable country.

01/29/2026

Fifteen years ago, Martha Rhodes Travel was founded with one simple goal: to create elevated travel journeys that are thoughtful, seamless, and deeply personal.
This year, we're celebrating 15 years of experiences ✨️ - fittingly with a martini in hand in the Emirates Business Class bar (and my seat) en route to Nepal & Bhutan via UAE 🇦🇪
Thank you to our industry partners, DMC's, and long-standing clients for trusting us to do what we love most!
To the journeys we've shared, and many more ahead.
PS. Keep an eye out for posts highlighting my visits to UAE, Nepal, and Bhutan.