The most complete GUIDE to the INSIDE
The Insider’s Club October 2015
Hot Spot of the Month
GalĂĄpagos Islands + Things to Know About Where to Go + Suggested Itinerary Featured Experience
Natural Habitat Adventures + Featured Expeditions + Exclusive World Travel Experiences
Tech News
Travel Toys Shared Discoveries Every edition of The Insiders Club comes with the latest Virtuoso Life!
Choose Your News
Explore: Galรกpagos Islands 4-5
What To Do While You Are There 6-7
Featured Experience: Natural Habitat Adventures 8-9 Exclusive World Travel Experiences 10-17
Tech News: Travel Toys 18-19 Shared Discoveries 20-33
A WORD FROM YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR
Dear Fellow Travelers & Adventurers,
In this month’s newsletter we are featuring the Galapagos Islands, as well as our monthly tech news, travel tips, things and places to see in our Hot Spot, and exclusive travel deals around the world. As always we welcome any suggestions you may have for this newsletter. Please let us know if there is a specific location, hotel, restaurant, excursion, etc. you would like us to feature. Thank you for your business and the opportunity to collaborate on your travel dreams.
I look forward to arranging your next great adventure.
-Amy
Backpacking Magazine - page 3
Explore Galรกpagos Islands
Explore
Galápagos Islands + Things to know about where to go
The Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, is a province of Ecuador, lying about 1,000km off its coast, and considered one of the world’s foremost destinations for wildlife viewing. Its isolated terrain shelters a diversity of plant and animal species, many found nowhere else in the world. Giant tortoises, sea lions, penguins, marine iguanas and a variety of unique bird species are just some of the animals you will see while visiting the islands. Charles Darwin visited in 1835, and his observation of Galápagos’ species later inspired his theory of evolution. If you are an adventure or animal lover this is a must visit destination to add your bucket list.
Galápagos Islands
What to do while your there Tortuga Bay Located on the Santa Cruz Island and about a 20-minute walk from the main water taxi dock in Puerto Ayora, Tortuga Bay has a 1.55 mile walking path that runs along a perfectly preserved beach that is forbidden to swimmers and preserved for wildlife where many marine iguanas, galapagos crabs and birds are seen dotted along the volcanic rocks.
El Chato Tortoise Reserve If your goal is to go to the Galápagos and stand face to face with a giant tortoise, then you can’t pass up a trip to El Chato Tortoise Reserve. Part of Galápagos National Park this reserve is one of few places where you can spot tortoises in their natural habitat.
Don’t forget to check out the latest Virtuoso Life!
Las Grietas
Las Grietas, which translates literally to mean “the cracks,� is a series of volcanic crevices that were formed during the cooling of molten lava. Besides the amazing views from the top of the crevices this is a perfect destination to grab your snorkle and fins with a chance to swim with a variety of marine life such as sea turtles, white tip sharks and manta rays.
BartolomĂŠ Island
Located off the east shore of Sullivan Bay, Bartolome Island is a small but beautiful island most famous for its iconic Pinnacle Rock, arguably one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Galapagos. This incredible geological site is a staggering rock face, formed from an eroded lava formation from the eruption of an underwater volcano. Visitors can summit the island via a 600 meter trail and enjoy some of the most breathtaking views in the Galapagos.
Las Tintoreras
Las Tintoreras is another fantastic location to observe nature. It has a small bay of completely calm turquoise waters, where you have a chance to view sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, and penguins all in their natural habitat.
Featured Experience
Natural Habitat Adventures
If you plan on visiting the Galapagos Islands there is no better way to experience it than on a Natural Habitat Adventure. Natural Habitat offers a variety of different packages including small group tours and yachts that cater to a diverse range of interests. Intimately get to know the islands with Natural Habitats experienced guides making sure you see everything you wanted to see and more.
Featured Experience: Classic Galapagos
Day 1 Quito, Ecuador / Otavalo Day 2 Exploring the Andean Highlands Day 3 Quito / San Cristobal Day 4 Genovesa Day 5 Bachas Beach / Cerro Dragon Day 6 Isabela Day 7 Fernandina / Isabela Day 8 Rabida / Santa Cruz Day 9 Santa Cruz / Darwin Station or Tortuga Bay Day 10 Cristobal / Quito / Depart
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NATURAL HABITAT ADVENTURES
Exclusive
World Travel Experiences
Regent Seven Seas Cruises BUENOS AIRES TO RIO DE JANEIRO
Book by November 15, 2015 12 Nights | Departs February 21, 2016
Experience Includes:
2-for-1 All-Inclusive Fares FREE Roundtrip Air* Complimentary unlimited shore excursions Complimentary specialty restaurants Complimentary unlimited Beverages including wine and premium spirits Complimentary 24-hour room service
Exclusive
World Travel Experiences
Half Moon, A RockResort
Jamaica Valid for Travel Jan 3rd 2016 - Marh 11th 2016 Book by February 22nd
Experience Includes:
$200 resort credit per room Upgrade, early check-in and late checkout, if available $100 spa credit Rates starting at $469 per night
Exclusive
World Travel Experiences
Four Seasons Scottsdale Arizona
Receive $100 resort credit for every 2 nights’ stay in a Deluxe Casita or higher by December 30th
Experience Includes:
$100 resort credit $100 food and beverage credit Continental breakfast for two daily in Proof restaurant Upgrade, if available Early check-in/ late checkout, if available
Exclusive
World Travel Experiences
Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach Miami Beach, FL
Fourth Night Free & Suite Upgrade Valid for Travel now Through December 18th 2015
Experience Includes:
4th night free Daily buffet breakfast for two $100 ESPA Spa Credit One category upgrade upon arrival subject to availability Daily $40 spa body or facial treatment credit for up to two adults
Tech News: Travel Toys
Bluesmart
“The world’s first smart-connected carry-on” is controlled by your phone which can lock and unlock your suitcase, weigh it, or, most important, track it when it gets lost. Cost: $299 TO LEARN MORE OR TO ORDER CLICK ON PRODUCT IMAGE
S s t c b
Violife Stuffy hotel rooms dry out your throat and your skin and make it hard to sleep at night. Taking a large home humidifier on the road isn’t possible, but this Personal Misting Humidifier from Violife ($39) might do the trick. It comes with a 27-ounce refillable bottle or can be used with a standard water bottle and, once plugged in, helps put moisture in the air for up to 13 hours.
Viber Viber allows you to make free calls and send free text, photo, voice and video messages to other Viber users, on any device, in any network and country as long as you have an wifi connection.
Shared Discoveries
Lake Titicaca & Machu Picchu: Silvanna Frappier
Puno, the access point to experiencing Lake Titicaca, poses some challenge to those not accustomed to high elevations (12,300). Visitors starting their journey here should allow a few days to adjust. Our adventure on Lake Titicaca began at the floating islands of Uros. This cluster of 60 islands is about a forty minute boat ride from the main port at Puno. Once there we interacted with the local families and learned how they cook, work, share food, educate their children, and preserve the physical condition of their islands by replacing rotting reeds. True highlight was taking a ride in a puma-head reed boats. These amazing structures take eight men a full day to make!
Taquile Island was our next stop, and we marveled at the effectiveness of how the locals run their tourism industry as a cooperative. All prices for food and clothes are fixed and uniformly priced for anyone not a residing on the island. The restaurants rotate serving the tourists. Different members of the community share the responsibility of, sea water collection, fishing, and feeding tourists. It is a place with a lot of tradition and is an ideal acclamation region if you are planning to hike the Inca trail to Machu Picchu .
For the more adventurous tourists, the highlight of any stay in Peru is hiking the Inca Trail to visit Machu Picchu. It’s a (4) day arduous hike over passes and into valleys walking along the original centuries old stairways the Incas built and traveled. In addition to providing some spectacular scenery, the trail allows you the opportunity to see and discover additional Inca sites almost as grand as Machu Picchu itself. Some practical ‘do and don’ts’ ... be courteous.. Always ask before taking pictures of locals. People in and around Cusco seem particularly sensitive to this. The destinations and sites we visited throughout Peru where generally very safe places. We were comfortable walking in most areas of the cities even at night. Just use common sense, and things should be fine. The American Dollar is widely accepted, but only if it is free of rips, tears, holes, and writing.
Shared Discoveries
Cuba with Abercrombie & Kent: Trisha Iannazzi Cuba will surprise you! Cuba will amaze you! Whatever your preconceived ideas are of what Cuba is like or all about, they are wrong! Whatever you are expecting, Cuba will not be what you expect! Cuba will surpass all your expectations! I just returned from an incredible 10 days visiting Cuba with Abercrombie & Kent and enjoyed every minute. Thankfully with A&K we were treated to the best accommodations and services that Cuba has to offer and we did not suffer one tiny bit!
Cuba is a beautiful country with beautiful people who, despite all the hardships our government has imposed on them over the years, love us to death. The Cuban people will steal your heart and make you want to do all things possible to improve their situation. The Cuban “People to People� program, which the US Government has allowed us to experience (the only way to travel to Cuba right now), will open your eyes to the amazing visual and performing arts that the Cubans support and uphold despite their not having access to new equipment and instruments. They make magical music with ancient instruments, hand made drums, sticks and gourds.
You can ride in a “Yank Tank” meticulously restored and kept together with any working part from any machine available and you can do as the locals do and ride a bicitaxi or a pony cart. You can dine on exquisitely prepared delicious food in one of the many private Paladars or at a Finca (farm) out in the country. In this country that hands down produces the best rum, the best cigars and the best coffee on the planet, you can relive the golden age like the former distinguished guests at the Hotel Nacional whose photos are proudly displayed on their walls. And while this was purported to be a cultural trip with no “down time” our wonderful A&K guides worked their magic so that we enjoyed two afternoons with pool and beach time at our wonderful oceanside resort in beautiful Cayo Santa Maria. Go there NOW and visit these lovely people - see their cultural treasures - experience this wonderful opportunity - get there before Marriott and Starbucks do - you will never regret it!
Shared Discoveries
Bali: Julie Harris I use to look at the pictures online and thought it was a great beach destination, but you should go to Bali for the people and the culture. Although the south part of the island is known for great surfing, there are not the kinds of natural white sand beaches you find in the Caribbean. I was most intrigued with the Hindu Culture and their daily ceremonies and offerings which strives to remind themselves of being positive. The temples in the villages are quite remarkable and depending on what side of Bali you are in, you will see different materials used to build the temples. One of my favorites was in the town of Batuan. The temples were quite ornate and had lots of gold leafing.
For a (10) day itinerary, I would suggest basing yourself out of Ubud for 4 nights minimum. This is the cultural center of Bali and a good base for exploring most of the island. You can take a full day guided tour from Ubud and visit all the UNESCO Heritage Sites such as the Rice Fields of Jatiluweh, Temple Taman Ayun, and the Pakerisan Valley. I would then move into the Central mountainous area of Munduk for (2) nights. This area is similar in climate and vegetation to Costa Rica and you can hike to waterfalls and see how coffee and other crops are cultivated. The small town of Munduk exports cloves all over the world. The last (3) nights, I’d travel to the northwest area where you will find rocky beaches surrounded by mountains. You can stay at Puri Ganesha Villas which are lovely beach homes right on the ocean. Snorkeling with Nonni in Menjagan Island is a must do. The reefs are healthy and full of tropical varieties of fish. If you are into cooking, a visit to Bali Asli Cooking School is a must do. You will learn the ingredients of bumbu, which is Bali’s base for most dishes. Another “must see” is an authentic Balinese dance. While in Ubud, you can usually see a presentation at the hotel or at a temple ceremony. If time permits, take a sunrise trek to Mount Batur .
Shared Discoveries
Italy: La Dolce Vita Kathy Moran My time in Italy was much too short - as it always is. The lovely fall temperatures provided a wonderful backdrop as we wound our way through Tuscany. Collecting unbelievable memories to last a lifetime, for sure!
Our adventure began in Florence where select private guides and scholars introduced us to privileged events, one of which was an exclusive visit to Michelangelo’s secret archives. We were allowed access to Michelangelo’s 500 year old original drawings, unedited notes, diary, and autographed papers..Doesn’t get much better than this!! Our next stop was Siena, a 14th century village surrounded by gently rolling hills and known for its Palio horse race. Our private guides gave us great insight into Siena, its rich history & local culture. We were once again so impressed by our guide!
Rosewood’s Castiglion del Bosco, tucked away in the very heart of Tuscany, delivered far beyond my wildest expectations. The fabulous accommodations, exclusive wine tasting, and cooking classes all provided a divine respite to feed the taste buds and our soul. Arriving in Rome, the breakfast at the Vatican, an exclusive event with only 30 guests, was without doubt a major trip highlight.. Our private guide’s comprehensive tour of the Vatican Museum included Raphael’s Rooms and the endless collection of historical treasures. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel was fabulous, especially in the early morning before regular opening hours. The tour concluded with the extraordinary St. Peter’s Basilica.
As we said arrivederci to Rome, we end appropriately with a Vespa tour throughout the city. Audrey would have been so proud.
Shared Discoveries
Ireland: Feeling like a Princess with Adventures By Disney Lena Brown I just recently had the pleasure of going on a Adventures By Disney trip to Ireland. It began in Dublin, a must see city if you like friendly people, great food, and an entertaining culture. The Irish know how to make a good beer (tour the Guinness factory is not to be missed), they love to sing together and play some very festive music in their pubs. Dublin was a perfect place to begin our Disney Adventure. I loved the hustle and bustle of the city but also enjoyed our journey across Ireland’s beautiful country side. From the moment we stepped off the plane, we were given the royal treatment and were whisked away to the The Westin Dublin.(The ideal location to stay in the city)
We never had to worry about anything, from our luggage, to our meals or our exclusive tours. Adventures By Disney thought of everything. No waiting in line with other travelers, we were always given VIP service. We stayed in pristine properties including Killarney Park Hotel where we enjoyed a traditional Jaunting ride by horse through the Killarney National Park, a private tour of Muckross House and a bike ride through the park to visit breathtaking waterfalls.
If sleeping in a castle isn’t enough to feel like a princess, I have to say the red carpet treatment when we arrived to our final destination, Dromoland Castle had to top it all. There we were given the true Royal welcome by Horse and Hounds leading us in. We were greeted at the entrance of the castle doors by the staff standing in a line, all dressed in black and white, holding red umbrellas. Now that is an incredible site and something only Adventures By Disney guest receive.
Shared Discoveries
Amazing Tanzania: Claire Belmont
Singita Serengeti Grumeti Best time to visit: anytime of the year, peak season July, Aug, and Dec. Visit between Jun - Oct to see the great wildebeest migrations.
Review: Highly recommend Singita Serengeti. I have traveled extensively in Africa and this is one of the best I’ve done in the luxury segment. One of the big benefits is its private reserve location (vs the public Serengeti national park) because: a) there are fewer vehicles so guests can watch the animals in peace and b) cars are allowed to drive off-road and close to the wildlife offering unique viewing opportunities. Everything was spotless from accommodation to food, service, and game viewing. Our guide was very well educated and versed, we learnt a lot! I also particularly appreciated all their conservation efforts. There are a number of properties on the reserve catering to all tastes, if your clients have time highly recommend they do 4 or 6 nights and stay in several camps. Highlights include Sasakwa Lodge (for it’s views, rooms, and “Out of Africa” atmosphere) and Sabora Tented Camp (for it’s luxurious 1920’s camping atmosphere and amazing game right by the rooms - one guest saw a cheetah kill whilst taking her outdoor shower). I visited all properties so contact me if you have any questions with regards to them, the pictures and info online don’t do them justice.
&Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge Best time to visit: anytime of the year, but when I asked the guides they all like the rainy season from March to May when everything turns green and the animals come down into the crater. Note: the rainy season in this part of the world means very clear mornings, stormy afternoons, and a dry sunset. Skies are beautiful.
Review: Eccentric and originally decorated lodge with stunning views of the crater, spacious rooms, and personalized attentive service. The lodge is divided into three for a more intimate experience: north and south, which mirror each other (the south has some slightly better views), and the tree lodge (smaller rooms but cozier and nice for couples and groups). Rooms are decorated with fresh roses and heated by a fire at night. Management can organize special in-room diners on a rose carpet for $70. We got treated to a beautiful dinner surrounded by roses and candles in the wine cellar. Spend max 2 nights there and visit the crater during the day. Most people choose to go down early morning, have breakfast in the crater (which was very average), and come back up for lunch, the good side is there’s plenty of time to view game, however the downside are the hoards of other cars (which can quickly turn into 50 cars for one rhino during peak season). The alternative is to do a shorter afternoon drive, which we preferred because there were fewer cars and the weather was better (an exception apparently).
Azura Selous Best time to visit: During the rainy seasons (either November & December during the short rains or March to May during the longer rains) because there are more animals to see.
Review: Azura is known for its beautiful beach lodges in Mozambique (part of Virtuoso and Best of the Best 2015). Azura Selous is the group’s most recent addition (April 2015) and offers a remote off the beaten track experience, great for well traveled clients or those looking for a more original safari experience. The Selous game reserve is one of the largest in the world: there are a few lodges in the north (Azura being the only luxurious one with personalized service) whilst the south remains wild and mostly trodden by hunters. The lodge is situated by the river and every villa has it’s own private deck and pool. It was a great place to unwind. Given the shear size of the park, game drives last from 1/2 a day to a day with delicious picnic meals. Finding game here is harder than in more touristic parks because animals are wilder and aren’t accustomed to cars. The good news is that vehicles are authorized to drive off road and guides are IMPRESSIVE. The camp also organizes boat and walking safaris, which are a nice change from the car and great way to learn about plants, birds, and animal habits. Rooms are well maintained, clean, and spacious. Service and food are excellent. This camp is however, slightly less luxurious than the other two visited but details are relatively minor, for example air conditioning didn’t really freshen the room, no in-room phone, wifi only in common areas, and the bar had some out of stocks. Guests should stay a minimum of 4 nights because distances are big and there’s lots to do during the day. Out of of all the camps visited my favorite was Azura Selous for its originality followed closely by Singita Sabora for its fabulous game viewing.
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