Of course, the destination is important when planning your next getaway, but the experiences are what can truly make the trip memorable. Having traveled around the world and planned more client experiences than I can count, I have compiled a handful of my favorites to help ignite a spark for where your next adventure should take place.
Sail the Algarvian Sea
The destinaion: Portugal
The experience: Climb aboard the Jeanneau 54DS for a full-day boat experience to the Benagil Cave-Private. This beautiful 54 feet sailing yacht, with plenty of space and comfort aboard, is ideal for experiencing the pleasure of the Algarvian Sea.
The details: Throughout the day you will get to see the Falesia Beach clay formations and the Albufeira area where the coast changes from sandy coast to rocky coast. You’ll pass in front of St. Rafael area and the Armação de Pêra Bay before arriving to the Benagil area where a little dinghy will take you inside Benagil Cave. This experience is made to make sure you will never forget the Algarve!
Take a Ride Through History
The destination: Italy
The experience: When in Rome taking a vintage Vespa ride can make you feel like a true local. Meet your private English-speaking guide in the lobby of your hotel and take your place in the passenger seat of the world’s most famous scooter for a wonderful tour of Rome!
The details: Travel on the back of a vintage Vespa and whiz through the narrow alleyways and the gorgeous squares.This 3-hour tour will give you insight that can only be experienced on the back of a Vespa. As an ancient Roman proverb says “Only on a Vespa, does Rome appear in all of its ancient majesty!”
Enjoy the View From Another Level
The destination: Alaska
The experience: When in Alaska, you’ll want to take any opportunity to bask in nature and the Chinitna Bay Bear Viewing Flightseeing Tour allows you to do this at a whole other level.
The details: You will depart from Lake Hood Sea Plane Harbor in Anchorage and fly southwest over Cook Inlet. You’ll get to see the Chigmit Mountains, where Alaska and Aleutian Ranges meet, and two active volcanoes – Mt. Redoubt and Mt. Iliamna – before landing on the beach in Chinitna Bay. Once you land you can travel by 4WD vehicle and on foot to observe brown bears digging for clams and frolicking on the beach. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is a must-do when in Alaska.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side
The destination: Iceland
The experience: The best way to the rugged landscape and outstanding scenery experience is to take a walk on the wild side.
The details: Embark on a glacier walk at the picturesque glacier outlet Sólheimajökull (a part of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap) on the south coast of Iceland nearby Skógar and Vík. Glacier walk is a great glacier adventure where you can try for yourself how it feels to walk on ice. It is about 30 minutes walk from the base to the glacier. You walk through the varied landscape on our way, formed by the glacier for the past thousands of years. There you will see how fast the glacier has been melting for the past 15 years.
Relax Aboard a Catamaran
The destination: Costa Rica
The experience: This private boat tour aboard the Pura Vida provides the perfect getaway. Spend a half day on board the catamaran exploring islands, bays and inlets of Papagayo in search of marine life, aquatic birds, fun and sun!
The details: The Pura Vida II is a modern sailing catamaran with a maximum capacity for 25 guests. It has two bedrooms, two toilets and two engines of 30 Hp. It also offers a fully equipped kitchen, exterior terrace roof area with a convertible table, and comfortable seating. Snorkel gear and stand-up paddleboards will be at your disposal for this fun day on the water.
Take a Peek Behind the Royal Scenes
The destination: London
The experience: Changing of the Guard is one of London’s most famous ceremonies. You can experience preparations behind the scenes.
The details: You will meet the Kings personal guard as the suited and booted gather for inspection before their duties begin. You will have the chance to learn about the ceremony from the Guardsmen, as well as opportunities for memorable photos with the serving military officers at your side. When the time comes for the parade, your family will watch from inside the Parade Ground, separated from the tourists crowding the railings who get a much less satisfactory glimpse of the proceedings. After your special access experience, you will visit the Guards Museum, where you can try on the Guards’ tunic uniforms and bearskin hats. This experience is enriched, both before and afterward, by your guide’s tales about London’s most important sites nearby, including Buckingham Palace, Whitehall and St James’s Park.
Live Like a Parisian
The destination: Paris
The experience: The food is reason enough to visit Paris, but why not bring some of that back home with you? This French Cooking Class in Paris lets you learn what it is like to shop, cook and eat like a Parisian with a market visit and cooking class.
The details: You will start by meeting your English-speaking professional chef at your hotel and head to the local market to shop for fresh produce and seasonal specials. You will then create the menu with the Chef, learn the secrets of selecting top-quality produce from the market, and prepare these ingredients in a hands-on cooking class followed by a meal.
