2026 is the Time!

January 14, 2026

Let’s dream big, plan early, and set that epic trip in motion.

If “someday” is starting to sound suspiciously like “never,” this is your sign. From polar ice to private yachts, safaris to southern skies, these six monumental journeys are proof that the best trips happen when they’re meticulously planned with insider expertise.


1. Antarctica: The Ultimate Polar Expedition
Who Will Love It:
Thrill-seeking bucket-listers, milestone travelers, multigenerational families, nature lovers, and those ready to check off their seventh continent.

Why Book Now: There’s limited ship capacity, and the demand continues to rise every year. Plus, wildlife activity is seasonal, so it’s important to consider your timing. Dying to see penguin chicks? December and January are the best months. Peak whale activity? You’ll want to travel in February. 

Our Preferred Luxury Partner: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions provides small-ship agility, veteran naturalists, and National Geographic photographers aboard purpose-built ships, allowing more Zodiac landings, wildlife encounters, and access to remote coves. The state-of-the-art expedition ships blend polar performance with refined comfort, featuring outward-facing cabins (many with private balconies), science hubs, luxurious dining spaces, and  exceptional kids programming that combines exploration, education, and hands-on discovery. 

Epic Experience: Take a guided Zodiac excursion, where you’ll encounter Antarctica’s rare wildlife (blue whales, Emperor penguin chics, snow petrels). Back onboard, a National Geographic expert will lead hands-on photography classes, with tips on how to frame the following day’s rare encounters.

Insider Intel: Avoid the legendary “Drake Shake” (the often-rough, multi-hour crossing between South America and Antarctica) on select itineraries with fly-in/fly-out options.


2.  Japan: A Journey of Discovery

Who Will Love It: Couples, culture lovers, foodies, families with teenagers.

Why Book Now: Demand is so high that many companies we work with have been known to stop taking bookings for a period of time. And if you want to visit during cherry blossom season, it’s best to book up to 18 months in advance.

Our Preferred Luxury Partners: The Okura Tokyo blends timeless Japanese elegance with modern luxury, while Amanemu on the Ise-Shima coast features serene rooms, private onsen, and stunning bay views. And we love sending clients on small-group luxury land tours and cruises with Tauck.

Epic Experience: When journeying with Abercrombie & Kent, you’ll stroll through Nagamachi, a former samurai district that flourished during the Edo period (when the powerful Tokugawa shogunate dominated Japan). After, visit a nearby silk-dyeing studio, where artists showcase centuries-old traditional methods.

A Customized Approach: Gain private access to exclusive experiences such as early-morning museum visits and cooking classes with renowned chefs.




3. Africa: The Great Safari & Sea Escape

Who Will Love It: Couples, honeymooners, multigenerational families.

Why Book Now: Prime safari camps fill quickly—often a year or more in advance—so early reservations ensure the best accommodations and experiences.

Our Preferred Luxury Partners: An epic safari begins with your luxury basecamp. Tswalu has the lowest guest footprint in South Africa, with three safari camps (translation: endless game viewing). Botswana’s Royal Malewane has four lodges and three private villas—all with their own unique vibe. What’s more, Botswana’s newest six-suite lodge, Masiya’s Camp (named after a legendary tracker) is the idyllic home for a group of friends looking to safari together. If Kenya is calling, Loirien Mara graces the private Partakilat Conservancy in the heart of the Maasai Mara. Two- and three-bedroom villas ensure wellness in the wild, in addition to plenty of game drives, walks (or runs!) in the conservancy, yoga, cooking classes, bike rides, and a rhino sanctuary. Lastly, a beach getaway on the Indian Ocean is practically a must: One&Only Le Saint Géran on Mauritius’ Belle Mare peninsula is home to uber-luxurious suites, world-class dining, and abundant watersports and wellness. 

Epic Experience: Spend several days on safari, rising early for game drives across sweeping savannahs and tracking the Big Five under the guidance of expert rangers for unforgettable wildlife encounters. 

Not to Miss: Experience the African bush after dark in a guided, exclusive night drive, or watch the savannah awaken from a hot-air balloon at dawn, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush.



4. Patagonia: Into the Great Wide Open

Who Will Love It: Adventure-minded luxury travelers drawn to Chile and Argentina’s wild landscapes and refined comfort.

Why Book Now: With a short season and limited inventory at top lodges, the best properties and tours sell out far in advance. With peak season December through February, and shoulder season November and March, we know just when to go to secure coveted accommodations at places like the intimate, 14-villa Awasi resort. 

Our Preferred Luxury Partners: You’ll stay at extraordinary properties like Awasi Patagonia—where private villas, personal guides, and tailor-made 4×4 excursions put you deep into Torres del Paine’s wild heart—and Explora Torres del Paine, an iconic lodge on Lake Pehoé offering over 40 guided explorations, iconic spa and dining experiences, and panoramic views of dramatic peaks. Meanwhile, Tierra Patagonia, EOLO, and The Singular Patagonia blend elegant design with immersive Patagonia discovery.

Epic Experience: If you’re up for a lung-busting adventure rewarded by once-in-a-lifetime views, tackle the 12-mile hike in Chilean Patagonia to the Base of the Towers hike, officially known as the trek to Mirador Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park.

Designed for You: Experience a privately arranged gourmet picnic beside a retreating glacier, complete with local wines and sweeping views of ice and peaks.




5. The Greek Islands: Aegean Dreams by Private Yacht 

Who Will Love It: Friends traveling together, families, those celebrating milestones.

Why Book Now: The most sought-after yachts and experienced crews are reserved far in advance, so early planning ensures the best vessels and itineraries.

Our Preferred Luxury Partners: Blu Cove Yachting crafts bespoke charter experiences with elegantly appointed motor yachts, sailing yachts, and catamarans paired with professional crews. As a trusted WhirlAway partner, Blu Cove vets the area's top vessels and most seasoned crews, ensuring an incredible time on the water.

Epic Experience: We’ll help you design a flexible itinerary woven around your interests. Discover iconic Cyclades white-washed cliffs and Ionian grottos, swim and snorkel in hidden coves, drop anchor on quiet beaches, and explore ancient ports by tender.
You’ll Never Forget:
A pre- or post-sailing stay at Cape Sounio on the Athenian Riviera, a magical hideaway just 45 minutes outside of Athens. 



6. Australia & New Zealand: The Ultimate Southern Hemisphere Journey

Who Will Love It: Trip-of-a-lifetime retirees, adventurists, oenophiles, and those marking milestone celebrations (like graduations and anniversaries).

Why Book Now: Long-haul journeys benefit most from thoughtful, early planning—especially when the most sought-after lodges and tee times book up far in advance.

Our Preferred Luxury Partners: Extraordinary stays anchor this journey, including Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, Silky Oaks Lodge in the Daintree Rainforest, and COMO properties in Australia, along with New Zealand standouts Blanket Bay and the intimate Azur Lodge near Queenstown (this one books up early every year).
Epic Experience
: We like to send you off the beaten track, but a visit to the iconic Sydney Opera House is a must. And what better way to do it than by a private yacht to also experience Manly Beach, slicing across Sydney Harbour at golden hour, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge receding behind you. 

Designed For You: Arrive at a remote New Zealand golf course by private helicopter, then linger over a chef-prepared alpine picnic with views of glacial lakes and snow-capped peaks.


December 15, 2025
Nestled in the heel of Italy, these spots have long been Italian favorites and are now drawing travelers from around the world. But visit in the fall or winter, and it still feels like you have them all to yourself. Sara says it was nearly impossible to choose favorites—and she could easily share dozens more—but here are the places and experiences she loved most.
December 15, 2025
In 2025, WhirlAway planned dozens of amazing vacations for the holiday season, and we’re sharing a few of our favorites. Consider this your cheat sheet to the dreamiest destinations, including a sun-kissed sojourn to Costa Rica, a multi-gen escape to South Africa, an Antarctica cruise, and the best of Turks and Caicos, and London. Happy holidays, and even happier travels!
November 18, 2025
What makes the Cycladic Islands feel so singular? For Luxury Travel Advisor Denise Booth, it’s the blend of warm hospitality, luminous landscapes, and quietly luxurious living. Fresh off her journey through Naxos, Paros, and the Athenian Riviera, she shares three experiences that showcase Greece beyond the guidebooks—intimate, delicious, and endlessly photogenic.
November 17, 2025
Luxury Travel Advisor Stacey Blum is our expert in all things wellness. Before joining the WhirlAway team, she worked as a health coach and is now a Signature Travel Expert Select in Wellness. And her favorite destination for wellness, in every sense of the word, is Greece. While she’s visited the country three times (and counting), she’s planned so many trips for clients that she says it feels like she’s been there dozens of times: This past summer alone, she curated 12 different trips! “Every part of Greece—the food, the water, the people—invites you to take a deep breath and just be,” she says. “You come here for a break, but you leave with a lighter heart, a clearer mind, and a deeper sense of gratitude.” Here, Stacey shares how the beautiful country is a master in the art of slowing down.
October 6, 2025
On the eve of her retirement party, Patty Jefferis, founder of WhirlAway Travel, is reflecting on her most recent adventure: a voyage through the Eastern Mediterranean with Tauck. After spending the past 40 years curating journeys for clients, this adventure was all her own. Aboard Le Bougainville , a sleek Ponant yacht chartered exclusively by Tauck, she explored Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and Malta. Read on for all her dreamy moments.
October 3, 2025
Forty incredible years, 110 inspiring guests, one newly christened retiree, and countless magical moments. Such was the scene at WhirlAway Travel’s sparkling party at Radnor Hunt in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Suppliers, clients, friends, and family gathered with the WhirlAway team for cocktails, dinner, and a live auction. Up for bid was a pair of coveted cruises donated by AmaWaterways and Explora Journeys, raising $16,000 for the Travel Elevates foundation. The unforgettable evening ended with toasts to WhirlAway’s founder Patty Jefferis as she embarks on her next great adventure of retirement. “It was a celebration filled with heartfelt stories, inspiration, and gratitude for a true trailblazer,” said Jody Rollins, a longtime friend and client of WhirlAway. “Patty is a true legacy of leadership, innovation, and connection.”
September 18, 2025
“What did you do for summer vacation?” With back-to-school and back-to-business in full swing, this seems to be a favorite conversation starter in September. In celebration of our clients’ favorite trips (and there were many!), we’ve created a highlight reel so you can begin dreaming and planning your ultimate 2026 summer vacation.
September 12, 2025
Grand Slam tournaments are the crown jewels of tennis—and notoriously elusive to access. Tickets disappear instantly, VIP passes are closely guarded, and logistics can be overwhelming. That’s where WhirlAway comes in—with guaranteed seats, exclusive perks, and insider access to the world’s most prestigious matches.
August 20, 2025
Golf, in its purest form, is about more than a scorecard. It’s about the stories the game collects: the putt sunk against a backdrop of crashing waves, a winning moment that lingers long after sunset, the shared adventure that bonds a group for life. For WhirlAway Travel, these moments are the very heart of curated golf vacations. As a Luxury Travel Advisor, Alison Warner specializes in golf vacations. Here, she shares five reasons why you should start planning your next golf escape.
More Posts