Destinations We Adore

February 8, 2025

Let’s celebrate Valentine’s Day with some travel love. It’s never easy playing favorites, but we did it anyway! Here are seven of our most cherished places on earth. 

Provence: The Luberon Region
Rolling vineyards, lavender fields, and hilltop villages that are the stuff of fairytales. This is France’s Luberon region, and we don’t think it could get any more charming. We love to spend our days meandering artisan markets, truffle hunting, and wine tasting (Gordes and Roussillon are a couple of our favorite villages). Come evening, it’s off to a Michelin-starred restaurant. There are seven of them in this region so the options are plentiful—we always go back to Le Champ des Lunes and Auberge la Fenière. As for where to stay, we’re devoted to Arielles Gordes, La Bastide, a luxurious Gordes hideaway with a history that dates back more than 500 years.


Greece: Beyond Santorini & Mykonos

Santorini and Mykonos might be Greece’s bold-faced names, but it’s the lesser-known isles that are stealing our hearts. Topping our list is Kéa Island, a decidedly laid-back island that’s the closest one to Athens. So why not visit both? Spend a few days exploring the famous archaeological sites of The Acropolis and shopping along the glitzy Athens Riviera, then take a short boat ride over to Kéa for some serious seaside relaxation. This little island is celebrated for its pristine beaches, miles of hiking, and the ancient Lion of Kéa sculpture that’s known as the island protector. It’s worth the trek to see it—trust us. It’s also not far from the One&Only Kea Island—one of the most anticipated recent hotel openings. Hugging the coast with its own private beach, this cliffside retreat epitomizes barefoot luxury.



Ecuador: Choco Rain Forest 

A unique blend of biodiversity and luxury, “the Chocó,” one of the world’s most ecologically rich regions, is home to rare wildlife, cloud forests, and private eco-lodges with every five-star comfort and amenity you can dream of. Most notably: Mashpi Lodge, one of our all-time favorite places. Tucked deep in the rainforest of Quito, this resort offers majestic views, comfort, and activities with every turn. Be sure to go on a birdwatching adventure, take a guided jungle expedition, and experience the country’s gourmet cuisine served right in the middle of this pristine nature. Bonus points for a private yacht cruise to the Galápagos!



Italy: The Dolomites

The grand Dolomites have it all: natural beauty, big adventure, ultimate luxury, and some of the best food and wine in the world. Famous for its dramatic peaks, stunning alpine lakes, and world-class skiing, this Italian region is also known for five-star mountain resorts, Michelin-starred dining, and exclusive spa retreats. A private heli-skiing experience is one for the books, not to mention a guided hike through the mountainous UNESCO heritage sites. With one charming village after the next, the Dolomites are picture-perfect during all four seasons. Be sure to visit the town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, while Corvara is home to La Perla, the dreamiest alpine retreat with an incredible wine cellar and restaurant.


Botswana: Okavango Delta

In our opinion, this is the pinnacle of the African safari experience. A UNESCO-listed oasis, the iconic Okavango Delta in Botswana is the best choice for private game drives, excursions through winding waterways in traditional canoes called mokoros, helicopter safaris, and ultra-luxe lodges. For a magical stay, Wilderness Vumbura Plains features private suites set along the edge of the Delta waterways, each with its own viewing deck and plunge pool. Every day brings front-row access to wildlife sightings, from elephants to lions to rare birds. Top that with VIP service and private guides for anything you can imagine, and you’ll fall in love over and over again with this region.


South America: Patagonia

Spanning both Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is a true escape into untrammeled beauty—a rarity today. With dramatic glaciers, pristine lakes, and rugged peaks, the region is a playground for privately guided treks in Torres del Paine National Park, heli-hiking,  glacial cruises, horseback adventures, and wildlife galore. The Singular Patagonia and Explora Torres del Paine are two unsurpassed stays, both with incredibly immersive experiences and some of the best guides we’ve experienced. 


Switzerland: By Rail

Discover Switzerland by luxury train and it’s impossible not to fall head over heels for the country. Iconic trains like the Glacier Express and the GoldenPass Line reveal opulent journeys through postcard-worthy landscapes with 360-degree views of snow-capped peaks, emerald lakes, and charming villages. In first-class carriages, you’ll be spoiled with gourmet cuisine, personalized service, and private off-train excursions. For very-VIP stays along the way, we vote for Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken, The Chedi in Andermatt, and Baur au Lac in Zurich. Be sure to save time for a gondola tour from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch on the Eiger Express, as well as a hike to Staubbachfall Waterfall in Lauterbrunnen and a boat cruise on Lake Lugano.

A Grand (Slam) Time!

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.

Beyond the Fairway: The World’s Most Unforgettable Golf Journeys

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.

Why You Should Take a Mother-Son Trip to Utah

August 12, 2025
Over six packed days, they went fly fishing, biked mountain trails, raced UTVs, and rappelled through canyons—all at Zayne’s direction. He planned the itinerary (nonstop action), curated the meals (burgers and sushi, please), and even selected their rental car: a white Ford Mustang. They spent the first four nights in the luxe comfort of Montage Deer Valley, then roadtripped to Zion and glamped for two nights at Under Canvas Zion. Here, Jamie and Zayne share their favorite moments, their biggest laughs, and why mother-son travel just might be the ultimate bonding experience.

Top 5 Safari Do’s & Don’ts

July 17, 2025
1. Do listen to your guide. Your safari guide is basically a wilderness wizard. If they say “stay in the vehicle,” this is not the time for a TikTok dance in front of a lion. Guides have years of training, they know the behavior of animals intimately, and they know how to reverse a Land Rover faster than you can say, “Is that a leopard?” >>Don’t run. Ever. You are not faster than a lion. You are not faster than a zebra. Honestly, you are probably not even faster than a warthog. Running triggers a predator response. Translation: You could go from tourist with binoculars to buffet item in three seconds flat. This is a hard no.

We're Just Back From: South Africa

July 11, 2025
Everyone talks about going on safari. But not everyone tells you how it feels—to experience a languid afternoon with winemakers who forgo the norm, to watch a lioness cradle her cub across the plains, to luxuriate in a Versace-drenched suite in the Winelands where the bathtub rivals the size of a Manhattan studio. WhirlAway’s Stacey Blum (whose job is to vet the best of the best) recently spent two weeks on an indelible journey through South Africa with Abercrombie & Kent. She discovered a symphony of wow factors—equal parts city, bush, and bliss. These five moments rose to the top as her most exclusive, most unexpected, and most unforgettable.

Just Back From: Turkey

June 12, 2025
A land where empires rose and fell, Turkey is capturing the attention of the world’s most discerning travelers. What to expect? Quiet luxury, epicurean surprises, and indelible landscapes that stretch from the Aegean coast to Cappadocia's sculpted valleys. Michelin stars are landing in Istanbul, new yacht marinas sparkle along the Turquoise Coast, and restored Ottoman mansions offer world-class hospitality with a sense of place. Offering authenticity without sacrificing elegance, Turkey delivers both. Now is the moment to go—after just returning from her recent trip, WhirlAway Travel Luxury Advisor Anna Dunleavy lists 10 reasons to say YES to this enchanting country.

5 Unexpected & Unforgettable Experiences in Italy

May 29, 2025
1. A VIP visit to the Colonna Palace in Rome “It was completely closed to the public when we visited. They rarely do this level of private tour so it was truly a unique experience that no one can just click and book. It was extraordinary—we were literally invited into the home of Prince Prospero Colonna. We walked through room after room after room and not only got an art history lesson, but also learned about the history of the family. It was mind blowing, magical, and profoundly moving being surrounded by priceless works of art and Baroque masterpieces, exploring opulent galleries and salons, serene gardens, and discovering the Colonna family’s legacy—and having it all to ourselves! I don’t know a lot about art and our guide was able to speak to my level and also to someone who was a major art lover. It ended up being a bucket-list experience for me.”

An Insider’s Guide to Tulip Season in the Netherlands

May 9, 2025
The backstory: Her grandfather was a wholesale flower grower in Southeastern Pennsylvania and her dad grew up working in his greenhouses. Years later, Sara and her sister often rode along on deliveries, helping load and unload flats of flowers. Their grandfather received his bulbs from a man they called “the Dutchman,” whose shipments sometimes came packed along with a special pair of wooden shoes (Sara still has hers). Later in life, her father dreamed of visiting the Netherlands during “tulip time” with his two daughters. In April, they made it a reality with a next-level trip and customized itinerary featuring a deep dive into the flower business during peak bloom. Here, Sara shares her insider tips for taking it all in.

Just Back From … The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana

April 7, 2025
In February, WhirlAway’s Stacey Blum spent three nights at this all-inclusive guest ranch with a group of fellow travel advisors, where they played, relaxed, wined, and dined. The 6,600-acre property, which has been a working ranch since the 1800s, features dozens of fun and authentic activities that vary with the season, each one customized to the traveler’s skill level. Stacey chose to go cross-country skiing and snowmobiling one day, and sapphire mining and horseback riding the next. Oregon-based Purple Hands winery was on site during her stay, pairing wines with a six-course meal, and offering special tastings alongside ice skating, picnics, and campfires. Here, she shares her experience.

Where to? All About April Travel

March 21, 2025
Spring has sprung, which means so has our wanderlust. (Then again, that’s our year-round state of mind here at WhirlAway!) So, where are our luxury clients escaping to in April? Europe, for starters. South Africa is also a spring favorite, as it’s beginning to cool down there as the region heads into its fall season. Here, some from-the-field inspiration on where we like-minded travelers are headed.