Featured destinations

Where I plan
most often

The places I keep going back to — and the hotels I’d send my own family to, with partner amenities and my advocacy attached to every booking.

Tell me where you’re going

Preferred partnerships

I’m a preferred partner of Rosewood, Four Seasons, Aman, Belmond, Auberge and many of the world’s top hotel brands — space-available upgrades, daily breakfast, property credits and VIP recognition come with your booking at no extra cost.

Free-night promotions

Many of these properties run stay-3-pay-2 or stay-4-pay-3 offers through partner channels. I watch for them and time your booking so the promotion does the saving — the rate is never higher than booking direct.

Priority over the portals

Partner bookings are typically prioritized ahead of credit-card travel programs like Amex or Chase when upgrades and special requests are handed out — and my direct relationships with the hotels’ teams close the rest of the gap.

La dolce vita

Italy

Italy is where I’ve spent the most time personally — Passalacqua, Il San Pietro, and beyond. Palazzo grandeur in Florence and Rome or countryside seclusion in Tuscany, built around Belmond-, Rosewood- and Auberge-caliber stays.

Belmond Villa San Michele

A former 15th-century monastery in the Fiesole hills above the city, recently renovated, with the best views in Florence and a private shuttle into town.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Two Renaissance palazzos bordering one of the city’s largest private gardens — resort-like calm inside the city center.

Hotel Lungarno

The Lungarno Collection’s riverside classic — nautical-chic rooms hanging over the Arno with Ponte Vecchio views, steps from everything.

Hotel Eden

My top overall pick in Rome and one of my top three stays in Italy. Anticipatory service on a quiet street above the Spanish Steps.

Hotel de Russie

A hidden garden between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps — understated and elegant.

The St. Regis Rome

Belle Époque grandeur and a nightly champagne sabrage ritual, for guests who want a bit more spectacle.

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

Three Michelin Keys

A 5,000-acre Ferragamo-family estate in the Val d’Orcia with its own Brunello winery and Italy’s only private golf club — my top Tuscany pick for a multi-night countryside stay.

Belmond Castello di Casole

A hilltop castle estate near Siena with sweeping countryside views, slightly more traditional in feel.

COMO Castello del Nero

A 12th-century converted castle in Chianti, well-positioned for day trips to Florence and Siena.

Passalacqua

Three Michelin Keys

An 18th-century villa turned 24-room showpiece — the most celebrated new hotel in Europe, and a place I send clients without hesitation.

Il Sereno

Patricia Urquiola’s modern lakefront statement — floor-to-ceiling glass, a heated pool just above the water, and its own Riva boats at the dock.

Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como

A resort-scale garden estate with private villas and the lake’s famous floating pool — the family-friendly way to do Como.

Belmond Hotel Caruso

Perched in Ravello above the coast, with the most dramatic infinity pool on the Amalfi Coast — quieter and more composed than Positano.

Il San Pietro di Positano

Three Michelin Keys

Carved into the cliffs near Positano, Michelin-starred dining, private beach club — one of my personal favorites.

Le Sirenuse

The address in Positano itself, for guests who want to be in the center of the action.

On the ground

Ferrari & vintage driving days — supercars or classic Alfas through the Val d’Orcia’s ribbon roads, lunch at a private estate.

Private boat days on Capri & the coast — a chartered gozzo or yacht, the Blue Grotto before the crowds, lunch dockside in Nerano.

Market-to-table cooking classes — shop Campo de’ Fiori or a Florentine market with a private chef, then cook and eat the haul.

After-hours access — the Vatican or the Uffizi after closing, with the right historian walking you through.

Arranged with my on-the-ground partners — Queen of Clubs, Arno Travel, and TAOLS — the teams behind some of Italy’s finest private experiences.

Italy rewards planning early — the best suites go first.

The city of light

Paris

Paris is the easiest great decision in travel — the harder question is which palace suits you. I place clients by neighborhood, personality and occasion, and my partner status at the palace hotels means the amenities follow you there.

Concorde & the Tuileries

Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel

Forbes Five-Star

The 18th-century landmark on Place de la Concorde, reborn under Rosewood — grand without stuffiness, with one of the city’s most beautiful pools.

Concorde & the Tuileries

Le Meurice

Forbes Five-Star

Dorchester Collection’s grande dame facing the Tuileries — Alain Ducasse dining and rooms that look straight down the gardens.

Étoile & the Champs-Élysées

The Peninsula Paris

Forbes Five-Star

Impeccably rebuilt near the Arc de Triomphe — rooftop dining with Eiffel views and the sharpest service technology of any palace.

Étoile & the Champs-Élysées

Hôtel Barrière Fouquet’s

The Champs-Élysées address with a private-club feel — younger in energy, and home to one of the city’s best spas.

Pont-Neuf & the Seine

Cheval Blanc Paris

Palace Distinction

LVMH’s showpiece above La Samaritaine — just 72 rooms, Dior Spa, Langosteria over the river, and the most coveted new address in Paris.

Ritz Paris

Palace Distinction

The word “ritzy” exists because of this hotel — Bar Hemingway, the Ritz Club pool, and suites that have hosted a century of legends.

On the ground

After-hours at the Louvre & Versailles — private guided visits once the doors close, including the King’s Private Apartments.

Place Vendôme by appointment — private salons at the great jewelry and watch houses, and couture atelier visits arranged around your dates.

Champagne by helicopter — Reims and Épernay in a day: cellar access and lunch at a grande maison, back in Paris for dinner.

The Seine, privately — a chartered yacht at dusk with dinner aboard — not a bateau-mouche in sight.

Right Bank or Left, palace or boutique — tell me the occasion and I’ll tell you the address.

The capital

London

London is where my most-traveled clients pass through most often — and where the gap between a good stay and a great one comes down to relationships. These are the grandes dames I book, each with a distinct personality.

Claridge’s

The art deco icon and London’s definitive grande dame — impeccable service theater, the famous foyer tea, and suites that feel like private Mayfair flats.

The Connaught

Quieter and clubbier than its sibling Claridge’s — home to the Connaught Bar, Hélène Darroze’s dining room, and the most discreet service in the city.

The Lanesborough

Regency grandeur on Hyde Park Corner with 24-hour butler service in every room — the most residential-feeling of London’s great hotels.

Raffles London at The OWO

The Old War Office reborn — Churchill’s former corridors, nine restaurants and bars, and the most exciting opening London has seen in a generation.

On the ground

House seats in the West End — the shows everyone wants, arranged with dinner before and a car after.

Private shopping & tailoring — appointments on Savile Row and Bond Street, arranged around your schedule.

Royal Ascot & Wimbledon hospitality — the English season, done properly, booked well in advance.

Countryside by helicopter — the Cotswolds or a castle lunch, out and back in a day.

London pairs beautifully with Paris — two hours by Eurostar, one seamless itinerary.

The Cyclades

Greece

The Greek islands are where my practice runs deepest — 38 hotels toured and stayed across eight islands this spring. From the caldera’s most sophisticated stays to design-led hideaways on the quieter islands, this is planning built entirely on firsthand knowledge.

Canaves Oia Suites

The classic caldera experience, perfected — recently renovated, remarkably private, with the best spa product on the caldera.

Canaves Epitome

The best hotel I experienced in Greece — garden seclusion near Ammoudi Bay, a true Aegean sunset, and no age restrictions, which makes it the caldera-area pick for families.

Andronis Boutique

Authentic cave-style suites in the heart of Oia, freshly renovated, with a plunge pool or jacuzzi in every room.

Gundari

A dark stone showpiece on a clifftop of one of Greece’s quietest islands — 27 suites and villas, all with plunge pools, and the most striking infinity pool in the Cyclades.

Parīlio

The most beautiful design story in the islands, just outside Naoussa — with new hilltop villas that suit families and groups wonderfully.

Cali

An independent stunner on the island’s quiet east side, with truly private plunge pools and the best hotel gym I’ve ever seen.

On the ground

Private boat days — Kleftiko’s sea caves with my preferred crew on Milos, or a sunset caldera cruise below Oia.

Helicopter island hops — Athens or Mykonos to Santorini in under an hour, through my Hoper partnership.

Farm cooking classes on Sifnos — Greece’s great foodie island, cooking lunch where it was grown.

Vineyard afternoons on Santorini — volcanic assyrtiko tastings timed so you’re back for golden hour.

Two islands per week, the right ferries, and hotels I’ve walked myself.

Culture & cuisine

Japan

From temple-lined Kyoto to neon-lit Tokyo, Japan rewards travelers who want depth over pace. A well-built itinerary blends culture, cuisine, and genuinely exceptional hotels.

The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto at dusk along the Kamogawa River

Aman Kyoto

Three Michelin Keys

A secluded forest sanctuary near the city’s temples; the most serene, most “Aman” experience in Japan. Best for travelers who want quiet immersion over convenience.

Capella Kyoto

Newer and set in the historic Miyagawa-chō geisha district, with a strong design pedigree (Kengo Kuma) and private onsen suites. A great pick for couples who want culture without sacrificing polish.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

Forbes Five-Star

Riverside, walkable, and more classically “hotel” in feel — ideal for guests who want a central base with full-service consistency.

Aman Tokyo

Three Michelin Keys · Forbes Five-Star

Serene, minimalist, perched atop Otemachi Tower with views of the Imperial Palace gardens. The quiet counterpoint to the city’s energy.

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

Forbes Five-Star

Bolder and more contemporary, with some of the best dining in the city — three Michelin-starred restaurants on-site.

The Peninsula Tokyo

Forbes Five-Star

Classic, central Ginza location, excellent for first-time visitors who want to be in the middle of everything.

On the ground

Private tea ceremony in Kyoto — with a tea master, in a machiya townhouse rather than a tourist room.

Sushi masterclass in Tokyo — behind the counter with an itamae, then eat your work.

Sumo morning practice — a quiet seat at a stable’s early training session.

Private guides throughout — temples before the crowds, markets with someone who knows every stall.

Planning Japan? I’ll sequence the cities, the trains, and the tables.

The safari

Africa

A safari is one of the most rewarding trips I plan — and the one where an advisor earns their keep most. Two classic circuits: East Africa for the migration and the great open plains, and Southern Africa for the finest lodges and guiding on the continent, with Cape Town as the gateway. Camp choice makes or breaks the trip; that’s where I come in.

East Africa · Kenya & Tanzania

Tanzania · Serengeti

Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Serengeti

Set in the Seronera Valley with a year-round waterhole and full resort infrastructure — spa, two pools, fitness — the most comfortable, family-friendly entry point into the Serengeti.

Kenya · Maasai Mara

Angama Mara

Perched on the edge of the Oloololo Escarpment with sweeping views over the Mara — ideal for travelers focused on the Great Migration.

Kenya · Mara River

Sanctuary Olonana

Glass-fronted suites directly on the Mara River — hippos below your deck, and an intimate, contemporary counterpoint to the escarpment lodges.

Southern Africa & Cape Town

Royal Malewane

The Royal Portfolio’s flagship — some of the most decorated guides in Africa, a serious spa, and Big Five viewing at the highest level of luxury on the continent.

Londolozi

The family-run reserve that set the standard for leopard viewing worldwide — five camps, one ethos, and guiding that turns first-timers into safari people for life.

Mombo Camp, Wilderness

Botswana’s most storied camp, on an island in the Delta’s richest game country — water and land safari in one, at the top of the category.

Ellerman House

A 13-room Relais & Châteaux house above the Atlantic with a private art collection and wine gallery — the gateway stay before or after safari, and reason enough to linger.

On the ground

Hot-air balloon at dawn — over the Mara or Serengeti, champagne breakfast in the bush on landing.

Private conservancy drives — off the public circuits, with your own guide and vehicle for the whole stay.

Walking safaris & village visits — the Mara on foot with Maasai guides, and time with the communities who steward it.

Bush dinners & sundowners — the rituals that turn a game-viewing trip into the trip of a lifetime.

Sole-use camp buyouts — your family or group as the only guests in camp, with the whole team dedicated to you.

Cape Town & the Winelands — private tastings and table bookings in Franschhoek and Stellenbosch to bookend the bush.

Safaris book 9–12 months out — the right camp matters more than anywhere else I plan.

Sun & sea

Mexico

Mexico’s Pacific coast is the easiest luxury escape in the Americas — short flights, no jet lag, and a run of resorts that rival anywhere in the world. Los Cabos brings drama and energy; Punta Mita and the Riviera Nayarit bring lush, quiet polish.

Los Cabos

Santa Maria Bay

Montage Los Cabos

Set on one of the few genuinely swimmable beaches in Cabo, with understated design and standout service. My go-to first recommendation here.

San José del Cabo

One&Only Palmilla

The grande dame of Cabo — lush, storied, and impeccably serviced, with a swimmable cove and legendary breakfasts.

Las Ventanas al Paraíso

A Rosewood resort famous for over-the-top service theater — ideal for celebrations that deserve a little spectacle.

Punta Mita & the Pacific Coast

Riviera Nayarit

One&Only Mandarina

Treehouse-style villas folded into a rainforest cliffside — the most architecturally exciting resort on the Pacific coast.

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort

Fifteen tented villas hidden in the Punta Mita jungle — adults-only, wellness-driven, and as close to a private nature reserve as Mexico gets.

The St. Regis Punta Mita

Quieter and more residential in feel, with butler service throughout — a refined base on the same beautiful peninsula.

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo

A 3,000-acre private reserve down the coast from Puerto Vallarta — dramatic clifftop pools, its own airstrip access, and barely another soul in sight.

On the ground

Private charters & sportfishing — Cabo’s marlin waters or a slow day anchored off a quiet bay.

Whale watching, December–April — humpbacks calve in these waters; a private boat beats the crowds every time.

Tequila & mezcal tastings — guided by someone who can actually explain what you’re drinking.

Surf mornings at Punta Mita — private coaching on gentle breaks, back in time for lunch.

Cabo or Punta Mita? It depends on your group — ask me.

Game, set, match

For the tennis traveler

Some of the world’s best hotels also hide some of its most beautiful courts — several of them at properties already on this page. These are my favorites, from my full ranking of hotel tennis courts worth traveling for.

Il San Pietro di Positano

A turf court carved into the cliffside above the Tyrrhenian — my #1, and reason enough to stay.

Passalacqua

A sunken clay court in the terraced gardens — play, then swim in the greenhouse pool.

Hotel Cipriani

Lagoon-side tennis in Giudecca’s gardens — the most unexpected court in Europe.

Villa d’Este

Clay courts in a 25-acre renaissance park above the lake — old-world tennis at its finest.

Bürgenstock Resort

Alpine courts 500 meters above Lake Lucerne — the best backdrop in the sport.

Cheval Blanc Randheli

Palm-shaded courts on a private island — morning tennis, afternoon lagoon.

See all eleven courts — and where I’d stay to play them.

The full tennis ranking

Beyond the hotels

Private yacht charters through trusted brokers, private jets for domestic and international travel, and helicopter transfers through my Hoper partnership — if the trip calls for it, I’ll arrange it.

One question

Where and when?

“Kyoto in November” is a complete answer. I’ll take it from there.

Client itineraries are never published or shared. References available on request.

Tell me where you’re going