Where to go before it becomes too popular? 

Panama is lesser known than its neighbor Costa Rica, yet its beaches, wildlife and active adventure rival it, with fewer crowds. For years, most travelers to Panama only made it to two key destinations outside the capital: Boquete and Bocas del Toro.

Now, more of the country is opening up, thanks to a wave of thoughtful, well-designed accommodations: In Cambutal, Sansara offers an elegant retreat on a stretch of wild, jungle-backed black sand beaches. In Santa Catalina, a laid-back fishing village, the Santa Catalina Hotel provides access to Coiba National Park’s remote, pristine islands. And in Valle de Antón, set inside the crater of an ancient volcano, La Compañia del Valle hotel has brought a refined stay to this lush, cool highland town.

Panama is a country shaped by its past, something our guide, a former gang leader, reflected on as he led us through parts of Panama City that, just over a decade ago, were no-go zones. Today, it’s a country looking firmly to the future, and one to visit before too many people find out.

• Sample Itinerary
• Testimonials
• Gallery

What are the best new hotels? 

The Colombian husband-and-wife team behind Sazagua has just opened a new hacienda-style boutique hotel in the Cocora valley, near the vibrant villages of Salento and Filandia. Set in a lush valley, it’s a place for horseback rides through the forest, alfresco picnics, river-rafting and hikes to the towering wax palms of Cocora. With the owner being a chef, the food is exceptional—expect bold flavors and the freshest local ingredients.

Oiá Casa’s multi-day trek in Lencois Maranhenses National Park in Northern Brazil brings a new level of luxury to this adventure-perfect region. Avoid the crowds and staying in remote crowd-free locations with evening hiking to witness the most spectacular sunsets. This is special.

Luxury glamping has reached new heights in some of South America’s most breathtaking landscapes.

• In Peru’s Colca Canyon, Puqio is the country’s first luxury tented camp, set among Andean peaks where condors soar.
• In Argentina, Pristine Camps offers domed tents on the vast Salinas Grandes, where summer rains turn the salt flats into a mirror reflecting the night sky.
• They’ve also set up camp in El Calafate, Patagonia, on the shores of Lake Roca, with views of the Perito Moreno Glacier. After days of horseback riding and glacier hikes, evenings end with a traditional Patagonian asado, slow-cooked over an open flame.

Utan Rainforest Lodge in Sabah, the north east of Malaysian Borneo, is the first new upscale rainforest lodge here in a long time. It’s a welcome addition to the infrastructure and means travelers can now stay in comfort in this hard-to-reach region.

Where to stay on a multigenerational trip?

For multi-generational trips, private buyouts offer the ideal setup, ensuring the right mix of space, comfort, and accessibility for all ages. Look for properties with a thoughtful layout, dining tables that fit the whole family, r&r living spaces, avoiding steep climbs or long walks for older family members while providing activities for all energy levels.

Several South American ranches work particularly well:

• Estancia Los Potreros in Córdoba, Argentina: A family-run ranch where guests feel instantly at home. With over 100 horses, chef-led dinners, and nature hikes, there’s something for every generation.
• Hacienda Zuleta in Ecuador: A window into the country’s past, this working farm has been in the family of former President Lasso for over a century. Spanning 1,600 hectares, it features Incan ruins, farm-to-table dining, horseback riding, and hands-on activities like cheese-making and hay-bale crafting for children.

Rosyth Estate House in Kegalle, Sri Lanka, is a fantastic buyout option for Asia: it offers a plethora of activities combining wildlife, culture and active travel, with perfectly balanced local cuisine, and Western options when needed.

Ocio Villas in Costa Rica work phenomenally well for a multi-gen buyout: it has phenomenal Pacific views, rainforest and coastal adventures on its doorstep, and can be accessed by helicopter to start your trip on a high.

• Sample Itinerary
• Testimonials
• Gallery

Which destination exceeds expectations?

Japan has been a standout destination recently, but not in the way most travelers expect. Everyone thinks of Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara, and Osaka as must-visits, but the real magic often lies beyond the well-trodden path. At first, clients are hesitant to skip the classic circuit, worried they’ll miss something essential. But when they venture to the southernmost tropical islands of Okinawa, the lush volcanic landscapes of Kyushu, or the historic onsens and samurai towns of Akita, they come back saying the opposite: they didn’t miss out, they discovered more.

What are the trends in foodie travel?

Foraging is big right now. In Sligo, Ireland, you can join Prannie Rhatigan gathering seaweed along the coast. Doctor by day and an award-winning cookbook author, Prannie is a passionate advocate for seaweed’s nutritional value and versatility in the kitchen – as you’ll see from a taste of just-made seaweed pesto from your own harvest.

In Tobago, you can experience the trend in micro-production with Carlina in her own back garden. Roast cocoa beans from foraged pods over a coal fire, hand shell and grind them, as her grandmother taught her, and savour the result: a few precious bars of some of the most exquisite chocolate you’ll ever taste.

• Sample Itinerary
• Testimonials
• Gallery

Which country is best for adventure? 

For sheer adventure in an emerging destination, you can’t beat Guyana. Tucked away in northeastern South America, it’s a country where you’ll rarely see another visitor.

Nature and wildlife here are oversized – giant river otters, giant anteaters, and the world’s largest species of alligator. You can stand at the edge of Kaieteur Falls, one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls, with nothing but untouched rainforest stretching to the horizon.

With almost no roads, travel is by river or charter flight, and lodges are run by indigenous communities. Lodgings here are basic but the luxury comes in being one of the first to see this wild frontier of travel.

What are the trends in wellness travel?

Wellness is increasingly about finding fulfilment through genuine connection. That comes from meeting local people, supporting local businesses, getting close to nature. It’s becoming more about meaningful and immersive travel.

Castara Retreats in Tobago embodies this shift. Set in a little-visited corner of the Caribbean, it blends barefoot luxury with a deep respect for the environment and community where you’re encouraged to dine out in local eateries and swim in the ocean. Locally sourced food, conservation projects, and a team of empowered local staff create a place that feels both grounded and special.

You’re surrounded by nature, perched in the forest overlooking a cove, and warmly welcomed by the people of the neighbouring fishing village, who form part of the retreat’s wider community. And at night, gliding through a lagoon of glowing bioluminescence, you feel the magic of this kind of travel.

• Sample Itinerary
• Testimonials
• Gallery

What are the most common travel mistakes?

One of the biggest travel mistakes is landing in a big city in a new country and rushing out into the urban bustle. After leaving behind the rush of daily life, it helps to ease into a trip. This could be a few days at a ranch outside Buenos Aires, or starting a Brazil itinerary at Iguazu Falls, letting nature set the pace before the city takes over.

Poor logistics can also take the shine off a trip. Flying in and out of the same city multiple times is exhausting when better planning could mean no backtracking, saving  time and energy.

Another common mistake is packing in too much of the same. Back-to-back safaris, jungle lodges, or ancient ruins and temples start to blend together after a while, no matter how spectacular each one is. Each move in an itinerary needs to justify itself by being a contrast from the last, making every stop fresh and distinct.