Happy Thursday Hidden Gem Travel community! How was your first week in April? With the first signs of spring, I’m inspired to write all month about beautiful destinations, experiences, and memories we can make as life reopens, just like the spring flowers that are beginning to pop up here in New England.
Last week we covered some incredible destinations where you can go now, so the news that the CDC updated its guidance on travel came at the ideal time. Essentially, the statement says that fully vaccinated Americans can travel with low risk. That news is a fantastic step towards reopening the world, but it will be a process. Yes, there are still significant questions to answer about vaccine passports and testing requirements, but it’s a move in the right direction. FYI – I have easy access to up-to-date, global travel regulations which I share with my clients.
From my point of view as a travel advisor, people are excited to plan vacations but still wisely cautious. Despite that scenario, I’m finding that the demand for domestic vacations is outpacing the recovery – many of my travel partners are working hard to rehire furloughed staff and manage their businesses within covid restrictions and guidelines. Luckily, my strong relationships allow me to get to the right people who take excellent care of my clients.
With the reopening of travel, the timing is perfect to announce that my network, Virtuoso (the leading network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel), announced their new Best of the Best Guide for 2021! For the first time, the guide isn’t a paper, coffee table catalogue. Instead, it’s been reimagined as an immersive, interactive, digital platform. This version is perfect for people who love travel inspiration wherever they find themselves.
Read on for the full scoop on the Best of the Best 2021 Guide!
Best of the Best 2021 – What Can I Expect?
What features can you expect from the new guide? The answer is many, including:
• Revamped hotel profile pages with beautiful full-screen photos and videos
• Detailed search results that showcase a signature image and overview
• Highlights of current promotions
• Dedicated tabs for Promotions, Health and Safety updates, and Sustainability initiatives
• A full listing of Virtuoso amenities
• Mobile optimization for on-the-go viewing
• Ability to check rates and availability
💎 Hidden Gem Tip: Check out this short video which brings the new guide to life: https://bit.ly/BofB21
Best of the Best 2021 – What Does It Cover?
In a nutshell, the new Best of the Best covers the world’s best places to stay. Intimate retreats, sustainable safari camps, gorgeous beach resorts and villas, private island getaways, iconic hotels, and much more. It’s a world of curated, dream vacations in more than 1,400 destinations.
There are tabs for destinations, hotels, cruises, tours, and inspiration as well as articles about all kinds of travel topics. Whether you travel as a solo, couple, family, interest group AND/OR are a foodie, photography buff, lover of culture or history, nature/wildlife enthusiast, you name it, there’s relevant travel inspiration at your fingertips.
If you love to dream about travel and research options, this guide will elevate that experience. Even better, you can click a link to contact me for more information on anything you find of interest. Couldn’t be easier or more fun!
Best of the Best 2021 – Can You Give Me an Example?
Here’s an example – many people are excited to return to Italy as soon as they can visit safely. There’s a great article on how to experience Rome and avoid the inevitable crowds. Check out this snippet:
“A golf-cart tour of iconic Roman sites starting at 5 p.m. can cover a lot of territory with minimal wear and tear. This afternoon tactic helps avoid cruise passengers and day-trippers, who tend to crowd the best venues in the morning. The exception is the early entrance to the Vatican, to visit the Sistine Chapel before the hordes pour in.”
Note: When I plan trips to destinations that I know will be crowded (peak season anywhere), I lean on my network to find the best tour options and routes. There’s nothing worse than wasting valuable vacation time waiting in line or worse – not getting access to your must-see/do list. Has this happened to you?
Best of the Best 2021 – Where Can I Find It?
Your portal to the Best of the Best guide is found here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/SusanWilson/travel/luxury-hotels
As a reminder, when you book a stay through me at a Virtuoso property, you’ll receive:
*Preferred rates and availability
*Room upgrades when available
*Breakfast daily for two
*Dining, resort, or hotel credits
*Early check in and late check out when available
*Exclusive amenities and experiences (vary by property)
I’ll add that you are treated as a VIP at a Virtuoso network property too. I’m continually meeting (virtually these days) with the management of our resorts, hotels, and suppliers which means I have a relationship with them. I contact the management ahead your stay, so they know to treat you as valued Virtuoso and Hidden Gem Travel client.
💎 Hidden Gem Client Testimonial: I had a client return from a Virtuoso property in Hawaii last week. She was thrilled to tell me that she received an upgrade to an ocean-view room, a delicious, hearty breakfast each day at no charge, and an amazing dinner on the hotel thanks to her resort credit! That’s value and VIP treatment.
Inspired? If you’re ready to learn more the Best of the Best 2021 Here’s the direct link to my calendar to schedule a chat: https://calendly.com/hiddengemtravelconsulting/45min
💎 Hidden Gem Tip: Follow my Facebook/Instagram pages this week for more travel inspiration: www.facebook.com/hiddengemtravelconsulting or Instagram: www.instagram.com/hidden.gem.travel
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Wishing you and your family continued good health,
Susan
