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Hey friends! Last week I told you why I almost deleted my entire site (catch that update here).
But I didn’t tell you why I’m back.
The truth is…
I’m as passionate as ever about helping travelers design lives filled with meaningful adventures (not just Insta-worthy checklists). I’m also passionate about unique luxury hotels.
And I’m calling BS on the “standard” definition of luxury.
Because in my (humble-but-damn-well-educated!) opinion:
Luxury ≠ 5-star hotel chains.
Luxury ≠ 1000-thread-count sheets.
Luxury ≠ every Four Seasons looking exactly like the last one.
For me — and for the clients I work with — real luxury is about character. I only want to stay in unique luxury hotels with true soul.
^ The courtyard pool at Bab al Shams Desert Resort in Dubai, one of the most truly luxurious stays I’ve experienced.
Imagine:
✨ A riad in Morocco with carved cedar columns and lantern-lit courtyards.
✨ A safari lodge where elephants wander past your tent at sunrise.
✨ A monastery stay where silence is the most lavish gift.
That’s what I call luxury.
For me, it’s not about star ratings or thread count.
It’s about soul. Story-telling through design. Meticulously crafted details and curated experiences.
One of the things that drives my appetite for travel is discovering luxury in the unlikeliest places.
And it blows my mind how many people spend a fortune on “luxury” hotels that could be anywhere in the world…when the real treasures are often hiding in the smaller, less glitzy, more character-rich stays.
Here are some pictures I took at Casa Hormiga in Bacalar, Mexico. It’s a unique luxury hotel that has the depth of atmosphere I’m after.
Looking at these images now, I’m surprised by how difficult it can be to pinpoint “soul,” “atmosphere,” or “magic” in pictures.
I didn’t know for sure when I booked these spots if they would deliver the indescribable sense of place I was hoping for. But upon arrival, that certain je ne sais quoi was unmistakeable.
Living on the road for ten years straight, I’ve been lucky to find and experience so many of these soulful stays.
So I’ll be sharing more of them in the weeks to come — highlighting the hotels, destinations, and systems I’ve discovered that make travel unforgettable, sustainable, and inspiring.
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Thank you for coming with me! |
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P.S. What’s the most “luxurious” stay you’ve ever had — and was it the brand-name kind or something offbeat? Shoot me an email, I’d love to know either way. |
