We have an update for you on our Ecuador and Galapagos experience. The dates are set and Helen and I are committed to curating an exceptional luxury small group experience - we would love for you to join us, December 4th to 14th 2020. Details and sign up for the fine print can be found on our website HERE.

I'll be honest with you. We travel tomorrow to Europe and will be boarding the brand new amazing AmaMagna on Sunday for a Danube river cruise. We are extremely excited, but we have had to work like crazy to get up to date with all our upcoming client trips and their documents. That means I have struggled to focus on this weeks blog, and I will admit to plagiarizing a healthy section of a wonderful article to be found on the Virtuoso website.
I've given it a J5Travel twist, and I'm going to talk about why you should use a Virtuoso travel advisor, or why not expedia...

1. Ordinary to Extraordinary

We are able to secure special benefits that you can’t get on your own, such as complimentary breakfast, spa credits, and upgrades at hotels. That's a given. But before we are booking those special properties, it's the nuances at the initiation of planning that make an impressive difference. From big-picture aspects (where to go – and when) to the details that matter (booking the hotel rooms with the best views, where to get the most authentic pizza on the Amalfi Coast), your travel advisor knows how to plan a memorable trip.
By the way we think it's Ristorante Pizzeria Braceria Antico Mulino (below), set just back from the coast a few miles from Salerno.

2. Knows the World
Just as you might use a financial planner, an interior designer, or a personal shopper, it makes sense to entrust your most prized asset – your time – to an experienced travel advisor. The best advisors spend a lot of time on the road themselves – scouting out hotels, deepening relationships with tour guides, and finding the best restaurants and things to do. Helen and I have been privileged to travel extensively in our lives and especially in the last 4 years. Of course we still have some gaps but there are many countries of the world we can offer sensible and meaningful advice on, including possibly our favorite destination, Laos (below).

3. Knows Your Travel Style
A Virtuoso travel advisor understands what’s most important to you and your traveling companions. Every single client of ours has different opinions on what they want to experience. You may want to take a cooking class or a private tour, or you may not want to leave the resort pool, especially if it's the Grace Hotel, Santorini (below)! Perhaps you want to use travel to educate your children, plan an unforgettable anniversary trip, or celebrate a milestone birthday with friends and family. We will have plenty of suggestions on what might work best for you, no matter what your requirements.

4. Expands Your Horizons
A great travel advisor will help you think creatively about where to go and what to do. Italy, France, and Hawaii will always be popular. But we also know the best ways, say, to see Chile, Portugal, New Zealand (below, please go!), and many other hot destinations – plus new ways to experience the places you’ve already visited. This is something we truly pride ourselves on. We do aim to constantly inspire with possible new destinations and experiences. We won't push too hard, but we love to take our clients on a journey to the edge of their comfort zone.

5. Can Handle Anything
Have you ever been on a trip where everything went exactly as planned? Well, yes – this almost never happens. Issues are bound to pop up (below), and your Virtuoso travel advisor is your personal help line and "fixer". We know how to quickly turn things around for the better. We are your advocate, we have the connections to put things right and we work tirelessly to make each and every client trip special. We are not expedia.

If you'd like to save the headache and let us take care of your next travel adventure, we'd love to help. Click here to start planning!

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