u/my-path

Sharing details of this incredible new Japan itinerary from Roam by Tauck. Roam is a new adult only (21+) option designed for those of us in our 40s-50s (ish). The concept is small group travel that is relaxed, stress free and not overly scripted. Japan is a 9 night itinerary from Tokyo, through the Setan Inland Sea area and ending in Kyoto. Stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, the Azumi Setoda (a ryokan luxury retreat) and the Ritz Carlton Hikes or strolls, bike or ebike along the sea, a private temple visit with a Buddhist priest, raman, omakase and saki and time to unwind, wander and relax. These itineraries are designed for an average of 16 guests with time for independent exploration and flexibility.

You could plan it yourself, but why would you want to?

Now Open: Mamula Island by Banyan Tree in Montenegro's Bay of Kotor

Banyan Tree's first resort in Europe is located in a restored 19th century fortress sitting on its own small island at the mouth of Boka Bay. The restoration took seven years, led by developer Samih Sawiris with a Lisbon architecture firm and a Montenegrin one handling the fortress preservation work.

You get there included private boat transfer across the bay, or by helicopter from Dubrovnik or Tivat if you're coming from Croatia.

32 rooms total. The Heritage Suites are built into the original fortress walls, and there are newer additions with floor to ceiling windows and private terraces.

Three restaurants: one doing seafood crudo by the pools, one focused on land based Adriatic cooking, one on a coastal terrace. The spa is inside the old fortress tower, with Finnish and herbal saunas, a flotation chamber, and halotherapy alongside Thai, Javanese, and Chinese treatments.

They also do full island buyouts for weddings and private events, and there's kayak and paddleboard access over to the Luštica Peninsula.

I'm adding it to my list for my next trip to Croatia...

Baoase Curaçao is the island's only 5 star resort with a private stretch of beach. Villas range from 1-4 bedrooms You can also book a private island with a 4 bedroom villa for up to 8 guests, private infinity pool and private beach. In "early" 2027, Baoase Curaçao will add 14 new accommodations to their current total of 23. Pre- Bookings will open August 1st. I'll post more info about the new accommodation types etc asap.

We are now taking reservations for the inaugural season of Aman at Sea which launches next May in the Mediterranean through November and continues into the Caribbean.

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Here's what makes the Amangati unique in the growing seascape of small ships and yachts;

• The smallest (vs Four Seasons or Orient Express) with 47 cabins/ 94 guests. 17 of these suites are connecting.
• 10 restaurants, bars & lounges
• 2 helipads
• An on demand suite host, daily laundry and pressing
• In suite breakfast, Mediterranean restaurant (Alira), light bites and gelataria included
• Aman Grill, Signature Dining Akare, and teppanyaki Hiori available at additional charge
• Soft drinks and beer included (other alcohol at additional charge)
• Cinema and youth lounge
• All onboard gratuities and wifi included
• Aman Suite 354 sq meters (3810 sq feet), accessible by private lift features a stunning terrace with whirlpool, private massage room and sauna
• Deluxe Suites start at 60 sq meters (653 sq feet)
• King Beds can be split into two extra large twins in the Deluxe suite category
• Small host suites available for service or security staff
• Expansive yoga and meditation deck
• Marina and lots of water toys
• 16 m infinity pool
• Jazz club and cigar lounge
• 6 tenders for transfers, sunset cruises and private use
• Aman Spa, serenity garden, and fitness studio

Serious inquires pleaseDM or email karen@mypathunwinding.com

This came across my desk this week and thought I would share here. This is travel by private jet with a passenger count of only 16-18 so much smaller than the Four Seasons, A&K or National Geographic Private Jet experiences.

If you are (or once were) a parent traveling with children age 3-18, what resorts in the US did you and your family love? What activities did your kids enjoy? What was available for teens that they wanted to participate in?

Please be specific with your recommendations- include the exact location/ resort rather than just a general brand shout out.

I'll take the best answers and create a community resource (and we will continue to do this for other ages, travel types and destinations).

If you are (or once were) a parent traveling with children under age 3, what resorts in the US made you feel most welcome? Did you have a crib already set up and waiting for you? A diaper genie? A welcome bottle of wine, lol? What are your top recommendations?

Please be specific with your recommendations- include the exact location/ resort rather than just a general brand shout out.

I'll take the best answers and create a community resource (and we will hopefully do this for other ages, travel types and destinations).

As a follow up to my Croatia post, here is what I shared in r/taucktours about two options for families: ABD and Tauck Bridges which both announced Croatia itineraries for 2027. These are both geared towards family and multigenerational travel. If you read my post about the Croatia yacht and think it would be fun with your kids, you should definitely check out the Tauck Bridges option.

Adventures by Disney visits both Croatia and Slovenia. (This is a land vacation so very different itinerary from the Adriatic Cruise ABD briefly had.) This one begins in Ljubljana, Slovenia (a hot spot in Europe) before flying to Dubrovnik. Experiences include the Ljubljana Castle with costumed storytellers, Lake Bled by traditional pletna boat, a herdsmen settlement in the Alps, oysters on a floating platform in Mali Ston Bay, and kayaking Dubrovnik's ancient walls.

Tauck Bridges Croatian Coast Family Voyage is also brand new for 2027. This features 7 nights onboard the private yacht Lupus Mare, island hopping to five Croatian islands including Split and Diocletian's Palace. I was disappointed ABD did not include Split. Since you are on the yacht there are no long motorcoach days or packing and unpacking. Experiences include river rafting, a 200-year-old living history estate on Hvar, kayaking in Mljet National Park, and daily Adriatic swim stops with a water slide, jetski and sea bob off the back of the boat. Max 34 guests.

Happy to answer questions and send all the details and offers.

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Tauck has a new itinerary in 2027- A Week In... Champagne & Alsace. Highlights include:

• Small groups averaging 24 guests
• 7 nights in 3 beautiful hotels (and ask me about a complimentary pre or post night to extend your stay
• Private dinner prepared just for you at chef's personal home overlooking the charming Obernai Valley
• A private dinner at the iconic Moët & Chandon Champagne house
• Guided sightseeing in Metz and Reims, including a visit to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims
• A guided cellar visit and tasting at Taittinger, one of Champagne's most historic houses

And ladies-Oct 24, 2027 is an Women's Only departure, led by a female Tauck Director, with one upfront price covering almost everything. Join a community of like minded women and the ease of not having to deal with the logistics. . 

Hi all! I'm back from a week in Croatia onboard the 30 passenger mini-cruiser yacht Aretha. I chartered this lot with friends and friends of friends so we had a really fun group. The Aretha is beautiful with 15 cabins, a crew of 12, two hot tubs on the sun deck (and two vip suites with private hot tubs), a small movie theater, a small gym, a sauna and massage room, water toys including a slide and pool, and plenty of space to relax. All rooms have private full bathrooms, individual a/c controls and daily housekeeping.

We sailed from Dubrovnik to Zadar hopping to Korcula, Hvar, Split, Sibenek and Kornati National Park along the way.

Happy to answer questions about any parts of the experience! Feel free to DM me as well if you prefer.

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I am a fan of "ship within a ship" concepts to elevate the onboard experience. I recently sailed on the Celebrity Ascent in a Sky Suite which is part of the Retreat. Celebrity is technically a premium line not luxury (they backed away from calling themselves luxury a couple of years ago) but reserving a Retreat category stateroom elevates it. Retreat guests receive priority boarding. In Fort Lauderdale, that included a separate entrance in the terminal, an escort to the private security line for Retreat guests and a lounge in the terminal with food and beverages.

On board, Retreat guests have access to a two story sun deck with hot tubs, pool, bar, and casual dining area that served lunch on some days as well as Luminae, the exclusive restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Luminae replaces the main dining room. No reservations were needed. Our first lunch in Luminae concerned me as the much hyped Retreat burger and lobster roll were just not good. But the other meals we had were excellent. The atmosphere in Luminae felt close to Palo on DCL, service was exellent and food was very good to excellent after our first disappointing lunch.

The Retreat indoor lounge had a great bar and lots of space but food offerings were minimal. We had a butler with our suite who was available via Whatsapp but we didn't use him for much. Next time, we will definitely remember to request coffee delivery in the morning.

Our itinerary was a 3 day Bahamian cruise which is unusual for Celebrity in the Edge class ships (the older ships do not have as extensive Retreat spaces) but it was great to give us a taste of the ship. We had a stop in Nassau and reserved a cabana at the Royal Beach Club (run by Celebrity's sister company, Royal Caribbean.) The cabana service was fantastic. Food was pretty solid (but not as good as the overwater bungalow food at Perfect Day at Coco Cay Beach Club).

Our Sky Suite was great for 2 of us for a short cruise. Plenty of closet and drawer space, seating area, a true balcony (vs an indoor infinity balcony), and a great bathroom with a double sink, separate toilet area and a large shower/ tub. Robes and slippers in the room were comfy.

Other highlights of our cruise included the martini bar, specialty dining at Eden, and a surprisingly great dinner at the Rooftop Garden Grill. We had great weather for that (and they brought us blankets when it cooled off after sunset.) I also absolutely loved the Abba Sing Along Dance party.

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Pool Cabana at Royal Beach Club Nassau

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There aren't any reviews yet since this is a brand new itinerary but I am kind of obsessed with this South Africa & Mozambique journey. Three nights at One&Only Cape Town — Table Mountain, Boulders Beach penguins, Lion's Head sunset hike, a full day in the Cape Winelands by private Jeep. Then a charter flight to Marakele National Park and three nights at Marataba Safari Lodge for Big Five game drives day and night, including a private dinner under the stars. Then top it all off with a flight to Mozambique for three nights at &Beyond Benguerra Island. Private plunge pools, snorkeling the Two Mile Reef, a castaway island experience in the archipelago, and finally a helicopter departure on the last morning.

Remember that Roam is adult only, 21+ and designed for travelers in their 40s and 50s. Small group with about 16 guests. It has included experiences but also time to relax and unwind on your own. This is the ultimate for empty nesters, milestone birthdays or anniversaries or celebration travel.

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One of the very best Tauck exclusives is the private after hours visit to the Louvre. Amazing arriving at a place usually packed with people and having time to really appreciate the art. Our small group had plenty of time with the Mona Lisa. One of many reasons I love Tauck vacations.

Hi everyone,

I'm Karen, the new mod of r/luxurytravel. I'm a luxury traveler and that can range from a cruise in a suite/ concierge category to an entry level room at the Four Seasons or chartering a private yacht in Croatia (leaving in a week!) I'll be spending some time removing spammy posts and accounts and putting some rules in place to create a friendly place for those who enjoy traveling well. My main rule will always be: Be Kind or Be Quiet.

Would love to get your input on what you would like to see more or less of here. Please comment below.

The other day, an article was shared about how hotel rooms look similar and how you can't tell which one was luxury vs mid level. I think there are lots of little details in a hotel inside and outside the room that might not be visible from a photo. What details make a hotel luxury to you?

Tauck has introduced a new tour in France for 2027- A Week in… Champagne & Alsace. These are all Small Group departures averaging 24 guests. This itinerary begins in the village of Kaysersberg, Alsace with a three-night stay at Le Chambard Hotel & Spa. Highlights include: the wine villages of Ribeauvillé and Colmar, a visit to a Munster cheese dairy in the countryside and a private dinner at a chef’s home overlooking the Obernai Valley. In the Champagne capital of Reims, there is a three nights at La Caserne Chanzy, a restored former firehouse in the heart of the city. Highlights include a tour and tasting at the renowned Taittinger Champagne house, an afternoon exploring the vineyards of Épernay by vintage car with a picnic lunch among the vines and an exclusive dinner at Moët & Chandon. This is a 7 night itinerary although I suspect many will stay an extra night at the InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal.

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A mod has been on reddit one year and has under 75 post karma and under 20 comment karma. Their karma hasn't budged in months. Their posts/ comments are hidden but nothing public in their sub. They are the only mod. Posts go to mod approval and one was declined without explanation (but maybe was too vague for the group) while the other was approved. Is it possible that the posts are on some kind of automod and the mod is actually absent/ not running the group? If they are just approving or declining posts but nothing else would that be a justification to submit a takeover request? Thank you!

If you have the time, you can travel back to back with Tauck. Here are some combos they recommend:

• A Week In Scotland + A Week In Ireland
• A Week in Portugal + A Week in Spain
• France by Land & River: A Week In The French Riviera, Provence and Paris + Rendezvous on the Seine River Cruise
• Back to Back Rhine River cruises: Rhine Connoisseur: Lake Geneva to Belgium + Heart of Belgium & Holland

Here's a link to more info: https://inspires.to/experiences/back-to-back-adventures-with-tauck-jzmmew

We sailed on the Tauck Rendezvous on the Seine last summer and I thought I'd share a short review here. We were on the MS Swiss Sapphire in a category 6 on deck 2. Our room was comfortably sized and the bathroom was great with a comfy bed (felt king size, I know they can split it into two twins) facing the sliding window and a table with two chairs. The french balcony is basically a slider window. Bathroom had a nice size counter and large shower. Food was great. We particularly appreciated how careful they were with allergies since my husband has celiac/ has to be completely gluten free. Every menu was well labeled and they often made him special things. When they had dessert events in the lounge the pastry chef had made him something special. They even made him his own personal baked alaska without the cake part. They also took care of him during meals out. Also loved that they have a casual dining option onboard.

Some highlights: The private after hours tour of the Louvre (I know this is not always offered so we were super happy to have experienced it. Early private entry into Giverny, dinner at a villa, and plenty of time to wander and explore the different towns along the way. Loved Rouen, Étretat and Honfluer. The visit to the Normandy beaches was very meaningful. Made great friends onboard. We were pretty much the youngest in our 50s but age didnt matter, we had fun visiting and dancing with everyone. Tauck tour directors were lovely and we felt well taken care of.

Tauck is very inclusive. Our transfers, all beverages onboard (including Veuve Cliquot), all the excursions, and gratuities were included. Didn't have to pay for anything unless we bought a gift. They even gave us money for lunch during our free time. Totally spoiled there.

I'm excited to try Tauck's new Roam by Tauck tours which is designed for those in their 40s and 50s. We are going to do the Douro in 2027 with them.