November is a sweet spot for international travel: It’s between the busy summer and winter seasons in many places, so you avoid crowds and peak pricing; and if you’re not obligated to spend Thanksgiving with extended family, you can take advantage of time off work and school by exploring a place where the fourth Thursday of the month is just another day.
To help you figure out the smartest places to go, we’ve compiled the following reviews of November trips to Europe, South America, Asia, and beyond. These travelers all booked their trips the WOW way: Their trips were optimized for the month of November by the local fixers on our WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts, using their on-site expertise and insider connections. You’ll can find even more ideas in the November installment of our Where to Go When series, and you’ll find more traveler reviews in these other compilations.
Unsure where to go in November? Click the black button below for our help.
Sicily for “perfect weather,” uncrowded small-town visits, and culinary experiences
The Triche travelers at a cooking class at Fontes Episcopi.
Sicily is a special place, the crossroads of history and Western civilization, and the sense of a continuous living history is everywhere. The small towns and their people are steeped in that history, the food is unforgettable, landscape rugged and rocky and beautiful.
We focused on destinations away from the crowds and in the process met wonderful people, both the Sicilians and the guides. The food was amazing, and helping prepare at least three meals in different locations was special. Late Fall is definitely a great time to go; the weather was perfect.
Our travel adviser, Laura, and her associates were pretty incredible; they were available at any time and were truly interested in making our trip memorable. There were so many unique destinations she chose based on our interview before the trip, from small Baroque towns on the southeast coast to the interior and Villa Romana and Agrigento, and finally Taormina and environs was perfect, leading to a crescendo finish.
Each of the luncheons was special in its own right, but the ones at Motta Camastra and Zio Pippo’s vineyard were something to remember. The entire trip was a treat, but the hidden jewels were the small town visits and sitting down and eating with the local population.
This trip was arranged by a WOW List candidate. Here’s what that means.
Spain for a window into daily life and cultural touchstones…
Río Guadalquivir, Seville. Photo: GIna Melton
“Pablo and his team planned a wonderful 11-day itinerary for our family’s Thanksgiving trip to Southern Spain. We spent a significant amount of time in Madrid and then headed to Seville and Granada. Without a doubt, the success of this trip was largely attributable to the wonderful guides who showed us a little of their world. Not only were they incredibly flexible with our sons, aged 10 and 8, they found ways to bring the Spanish culture to life for them.
In Madrid, that meant trying the city’s best tortilla in one of the city’s vibrant markets, stopping for churros, going to rooftops to teach the boys about the landmarks in a fun and interesting way and finding tapas restaurants that were authentic and family-friendly. Alfonso, our Madrid guide, was so kind and generous with his time, he really made us feel welcomed. In Seville, I was pleasantly surprised to see the boys connecting with the Flamenco show Pablo arranged for us; it was an authentic experience that the adults enjoyed too! We loved our day trip to Jerez de la Frontera to see the dancing white horses at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. And, our tour of Alhambra Palace and Generalife was perfectly timed for the family—we were able to see the entire complex without rushing, but also held the kids’ interest. The details were seamless throughout the entire trip and I appreciated Pablo’s office working on a last-minute change to our itinerary when we decided to call an audible on the final days of our trip. Spain is a wonderful place for children and this was one of our very best family vacations to date.” —Gina Melton
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Denmark for Christmas markets and a cheery kickoff to the holiday season…
Jeannie Mullen at Frederiksborg Castle, outside Copenhagen.
“When I was looking for a place to spend Thanksgiving this year, Jan listened and delivered exactly what I asked for. What I did not appreciate ahead of my arrival was just how much of a kick-start to the Christmas season this trip would be. Copenhagen was already decorated for the ‘Jul’ season, and a number of Christmas markets had already opened on November 16th, the day of my arrival. The hotel that Jan chose was perfectly located on Kongens Nytorv (the King’s New Square) for the market on the square, harbor walks, and great shopping in general.
Britt, the guide that Jan arranged in Copenhagen, did a great job of introducing me to the art and architecture, urban development and repurposing of buildings and land, food and spirits, culture and moods of Copenhagen’s various neighborhoods. When I inquired about more local, neighborhood markets, she took me to a ‘pop-up’ Christmas market, off the beaten path, that was there for only two days. As we made our way out of the city on other days to Frederiksborg, Charlottenlund, Elsinore and Kronborg, she introduced me to locally made products, local artisans, craftspeople and leaders in design.
Jan alerted me early on that Copenhagen is a city known for its food and, in particular, its Michelin-star restaurants. When I expressed my interest, he used his ‘fixer’ to secure a table at Geranium (ranked the best restaurant in the world in 2022), one of the two 3-star Michelin restaurants in Copenhagen. It was an experience more than a meal, which included a private tour of the wine cellar and the kitchen. From beginning to end, a visual as well as gastronomic experience.
A word about the temperatures and the crowds: I’m always looking to get away from crowds, lines, and traffic, and I don’t mind traveling in the off-season to do so (as Wendy so often suggests). The weather in Copenhagen at this time of year alternates between cool and crisp with gorgeous, blue skies to heavy and overcast, with occasional rain. No worries if one packs with that in mind.
I cannot say enough about the lengths to which Jan went to make this trip seamless. Not one detail was missed. It was a terrific and different Thanksgiving getaway that has me prepped for Christmas earlier than usual.” —Jeannie Mullen
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Belize for keeping kids and seniors happy at the beach and in the jungle…
A treetop villa at the Lodge at Chaa Creek in Belize. Photo: Chaa Creek
“To plan for our 50th anniversary family celebration adventure in Belize, Wendy introduced us to Patricia, a native Belizean with a passion for introducing her country to the world. A year of planning with Patricia and Juliannie culminated in a 10-day trip, five days in the jungle and five days on an island. With us were four grandchildren, ages 9-12, so a lot of thought went into making sure we had lots of kid-oriented things to do. We truly wanted to hear lots of ‘WOWs’ from them, and we weren’t disappointed.
Imagine four kids flying into Belize City airport and being escorted across the tarmac and realizing they were about to jump into two helicopters and fly to their jungle resort, or their excitement of being whisked from the jungle, via private plane, over to Placencia, then jumping on a boat and arriving on an island? Their reactions when they walked into their luxurious accommodations, complete with plunge pools, were priceless.
Chaa Creek Resort in the jungle didn’t disappoint, upping the ‘WOWs’ to new levels each day. Our butler, Candi, and her trainee Ryan spoiled us with private dinners for 10, breakfast deliveries early in the morning, fresh fruit drinks when we returned from a day of touring, even babysitting so the adults could dine together. Our granddaughter with celiac even got special gluten-free desserts every day!
We had a dedicated driver and guide, Darryl, throughout our 5 days of touring the jungle and, when rising water closed the ATM cave tour, Darryl seamlessly changed plans. Darryl introduced us to the Mayan world, helped us explore their temples, took us to a local coffee plantation and to a women’s local co-op where the grandchildren were able to hand grind coffee beans, fresh corn for our tortillas, and try their hands at ancient pottery making. A trip deep into the jungle delivered us to zip-lining at the end of our cultural immersion day!
Ray Caye Resort beach days were spent in total relaxation mode so snorkeling, jumping off the two-story diving platform, kayaking, canoeing, sailing the Hobie cat, and even scuba diving kept us engaged. But enjoying gourmet meals, sipping drinks around the pool in the near perfect weather, and playing family volleyball and puzzle games brought us together after far too many years of separation. The island was magical, the staff always ready to help us, anticipating our every need, and on our last night there, they surprised us with a 50th anniversary family meal on the beach.” —Judith Rodwell
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Portugal for a quieter experience of the country’s most popular sights…
These Pastel de Nata, or Portuguese custard tarts, were the delicious outcome of Susan Sullivan’s baking class.
“Goncalo and his team planned a fabulous 7-day trip to Portugal. The trip was arranged at the last minute during a busy season of travel to Portugal, but Goncalo and team pulled together a comprehensive trip. I stayed overnight in Lisbon and Porto — both hotels were excellent choices for location, comfort and service. I did two walking tours of Lisbon and both guides were knowledgeable and personable. It was a great way to discover the city. Next was an enjoyable full-day trip to the beautiful palaces of Sintra and the coast. The following day we headed to Porto and stopped for a tour of one of the oldest universities — Coimbra University and walked the town. In Porto we had an excellent guide for a walking tour of this historic town. I did have a fun, unexpected WOW Moment — a Pastel de Nata baking class! The final day was a trip to the scenic Douro Valley which included a boat trip, winery tour and an exquisite lunch with wine pairings.
Each tour guide and driver was prompt and professional. The trip ran smoothly. There was some rain but then sunshine — I was glad I went anyway even though it was November. I am always happy to use someone on The WOW list to plan my trips. These travel experts have the latest information on hotels, access to guides, advice on places to visit or avoid, restaurants, etc. It would take me hours to plan a trip that would not be up to the trip planned by a specialist. Plus — less stress!” —Susan Sullivan
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Australia for Sydney Harbour cruising and Great Barrier Reef snorkeling…
The Schildmeyer family toasts the finale of their trip outside their bungalow in Port Douglas.
“We cannot imagine our trip to Australia going any better than it did, simply because we learned about Wendy Perrin’s company from a dear friend, and their connection to Stuart and Jacki. We spent two weeks visiting our daughter, who was studying abroad in Sydney. Our trip began in Sydney, where we spent the first five days learning about the city, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, hugely enjoying a private tour of the Sydney Opera House and our e-bike tour of Manly Beach. Then we ventured outside Brisbane to Lockyer Valley and the quiet, peaceful Spicers Hidden Vale. How fun to chat with the kangaroos outside our cabins! This retreat was perfectly quaint, with incredible views, meals and service.
After three days in the Valley, we flew to Cairns to spend three days at the Niramaya Spa & Resort. This leg of our trip was the most tropical, as we experienced an amazing day on the water snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef and an afternoon at Four Mile Beach. Port Douglas was an incredible seaside town with fantastic restaurants and a must-see sunset at the Marina.
We flew back to Sydney for a private sunset cruise of the Harbour (one of our favorite moments!) and headed stateside after our two-week adventures in beautiful, friendly Australia.” —Karri Schildmeyer
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
India for food, culture, and fun for three generations…
Amy Evers and her son at a Jain temple in India.
“This trip was with my husband, two kids (ages 12 and 13), my mother-in-law and I. Victoria and Diggi did a wonderful job planning a trip that would cater to all of our interests and abilities. I don’t think there were any activities that we didn’t like, but the things that received special mentions by the group are:
- Food tour in Delhi. Everyone pushed themselves out of their comfort zones just a bit.
- Jaipur-by-dawn tour, including a very authentic experience at an active Hindu temple.
- Impromptu walking tour in Udaipur, resulting in feeding a random elephant walking down the road.
- Block printing workshop, a fascinating village visit and a hands-on creative experience.
- Elephant experience. Who doesn’t love spending close time with elephants?
- Jain temple visit and lunch with the pilgrims.
- Astrologer reading. My kids thought this was spectacular.
- Street food Indian breakfast.
Ultimately this was just the cultural and fun trip I was hoping my kids would have. We learned so much about various religions, culture, and history. My kids truly are catching the travel bug, and this trip has definitely contributed!” —Amy Evers
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Norway for a scenic train ride and northern lights…
Norway’s Lofoten Islands often have a dusting of snow in November. Photo: Ryan Damm
“Norway was truly magical! Torunn, Mari and the team gave me a great itinerary as a solo traveler with only a week available. I rode the magical Flam Railway and was mesmerized by Hafslo. The pictures I took did not fully capture the beauty I had the privilege of witnessing. BesteBekken was the best place to stay. Lindis cooked all the meals (accommodating all dietary restrictions) and was the tour guide to boot. We bonded in just the few short days. Her alpacas were adorable as well!
Next it was travel up north to the Lofoten Islands. Despite needing to change planes a few times, the process went off so smoothly. I was a bit anxious about renting a car but Torunn’s team was absolutely correct that this was the way to go. The apartment I stayed at in Henningsvær was on the water and a perfect location for the places I needed to get to. I had a blast making cheese with organic cheesemakers and making glass beads with a seasoned glassmaker. We were unlucky with our Northern Lights excursion but learned a lot about the physics behind their occurrence. Luck visited me the next night when I saw the lights while walking to dinner.” —Rekha Mankad
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
New Zealand for connecting with people and places you wouldn’t find on your own…
Barbara and Larry Schoenfeld birdwatching at the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari ecological park.
“Jean-Michel’s colleague Clare organized five days of interesting, off-the-beaten path experiences in New Zealand. One of the highlights was a private guided tour of Maungatautari, a Sanctuary Mountain. It’s an incredible conservation area where they constructed one of the world’s largest pest-proof fences and succeeded in rejuvenating tree and bird species, especially New Zealand’s endangered kiwis.
She also arranged for my husband and me to accompany a Maori leader on a spiritual ceremony greeting the dawn, followed by a visit and discussion about Orakei Marae, his tribal community in the hills near Auckland. The next day, we spent a fascinating few hours with Mamakan, a botanical artist who led us through her forest restoration project in Parau and then served us an elegant foraged lunch. A highlight of our trip was the Wendy WOW Moment, a studio visit with Delani Brown, a Maori/Irish wood artist in Taupo who produces giant columns and edifices for buildings and public spaces worldwide.
Those experiences were so unusual and specialized that we wouldn’t have known to seek them, and I doubt we could have connected with them on our own.” —Barbara Schoenfeld
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Argentina & Uruguay for combining wine country and beach time…
Mendoza’s vineyards are green in the southern-hemisphere spring. Photo: Cavas Wine Lodge
“The trip was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. I started in Mendoza, Argentina, at Cavas Wine Lodge, which is located in a gorgeous vineyard and has gorgeous views from all angles. Maita and Santiago arranged for me to go to several wineries, and each was excellent and so much fun! There are hundreds of wineries to choose from, so I was delighted that Santiago found ones that were perfect for me.
Then I flew to Montevideo, Uruguay, and was driven to the absolutely delightful and gorgeous town of José Ignacio. Maita and Santiago had recommended this over Punta del Este, and they were spot-on. I never would have found this little town and am now considering buying property there! Santiago arranged very interesting tours to Garzon winery, lunch at Garzon restaurant, where I met Francis Mallman(!), and Pablo Atchugarry’s amazing and beautiful art, as well as the must-see Casapueblo.” —Susan Cunneen
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Switzerland for its greatest hits: watches, chocolate, cheese…
Imagine getting to wind the medieval clock in this tower in Bern, Switzerland. Photo: Shutterstock
“Nina and Ana planned an amazing trip for us centered around my husband’s passion for watches. They picked outstanding hotels for us and even arranged for the general manager to give us a private tour of our historic accommodation. We traveled through the Alps to have a cheese tasting in a 50-foot renovated cistern, learning about the difference between winter cheese and summer cheese. We stopped for an hour at Max Chocolatier to experience a chocolate tasting and learn why their approach to chocolate making is so unique and extraordinary.
But the heart of the trip exceeded our expectations by getting us access to a watchmaking factory where we not only toured but also had a master class on how to be a watchmaker! In Bern, our tour guide gave us a walking tour of the city, where we had our WOW Moment: We got access to the clock tower where we got to see the 500-year-old working clock while it was exhibiting its complications during its hour chime!! We also got to wind the clock, which is a rare treat. Our guide then took us up to look out over the city and then spread out a fabulous lunch including homemade pumpkin soup with cheese, charcuterie and crusty bread while we drank champagne together and enjoyed time standing still!” —Tracy Goble
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Mexico for a delicious taste of modern and colonial city life…
A traditional Mexican mole poblano with chicken. Photo: Shutterstock
“We had a spectacular trip to Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende. After an initial call with Zach and Jose, they proposed an itinerary that was interesting and thoughtful. We started in Mexico City with a food tour exploring Centro Historico. We had a very interesting culinary experience at Milpa Alta, where we harvested edible Nopal cactus and enjoyed a delicious breakfast. We then went to a traditional mole factory. After that chef Jorge Correa and Laurencia Melo taught us how to make tortillas and other Mexican dishes. Chef Jorge prepared a delicious four-course lunch that was memorable.
We enjoyed a private visit at the National Museum of Anthropology and visited the Park, the Chapultepec Castle, Modern Museum, and explored many charming neighborhoods and art galleries. It was a rich and rewarding experience.
On our way to San Miguel we had a private tour of the Teotihuacán pyramids, including our first hot-air balloon ride, which was fabulous! San Miguel was as charming as we had hoped. We stayed at the Rosewood, which is a beautiful property. We loved exploring San Miguel and walking around the cobblestone streets and ducking in and out of art galleries, museums, numerous shops, and cafés. We went to the intriguing city of Guanajuato, where there are underground roads and streets. The colorful panoramic vistas of the city are simply gorgeous. We spent a day visiting San Miguel’s art and artisan scene with studio visits—another highlight of the trip. We were celebrating birthdays, and there were so many birthday cakes and touches I lost count.” —Marian Robinson
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Egypt for pyramids, tombs, and Nile sailing…
Sandy and Art Collins had this view of the pyramids of Giza all to themselves.
“We just returned from a 15-day trip to Egypt that Jim and Arlene expertly planned. We felt perfectly safe in Egypt and well cared for. The VIP process once we stepped off the plane in Cairo was flawless. At the jetway our first rep had a sign with our name and whisked us through the airport to a lovely private lounge with food and refreshments. We gave him our passports and luggage claim checks and he told us he would deal with immigration and fetch our luggage.
Thirty minutes later we were driven by private car to the Four Seasons Nile Plaza, which is a beautiful hotel. We already had a Nile-view room but somehow Arlene got us upgraded to a suite overlooking the Nile!! She also alerted every hotel and our cruise ship that it was our 35th anniversary, and we had a small cake with our anniversary inscribed everywhere we visited—very thoughtful!
The Abu Simbel tour was outstanding. Our Nubian guide was a fountain of information on the Great Temple of Ramses II and his favorite wife, Nefertari. The site was incredible, with both temples being moved/saved by the monumental efforts of UNESCO. We then moved to the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Aswan. Arlene booked a beautiful suite with a Nile view, and we sat on the balcony looking at all the feluccas sailing by, which was so relaxing. The hotel is beautiful and has so much history where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile.
We took a felucca (traditional Egyptian sailboat) from the Old Cataract for a 30-minute camel excursion to St. Simeon’s Monastery. What a great preserved Coptic monastery, founded in the 7th century. We were the only tourists in the site and had it all to ourselves.
The next morning we boarded a felucca on a sailing excursion around Elephantine and Kitchener Islands. We thought we were heading back to the Old Cataract when our guide announced we were having lunch on the boat. We then pulled up in our felucca to a yacht with a crew which included a chef, and we were gobsmacked that this was our WOW Moment! We enjoyed a beautifully prepared lunch and relaxed on our private yacht for the afternoon sailing down the Nile. Thank you so much, Wendy, for this special treat!!!
Our last stop on our trip was a sneak peak of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which we were so excited about. We were thrilled at this point to see the floating Obelisk and 30-foot statue of Ramses II, along with some other Pharaonic items in the main hallway. Our guide, Rania, surprised us as we entered the GEM and told us that the grand staircase up to the top of the GEM just opened several weeks ago and it was just fantastic!” —Sandy Collins
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
France for cultural immersion in Provence…
Provence and its pretty villages, like Gordes, are far less crowded in November. Photo: Pixabay
“Mid-November found us in Provence and Thanksgiving in Paris. Philip, Laurie and Sarah put together an enlightening, expanding and enjoyable trip to France.
Of particular mention was one stop on our itinerary Laurie arranged that was the highlight of our trip and exemplified our eye-opening and surprising introduction to France. We visited Patrick and Estelle on their manade in the Camargue, saw their massive black ornery bulls and majestic horses, gazed across the wide-open flat expanse of the land swept by the wind from the sea, and spoke to them about a lifestyle that we did not expect to see in France and that reminded us of Montana, where we spend much of our time. They were both such warm, open and engaging people, with quick honest smiles that easily bridged any language barriers. The rancher, Patrick, and I had a good laugh, because he and I wore the same Filson and Carhartt clothing — a nice touchpoint of lifestyles. Thanks to him and William we were able to make an unscheduled stop at a session of young men training in Camargue-style bullfighting. What a thrill!” —Doug Hatchimonji
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Costa Rica for an “adventure-packed” trip combining jungle and beach…
These teens’ two families spent Thanksgiving break in Costa Rica. Photo: Traveler Shelby Willets
“Priscilla planned a weeklong, adventure-packed vacation for two families traveling with 4 teenage boys! She was exceptional in working with both families to ensure each family’s preferences were met. Our private guide, William, was priceless and a perfect match! He made the trip amazing—I can’t imagine visiting Costa Rica without him! By visiting two distinctly different areas of Costa Rica as well as our quick stop in San Jose, we feel like Priscilla planned and William guided a comprehensive tour of their country.” —Shelby Willets
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Southeast Asia with an expert’s perspective on what to see and do…
A misty day on Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Photo: Shutterstock
“We hired Sandy and Ethan to plan our three-week trip to South East Asia and were so glad we did. Both of them have lived for long periods of time in Asia and it really gives them incredible insight and great contacts in all the countries we went to.
All our guides were amazing, very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Sandy and Ethan also gave us great advice on things to do that we might have not done on our own. For example, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to Laos; it just didn’t seem like there was a lot there that would interest me, but Sandy really encouraged us to include Laos and I’m so glad he did; it turned out to be one of our favorite places we visited. Another highlight of the trip was a three-day cruise in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. Sandy and Ethan picked out the best boat in the harbor and we had one of the nicest rooms on the boat; it was such a treat and we enjoyed that so much. Another highlight of the trip was a day we spent in Vietnam doing local things in the countryside; we rode water buffalo, went fishing in a small boat with nets, met local rice farmers and learned how they grow their crops. It was such a special day meeting real people and learning about their lifestyle, and it would be something that we would’ve never been able to do on our own.” —Tara Murphy
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Oman for beautiful beaches, a rich history, luxurious hotels…
The coast is one of many varied landscapes in Oman. Photo: Shutterstock
“Oman is a fascinating country. Huge variety of scenery, from lush date and coconut plantations on the coast to quite high mountains to deserts with lots of sand dunes. The history is interesting: The country has made huge strides in the past 60 years, from an underdeveloped country in 1970 to a modern, prosperous environment. Travelling is easy: Roads are great, there are lots of hiking trails and camping facilities, Oman Air was on time, etc.
The government has spent a lot of effort preserving old forts and castles (there are many of both). Our touring included many of these historical structures, hikes through old towns, visits to several mosques, two stays in the desert, a visit to a Bedouin household, and stays in three of the most luxurious hotels we have ever seen (and some not so great but quite acceptable).
This is a beautiful country, with long white sand beaches, that is just being discovered, mostly by travelers from Europe. I highly recommend it for people who have an interest in the history and culture, or just want to enjoy the warm weather and beaches. Daniel did a great job of the arrangements—everything unfolded exactly as planned.” —Robin Louis
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Panama for warm weather, history, and culture close to home…
Coffee cherries laid out to dry in Boquete, Panama. Photo: Shutterstock
“Pierre planned a delightful 8-day trip to Panama for my husband and me. We are both retired and in our mid-70’s. Every transportation contact and guide were top notch—always on time, knowledgeable and helpful. The American Hotel in Panama’s Casco Viejo was lovely. Our spacious room with a balcony overlooked a charming square with a view beyond of the Gulf of Panama, where ships anchored awaiting entry into the Panama Canal. We enjoyed many walks through the beautifully maintained Casco Viejo, with its colonial architecture, historic sites, restaurants and shops. Pierre arranged a wonderful bicycle tour of the city for our first day, followed by two days of excursions. The first was by car and then boat to a small Embera village, where we learned about the history and crafts of this indigenous group who were so welcoming. The next day we travelled by boat through Gatun Lake, viewing at close distance large ships passing through the canal. We then traversed some lush waterways where we stopped to view up-close three different species of monkeys. This was followed by a car ride to a Sloth Preserve and Butterfly Garden. The Gatun boat trip was our favorite excursion for the natural beauty, as well as the cool air after the heat of Panama City.
We then flew to David and were transported to Boquete, where we stayed in a beautiful resort Valle Escondido surrounded by the mountains and lush vegetation of Boquete. We had two days of excursions, the first on the Pipe Line Trail up into the Cloud Forest, where we ended at a 1,000-year-old Ash Tree. The hike was long but easy and it was magnificent to be hiking in the clouds. The second day we hiked to three of the Hanging Bridges, but rain kept us from going to the remaining three. Breathtaking views but a more rigorous climb. Our hike ended at a lodge with a restaurant, where we enjoyed lunch and a beautiful view of the Baru Volcano. We were then met by our coffee plantation guide, who did an excellent job of explaining the unique coffee varieties of the area, including the famed Geisha, showing us each stage of the growing and roasting process and then sampling by smell and taste the varieties of coffees made by the Ketowa Coffee Plantation. We have since ordered many pounds of this coffee as Christmas gifts.” —Mary McDonald
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Brazil for Rio’s energy, Paraty’s chill-out vibe, Iguazu Falls’ magnificence…
Sunset in Rio de Janeiro. Photo Shutterstock
“Our thanks to Paul for his careful and complete planning of our amazing southern Brazil excursion! When we docked in Rio at the conclusion of a two-week cruise, Patricia met us at the terminal, and we immediately began two intensive days getting acquainted with the city and its surroundings. She adapted the tour to our interests and covered the must-see features of Rio along with delightful morsels that most visitors probably don’t experience—hidden vistas overlooking the city, a walk through one of the favelas, and much more.
We moved on to Paraty for a complete change of pace, beginning with a private tour of Paraty Bay on a converted fishing boat. We relaxed on the boat as we visited many of the beautiful small bays and islands. We made a stop to swim in the warm Atlantic water and another to enjoy lunch at a great restaurant where all the patrons arrived by boat. Also near Paraty, we enjoyed a forest hike with Rodrigo and Felipe, with a restful stop at a waterfall. After the hike we enjoyed an excellent lunch at Fazenda Bananal prepared from ingredients grown on the farm where it is located. A highlight was a demonstration of produce grown on the farm including the various uses and how some of the exotic fruits and vegetables are opened and eaten.
We finished with our bucket-list item—a visit to Iguazu Falls! What an incredible place! Unfortunately, the only sun we saw there was as we were leaving our hotel for the airport at the conclusion of our visit. But our guide showed us both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of the Falls, and we thoroughly enjoyed hiking the walkways that brought us to amazing views, despite the need for umbrellas. On our last morning, because our stay at the Belmond Hotel offered us early-morning access to the Brazil-side walkways before the influx of visitors, our guide took us on a hike when almost no one else was on the walkways, all the way down until we stood only a few feet above the crest of one of the nearly 300 individual waterfalls that make up this complex, followed by an elevator ride up to where our driver waited for us.” —Darrell Anderson
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Thailand for a foodie-focused exploration…
An array of traditional Northern Thai specialties. Photo: Shutterstock
“With a short lead time of about two weeks due to my last-minute China business travel, we decided to use Wendy Perrin’s travel service. We were matched up with Dan and Obb. We wanted to focus on food, culture and markets. We had a great time experiencing the street food of Bangkok. Thailand street food is amazing. We also loved our longboat tour to see the sights in Bangkok from the river. From the water, we saw the Wat Paknam giant buddha that was incredible.
From there, we were off to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. We loved our guide, Yawan, for this portion of the trip. We loved our hike through the tea and coffee fields in Chiang Rai. Yawan knew all the different types of plants along the way, and it was very interesting to see all the different herbs, fruits, and vegetables growing along the roads. We had a great stop at the Elephant Nature Conservation Sanctuary Park outside of Chiang Mai. The stories behind some of the elephants were heartbreaking, but it was good to know that they could live out the rest of their lives being well taken care of by the staff at the camp.
We were then on to the final leg of our trip in Phuket—and Dan and Obb saved the best activities for last! Our guide, Pong, gave us a great overview of Old Town Phuket and took us out for some delicious food at some local favorite restaurants. The next day was our favorite excursion of the whole trip: The John Gray sea kayak tour. Everywhere we looked was incredibly beautiful, and we will forever remember the night kayaking where we made an offering to the water goddess and got to see the luminescent phytoplankton, which was an amazing sight!
It was tough to follow up the sea kayaking, but we also had a great time at our cooking class the next day. Chef Pui at the Brass Wok was so much fun to talk with about food and restaurants, and she showed us how to make several delicious Thai dishes. I’d always been intimidated by Thai cooking. However, when I arrived back home the following week, I headed to the Asian grocery store for supplies and was able to reproduce the same delicious dishes that Chef Pui taught us to make.” —Amy and Bruce Tylock
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Chile for Atacama Desert adventures and spring wildflowers in Patagonia…
Chile’s Atacama Desert has a beautiful—and otherworldly—landscape. Photo: Shutterstock
“My friend Jerry and I spent two weeks in Chile…half of it in the Atacama desert and the other half in Torres del Paine. Maita and Florencia planned a perfect holiday for us using two Explora hotels. The excursions we enjoyed each day were shared with other guests and we liked that. There are other hotels, such as the Awasi, that provide a guide and vehicle with each room, but that comes at a much greater expense.
The Explora hotels are modern and very comfortable. The cuisine was excellent, as were the Chilean wines. Each day, usually over cocktails, you meet with a guide to discuss what you would like to do the following day. There are many, many options based on your interests and skill level. You can choose half-day or full day excursions. We enjoyed horseback riding, bike riding, swimming, and hiking. It was a very active holiday and we went to bed exhausted and happy every night.
After our time in the desert, Maita and Florencia arranged for us to stay at the Singular hotel in Santiago. It was a fun bonus to explore this beautiful, cosmopolitan city.
Every aspect of our trip was beautifully planned. When 3 out of 4 of our flights changed departure times, new arrangements were made, and pick-up times were changed seamlessly.
November is a fantastic time to visit Torres del Paine, because this is springtime and wildflowers are blooming everywhere. Chilean fire trees in bright orange cover the hillside. There are also wild pansies, ladies’ slippers, ranunculus, and even orchids. If you love flowers, this is the time to go!” —Jeff Lonsinger
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
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