Our Travel Specialist, Jill, had her eyes and ears on the ground for us in Greece this July. Some island hopping highlights: a private speedboat crossing from Paros to Santorini; frolicking in the expanses of the warm Aegean Sea; seaside lunches featuring fresh polpo and chilled Assrytiko; the view from her serene and elegant suite carved into the cliffside; and glimpsing whitewashed chapels built to honor generations of safe sea voyages.

 

In Athens, Jill fell in love with a tucked-away pottery studio that brought the artistry of ancient craftsmanship to life, and in Paros, she bonded with the local family who hosted her farm-to-table cooking experience.  It resonated with her deeply that the Greek way of living is a tribute to sustainability and tradition; for instance, rinsing freshly harvested tomatoes in the sea is a beautiful part of their daily ritual.

 

Whether swimming in hidden caves or attending a performance at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the blend of history, hospitality, and natural beauty made Jill's journey a perfect expression of wild luxury.

We are increasingly fielding requests for extended family villa takeovers. From the rolling green hills of Umbria to the wild beauty of South Africa, our latest villa crushes are anything but ordinary...

 

Reschio Estate, which appeals to italophiles and non-italophiles alike, spans 4,500 remarkable acres where a handful of private villas sit alongside a stellar boutique hotel. Days here unfold with wine tastings, equestrian adventures, design workshops, and cooking classes, all against a backdrop that feels straight out of an Italian daydream.

 

In Andalusia, Hacienda de San Rafael offers an insider's view of Spain's most underrated region, where coastal escapes meet deep cultural immersion, regional culinary excellence, and even easy day trips to Morocco.

 

For something tropical yet untouched, La Carolina in Panama is the non-Caribbean Caribbean.  It is set in the heart of the “Galapagos of the Caribbean” with pristine beaches and marine exploration.

 

For the ultimate family safari escape, Africa House in South Africa places you in the heart of Big 5 country, surrounded by pristine wilderness, ultra-luxury, and warm hospitality catering to all generations.

 

At TS, we are designers and matchmakers...primed to find the best takeover for YOUR family.

Darren, Travel Sommelier's founder, grew up in South Africa, just south of the Botswana border.  Rustenburg was a small mining town where Darren walked to school barefoot and had the bushveldt as his backyard.  While the smell of wild sage, visions of blooming jacaranda trees, and cloak of dry heat will forever hold priority in Darren's heart, his visions were always global.  His education at the University of the Witwatersrand ("Wits") in Johannesburg launched him to the Joburg Stock Exchange, which sprung him to banks around the world, with the final stopping point of Connecticut.

 

Once in the USA, Darren's vision pivoted to creating a platform through which he could send his friends and colleagues back to his native South Africa to enjoy its multi-faceted splendor. While TS now designs travel globally, South Africa remains Darren's far and away top destination to send clients. Needless to say, he knows every nook and cranny like the back of his hand.  

 

Every single journey has the capacity to combine culture, history, wildlife, adventure, golf, botany, winelands, beach, and art. More important than South Africa's universal offerings is its sense of hospitality that can only be experienced firsthand to truly understand. Darren always says, without a hint of misguided patriotism, that no other destination ticks as many boxes, and in no other country will you find so many citizens warmly acting as de facto tour guides.