I have been looking at several “best” lists recently and decide to create my own.   I have been traveling for many years and Unraveled Travel will turn 10 years old next year, so I have plenty of options to choose from :)  I'm happy to plan your stay at any of these beautiful properties.  Photo above is from One & Only Nyungwe House. 

These are listed in no particular order…..

Borneo:  Borneo Rainforest Lodge
I traveled to Borneo to see the Orangutans and I eventually did see them in a different part of Borneo, but even without seeing one at this location (it rained the whole time….) this was still a magical stay for me.  As the name implies, you are right in the rainforest and it is a journey to get here, but once you do…. you feel a million miles away from the world.   There are several types of accommodation and I stayed in a villa.   Guided walks and meals are included in most stays.  One thing you absolutely need to pack are leech socks (or purchase them at the lodge).  

​France:  Hotel Chais Monnet and Spa
This property is in Cognac which is a relatively undiscovered area (when compared with nearby Bordeaux).  The drive from Bordeaux is filled with vineyards and there are several tasting houses close to this property (the concierge can arrange tours and tastings).  The hotel is a mix of new and old and you feel like you are in Cognac with all of the local touches (and a huge selection of cognacs at the bar).  You don’t need to enjoy cognac to enjoy this area or this property.

​Rwanda:  One and Only Nyungwe House
Everyone thinks mountain gorillas when they think of Rwanda and the One and Only Gorillas Nest property is beautiful, but the Nyungwe property really took my breath away.  It is located on a working tea plantation and near the national park when you can trek to see chimpanzees.  This peaceful property has wonderful food (they have many gardens on-site) and I saw more species of primates from my balcony at this property than I did hiking in the national parks.  

​Peru:  Belmond Sanctuary Lodge
The main reason to stay here is that you are literally a 2 minute walk to Machu Picchu and you can often see the citadel from the property (when there aren’t heavy clouds).  Sanctuary Lodge is a boutique property and feels very exclusive.  To be honest, the rooms aren’t anything special, but you aren’t spending much time there.  Included with your stay is a Pisco Sour making class at the bar accompanied by a potato tasting (trust me…these aren’t your typical potatoes!).

​Germany:  Ritz Carlton Berlin
I love Berlin and this property is in a great location.  The staff here take care of your every need with a smile and the rooms are quite large.  There is a champagne ritual each night (included with your stay) and the breakfast buffet is one of the best I’ve had.  If you want to go running, one of the staff will run with you (sometimes even the general manager).  

​Belize:  Turtle Inn Placencia
This is one of several properties owned by director Francis Ford Coppola and is in a beautiful area of Placencia.  This is the quieter beach area of Belize (much smaller and quieter than Ambergris).   The accommodation is in a thatched building with an indoor/outdoor bathroom.  Turtle Inn is small and right on the beach.  You feel like you are family as soon as you arrive.  The property was fostering a stray dog and he was part of the welcoming committee….and those of you that know me, know that any property that supports animals wins my heart (and my business). 

​South Africa:  Chitwa Chitwa
This is the lodge where I went on my first safari in 2014 and got me hooked.  The property is right on a watering hole and there are frequent animal visitors---I saw elephant, leopard, hippo, kudu, and crocodile without ever leaving the lodge.  There are large windows in the bathroom and I will never forget seeing hippo walking right past the windows while I was in the bath tub.   The food is excellent as are the guides and trackers.  

​Columbia:  Casa San Agustin
This property is right in the center of Cartagena and is historic---with many modern upgrades on the inside.  We had a balcony and could watch the world go by from the peacefulness of our room.  The food and drink menu is excellent---especially for non-alcoholic cocktails (I loved a cherry, lime and seltzer combo).   The bed was one of the most comfortable that I have ever slept on.  

​Italy:  Forestis
This property is bit trendy at the moment (Justin Bieber stayed here about a year before I did) and that isn’t usually my scene, but it is trendy for relaxation and immersion in nature which is my scene.  You absolutely need a car to get here and explore the area if you plan to stay for several days….or you can stay and be present in the moment.  The views are gorgeous and I saw multiple rainbows one afternoon (including a double rainbow that lasted almost an hour).  Most rates include breakfast and dinner and the food is excellent and they are known for accommodating every dietary requirement.  

​Taiwan:  Regent Taipei
This property is in a great central location in Taipei and I stayed on the club level making the large hotel feel much more boutique.  I asked for a few vegetarian restaurant recommendations from the concierge staff in the lounge and when I came back from exploring, she had created an elaborate handwritten package with several suggestions with directions and menus.   Going that step above instead of just giving me website links shows the focus on details here.   The breakfast buffet had items from all over the world.  

These are two client favorites. I haven’t stayed at either property yet, but hope to soon.  
 
Italy:  Hotel Brunellechi
This hotel is right in the center of Florence (many rooms have views of the Duomo) and was constructed using several historic buildings.   I have a great relationship with this hotel and you will be treated as a VIP if you book your stay with me.
 
Ireland:  Sheen Falls Lodge
This property is close to Killarney but set on the Wild Atlantic Way.   There are many on-site activities to keep you busy or you can relax and simply enjoy the views of Kenmare Bay.  This is a Relias and Châteaux property, so you know that the food and drink are a priority.  You will also be treated like a VIP here as well if you book with me. 
 

I had the pleasure of sailing on the SH Diana from Mombasa, Kenya to Maputo Mozambique.  If you are reading this and have never heard of either port, you are not alone :)  This sailing appealed to me because it took me places off the beaten path….for some ports, really off the beaten path.  Swan Hellenic’s name has been around for decades, but investors purchased it during COVID and created an expedition focused cruise line.  The ships are brand new and were built with expeditions in mind---meaning it is easier to get on/off zodiacs, the stability of the ship is better than many ships and common spaces are built for expedition style activities.
 
You might ask what is an expedition sailing?  There isn’t a perfect definition, but it typically means that you are visiting ports that are off the beaten path and that the port is the destination.  Most people on expedition ships leave the ship each day it is in port and explore or go on an excursion.  The ports often don’t have huge piers or docks, so the ship often has to anchor offshore, and you have to take a tender or Zodiac to your destination.  This means that sometimes you get wet and that you need to be fit enough to get into and out of small boats---the staff assist you, but this isn’t the sailing for people with severe mobility challenges.  The guests on board are generally well educated and interested in the culture, animals and nature of the destinations.  You for sure have the opportunity to bring out your inner science geek during these sailings, but there are plenty of other things to do if that doesn’t interest you.  
 
The ship is functional, but it is also beautiful. The staterooms are some of the best thought out ones I’ve seen.  There is a lot of storage in the rooms---from the closest, to cabinets, drawers and shelves located around the room.  The desk area also has a flip up make up mirror so it could double as a vanity.  There are also several electrical outlets----both the American 110V style and European 220V style.   Many staterooms also have electric fireplaces which are perfect for the polar and Arctic expeditions (not so appropriate in Africa, but no heat escapes, so you could still enjoy it if you wanted). 

​The ships travel around the world and seldom repeat an exact itinerary (except in Antarctica).  This allows you to stay on board for one segment like I did (11 days) or stay on for several segments.  Some of the guests on board with me were sailing for 21 or 30 days.  However, this also means that if you want a specific itinerary, you need to book quickly.  The sailing I was on won’t be repeated until next fall and there are already a few changes in ports. 
 
I chose this itinerary because it had 4 stops in Madagascar.  I’ve always wanted to visit there…especially to see the lemurs which can only be found in Madagascar.  It can be a challenge to get to Madagascar by air and travel between cities can be complicated, so a cruise made perfect sense.  I got to see several different areas of the country with no effort on my end.  I also liked this itinerary since we visited some of the remote outer islands of Seychelles.  One port only has researchers living on the island and there is more tortoise there than in the Galapagos.  I had never heard of it before I saw it as a port of call listed on this sailing.  Very few people can say they have visited Aldabra (and Assumption) and it was a unique and memorable experience.  
 

Swan Hellenic includes at least one excursion per day in the price of the cruise (for most sailings).  The on-board experience is nearly all-inclusive.  The cruise fare includes one night of hotel before the cruise, all of the restaurants on board, most alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, room service, Wi-Fi and staff gratuities.   Spa treatments, ultra-premium alcohol and optional excursions are at an additional charge.   
 
I would love to help you plan your next expedition sailing.  Please contact me to get started.