Luxury Travel Insider

If you’ve ever enjoyed a luxury, wellness, or sustainable travel experience - chances are that experience was shaped by the vision of today’s guest. Sonu Shivdasani is the owner & CEO of Soneva Resorts in the Maldives and Thailand, and the founder of Six Senses Resorts. The ideas that he’s developed over the last 25 years have forever impacted the face of luxury travel. Now as for Soneva Resorts - they are some of the finest island resorts in the world. Complete with over water bungalows, water slides, chocolate rooms, and advanced astronomy equipment. Sonu shares with me some insightful tidbits on what true luxury means for the modern traveler, the crazy story behind leasing his first island in his mid-20s, and how personal crisis has shaped today’s experience at Soneva Resorts. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/    See photos, show notes, and listener perks  HERE.   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

My guest today is Narelle McDougal, GM of Silversands Grenada. Silversands was the first luxury hotel to be built on the spice island of Grenada in over 25 years. It is the antithesis to stuffy luxury set far away from the locals and boring properties that all start to look the same… and just might be the most photogenic resort in the Windward Islands. Here you can swim the longest pool in the Caribbean, walk 3 minutes down the way to a hopping beach bar, have fresh grown produce in a breezy restaurant, and lime your time away basking in the Grenadian sun. Narelle has been behind some of the most iconic hotels in the Maldives and Southeast Asia, but found herself here - on this tiny island in the Caribbean - drawn by the spirit of the people. We discuss what makes Grenada so special and some fantastic insider details about the hotel. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/    Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Today we’re chatting about Italy, one of the most iconic destinations in the world. The country’s riches in terms of art, history, food, wine, and stunning landscapes have lured millions of visitors per year. So a true luxury experience in this part of the world means having the insider connections to get off the beaten path and experience the true heart of Italian culture. Spend your days sipping aperol while overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean sea, picking lemons from an orchard, or zooming around Rome in a classic car - all while knowing your trip is in the hands of the foremost experts on Italian travel. Our guest today is Andrea Grisdale, the owner of IC Bellagio. IC Bellagio has been designing ungoogleable experiences in Italy and curating the best guides in the game for 20 years. The company partners with top travel advisors to bring these experiences to discerning clients. Andrea and I discuss undiscovered gems in Sicily and the Dolomites, interesting stories from past guests, and how travel in Italy is changing to suit millennials and deal with crowding. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/    Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

I’m thrilled to have Olivia Richli on the show today, who is the General Manager of Heckfield Place in Hampshire, England. If you grew up loving Jane Austen, or reveled in Harry Potter, or binge watched Downton Abbey like I did.. This episode will fill your heart with romantic notions of the English countryside. Heckfield Place is a painstakingly restored Georgian style estate sitting on over 400 acres of rolling hills. Redefining what it means to be a hotel, Heckfield is where you go to get away from it all, be surrounded by beauty, and lavish in knowing every detail is taken care of. Everything from the artwork on the walls, to the pottery, to the grown-on-property food is locally sourced and lovingly placed. Olivia and I chat about bio-dynamic farming, the region of Hampshire, and how slowing down and taking in life is truly a skill to be cultivated.  Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/    Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

My guest today is Nick Yarnell, the General Manager of Six Senses Douro Valley. This hotel is one you just have to see to believe. It’s set in a completely renovated 19th century manor house, high on a hill. While lounging at the pool, doing yoga, or sipping port on the patio - you’ll look down onto the shimmering Douro River flanked by lush green, terraced mountains growing some of the most under appreciated grapes in all of Europe. This is the kind of place where doing nothing but enjoying, is an accomplishment. Where learning just one new tidbit can shape the way you think about the world. Your days will be filled with stand up paddle boarding, visiting the spa, boating, hiking, or wine tasting. Then you’ll settle back in at arguably the best hotel in Portugal for a relaxed evening celebrating your day. Nick and I discuss how Six Senses takes sustainability and wellness to another level, the friendly hospitality in this region of Portugal, and the fascinating history of the manor house. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/    Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Our guest today is Ellen Bettridge, President and Global CEO of Uniworld River Cruises. Uniworld has 1200 employees and 21 ships and counting - and it’s also the first cruise line to be featured on our show. But In my opinion, sailing with Uniworld is more like being in a floating boutique hotel than being on a cruise line. While the average ocean cruise takes 5,000 passengers - Uniworld ships clock in at about 120! After you unpack and relax into one of the finest made beds in the world, you can watch the world by by from the top deck with a drink in hand, have a chef prepared dinner of locally sourced food and plan for the next day. Depending on where you’re sailing your choices will range from hiking and biking, to private history or museum tours, to wine tasting with a wine maker and more. Ellen herself is a truly involved leader - though she’s held top exec positions across the cruise industry, she told me off air that she still keeps letters from guests in her desk and sails with repeat customers every year. We discuss everything from the private art collection on board each ship, to new destinations, to the lemon chicken recipe that is Ellen’s favorite. If you’ve ever been curious about river cruising - you’ll love hearing all this detail.  Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/    See photos, show notes, and listener perks  HERE.   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Today we’re discussing the British Isles - known for the pomp and circumstance of the British Royals, fascinating wartime history, beautiful landscapes and villages so cute you could pinch them! The magic of the UK, Ireland, and Scotland isn’t in finding something new (it’s all, in fact, very OLD) but in discovering it in new ways and unpeeling those onion layers.  Our guest today is my friend Nicola Butler, who… in the travel world… is pretty famous for the crazy behind the scenes experiences she can organize for select clients. Nic is recognized by Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast for being one of the foremost experts in insider travel to Britain, Ireland, and France. Nic and I discuss her favorite exclusive experiences, some crazy traveler stories, and how even her parents get involved to make sure our travelers have a truly authentic experience. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/    See photos, show notes, and listener perks  HERE.   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Our guest today is Kenton Jones, the General Manager of Sir Richard Branson’s islands in the BVIs which include Necker Island. Richard Branson purchased the deserted island in the late 70s. Over the next several years he built a personal retreat on the island which truly became a family home. Ideas like Virgin Galactic were born here, along with gatherings of some of the greatest humanitarians in the world like Kofi Anan and Nelson Mandela. Today Necker Island can be rented by luxury travelers as a getaway, entrepreneurial groups, wedding parties, or companies. It’s a place where the magic, the history of who’s come before, and the gorgeous surroundings play together to truly inspire new ideas and ways of thinking. Keny and I chat about how he first met Richard, some incredible stories of past guests, and what it’s like working with one of the world's most brilliant entrepreneurs. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/    Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

My guest today is Sven Von den Brook, the GM of Aman Sveti Stefan, a property nestled on the darling coastline of Montenegro. If you love a modern blend of history and luxury, you’ve got to add this property to your list. The hotel comprises an entire island and part of the mainland that made up a 15th century fishing village, a home of former Queen Maria, and a government run hotel in the time of Tito. Staying true to heritage, as Aman always does, Sveti Stefan renovated its rooms right into the existing structures and around winding cobblestone streets. Sven has deep roots with Aman, formerly running Amanzoe and Amanyara, but he just GUSHES about Montenegro. We discuss why this is such an up and coming destination, how the property is like a private Dubrovnik, and all the history the walls of this famous hotel have seen.  Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/    Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Our guest today is Salvatore Ferragamo, the owner and CEO of Il Borro, an iconic estate in the heart of Tuscany. The property has a 1,000 year history and its walls have seen historical characters like the Medicis, Alessandro dal Borro, European Royalty, German occupational forces during WW2, and of course now - Italy’s most famous fashion family, The Ferragamos. Today Il Borro is an oasis of charm and is made up of a medieval village and several stand alone villas dotted along the rolling hills. You don’t come here, though, just for a hotel stay - the estate is famous for it’s fantastic wine, organic food production, extra virgin olive oil, and culinary program. Plan to come, savor the sights and tastes of Tuscany, and linger a little longer. Salvatore and I discuss what it took to restore this historical gem, why he thinks his roots in fashion have influenced his hospitality, and how he’s taking wine production back to its ancient roots.  Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/    See photos, show notes, and listener perks  HERE.   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn