January 31, 2025 • 53 mins
The Wishing Well's Terrie Dean and Harry Reif discuss this week's travel news and Hot Deals!
In this episode, we dive into the essence of luxury travel by exploring the 5 pillars that define it. Join us as we discuss the 5 C's of Luxury Travel: Culture, Cuisine, Community, Content, and Customization.
Discover how these elements come together to create personalized, meaningful, and curated travel experiences. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your next getaway, this episode offers valuable insights into making your journeys truly luxurious.
In this episode, we dive into the essence of luxury travel by exploring the 5 pillars that define it. Join us as we discuss the 5 C's of Luxury Travel: Culture, Cuisine, Community, Content, and Customization.
Discover how these elements come together to create personalized, meaningful, and curated travel experiences. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your next getaway, this episode offers valuable insights into making your journeys truly luxurious.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a Lifeless Ordinary. It's a travel show and
podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well two forty
three f Avenue in Harrisburg and online at the wishing
Well dot this. The wishing Well is your ultimate luxury concierge,
travel agency and a Lifeless Ordinary is a travel show
and podcast hosted by Terry Dean, bringing her over forty
years of experience in the travel industry to help guide
(00:21):
you to great experiences in your travel, whether it be
around the block, around the country, or around the world.
Let's bring in Terry Dean and say hello, how are
you doing, Chris Well, It's good to see you. Good
to see you any We gotta say hi to Harry
Rife as well. Also good to see you, Chris. Harry,
It's always good to see you. This is my favorite
time of the week. We get to sit down, we
get to talk travel for about an hour it is.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
And we've had quite a bit going on this past week.
There's been all good, you know, but that's the nature
of what happens in this industry sometimes. So I wanted
to actually get right to that, Chris, because for those
who are listening to us, joining us first of all,
welcome to a life less ordinary. We love having you here,
(01:04):
being able to visit with you in your homes every
Saturday morning. It's a big joy for Harry and I
to be able to spend some time sharing with you
a love of something that we have and I think
that a lot of people do too. But we had
some bad news over this past week, and that was
the collision of an American Airlines flight with a military
(01:26):
helicopter on the approach to Reagan National Airport. Sadly, everybody
on board the American Airlines jet carrying sixty passengers and
four crew members that collided with an Army helicopter perished
in what is likely to be the worst US aviation
disaster in almost a quarter century. Now, you know, we
(01:50):
could drill down into these details, we could talk suppositions
and everything else. I'm not going to do that because
I think the investigation is ongoing and I think it
would be not a good thing to presume anything. But
we do and everybody's interested in figuring out what caused
this crash. Investigators are going to try to piece together
(02:14):
both aircraft's final moments before their collision, including contact with
the air traffic controllers, as well as a loss of
altitude by that passenger jet. What we know is that
the night was clear, the plane and the helicopter were
both in standard flight patterns, and there was a standard
(02:35):
communication between the aircraft and the tower. Do we know
if it was a preventable tragedy, Well, it wasn't unusual
to have military aircraft flying the river and an aircraft
landing at the airport, so we know that much, and
FAA said the mid air crash occurred before nine PM
(02:57):
in some of the most tightly controlled monitored airspace in
the world, just over three miles south of the White
House and the Capitol. American Airlines Flight fifty three forty
two was inbound to Reagan National Airport at an altitude
of about four hundred feet and a speed of about
one hundred and forty miles an hour when it suffered
(03:19):
a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River. And
that's according to the data from its radio transponder. The
plane's radio transponder stopped transmitting about twenty four hundred feet
short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the river.
Video from an observation camera at nearby Kennedy center showed
(03:44):
two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to join
in a fireball. So this, of course is very, very
sad news. It is something that in the airline industry
and certainly in the travel industry, it's the worst thing
that we can ever think about. I will say this
(04:05):
just on a personal note. I still believe that air
travel is the safest kind of travel that we experience
in the world, and I believe in the airline industry system,
especially the one that governs travel within the United States,
I think it's one of the safest in all of
the world. But things happen, and we have no idea
(04:27):
at this point. It's pure speculation as to what happened
until all the facts are massaged.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
And our hearts go out to the families of anybody
that's been involved in that in any way, whether it's
on the ground, knew somebody that was in either of
those aircraft. So it's a somber moment, and we send
our hearts and our prayers and our thoughts out to
everybody that's involved or that knows people that are involved
with that whole.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Absolutely, absolutely, there was some other news that came across
my desk too that I wanted to share today, and
that is a summary of the first month of twenty
twenty five. Doesn't seem possible, does it, Chris, that were
already through one whole month, already.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
A couple of days ago. I told my wife, I'm like,
it's only eleven months till Christmas.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I know, And here we are at the first February.
It's unbelievable. Unbelievable. But the first month of twenty twenty
five saw quite a lot of news impacting destinations around
the world, from a new list of the world's most
endangered monuments to tourism growth reported worldwide. Now some interesting
(05:36):
new lists, including the safest places to travel in twenty
twenty five, which included and this is a great list
to just make a note of if you're at home
listening to us this morning, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand,
according to the statistics, are the safest places to travel
in twenty twenty five. Yosemite, mount Rainier and Bryce Canyon
(05:59):
National parks were reported among some of the most accessible
for travelers with disabilities this year. I found that one
very interesting. The best among developed and emerging economies notably
included Germany, France, Costa Rica and Chile. A couple of
other things that were noteworthy I think in the news,
(06:24):
especially for just the first month of the year, is
that etios entry fee changes and the most powerful passports
of the year. And if I say etios and you
don't know what I'm talking about, these are the new
visa requirements that are coming into play for both the
UK and the European Schengen nations. The European Union and
(06:48):
the United Kingdom are both now requiring new electronic entry systems.
That's new and that was just solidified this past month. Additionally,
remote workers can now apply to become a digital nomad
and they can live in Taiwan for six months at
a time with a new program that just began in
(07:11):
January as well. And if you're curious about the strength
of your American passport compared to some other nations passports, well,
the definitive list for the year ranks the American passport
number nine this year, with the power passport going to Singapore, Japan,
and a few other countries within the European Union. January
(07:34):
was a big month for destinations reporting on their twenty
twenty four tourism growth. A lot of which claimed record
visitor totals and spending. Now, which countries hit tourism records
in twenty twenty four, I'm glad you ask. That list
is longer than you'd expect. But in the Caribbean, the
US Virgin Islands, Crusou, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, British
(07:59):
Virgin Islands, Dominica and Jamaica all reported successes and milestones
and Chris, those are all destinations that we've talked about
a number of times here on a Life Less Ordinary.
The Cayman Islands also reported visitor grows above twenty twenty
three levels, despite waning cruise tourism and weather related challenges.
(08:20):
Now in other parts of the globe, Spain, Brazil, and
the Austrian city of Vienna all posted record visitor totals.
This one did not surprise me. Croatia recently shared a
plan to prioritize sustainable travel after achieving its own records
in twenty twenty four. We saw a lot of interest
(08:42):
in Croatia, and that included well over twenty one million
visitors that Croatia saw as new tourists this past year.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Terry's I'm listening to you talk about these numbers, it's
no surprise to me. I haven't tallied up what our
January d numbers have looked like yet because I've been
too busy helping people with travel, as I know you
have been also, So thanks to everybody that's calling in Chris,
whatever you're doing, it's working. The show has got a
great reach. And thanks to everybody who's calling us asking
(09:15):
us travel questions and placing your trust in us to
help you plan your vacations. I know we had a
great January, but I'm not ready to be able to
report on how.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Great it was.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
And that's true. We Hear and I are both very
very grateful for everybody who visits us at the Wishing
Well and help your numbers go into what we later
see as statistics, especially months to months now. Sadly, part
of January also included the Los Angeles wildfires. They continue
(09:48):
to burn down homes and schools and places of work
and tourist attractions. We want to acknowledge that devastating impact
that that is having on Los Angeles area residents and
it's tourism industry. But you know what, as we look
forward to February, I'm hoping to see those numbers turn
around in a good way for California. That would be nice.
(10:12):
The next piece of news that I found quite interesting
and plays actually very well into what we're going to
be talking about today. You know, last week we talked
Chris about the five Seas of Luxury travel and we
sort of just skim the surface of that. We're going
to really get down to the nitty gritty as to
what that means for travelers today. But there's a news
(10:32):
story that came out and Alma Waterways was one of
the leaders in the news in this and Alma Waterways
for those of you who are just listening, just joining us,
maybe you don't know about them. They are one of
the top contenders for river cruises. We have several in
that market that share that market space and that area
(10:53):
of that business, Alma being one of them, and they
are elevating their focus on wellness with the launch of
what they're calling Celebration of Wellness River Cruises. They're offering
their travelers a transformative experience focused on physical health and
mental wellbeing, and these specialty crafted itineraries are going to
(11:15):
provide their guests with the opportunity to explore Europe's iconic
destinations through a wellness lens, which is very interesting, which
also interestingly enough, based on our platform for today ties
well into the world of luxury now with excursions tailored
(11:36):
for active travelers including hiking, biking, and guided runs, guests
are going to have an experience that enhances their bodies
and their minds. And on board they're going to be
able to enjoy healthy, fresh cuisine with specialty curated menus,
as well as series of daily wellness classes. And today,
(11:57):
more than ever, travelers are seeking we know this, experiences
that promote health and wellness even while they're on vacation,
i e. That equals travel and luxury travel, whether it's
staying active or connecting with the destinations in a meaningful way.
These travelers, Chris, are choosing cruises that align with their lifestyle.
(12:19):
That's what they're doing. The Celebration of Wellness River Cruises
are offering a comprehensive wellness experience. Guests can enjoy those
enhanced tours, and I want to just point out a
couple of these that are already on the calendar. The
first Celebration of Wellness cruise with Almah Waterways is going
to take place on the seven Night Melodies of the
(12:42):
Danube itinery. This is very popular hearing. I get asked
about this one a lot. The dates of travel on
that one are going to be August the second through
the ninth of twenty twenty five. The second twenty twenty
five Summer Celebration of Wellness cruise is going to take
place on the Scenic seven Night Paris and Normandy Itinerary.
(13:04):
That one will go Paris to Paris round trip. That
one's August the ninth through the sixteenth. So I think
this bodes well for another whole sect of travelers who
are out there who want to elevate their luxury experience
but combine something that they already do as a hobby anyway,
which is focused on their wellness. I think those are great,
(13:26):
great plans that Alma has, and I think we might
even see some other river cruises following in their footsteps. Now,
speaking of following in the footsteps of Alma Waterways, big
announcement this week concerned one of the biggest names in
the cruise industry, and that's Royal Caribbean. One of their
(13:47):
sister companies, Celebrity Cruise Line, which really holds the position.
As they're elevated more luxury affluent cruise line, they're getting
into the river cruise businessiness as well, so as a
race to the rivers is on. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
(14:08):
just recently announced that they were taking to the river
cruises and they're saying this is not a hobby for us.
They are stressing that there's likely going to be more
orders for the first two sets of sailings in twenty
twenty seven as they bring on the Celebrity River Cruise line.
(14:29):
So that's something that we're going to keep a close
eye on and let people know how that shapes up
for the next I'd say three years from now, we're
going to see river cruises really start to boom.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
As that happens. Is there a saturation point where the
river can't handle more boats?
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, that's a great question, Chris, and I think there's
a point at which it may become less pleasant because
of the saturation. But I don't think there will ever
be a time that people aren't curious enough and want
to go, which is in turn make these big name
cruises want to just continue to build and sail, build
and sale, build and sale.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
And what you're going to see also is some of
the cities along the river. Right now, they dock at
certain cities, and the great part about river cruising cris
is that you get off that river cruise ship and
you take a few steps and you are in the city.
It's not like you ride a bus or a train.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
You're there.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
So what I believe is going to happen as the
river sees more traffic and sees more interest, you're going
to see some new destinations, which from a travel perspective
to me is very exciting. Those are cities that I
wouldn't easily have been able to visit before. But I
think they're going to open up and celebrity. All of
(15:48):
the cruise lines are expanding their schedules. We're going to
see more destinations. What a great opportunity.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
And I think I may have failed to say this,
but Royal Caribbean they are real serious about this. They've
ordered ten new build river cruises. They're not taking over
ownership of some that were in dry dock. These are
new builds. And then they've also ordered an additional several
(16:16):
cruises for sailings in twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
And just like in the cruise industry. I assume there's
going to be different lines that will attract different people
in what they do.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
You're absolutely right. For example, I mean, we've already talked
about that some here on A Life Less Ordinary. So
if I've repeated this, I'm sorry for those of you
who've heard it before. But take, for example, Viking Cruise Line.
They don't cater to families with children, so you would
have to look to another cruise line who does have
some features for families and cater to them that way.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
It's good information, Harry. I know you've got some great
deals for it. We call it hot deals this part
of the segment of our show. We can save a
little bit of money and really get a great getaway experience.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Yeah, we need to have some hot deals theme music
that we have to come up with, but that's no
time for that right now. But we're just speaking about
Alma Waterways, Chris, so let me talk about them for
an example of what Terry was just speaking of. Every
one of these river cruise lines has got their own
little niche. They're trying to distinguish themselves in the market,
and AMA is one of the popular ones. They are
(17:25):
doing that this season by introducing something called the complementary
land package offer. You talked about the rivers being crowded.
AMA is on it and they're trying to find a solution.
What they're doing is they are including a land package
on top of their river cruise. And this land package
(17:45):
is not just you know, jump off and stay at
any place. They've got stays at some really nice what
we call four and five star hotels. You get breakfast
at the hotel because you've been eating on the ship,
so you need hotel breakfast.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
At least.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
You've got the transfers and portage services between the hotel
and the ship. So it's a very easy kind of
package to add on.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
And when it's free, how can you not like that?
Speaker 2 (18:11):
And for those who are listening who just heard Harry
say that we have a hotel for free accommodations prior
to the cruise and you're going, well, why would you
want that? Well, just simply because of the way airflights
work over to Europe and or the effects that jet
lag may have on you, that is such a huge
(18:32):
bonus feature. And when you've got a cruise line that's
actually giving that to you, that translates to real money,
i e. Real savings.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yeah, and it gives you a chance to see the
city too. You're talking about hotel stays. They're not just
a night, which is something we advise people to do
all the time. We're talking about two, three, even four
night land package hotel stays before your crew.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
So this is really nice.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Gcluted in the stays also are excursions in the towns,
and they have the cruise manager that's going to coordinate
all that so you can feel very comfortable moving between
your river cruise and your land package. I think it's
a great idea and it really sets Almah apart with
this idea.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
I do too, and once again that's Alma Waterways. If
you're interested in that particular deal, all you have to
do is reach out to us at the wishing Well
Chris help us understand how they can do that.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Four h nine oh eight, twenty three thirty three. They're
on f Avenue in Harrisonburg and online at the wishing
Well dot biz.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Yeah, and these special packages are in twenty five and
twenty six, so they've got them spread across the two years.
It's not every Alma Waterways journey, but selected ones and
that's where having the advice and the guidance of Terry, myself,
any of the team at the washing well, we're ready
to help. It's coming up on Valentine's Day, and Valentine's
(19:58):
Day is all about couples.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Right, I have not done any planning for this yet.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
All right, we won't toll anymore.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
It's too late to take advantage of the hot deal.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
This one is not too late to take advantage of
This hot deal is valid starting the end of January,
so it's in place right now. It goes all the
way through April seventeen. For travel on Amtrak. The catch
to this one is you've got to book them by
February sixth. And Amtrak is a great way to travel.
(20:27):
We've talked about that so many times. What Amtrak is
saying is if you are traveling and you've decided you're
going to use one of their room mates on some
of their long journeys, the room mets are a nice
way to travel. I've used them before. You've got a
place to sleep instead of your seat. Okay, a little
bed that goes down in there. But you can book
(20:49):
one of these and not only do you get to
sleep in a real bed, but you get to bring
along a companion for free. That's an absolutely great deal
for Valentine's Day.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
And that accommodation really is the equivalent of what you
would ordinarily find on a first class flight overseas in
the lay flat seats. This is a really nice, mattressed
type accommodation and you have your own private roommate.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Kind isn't it kind of like a daybed. It's a
couch and that it folds down.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Very much, so Chris, Yeah, absolutely exactly that.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
And I can tell you if you've got any insomnia,
rolling along those tracks is just a really nice way
to rocket to sleep. It's what your mama did and
when you were a baby. So if you're interested in that,
give us a call. We can help you with this
special but you must book by February sixth.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
And again the phone number is Fine four nine eight
two three three three.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Thanks so much. So we are going to, as we
said earlier, get down to the details, Chris. Last week
we talked about the five of luxury. Do you remember
what they were?
Speaker 1 (22:02):
I do, because I have it written down from last week.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
You're so smart.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Culture, cuisine, community, customization, and content.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Absolutely and I want to introduce you properly to those
key features of luxury because i'd like to continue our
luxury one oh one information session. This is called a
Life Less Ordinary. So I want people to fully be
aware of what those things mean. I mean, when we
talk in terms of them as just words, five C words,
(22:32):
I'm not sure that that translates very well for folks
to really know, well, how does that affect me? What
do I get out of that? But the hope is
that you're going to begin to fully grasp that concept
that luxury is as you define. It can be any
one of these things, or it can be all of
them rolled in together. The simple idea of luxury is
(22:54):
to create a truly this is a big word right
now in our industry, be spoke, you know, And I
honestly I never heard that word until just a couple
of years ago. But it's a bespoke travel experience that
has only your specific desires in mind. And so we
say that's luxury.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
And we'll get down to the details next here on
a Life Less Ordinary.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Protect your vacation investment with guidance from a travel professional.
The wishing well knows travel and helps you avoid pitfalls
they can spoil your hard earned vacation. We'll plan your
trip and have your back as you travel, all of
this without support or so called convenience fees. We're on
the web at the Wishingwell dot biz or call us
at five four zero nine zero eight two three three three.
(23:41):
That's five four zero nine zero eight two three three three.
The wishing Well really does make dreams come true.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
And welcome back to a Life Less Ordinary travel show
and podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well. They're
on f Avenue in Harrisonburg. They're also online at the
Wishingwell dot biz. And you can call Harry or Terry
at five four oh nine oh eight twenty three thirty three.
I understand that's Harry's personal number. You're calling his cell
phone if you call that, So call anytime a day
(24:09):
or night. Oh my gosh, I'm sure there's an answering
machine if they all do late at night, yea. So
I would encourage you if you have if you missed
last week's episode of A Life Less Ordinary, that you
go to the iHeartRadio app or you can find a
link as well in the upper right hand corner of
the wishing Well dop biz and look for the five
seeds of luxury travel that will get you all set
(24:33):
to understand what we're talking about in this week's episode,
getting down to the details.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Absolutely, and I think it was a really interesting show,
at least it was for me, because I think anytime
we are able as travel advisors to bring some clarity
to the word luxury, which is such an ambiguous word,
I think people respond well to that because they go, well,
just tell me what that is anyway, because it and
(25:00):
we've said this before, it means different things to different people.
We identified luxury last week as those five c's Chris, Culture, Cuisine, Community, content, Customization,
and I thought what we wanted to do today is
take each one of these as we can and sort
of drill down a little bit, put some reality, if
(25:23):
you will, to those particular headings. So one of the
first ones that I want to deal with today is
what we call for an experience travel experience off the
beaten path. Now that would fall just so you know,
under the category or the heading of culture. Okay, if
(25:44):
you're off the beaten path, it's primarily usually because you
want to experience some sort of cultural have a cultural experience, Okay,
they want people who do this. They want unique, they
want remote destinations that offer them unparalleled privacy, natural beauty.
(26:04):
You get where I'm going. It's so funny when I
say this out loud, I actually envision and recall exact
travelers on my client list that that describes. I know
exactly who they are. I know when deals come across
that are off the beaten paths, exactly who to call,
who to email, and to say, hey, do I have
(26:25):
a deal for you? These would be some of their
top destinations, and I'm going to match them up with
some properties that perhaps our listeners be really interested in.
The first one that I want to go to is
a place one of my favorites happens to be in Utah,
(26:45):
and it's a place called Amungary. It is absolutely spectacular.
So many cool things about Amungary. The first thing is
that it is a Native American themed luxury resort hotel
in Canyon Point in the Lake Powell region of Utah.
(27:06):
So in case you wonder where this is, that's where
I'm taking you to today. So it's in a very
unique location. That's number one. That's what really kind of
introduces the cultural aspect of this. The resort opened in
about two thousand and nine. They had thirty four suites.
It became known for being really very Instagram friendly and
(27:29):
a favorite destination for a lot of celebrities. As a
matter of fact, it's a real architectural marvel in the
middle of the desert, and if you want, you should
go look this up even while we're online here with
you today. It's Ama n gir perfect place for stargazing,
hot air ballooning, and Navajo cultural tours. It's perfect if
(27:53):
you just need an adrenaline fueled adventure and maybe just
a peaceful desert retreat. I'll tell you when I really
got very familiar with this property was I was watching
an episode of one of my favorite travel shows right
now on Apple TV, hosted by Eugene Levy, called The
(28:15):
Reluctant Traveler, and he went to a'mungary.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
I thought you were going to see you were watching
the Kardashians, because I looked this up. In the first
one that came up was a picture of Kim Kardashian.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
No, I don't know. It's very possible that she's been
there too. I don't know, but I will tell you
if you ever have a chance to look up Eugene
Levy's visit to Amungari in Utah on a show called
The Reluctant Traveler. You must it is great fun. You
will find what he did, and that is just how
(28:47):
immersively culturally indicative this particular property is of what we're
talking about when we talk about luxury.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Yeah, you think about some places that are nowhere. This
is kind of nowhere, but it's so full of so
many things that are unique and stimulating to your brain,
to your all of your senses. The things you see,
the things you think, the things that you just experienced
there are not what you expect.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
You know that somewhere is in the middle of nowhere
sometimes right, so that you know it's a great destination
when it becomes the somewhere.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Yeah, and you tell you a lot. I think you
should copyright that one, Chris, that's a good one. It
would be good on a T shirt. But there's a
guy that wrote for Harper's Bizarre. I don't know if
he still does, but he said about Amungary, it's a
surreal combination of extreme luxury and rugged wilderness, nestled in
(29:50):
six hundred acres of basically untouched southwestern desert mountains for
people who want the wild experience, but with a thousand
thread count sheets. You know, I don't know that I've
ever heard anybody sum up what luxury is better than that.
But if you are interested in a truly luxurious experience,
(30:14):
that really, I think just is everything about culture. Amungary
sort of checks all the boxes. Got to look that
one up. The next place I want to head to
talk about and to underscore our topic of culture within
luxury is a place called a Wassie in Pantagonia, Chile.
(30:36):
Awasi is another fabulous five star luxury lodge by relay
in chateau. Again seeing this property in the culture part
of luxury. This is located in the unique environment of
Torres del Paine National Park, which is a refuge for wildlife,
(30:57):
harboring species like supuma, and here you can stay in
private villas. They're all surrounded by, of course, that Patagonia
beautiful landscape with activities like glacier hiking and horseback riding.
And if we dig a little deeper into the culture
of Patagonia, due to that stunning scenery, Patagonia is a
(31:18):
haven for outdoor activities like hiking and trekking and kayaking
and fishing and horseback riding, with a strong emphasis on
appreciating nature. So again, you see where we're going here.
We've got a great property, not just a great property,
but a five star property that's fully immersed in culture.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
What's really interesting. I'm looking at the photos of the
hotel and the cottages. It's very modern looking, absolutely, but
it's surrounded by this beautiful natural scenery.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah yeah, yeah, and that's so great. I love it, Chris,
that you're doing that, because I'd love that if our
listeners would follow along just like that. As we introduce
some of these properties, you can really sort of this
kind of gets like show and tell. We can sort
of get a real flavor of the things that I'm
trying to talk about and paint that canvas for you.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
I'm probably wrong on this, but I look at these
rooms and they look very nice, but they're kind of sparse.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Uh huh.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
And it's kind of like the designer was saying, we're
going to give you a luxury, but get outside and
enjoy the luxury outside too. Don't stay in your room
the whole time you're here.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
That's where the culture is is really all about the outdoors,
and especially in Patagonia, and this property is one of
the nicest properties that you could find there. But you're right,
it's very Scandinavian in it's probably it's a decor.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
Yeah, and you can't outdo what you see outside. So
when they decorate a place like that or engineer the
inside of a place like that, it's important to have
a compliment what you see outside. If you look outside,
you're going to see how simple nature is, but how
beautifully the canvas that she paints as as well.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
Absolutely brought right back into the room.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Goes right back to what we were talking about with luxury,
that is luxury with a capital L.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Now I tell you, I have to tell you, guys,
I had a really hard time narrowing down the options
that I wanted to talk to you about as far
as the culture goes, because as far as I'm concerned,
I think one of the most important features of luxury
of the five c's is culture, because there's so much
(33:32):
that's involved in that. The next destination, though, there were
so many I wanted to choose, but I narrowed it
down to these three. So I've given you one in Utah.
I've given you one in Chile, which is in Patagonia,
and the next one that we're going to head to
is in Tanzania. And this is the Singita Grumita Reserve,
(33:55):
and we're going to head there for another resort where
culture is a signal, magnificant part of that whole travel experience,
plus a whole lot more there. It is situated adjacent
to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It's an integral
part of the Serengeti Mara ecosystem, the home of the
(34:18):
Great Migration. Now, this reserve was created by the Tanzanian
government in nineteen ninety four in order to protect the
path of the annual wildebeast migration and the indigenous biodiversity
of this vast and important ecosystem. Now you can witness
the great migration here in an ultra luxury setting with
(34:41):
conservation focused safaris. This is an absolutely beautiful place. I
confess I have never been here to this property, but
I have sold it before, so I can tell you
people who have been remark about how immersive it is
into the culture of that of Tanzania, and how beautiful
(35:06):
the property is, and how it connects you with the
culture of the wildlife.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Can you tell us the name of the reserve again?
You said it really fast and I couldn't look it up,
and I'm sure everyone would like to know the name.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
Against Singita Grumti.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
It's actually what I landed on.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Now I'm looking at in Singrita Grumiti Reserve. Beautiful, beautiful property.
And what are you finding there, Chris?
Speaker 1 (35:31):
What I'm finding is last week when we were done
with the show, I told you what my dream vacation
was to be staying like in the tops of the trees.
This looks like that's exactly what we're talking about, exactly.
This looks like every National Geographic special I watched as
a kid.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Talk about immersed in culture. You've become part of nature exactly.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
I wish I wish we were on TV because I'm
gonna hold this. Some say, look at this picture.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
Oh dear, that's absolutely stunning. And again, if you are
at home and you're able to get yourself in front
of a computer and you can find these properties and
follow along with us, what a treat you're going to
have today as we really get immersed into the world
of luxury through properties and through countries and cultures.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
If you're really interested, come on buy. We have this
big screen TV. We have absolutely will bring it up
and you can look at it in the office too.
Just absolutely beautiful.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
I'm going to turn it over to Harry for cuisine
in just a minute, but before we get there, there's
a couple of things that come before food, and a
lot of times coming before food is community. And with
community we have local markets. Local markets is where you're
going to find a lot of things that people ordinarily
(36:49):
want from a local market. Fresh produce, compelling local crafts,
that kind of thing. So why is the aspect of
patronizing local markets so important to a lot of travelers,
particularly fluent travelers. Well, remember our five Seas travelers who
participate in local destinations local communities can actually help revive
(37:15):
those communities by spending their money there, and the influx
of tourists in local areas boost small businesses, they create
jobs for residents, and they contribute to the overall economic
recovery of an area. Think back to what we've discovered
in Hawaii with Maui, the devastating fires that Maui had.
(37:37):
For people to go back now and begin to start
putting their money and their funds back in to the
Maui community, especially in Leahina, is gold to them. The
chance to contribute and make a positive economic impact is
another compelling reason why a lot more people are opting
to explore those little gems in cities and towns to
(37:59):
which they travel to. There's also a growing sense of
responsibility to support local economies. And it's just something about
people when they travel and they do that, they love
to come back and share that they've done it. It's
just a good feeling kind of reward to know that
you've gone to these places, You've done that as part
(38:20):
of your vacation, and it's sort of good goes around
kind of concept.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Yeah, you really are sustaining those locations by supporting them.
If you go someplace and you love it and you
help to sustain it, then other people can come and
enjoy it as well.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
So when you explore local markets, you can combine shopping
culture and astronomy. So I want to look at what
it looks like in some of the more notable local
markets that at least that I researched, okay, and that
I've been to. So one the first one on my
list is the Murcat dela book Areea and this is
(39:00):
in Barcelona, Spain. The international market is a bustling food market.
It's renowned for its incredible variety of fresh They've got
high quality produce, these beautiful, vibrant displays with local artists.
There's a lively atmosphere there kind of makes it a
(39:21):
sensory experience unlike any other market in the world, especially
if it's a culinary paradise where you can find everything
and you can hear from exotic fruits to traditional Spanish meats.
They're all presented visually appealing and with the added bonus
of being able to sample and taste as you go.
(39:42):
Think of how we love cost Co for that reason,
we kind of graze as we go along. It's famous
for the quality and diversity of the products that are
on sale there. This is a place well worth visiting.
And just imagine if you are already planning to be
in Barcelona. As a matter of fact, we've got a
group trip lined up this year to go to Spain,
(40:03):
in Portugal and Morocco. I would love to take our
group into the Mercat Deyla book area, just to spend
a few hours I think would be just great fun.
And again you're immersing into the community. You're getting in
where the locals go. Locals go there, so it's got
to be good, right, isn't that what we think?
Speaker 1 (40:24):
We hope?
Speaker 2 (40:24):
So now another great market in which to immerse yourself
in the community, i e. Enjoy the luxury of that
community is the Borough Market in London. Now this is
ideal for foodies. They have our Arteasonal cheeses there, gourmet pastries,
rare spices. This London market is considered the largest and
(40:48):
the finest gourmet food market in Europe Chris, So you
know it's got to be good and it's in London,
so you've got a lot of I would say food
snobs in London. I think that's a fair way to
put it. The only close second would probably be someplace
in Paris. But this is a great place to go
if you're ever in London, offering a wide selection of
(41:10):
all of those baked goods, dairy products and British reared meat.
So Borrow Market in London. Put that one on your
list if you ever plan to be there. Great way
for you to also enjoy connection to the community in
a style of luxury. The other one, I don't think
many is going to be a surprise to a lot
(41:30):
of people who are listening to us. This one is
well known around the world. It's in Seattle, and I'll
give you a guess, Harry, where do you think we're going?
Speaker 4 (41:38):
Are we going to Pike Street Market?
Speaker 2 (41:40):
We are Pike Place Market, a bustling market there, visitors
can enjoy street performances, local crafts, farm to table dining.
It's the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country
and one of Seattle's most popular draws.
Speaker 4 (41:58):
Well you see the flying fish.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Absolutely and the market lures visitors and locals alike. We're
talking ten million people a year that go to this
market with its farm fresh produce, butcher paper clad bouquets.
They've got an abundance of shops there, restaurants and bars,
not to mention some of the best people watching in
(42:20):
the city. And by the way, a little trivia. It
is also home to the nation's very first Starbucks. So
Pipe Place Market definitely someplace worthwhile to put on your list.
Not necessarily expensive, necessarily a luxurious place to visit, but
because you're immersed in the community, it's part of a
(42:43):
great luxury overall experience.
Speaker 3 (42:46):
A nice pre stop if you're going on an Alaskan cruise.
I've been there and done that. That way, it's fantastic
way to start a great cruise. You see the salmon,
and then you go and see where the salmon grow.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
Last week our episode was entitled the Five Seas of
Luxury Travel. This week we are digging down or getting
down to the details of those five seas. Terry, you
mentioned culture and community. I think cuisine as next it is,
and we'll talk with Harry about some would you say
gastronomical excellence or something.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
Absolutely doesn't luent that on a great vacation.
Speaker 1 (43:23):
It's coming up next here on a life less ordinary?
Speaker 3 (43:25):
Who would think of driving off to a new destination
without guidance from Google or Siri? Let the Wishing Weld
guide your next travel experience. Travel the world as you
enjoy the very best destinations and all they offer at
the best prices. Our mobile travel app keeps your vacation
on track and keeps you connected with our team of experts.
For help, if you need it, call us at five
four zero nine zero eight two three three three stop
(43:48):
by two forty three ap Avenue or visit us at
the Wishingwell dot biz.
Speaker 1 (43:53):
Hey, welcome back to a Lifeless Ordinary, your travel show
and podcast from your friends at the wishing Well there
on f Avenue and Harrisonburg. They're online at the wishing
Well dot biz and you can give them a call
at five four to nine oh eight twenty three thirty
three Harry. Before we went to break, Terry was talking
about going to markets and I kept visualizing all the
(44:17):
fresh produce and I started thinking about fresh food and
I'm gonna be honest. You can have your culture, you
can have your community. If I'm going on vacation, I
want food. All about the food, me too. This is
our segment, Chris. We're talking about food. This is you
and me every place, right. So as we talk about travel,
(44:38):
and Terry did a great lead in she talked about
going to some of those markets. I remember with Terry
on some of the journeys that we've done, we've shopped
with a chef. There's nothing like shopping with a chef.
You get a guided tour of the best places in
the market, and you get.
Speaker 3 (44:54):
Little tips on how to pick out things when you're
in the market. And those are tips that you can
take home and the next time you're shopping you can
use those tips to help.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
That is so much fun. I'm so glad you brought
that up here because I remember when we went to
Spain to Madrid, and we did exactly what Harry said,
and we were able to, with a Michelin starred chef
make the best bowl of paea I have ever eaten
(45:25):
in my entire life. And I'm so happy to say
I had a hand in it. But it was great.
I even brought a panback with me from Spain from
that trip and all the spices, including saffron, which by
the way, is a very temperamental type of spice.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
It taught us about that he did all right, So
I'm going to talk about cuisine because it is not
only something that.
Speaker 4 (45:48):
You do while you travel.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
We talk about all inclusive resorts, and of course those
are great. We talk about cruise ships with food, but
there are people who travel for the cuisine. And when
you talk about luxury travel, you might want to choose
your destination baked upon based upon the cuisine. I say
baked upon there's part of food.
Speaker 4 (46:09):
Too, right.
Speaker 3 (46:10):
Based upon the cuisine, you get this deep immersion into
a destination of culture. When you get into their cuisine,
you learn about what they eat and why they choose
to eat those foods, and how they how they grow
those foods and prepare those foods that are so different
than what you might have, you know, at home, when
(46:31):
I was in Egypt, as simple as a banana. The
bananas in Egypt tastes different than the bananas from you know,
the supermarkets here locally, you get immersed in the differences
in that and when you can raise that up to
talking about how the food is prepared, you're moving beyond
just going to a beautiful place, seeing beautiful things, connecting
(46:53):
with the local community, but you are now part of
that community because you are eating as those people do.
You try some unique foods, things you haven't tried before,
unique flavors, higher quality ingredients than you're used to having
at home. In this culinary artistry, not just preparing the food,
but how they plate the food, all of that you
(47:15):
put it together.
Speaker 4 (47:16):
That's what Terry's talking about.
Speaker 3 (47:18):
I believe when you talk about luxury, at least for me,
when you say cuisine, it's that whole experience.
Speaker 1 (47:24):
Chris, So, my wife and I we went to Vegas
for our honeymoon, and I think it was Withfgang Puck's
restaurants that we went to.
Speaker 2 (47:31):
We were like nice places.
Speaker 1 (47:33):
Yeah, it was really nice. We did all the table
side meals and they brought out these little new potatoes
that I don't know how they prepared them, but they
were the most amazing potatoes I've ever had in my
entire life. And I think that it was only like
butter and salt, but it's still tasted like they were
(47:54):
cooked by a person who knew the magic of how
to cook potatoes right.
Speaker 2 (47:58):
And how many times in your lifetime did you ever
think that talking about a potato would have a definition
of luxury? But it does because that memorable experience in
that great restaurant was really part of the memories of
your trip.
Speaker 1 (48:14):
No it isn't. And my wife and I talk about
the potatoes more often than we talk about probably anything
else from it was a moment. The potatoes were very special.
Speaker 2 (48:24):
So exactly what we're talking about.
Speaker 3 (48:25):
Let me give you some examples of what I'm talking
about and what you're talking about. Here's some things that
people know, terms that they know, but I'm going to
bring them to life. We talk about farm to table dining.
When you are traveling, you're focused on cuisine. You're talking
about food that comes locally, that's made right there from
where it is sourced, right next door to where it's sourced,
(48:48):
maybe on the farm. Sometimes travel experiences involved going into
people's homes, going into their guards, bringing things and cooking them.
Think about having dinner on a working vineyard and napple.
How about that?
Speaker 1 (49:01):
I'm good?
Speaker 4 (49:02):
Sound good to wash it down with.
Speaker 3 (49:05):
We've got hyperlocal dining that's in a restaurant and it's
a trending thing where we are sourcing local ingredients. You know,
right there at the restaurant, they may have a garden
outside in the backyard, tasting menus. If you are in
a place, you might enjoy some Aboriginal food traditions. If
you're in Australia, what about cultural immersions through food. We
(49:28):
talked about being in Spain. You're going to visit the markets.
You're going to prepare the food, learn how to prepare
the food, and go to the food festivals and eat
all of the local food. You might enjoy food. If
you're in a place like Paris, that's a great place
to do. You know, this kind of experience. You're going
(49:49):
to have Michelin chefs teaching you how to cook and
eat and enjoy and appreciate genuine, authentic French food.
Speaker 4 (50:00):
What about sustainability.
Speaker 3 (50:02):
A lot of the resorts that we take people to,
a lot of the virtuoso resorts especially lately, have been
into sustainability. Everything they grow is right there. We've been
on cruise ships where they have gardens up on the
rooftops areas of the cruise ships. There's one resort in
Mexico that I'm thinking of, Charisma Resort.
Speaker 2 (50:23):
They actually grow all their own They grow their own
and they actually butcher their own meats and that kind
of thing.
Speaker 3 (50:29):
Yeah, exactly. And when you are done eating, you might
want to have a cocktail craft cocktails again, edible flowers, microorbs,
and artistic presentation. So that's what I'm talking about when
I'm talking about that kind of cuisine and the cuisine experience.
Let me twist into something else that I think also
(50:52):
as part of this luxury there are a lot of
people now that are into fitness and they want to
have athletic adventures. So a lot of places, a lot
of opportunities for that. The Grand Prix. The Grand Prix
is happening in Monaco May the twenty third this year.
You haven't heard of the Grand Prix. It's Formula one
(51:12):
motor racing annual event in Monte Carlo, Monaco. It's one
of the most prestigious races in the world. And you
can go there. Gravel races are bike races, you can
go there. They're in the Ozarks in Bentonville, Arkansas. And
you can go to fitness focused resorts and places like Spain, Italy,
(51:33):
all Croatia all around where you can become fit, you
can become well.
Speaker 4 (51:38):
You can do.
Speaker 3 (51:39):
Hiking, cycling, snorkeling, all kinds of athletic experiences. This is
what we get when we start thinking about some of
the seas.
Speaker 1 (51:47):
I would say, lest we think that this was all still
under the cuisine header, this would be content and customization
of our luxury travels.
Speaker 2 (51:54):
Absolutely, and this is how it all finally ties together
for complete experience.
Speaker 1 (52:00):
The one thing I heard when you were talking about
cuisine in particular, and you said about going to the
market and you know, these immersive experiences. We can't separate
our luxury experience into just one sea. You know, all
five of those SE's, if not more, are being represented
in our personal luxury experience. We're just looking for which
(52:23):
one is winning out over the others exactly.
Speaker 3 (52:26):
And one of the best things about this at the end,
as you have an experience like that, when you join
with the chef and shop and cook and eat, you
know what you've done. After you've had this experience. It
makes you feel so good about yourself because I feel
another c competent. I feel like and do these things,
(52:46):
and I come home with the memory to say I
can create a great meal. And it's given me the
creativity to do.
Speaker 4 (52:52):
Some new things. When I came home from my vacation.
Speaker 1 (52:55):
Chris, we've talked a lot about like what my dream
vacation is, and I have an answer time we talk.
But now I want to go to the market with
a chef and learn how to cook something. Pylia, we're
out of time. How do we get in touch with
the Wishing Well.
Speaker 2 (53:09):
We are easy to find and we'd love to see you.
Are located at two forty three nef Avenue in the
Valley Center in Harsonburg. You can call us at five
four h nine oh eight two three three three or
look us up on the web. Chris, we are at
the Wishingwell dot biz.
Speaker 1 (53:25):
This has been a life Less Ordinary the travel show
from your friends at the wishing Well at two forty
three nef Avenue in Harrisonburg. If you have any questions
on topics discussed today, please reach out to the wishing
Well online at the Wishingwell dot biz or five four
oh nine oh eight twenty three thirty three. Past episodes
are available on the iHeartRadio app. And we'll see again
next Saturday morning at ten for a Life Less Ordinary
(53:47):
from the wishing Well
This is a Lifeless Ordinary. It's a travel show and
podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well two forty
three f Avenue in Harrisburg and online at the wishing
Well dot this. The wishing Well is your ultimate luxury concierge,
travel agency and a Lifeless Ordinary is a travel show
and podcast hosted by Terry Dean, bringing her over forty
years of experience in the travel industry to help guide
(00:21):
you to great experiences in your travel, whether it be
around the block, around the country, or around the world.
Let's bring in Terry Dean and say hello, how are
you doing, Chris Well, It's good to see you. Good
to see you any We gotta say hi to Harry
Rife as well. Also good to see you, Chris. Harry,
It's always good to see you. This is my favorite
time of the week. We get to sit down, we
get to talk travel for about an hour it is.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
And we've had quite a bit going on this past week.
There's been all good, you know, but that's the nature
of what happens in this industry sometimes. So I wanted
to actually get right to that, Chris, because for those
who are listening to us, joining us first of all,
welcome to a life less ordinary. We love having you here,
(01:04):
being able to visit with you in your homes every
Saturday morning. It's a big joy for Harry and I
to be able to spend some time sharing with you
a love of something that we have and I think
that a lot of people do too. But we had
some bad news over this past week, and that was
the collision of an American Airlines flight with a military
(01:26):
helicopter on the approach to Reagan National Airport. Sadly, everybody
on board the American Airlines jet carrying sixty passengers and
four crew members that collided with an Army helicopter perished
in what is likely to be the worst US aviation
disaster in almost a quarter century. Now, you know, we
(01:50):
could drill down into these details, we could talk suppositions
and everything else. I'm not going to do that because
I think the investigation is ongoing and I think it
would be not a good thing to presume anything. But
we do and everybody's interested in figuring out what caused
this crash. Investigators are going to try to piece together
(02:14):
both aircraft's final moments before their collision, including contact with
the air traffic controllers, as well as a loss of
altitude by that passenger jet. What we know is that
the night was clear, the plane and the helicopter were
both in standard flight patterns, and there was a standard
(02:35):
communication between the aircraft and the tower. Do we know
if it was a preventable tragedy, Well, it wasn't unusual
to have military aircraft flying the river and an aircraft
landing at the airport, so we know that much, and
FAA said the mid air crash occurred before nine PM
(02:57):
in some of the most tightly controlled monitored airspace in
the world, just over three miles south of the White
House and the Capitol. American Airlines Flight fifty three forty
two was inbound to Reagan National Airport at an altitude
of about four hundred feet and a speed of about
one hundred and forty miles an hour when it suffered
(03:19):
a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River. And
that's according to the data from its radio transponder. The
plane's radio transponder stopped transmitting about twenty four hundred feet
short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the river.
Video from an observation camera at nearby Kennedy center showed
(03:44):
two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to join
in a fireball. So this, of course is very, very
sad news. It is something that in the airline industry
and certainly in the travel industry, it's the worst thing
that we can ever think about. I will say this
(04:05):
just on a personal note. I still believe that air
travel is the safest kind of travel that we experience
in the world, and I believe in the airline industry system,
especially the one that governs travel within the United States,
I think it's one of the safest in all of
the world. But things happen, and we have no idea
(04:27):
at this point. It's pure speculation as to what happened
until all the facts are massaged.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
And our hearts go out to the families of anybody
that's been involved in that in any way, whether it's
on the ground, knew somebody that was in either of
those aircraft. So it's a somber moment, and we send
our hearts and our prayers and our thoughts out to
everybody that's involved or that knows people that are involved
with that whole.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Absolutely, absolutely, there was some other news that came across
my desk too that I wanted to share today, and
that is a summary of the first month of twenty
twenty five. Doesn't seem possible, does it, Chris, that were
already through one whole month, already.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
A couple of days ago. I told my wife, I'm like,
it's only eleven months till Christmas.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I know, And here we are at the first February.
It's unbelievable. Unbelievable. But the first month of twenty twenty
five saw quite a lot of news impacting destinations around
the world, from a new list of the world's most
endangered monuments to tourism growth reported worldwide. Now some interesting
(05:36):
new lists, including the safest places to travel in twenty
twenty five, which included and this is a great list
to just make a note of if you're at home
listening to us this morning, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand,
according to the statistics, are the safest places to travel
in twenty twenty five. Yosemite, mount Rainier and Bryce Canyon
(05:59):
National parks were reported among some of the most accessible
for travelers with disabilities this year. I found that one
very interesting. The best among developed and emerging economies notably
included Germany, France, Costa Rica and Chile. A couple of
other things that were noteworthy I think in the news,
(06:24):
especially for just the first month of the year, is
that etios entry fee changes and the most powerful passports
of the year. And if I say etios and you
don't know what I'm talking about, these are the new
visa requirements that are coming into play for both the
UK and the European Schengen nations. The European Union and
(06:48):
the United Kingdom are both now requiring new electronic entry systems.
That's new and that was just solidified this past month. Additionally,
remote workers can now apply to become a digital nomad
and they can live in Taiwan for six months at
a time with a new program that just began in
(07:11):
January as well. And if you're curious about the strength
of your American passport compared to some other nations passports, well,
the definitive list for the year ranks the American passport
number nine this year, with the power passport going to Singapore, Japan,
and a few other countries within the European Union. January
(07:34):
was a big month for destinations reporting on their twenty
twenty four tourism growth. A lot of which claimed record
visitor totals and spending. Now, which countries hit tourism records
in twenty twenty four, I'm glad you ask. That list
is longer than you'd expect. But in the Caribbean, the
US Virgin Islands, Crusou, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, British
(07:59):
Virgin Islands, Dominica and Jamaica all reported successes and milestones
and Chris, those are all destinations that we've talked about
a number of times here on a Life Less Ordinary.
The Cayman Islands also reported visitor grows above twenty twenty
three levels, despite waning cruise tourism and weather related challenges.
(08:20):
Now in other parts of the globe, Spain, Brazil, and
the Austrian city of Vienna all posted record visitor totals.
This one did not surprise me. Croatia recently shared a
plan to prioritize sustainable travel after achieving its own records
in twenty twenty four. We saw a lot of interest
(08:42):
in Croatia, and that included well over twenty one million
visitors that Croatia saw as new tourists this past year.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Terry's I'm listening to you talk about these numbers, it's
no surprise to me. I haven't tallied up what our
January d numbers have looked like yet because I've been
too busy helping people with travel, as I know you
have been also, So thanks to everybody that's calling in Chris,
whatever you're doing, it's working. The show has got a
great reach. And thanks to everybody who's calling us asking
(09:15):
us travel questions and placing your trust in us to
help you plan your vacations. I know we had a
great January, but I'm not ready to be able to
report on how.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Great it was.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
And that's true. We Hear and I are both very
very grateful for everybody who visits us at the Wishing
Well and help your numbers go into what we later
see as statistics, especially months to months now. Sadly, part
of January also included the Los Angeles wildfires. They continue
(09:48):
to burn down homes and schools and places of work
and tourist attractions. We want to acknowledge that devastating impact
that that is having on Los Angeles area residents and
it's tourism industry. But you know what, as we look
forward to February, I'm hoping to see those numbers turn
around in a good way for California. That would be nice.
(10:12):
The next piece of news that I found quite interesting
and plays actually very well into what we're going to
be talking about today. You know, last week we talked
Chris about the five Seas of Luxury travel and we
sort of just skim the surface of that. We're going
to really get down to the nitty gritty as to
what that means for travelers today. But there's a news
(10:32):
story that came out and Alma Waterways was one of
the leaders in the news in this and Alma Waterways
for those of you who are just listening, just joining us,
maybe you don't know about them. They are one of
the top contenders for river cruises. We have several in
that market that share that market space and that area
(10:53):
of that business, Alma being one of them, and they
are elevating their focus on wellness with the launch of
what they're calling Celebration of Wellness River Cruises. They're offering
their travelers a transformative experience focused on physical health and
mental wellbeing, and these specialty crafted itineraries are going to
(11:15):
provide their guests with the opportunity to explore Europe's iconic
destinations through a wellness lens, which is very interesting, which
also interestingly enough, based on our platform for today ties
well into the world of luxury now with excursions tailored
(11:36):
for active travelers including hiking, biking, and guided runs, guests
are going to have an experience that enhances their bodies
and their minds. And on board they're going to be
able to enjoy healthy, fresh cuisine with specialty curated menus,
as well as series of daily wellness classes. And today,
(11:57):
more than ever, travelers are seeking we know this, experiences
that promote health and wellness even while they're on vacation,
i e. That equals travel and luxury travel, whether it's
staying active or connecting with the destinations in a meaningful way.
These travelers, Chris, are choosing cruises that align with their lifestyle.
(12:19):
That's what they're doing. The Celebration of Wellness River Cruises
are offering a comprehensive wellness experience. Guests can enjoy those
enhanced tours, and I want to just point out a
couple of these that are already on the calendar. The
first Celebration of Wellness cruise with Almah Waterways is going
to take place on the seven Night Melodies of the
(12:42):
Danube itinery. This is very popular hearing. I get asked
about this one a lot. The dates of travel on
that one are going to be August the second through
the ninth of twenty twenty five. The second twenty twenty
five Summer Celebration of Wellness cruise is going to take
place on the Scenic seven Night Paris and Normandy Itinerary.
(13:04):
That one will go Paris to Paris round trip. That
one's August the ninth through the sixteenth. So I think
this bodes well for another whole sect of travelers who
are out there who want to elevate their luxury experience
but combine something that they already do as a hobby anyway,
which is focused on their wellness. I think those are great,
(13:26):
great plans that Alma has, and I think we might
even see some other river cruises following in their footsteps. Now,
speaking of following in the footsteps of Alma Waterways, big
announcement this week concerned one of the biggest names in
the cruise industry, and that's Royal Caribbean. One of their
(13:47):
sister companies, Celebrity Cruise Line, which really holds the position.
As they're elevated more luxury affluent cruise line, they're getting
into the river cruise businessiness as well, so as a
race to the rivers is on. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
(14:08):
just recently announced that they were taking to the river
cruises and they're saying this is not a hobby for us.
They are stressing that there's likely going to be more
orders for the first two sets of sailings in twenty
twenty seven as they bring on the Celebrity River Cruise line.
(14:29):
So that's something that we're going to keep a close
eye on and let people know how that shapes up
for the next I'd say three years from now, we're
going to see river cruises really start to boom.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
As that happens. Is there a saturation point where the
river can't handle more boats?
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, that's a great question, Chris, and I think there's
a point at which it may become less pleasant because
of the saturation. But I don't think there will ever
be a time that people aren't curious enough and want
to go, which is in turn make these big name
cruises want to just continue to build and sail, build
and sale, build and sale.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
And what you're going to see also is some of
the cities along the river. Right now, they dock at
certain cities, and the great part about river cruising cris
is that you get off that river cruise ship and
you take a few steps and you are in the city.
It's not like you ride a bus or a train.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
You're there.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
So what I believe is going to happen as the
river sees more traffic and sees more interest, you're going
to see some new destinations, which from a travel perspective
to me is very exciting. Those are cities that I
wouldn't easily have been able to visit before. But I
think they're going to open up and celebrity. All of
(15:48):
the cruise lines are expanding their schedules. We're going to
see more destinations. What a great opportunity.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
And I think I may have failed to say this,
but Royal Caribbean they are real serious about this. They've
ordered ten new build river cruises. They're not taking over
ownership of some that were in dry dock. These are
new builds. And then they've also ordered an additional several
(16:16):
cruises for sailings in twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
And just like in the cruise industry. I assume there's
going to be different lines that will attract different people
in what they do.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
You're absolutely right. For example, I mean, we've already talked
about that some here on A Life Less Ordinary. So
if I've repeated this, I'm sorry for those of you
who've heard it before. But take, for example, Viking Cruise Line.
They don't cater to families with children, so you would
have to look to another cruise line who does have
some features for families and cater to them that way.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
It's good information, Harry. I know you've got some great
deals for it. We call it hot deals this part
of the segment of our show. We can save a
little bit of money and really get a great getaway experience.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Yeah, we need to have some hot deals theme music
that we have to come up with, but that's no
time for that right now. But we're just speaking about
Alma Waterways, Chris, so let me talk about them for
an example of what Terry was just speaking of. Every
one of these river cruise lines has got their own
little niche. They're trying to distinguish themselves in the market,
and AMA is one of the popular ones. They are
(17:25):
doing that this season by introducing something called the complementary
land package offer. You talked about the rivers being crowded.
AMA is on it and they're trying to find a solution.
What they're doing is they are including a land package
on top of their river cruise. And this land package
(17:45):
is not just you know, jump off and stay at
any place. They've got stays at some really nice what
we call four and five star hotels. You get breakfast
at the hotel because you've been eating on the ship,
so you need hotel breakfast.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
At least.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
You've got the transfers and portage services between the hotel
and the ship. So it's a very easy kind of
package to add on.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
And when it's free, how can you not like that?
Speaker 2 (18:11):
And for those who are listening who just heard Harry
say that we have a hotel for free accommodations prior
to the cruise and you're going, well, why would you
want that? Well, just simply because of the way airflights
work over to Europe and or the effects that jet
lag may have on you, that is such a huge
(18:32):
bonus feature. And when you've got a cruise line that's
actually giving that to you, that translates to real money,
i e. Real savings.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yeah, and it gives you a chance to see the
city too. You're talking about hotel stays. They're not just
a night, which is something we advise people to do
all the time. We're talking about two, three, even four
night land package hotel stays before your crew.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
So this is really nice.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Gcluted in the stays also are excursions in the towns,
and they have the cruise manager that's going to coordinate
all that so you can feel very comfortable moving between
your river cruise and your land package. I think it's
a great idea and it really sets Almah apart with
this idea.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
I do too, and once again that's Alma Waterways. If
you're interested in that particular deal, all you have to
do is reach out to us at the wishing Well
Chris help us understand how they can do that.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Four h nine oh eight, twenty three thirty three. They're
on f Avenue in Harrisonburg and online at the wishing
Well dot biz.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Yeah, and these special packages are in twenty five and
twenty six, so they've got them spread across the two years.
It's not every Alma Waterways journey, but selected ones and
that's where having the advice and the guidance of Terry, myself,
any of the team at the washing well, we're ready
to help. It's coming up on Valentine's Day, and Valentine's
(19:58):
Day is all about couples.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Right, I have not done any planning for this yet.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
All right, we won't toll anymore.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
It's too late to take advantage of the hot deal.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
This one is not too late to take advantage of
This hot deal is valid starting the end of January,
so it's in place right now. It goes all the
way through April seventeen. For travel on Amtrak. The catch
to this one is you've got to book them by
February sixth. And Amtrak is a great way to travel.
(20:27):
We've talked about that so many times. What Amtrak is
saying is if you are traveling and you've decided you're
going to use one of their room mates on some
of their long journeys, the room mets are a nice
way to travel. I've used them before. You've got a
place to sleep instead of your seat. Okay, a little
bed that goes down in there. But you can book
(20:49):
one of these and not only do you get to
sleep in a real bed, but you get to bring
along a companion for free. That's an absolutely great deal
for Valentine's Day.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
And that accommodation really is the equivalent of what you
would ordinarily find on a first class flight overseas in
the lay flat seats. This is a really nice, mattressed
type accommodation and you have your own private roommate.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Kind isn't it kind of like a daybed. It's a
couch and that it folds down.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Very much, so Chris, Yeah, absolutely exactly that.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
And I can tell you if you've got any insomnia,
rolling along those tracks is just a really nice way
to rocket to sleep. It's what your mama did and
when you were a baby. So if you're interested in that,
give us a call. We can help you with this
special but you must book by February sixth.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
And again the phone number is Fine four nine eight
two three three three.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Thanks so much. So we are going to, as we
said earlier, get down to the details, Chris. Last week
we talked about the five of luxury. Do you remember
what they were?
Speaker 1 (22:02):
I do, because I have it written down from last week.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
You're so smart.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Culture, cuisine, community, customization, and content.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Absolutely and I want to introduce you properly to those
key features of luxury because i'd like to continue our
luxury one oh one information session. This is called a
Life Less Ordinary. So I want people to fully be
aware of what those things mean. I mean, when we
talk in terms of them as just words, five C words,
(22:32):
I'm not sure that that translates very well for folks
to really know, well, how does that affect me? What
do I get out of that? But the hope is
that you're going to begin to fully grasp that concept
that luxury is as you define. It can be any
one of these things, or it can be all of
them rolled in together. The simple idea of luxury is
(22:54):
to create a truly this is a big word right
now in our industry, be spoke, you know, And I
honestly I never heard that word until just a couple
of years ago. But it's a bespoke travel experience that
has only your specific desires in mind. And so we
say that's luxury.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
And we'll get down to the details next here on
a Life Less Ordinary.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Protect your vacation investment with guidance from a travel professional.
The wishing well knows travel and helps you avoid pitfalls
they can spoil your hard earned vacation. We'll plan your
trip and have your back as you travel, all of
this without support or so called convenience fees. We're on
the web at the Wishingwell dot biz or call us
at five four zero nine zero eight two three three three.
(23:41):
That's five four zero nine zero eight two three three three.
The wishing Well really does make dreams come true.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
And welcome back to a Life Less Ordinary travel show
and podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well. They're
on f Avenue in Harrisonburg. They're also online at the
Wishingwell dot biz. And you can call Harry or Terry
at five four oh nine oh eight twenty three thirty three.
I understand that's Harry's personal number. You're calling his cell
phone if you call that, So call anytime a day
(24:09):
or night. Oh my gosh, I'm sure there's an answering
machine if they all do late at night, yea. So
I would encourage you if you have if you missed
last week's episode of A Life Less Ordinary, that you
go to the iHeartRadio app or you can find a
link as well in the upper right hand corner of
the wishing Well dop biz and look for the five
seeds of luxury travel that will get you all set
(24:33):
to understand what we're talking about in this week's episode,
getting down to the details.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Absolutely, and I think it was a really interesting show,
at least it was for me, because I think anytime
we are able as travel advisors to bring some clarity
to the word luxury, which is such an ambiguous word,
I think people respond well to that because they go, well,
just tell me what that is anyway, because it and
(25:00):
we've said this before, it means different things to different people.
We identified luxury last week as those five c's Chris, Culture, Cuisine, Community, content, Customization,
and I thought what we wanted to do today is
take each one of these as we can and sort
of drill down a little bit, put some reality, if
(25:23):
you will, to those particular headings. So one of the
first ones that I want to deal with today is
what we call for an experience travel experience off the
beaten path. Now that would fall just so you know,
under the category or the heading of culture. Okay, if
(25:44):
you're off the beaten path, it's primarily usually because you
want to experience some sort of cultural have a cultural experience, Okay,
they want people who do this. They want unique, they
want remote destinations that offer them unparalleled privacy, natural beauty.
(26:04):
You get where I'm going. It's so funny when I
say this out loud, I actually envision and recall exact
travelers on my client list that that describes. I know
exactly who they are. I know when deals come across
that are off the beaten paths, exactly who to call,
who to email, and to say, hey, do I have
(26:25):
a deal for you? These would be some of their
top destinations, and I'm going to match them up with
some properties that perhaps our listeners be really interested in.
The first one that I want to go to is
a place one of my favorites happens to be in Utah,
(26:45):
and it's a place called Amungary. It is absolutely spectacular.
So many cool things about Amungary. The first thing is
that it is a Native American themed luxury resort hotel
in Canyon Point in the Lake Powell region of Utah.
(27:06):
So in case you wonder where this is, that's where
I'm taking you to today. So it's in a very
unique location. That's number one. That's what really kind of
introduces the cultural aspect of this. The resort opened in
about two thousand and nine. They had thirty four suites.
It became known for being really very Instagram friendly and
(27:29):
a favorite destination for a lot of celebrities. As a
matter of fact, it's a real architectural marvel in the
middle of the desert, and if you want, you should
go look this up even while we're online here with
you today. It's Ama n gir perfect place for stargazing,
hot air ballooning, and Navajo cultural tours. It's perfect if
(27:53):
you just need an adrenaline fueled adventure and maybe just
a peaceful desert retreat. I'll tell you when I really
got very familiar with this property was I was watching
an episode of one of my favorite travel shows right
now on Apple TV, hosted by Eugene Levy, called The
(28:15):
Reluctant Traveler, and he went to a'mungary.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
I thought you were going to see you were watching
the Kardashians, because I looked this up. In the first
one that came up was a picture of Kim Kardashian.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
No, I don't know. It's very possible that she's been
there too. I don't know, but I will tell you
if you ever have a chance to look up Eugene
Levy's visit to Amungari in Utah on a show called
The Reluctant Traveler. You must it is great fun. You
will find what he did, and that is just how
(28:47):
immersively culturally indicative this particular property is of what we're
talking about when we talk about luxury.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Yeah, you think about some places that are nowhere. This
is kind of nowhere, but it's so full of so
many things that are unique and stimulating to your brain,
to your all of your senses. The things you see,
the things you think, the things that you just experienced
there are not what you expect.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
You know that somewhere is in the middle of nowhere
sometimes right, so that you know it's a great destination
when it becomes the somewhere.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Yeah, and you tell you a lot. I think you
should copyright that one, Chris, that's a good one. It
would be good on a T shirt. But there's a
guy that wrote for Harper's Bizarre. I don't know if
he still does, but he said about Amungary, it's a
surreal combination of extreme luxury and rugged wilderness, nestled in
(29:50):
six hundred acres of basically untouched southwestern desert mountains for
people who want the wild experience, but with a thousand
thread count sheets. You know, I don't know that I've
ever heard anybody sum up what luxury is better than that.
But if you are interested in a truly luxurious experience,
(30:14):
that really, I think just is everything about culture. Amungary
sort of checks all the boxes. Got to look that
one up. The next place I want to head to
talk about and to underscore our topic of culture within
luxury is a place called a Wassie in Pantagonia, Chile.
(30:36):
Awasi is another fabulous five star luxury lodge by relay
in chateau. Again seeing this property in the culture part
of luxury. This is located in the unique environment of
Torres del Paine National Park, which is a refuge for wildlife,
(30:57):
harboring species like supuma, and here you can stay in
private villas. They're all surrounded by, of course, that Patagonia
beautiful landscape with activities like glacier hiking and horseback riding.
And if we dig a little deeper into the culture
of Patagonia, due to that stunning scenery, Patagonia is a
(31:18):
haven for outdoor activities like hiking and trekking and kayaking
and fishing and horseback riding, with a strong emphasis on
appreciating nature. So again, you see where we're going here.
We've got a great property, not just a great property,
but a five star property that's fully immersed in culture.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
What's really interesting. I'm looking at the photos of the
hotel and the cottages. It's very modern looking, absolutely, but
it's surrounded by this beautiful natural scenery.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah yeah, yeah, and that's so great. I love it, Chris,
that you're doing that, because I'd love that if our
listeners would follow along just like that. As we introduce
some of these properties, you can really sort of this
kind of gets like show and tell. We can sort
of get a real flavor of the things that I'm
trying to talk about and paint that canvas for you.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
I'm probably wrong on this, but I look at these
rooms and they look very nice, but they're kind of sparse.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Uh huh.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
And it's kind of like the designer was saying, we're
going to give you a luxury, but get outside and
enjoy the luxury outside too. Don't stay in your room
the whole time you're here.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
That's where the culture is is really all about the outdoors,
and especially in Patagonia, and this property is one of
the nicest properties that you could find there. But you're right,
it's very Scandinavian in it's probably it's a decor.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
Yeah, and you can't outdo what you see outside. So
when they decorate a place like that or engineer the
inside of a place like that, it's important to have
a compliment what you see outside. If you look outside,
you're going to see how simple nature is, but how
beautifully the canvas that she paints as as well.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
Absolutely brought right back into the room.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Goes right back to what we were talking about with luxury,
that is luxury with a capital L.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Now I tell you, I have to tell you, guys,
I had a really hard time narrowing down the options
that I wanted to talk to you about as far
as the culture goes, because as far as I'm concerned,
I think one of the most important features of luxury
of the five c's is culture, because there's so much
(33:32):
that's involved in that. The next destination, though, there were
so many I wanted to choose, but I narrowed it
down to these three. So I've given you one in Utah.
I've given you one in Chile, which is in Patagonia,
and the next one that we're going to head to
is in Tanzania. And this is the Singita Grumita Reserve,
(33:55):
and we're going to head there for another resort where
culture is a signal, magnificant part of that whole travel experience,
plus a whole lot more there. It is situated adjacent
to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It's an integral
part of the Serengeti Mara ecosystem, the home of the
(34:18):
Great Migration. Now, this reserve was created by the Tanzanian
government in nineteen ninety four in order to protect the
path of the annual wildebeast migration and the indigenous biodiversity
of this vast and important ecosystem. Now you can witness
the great migration here in an ultra luxury setting with
(34:41):
conservation focused safaris. This is an absolutely beautiful place. I
confess I have never been here to this property, but
I have sold it before, so I can tell you
people who have been remark about how immersive it is
into the culture of that of Tanzania, and how beautiful
(35:06):
the property is, and how it connects you with the
culture of the wildlife.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Can you tell us the name of the reserve again?
You said it really fast and I couldn't look it up,
and I'm sure everyone would like to know the name.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
Against Singita Grumti.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
It's actually what I landed on.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Now I'm looking at in Singrita Grumiti Reserve. Beautiful, beautiful property.
And what are you finding there, Chris?
Speaker 1 (35:31):
What I'm finding is last week when we were done
with the show, I told you what my dream vacation
was to be staying like in the tops of the trees.
This looks like that's exactly what we're talking about, exactly.
This looks like every National Geographic special I watched as
a kid.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Talk about immersed in culture. You've become part of nature exactly.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
I wish I wish we were on TV because I'm
gonna hold this. Some say, look at this picture.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
Oh dear, that's absolutely stunning. And again, if you are
at home and you're able to get yourself in front
of a computer and you can find these properties and
follow along with us, what a treat you're going to
have today as we really get immersed into the world
of luxury through properties and through countries and cultures.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
If you're really interested, come on buy. We have this
big screen TV. We have absolutely will bring it up
and you can look at it in the office too.
Just absolutely beautiful.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
I'm going to turn it over to Harry for cuisine
in just a minute, but before we get there, there's
a couple of things that come before food, and a
lot of times coming before food is community. And with
community we have local markets. Local markets is where you're
going to find a lot of things that people ordinarily
(36:49):
want from a local market. Fresh produce, compelling local crafts,
that kind of thing. So why is the aspect of
patronizing local markets so important to a lot of travelers,
particularly fluent travelers. Well, remember our five Seas travelers who
participate in local destinations local communities can actually help revive
(37:15):
those communities by spending their money there, and the influx
of tourists in local areas boost small businesses, they create
jobs for residents, and they contribute to the overall economic
recovery of an area. Think back to what we've discovered
in Hawaii with Maui, the devastating fires that Maui had.
(37:37):
For people to go back now and begin to start
putting their money and their funds back in to the
Maui community, especially in Leahina, is gold to them. The
chance to contribute and make a positive economic impact is
another compelling reason why a lot more people are opting
to explore those little gems in cities and towns to
(37:59):
which they travel to. There's also a growing sense of
responsibility to support local economies. And it's just something about
people when they travel and they do that, they love
to come back and share that they've done it. It's
just a good feeling kind of reward to know that
you've gone to these places, You've done that as part
(38:20):
of your vacation, and it's sort of good goes around
kind of concept.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
Yeah, you really are sustaining those locations by supporting them.
If you go someplace and you love it and you
help to sustain it, then other people can come and
enjoy it as well.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
So when you explore local markets, you can combine shopping
culture and astronomy. So I want to look at what
it looks like in some of the more notable local
markets that at least that I researched, okay, and that
I've been to. So one the first one on my
list is the Murcat dela book Areea and this is
(39:00):
in Barcelona, Spain. The international market is a bustling food market.
It's renowned for its incredible variety of fresh They've got
high quality produce, these beautiful, vibrant displays with local artists.
There's a lively atmosphere there kind of makes it a
(39:21):
sensory experience unlike any other market in the world, especially
if it's a culinary paradise where you can find everything
and you can hear from exotic fruits to traditional Spanish meats.
They're all presented visually appealing and with the added bonus
of being able to sample and taste as you go.
(39:42):
Think of how we love cost Co for that reason,
we kind of graze as we go along. It's famous
for the quality and diversity of the products that are
on sale there. This is a place well worth visiting.
And just imagine if you are already planning to be
in Barcelona. As a matter of fact, we've got a
group trip lined up this year to go to Spain,
(40:03):
in Portugal and Morocco. I would love to take our
group into the Mercat Deyla book area, just to spend
a few hours I think would be just great fun.
And again you're immersing into the community. You're getting in
where the locals go. Locals go there, so it's got
to be good, right, isn't that what we think?
Speaker 1 (40:24):
We hope?
Speaker 2 (40:24):
So now another great market in which to immerse yourself
in the community, i e. Enjoy the luxury of that
community is the Borough Market in London. Now this is
ideal for foodies. They have our Arteasonal cheeses there, gourmet pastries,
rare spices. This London market is considered the largest and
(40:48):
the finest gourmet food market in Europe Chris, So you
know it's got to be good and it's in London,
so you've got a lot of I would say food
snobs in London. I think that's a fair way to
put it. The only close second would probably be someplace
in Paris. But this is a great place to go
if you're ever in London, offering a wide selection of
(41:10):
all of those baked goods, dairy products and British reared meat.
So Borrow Market in London. Put that one on your
list if you ever plan to be there. Great way
for you to also enjoy connection to the community in
a style of luxury. The other one, I don't think
many is going to be a surprise to a lot
(41:30):
of people who are listening to us. This one is
well known around the world. It's in Seattle, and I'll
give you a guess, Harry, where do you think we're going?
Speaker 4 (41:38):
Are we going to Pike Street Market?
Speaker 2 (41:40):
We are Pike Place Market, a bustling market there, visitors
can enjoy street performances, local crafts, farm to table dining.
It's the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country
and one of Seattle's most popular draws.
Speaker 4 (41:58):
Well you see the flying fish.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Absolutely and the market lures visitors and locals alike. We're
talking ten million people a year that go to this
market with its farm fresh produce, butcher paper clad bouquets.
They've got an abundance of shops there, restaurants and bars,
not to mention some of the best people watching in
(42:20):
the city. And by the way, a little trivia. It
is also home to the nation's very first Starbucks. So
Pipe Place Market definitely someplace worthwhile to put on your list.
Not necessarily expensive, necessarily a luxurious place to visit, but
because you're immersed in the community, it's part of a
(42:43):
great luxury overall experience.
Speaker 3 (42:46):
A nice pre stop if you're going on an Alaskan cruise.
I've been there and done that. That way, it's fantastic
way to start a great cruise. You see the salmon,
and then you go and see where the salmon grow.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
Last week our episode was entitled the Five Seas of
Luxury Travel. This week we are digging down or getting
down to the details of those five seas. Terry, you
mentioned culture and community. I think cuisine as next it is,
and we'll talk with Harry about some would you say
gastronomical excellence or something.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
Absolutely doesn't luent that on a great vacation.
Speaker 1 (43:23):
It's coming up next here on a life less ordinary?
Speaker 3 (43:25):
Who would think of driving off to a new destination
without guidance from Google or Siri? Let the Wishing Weld
guide your next travel experience. Travel the world as you
enjoy the very best destinations and all they offer at
the best prices. Our mobile travel app keeps your vacation
on track and keeps you connected with our team of experts.
For help, if you need it, call us at five
four zero nine zero eight two three three three stop
(43:48):
by two forty three ap Avenue or visit us at
the Wishingwell dot biz.
Speaker 1 (43:53):
Hey, welcome back to a Lifeless Ordinary, your travel show
and podcast from your friends at the wishing Well there
on f Avenue and Harrisonburg. They're online at the wishing
Well dot biz and you can give them a call
at five four to nine oh eight twenty three thirty
three Harry. Before we went to break, Terry was talking
about going to markets and I kept visualizing all the
(44:17):
fresh produce and I started thinking about fresh food and
I'm gonna be honest. You can have your culture, you
can have your community. If I'm going on vacation, I
want food. All about the food, me too. This is
our segment, Chris. We're talking about food. This is you
and me every place, right. So as we talk about travel,
(44:38):
and Terry did a great lead in she talked about
going to some of those markets. I remember with Terry
on some of the journeys that we've done, we've shopped
with a chef. There's nothing like shopping with a chef.
You get a guided tour of the best places in
the market, and you get.
Speaker 3 (44:54):
Little tips on how to pick out things when you're
in the market. And those are tips that you can
take home and the next time you're shopping you can
use those tips to help.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
That is so much fun. I'm so glad you brought
that up here because I remember when we went to
Spain to Madrid, and we did exactly what Harry said,
and we were able to, with a Michelin starred chef
make the best bowl of paea I have ever eaten
(45:25):
in my entire life. And I'm so happy to say
I had a hand in it. But it was great.
I even brought a panback with me from Spain from
that trip and all the spices, including saffron, which by
the way, is a very temperamental type of spice.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
It taught us about that he did all right, So
I'm going to talk about cuisine because it is not
only something that.
Speaker 4 (45:48):
You do while you travel.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
We talk about all inclusive resorts, and of course those
are great. We talk about cruise ships with food, but
there are people who travel for the cuisine. And when
you talk about luxury travel, you might want to choose
your destination baked upon based upon the cuisine. I say
baked upon there's part of food.
Speaker 4 (46:09):
Too, right.
Speaker 3 (46:10):
Based upon the cuisine, you get this deep immersion into
a destination of culture. When you get into their cuisine,
you learn about what they eat and why they choose
to eat those foods, and how they how they grow
those foods and prepare those foods that are so different
than what you might have, you know, at home, when
(46:31):
I was in Egypt, as simple as a banana. The
bananas in Egypt tastes different than the bananas from you know,
the supermarkets here locally, you get immersed in the differences
in that and when you can raise that up to
talking about how the food is prepared, you're moving beyond
just going to a beautiful place, seeing beautiful things, connecting
(46:53):
with the local community, but you are now part of
that community because you are eating as those people do.
You try some unique foods, things you haven't tried before,
unique flavors, higher quality ingredients than you're used to having
at home. In this culinary artistry, not just preparing the food,
but how they plate the food, all of that you
(47:15):
put it together.
Speaker 4 (47:16):
That's what Terry's talking about.
Speaker 3 (47:18):
I believe when you talk about luxury, at least for me,
when you say cuisine, it's that whole experience.
Speaker 1 (47:24):
Chris, So, my wife and I we went to Vegas
for our honeymoon, and I think it was Withfgang Puck's
restaurants that we went to.
Speaker 2 (47:31):
We were like nice places.
Speaker 1 (47:33):
Yeah, it was really nice. We did all the table
side meals and they brought out these little new potatoes
that I don't know how they prepared them, but they
were the most amazing potatoes I've ever had in my
entire life. And I think that it was only like
butter and salt, but it's still tasted like they were
(47:54):
cooked by a person who knew the magic of how
to cook potatoes right.
Speaker 2 (47:58):
And how many times in your lifetime did you ever
think that talking about a potato would have a definition
of luxury? But it does because that memorable experience in
that great restaurant was really part of the memories of
your trip.
Speaker 1 (48:14):
No it isn't. And my wife and I talk about
the potatoes more often than we talk about probably anything
else from it was a moment. The potatoes were very special.
Speaker 2 (48:24):
So exactly what we're talking about.
Speaker 3 (48:25):
Let me give you some examples of what I'm talking
about and what you're talking about. Here's some things that
people know, terms that they know, but I'm going to
bring them to life. We talk about farm to table dining.
When you are traveling, you're focused on cuisine. You're talking
about food that comes locally, that's made right there from
where it is sourced, right next door to where it's sourced,
(48:48):
maybe on the farm. Sometimes travel experiences involved going into
people's homes, going into their guards, bringing things and cooking them.
Think about having dinner on a working vineyard and napple.
How about that?
Speaker 1 (49:01):
I'm good?
Speaker 4 (49:02):
Sound good to wash it down with.
Speaker 3 (49:05):
We've got hyperlocal dining that's in a restaurant and it's
a trending thing where we are sourcing local ingredients. You know,
right there at the restaurant, they may have a garden
outside in the backyard, tasting menus. If you are in
a place, you might enjoy some Aboriginal food traditions. If
you're in Australia, what about cultural immersions through food. We
(49:28):
talked about being in Spain. You're going to visit the markets.
You're going to prepare the food, learn how to prepare
the food, and go to the food festivals and eat
all of the local food. You might enjoy food. If
you're in a place like Paris, that's a great place
to do. You know, this kind of experience. You're going
(49:49):
to have Michelin chefs teaching you how to cook and
eat and enjoy and appreciate genuine, authentic French food.
Speaker 4 (50:00):
What about sustainability.
Speaker 3 (50:02):
A lot of the resorts that we take people to,
a lot of the virtuoso resorts especially lately, have been
into sustainability. Everything they grow is right there. We've been
on cruise ships where they have gardens up on the
rooftops areas of the cruise ships. There's one resort in
Mexico that I'm thinking of, Charisma Resort.
Speaker 2 (50:23):
They actually grow all their own They grow their own
and they actually butcher their own meats and that kind
of thing.
Speaker 3 (50:29):
Yeah, exactly. And when you are done eating, you might
want to have a cocktail craft cocktails again, edible flowers, microorbs,
and artistic presentation. So that's what I'm talking about when
I'm talking about that kind of cuisine and the cuisine experience.
Let me twist into something else that I think also
(50:52):
as part of this luxury there are a lot of
people now that are into fitness and they want to
have athletic adventures. So a lot of places, a lot
of opportunities for that. The Grand Prix. The Grand Prix
is happening in Monaco May the twenty third this year.
You haven't heard of the Grand Prix. It's Formula one
(51:12):
motor racing annual event in Monte Carlo, Monaco. It's one
of the most prestigious races in the world. And you
can go there. Gravel races are bike races, you can
go there. They're in the Ozarks in Bentonville, Arkansas. And
you can go to fitness focused resorts and places like Spain, Italy,
(51:33):
all Croatia all around where you can become fit, you
can become well.
Speaker 4 (51:38):
You can do.
Speaker 3 (51:39):
Hiking, cycling, snorkeling, all kinds of athletic experiences. This is
what we get when we start thinking about some of
the seas.
Speaker 1 (51:47):
I would say, lest we think that this was all still
under the cuisine header, this would be content and customization
of our luxury travels.
Speaker 2 (51:54):
Absolutely, and this is how it all finally ties together
for complete experience.
Speaker 1 (52:00):
The one thing I heard when you were talking about
cuisine in particular, and you said about going to the
market and you know, these immersive experiences. We can't separate
our luxury experience into just one sea. You know, all
five of those SE's, if not more, are being represented
in our personal luxury experience. We're just looking for which
(52:23):
one is winning out over the others exactly.
Speaker 3 (52:26):
And one of the best things about this at the end,
as you have an experience like that, when you join
with the chef and shop and cook and eat, you
know what you've done. After you've had this experience. It
makes you feel so good about yourself because I feel
another c competent. I feel like and do these things,
(52:46):
and I come home with the memory to say I
can create a great meal. And it's given me the
creativity to do.
Speaker 4 (52:52):
Some new things. When I came home from my vacation.
Speaker 1 (52:55):
Chris, we've talked a lot about like what my dream
vacation is, and I have an answer time we talk.
But now I want to go to the market with
a chef and learn how to cook something. Pylia, we're
out of time. How do we get in touch with
the Wishing Well.
Speaker 2 (53:09):
We are easy to find and we'd love to see you.
Are located at two forty three nef Avenue in the
Valley Center in Harsonburg. You can call us at five
four h nine oh eight two three three three or
look us up on the web. Chris, we are at
the Wishingwell dot biz.
Speaker 1 (53:25):
This has been a life Less Ordinary the travel show
from your friends at the wishing Well at two forty
three nef Avenue in Harrisonburg. If you have any questions
on topics discussed today, please reach out to the wishing
Well online at the Wishingwell dot biz or five four
oh nine oh eight twenty three thirty three. Past episodes
are available on the iHeartRadio app. And we'll see again
next Saturday morning at ten for a Life Less Ordinary
(53:47):
from the wishing Well
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