April 11, 2026 • 54 mins
The Wishing Well's Terrie Dean and Harry Reif explore the major shift redefining high‑end travel right now.
We explore how seeking meaningful experiences can transform every journey. This episode dives into the power of purposeful travel as we visit seven unforgettable destinations—Riga, Latvia; Cornwall, England; Barcelona; Deer Valley, Utah; the Philippines; Kenya; and the Dolomites in Italy.
From cultural immersion to nature‑driven reflection, we unpack how each place offers its own path to deeper connection, personal growth, and authentic discovery. Perfect for travelers who want more than a getaway and are ready to explore the world with clarity, curiosity, and intention.
We explore how seeking meaningful experiences can transform every journey. This episode dives into the power of purposeful travel as we visit seven unforgettable destinations—Riga, Latvia; Cornwall, England; Barcelona; Deer Valley, Utah; the Philippines; Kenya; and the Dolomites in Italy.
From cultural immersion to nature‑driven reflection, we unpack how each place offers its own path to deeper connection, personal growth, and authentic discovery. Perfect for travelers who want more than a getaway and are ready to explore the world with clarity, curiosity, and intention.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a Lifeless Ordinary, the travel show and podcasts
from your friends at the wishing Well two forty three
f Avenue and harsmerg and online at the wishing Well
dot biz. 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.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hello, this is a Saturday, Chris Man. It went from
feeling like spring to back to winter. We had sheets
out over the shrubs and everything so the flowers wouldn't
get frozen, and now it feels like springing in It's
Redbud Festival day.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Not just that, but this week flew by. I've never
seen a week go so fast.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Is that because you were busy or just because the
weather was changing and you were happy to see the
weekend get here?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
It was because I was. I mean, it was extra
extra busy this week. And you know that's what happens
when the weather it's nice outside guess what people want
to do. They want to go somewhere.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, so I was actually happy. It seems like I
just saw you yesterday, so we're glad to see you again.
And I'm actually happy to welcome Harry to the studio
today with us too.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Yeah. I don't know what caused this week to be
the way it was. I'm attributing it to what a
great time people are having listening to this show and
learning about travel because we're hearing from more and more people.
We're hearing from people that are out of the area too, Chris, Well, excellent,
really excellent.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Yeah. So our show today is about doing things intentionally.
It's called travel with intention exactly.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
And the reason I came upon this particular subject matter today, Chris,
was because I've been in this industry for a long time,
you know that, and over four decades, And it used
to be years ago people would us sort of pick
the most popular place to go because their neighbor went there,
(02:05):
their mom and dad always went there. How many people
do you know? You ask them where you're going for
vacation and they go the Outer Banks or Myrtle Beach,
And to some people that might be an intention to
go somewhere, But as we have evolved, and our show
last week was all about the evolution of travel. And
(02:26):
by the way, if you want, you can go back
and listen to that. We covered some really interesting material
last week, I think. But if you look at how
this industry is evolving, we find that more and more
travelers are making a point to pick places that are different,
(02:50):
that fell their personality, that are more in aligned with
their everyday life. And that's what I mean when I
say traveling with intention, you can actually choose those particular places.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Would I be wrong in believing that we actually have
more options now for our travel?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
You know, it seems that way, doesn't it. But the
world size has never changed. I mean the world that
we live on the planet that we enjoy, it's been
this size forever. It's just we've made it small many
years in the past, and now we have expanded our vision,
our fever for where we want to go, and now
(03:33):
we're doing that more and more.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Well, we watched those people come back from the from
their moon trip yesterday night. Then they landed splash landing, Yeah,
and it made me think about a couple of things.
One is that you know, over time. We are now
promoting and we can actually book people who want to
go to the Moon virtual so it's got that they're
(03:56):
taking those bookings. Yeah, I can book a trip. Seriously,
you're not going to land and get you know, there's
no Ritz Carlton area.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
But I can do what the artemist two crews just
did and go around the Moon and take some photos.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Well maybe not exactly what they did, but you certainly
could have a spatial experience.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
You can travel through space. Oh okay, I want to
okay and come back. I don't know about the amenities.
I haven't checked those out personally. It's on my bucket list.
But it also brought to mind one other really interesting statistic.
I was looking back and I found a statistic that said, historically,
eighty percent of tourists visit just ten percent of the
(04:39):
world's destination. And today, what Terry's going to be talking
about is exactly that morphing away from that. We hear
about overcrowding in certain areas, we hear about over tourism
in certain areas. What we're talking about today is exactly
the antithesis of that. The change in the evolution that
(05:01):
we are seeing where people where we aren't going to
have eighty percent of tourist visiting just ten percent of
the world's destination. And I think that's great all around.
It's great for US travelers because it means we'll be
in less crowded places. It means there'd be less congestion,
and it's great for the world too, because you don't
want to overvisit a place.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
So I'm trying to do the math in my head.
In it sounds to me like twenty percent of the
people who travel are doing what we're talking about. They
have intention on where they're going, and the other eighty
percent are hitting the cruises or the places that you
see the commercial farantio.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I think that number is growing too, Chris. I really
think people are yearning to experience some of the things
that we are talking about today.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
So my wife is she's not silly act she's just
gluten free. She sent me a link she wants to
do a gluten free cruise. And I thought about you
and thought, these are the kind of things when you
talk about, you know, going somewhere for certain reasons, whether
it's for you know, you want to do a spa
and get away and have your body restored, or you
(06:06):
want somewhere for your mind to be restored. She wants
to go somewhere where she can eat all the food
right exactly and enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, And no longer are we in a society where
people go, well, i'll fit my lifestyles and what we
have to do around this.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Place, they'll fit around. Mind.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Now people are saying, yeah, bring me to a location
that fits me. Yea yeah, And that's a lot of
what we're going to be talking about today, Chris, because
I want to take people today on a journey someplace new,
someplace else, and not just somewhere on the map, you know,
but somewhere that makes you feel something We've also talked
(06:47):
about on this very show, a Lifeless Ordinary, Thank you
by the way for joining us today, about the way
that travel makes you feel. And that's become a very
important element of the way people experience vacations today. They
want to feel something, They want to feel like they've
been on vacation, but they want to bring back those memories,
(07:11):
memories that aren't just about you know, the kids on
the beach with the bucket and the sand. It's really
more than that. It's a whole lot more than that.
The truth is, travel today isn't just about going somewhere new.
It's about experiencing something meaningful. And if you've been listening
to me for any length of time here, you know
(07:34):
for me, that's where travel becomes a lifeless ordinary. So
this morning, we're going to explore some of the most
compelling destinations in the world right now, places that are rising,
they're evolving, and something truly special about them. I'm going
to take you there the way I see it, the
way maybe I've experienced them, so you can begin to
imagine yourself right there with me. So I'm excited about
(07:58):
today's show. I think this is going to be a
lot of fun. And I've broken this show into certain segments.
The first segment is I'm going to entitle it discovered
before anybody else destinations, and I think probably by that
just that definition alone, you can kind of imagine where
I'm going to go. And there's a couple of destinations
(08:19):
within that segment. The first one that we're going to
talk about, I'm be willing to bet money on the
table right now that most people listening to us this
morning have never been, but maybe not even ever heard
of it, and it's a place called Riga Latvia. It's
(08:40):
one of Europe's hidden gems. And let me start with
a place that feels like a secret it really does.
What I love about Riga is that it gives you
everything people dream about when they say Europe. You know,
I've told you this before, We've talked about this. I
have this exercise that I do with my clients. Close
(09:00):
your eyes and tell me what you see when you
think of many times that's Hawaii, many times that's a
Caribbean destination. But when I say Europe to many people
and they close their eyes, this is exactly the place
they're going to describe to me. Without the crowds, though,
without the chaos, without lines. You walk through old town
(09:22):
feels like you've stepped into a storybook. That's what this
place is like. It's got cobblestone streets, church spires, beautifully
preserved medieval buildings, and you know, just like with most
European cities today, there's a Saint Peter's Cathedral, so there
is one there.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
It's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
This area of Europe and this particular city, Riga I
would describe as something that looks a bit like Quebec
City in Canada. It's just old town, you know, if
you will. Public transportation there is absolutely phenomenal the public
(10:02):
transportation there. City buses they'll cost you about two US
dollars or you know, just a few euros a day,
where taxis are a little more expensive. And then they
have the Dome Square right in the city center, which
houses a lot of entertainment or public shows, that kind
of thing. So it's really kind of a community working
(10:24):
together to bring a great experience to people. It's very quaint,
very familiar to a lot of people who have been
to Europe, and just a few blocks away you're surrounded
by some of the most stunning Art Nouveau architecture in
the world. It's an incredible contrast old world term quiet sophistication.
(10:45):
And here's what I always tell my clients, this is
the kind of place where you don't feel like a tourist,
you know. That's what's so wonderful about this. You feel
like you've discovered something like Columbus, Like man, I am
here for the first can't wait to tell my friends
and family about this place. It is so remarkable. And
when you travel to Riga, you're typically going to fly
(11:08):
out of Washington Dulles. You're going to connect through your
typical European gateways, either Frankfurt or Amsterdam, those are the easiest,
and then right into Riga International Airport. Yes, there is
an airport there, and once you arrive, you're only about
twenty minutes from the heart of the city. So that's
how close the airport is to getting you to this
(11:29):
beautiful place. Now, what I love about recommending Riga right
now is the value for what you're experiencing at the
Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga. You're looking at about three hundred
and fifty to six hundred dollars per night, depending on
season and the room type that you choose. The Grand
Riga Hotel Kempinski is just beautiful. It's elegant, it's refined,
(11:57):
it's perfectly positioned. You step out and you're right there
in the heart of everything. But inside it's calm, it's polished,
very very comfortable. The service is off the chain at
this hotel. It's the kind of destination I recommend Chris
to travelers who say, I want Europe, but I want
(12:19):
it to feel special again. You know, people are a
bit overtired of the crowding in Paris, in London, in
several of the other cities in Rome, you know, So
Europe can be a very crowded area to be especially
if you're going in hot season. Some of the best
(12:41):
times to go here is June, July, and August.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
And those are times when it's not necessarily the best
time to be at home. It's a little bit warm,
but when you're over there, you're in that new kind
of environment, that new kind of feeling. It's just a beautiful,
beautiful place. And I think, you know, when Terry was
describing it, it is exactly the place that I think
of when I think of Europe. The people are happy
(13:08):
to see you, the very welcoming, just a very open, casual,
comfortable yet astoundingly beautiful in new environment. So I've heard
of Riga good, that's excellent. It's the capital of Latvia.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Huh. I only know of it because it's in Crosswood
Puzzles and so I've heard of Latvia, but I have
no idea where it is. Where in Europe would I
find this on a.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Masp So it's on the Baltic It's actually located kind
of between Lithuania and Estonia and near Finland. Okay, so
north in that northern region of Europe.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Well, then July, August, September, it's great time to be
perfect time to be there. Yeah so.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
And really, if you doubt me at all about how
wonderful and magnificent this place is, and it's not something
maybe you want to you're ready to buy a ticket
to go to right now, I would say this, take
a look at YouTube and look up Riga and you
will find some of the most amazing information that you
(14:12):
could possibly enjoy about this wonderful town in Europe. Definitely
one of those places that is a discover before anybody else,
I think, and that's why it made it to the
number one spot on my list, number two on my
list today for that particular segment. Chris is a beautiful place.
I'm sure you're familiar with because I know you love
(14:35):
everything UK and this is Cornwall, England. This is a
coastal area, very quiet, luxurious area of England. And if
you've never been to Cornwall, it's not what people expect
England to look like. It really isn't. This is dramatic
coastline cliffs that drop into the Atlantic. You've got golden
beaches there tucked into the hidden coves. One of the
(14:58):
most beautiful areas is called Cape Cornwall. And then they
have I'm fascinated really by everything they've packed into this
little area because you've got the minic theater that overhangs
a cliff over the ocean where they have outdoor amphitheater
type productions, which is just incredible. I mean, just to
(15:21):
look at where it's located is all striking. But the
performances they have there include everything from big celebrities to
Shakespearean plays. Then you've got they are the home to
the largest indoor rainforest. This place is sick. I mean
it is absolutely unbelievable. You've got these beautiful domed glass
(15:46):
areas that are linked together that look like a big
dragon in the center of the countryside. It's just gorgeous.
And then you've got Saint Michael's Mount. This actually is
still owned by the Alban family. It's a castle that
sits actually right in the middle of sort of an
isolated island just off the coast of Cornwall.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
There's a lot you can.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Do there, though, not the least of which is of
course tour the castle, which is just beautiful, many multiple rooms,
lots of architecture there to inspire you. And it's very,
of course, very Victorian in its look and feel. And
then they've got the Atlantic Bay, which is home to
(16:29):
one of the most beautiful beach areas.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
In Cornwall.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
You've got little fishing villages where you can walk around
from art gallery to art gallery, to seafood cafes to harbor,
all in about ten minutes. And there's a sense of
authenticity here. That's what I love about it because just
like life, it's a little bit slower, a little bit
more intentional there. And for Cornwall, your international flight is
(16:55):
going to bring you into London, he throwed, probably typically,
and from there you've got options. You can take a
short regional flight, you can drive, oh and this is
where it really gets special, or you can board the
Bellmond Britannic Explorer. Now we've talked about that here on
a Lifeless Ordinary. If you're joining us for the first time,
you're just hearing about what is this life less ordinary
(17:17):
she's talking about. Well, we cover all kinds of luxurious things.
One of the segments we did not very long ago,
was on luxury trains. If you remember that we talked
about the Belmont Explore and this is the one that
takes you in Cornwall in particular. This is a luxury
sleeper train experience, and prices generally begin about fifty five
(17:40):
hundred dollars to seventy five hundred dollars per person for
a three night journey. And yes, it is an investment,
but what you're paying for is not the transportation, it's
the transition.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
So you're talking about too, you're talking about getting two
vacations in one. You're talking about going to Cornwall and
you're talking about getting and this is something that should
be in everybody's bucket list. An experience on a Belmont train.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
And you step on into London, you settle into your cabin,
you're going to enjoy beautiful prepared dinner and by the
time you wake up, you're already immersed in the English countryside.
And once you're in Cornwall, your accommodations, whether you're in
a boutique inn or maybe a coastal retreat. The typical
(18:27):
prices for accommodations in Cornwall in high season, which is
what we're talking about, is going to range anywhere from
four hundred to nine hundred dollars a night, depending on
how elevated you want that experience to be in your days.
They are unstructured, that would be the best. It's not
just transportation, it's part of the experience. And what I
(18:50):
want more travelers to understand is sometimes the journey is
the destination, just as extraordinary as it can be.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Our show today is entitled Traveling with Intention, and this
is about searching out for that escape that is exactly
what you're desiring, not the first thing that comes up
when you go on the internet searching where should I
go on vacation. We'll travel with intention more when we
come back here on a life less ordinary. Why do
(19:22):
you recharge your cell phone?
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Maybe because, just like you, it functions much better with
a little revitalization. The wishing Well helps people refresh and
revitalize with individually designed, customized vacation planning. We'll send you
anywhere in the world, plus offer advice on packing, navigating customs,
and more. Wishes really do come true at the wishing Well.
Visit us at two forty three and a half Avenue,
(19:44):
call us at five four zero nine zero eight two
three three three, or on the web at the wishing
Well Dot Biz.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Welcome back to a Life Less Ordinary. Every Saturday morning,
Terry Dean, Harry Rife and myself I'm Chris. We sit
down and we talk about travel, luxury travel. Most of
the time. Today it's about luxury travel specifically where you
want to go. You're searching out for that experience that's
(20:12):
different from what everyone else is doing, different from what
you see the commercials on TV. For you want specificity,
is that a work? I love this. Our show is
entitled Traveling with Intention. And if you'd like information about
today's show, any show that you've heard, any of the
(20:34):
discussions that we ever have, you call Terry or Harry
at five four oh nine oh eight twenty three thirty three.
You can stop buy. They're on nef Avenue and Harrisonburg.
Also online at the wishing Well dot biz, and that
is where you'll find all of our past episodes of
A Lifeless st Ordinary. And I encourage you to take
some time, maybe for your morning commute into work or
(20:57):
on a Saturday afternoon while you have some doubt time,
go search some of the topics and listen to the podcast.
You can listen on their website. You can also search
for a Lifeless Ordinary on the iHeartRadio app. Yeah, and
we love it, Chris.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
When people tell us how much they enjoy this show,
it really it does my heart good. It says we're
doing something right, and we're doing something that helps people
understand this amazing maze of what travel can look like. Sometimes,
and I especially enjoy today's show because this is where
my clients are living right now. It's like, you know,
(21:32):
I know what I want to do, I just don't
know where to go to do that. So our first
segment was entitled you know, places to be discovered before
anybody else does, and we looked at Riga, Latria, and
we looked at Cornwall, England. This next segment is called
Experiences that Go Beyond the Destination. And you'll figure out
(21:56):
what I'm talking about here in just a minute as
I begin to describe this next destination. It's Catalonia, first
of all. And when I say that, a lot of
people go, what where is that? They kind of have
some sense that it's in Spain or in that general area,
but they don't know much more about it than that.
Not too long ago, a couple of months ago, I
(22:17):
went and spent some time in Barcelona, had a wonderful
time and use that sort of as my headquarters. Now,
that would be a different kind of trip, because that
was my intention was to do that. We're talking about
travel with intention. That was my intention to do that,
to have that be my headquarters and take day trips
(22:37):
from there. But this particular segment I'm talking about is
the experiences that go beyond that destination. And Catalonia is
one of those places where every part of the day
has its own rhythm. It's one of the easiest destinations
to access. As a matter of fact, Direct flights from
Washington Dulles into Barcelona love that. That's what I call
(22:59):
lug That makes it very straightforward. And from Barcelona you're
within one to two hours of the Coast of Brava
or those island villages that create such a beautiful contrast,
one of which is Coast of Brava, which has some
of the most beautiful beaches in all of Spain. Now,
(23:21):
not as beautiful maybe as the Coasta del Soul area
of Spain where Malaga you might would find that, but
this is still a beautiful, beautiful area. Now in terms
of investment luxury hotels in Barcelona and along this coastal
region of Catalonia. They've ranged from about five hundred to
twelve hundred dollars per night, and if you move into
(23:44):
private villas or curated countryside stays, you can absolutely tailor
that experience depending on your preference. But here's what makes
this particular journey special. It's the timing. Now in August
this year of twenty twenty six, this region is going
to become one of the most beautiful places in the
world to witness a total solar eclipse. Now think about
(24:09):
that for a minute. You spend your days exploring vineyards,
walking around in ancient, ancient streets, enjoying some incredible food.
And I will tell you that I enjoyed incredible food
when I was in Barcelona. And then one evening, you're
standing in the quiet countryside. You might have a glass
of kava in your hand. You're watching the sky transform
(24:34):
into this total eclipse, and you are there. You actually
are there. It was your intention to be somewhere where
there was a total solar eclipse, and you did it.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
You made it.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
You're in Catalonia, you flew into Barcelona, you got there,
you did it, and now you're experiencing one of life's
great experiences. It's not just a trip the moment. You're
going to remember this for the rest of your life.
And that's where travel also becomes emotional. You've got mornings
(25:10):
in Barcelona, cafes just opening coffee. I'll tell you it's strong,
but it's simple.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
And then you've got those afternoons along the coast of Brava,
where the Mediterranean is right there in front. You're right
in front of the Mediterranean Ocean. It's fabulous, the Mediterranean Sea.
It's blue and it's inviting. And then you move inland
and everything just kind of softens. You've got those stone villages,
(25:37):
white roads, vineyards that stretch just far enough to make
you feel and know that you're removed from everything and
everybody else. And this is where those special moments happen.
You're seated outside long tables, local dishes, as the light
begins to shift. Then you realize there's nowhere else you
(25:57):
need to be. And that's Catalonia. That's what it does
so so well, Chris. It gives you the space to
experience the moment just as it's happening. And I loved
Spain for that reason.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Now Catalonia though, is a little bit different than Spain. Yes,
it's in Spain. Yes, they may not necessarily agree with that,
but they have a different language. It's almost closer to
French than it is to Spanish. Yes, it's Catalan. They
have a different history than Spain. They have their own flag. Yeah,
as a matter of fact. And it is a completely
(26:32):
it's a region really more than a city. It's a region.
But I love that you can go, you know, as
we talk about Europe specifically, because you talk about countries
that are about the size of our states, that have
actually such unique personalities. I know, and you know if
you go to the Portugal, Spain, Catalonia. I know Catalonia
(26:56):
is technically part of Spain, but they're all different and unique,
and you can get such a different story when you
talk about intention. One of the things that I was
thinking was when you come back and you tell somebody
where you went for your holiday, and you go, oh,
I went to London, people will going oh je fun, Yeah, okay,
(27:16):
Sea bucking a Polish. Yeah, you see, I went to
you know, Latvia, or I went to Catalonia. Perio, whoa,
where's that? What's that?
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Like?
Speaker 1 (27:28):
What would you do? So right, Chris.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
You know what that breeds within the person you're having
that conversation with is curiosity, and all of a sudden
you have a foundation for a great conversation. But you're right,
you know, just telling somebody you went to London, a
lot of people have done that. But we're talking about
traveling with intention right now, So there's really a reason
why people want to do this and go to these places.
(27:52):
And certainly Catalonia is one of those places. Like just
like the segment I named the segment beyond the Destination, Yeah,
it's certainly is.
Speaker 4 (28:01):
And I'm so surprised that you didn't ask her about kava.
You know about kava very unique to Catalonia. You said
you were having a glass of kava, Terry, what were
you doing? She was drinking a very special wine that
comes from those vineyards she was talking about.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
I don't know anything about wine. Oh you need to
find out.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Well, Spanish wine in particular is very different from what
we enjoy here, and it's kind of an ancient process.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
And the other part that Terry, I think we need
to emphasize about Catalonia is one of the things we
talked about just recently was about how important it is
to find direct flights to destinations, and Barcelona is one
of those, as you pointed out, direct flights, so it's
(28:55):
very easy to get to from our area, particularly around
the Washington area here. So I want to move to
another place it's even easier to get to. This is
segment three, Chris. Okay, okay. We're moving now to adventure
meets luxury, and so if your intention is to have
(29:15):
some adventure but also to have some luxury, I'm going
to show you how to do that right now. And
one of the places that I'm going to talk about, uh,
my favorite, one of my favorite places is a place
that Terry and I were at several years ago, and
that is Deer Valley, Utah. This is elevated mountain living.
(29:38):
We're right back home. We haven't left the country. All
we need is a little star the real ID on
our driver's license. But we're back home and we're going
to have a very elevated experience. And we're going to
do that in Deer Valley, Utah, because it is one
of the skiing capitals. When we talk about Western skiing,
which is very different than the skiing we've experienced on
(30:00):
the East coast. It's different in a lot of ways.
The snow is different. It's the first thing people will
talk about. But when you go out west to go skiing,
you have an experience winter in a way that's really
effortless and luxurious.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
You're on big, big hills.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
It's not run down for a minute on the lift
and run down the hill, get on the lift and
get back up. It's very curated. Everything there is very intentional.
Everything is very luxurious. Deer Valley is synonymous with luxury.
We've got these beautifully groomed runs. I've skied there. It's
(30:39):
been a little while. I'd like to go back. There's
not overcrowding, there's not snowboards slamming into you. There's service
at the bottom of the hill. There are even ski
valets who pick up your skis and put them to
the side while you go into the lounge for a
little rest or whatever you need in there. But the
(31:00):
best part of Deer Valley is one of our favorite properties.
We've talked about the Montage family before. Well, there's a
Montage Deer Valley, and I think Terry's had some representatives
from the Montage on before to talk about this. It
is a culture in the Montage hotels and when you
(31:21):
are staying at the Montage Deer Valley and you're skiing,
skiing is just one part of the experience. It's a
fantastic part of the experience of your skier, but it's
just one part. Inside the Montage Deer Valley property, everything
is designed to make you feel as though you were
just in the lap of luxury. It's comfortable. You walk inside,
(31:44):
people say hello, They recognize you when you come back
in the second time, they remember who you are. When
you sit down at the restaurant or you sit down
at the bar, they remember what it is that you like,
and they're ready to serve that to you. You come
in from the cold, and immediately you feel the physical
warmth of the property, but you also feel the warmth
(32:07):
of all the people. They're quiet. That's subtle luxury that
just doesn't need to announce itself. They don't talk about it,
but it's just absolutely fantastic. We're talking about rooms, particularly
rooms in season where you're going to spend anywhere from
nine hundred to eighteen hundred dollars a night during high season,
(32:28):
during that ski season, and yes, that reflects the level
of experience that I'm talking about, because from the moment
you arrive, everything is taken care of. I talked about
ski VLAs. I have never been to a ski area
in the East where they collected my skis at the
bottom of the run and took care of them for me.
Have you no, I've never been skiing. Yeah, well you
(32:49):
aren't going to find that on the East coast here.
So you've got that ski access. Everything's there, you've got
the equipment for skiing, You've got If you're not going
to ski, maybe you're just going to sit inside. You're
going to enjoy the spa, You're going to enjoy the dining.
You're going to enjoy that ambience. Fantastic, large fireplace when
you walk in this lodge. What I tell my clients,
(33:10):
if you're going to do a ski trip, this is
the way to do it. It's not a good ski trip,
it's an outstanding it's a great ski trip. Everything that
happens on the slopes is fantastic. But then when you're
off the slopes it remains just as fantastic. And the
rest of the year. I don't want to leave out
the rest of the year. In the summertime, this same
(33:32):
property lots of stuff to do. They've got biking, hiking, exploring.
You can even get a car that they will give
you to go and do some exploration there. The resort
will give you a car to use for half a day.
How's that for luxury.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
I like it. I'm on their website right now. They
have availability for next weekend.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
Well, there you go, Chris, we can hook you up.
And you know, I love Deer Valley. I love the
Montage product. Again, we're talking about traveling with intention. The
segment that Harry just did was adventure meets luxury, And
certainly if you have a great fever for it, and
(34:13):
you are somebody who is a real athlete, you know
it doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice luxury just
because you want to experience some athletic abilities. You want
to go skiing, you want to go play pickleball, you
want to go golfing. I mean, the world of travel
is made for all of you folks out there who
have that desire to find places on the planet that
(34:37):
are geared to exactly what your intention is to experience
on a vacation. Now, the next segment, we're going to
work into is segment number four, and this is one
of my favorites.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
For sure.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
It's the world's most beautiful escapes, and certainly we talk
about a lot of those here, but I have to
tell you, and this was a hard call from because
I had a lot to choose from. I mean literally
thousands of places. But as I began to look, quite honestly,
this one still takes people by surprise. It does me.
(35:12):
And it's in the Philippines. The Philippines is made up
of over seven thousand islands. And what I love about
this destination is that it really does still feel kind
of undiscovered. You've got water so clear there it doesn't
even look real, beaches where you can walk out for
(35:32):
what feels like forever, and the water is still just
very calm and shallow. So you have that almost a
curated experience in the water made just for you. And
then there's the property that I chose. The property that
I chose is Amanpula, And if you look it up, Chris,
(35:54):
this is luxury at its finest. It's a private island,
luxury done quietly. There are no crowds, there are no noise,
it's just space. It's beauty it's that feeling of complete escape.
And here's what's remarkable. You can walk out onto the water.
You can keep walking as long as you want to,
(36:15):
and it stays shallow, it stays calm, almost like a
natural infinity pool. Your meals there, they're wonderful, but they're unhurried.
Service there never never intrusive, and after a day or
two you're going to realize something has shifted. You're not
checking your phone, you're not thinking about what's next, You're
(36:39):
just present. Now, getting to the Philippines does take a
little more planning. I will tell you that you're typically
going to fly from the US into Manila, often via
Tokyo or Soul, and then you're going to connect onward
for there and for Amanpulo specifically.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Get this.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
There's a private charter flight that's going to take you
directly to that resort, to that island. I mean, that's luxury.
That's what I call the way to get it done.
And from that moment on you are hooked at Almonpuula.
You're generally looking at only about twelve hundred to three
(37:18):
thousand dollars a night. And I'll bet you people thought,
as I described that it would be more depending on
your villa category. And I say this often. This is
not a place you're going to go for activity. This
is a place you're going to go to reset. And
this is where I send travelers who say, Terry, I
don't want a vacation, I want to disappear for just
(37:40):
a little while. I need the Actually I had that
day at work this week where I just I needed
almond pulas so bad I could taste it. But this
is where you go if you are in a high
stressed job. I'm thinking right now about people who are
you know, air traffic controllers, maybe government employees in Washington,
(38:02):
d C. People who just live on a high stressed
position all the time. This is where they need to
go when they vacation. And Chris, I see you looking
this up. I'm just thinking, you don't need to be
any of those people. You need to be a radio
dish jockey who needs this. This is beautiful it is,
(38:25):
and the white sand beaches and here's a picture of
a tortoise swimming. It's just just gorgeous. Yeah it is.
And you know, couples are going to love this place
because it's someplace too. I can imagine celebrities would like this,
even honeymooners. I hope Taylor Swift is listening today, because,
(38:47):
by the way, Miss Swift, this would be a perfect
place for your and Travis's honeymoon. It's just absolutely made
for you. It's a world away from everything, and again
it's that intentional place that you want to go to.
One of the world's most beautiful escapes, friendly, receptive for Americans.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
It's wonderful. You know, I told you a couple of
weeks ago that my dream getaway would be one of
those overwaters. Absolutely I was wrong. This is my dream getaway. Okay, No,
it's because I've told you before I'm not really a
fan of water, and this looks like it's given give
(39:28):
me that same feeling without being over the water.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
And you know what I love about doing this show
with you, Chris, is that you love everything we talk
about because I have sold you so many trips on
this show.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
Listen. I'm I'm a shallow person. I love beautiful things,
and every every one of these destinations you talk about
are beautiful. They really are. I want, I want so
desperately to be the person who gets to go and
try all these out so that I can write reviews
for Yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
And you know the great part about this is these
aren't places that just exist for the rich and famous.
These are places that exist, Chris, for people like you
and I'm Harry. I mean, these are places that are
made to accommodate our travel intentions. You know. So if
this is you know, something that you dreamed about or
(40:17):
would like to do, I would say, I'm on Pula.
It's definitely someplace to check out.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
And isn't English the primary language in the Philippines That
they do speak a lot of English there, but very.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
Much, yeah, very much. So it's actually a lot of
US companies use the Philippines for you know, support centers
and things. You're speaking with people in the Philippines and
they speak very good English. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
So we're going to move into segment five now, and
we're calling this segment for the traveler who wants more. Now,
we do, all of us, do, I mean, we all
want more? Right whenever we go anywhere, we go someplace
for the weekend, we want more. I always want more.
We sit down for a meal, we want more. But
this is about purposeful, powerful travel with the intention of
(41:07):
having more. And I chose Kenya as the place that
I wanted to focus on for this particular intention, and
for Kenya for those of you listening who have an
interest in that, especially for those of you who love
the idea of a safari. You're going to typically fly
into Nairobi, usually connecting through Europe or the Middle East,
(41:28):
and then from there you're going to take a small
aircraft directly to the conservancies that are there. Now this
is important because once you land there, you are not
in a city, You're in a landscape. Luxury safari experiences
like those of the Masamari, typically they're going to range
(41:49):
from about fifteen hundred to thirty five hundred dollars per
person per night, and that's usually inclusive of your game drives.
I want to be very clear about something, though. If
this area of Kenya or safaris are on your bucket
list and that's part of your intention to travel to
one of those, you do not have to pay those
(42:10):
kinds of prices to get a great safari experience. I'm
talking about that for a luxury safari experience, but there
are many many others that fit other bucket list type
budgets that come well below that, and I always frame
this carefully. This is not a vacation. This is a
fully immersive experience. I will tell you this is my
(42:33):
number one sought after trip. This is Terry Dean's intention
to travel here, and from the moment you wake up
to your morning game drive to evenings under the stars,
every part of your day after that is intentional and
it stays with you. And especially today, Kenya is about connection.
(42:56):
You're not just observing nature. You're part of a conservation story.
I actually sat the other night and sort of binge
watched a lot of these safari trails that were filmed documentaries,
if you will, of these safari filmers who had gone
out into the game reserves and they were filming lions.
(43:20):
The lion prides are one of my favorites. And also
the elephants. Those are the ones I love to try
and keep up with because the way they think, the
way they perform, the way they act together as families
as tribes. The elephants in particular are amazing to me,
the way that they live, the way that they are
(43:41):
so family oriented. Through these conservation stories, you're going to
be walking with local gods. You're going to be learning
about the culture you're going to be understanding the impact
of your visit and the impact that these great creatures
have on our world. You realize, if that gets it's imbalanced.
(44:01):
We have a problem, and so it's important that we
see it and support it long before it ever disappears
on us.
Speaker 4 (44:10):
What I want to add to what Terry's saying, though, Chris,
is that when we talk about these safaris, these expedition experiences,
it's very important that listeners know that every time someone
does one of these people are very concerned about doing
this and going out there with the animals. Every one
of these companies that we use at the Wishing Well
(44:33):
puts something back into the environment, the local culture, the
local people, and the animals. They're very very conscious of that,
and that's part of that whole virtuoso affiliation that we have.
They have forced that too. And so as you're listening today,
when you think of a safari, don't think of it
as something that's harmful. Think of it as helping those
(44:57):
animals to survive.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
Really enjoying this conversation today. Our show is entitled Traveling
with Intention, and we've only got a few minutes left.
I'm excited to find out where we head next here
on a life Less Ordinary. Why do you recharge your
cell phone?
Speaker 4 (45:13):
Maybe because, just like you, it functions much better with
a little revitalization. The wishing Well helps people refresh and
revitalize with individually designed, customize vacation planning. We'll send you
anywhere in the world, plus offer advice on packing, navigating customs,
and more. Wishes really do come true. At the wishing
Well visit us at two forty three and f Avenue
(45:33):
call us at five four zero nine zero eight two
three three three, or on the web at the Wishingwell
dot biz.
Speaker 1 (45:39):
And welcome back to a Lifeless Ordinary, a travel show
and podcast from your friends at the wishing Well. You'll
find them on ne f Avenue in Harrisonburg, online at
the Wishingwell dot viz, and you can give them a
call five four h nine oh eight twenty three thirty three.
When I see you can give them a call, you'll
be talking with Terry or Harry. They can definitely help
(46:00):
you travel with intention, and that's the name of our
show today. We sure can.
Speaker 3 (46:04):
And I'm kind of sad to see this particular week
come to a close because I've enjoyed this myself I
really enjoyed doing the research for it. And our last segment,
segment six, is one that I really couldn't leave off
because a lot of people these days tell me this
is exactly why they want to travel, and they want
(46:25):
to go somewhere with this particular intention, and that is
probably no surprise to you, Chris. They're going for coolcations
and reimagined experience. Yeah, so I chose the Dolomites in
the Italian Alps as my coolcations destination. You're going to
typically fly into Venice or Milan for this one and
(46:48):
then enjoy about a scenic two to three hour drive
up into the Italian Alps. And I always encourage clients
to embrace that drive. It really is a part of
that experience that you're going to have. And the property
that I chose to highlight there one that I hope
everybody will look up. It's the Amenrosa Alpina. You're generally
(47:11):
looking at about nine hundred to fifteen hundred dollars a night,
and what you're stepping into here is something really really
very different from the typical European itinerary. This is not
at all crowded cities. This is space. This is fresh air.
This is a slower pace. This is that coolcation you're after.
(47:32):
You spend your days outside, your evenings in a setting
that feels warm, it's grounded, it's quietly luxurious, and for
a lot of people right now, that shift, that's exactly
what you're looking for. You are tired of the triple
digit heat for Italy and many of the places in Europe.
(47:53):
This is going to get you out of that and
the Dolomites. Everything feels a little more peaceful. You're going
to wake up, open the window. The air there is crisp,
it's clean, it's quiet. But guess what, You're in Italy
and you spend your day outside, You're walking, exploring, taking
in views that don't really feel crowded overrun and then
(48:14):
you return to Ama Rosa Alpina. Now, another great part
about this is that while it's a wonderful summer destination
for that coolcation kind of intention, it's also a wonderful,
if not one of the best winter ski areas in
all of Italy.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
And so this is.
Speaker 3 (48:32):
Probably one of the places that's sort of a year
round kind of intentional destination for you to visit.
Speaker 1 (48:40):
And Chris We've made.
Speaker 4 (48:41):
It this far into the show this week, and we
haven't talked about something you'll always find here you're in Italy,
besides skiing, besides a cool cation. What does your stomach
think of when you think about Italian You think about pasta, pasta,
every kind of great European cuisine that Italy is famous for.
Speaker 1 (49:00):
Although we did it, although they eat a lot of fish, yes,
I don't know. I don't know about in the Dolomites, but.
Speaker 3 (49:07):
Well, in the coastal regions they can have I mean,
it can be fresh, even if they aren't right on
the coats, because they're so close to it.
Speaker 1 (49:14):
So this is where my family is from. Oh wonderful
from uh so glad I chose this. Now, I don't
know that we're from the Dolomite, but we're from the
Tyrolia region of northern Italy, and so I pulled up
pictures as you were talking about I'm like, oh, this
looks familiar.
Speaker 3 (49:31):
So, Chris, I would say, one of the intentions that
you should have for your travel future travel experiences might
be to go to the Dolomite.
Speaker 1 (49:40):
This has actually been on my bucket list, is to
go to northern Italy.
Speaker 3 (49:44):
Yeah, well, you couldn't pick a better property than the
almen Rosa Alpina. It's it actually is a luxury property.
It's part of our Virtuoso family of brands. We love
it for that reason. So of course you're going to
get all of the extra perks that you would get
from Virtuoso, like breakfast every day, one hundred dollars, spending
(50:04):
credit while you're there, which is wonderful, early check in,
late checkout, because nobody wants to leave the Dolomites once
you get there, for sure. I want to talk about
a couple of things before we have to close today's show.
We didn't just talk about destinations today, Chris. We stepped
into what it actually feels like to be there, and
that actually gave me great joy because the difference is everything.
(50:30):
And when you travel this way with intention, with care,
with the right guidance, you don't just come home with photographs.
You know, we talked about Kenya. Imagine those giraffes that
are walking right through and into a sunset and you're
taking the pictures of that. The pictures are not going
to do that justice, but you will remember that for
(50:51):
the rest of your life. Places like that make everybody
a great photographer. Oh yeah, you just point the camera
where you're pointing. You're going to come home with photos
that are People are going to be like, where was this.
Speaker 4 (51:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (51:05):
I actually had a friend of mine say to me
not long ago, when I had done some traveling and
I posted some pictures online. They go, how come you
aren't in these pictures? I go, because I've photographed so poorly,
but the scenery is so beautiful, so it made me
look like a good photographer. I mean, the idea is
in today's show is that you're going to come home
with experiences that stay with you.
Speaker 4 (51:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (51:26):
That's what I want people to remember, and that is
what it truly means to live a life less ordinary.
Speaker 4 (51:33):
So we hit on only two things that you like today, Chris,
you hit on everything that I liked today, all cylinder.
Speaker 1 (51:40):
Hey, listen, I try to share my honest opinions of
my experience in the world. I've told you I don't
like water. That does not mean that I wouldn't have
a great time sitting on the edge of a beautiful
white sand beach watching other people have fun in the water. Yes,
everything you every week what we talk about, but today
(52:03):
in particular. Yes, count me in. I'm ready to go
anywhere you want me to go.
Speaker 4 (52:08):
All right, I've got one for you, and this is
one that Terry and I have been working on for
a while and this is planning ahead. This is September
of twenty twenty seven. If you want another great experience,
and I will urge you to give us a call
because I won't be able to tell you all about it.
But we have group space on a fantastic cruise that
hits some of the areas that we're talking about. We
(52:30):
are going to go to Greece and we are going
to go to Italy, but we are going to do
this in style. This is a cruise. It's got a
list price four to two with air of over fifty
thousand dollars for balcony rooms. It's all inclusive crews. The
price that we have reserved knocks that down to write
(52:52):
about twenty thousand dollars including air, including all the luxury,
including your beverage, including your dining, including excursions including shining
your shoes for us. And by the way, a night
before you cruise, we're going to put you in one
of the luxury four star hotels Ian. We're going to
put four hundred dollars in your room just in case
(53:12):
you want to visit the SPA.
Speaker 1 (53:13):
Now, hearing all that, I think I need to reach
out to the wishing Well to book that amazing trip.
So Terry, how do we get in touch with you?
Speaker 3 (53:21):
We're easy to find. We're located at two forty three
nef Avenue in the Valley Center in Harsonburg, Virginia. You
can call us at five four h nine oh eight
two three three three or look us up on the web.
We're at the Wishingwell dot bnz.
Speaker 1 (53:35):
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 wishing Well dop biz or five
four oho nine oh eight twenty three thirty three.
Speaker 4 (53:51):
Eight.
Speaker 1 (53:51):
Past episodes are available on the iHeartRadio app. And we'll
see again next Saturday morning at ten for a life
Less Ordinary from the wishing Well
This is a Lifeless Ordinary, the travel show and podcasts
from your friends at the wishing Well two forty three
f Avenue and harsmerg and online at the wishing Well
dot biz. 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.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hello, this is a Saturday, Chris Man. It went from
feeling like spring to back to winter. We had sheets
out over the shrubs and everything so the flowers wouldn't
get frozen, and now it feels like springing in It's
Redbud Festival day.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Not just that, but this week flew by. I've never
seen a week go so fast.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Is that because you were busy or just because the
weather was changing and you were happy to see the
weekend get here?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
It was because I was. I mean, it was extra
extra busy this week. And you know that's what happens
when the weather it's nice outside guess what people want
to do. They want to go somewhere.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, so I was actually happy. It seems like I
just saw you yesterday, so we're glad to see you again.
And I'm actually happy to welcome Harry to the studio
today with us too.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Yeah. I don't know what caused this week to be
the way it was. I'm attributing it to what a
great time people are having listening to this show and
learning about travel because we're hearing from more and more people.
We're hearing from people that are out of the area too, Chris, Well, excellent,
really excellent.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Yeah. So our show today is about doing things intentionally.
It's called travel with intention exactly.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
And the reason I came upon this particular subject matter today, Chris,
was because I've been in this industry for a long time,
you know that, and over four decades, And it used
to be years ago people would us sort of pick
the most popular place to go because their neighbor went there,
(02:05):
their mom and dad always went there. How many people
do you know? You ask them where you're going for
vacation and they go the Outer Banks or Myrtle Beach,
And to some people that might be an intention to
go somewhere, But as we have evolved, and our show
last week was all about the evolution of travel. And
(02:26):
by the way, if you want, you can go back
and listen to that. We covered some really interesting material
last week, I think. But if you look at how
this industry is evolving, we find that more and more
travelers are making a point to pick places that are different,
(02:50):
that fell their personality, that are more in aligned with
their everyday life. And that's what I mean when I
say traveling with intention, you can actually choose those particular places.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Would I be wrong in believing that we actually have
more options now for our travel?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
You know, it seems that way, doesn't it. But the
world size has never changed. I mean the world that
we live on the planet that we enjoy, it's been
this size forever. It's just we've made it small many
years in the past, and now we have expanded our vision,
our fever for where we want to go, and now
(03:33):
we're doing that more and more.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Well, we watched those people come back from the from
their moon trip yesterday night. Then they landed splash landing, Yeah,
and it made me think about a couple of things.
One is that you know, over time. We are now
promoting and we can actually book people who want to
go to the Moon virtual so it's got that they're
(03:56):
taking those bookings. Yeah, I can book a trip. Seriously,
you're not going to land and get you know, there's
no Ritz Carlton area.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
But I can do what the artemist two crews just
did and go around the Moon and take some photos.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Well maybe not exactly what they did, but you certainly
could have a spatial experience.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
You can travel through space. Oh okay, I want to
okay and come back. I don't know about the amenities.
I haven't checked those out personally. It's on my bucket list.
But it also brought to mind one other really interesting statistic.
I was looking back and I found a statistic that said, historically,
eighty percent of tourists visit just ten percent of the
(04:39):
world's destination. And today, what Terry's going to be talking
about is exactly that morphing away from that. We hear
about overcrowding in certain areas, we hear about over tourism
in certain areas. What we're talking about today is exactly
the antithesis of that. The change in the evolution that
(05:01):
we are seeing where people where we aren't going to
have eighty percent of tourist visiting just ten percent of
the world's destination. And I think that's great all around.
It's great for US travelers because it means we'll be
in less crowded places. It means there'd be less congestion,
and it's great for the world too, because you don't
want to overvisit a place.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
So I'm trying to do the math in my head.
In it sounds to me like twenty percent of the
people who travel are doing what we're talking about. They
have intention on where they're going, and the other eighty
percent are hitting the cruises or the places that you
see the commercial farantio.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I think that number is growing too, Chris. I really
think people are yearning to experience some of the things
that we are talking about today.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
So my wife is she's not silly act she's just
gluten free. She sent me a link she wants to
do a gluten free cruise. And I thought about you
and thought, these are the kind of things when you
talk about, you know, going somewhere for certain reasons, whether
it's for you know, you want to do a spa
and get away and have your body restored, or you
(06:06):
want somewhere for your mind to be restored. She wants
to go somewhere where she can eat all the food
right exactly and enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, And no longer are we in a society where
people go, well, i'll fit my lifestyles and what we
have to do around this.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Place, they'll fit around. Mind.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Now people are saying, yeah, bring me to a location
that fits me. Yea yeah, And that's a lot of
what we're going to be talking about today, Chris, because
I want to take people today on a journey someplace new,
someplace else, and not just somewhere on the map, you know,
but somewhere that makes you feel something We've also talked
(06:47):
about on this very show, a Lifeless Ordinary, Thank you
by the way for joining us today, about the way
that travel makes you feel. And that's become a very
important element of the way people experience vacations today. They
want to feel something, They want to feel like they've
been on vacation, but they want to bring back those memories,
(07:11):
memories that aren't just about you know, the kids on
the beach with the bucket and the sand. It's really
more than that. It's a whole lot more than that.
The truth is, travel today isn't just about going somewhere new.
It's about experiencing something meaningful. And if you've been listening
to me for any length of time here, you know
(07:34):
for me, that's where travel becomes a lifeless ordinary. So
this morning, we're going to explore some of the most
compelling destinations in the world right now, places that are rising,
they're evolving, and something truly special about them. I'm going
to take you there the way I see it, the
way maybe I've experienced them, so you can begin to
imagine yourself right there with me. So I'm excited about
(07:58):
today's show. I think this is going to be a
lot of fun. And I've broken this show into certain segments.
The first segment is I'm going to entitle it discovered
before anybody else destinations, and I think probably by that
just that definition alone, you can kind of imagine where
I'm going to go. And there's a couple of destinations
(08:19):
within that segment. The first one that we're going to
talk about, I'm be willing to bet money on the
table right now that most people listening to us this
morning have never been, but maybe not even ever heard
of it, and it's a place called Riga Latvia. It's
(08:40):
one of Europe's hidden gems. And let me start with
a place that feels like a secret it really does.
What I love about Riga is that it gives you
everything people dream about when they say Europe. You know,
I've told you this before, We've talked about this. I
have this exercise that I do with my clients. Close
(09:00):
your eyes and tell me what you see when you
think of many times that's Hawaii, many times that's a
Caribbean destination. But when I say Europe to many people
and they close their eyes, this is exactly the place
they're going to describe to me. Without the crowds, though,
without the chaos, without lines. You walk through old town
(09:22):
feels like you've stepped into a storybook. That's what this
place is like. It's got cobblestone streets, church spires, beautifully
preserved medieval buildings, and you know, just like with most
European cities today, there's a Saint Peter's Cathedral, so there
is one there.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
It's beautiful.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
This area of Europe and this particular city, Riga I
would describe as something that looks a bit like Quebec
City in Canada. It's just old town, you know, if
you will. Public transportation there is absolutely phenomenal the public
(10:02):
transportation there. City buses they'll cost you about two US
dollars or you know, just a few euros a day,
where taxis are a little more expensive. And then they
have the Dome Square right in the city center, which
houses a lot of entertainment or public shows, that kind
of thing. So it's really kind of a community working
(10:24):
together to bring a great experience to people. It's very quaint,
very familiar to a lot of people who have been
to Europe, and just a few blocks away you're surrounded
by some of the most stunning Art Nouveau architecture in
the world. It's an incredible contrast old world term quiet sophistication.
(10:45):
And here's what I always tell my clients, this is
the kind of place where you don't feel like a tourist,
you know. That's what's so wonderful about this. You feel
like you've discovered something like Columbus, Like man, I am
here for the first can't wait to tell my friends
and family about this place. It is so remarkable. And
when you travel to Riga, you're typically going to fly
(11:08):
out of Washington Dulles. You're going to connect through your
typical European gateways, either Frankfurt or Amsterdam, those are the easiest,
and then right into Riga International Airport. Yes, there is
an airport there, and once you arrive, you're only about
twenty minutes from the heart of the city. So that's
how close the airport is to getting you to this
(11:29):
beautiful place. Now, what I love about recommending Riga right
now is the value for what you're experiencing at the
Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga. You're looking at about three hundred
and fifty to six hundred dollars per night, depending on
season and the room type that you choose. The Grand
Riga Hotel Kempinski is just beautiful. It's elegant, it's refined,
(11:57):
it's perfectly positioned. You step out and you're right there
in the heart of everything. But inside it's calm, it's polished,
very very comfortable. The service is off the chain at
this hotel. It's the kind of destination I recommend Chris
to travelers who say, I want Europe, but I want
(12:19):
it to feel special again. You know, people are a
bit overtired of the crowding in Paris, in London, in
several of the other cities in Rome, you know, So
Europe can be a very crowded area to be especially
if you're going in hot season. Some of the best
(12:41):
times to go here is June, July, and August.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
And those are times when it's not necessarily the best
time to be at home. It's a little bit warm,
but when you're over there, you're in that new kind
of environment, that new kind of feeling. It's just a beautiful,
beautiful place. And I think, you know, when Terry was
describing it, it is exactly the place that I think
of when I think of Europe. The people are happy
(13:08):
to see you, the very welcoming, just a very open, casual,
comfortable yet astoundingly beautiful in new environment. So I've heard
of Riga good, that's excellent. It's the capital of Latvia.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Huh. I only know of it because it's in Crosswood
Puzzles and so I've heard of Latvia, but I have
no idea where it is. Where in Europe would I
find this on a.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Masp So it's on the Baltic It's actually located kind
of between Lithuania and Estonia and near Finland. Okay, so
north in that northern region of Europe.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Well, then July, August, September, it's great time to be
perfect time to be there. Yeah so.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
And really, if you doubt me at all about how
wonderful and magnificent this place is, and it's not something
maybe you want to you're ready to buy a ticket
to go to right now, I would say this, take
a look at YouTube and look up Riga and you
will find some of the most amazing information that you
(14:12):
could possibly enjoy about this wonderful town in Europe. Definitely
one of those places that is a discover before anybody else,
I think, and that's why it made it to the
number one spot on my list, number two on my
list today for that particular segment. Chris is a beautiful place.
I'm sure you're familiar with because I know you love
(14:35):
everything UK and this is Cornwall, England. This is a
coastal area, very quiet, luxurious area of England. And if
you've never been to Cornwall, it's not what people expect
England to look like. It really isn't. This is dramatic
coastline cliffs that drop into the Atlantic. You've got golden
beaches there tucked into the hidden coves. One of the
(14:58):
most beautiful areas is called Cape Cornwall. And then they
have I'm fascinated really by everything they've packed into this
little area because you've got the minic theater that overhangs
a cliff over the ocean where they have outdoor amphitheater
type productions, which is just incredible. I mean, just to
(15:21):
look at where it's located is all striking. But the
performances they have there include everything from big celebrities to
Shakespearean plays. Then you've got they are the home to
the largest indoor rainforest. This place is sick. I mean
it is absolutely unbelievable. You've got these beautiful domed glass
(15:46):
areas that are linked together that look like a big
dragon in the center of the countryside. It's just gorgeous.
And then you've got Saint Michael's Mount. This actually is
still owned by the Alban family. It's a castle that
sits actually right in the middle of sort of an
isolated island just off the coast of Cornwall.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
There's a lot you can.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Do there, though, not the least of which is of
course tour the castle, which is just beautiful, many multiple rooms,
lots of architecture there to inspire you. And it's very,
of course, very Victorian in its look and feel. And
then they've got the Atlantic Bay, which is home to
(16:29):
one of the most beautiful beach areas.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
In Cornwall.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
You've got little fishing villages where you can walk around
from art gallery to art gallery, to seafood cafes to harbor,
all in about ten minutes. And there's a sense of
authenticity here. That's what I love about it because just
like life, it's a little bit slower, a little bit
more intentional there. And for Cornwall, your international flight is
(16:55):
going to bring you into London, he throwed, probably typically,
and from there you've got options. You can take a
short regional flight, you can drive, oh and this is
where it really gets special, or you can board the
Bellmond Britannic Explorer. Now we've talked about that here on
a Lifeless Ordinary. If you're joining us for the first time,
you're just hearing about what is this life less ordinary
(17:17):
she's talking about. Well, we cover all kinds of luxurious things.
One of the segments we did not very long ago,
was on luxury trains. If you remember that we talked
about the Belmont Explore and this is the one that
takes you in Cornwall in particular. This is a luxury
sleeper train experience, and prices generally begin about fifty five
(17:40):
hundred dollars to seventy five hundred dollars per person for
a three night journey. And yes, it is an investment,
but what you're paying for is not the transportation, it's
the transition.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
So you're talking about too, you're talking about getting two
vacations in one. You're talking about going to Cornwall and
you're talking about getting and this is something that should
be in everybody's bucket list. An experience on a Belmont train.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
And you step on into London, you settle into your cabin,
you're going to enjoy beautiful prepared dinner and by the
time you wake up, you're already immersed in the English countryside.
And once you're in Cornwall, your accommodations, whether you're in
a boutique inn or maybe a coastal retreat. The typical
(18:27):
prices for accommodations in Cornwall in high season, which is
what we're talking about, is going to range anywhere from
four hundred to nine hundred dollars a night, depending on
how elevated you want that experience to be in your days.
They are unstructured, that would be the best. It's not
just transportation, it's part of the experience. And what I
(18:50):
want more travelers to understand is sometimes the journey is
the destination, just as extraordinary as it can be.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Our show today is entitled Traveling with Intention, and this
is about searching out for that escape that is exactly
what you're desiring, not the first thing that comes up
when you go on the internet searching where should I
go on vacation. We'll travel with intention more when we
come back here on a life less ordinary. Why do
(19:22):
you recharge your cell phone?
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Maybe because, just like you, it functions much better with
a little revitalization. The wishing Well helps people refresh and
revitalize with individually designed, customized vacation planning. We'll send you
anywhere in the world, plus offer advice on packing, navigating customs,
and more. Wishes really do come true at the wishing Well.
Visit us at two forty three and a half Avenue,
(19:44):
call us at five four zero nine zero eight two
three three three, or on the web at the wishing
Well Dot Biz.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Welcome back to a Life Less Ordinary. Every Saturday morning,
Terry Dean, Harry Rife and myself I'm Chris. We sit
down and we talk about travel, luxury travel. Most of
the time. Today it's about luxury travel specifically where you
want to go. You're searching out for that experience that's
(20:12):
different from what everyone else is doing, different from what
you see the commercials on TV. For you want specificity,
is that a work? I love this. Our show is
entitled Traveling with Intention. And if you'd like information about
today's show, any show that you've heard, any of the
(20:34):
discussions that we ever have, you call Terry or Harry
at five four oh nine oh eight twenty three thirty three.
You can stop buy. They're on nef Avenue and Harrisonburg.
Also online at the wishing Well dot biz, and that
is where you'll find all of our past episodes of
A Lifeless st Ordinary. And I encourage you to take
some time, maybe for your morning commute into work or
(20:57):
on a Saturday afternoon while you have some doubt time,
go search some of the topics and listen to the podcast.
You can listen on their website. You can also search
for a Lifeless Ordinary on the iHeartRadio app. Yeah, and
we love it, Chris.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
When people tell us how much they enjoy this show,
it really it does my heart good. It says we're
doing something right, and we're doing something that helps people
understand this amazing maze of what travel can look like. Sometimes,
and I especially enjoy today's show because this is where
my clients are living right now. It's like, you know,
(21:32):
I know what I want to do, I just don't
know where to go to do that. So our first
segment was entitled you know, places to be discovered before
anybody else does, and we looked at Riga, Latria, and
we looked at Cornwall, England. This next segment is called
Experiences that Go Beyond the Destination. And you'll figure out
(21:56):
what I'm talking about here in just a minute as
I begin to describe this next destination. It's Catalonia, first
of all. And when I say that, a lot of
people go, what where is that? They kind of have
some sense that it's in Spain or in that general area,
but they don't know much more about it than that.
Not too long ago, a couple of months ago, I
(22:17):
went and spent some time in Barcelona, had a wonderful
time and use that sort of as my headquarters. Now,
that would be a different kind of trip, because that
was my intention was to do that. We're talking about
travel with intention. That was my intention to do that,
to have that be my headquarters and take day trips
(22:37):
from there. But this particular segment I'm talking about is
the experiences that go beyond that destination. And Catalonia is
one of those places where every part of the day
has its own rhythm. It's one of the easiest destinations
to access. As a matter of fact, Direct flights from
Washington Dulles into Barcelona love that. That's what I call
(22:59):
lug That makes it very straightforward. And from Barcelona you're
within one to two hours of the Coast of Brava
or those island villages that create such a beautiful contrast,
one of which is Coast of Brava, which has some
of the most beautiful beaches in all of Spain. Now,
(23:21):
not as beautiful maybe as the Coasta del Soul area
of Spain where Malaga you might would find that, but
this is still a beautiful, beautiful area. Now in terms
of investment luxury hotels in Barcelona and along this coastal
region of Catalonia. They've ranged from about five hundred to
twelve hundred dollars per night, and if you move into
(23:44):
private villas or curated countryside stays, you can absolutely tailor
that experience depending on your preference. But here's what makes
this particular journey special. It's the timing. Now in August
this year of twenty twenty six, this region is going
to become one of the most beautiful places in the
world to witness a total solar eclipse. Now think about
(24:09):
that for a minute. You spend your days exploring vineyards,
walking around in ancient, ancient streets, enjoying some incredible food.
And I will tell you that I enjoyed incredible food
when I was in Barcelona. And then one evening, you're
standing in the quiet countryside. You might have a glass
of kava in your hand. You're watching the sky transform
(24:34):
into this total eclipse, and you are there. You actually
are there. It was your intention to be somewhere where
there was a total solar eclipse, and you did it.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
You made it.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
You're in Catalonia, you flew into Barcelona, you got there,
you did it, and now you're experiencing one of life's
great experiences. It's not just a trip the moment. You're
going to remember this for the rest of your life.
And that's where travel also becomes emotional. You've got mornings
(25:10):
in Barcelona, cafes just opening coffee. I'll tell you it's strong,
but it's simple.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
And then you've got those afternoons along the coast of Brava,
where the Mediterranean is right there in front. You're right
in front of the Mediterranean Ocean. It's fabulous, the Mediterranean Sea.
It's blue and it's inviting. And then you move inland
and everything just kind of softens. You've got those stone villages,
(25:37):
white roads, vineyards that stretch just far enough to make
you feel and know that you're removed from everything and
everybody else. And this is where those special moments happen.
You're seated outside long tables, local dishes, as the light
begins to shift. Then you realize there's nowhere else you
(25:57):
need to be. And that's Catalonia. That's what it does
so so well, Chris. It gives you the space to
experience the moment just as it's happening. And I loved
Spain for that reason.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Now Catalonia though, is a little bit different than Spain. Yes,
it's in Spain. Yes, they may not necessarily agree with that,
but they have a different language. It's almost closer to
French than it is to Spanish. Yes, it's Catalan. They
have a different history than Spain. They have their own flag. Yeah,
as a matter of fact. And it is a completely
(26:32):
it's a region really more than a city. It's a region.
But I love that you can go, you know, as
we talk about Europe specifically, because you talk about countries
that are about the size of our states, that have
actually such unique personalities. I know, and you know if
you go to the Portugal, Spain, Catalonia. I know Catalonia
(26:56):
is technically part of Spain, but they're all different and unique,
and you can get such a different story when you
talk about intention. One of the things that I was
thinking was when you come back and you tell somebody
where you went for your holiday, and you go, oh,
I went to London, people will going oh je fun, Yeah, okay,
(27:16):
Sea bucking a Polish. Yeah, you see, I went to
you know, Latvia, or I went to Catalonia. Perio, whoa,
where's that? What's that?
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Like?
Speaker 1 (27:28):
What would you do? So right, Chris.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
You know what that breeds within the person you're having
that conversation with is curiosity, and all of a sudden
you have a foundation for a great conversation. But you're right,
you know, just telling somebody you went to London, a
lot of people have done that. But we're talking about
traveling with intention right now, So there's really a reason
why people want to do this and go to these places.
(27:52):
And certainly Catalonia is one of those places. Like just
like the segment I named the segment beyond the Destination, Yeah,
it's certainly is.
Speaker 4 (28:01):
And I'm so surprised that you didn't ask her about kava.
You know about kava very unique to Catalonia. You said
you were having a glass of kava, Terry, what were
you doing? She was drinking a very special wine that
comes from those vineyards she was talking about.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
I don't know anything about wine. Oh you need to
find out.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Well, Spanish wine in particular is very different from what
we enjoy here, and it's kind of an ancient process.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
And the other part that Terry, I think we need
to emphasize about Catalonia is one of the things we
talked about just recently was about how important it is
to find direct flights to destinations, and Barcelona is one
of those, as you pointed out, direct flights, so it's
(28:55):
very easy to get to from our area, particularly around
the Washington area here. So I want to move to
another place it's even easier to get to. This is
segment three, Chris. Okay, okay. We're moving now to adventure
meets luxury, and so if your intention is to have
(29:15):
some adventure but also to have some luxury, I'm going
to show you how to do that right now. And
one of the places that I'm going to talk about, uh,
my favorite, one of my favorite places is a place
that Terry and I were at several years ago, and
that is Deer Valley, Utah. This is elevated mountain living.
(29:38):
We're right back home. We haven't left the country. All
we need is a little star the real ID on
our driver's license. But we're back home and we're going
to have a very elevated experience. And we're going to
do that in Deer Valley, Utah, because it is one
of the skiing capitals. When we talk about Western skiing,
which is very different than the skiing we've experienced on
(30:00):
the East coast. It's different in a lot of ways.
The snow is different. It's the first thing people will
talk about. But when you go out west to go skiing,
you have an experience winter in a way that's really
effortless and luxurious.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
You're on big, big hills.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
It's not run down for a minute on the lift
and run down the hill, get on the lift and
get back up. It's very curated. Everything there is very intentional.
Everything is very luxurious. Deer Valley is synonymous with luxury.
We've got these beautifully groomed runs. I've skied there. It's
(30:39):
been a little while. I'd like to go back. There's
not overcrowding, there's not snowboards slamming into you. There's service
at the bottom of the hill. There are even ski
valets who pick up your skis and put them to
the side while you go into the lounge for a
little rest or whatever you need in there. But the
(31:00):
best part of Deer Valley is one of our favorite properties.
We've talked about the Montage family before. Well, there's a
Montage Deer Valley, and I think Terry's had some representatives
from the Montage on before to talk about this. It
is a culture in the Montage hotels and when you
(31:21):
are staying at the Montage Deer Valley and you're skiing,
skiing is just one part of the experience. It's a
fantastic part of the experience of your skier, but it's
just one part. Inside the Montage Deer Valley property, everything
is designed to make you feel as though you were
just in the lap of luxury. It's comfortable. You walk inside,
(31:44):
people say hello, They recognize you when you come back
in the second time, they remember who you are. When
you sit down at the restaurant or you sit down
at the bar, they remember what it is that you like,
and they're ready to serve that to you. You come
in from the cold, and immediately you feel the physical
warmth of the property, but you also feel the warmth
(32:07):
of all the people. They're quiet. That's subtle luxury that
just doesn't need to announce itself. They don't talk about it,
but it's just absolutely fantastic. We're talking about rooms, particularly
rooms in season where you're going to spend anywhere from
nine hundred to eighteen hundred dollars a night during high season,
(32:28):
during that ski season, and yes, that reflects the level
of experience that I'm talking about, because from the moment
you arrive, everything is taken care of. I talked about
ski VLAs. I have never been to a ski area
in the East where they collected my skis at the
bottom of the run and took care of them for me.
Have you no, I've never been skiing. Yeah, well you
(32:49):
aren't going to find that on the East coast here.
So you've got that ski access. Everything's there, you've got
the equipment for skiing, You've got If you're not going
to ski, maybe you're just going to sit inside. You're
going to enjoy the spa, You're going to enjoy the dining.
You're going to enjoy that ambience. Fantastic, large fireplace when
you walk in this lodge. What I tell my clients,
(33:10):
if you're going to do a ski trip, this is
the way to do it. It's not a good ski trip,
it's an outstanding it's a great ski trip. Everything that
happens on the slopes is fantastic. But then when you're
off the slopes it remains just as fantastic. And the
rest of the year. I don't want to leave out
the rest of the year. In the summertime, this same
(33:32):
property lots of stuff to do. They've got biking, hiking, exploring.
You can even get a car that they will give
you to go and do some exploration there. The resort
will give you a car to use for half a day.
How's that for luxury.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
I like it. I'm on their website right now. They
have availability for next weekend.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
Well, there you go, Chris, we can hook you up.
And you know, I love Deer Valley. I love the
Montage product. Again, we're talking about traveling with intention. The
segment that Harry just did was adventure meets luxury, And
certainly if you have a great fever for it, and
(34:13):
you are somebody who is a real athlete, you know
it doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice luxury just
because you want to experience some athletic abilities. You want
to go skiing, you want to go play pickleball, you
want to go golfing. I mean, the world of travel
is made for all of you folks out there who
have that desire to find places on the planet that
(34:37):
are geared to exactly what your intention is to experience
on a vacation. Now, the next segment, we're going to
work into is segment number four, and this is one
of my favorites.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
For sure.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
It's the world's most beautiful escapes, and certainly we talk
about a lot of those here, but I have to
tell you, and this was a hard call from because
I had a lot to choose from. I mean literally
thousands of places. But as I began to look, quite honestly,
this one still takes people by surprise. It does me.
(35:12):
And it's in the Philippines. The Philippines is made up
of over seven thousand islands. And what I love about
this destination is that it really does still feel kind
of undiscovered. You've got water so clear there it doesn't
even look real, beaches where you can walk out for
(35:32):
what feels like forever, and the water is still just
very calm and shallow. So you have that almost a
curated experience in the water made just for you. And
then there's the property that I chose. The property that
I chose is Amanpula, And if you look it up, Chris,
(35:54):
this is luxury at its finest. It's a private island,
luxury done quietly. There are no crowds, there are no noise,
it's just space. It's beauty it's that feeling of complete escape.
And here's what's remarkable. You can walk out onto the water.
You can keep walking as long as you want to,
(36:15):
and it stays shallow, it stays calm, almost like a
natural infinity pool. Your meals there, they're wonderful, but they're unhurried.
Service there never never intrusive, and after a day or
two you're going to realize something has shifted. You're not
checking your phone, you're not thinking about what's next, You're
(36:39):
just present. Now, getting to the Philippines does take a
little more planning. I will tell you that you're typically
going to fly from the US into Manila, often via
Tokyo or Soul, and then you're going to connect onward
for there and for Amanpulo specifically.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Get this.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
There's a private charter flight that's going to take you
directly to that resort, to that island. I mean, that's luxury.
That's what I call the way to get it done.
And from that moment on you are hooked at Almonpuula.
You're generally looking at only about twelve hundred to three
(37:18):
thousand dollars a night. And I'll bet you people thought,
as I described that it would be more depending on
your villa category. And I say this often. This is
not a place you're going to go for activity. This
is a place you're going to go to reset. And
this is where I send travelers who say, Terry, I
don't want a vacation, I want to disappear for just
(37:40):
a little while. I need the Actually I had that
day at work this week where I just I needed
almond pulas so bad I could taste it. But this
is where you go if you are in a high
stressed job. I'm thinking right now about people who are
you know, air traffic controllers, maybe government employees in Washington,
(38:02):
d C. People who just live on a high stressed
position all the time. This is where they need to
go when they vacation. And Chris, I see you looking
this up. I'm just thinking, you don't need to be
any of those people. You need to be a radio
dish jockey who needs this. This is beautiful it is,
(38:25):
and the white sand beaches and here's a picture of
a tortoise swimming. It's just just gorgeous. Yeah it is.
And you know, couples are going to love this place
because it's someplace too. I can imagine celebrities would like this,
even honeymooners. I hope Taylor Swift is listening today, because,
(38:47):
by the way, Miss Swift, this would be a perfect
place for your and Travis's honeymoon. It's just absolutely made
for you. It's a world away from everything, and again
it's that intentional place that you want to go to.
One of the world's most beautiful escapes, friendly, receptive for Americans.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
It's wonderful. You know, I told you a couple of
weeks ago that my dream getaway would be one of
those overwaters. Absolutely I was wrong. This is my dream getaway. Okay, No,
it's because I've told you before I'm not really a
fan of water, and this looks like it's given give
(39:28):
me that same feeling without being over the water.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
And you know what I love about doing this show
with you, Chris, is that you love everything we talk
about because I have sold you so many trips on
this show.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
Listen. I'm I'm a shallow person. I love beautiful things,
and every every one of these destinations you talk about
are beautiful. They really are. I want, I want so
desperately to be the person who gets to go and
try all these out so that I can write reviews
for Yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
And you know the great part about this is these
aren't places that just exist for the rich and famous.
These are places that exist, Chris, for people like you
and I'm Harry. I mean, these are places that are
made to accommodate our travel intentions. You know. So if
this is you know, something that you dreamed about or
(40:17):
would like to do, I would say, I'm on Pula.
It's definitely someplace to check out.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
And isn't English the primary language in the Philippines That
they do speak a lot of English there, but very.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
Much, yeah, very much. So it's actually a lot of
US companies use the Philippines for you know, support centers
and things. You're speaking with people in the Philippines and
they speak very good English. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
So we're going to move into segment five now, and
we're calling this segment for the traveler who wants more. Now,
we do, all of us, do, I mean, we all
want more? Right whenever we go anywhere, we go someplace
for the weekend, we want more. I always want more.
We sit down for a meal, we want more. But
this is about purposeful, powerful travel with the intention of
(41:07):
having more. And I chose Kenya as the place that
I wanted to focus on for this particular intention, and
for Kenya for those of you listening who have an
interest in that, especially for those of you who love
the idea of a safari. You're going to typically fly
into Nairobi, usually connecting through Europe or the Middle East,
(41:28):
and then from there you're going to take a small
aircraft directly to the conservancies that are there. Now this
is important because once you land there, you are not
in a city, You're in a landscape. Luxury safari experiences
like those of the Masamari, typically they're going to range
(41:49):
from about fifteen hundred to thirty five hundred dollars per
person per night, and that's usually inclusive of your game drives.
I want to be very clear about something, though. If
this area of Kenya or safaris are on your bucket
list and that's part of your intention to travel to
one of those, you do not have to pay those
(42:10):
kinds of prices to get a great safari experience. I'm
talking about that for a luxury safari experience, but there
are many many others that fit other bucket list type
budgets that come well below that, and I always frame
this carefully. This is not a vacation. This is a
fully immersive experience. I will tell you this is my
(42:33):
number one sought after trip. This is Terry Dean's intention
to travel here, and from the moment you wake up
to your morning game drive to evenings under the stars,
every part of your day after that is intentional and
it stays with you. And especially today, Kenya is about connection.
(42:56):
You're not just observing nature. You're part of a conservation story.
I actually sat the other night and sort of binge
watched a lot of these safari trails that were filmed documentaries,
if you will, of these safari filmers who had gone
out into the game reserves and they were filming lions.
(43:20):
The lion prides are one of my favorites. And also
the elephants. Those are the ones I love to try
and keep up with because the way they think, the
way they perform, the way they act together as families
as tribes. The elephants in particular are amazing to me,
the way that they live, the way that they are
(43:41):
so family oriented. Through these conservation stories, you're going to
be walking with local gods. You're going to be learning
about the culture you're going to be understanding the impact
of your visit and the impact that these great creatures
have on our world. You realize, if that gets it's imbalanced.
(44:01):
We have a problem, and so it's important that we
see it and support it long before it ever disappears
on us.
Speaker 4 (44:10):
What I want to add to what Terry's saying, though, Chris,
is that when we talk about these safaris, these expedition experiences,
it's very important that listeners know that every time someone
does one of these people are very concerned about doing
this and going out there with the animals. Every one
of these companies that we use at the Wishing Well
(44:33):
puts something back into the environment, the local culture, the
local people, and the animals. They're very very conscious of that,
and that's part of that whole virtuoso affiliation that we have.
They have forced that too. And so as you're listening today,
when you think of a safari, don't think of it
as something that's harmful. Think of it as helping those
(44:57):
animals to survive.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
Really enjoying this conversation today. Our show is entitled Traveling
with Intention, and we've only got a few minutes left.
I'm excited to find out where we head next here
on a life Less Ordinary. Why do you recharge your
cell phone?
Speaker 4 (45:13):
Maybe because, just like you, it functions much better with
a little revitalization. The wishing Well helps people refresh and
revitalize with individually designed, customize vacation planning. We'll send you
anywhere in the world, plus offer advice on packing, navigating customs,
and more. Wishes really do come true. At the wishing
Well visit us at two forty three and f Avenue
(45:33):
call us at five four zero nine zero eight two
three three three, or on the web at the Wishingwell
dot biz.
Speaker 1 (45:39):
And welcome back to a Lifeless Ordinary, a travel show
and podcast from your friends at the wishing Well. You'll
find them on ne f Avenue in Harrisonburg, online at
the Wishingwell dot viz, and you can give them a
call five four h nine oh eight twenty three thirty three.
When I see you can give them a call, you'll
be talking with Terry or Harry. They can definitely help
(46:00):
you travel with intention, and that's the name of our
show today. We sure can.
Speaker 3 (46:04):
And I'm kind of sad to see this particular week
come to a close because I've enjoyed this myself I
really enjoyed doing the research for it. And our last segment,
segment six, is one that I really couldn't leave off
because a lot of people these days tell me this
is exactly why they want to travel, and they want
(46:25):
to go somewhere with this particular intention, and that is
probably no surprise to you, Chris. They're going for coolcations
and reimagined experience. Yeah, so I chose the Dolomites in
the Italian Alps as my coolcations destination. You're going to
typically fly into Venice or Milan for this one and
(46:48):
then enjoy about a scenic two to three hour drive
up into the Italian Alps. And I always encourage clients
to embrace that drive. It really is a part of
that experience that you're going to have. And the property
that I chose to highlight there one that I hope
everybody will look up. It's the Amenrosa Alpina. You're generally
(47:11):
looking at about nine hundred to fifteen hundred dollars a night,
and what you're stepping into here is something really really
very different from the typical European itinerary. This is not
at all crowded cities. This is space. This is fresh air.
This is a slower pace. This is that coolcation you're after.
(47:32):
You spend your days outside, your evenings in a setting
that feels warm, it's grounded, it's quietly luxurious, and for
a lot of people right now, that shift, that's exactly
what you're looking for. You are tired of the triple
digit heat for Italy and many of the places in Europe.
(47:53):
This is going to get you out of that and
the Dolomites. Everything feels a little more peaceful. You're going
to wake up, open the window. The air there is crisp,
it's clean, it's quiet. But guess what, You're in Italy
and you spend your day outside, You're walking, exploring, taking
in views that don't really feel crowded overrun and then
(48:14):
you return to Ama Rosa Alpina. Now, another great part
about this is that while it's a wonderful summer destination
for that coolcation kind of intention, it's also a wonderful,
if not one of the best winter ski areas in
all of Italy.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
And so this is.
Speaker 3 (48:32):
Probably one of the places that's sort of a year
round kind of intentional destination for you to visit.
Speaker 1 (48:40):
And Chris We've made.
Speaker 4 (48:41):
It this far into the show this week, and we
haven't talked about something you'll always find here you're in Italy,
besides skiing, besides a cool cation. What does your stomach
think of when you think about Italian You think about pasta, pasta,
every kind of great European cuisine that Italy is famous for.
Speaker 1 (49:00):
Although we did it, although they eat a lot of fish, yes,
I don't know. I don't know about in the Dolomites, but.
Speaker 3 (49:07):
Well, in the coastal regions they can have I mean,
it can be fresh, even if they aren't right on
the coats, because they're so close to it.
Speaker 1 (49:14):
So this is where my family is from. Oh wonderful
from uh so glad I chose this. Now, I don't
know that we're from the Dolomite, but we're from the
Tyrolia region of northern Italy, and so I pulled up
pictures as you were talking about I'm like, oh, this
looks familiar.
Speaker 3 (49:31):
So, Chris, I would say, one of the intentions that
you should have for your travel future travel experiences might
be to go to the Dolomite.
Speaker 1 (49:40):
This has actually been on my bucket list, is to
go to northern Italy.
Speaker 3 (49:44):
Yeah, well, you couldn't pick a better property than the
almen Rosa Alpina. It's it actually is a luxury property.
It's part of our Virtuoso family of brands. We love
it for that reason. So of course you're going to
get all of the extra perks that you would get
from Virtuoso, like breakfast every day, one hundred dollars, spending
(50:04):
credit while you're there, which is wonderful, early check in,
late checkout, because nobody wants to leave the Dolomites once
you get there, for sure. I want to talk about
a couple of things before we have to close today's show.
We didn't just talk about destinations today, Chris. We stepped
into what it actually feels like to be there, and
that actually gave me great joy because the difference is everything.
(50:30):
And when you travel this way with intention, with care,
with the right guidance, you don't just come home with photographs.
You know, we talked about Kenya. Imagine those giraffes that
are walking right through and into a sunset and you're
taking the pictures of that. The pictures are not going
to do that justice, but you will remember that for
(50:51):
the rest of your life. Places like that make everybody
a great photographer. Oh yeah, you just point the camera
where you're pointing. You're going to come home with photos
that are People are going to be like, where was this.
Speaker 4 (51:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (51:05):
I actually had a friend of mine say to me
not long ago, when I had done some traveling and
I posted some pictures online. They go, how come you
aren't in these pictures? I go, because I've photographed so poorly,
but the scenery is so beautiful, so it made me
look like a good photographer. I mean, the idea is
in today's show is that you're going to come home
with experiences that stay with you.
Speaker 4 (51:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (51:26):
That's what I want people to remember, and that is
what it truly means to live a life less ordinary.
Speaker 4 (51:33):
So we hit on only two things that you like today, Chris,
you hit on everything that I liked today, all cylinder.
Speaker 1 (51:40):
Hey, listen, I try to share my honest opinions of
my experience in the world. I've told you I don't
like water. That does not mean that I wouldn't have
a great time sitting on the edge of a beautiful
white sand beach watching other people have fun in the water. Yes,
everything you every week what we talk about, but today
(52:03):
in particular. Yes, count me in. I'm ready to go
anywhere you want me to go.
Speaker 4 (52:08):
All right, I've got one for you, and this is
one that Terry and I have been working on for
a while and this is planning ahead. This is September
of twenty twenty seven. If you want another great experience,
and I will urge you to give us a call
because I won't be able to tell you all about it.
But we have group space on a fantastic cruise that
hits some of the areas that we're talking about. We
(52:30):
are going to go to Greece and we are going
to go to Italy, but we are going to do
this in style. This is a cruise. It's got a
list price four to two with air of over fifty
thousand dollars for balcony rooms. It's all inclusive crews. The
price that we have reserved knocks that down to write
(52:52):
about twenty thousand dollars including air, including all the luxury,
including your beverage, including your dining, including excursions including shining
your shoes for us. And by the way, a night
before you cruise, we're going to put you in one
of the luxury four star hotels Ian. We're going to
put four hundred dollars in your room just in case
(53:12):
you want to visit the SPA.
Speaker 1 (53:13):
Now, hearing all that, I think I need to reach
out to the wishing Well to book that amazing trip.
So Terry, how do we get in touch with you?
Speaker 3 (53:21):
We're easy to find. We're located at two forty three
nef Avenue in the Valley Center in Harsonburg, Virginia. You
can call us at five four h nine oh eight
two three three three or look us up on the web.
We're at the Wishingwell dot bnz.
Speaker 1 (53:35):
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 wishing Well dop biz or five
four oho nine oh eight twenty three thirty three.
Speaker 4 (53:51):
Eight.
Speaker 1 (53:51):
Past episodes are available on the iHeartRadio app. And we'll
see again next Saturday morning at ten for a life
Less Ordinary from the wishing Well
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