Luxury Travel Insider

Today we're venturing deep into the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia, where Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort has been welcoming guests to one of the most remote and breathtaking corners of Canada for over 45 years. Joining me today are Fraser and Becky Murray, the husband and wife team behind Nimmo Bay - a place that started as a family fishing lodge and has evolved into a world-renowned luxury wilderness destination focused on bears, whales, helicopters, and some seriously incredible food. We talk about everything from the hydroelectric system powering the lodge off a waterfall, to the wildest wildlife encounters guests have had, to what it actually does to a person to spend a few days truly immersed in this kind of wilderness. Zip up your fleece and enjoy this wild and wonderful episode of Luxury Travel Insider. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Today's episode is for anyone who has ever come home from a trip feeling subtly or not so subtly changed. My guest today is Dr. Michael F. Steger, Professor of Psychology and founding director of the Center for Meaning and Purpose at Colorado State University. Mike has published over 150 scholarly articles and created two of the most widely used measures of meaning in the world, and somehow makes all of it feel like a conversation you'd want to have over dinner. We unpack what meaning actually is significance, coherence, and purpose and then bring it straight into travel. Why do unfamiliar places sometimes make us feel more like ourselves? Can a trip be genuinely meaningful, or does it just slide into beautiful consumption? And what does it take to come home not just rested, but also more alive? If you've ever wondered if travel makes life more meaningful, this episode is for you. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Today we're headed to Kerala, a state on India's southwestern coast where ancient backwaters meet misty mountain tea gardens, sacred temples, and spice-scented markets that have drawn travelers from across the world for thousands of years. Joining me today are Anil Pathak, our partner in the region, and Manoj Vasudevan, an award-winning guide and photographer who has led everyone from Anthony Bourdain to National Geographic journalists through this remarkable region. We talk about everything from how the spice trade shaped Kerala's identity, to experiencing the backwaters without the crowds, to what this place reveals about humanity when you really take the time to look closely. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this colorful episode of Luxury Travel Insider. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Today we're headed to one of the most extraordinary places on the planet where we'll find the largest living structure on Earth, sand so pure it never gets hot, and water so impossibly turquoise it looks like you used a filter. Joining me today to chat all things Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays are Rebecca Hamey, General Manager of Qualia, a luxury resort on Hamilton Island and Scotty Bowen, a Master Reef Guide and skipper. We cover everything from the reef's ancient indigenous history, to the honest truth about coral bleaching and what's giving scientists hope, to the most elevated and unexpected ways to experience this region. Dive in and enjoy this beautiful episode of Luxury Travel Insider. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Today we're romanticizing everyday life, finding inspiration through art and beauty, and leaning into a little nostalgia in two of the world's most iconic cities. Joining me are two true insiders from Paris and Rome: Leah Walker of Garnier Creations and Fulvio de Bonis of Imago Artis. We discuss how world-class cities just have a way of making romance feel effortless. Whether you're wandering along a river, lingering over an indulgent meal, or experiencing something new - timeless moments like these bring couples closer together in ways everyday life rarely allows. So pour yourself a glass of Bordeaux or Brunello, and enjoy this Paris vs. Rome episode of Luxury Travel Insider. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

February feels like the perfect moment to talk about trips designed to celebrate love. Honeymoons, anniversaries, proposals, babymoons, and the journeys couples take when they want to reconnect, not just get away. All month long, we're exploring romantic travel in its many forms. Not just where couples go, but why and how travel has always played such a powerful role in love stories. Today's episode is our big picture conversation. We're talking about the history of honeymoons, how romantic travel has evolved, what couples are craving right now, and the design details that turn a nice trip into something unforgettable. Later this month, we'll dive into specific styles of romantic travel, from tropical escapes, to iconic city breaks, to soulful journeys through Africa. But today is about setting the stage. Joining me for this discussion is Jim Augerinos, an expert in honeymoon travel. So imagine yourself with a loved one somewhere beautiful, and enjoy this fun episode of Luxury Travel Insider. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Today we are heading to Victoria Falls, one of the most awe inspiring places on the planet. Known locally as Mosi oa Tunya, the Smoke that Thunders, this is a place where mist hangs in the air, the earth vibrates beneath your feet, and nature puts on a show unlike anywhere else in Africa. I am joined by Sara Gardiner, owner of Matetsi Victoria Falls, a beautiful lodge just minutes from the Falls and surrounded by incredible wildlife. Sara and I chat about the legends that shaped local understanding of the Falls, what those first explorers must have felt when they encountered this massive curtain of water, the rewilding of the Matetsi reserve, and her favorite ways for travelers to experience both the adventure and the quiet magic of this region. I hope you enjoy this inspiring conversation with Sara Gardiner. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn

Today, we're diving into the trends that are shaping the way travelers are exploring the world. I'm joined by my good friend Jonathan Epstein, of Celebrated Experiences, one of our partners for curating authentic and luxurious travel experiences in Europe. We're diving into everything from travel as a way to escape mental overload, to how people are using trips to mark life moments. We go deep on the evolution from wellness travel to overall wellbeing travel and the expansion of where and when our clients are traveling. It's a fun, forward looking conversation, but a very practical one, grounded in what we're actually seeing happen in the world right now. Grab a drink, sit back, and enjoy this deep dive into the trends that will define how we travel in 2026. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn