https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes daily 0.75 2026-04-05 https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/client-spotlight-family-ski-in-chamonix monthly 0.5 2026-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773415141730-ZGR8W03UOC4XPKG202L0/meizhi-lang-BuZGsjwmYjU-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773415144599-I2GGX01B63MWBLV72X4C/patrick-boucher-w2DBsig0eEY-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773415142600-60WNPJ5BWVE8KQO36DT1/tom-podmore-OmIMYsumWJQ-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773855515757-WMI9OXTRFKY5RCQQFZ3Q/image4+%281%29.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773855515671-NAU3BM49RWAUPJ54ESK1/image18.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773855516612-OHD3K9SER3REPOBO4YLB/image17.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773855516643-YF6QM17L4PUM5M7HIS8K/image16.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773855517519-LIGYPQH6WSP1B54AL1LP/image14.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773855518345-KHHXO01956XTX019W855/image12.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773855519183-2KV0RHPW7CQ84O1DHF6F/image9.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773855520657-CLI6K3P8L5ZYICWO5L9N/image5.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/cbbe0df8-41c9-4e55-9152-f7c96fa3a0d9/who-s-denilo-1ye1sYUvsnw-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix - two city structure Flying into Geneva and spending a night there before heading to Chamonix isn't just a pleasant extra - it's smart travel. It gives a family arriving from the US a buffer to shake off the jet lag, ease into European time, and see a genuinely interesting city before the mountain demands their full attention. Geneva, as the family discovered, is absolutely worth a day. With a private transfer quickly taking them to their hotel, they had time to check in and unwind before the afternoon’s activity- a private Tuk Tuk Tour. Despite the rain, the family loved the tour of the city- complete with covered electric tuk tuk and blankets provided by the guide. From Dad: "I had in my mind it was more oriented around just chocolate tastings, but in fact it was a mini-tour of the city with some chocolate tastings thrown in — and that format was even better for us. A good way to kick off the trip, even in the rain." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773852948067-JDO8C1U00FDCSKAQZBUH/Screenshot+2026-03-18+115048.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773852948092-SU999LHMDKHHHV2XVYZA/Screenshot+2026-03-18+115033.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773852948998-W2CU51GKSL0VNTEA8KR5/Screenshot+2026-03-18+114955.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/b3763c3d-8955-4e29-a57a-0a3ca2e104ff/image+%283%29.png Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix - things to do The family built their days in Chamonix around skiing, but the mountain is only part of what Chamonix offers. Centuries of identity live in its streets: stone buildings, Savoyard restaurants where families have cooked the same regional dishes for generations, and the particular rhythm of a town that predates ski lifts by a long way. And, the incredible nature of the region make it a winter destination for exploration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773415145164-BHSPTF9G3NNDQXNK2FVN/gregory-dalleau-Q0CARQx1WQk-unsplash+%281%29.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix - Montenvers Train to Mer de Glace The Montenvers Train to Mer de Glace ranks among Chamonix's finest day trips, whisking visitors to one of Europe's most expansive glaciers. This charming historic cogwheel train departs from Chamonix and climbs through dense pine forests to Montenvers at 1,913 metres. Once there, the famous Mont Blanc glacier awaits, including a descent into the Grotte de Glace ice cave, where you can wander through a subglacial museum adorned with elaborate ice sculptures. The Mer de Glace Glaciorium adds an educational dimension, giving visitors insight into the glacier's ever-changing behaviour. Before boarding the train back, make time for the Refuge du Montenvers, a welcoming mountain refuge that doubles as a casual café and a proper alpine restaurant. The Restaurant du Montenvers champions local produce and regional dishes, but it's the breathtaking surroundings that elevate a simple lunch into something truly memorable. For winter visitors seeking non-ski activities in Chamonix, the Montenvers Train delivers a compelling blend of history, geology, and spectacular mountain scenery. Do keep in mind that this excursion is highly weather-dependent, so checking conditions in advance is recommended. Photo credit: Mont Blanc Natural Resort https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/9e21830c-2cba-462d-b527-a5a0b7cf9069/Screenshot+2026-03-18+122504.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Ski In Chamonix - visit couermayeur, italy Just across the Mont Blanc Tunnel lies the charming Italian alpine town of Courmayeur, making it one of the most rewarding and accessible day trips from Chamonix. The journey takes just 15 minutes by car through the tunnel, transporting visitors from France into the heart of the Aosta Valley and, arguably, into a far more relaxed pace of life. In winter, Courmayeur draws visitors with its excellent ski area, offering over 100km of pistes with the dramatic south face of Mont Blanc as a backdrop — a perspective entirely different from anything the French side offers. Beyond the slopes, the town's picturesque pedestrianised centre is lined with designer boutiques, cosy bars, and exceptional Italian restaurants where long, indulgent lunches are very much the norm. A visit to one of the traditional enoteche for a glass of Aosta Valley wine and a plate of local charcuterie is practically obligatory. Whether you're drawn by the skiing, the food, the shopping, or simply strolling through a beautifully preserved mountain village, Courmayeur offers a wonderfully different flavour to a Chamonix holiday — and with so little effort required to get there, there's really no reason not to go. Photo credit: Forbes https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/client-spotlight-a-family-hawaii-escape monthly 0.5 2026-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/c262f092-f70d-4b91-8097-7c0f63b1099a/10_Kohala+Coastline.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss - Make it stand out Kohala Coastline- Client Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773334291987-VP8QYBOU86W490IX1N27/MNL_Pool_Ocean-View_2021_004.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773334286451-BR845OP85GM8293B7G2I/MNL_Beach-Club_Drone_2025_DJI_20240523150639_0417_D.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773334292437-RF01KPK7K27A5URNWMFX/MNL_Exteriors_Beach_2021_062.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773334285421-YUTLF7S03E0E6CELQZ4D/MNL_Accommodations_Residences_Living-Room_2021_026.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773334286695-6HGN3HLCZ8GL7ZN4SQCS/MNL_Dine_Ha-Bar_Exterior_2020_001.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773334424942-2EZRMBE1AJZ51652BIS2/MNL_Accommodations_Suite_Oceanfront_Lanai_2026_3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773334429952-F6XML8BL6VFOSTU1XO3T/MNL_Golf-Course_2019_007.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/cd9a4130-fd60-4395-a873-c571ea9ad4a1/05_SCUBA+Divers.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss - father-son scuba The adventure kicked off early when father and son touched down on the Big Island ahead of the rest of the crew. First order of business? Picking up the Jeep, a non-negotiable item on the kid's wish list, and cruising around the island like true explorers. But the real mission was out on the deep blue, where after two early mornings diving into the Pacific, the son surfaced with something even better than a tan: his brand-new scuba certification. Safe to say, the trip was already a win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773349906680-SCN67K5XDR4OJK2I2XAF/15_Steam+from+Kiluaea.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773349399896-TXLBAEQBW9NYCH68WPK3/09_Waterfall+Swim.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773349399150-X95SPCYAJIAW96XAI9L8/08_Waterfall+Hike.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773349401545-KOMW7YS3J19D1GFJ58ZC/07_Sunset+at+Mauna+Lani.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773349405510-S2Q0ILFHF2IXL4O0GLHV/04_Captain+Cook+Farmer%27s+Market.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773349907844-KXE4KI4ZIFT8WEKHWVXO/14_Kiluaea+Caldera.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773349402475-3YV0JU03AA20UX5BDMEG/06_Snow+on+Mauna+Kea.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss - Big Island Teaches You "We were struck by the different climates on the different parts of the Big Island — from the warm, dry resort area along the beach to the Kohala Rain Forest with its trees and waterfalls, to the expanses of desolate volcanic rock." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/ca244dcf-0586-41ad-b405-daf6fad0f2fb/18_Sunrise+Canoe+with+Humback+Breach.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Family Big Island Bliss They were also visiting during humpback season. All you had to do was stare out at the water for a few minutes and you would see the spouts from their blowholes, tail fins, and even full breaches. That kind of magic doesn't have to be scheduled. It just happens when you're in the right place, at the right time, with nothing else to worry about. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/client-spotlight-in-paris-five-women-three-generations-one-perfectly-parisian-week monthly 0.5 2026-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/58513a3b-0eb3-4ac4-8c7f-50ab49029287/DDFD2850-F55E-442A-9B0B-C6B7E7F74ACC.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight in Paris: Five Women. Three Generations. One Perfectly Parisian Week. “The trip was beyond perfection — more perfect than perfect. I felt like I was in a novel — the best novel, with the best characters, living the most amazing and perfect life. The guides, the drivers, the hotel — all beyond perfect.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773173863195-F8AMO1X3WM4J2IKL96Y5/expedia_group-3077-8dc002-360555.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight in Paris: Five Women. Three Generations. One Perfectly Parisian Week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773173863330-5VKH7IXSDH0O13S46NI6/1279386.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight in Paris: Five Women. Three Generations. One Perfectly Parisian Week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1773173864101-F74N3GOTF52LZ8MRP1RU/saint-james-paris-facade.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight in Paris: Five Women. Three Generations. One Perfectly Parisian Week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/082a8876-643b-4c5b-8d78-7985686ac258/Screenshot+2026-03-10+150347.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight in Paris: Five Women. Three Generations. One Perfectly Parisian Week. - a classic welcome The itinerary was built to feel full without feeling frantic. Private guides meant skip-the-line access and history brought to life, with deliberate pockets of free time to wander, eat, and simply be in Paris. Courtney, her mother and daughter arrived first, and their welcome to the city was pure charm: a private tour in a vintage 2CV, the impossibly French little car, weaving through thirty of Paris’s most iconic monuments. Driver Niko had the kind of personality that makes a tour feel like an adventure, and the afternoon delivered exactly that. Then the 2CV stalled. It had gotten wet — it is, after all, an antique — and what followed was a scene straight out of a French film: the whole group pushing the car through the streets of Paris while their driver Niko shouted “Harder!” until it finally sputtered back to life and they all piled in and took off. It became, immediately, one of their favorite stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/9b42a11a-25f9-489a-a07e-cfd3e2192122/Screenshot+2026-03-10+153145.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight in Paris: Five Women. Three Generations. One Perfectly Parisian Week. The flea market at Saint-Ouen was a treasure hunt with a knowledgeable French-speaking guide who knew exactly where to go in the world’s largest flea market. Jennie declared it her favorite day of the entire trip. The fashion walking tour in Marais with a local fashion journalist and personal shopper, extraordinary at her craft, was the trip’s standout day. She took them to Joseph DuClos, the oldest tannery in France, where Jennie stitched a sample bag in the atelier and the whole group ended up in the VIP room with the owner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/93ffd901-1fe6-4a5d-97c3-677bf3d37fd0/IMG_7967.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight in Paris: Five Women. Three Generations. One Perfectly Parisian Week. The Musée d’Orsay with guide Elena was beautifully paced. The private Eiffel Tower tour was seamless. The macaron cooking class was, in a word, really fun. And La Galerie Dior was a quiet revelation. “The Galerie Dior was wonderful. Colorful, peaceful, not information overload. All five of us loved it,” shared daughter Jennie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/cc4d5515-992a-4611-95a7-869b432950bd/4A397545-D88B-4FBE-B42E-0DD8640D9D4C.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight in Paris: Five Women. Three Generations. One Perfectly Parisian Week. “It was something I had been looking forward to since I was very little. I felt like I was in a movie. There were no flaws or bumps. It fulfilled and exceeded every expectation. It was perfect.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/d48e3741-4ace-41a7-91f0-e2fc8b0ce380/Screenshot+2026-03-10+150137.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight in Paris: Five Women. Three Generations. One Perfectly Parisian Week. - advice from a wise teen When asking Jennie about her advice for travelers venturing to a new country, she shared wise words for adventurers at any age: “Roll with it. Plan, but don’t over plan.” And, most importantly, she noted, “Book with Well Placed Travel.” There’s a reason people hire a travel advisor, and it’s not just convenience. It’s the difference between walking into a big-box store and hoping for the best, and stepping into a French boutique where someone already knows your taste, understands what you’re looking for, and has spent years curating exactly that. Courtney came to the discovery call feeling the weight of coordinating a trip this meaningful for people she loves. She wanted to be a participant, not the planner, and she wanted her mother to feel like a true guest of honor from the moment she landed. Heather — Courtney’s sister, who had no involvement in the planning — arrived and stepped into a week already thought through for her. She’d traveled with group tour operators and recognized the difference. What struck her was how easy it felt. No scrambling, no phone-staring, no strangers on a bus. Just five women and their own private Paris. That’s the quiet magic of a well-planned trip: when it’s done right, it feels effortless. No one sees the work behind it. They just feel the result. Thanks to Courtney and her family for their contribution to this article, their photos and their trust in Well Placed Travel to deliver this experience. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/mont-tremblant-a-cozy-mountain-escape-with-just-the-right-amount-of-magic monthly 0.5 2026-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1770937155062-FQIWBF89UXEO1I2M8G3O/mont-tremblant-1.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Mont-Tremblant: A Cozy Mountain Escape with Just the Right Amount of Magic - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/2998427e-f5c0-49b8-bdb0-9586cda43285/nikita-markov-gAzhELF7_rE-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Mont-Tremblant: A Cozy Mountain Escape with Just the Right Amount of Magic - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1770932979534-ITO3937WLWM97AOU4DBM/beaute-hivernale-winter.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Mont-Tremblant: A Cozy Mountain Escape with Just the Right Amount of Magic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1770932979564-UJBA1GUGJ9YX30XX2HXQ/Screenshot+2026-02-12+154528.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Mont-Tremblant: A Cozy Mountain Escape with Just the Right Amount of Magic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1770933986879-FQ6HUKWKWTCG7PG4F260/Screenshot+2026-02-12+160612.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Mont-Tremblant: A Cozy Mountain Escape with Just the Right Amount of Magic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/2cfdb320-ad84-4562-87a3-3788d33112bf/snowshoe-tour-fire-man.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Mont-Tremblant: A Cozy Mountain Escape with Just the Right Amount of Magic - DAY WITH A WOODSMAN Starting at the mountain base, this guided snowshoe experience blends nature, culture, and a touch of magic. Led by a seasoned woodsman, you’ll move through snow-covered landscapes, learn how to start a fire in winter conditions, and hear Québécois folk stories along the way. It’s grounding, memorable, and feels wonderfully authentic. For summer travelers, Mont-Tremblant also offers a version with think open-fire cooking, wildlife tracking, and visits to sacred ancestral sites. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/879099f9-3433-4f0a-be46-d0735ed24b74/Screenshot+2026-02-12+163511.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Mont-Tremblant: A Cozy Mountain Escape with Just the Right Amount of Magic - Cani-Snowshoeing Not for everyone, but undeniably unique. Snowshoe through a winter landscape while harnessed to an enthusiastic dog who is very invested in your forward momentum. It’s playful, active, and tailor-made for dog lovers looking for something different. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/32e3afcd-5f21-4077-983f-b7242b0e54f6/maria-elena-zuniga-PT3QQdjhMzw-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Mont-Tremblant: A Cozy Mountain Escape with Just the Right Amount of Magic - pro tip If your flight timing allows, consider adding a few extra days—or even just a half day—in Old Montreal on the way home. It’s slightly out of the way, but absolutely worth it. Cobblestone streets, centuries-old architecture, and some of the city’s best food make it feel like a destination in its own right. Even a short stop allows time for a memorable meal and a wander through history. Planned well, it doesn’t feel like a detour—it feels like a bonus. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/the-right-trip-isnt-always-the-one-you-planned monthly 0.5 2026-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/3c52a487-e013-48f8-a559-5359da5f7ccf/IMG_0556.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - The Journey Isn’t Always What You Planned - There are moments when the life you’ve built no longer fits, even when it looks successful from the outside. Last month, I joined iHeart radio podcast Speaking of Travel with Marilyn Ball to discuss making a bold, deeply personal shift: leaving behind a career as a corporate real estate developer and hospitality designer to change my life. We explore the uncomfortable in-between season where certainty disappears and identity feels fluid; how I found steadiness through eastern philosophies and practices like yoga, reiki, and meditation; and of course travel. This conversation isn’t about dream destinations or checking boxes. It’s about reinvention. About how travel can support moments of transition when you’re questioning who you are, what you want, and what you need next. What surprised me most about this conversation was how naturally it moved beyond travel as a product and into travel as a practice — a way of paying attention to what’s happening beneath the surface of our lives. Travel shifted for me. It stopped being about stimulation and started becoming a way to listen. That shift is at the heart of how I work today. When I help someone plan travel, I’m not starting with destinations or hotels. I listening for context — what season of life they’re in, what needs attention, what’s not being said, and what they’re hoping to feel when they return home. Sometimes the answer is rest. Sometimes it’s expansion. Sometimes it’s beauty, privacy, challenge, or space to think. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/8512ad51-06dc-4df7-831b-c47faa695903/NEW+Email+Signature+NO+Name+NO+iHeart.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - The Journey Isn’t Always What You Planned - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/client-spotlight-a-happy-couples-japan-winter-journey monthly 0.5 2026-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/aed925dc-0a1d-46ac-bef7-92ced32aa086/IMG_1777.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Happy Couple’s Japan Winter Journey - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1770682434608-C2TM7DL3ZRLL5MMCB871/IMG_1799.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Happy Couple’s Japan Winter Journey https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1770682440716-XYMOQ03F5ED9Q8YRG0TF/IMG_1813.JPEG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Happy Couple’s Japan Winter Journey https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1770682455938-6PH77047IO9A578W4WQU/IMG_1956.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Happy Couple’s Japan Winter Journey https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/e7b0e9b6-fe00-476d-8039-d3fe8eb9b8cd/IMG_1996.JPEG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Happy Couple’s Japan Winter Journey - A Taste of Home Cooking in Shinjuku On Pablo's birthday, we arranged something particularly special: a private cooking class in Satoru's Shinjuku apartment. Born in Hokkaido and raised surrounded by vegetable fields, Satoru learned traditional techniques from his grandmother and now shares authentic home-style Japanese cooking that you simply can't find in restaurants. Together, they prepared traditional dishes using Satoru's mother's handmade organic miso, a secret ingredient passed down from his grandfather's miso factory. After cooking, they sat down to share the meal and stories about Japanese culture and cuisine. "The cooking class added a hands-on cultural experience," Mark noted, highlighting how these personal connections enriched their journey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/49838f0c-6935-4e05-b6eb-f7ea09abc73a/IMG_1881.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Happy Couple’s Japan Winter Journey - Kyoto: Temples, Gardens, and Hidden Gins The Shinkansen whisked them to Kyoto on New Year's Day, where they checked into The Chapter Kyoto, a boutique property that Mark and Pablo described as "calm with great attention to detail." Their private day tour took them from Gion's spiritual sites—including Yasaka Shrine and the hilltop Kiyomizu-dera temple—to Nishiki Market for traditional Kyoto lunch and culinary education. The afternoon brought them to iconic sites like the Golden Pavilion and Zen gardens, depending on their interests. But some of our favorite recommendations are the off-itinerary gems. We sent them to Bee's Knees, an intimate gin bar with maybe ten seats, where an old-school hip hop DJ serves extraordinary gin and tonics. "It's a must-see," our travel partner had enthusiastically noted—and Mark and Pablo agreed. The Kyoto night foodie tour through Gion rounded out their cultural immersion, introducing them to obanzai (Kyoto's traditional seasoned dishes) and sake pairings in atmospheric local restaurants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/c54ab6b8-cfe4-4f71-b136-3e92be0b745d/IMG_1078.JPEG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Happy Couple’s Japan Winter Journey - Osaka & Hiroshima: Contrasts and Contemplation In Osaka, they experienced the city's renowned food scene through a bar-hopping tour in Namba, visiting hidden izakayas and tasting kushikatsu (fried skewers) in atmospheric alleyways filled with locals. The Osaka LGBTQ night tour offered yet another perspective on the city's diverse culture. The day trip to Hiroshima provided a profound counterpoint to the trip's celebratory moments. Their private guide led them through Peace Memorial Park, the haunting Atomic Bomb Dome, and the Memorial Museum before taking the ferry to Miyajima Island. There, the "floating" torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine—built in 593 and appearing to rest on water at high tide—offered a moment of serene beauty and spiritual reflection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/ed938be7-1c89-4f6b-a171-2cae09ed8b02/IMG_2946.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Happy Couple’s Japan Winter Journey - Niseko: Powder Paradise The final chapter of their journey took them north to Hokkaido and the legendary powder of Niseko—JaPOW, as devotees call it. We arranged their entire ski package: private transfers from New Chitose Airport, three nights at MUWA Niseko (a ski-in/ski-out property with a Michelin-starred restaurant), two days of lift tickets for the interconnected Niseko United resorts, and premium ski rentals. "MUWA Niseko was the ultimate cozy-luxury retreat after skiing," they shared. "Skiing in Niseko with perfect snow conditions was the ultimate way to end the trip." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/71f5acc8-00ee-4eb8-8151-c56b5c237f76/IMG_2759.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Happy Couple’s Japan Winter Journey - Deep Relationships in Japan Well Placed Travel works with the best local hospitality providers. We built relationships based on trust and expertise. The local teams work tirelessly to translate our client’s vision into authentic experiences with the local partners. We care deeply about the success of the experience. Cultural Fluency and Practical Support We provided detailed guidance on navigating Japan's complexities: Shinkansen tickets, managing luggage on trains, understanding tipping culture, logistics of getting around and and even which convenience store snacks to grab for train journeys. Perfectly Paced Itineraries Notice the rhythm of their trip: intense cultural immersion in Tokyo and Kyoto, balanced with leisure time to explore independently. Active city explorations followed by slow days in nature. A balance of down time for self-guided exploration combined with curated, expert led activities. This pacing reflects our experience planning over ten Japan itineraries and understanding how to structure a journey that energizes rather than exhausts. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/the-africa-trip-youre-overthinking-and-how-to-actually-book-it monthly 0.5 2026-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768240548308-J950ZUM7SY7CFLSWZRG2/samantha-burger-eUITqmy8eTc-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768240545362-Y84TYVI86REMMZ6BNA47/safari.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768240547589-SCV6KM5Y4KJ07H9BFU0X/vicfalls.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768240549173-RP40RML3D88QENR0QJ0L/mateetsi+2.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768240549564-ZD59ABPFVT6PH7R2V43I/matetsi.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768240552321-ESIXFJWWFD830Y7VKC17/sammy-wong-QHH3WH1ZBsk-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768240557441-Y0L10OB7AKO0889RUVV0/jack-young-aw0zJL143SI-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768240557493-HVTKFI561590EJSG92W4/kylefromthenorth-UrhglJ-2Q8M-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768254042921-GNIR0XNOVUPCKRERGIDZ/singita-kwitonda-lodeg-rwanda.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768254042900-UVPD2AF79K5TZYS0GPVH/singita-kwitonda-lodge.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768254050905-TEY3YD9H79TXNHVMNB6P/sammy-wong-31HukZvKg1c-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768254050892-C7OJOQ6ICJD96WK8JI7B/joel-herzog-dNYIGwQqAtI-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768254057132-KMFW7MQYDZGAMX7G0IXP/ramon-sanchez-orense-w2AHqz-AzQ4-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768254057182-H1LOMNQZSWA142JEFP86/hendrik-cornelissen-qs4E9t0hJc0-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768254060701-P7JPNPBIDJGB870B8ANP/danielle-barnes-mvJK7qiJLMc-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768254114278-J4AKKKE53AH5A98LH3GK/Four-Seasons-Resort-Mauritius-at-Anahita-Island.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768254115916-GWOI1Q57WW79HO0AR3HR/dan-dy-WwUnM9iLWwM-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768254121308-237DY8X1W3JBLFD9SMAU/rumman-amin-6iSZzFMKQbs-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Well Placed Travel plans your African adventure https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/inside-tasmania-with-tourisms-top-expert monthly 0.5 2026-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/6f4323aa-2372-41e2-9ba4-1ebd794b9c15/144598-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert - Make it stand out Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park in Tasmania, Australia, an island off the southern coast accessible via quick flight from Sydney and Melbourne https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/09c59f2e-0cf0-4db2-86cf-28cb2e8f8cbb/132205-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert - The Bicheno Penguins Worth a Detour After spending an afternoon in Bicheno walking on rocks and having lunch, Stotz revealed what was missed: "They have a penguin colony there. Every evening at dusk, the penguins come in out of the ocean." These little blue penguins offer a more intimate experience than Phillip Island near Melbourne. Tour groups use special red-light flashlights to protect the penguins' eyes as you walk along sand dunes watching them return to their burrows. "I've had a penguin literally walk across my foot," Stotz says. Breeding season runs from September to January, which means more penguin activity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179403997-A0NPED7CTMZXN5JCK8AC/147128-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179404389-PA2OVC7Z93108A0PLRRN/1001204-7.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179410194-09IRKQ65J8GWAZU61R3W/1001326-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179408697-RKIK4AUMUBX8NO1YA8NA/1001462-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/6de6d5fa-9c88-49a1-aee1-0b36385cc16e/MONA.webp Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert - MONA: An Underground Art Experience MONA—Museum of Old and New Art—is housed in a building that's three stories underground, much of it below the surface of the River Derwent. The collection belongs to David Walsh, a Hobart native whose private collection includes modern art, antiquities, and sculptures. Reach it by a 25-minute ferry ride from Hobart on MONA's own catamaran. Inside, there's no signage—just an iPod-like device for navigation. According to Stotz, the philosophy? Challenge visitors. If too many people like a piece, Walsh removes it. Visitors can thumbs up or thumbs down artworks on their device. It's thought-provoking, occasionally shocking, and unexpected in Hobart. Four distinct spots for dining and cocktails round out the experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179527983-SXM7W7M6QPLVM40JZZOX/146640-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179527778-EQV4Q3XT1I1RSE2ZX88I/146642-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179535816-E3DUNGMGUNLV2FI8FPH1/147860-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179536858-SGOT3QRZJWY19IO2BMGY/1001214-7.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179773796-MXKFT7PE8ENOA94PWBU6/1001497-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179774115-VNA2E0LIWBK0SNOP7MH9/1001542-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179671398-JNXBH4A90UWUNYRMHN3G/147309-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179672364-LZI18RL0JHDF5OX9V8PJ/147310-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768179322743-QIVCCMZY59GOQFKLV8OZ/1001372-3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Tasmania with Tourism's Top Expert - Make it stand out Aurora Australis over Tasman Island https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/behind-the-scenes-appearing-on-the-last-resort-podcast monthly 0.5 2026-01-11 https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/three-perfect-nights-in-cartagena-colombia monthly 0.5 2026-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160441033-CMKAXBPPMT90GH0GWA54/ricky-beron-acH94SHbWS4-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160459396-AOMQ56LZXZQSUVTOHNUR/IMG_1396.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160557651-CGK9JDV4TNRID22GNTKD/IMG_1387.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160562494-W2QU8J569PD1GGY2AFCO/juan-nino-eL48wMgNxj4-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160634811-X9T29BYDPOLTHV96GXH2/ricardo-gomez-angel-BRQ9uA3Uo68-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160633833-LPLVJF083P95CNGPCOLD/laparte-photography-VKC0wTQ8g64-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160637866-WU00G2ZBZD71X1H0RGUO/paul-garcia-L5oubPoQ1zE-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160794304-SQS039ZFM6WZHAAYZCIG/jose-figueroa-0AN5yQOgRO8-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160714018-Q6DEY8DNY7KXU56VX35A/IMG_1389.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160716091-9CG55W0HOHREAB7QJZ21/jorge-gardner-Ck6cbtZB6Sg-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160755482-SFPLCWQBT4QYL62LGPMS/IMG_1406.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768160755653-9A8XVW4AX5GD2UDF5GX1/IMG_1400.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/217a8642-8785-4503-8032-69dea164649b/IMG_1516.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena - The food in Cartagena feeds you stories along with every meal. At La Cevicheria, the table where Anthony Bourdain once sat during his No Reservations episode was found. A framed photo of him with the owner hangs below shelves of nautical knickknacks—a shrine to the patron saint of eating well in unfamiliar places. Fish-of-the-day ceviche, handmade potato chips, lobster-stuffed empanadas, and a curry-coconut milk seafood stew that was frankly revelatory were devoured, paired with crisp Verdejo and Colombian beer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/f5abde6c-8723-490b-9767-6a13a7a6ad94/IMG_1517.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena - The perfect lunch on a hot day: Fish-of-the-day ceviche, handmade potato chips, lobster-stuffed empanadas, and a curry-coconut milk seafood stew that was frankly revelatory were devoured, paired with crisp Verdejo and Colombian beer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/8b5b7830-1c11-4bec-8b9f-de66a260b9d4/IMG_1524.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena Carmen surprised with pork tostadas topped with watermelon and pickled vegetables, fish encrusted in mung beans and sesame, and agnolotti stuffed with coffee. But it was the strip steak that stopped conversation—it tasted fresh and bacon-kissed despite being neither, proof that sometimes the most unexpected dishes become the most memorable. The old fashioned topped with ants grabbed our attention from the cocktail menu. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/177a0a02-b151-45dd-b4e7-eb8a80a0a1bf/IMG_1415.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena - Many think they know coffee. They're wrong. At Cafe San Alberto, a prearranged private coffee tasting taught how to appreciate coffee like fine wine. The seating at an impressive table setting included dried fruits, three tiny coffee cups, and a guidebook. Beans were unsheathed with fingers. Palates were tested with scent stickers and dried fruit to identify bitter, sour, and sweet notes. Then coffee was brewed via pour-over and siphon right there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/a33fac1e-310a-475e-a847-297889b9ae05/IMG_1411.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena Three varieties were tasted and the critical difference between what Colombians drink daily and the specialty coffees exported worldwide became clear. Here's what matters: all over Cartagena, hawkers sell dark coffee from canteens in shot-sized cups. At first, it's tolerable. But after tasting the specialty beans, when returning to that street coffee, the burnt flavor was unmistakable. The trip ended with a bag of the good stuff and a siphon added to the shopping list. More importantly, it ended with understanding why coffee education matters in Colombia—and why booking this experience in advance makes all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768161587257-G0RKLUCEQC8UUQVZK012/IMG_1486.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena But the real gift of La Boquilla came at Batambora, a community center teaching hundreds of kids to dance and play instruments, keeping their cultural legacy alive. They welcomed visitors and demonstrated cumbia, a traditional Afro-Colombian dance—slow, rhythmic music played on flutes, drums, and maracas. Two young dancers moved through increasingly complex demonstrations as the beat quickened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768161587213-4HPKSK69XKUJPP0IMCMO/IMG_1477.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768161587257-G0RKLUCEQC8UUQVZK012/IMG_1486.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768161584994-HK9W7BKQNOCIVZPL037F/IMG_1504.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1768161584872-PRVO2RQKGWUAF4NH2U88/IMG_1499.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Three Perfect Nights in Cartagena https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/vip-hotel-booking-from-well-placed-travel monthly 0.5 2026-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/5a1ca0ea-a235-4afe-a73d-87192d770e67/Copy+of+Modern+Elegant+Hotel+Promotion+Flyer+%28Instagram+Post+%2845%29%29.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - VIP Hotel Booking from Well Placed Travel - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/new-zealand-worth-every-mile monthly 0.5 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/3f2a028c-ddb4-448b-a978-37ae07fee624/IMG_9899.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile - The journey to New Zealand takes commitment. From the moment you step into its cinematic beauty, you understand why every mile matters. Between the lodges, food, wine and powerful nature, New Zealand ranks in Well Placed Travel’s Top 5 places ever traveled. I remember lying wide awake at 3AM on our first night, jet-lagged and staring at a sky so full of stars it didn’t look real. The night feels deeper here, quieter, infinite. Well Placed Travel spent eleven days touring the South Island to discover a combination of grandeur and intimacy that defines the New Zealand experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763578725273-8DZCBDP2WWXLPBNEHSVW/IMG_9920.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763578726748-FUU3LOAMHDQ5GQNI1HDX/IMG_9916.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763578726829-UXLWYV67Z5F5OALKH5HJ/IMG_9917.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763578725233-445EFLVIF1GJVL5TZ6WV/IMG_9931.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763578723956-H9AA75GJGZ6ZLPOO1CSM/IMG_9941.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763578723863-NRRHLT7MUI9J67NOXQ45/IMG_9984.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/44cd6f02-c1af-4bca-818c-941364d1f901/IMG_4806.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile - The Lindis: The Art of Seclusion Two hours north, The Lindis rises out of the Ahuriri Valley like a living sculpture. The drive in felt theatrical- gravel roads winding through sunlit snow squalls, sheep racing alongside the car, rivers catching the light like silver ribbons. Just when we wondered if we’d taken a wrong turn, two sculptural pillars appeared and the lodge revealed itself in a perfect “ta-da” moment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763579429599-177K867HX4LPUPXWFQFL/IMG_0025.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763579429553-SFSH7V5LZW8ETXSPXQ81/IMG_4800.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763579430635-QNWY3CV2Z68QTG1I6BNX/IMG_4805.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/4812b6fb-65c8-4eb7-9ab8-8257030a217a/IMG_0189.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile - Flockhill: The Heart of High Country And then there’s Flockhill, a 36,000 acre working station in Canterbury where the land steals the show, surrounded by limestone boulders, mountain ridges, and fields dotted with ewes. On a farm tour with the shepherd Tusa, she explained how they work the land and raise the animals. Upon realizing she forgot the dogs for a herding demonstration, we volunteered to help. We hopped out of the jeep and guided the ewes from one paddock to another “putting pressure on the sheep,” as she said, moving instinctively in rhythm with the land. Visiting during lambing season meant witnessing brand-new life: bright white lambs wobbling after their mothers, curious and fragile. Feeding an orphan with a bottle nearly knocked me off balance—it latched so hard it used my leg as leverage. It was wonderfully chaotic and easily the happiest day of the trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/585dce90-89e8-43bf-b881-463176d829c2/IMG_0219.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile - meals connected to the land Sugarloaf at Flockhill brings a culinary masterpiece to Canterbury. The chef cooks over an open flame and engages with inquisitive guests on history and technique. Like a maestro conducting an orchestra, he roasted a garlic satchel, smoked fish, cured meats, crisped a glazed duck, grilled lamb shanks, and warmed vegetables in cast iron skillets. Lunch at Sugarloaf reminded us that simplicity can sing- a burger with local beef, potato wedges and miso ramen with fermented chili, fresh buckwheat soba noodles and ginger. The delicate, delicious soup warmed us after hours exploring boulder fields. The garden grows thirty varieties of fruit, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763579624759-HQ5OF5J8FKDMB3OK21FZ/IMG_4940.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763579625569-M12NP83YMBU4H9JWHC8L/IMG_0242.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763579623864-Q7I5EF2YUP1WU7E08Q0M/IMG_0134.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763579624717-TN39CPHWRIZ1AXB0P7J2/IMG_0164.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763579623875-QIYEMFG4MFQ8RKSCWY66/IMG_4878.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/bef42f1f-5721-4970-8037-37c24b272706/IMG_0297.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile - vines behind the labels Before the trip, WPT enjoyed many New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, but visiting the wineries changed how I saw them. Standing among the vines, hearing the winemakers share family history, weather challenges, and soil types, I realized these bottles weren’t just products; they were people, seasons and lives in liquid form. On our final and sunniest morning, we rented bikes and rode like kids on the first day of summer vacation, racing over gravel roads along the Wairau River. We discovered new labels at Hans Herzog and met the owner and two dogs. We dined at Wairau River, savoring spicy pasta with local clams, focaccia and beef cheeks. I became a full-fledged Whitehaven fangirl, earning a free pen for my dedication to the brand. We bonded with the retiree pouring methode traditionelle bubbles at No. 1 Family Estate. Leaving proved difficult. Back home spotting these labels, I smile because now I know the hearts and hands behind them. It’s a small but powerful shift: understanding the deep connection between New Zealand and its creations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/3e90d366-303e-4676-8ec8-59a794b0929a/IMG_0328.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - New Zealand: Worth Every Mile - green mussels many ways One day, we followed the Queen Charlotte Track, a 45 miles (73 km) route between Ship Cove and Anakiwa. The path winds along ridgelines above the Marlborough Sounds, dipping down to quiet coves and beaches where turquoise water meets dense native bush. It’s a favorite for both hikers and mountain bikers, and even short sections deliver breathtaking views. We stopped for photos overlooking the scenic bays near Picton, wishing we had time to walk a longer portion of the track. In Havelock- the self-declared “Green-Lipped Mussel Capital of the World”- we arrived at The Mussel Pot just five minutes before closing and ordered a platter with mussels many ways: steamed, smoked, marinated, grilled, battered, and mussel croquettes. Zero regrets. We didn’t make it to the North Island this trip, but from the air it looked much like the subtropical northern tip of the South Island- lush, and inviting and home to nearly twice as many locals. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/sydney-shines monthly 0.5 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763068767138-8J0B6P71IERWHSMJDWA8/dan-freeman-7Zb7kUyQg1E-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763068764027-LDGTHF06M0E1X2C3G86M/IMG_9514.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763068764342-OQXGJ006EUMFERB9W5HT/michael-rausch-j9KnQv4Ylx0-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763068768174-KGK669FK01X62Z4X2ZMN/jamie-davies-Hao52Fu9-F8-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763069572065-1I52M6EGZXGFEEKSTMZV/SYD_196_original.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763069572065-6PHEAG5LKO7L9X285K08/SYD_284_original.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763069573059-ZK6LMNJPHSX40OE05LG6/SYD_136_original.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763069573235-0ONVH6L8AEN3X1H1DMXE/SYD_787_original.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763069774642-OZNDRWQ6F5FKTHZ3STZR/IMG_9475.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763069773470-0QRVXBAFY69ODIOI7Z29/IMG_9503.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763069773418-UIZHTK65R3JFQRGLHYN3/IMG_9501.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763070062271-LJXW7MS7629KTBMTBMC7/IMG_9655.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763070212884-CH71BGAMCU0KLQ3GVX94/IMG_9542.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763070214087-GCJVN8TX93HL2Z4FNMB2/IMG_9523.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763070212909-DUD4054GA63U57NRJHVB/IMG_9540.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763070213913-3X3267OQ1WZ3H9O4MKL6/IMG_9531.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/72ce9400-fb9e-4724-b61d-105982bc0681/johnny-bhalla-2K1bUZz1HLI-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines - Bondi Beach Bondi isn’t just a beach - it’s a lifestyle. The true communal vibe pleasantly surprised WPT. Locals jog barefoot with surfboards underarm, cafés spill onto sidewalks, and the air smells faintly of salt and sunscreen. We loved how young families brought their kiddos for picnics and sand play, local kids road their bikes along the boardwalk and the skate park featured street art from local graffiti artists. We loved walking the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Trail, winding past cliffs and sea pools, then cooling off with passionfruit lemonade and a peanut butter-banana smoothie at Cafe Bondi a short walk from the beach. We explored only one of many breathtaking Sydney Coastal walks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/b4f45d17-21e4-4b78-a896-61d427959f96/jon-callow-hmRq_NlJ3UU-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines - Manly Beach Just a 23-minute ferry from Circular Quay and the Four Seasons, Manly feels like another world with towering evergreen trees along the beach. We arrived to find the Manly Jazz Festival in full swing: a high-school band playing impressive Amy Winehouse covers, swing dancers twirling barefoot in the sand. Lunch at The Pantry - tuna crudo, rocket salad, and red snapper with crisp white wine – seated at the water’s edge was unforgettable. The ferry back to the city at sunset, gliding past the Opera House, provided cinematic travel moments you never forget. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/b1c9324c-a322-4cc4-826e-95f21a586684/jim-ouk-TYbocAw5Fvs-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Sydney Shines - Shopping with Style: The Queen Victoria Building In the heart of downtown, the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) blends charming architecture with adorable cafes and retail. Built in the 1890s, this domed, glass-roofed arcade has been restored into a beautiful shopping destination. You’ll find Australian designers, international fashion icons and artisan cafés tucked into gilded balconies beneath stained-glass skylights. WPT admired the sunlight pouring through colored glass while locals lingered over flat whites and conversation hummed through the atrium. It’s shopping as experience, not about what you buy, but how you feel while you’re there. As a former developer of retail centers, WPT appreciates what it takes to create a place where people want to be. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/inside-belize-coppola-hideaways monthly 0.5 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762985157342-EDI7RD0KALYFHZASQFYT/IMG_1135.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762985157112-6ZDXCSUARV0NFS0PB87R/IMG_1146.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762985158862-IGH78BZIJ1GO813X8UYU/IMG_1180.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762985160121-Z2S6A18YOD80LBCV85ZP/IMG_1206.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762985576285-S5CVG55KTUHYIKKNP33S/DJI_0365-HDR-1.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762985576896-7TO6BYOLA9UL6GZHDS4V/DJI_0673-HDR.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762985313484-BXIF8RVQ7QXKSUA7PEGE/IMG_1129.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762985313733-3J2Q1F7D1I2II17TKBDM/IMG_1218.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762986175433-Y5T199CGGRP9WOUVLK2I/IMG_1250.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762986187150-YEXAFL8M57VC9MLNG6D4/IMG_1228.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762986200001-6YQ4WXTWOGVG6UHBSKQK/IMG_1241.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1762986215326-Q5Q2IVJ29DXOFG92VBJE/IMG_1245.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763049243658-6N7UMCUGTUG3YS729NCI/IMG_1276.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763049244972-WNR8MPE1DRMIFKO6NFXO/IMG_1323.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763049243737-M8ALQ6Q958NZ4471FDWB/IMG_1257.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763049245064-5ZHRP1VHAGFWUE49XI3I/IMG_1279.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763049638292-P9P29LQPOO9N67NV4AAZ/IMG_1316.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763049638305-S0FSNB1T2RZN5NSFRZUA/IMG_1310.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1763049639314-SL9876NH7G7707X9K3A6/IMG_1340.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Inside Belize: Coppola Hideaways https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/client-spotlight-a-well-placed-birthday-in-bali monthly 0.5 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/614bf521-befd-4983-a581-6d93b655ab5d/IMG_9078.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Well-Placed Birthday in Bali - Make it stand out Bucket list sunrise hike on active volcano Mount Batur in Bali https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/3e9324df-5a54-44f0-a5d0-0c965de1f36d/IMG_9074.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Well-Placed Birthday in Bali - why this location? The past few birthdays felt a little empty, and I wanted this one to be different. Last year, I promised myself that this year I would truly celebrate. I have wanted to go to Bali ever since reading Eat, Pray, Love years ago and watching the movie several times. I intended for Bali to be more than a vacation. I wanted space to slow down, heal and reconnect with myself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/3daea12b-34e6-4b00-9ab3-0ffa10a3ba36/IMG_9047.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Well-Placed Birthday in Bali - what was it like working with Well Placed Travel? Karen asks thoughtful questions about what I wanted this trip to be. She brought it to life even better than I could have imagined. Every detail was perfect. The beautiful hotels, the seamless transfers, the incredible guides, and so many unforgettable experiences. I’m so grateful for her care and creativity and I can’t wait to plan my next adventure with her! France, Spain, Hungary, Morocco, and Japan are on my 2026 list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761492509918-ZWWOKULRJUCHVGGFFBQK/IMG_9077.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Well-Placed Birthday in Bali https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761492506899-NQMNWEDBC3VPCA36Y7B5/IMG_9067.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Well-Placed Birthday in Bali https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761492505936-UMQ3FLEZFYCJUERZUDI2/IMG_9046.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Well-Placed Birthday in Bali https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761492508572-FHC6G3Q9OSJZ7KSIKPTU/IMG_9073.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Well-Placed Birthday in Bali https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761492507433-IHATO437SSXCL1NQW073/IMG_9072.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Well-Placed Birthday in Bali https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761492509080-GLA8F2YEOI5ZUQCFT517/IMG_9076.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Well-Placed Birthday in Bali https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/77acb51e-172b-459e-9194-ce6b7977a2b4/IMG_9050.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Well-Placed Birthday in Bali - what should others know about Bali? Bali is a place that inspires. From lush rice terraces and beautiful beaches to temple ceremonies and local crafts, every moment invites you to slow down and connect. With warm people, immersive experiences, and thoughtful luxury, the island leaves you refreshed, inspired, and ready to see the world a little differently. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/client-spotlight-montral-amp-qubec-city-family-road-trip monthly 0.5 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/2b76875e-5e53-4115-aada-c0a075ab8830/IMG_1503.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Montréal & Québec City Family Road Trip - Make it stand out Most of the Sheff family at the Jardin Botanique de Montreal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/61c366e0-cbdd-4f65-9a65-ceeb04d628fd/IMG_1591.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Montréal & Québec City Family Road Trip - montreal In Montréal, a centrally located hotel made sightseeing simple. They loved Old Montréal for its restaurants, history, and walkable streets, and called the Botanic Garden “top notch.” An accessibility tip: take an Uber partway up Mount Royal to skip the stairs and still catch the views. Daily breakfast was a highlight, especially the chocolate-almond croissant (“Why have I never had this in my life?” asked mom) and fresh fruit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/3e1e0f2e-6aff-4c30-8108-49790eb407a3/IMG_1605.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Montréal & Québec City Family Road Trip - quebec city After a three-hour drive, plus a stop in picturesque Trois-Rivières, they arrived in Québec City, where their castle-like hotel offered views of the river, boardwalk and Old Town from the room, visibility of the fireworks at night and a great pool. “Fairmont Chateau Frontenac is an amazing historic hotel. The pool was so warm and is a gorgeous art deco style at the top of the hotel,” said Mom. A scenic boat cruise along impressive shores and waterfalls gave the perfect break from walking. Exploring Petit-Champlain by funicular felt straight out of France. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761489969639-LO3H0MXPWP3BIRGY166N/IMG_1489.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Montréal & Québec City Family Road Trip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761489970782-9T0VP6N1U8KK4L1O5JHG/IMG_1508.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Montréal & Québec City Family Road Trip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761489971440-B2AYGRU1DOS2MQD3FSFF/IMG_1561.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Montréal & Québec City Family Road Trip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761489975266-2O6X5YK6RY874RT7Q8IS/IMG_1584.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Montréal & Québec City Family Road Trip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761489975097-UPJ8PXFCKHWDSMXNA7YE/IMG_1620.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Montréal & Québec City Family Road Trip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1761489978399-TBXSHQZ4QP57O0LQ5X4T/the-bialons-36B-WO8yCMs-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: Montréal & Québec City Family Road Trip https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/behind-the-pink-walls-a-morning-in-the-majorelle-gardens monthly 0.5 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/eff36ae3-1cb6-47a5-8c36-382e109e05ec/ine-driesens-RG06Ii7cu_k-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Behind the Pink Walls: A Morning in the Majorelle Gardens - On another warm morning in Marrakech, we tumbled out of the van, heads ducked, shoes coated in the fine powder that covers every street. I’ll admit, I hadn’t even heard of Jardin Majorelle until a couple of weeks before the trip. Its connection to Yves Saint Laurent made me raise an eyebrow, but Marrakech has taught me to never judge a place by its pink stucco exterior. Behind plain walls often hides an oasis. Inside, the garden instantly calms with cool shade from towering bamboo, koi gliding in still ponds, and splashes of cobalt blue and emerald green painted on pots. It feels both designed and effortless. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/87c3d9ad-6e89-4a37-9180-14d657ec9a3c/IMG_9215.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Behind the Pink Walls: A Morning in the Majorelle Gardens - The special moment during the garden stroll came with a single pomegranate tree in a planter, proudly displaying the full cycle of life- a tiny hot pink bud, a half-formed fruit in its awkward teenage stage, and a nearly full-grown pomegranate ready for its starring role in a salad. I’ve never been a fan - too many seeds, too much fuss - but seeing it here felt like a reminder of patience and promise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757442776890-TMXC4GIPF3V0I51RXTIH/IMG_9204.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Behind the Pink Walls: A Morning in the Majorelle Gardens https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757441841987-VGRU4FKF0QQZUOE3RQVT/IMG_9212.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Behind the Pink Walls: A Morning in the Majorelle Gardens https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757441800280-PLVJAVHJ4YR9ILNXKIL4/chloe-lefleur-OPyNbGPPxWo-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Behind the Pink Walls: A Morning in the Majorelle Gardens https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757441805366-C0X644PYZA8LZH2LXTFN/tonny-huang-ptypYfiR7sM-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Behind the Pink Walls: A Morning in the Majorelle Gardens https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757441801419-C7BM1MA06HL3F5LOJ34X/liubov-novikova-CTLdlgaQYa0-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Behind the Pink Walls: A Morning in the Majorelle Gardens - Just down the street, the YSL Museum took the mood in a different direction. The building itself is a work of art with brickwork mimicking woven fabric and soft colors balancing strong materials with elegance. Inside, couture pieces from the collection of Hamish Bowles sat dramatically in a darkened gallery, each one more theatrical than the last. Some were timeless, others impossibly impractical (how does one even sit in those gowns?), but all of them fascinating. A short film showing the delicate packing and preservation of these garments was oddly mesmerizing, watching gloved hands carefully give shape to jackets and dresses so they could travel safely was its own kind of performance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/3f74826c-1eef-4173-86e1-85ce0c2cdac9/IMG_1399.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Behind the Pink Walls: A Morning in the Majorelle Gardens - Like all good museums, both experiences ended too soon, nudging us out through gift shops filled with colorful temptations. Waiting for us outside was our guide, Chakib, perfectly put together in light-grey trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a sky-blue cap embroidered with “MAINE.” In the bustle of Marrakech, he looked impossibly cool. The Majorelle Gardens may be one of Marrakech’s most-visited spots, but for me, the morning wasn’t just about Yves Saint Laurent or bold architecture. It was about unexpected moments - a flash of shade, a glittering room of jewelry, and a pomegranate tree quietly showing off its stages of life. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/your-top-ten-travel-questions-about-morocco-answered monthly 0.5 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535648389-FFZED9TKX36L3VUQP0I2/IMG_0639.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535648196-CRLM37M7KPJOJF4UMXZE/IMG_8885.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535649128-499GOJGMH8NUF6IY6HPA/IMG_9020.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535649251-6X380KMOXUZD0XY3CT1C/IMG_9310.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535513030-ZKH1PU862NAWKZPTUIGA/IMG_4774.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535514139-6XT5PLPP5INNZKI0NQ99/IMG_8384.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535514836-6IJTFLMPY6ZF1J0DAIXO/IMG_8882.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535513144-3ZRJYD6QJ6R6VOY36DC9/IMG_5553.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535998890-UQ4O4KFAV9U1CWJ9CWSN/IMG_1219.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535998890-ECLYTUR4UAHK363GLUH1/IMG_5597.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535999766-BTMXWE36VIBZRQA49JMV/IMG_7447.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535999981-IBGPOP27JNC9ZOC1UYEB/IMG_7455.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757536238528-53H2W5D2FKXNA1F7P9VL/IMG_0153.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757536238486-FXDDBT99AY3Z4DG08ZMK/IMG_5535.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757536239317-RBLVAGVE9KCYLD9M3S2N/IMG_8768.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757536239569-OX1Z8VMKWDW3BV4BP8VM/IMG_8900.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Top Ten Travel Questions About Morocco, Answered https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/discover-morocco-culture-color-and-adventure-await monthly 0.5 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757535240325-2ZXSKLU6L2YS26JG9NK2/IMG_9193.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - What to Love about Morocco - A Cultural Mosaic Morocco blends Middle Eastern and Muslim traditions with North African authenticity and hints of Southern European influence. From the call to prayer echoing five times a day to European-inspired architecture, every corner brings discovery. exceptional Hospitality Morocco’s hotels are works of art, blending centuries-old architecture with modern elegance. From lavish riads hidden in medinas to vineyard inns, serene desert camps and coastal retreats, each property offers its own sense of wonder. What makes the experience unforgettable is Morocco’s legendary hospitality, where every detail is infused with warmth, generosity, and a deep sense of welcome. You feel truly cared for. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/891d3503-1363-43db-ac29-35dbb2b8ac5e/IMG_9300.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - What to Love about Morocco - imazighen/Berber Heritage Learning about the native Berber culture added depth and authenticity to the journey. The Indigenous people of Morocco are the Amazigh (plural: Imazighen), which means “free people”, often known as Berbers. Spread across Morocco’s mountains, deserts, and villages, the Amazigh have a rich cultural heritage of language, music, art, and traditions that predate Arab influence and continue to thrive today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/86299aca-ce9c-45c7-a8a7-962d292603c8/IMG_0783.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - What to Love about Morocco - Medina Magic Behind massive, imposing walls lie secret gardens, mosaic-filled courtyards, and labyrinthine alleyways. Experience children playing, communal bakeries, local merchants, and serene quiet - all in a centuries-old design that keeps cool under the sun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757532823427-0IYMAEW66650HALWV9HN/IMG_1331.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - What to Love about Morocco https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757532823416-3PUQ1V53CAQM53MV7TXJ/IMG_1652.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - What to Love about Morocco https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757532824502-NLCZM8M1HMO90H4A9676/IMG_7447.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - What to Love about Morocco https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757532824422-HQ73YOXRWHTW46EZ9SC4/IMG_8900.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - What to Love about Morocco https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1d896ef7-2344-422f-977c-fb4c1c306675/IMG_4774.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - What to Love about Morocco - Exceptional Cuisine Fresh, layered, and authentic. Roadside markets, hand made bread baked daily, butcher shops, olives, wine, tender tagines, delicate couscous, and simple vegetable salads showcase Morocco’s rich agricultural heritage. The cuisine features rich spice blends without being spicy. And, there are exceptional chefs from Japan, Lebanon, Greece, France and Italy sharing the cuisine of their home countries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/070f4c62-bbbe-43a2-ad6f-278ff074efc7/IMG_9117.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - What to Love about Morocco - Breathtaking Landscapes Rolling hills, olive groves, vineyards, the dramatic Atlantic coast with the promise of southern beaches and the Atlas Mountains for a return visit Adventure Everywhere Desert camps, camel treks, 4x4s in the dunes, hot air balloon rides over the Atlas Mountains, ancient Roman ruins, and sprawling vineyards make every day unforgettable. Relax at exceptional hotel pools or reset at a hammam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/c1b2d94a-ed1c-42ca-a904-8d7c3db6d988/IMG_9308.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - What to Love about Morocco - Why Travel with Well Placed Travel With our expertise and local Moroccan partners, we curate immersive experiences that take you beyond the typical visit, exploring Morocco’s stories, flavors, and hidden corners in style and comfort. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/morocco-stole-my-heart-with-two-bread-loaves monthly 0.5 2025-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757273534145-HXPN6JI3J02H9G00WZY6/IMG_8988.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Morocco Stole My Heart with Two Bread Loaves https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757273473257-86CM1BVZ27F0WTCIPBX1/IMG_8972.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Morocco Stole My Heart with Two Bread Loaves https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757273473236-CK3KENKFTNUT3NSCBABW/IMG_8968.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Morocco Stole My Heart with Two Bread Loaves https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757273503133-KOOSISQR6XSIAS7N3QL4/IMG_8980.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Morocco Stole My Heart with Two Bread Loaves https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757273490592-VMOBXG2IQ0SPEGKP70RW/IMG_8978.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Morocco Stole My Heart with Two Bread Loaves https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757273513553-E9KXDVJPAB5P95T1OLQZ/IMG_8981.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Morocco Stole My Heart with Two Bread Loaves https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/56854095-3870-4267-a6a8-25e9d6952967/IMG_5683.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Morocco Stole My Heart with Two Bread Loaves In one quiet stretch, a tiny door creaked open. An elderly woman appeared, just as startled by us as we were by her and quickly disappeared back inside. Moments later, she returned with a wooden board covered by cloth, revealing two round loaves of unbaked bread. She set it on the threshold and retreated, leaving the door slightly ajar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1e089bde-7d17-41d5-bc1a-a21de98f8556/IMG_8965+%281%29.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Morocco Stole My Heart with Two Bread Loaves A man passed, called to her in Arabic, then kept walking. A second man stopped and exchanged a few words, pointing vigorously in one direction. She came to the door, looked in that direction and nodded in agreement. The man hoisted the bread board onto his shoulder and carried it down the alley towards the direction he pointed. Chakib explained: many homes in the medina don’t have ovens. Women prepare dough each morning and leave it outside their doors, trusting that a passerby will deliver it to the communal bakery. The first man wasn’t headed that way, but the second was so he became the bread courier. Later that day, someone would return the bread to the home or it would be retrieved by a family member. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757274190617-LTN15HD20QIH7UURGZM2/IMG_8758.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Morocco Stole My Heart with Two Bread Loaves https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757274190699-XH4LHQZVDCUZG36Z65C0/IMG_5394.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Morocco Stole My Heart with Two Bread Loaves https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/getting-schooled-by-a-moroccan-hot-air-balloon monthly 0.5 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/13348817-9bcf-4e8d-ba6f-73fbd9835300/IMG_1185.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Getting Schooled by a Moroccan Hot Air Balloon - For many, a hot air balloon ride is a bucket list dream. Having never done it, I had crafted a neat little story in my head about what it would be like: drive up, hop into a tiny basket fit for a litter of kittens, and float away. The landing never once crossed my mind. On a recent trip to Morocco with seven fellow travel advisors, hosted by a Moroccan tour provider, we visited multiple cities, toured extraordinary hotels, and immersed ourselves in unforgettable experiences. The sunrise balloon ride outside Marrakech was one of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757269539745-Y2NI7QG48FV6RMOQ9DGP/IMG_0889.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Getting Schooled by a Moroccan Hot Air Balloon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757269540957-Z8XI8AU674LXELZBPAWR/IMG_5181.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Getting Schooled by a Moroccan Hot Air Balloon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757269540888-AH2HDUUJFLJTDLY6FVAG/IMG_0920.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Getting Schooled by a Moroccan Hot Air Balloon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757270093809-PWZ1RRU21SCB2W5OIYC7/IMG_1154.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Getting Schooled by a Moroccan Hot Air Balloon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757270093768-D4VHOB8B2K2NEBOY9R7Y/IMG_1162.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Getting Schooled by a Moroccan Hot Air Balloon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1757270230090-WYIZVODJYQBJJO9OB8NN/IMG_1174.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Getting Schooled by a Moroccan Hot Air Balloon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/14b1768f-97a5-4941-9596-9d6461fa1c55/IMG_0943.JPG Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Getting Schooled by a Moroccan Hot Air Balloon The ascent felt like slipping into another world. When the burners paused, the silence was profound. The Atlas Mountains glowed pink behind us; the desert stretched endlessly below; villages reduced to toy blocks and roads filled with cars the size of ants. Suspended in that stillness, my fear of heights dissolved. It was too peaceful to worry. At one point, a guest pulled a saxophone from its case and began to play. Pop hits and dance anthems floated into the morning air as the basket turned into a mid-sky celebration. We sang and swayed, but in between the laughter I savored the quiet, too- the mindfulness of simply being there, present and weightless. But soon, I was about to be schooled on the landing. In my imagination, balloons touched down gently on soft fields cushioned with moss and flowers. In reality: desert rock and sand, and the unpredictability of wherever the wind carried us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/4dd83795-2424-45b9-b796-bd11918da21f/IMG_9139.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Getting Schooled by a Moroccan Hot Air Balloon - Our ginger-haired Egyptian pilot, who had been joking and singing through the ride, suddenly grew serious. He barked instructions: sit on the bench, head down, hands gripping the ropes, and do not move until told. With no view of what was happening, we braced. The basket slammed down at an angle, jarring us. We lifted, then hit again, dragged across sand and rocks as the ground crew sprinted to catch and steady us. A dozen men wrestled the balloon under control, shouting, tying, deflating, and folding the fabric into itself. It was chaotic, athletic, and strangely spectacular. When we were finally allowed to climb out, we gave the team a standing ovation. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/chasing-seasons-in-jackson monthly 0.5 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/69973dbc-bbe9-4ecd-b329-02f087f1a16b/jonah-brown-eYAsBnNISa4-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Chasing Seasons in Jackson - Where to Stay Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa offers flexibility with a blend of hotel rooms and condo-style accommodations—ideal for families or groups. Hotel Terra gives you the feel of a ski-in/ski-out condo hotel with the service of a boutique stay. Four Seasons Jackson Hole offers the classic mountain-luxury experience in Teton Village. Hotel Jackson is a design-forward, walkable gem right in town. If you’re after space, quiet, and a touch of “local,” look into rental homes near the perimeter of town, especially near the base of Snow King Mountain. These often come with sweeping views and that much-needed extra room to stretch out after a day outdoors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/5e50c672-ea9c-4934-ae47-acfbee5fd4b8/humberto-portillo-Rajt-MkPvWQ-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Chasing Seasons in Jackson - Summer in Jackson: Trails, Tastes & the Great Outdoors When the snow melts, the wildflowers pop and the trails beckon. Summer in Jackson is a hiker’s dream and a national park lover’s jackpot. Must-do summer highlights: Explore Grand Teton National Park, just a short drive from downtown. The Lupine Meadows Trailhead is a top pick for panoramic hikes—and a good quad burn. For more of a challenge, Granite Canyon offers steeper climbs and wildlife sightings (we saw a moose; others spotted bears). Visit Yellowstone National Park via the nearby south entrance—you’ll be soaking in geysers, spotting bison, and marveling at waterfalls in under an hour. It’s hard to believe such an iconic landscape is just up the road. Take the tram to Rendezvous Mountain and reward your bravery with legendary waffles slathered in butter, cinnamon, or Nutella. Snow King Mountain is your backyard playground with hiking, ziplining, a ropes course, and a family-friendly biking circuit. Catch live tunes at the Snow King Music Series or stroll the Jackson Farmers Market for locally made everything. Don’t miss the Jackson Rodeo, a lively and authentic evening that feels straight out of a Western film—boots optional, cheering mandatory. For a quieter trip, locals suggest visiting in late September or early October, when the crowds thin, the air is crisp, and the aspens are just starting to glow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/17a49f1a-e457-4149-a7aa-50fab6cf287c/JAC_484_original-fourseasons.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Chasing Seasons in Jackson - Winter in Jackson Jackson Hole Village courtesy of Four Seasons Jackson Hole https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/f64aaaa0-7153-4af9-a300-0156e0eb0f2c/isaac-quick-C2y8mk94Oss-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Chasing Seasons in Jackson - For the Food-Lovers Wherever your feet (or skis) take you, Jackson keeps your taste buds entertained. Persephone Bakery has two locations and is the go-to for perfect pastries and warm lattes. FIGS delivers bright Lebanese dishes in a cozy-chic setting. Local lives up to its name with seasonal plates and a lively vibe in the heart of town. The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is worth the hype. Go early to snag a saddle-seat at the bar before the line starts snaking down the block post-8:30 p.m. when live music kicks off. Art, Shopping, and a Little Cowboy Magic Jackson is more than its mountains. Between art galleries, local boutiques, and gear shops, there’s something for everyone—especially those who like their retail therapy with a side of elk antlers. And don’t be surprised if you see van lifers parked nearby—everyone, it seems, is chasing the Jackson dream. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/trading-tradition-for-tranquility-palmaia monthly 0.5 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1eb383a9-3a4e-4360-a5ae-ed118f245d6c/palmaia-the-house-of.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Trading Tradition for Tranquility - Welcome to the Jungle Welcome to serenity: The House of AïA greets guests with jungle vibes and ocean breezes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/2ac2653e-b886-4973-83ae-72c73990a1ad/Untitled-design-2024-08-09T101829.037.png Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Trading Tradition for Tranquility Your Personal Concierge (aka Nomadic Guide) Every guest at Palmaïa is paired with a Nomadic Guide—your go-to person for everything. Jennifer’s guide handled restaurant reservations, taxi rides into town, even delivered sunscreen to her cabana. “And always with a cheerful, ‘Es un placer,’” she says. At the end of each day, you receive a text with the next day’s holistic activity schedule—a thoughtful mix of mind-body offerings like: Sunrise yoga on the oceanfront deck Sound baths under the jungle canopy Cacao and forgiveness ceremonies Meditation and breathwork sessions Creative classes like drawing and painting Some sessions happen in open-air spaces like the ritual deck; others in the serene Aisuru Room—with a post-class stop at Plantissa Café for fresh plant-based bites. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/74a2cc20-5ece-4b71-9ea1-a721a0709b6a/image4.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Trading Tradition for Tranquility - Palmaïa blends eco-luxury with serious attention to detail: Spacious suites with ocean views, balconies, or swim-out pools Vegan furnishings, cruelty-free toiletries, and no single-use plastics Menus that are 90% plant-based, with sustainable proteins available Six inspired restaurants and four bars, all prioritizing clean, seasonal ingredients Their culinary philosophy follows seven promises, including no refined sugars or oils, fermented food options at every meal, and breads crafted with sourdough starters. (Translation: clean eating never tasted so good.) The resort serves an array of creative mocktails and adult beverages in several bars and a mixology lounge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1dfb0ac5-6b73-434d-bede-787b14322a38/meg-von-haartman-8oVjuIPjibM-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Trading Tradition for Tranquility - Wild Neighbors & Quiet Paths Jennifer loved spotting local wildlife: coatis, agoutis, spider monkeys, lizards, and an Instagram-worthy array of birds. Guests can stroll along quiet paths, borrow a bike, or hitch a ride in an electric golf cart. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/still-dreaming-in-mountain-time monthly 0.5 2025-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/d9fa0816-d499-4c01-aae6-ebce7eeeb72f/glacier.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time - Glacier National Park- Going to the Sun Road- courtesy of Glacier National Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1753212295699-T4E34J6NCGYTC2I0BFUL/IMG_8356.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1753212296918-ASBWPXLH8NOAI91RMS7N/IMG_8364.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1753212295609-7Y02HM36EA7U8QLI0RQ5/IMG_3558.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1753212315857-JVOW4KWB26ZHBVXQ8E0P/glacier2.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1753212750566-P6PTIIKEW4RTPLX679I9/glaicergoat.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time - Make it stand out Scraggly, photogenic mountain goat courtesy of Glacier National Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/77c911cf-1162-4c14-bbb1-cdc8ce93fb9e/mammothhotspringsseenfrobunsenpeak.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time - Make it stand out View of Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces from Bunsen Peak; photo courtesy of Yellowstone National Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1753214558548-JUSVRZ91N9B2CWE2BYO9/yellowstoneelk.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1753214558593-WJOO7K3USVSUC1XD04L3/Yellowstonebison.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1753214559520-W6O1YXP2Q07PIUFCUL34/yellowstoneengineers.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1753214559604-PUCMNX7NRNSRTWJZN6AT/yellowstone+guardhouse.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Dreaming in Mountain Time https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/client-spotlight-a-creative-culture-filled-family-adventure-in-japan monthly 0.5 2025-07-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/09a9365d-d4c2-4c7e-9e58-46e2a51b7903/kyoto-06-20-2025-family-trip-33_original.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Creative, Culture-Filled Family Adventure in Japan - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/fdb829fb-36a0-47f0-aaa8-31d33c80ce8c/IMG_8217.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Creative, Culture-Filled Family Adventure in Japan - From the moment they landed, everything was tailored to their interests — including private guides, drivers, translators, and unique cultural experiences that brought Japan to life. A highlight? The arts-focused activities that sparked curiosity and connection across generations. “Since my family has an interest in the Arts, Karen was able to find several experiences which we felt were unique,” the client shared. “Such as Japanese swordmaking, wood block printing; ceramics; and Sushi making .” The client arranged a family photo shoot- a great idea for any trip- not only to capture professional photos in an exquisite sending, but to use for eyecatching annual holiday cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/47bdfbed-7ad9-40b0-9d34-fc4cd4b0fc8c/Tayu5.png Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Client Spotlight: A Creative, Culture-Filled Family Adventure in Japan - Their time in Kyoto was capped with a serene tea ceremony and a visit with Tayu — “perhaps the most cultural of the experiences. It’s grown on me in the days since,” the client reflected. Tayu stands apart as a symbol of the highest artistry and distinction. Once the only women permitted to enter the Imperial Court, Tayus were not simply entertainers—they were elite masters of the classical arts, philosophy, and etiquette, trained to perform for emperors and noble families. Unlike Geisha or Maiko, a Tayu’s presence signified the utmost honor. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/thinking-of-japan monthly 0.5 2025-07-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/00c09a5c-882d-43cd-8297-59078e5b0e81/daniel-schludi-y6Q20FSLq2Y-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Thinking of Japan? - Why Japan Belongs on Every Traveler’s List Stunning Nature- From spring cherry blossoms to fiery fall foliage, Japan’s landscapes are breathtaking year-round. Think snow-capped mountains, serene lakes and dramatic coastlines. World-Class Skiing- Prefer powder to petals? Head to the Japanese Alps or Hokkaido for top-tier skiing — without the crowds or price tags of U.S. resorts. Culture + Contrasts- Japan blends tradition and innovation like nowhere else. From tea ceremonies and temples to neon-lit cities, every experience feels rich and layered. A Foodie’s Dream- Beyond sushi, enjoy izakayas, street snacks, ramen shops, vending machines and Michelin-starred dining. Japanese cuisine is about flavor, ritual, and craftsmanship. Art + Design Everywhere- From ancient artisans to sleek modern architecture, Japan is a haven for creatives. Even everyday objects reflect deep attention to beauty and detail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/e7e99b58-e9ce-4dbe-ad87-37e5e23990bf/matthew-buchanan-VVi59Xtsd8Y-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Thinking of Japan? - When to Go Best Times- Spring and fall offer ideal weather and scenery. If you don’t mind heat and humidity, summer works too! For skiing, January thru early March brings peak powder. Avoid- Late December into early January — many guides, restaurants and experiences pause for the holidays. Tip- Japan is busy year-round. Booking early helps secure top guides, hotels, ryokan and experiences. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/faa25c53-7ff9-4c19-893c-fec19badcc18/damian-hutter-KWhSooZLl2w-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Thinking of Japan? - Go Beyond Tokyo & Kyoto Hokkaido + Sapporo- National parks, hot springs, and volcanic lakes Wakayama- Coastal charm and spiritual landmarks south of Kyoto Historic Towns- Discover Takayama, Kanazawa, and Nagoya for preserved Edo-era vibes Okinawa- Unwind in a Blue Zone with beaches and waterfalls Ryokan Stays- Experience authentic Japanese hospitality with tatami rooms and onsen baths Easy Day Trips- Visit Hiroshima, Nara, Mount Fuji, and more Offbeat visits- Rabbit Island for yes- free roaming bunnies, Mikkimoto Island for pearls, and art immersed Naoshima Island https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/98c55eb7-d0c9-49b2-a896-da511708492a/adrien-bruneau-r73-4AXPBEs-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Thinking of Japan? - One-of-a-Kind Experiences Shop local markets with a chef and cook seaside BBQ together. Meet a swordsmith, learn his craft, make a sword, then enjoy lunch made by his family. Make ramen with a Michelin-starred chef. Glamp near Mount Fuji for a cozy wilderness escape. Unwind in Okinawa’s Blue Zone with beaches and waterfalls. Enjoy a private Tayu immersion, the elite form of Geisha, in a private room at a local restaurant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/9d77dec0-b117-49f3-95fc-20b61fe3a3ea/antonio-araujo-xTPCYghmiQQ-unsplash.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Thinking of Japan? - Smart Travel Tips Reserve Restaurants Early- Places are small, making walk-ins challenging. Book ahead. Tipping- It's not expected and can even be seen as rude. You may tip guides and drivers from your daily excursions, but use a clean envelope and both hands to deliver it. Tattoos + Onsen- Many hot springs restrict tattooed guests. Look for tattoo-friendly options or private onsen. Embrace the Pajamas- Hotels often provide pajamas in your room— it night feel strange to wear them, but they are so cozy you may want to take them home. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/family-road-trip-best-of-ireland-and-northern-ireland monthly 0.5 2025-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/278a1f3a-f489-4403-b846-b7d0bb2717a6/1000036991.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland - Happy Clients Well Placed Travel clients The Bacile Family during family golf day in Killarney, Ireland When asked about their favorite moments, the unanimous answer was, “All of it!” But there were some highlights that stood out. The kids loved the Dingle Peninsula hike, showing off their skills on golf day in Killarney, exploring the legendary Giant’s Causeway, and soaking up the atmosphere in Ireland’s iconic pubs. Mom and Dad’s list looked strikingly similar. After all, what’s not to love about live music, stunning landscapes, and endless opportunities for laughter? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/24adda10-da1a-4bb7-baea-3897c268d6cb/Fitzwilliam+Belfast+-+Lobby.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland - Belfast Treasures The family’s journey was peppered with delightful discoveries. In Belfast, they were wowed by their “swanky” stay at The Fitzwilliam Hotel, complete with an upgraded corner room, amenities and exceptional service from the staff. They stumbled upon Jailhouse Coffee tucked away in an alley—a charming spot with great brews. The Titanic Museum and the legends of the Giant’s Causeway added a touch of history and fun to the itinerary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/95d72686-3190-4551-9932-f4ca517ca06c/IMG_4509.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland - A Giant’s shoe- learning the local lore at Giant’s Causeway https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/6f014b1d-b088-4dc1-926b-19a075dc7f34/1000037278.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland - Exploring Dublin: A Vibrant Capital The capital city of Dublin offered a mix of history, culture, and bustling energy. The family explored Trinity College and its renowned Long Room Library, home to the Book of Kells, a masterpiece of medieval art. Strolling through the cobblestone streets, they enjoyed vibrant pubs, live music, and delicious Irish dishes. At the National Leprechaun Museum, they learned more about Irish folklore, although the experience wasn’t quite what they expected—it still added a whimsical touch to their trip. The Guinness Storehouse was a highlight, especially the Academy Tour where they poured their own beer and enjoyed 360-degree views of Dublin from the Foredeck Bar. As a family, they even competed to “split the G” in their Guinness pours—a fun challenge that made the visit memorable! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749658907935-4SOETL17WRK08YCMKS0P/1000037050.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749658907181-FRKHUYQNASL2CVP6M12R/1000037235.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749658912309-HQ458G7SV08JXKDP730U/1000036863.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749658912320-HR22WL86A3HL3YRBOVPE/1000036962.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749658913969-8RTBDI08EMS2878231T2/1000036668.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749658914274-2882ZM4C3A5GSA2EWNKT/1000036806.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749658916610-MAIE7FMUD30RDF251667/1000036853.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - Family Road Trip: Best of Ireland & Northern Ireland https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/tl-missed-these-latin-american-travel-gems monthly 0.5 2025-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749133353776-FU6A9P78C0LTIOP50J9V/vik-hotel-chile-1.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749133414772-0XPERO00Y81K6J3CVLR0/IMG_1194.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749133361189-IIPSTH05BMYS5KHYOMII/BAHIA+VIK+-+Madera+Bungalow.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749133353780-30ZFOHCOX0HK8VH2WSFK/PLAYA+VIK+-+Casas.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749133361152-5BLPR8QPTWDJLB6XDKUJ/BAHIA+VIK+-+Main+Building.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749133354957-OL6HVHF33EQX8F6IPTEU/PLAYA+VIK+-+Cantilevered+Pool.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135047771-7MOVFXCFICG6K6O9UDB7/_Q3B0803.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135049277-R8BYUOZSDYYK5BYY6L66/_Q3B7330.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135044318-TNNMSL99J2GMDMGRJ54V/2Q3B0679.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135046577-DYHBIJ6NBVAENCET0R6P/_Q3B2180.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135043577-DWZZR6ULM6618UYDTNWF/2Q3B2131.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135040079-17G2930LV1I37DCZQMW8/2Q3B2251.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135039602-GXZ5296ML48T5N9OJKEQ/2Q3B1289.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135721678-QJCEHXFMD2AJ0X6IBDBO/Titilaka_16.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135721587-EEPVP1CF6AARW240QQ3N/Titilaka_29.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135716275-YJT55DFL6601QLTCQKBH/PUQIO+129.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135714952-OM2CHGLJQTMO3YKKPJ8J/PUQIO+117.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135716591-BASFXFN7IMP86XZ3FY2D/PUQIO+142.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135713735-EEHSBCPUKBSXQ1OCIFKI/PUQIO+116.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135718499-YLMGT416Y1G7CWUNRUZO/TNJ+7.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135719836-S9FX2SB5R5H0UKY0IS66/Titilaka_38.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749135713354-M8CE3DAVT4FE9TM3TQYK/CIRQA+80.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223434125-H8PCGI5NVPJZBKYU38F6/146_General_TCunniffe.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223436367-NR4UOTLCKM4QNYN2TWF6/3.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223435852-N9PGZ2L8FY1LKMWH2QLF/IMG_1380.jpeg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223434185-YZ0RRLC4VAOCNMY66WZ6/Los%2BPotreros%2B23%2B-125.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223435151-HNJ3HBGX36UCAMXSD7MU/11.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223438095-KG9RQDVSPTKVAUAKAOH6/swissadventurists_lospotreros-08447.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223986805-FJVR51NLNJ1VEK18MM45/explorations-129.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223986309-WXSNPUBXBJJ90RJPOV62/explorations-91.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223987681-WE8WH7ESWGGBRDWU7XTV/sea-yacht.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223984249-JUZFXOT190MN37YN5T36/yacht1.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223985759-234QYDC1XMMOQ92LYYRX/socialnetworks.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223984264-2BQRPW9UHY44D42M11PL/terrace-room-view.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/1749223985250-5RWTNQ3UE2KMCE7L0CWT/balcony-rooms-2.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - T+L missed these Latin American travel Gems https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/why-latin-america-should-be-next-on-your-travel-list monthly 0.5 2025-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/c84b50d4-caa9-4076-8b9e-949ac1f5aa85/Hotel+Las+Islas+-+%2813%29+%282%29.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - WHY LATIN AMERICA SHOULD BE next on YOUR TRAVEL LIST - Hotel Las Islas Explore the jungle and beach at Cartagena, Columbia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/5deafd4e-11ae-450e-b22f-377473eff408/12_R.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - WHY LATIN AMERICA SHOULD BE next on YOUR TRAVEL LIST At Correntoso Lake + River Hotel, experience winter in July at this stunning Argentinian destination https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/3f12dd47-37e5-4beb-b2e0-ed6bc7cf787b/Reporte2Mayo2010.jfif Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - WHY LATIN AMERICA SHOULD BE next on YOUR TRAVEL LIST - Lodge-to-Lodge trekking Lodge-to-lodge trekking with Mountain Lodges of Peru for an unforgettable journey to Machu Picchu https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/ed15d65b-2730-4f73-9930-fadeee711d9e/ACP_GAIA_DAY1_1925small.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - WHY LATIN AMERICA SHOULD BE next on YOUR TRAVEL LIST - Make it stand out Shaman experience at Gaia River Lodge in Belize rainforest https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/quick-tips-for-india-travel monthly 0.5 2025-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/fc83515d-f93c-403b-892c-98fc32e69e3e/IMG_7117.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - quick tips for india travel - when to go October through early March has the best weather for international travelers. Planning to visit during Christmas and New Years? Start planning in March of the same year so you get ideal hotels and best guides. Planning any other time of year? Four months in advance is sufficient timing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/26cc4a8a-9198-4b68-b497-eff7a2a2b54e/IMG_7109.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - quick tips for india travel - best advice Go with the flow. It’s a new and different place, but with a DMC you are in good hands. Plans can change, so remain open and flexible. For instance, when Well Placed Travel visited, a direct flight was canceled not to be rescheduled by the airline. We pivoted and it took longer to get there, but we arrived eventually. We didn’t have to adjust the plans ourselves with the help of the Banyan Tours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/3679f9c8-ecd7-4d64-a99e-7db6465db3b8/IMG_7301.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - quick tips for india travel - jet lag Listen to your body when it comes to jet lag. It took about 4 or 5 days to fully recover to jet lag. When waking up at odd hours, make the most of it. Well Placed Travel caught up on work emails, read a book, practiced yoga, used the fitness center and ate an early breakfast. Take naps- in cars on long drives, on domestic flights or at the hotel between sightseeing. https://www.wellplacedtravel.com/wellplacedtravelfieldnotes/blog-post-life-and-death-in-india monthly 0.5 2025-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/b1fb6bd0-96ff-4b82-ba3d-3ae8e57f467b/IMG_7755+%281%29.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - life + death in india - humility It happened quickly in an old rickshaw with a red painted frame and a worn-out vinyl bench seat. I went from being an eager travel advisor ready for anything to a quiet and curious observer. Stepping out of the air-conditioned SUV into the hot morning to board the rickshaw for my first tour, I realized I had no idea what to expect. Bicycles, cars, motorbikes, thin men towing rickshaws, families spilling out the sides of tuktuks, cow-pulled wooden carts, and pedestrians of all ages crowded the narrow streets of Delhi's old town. Grey dust-covered buildings stood atop ground-level shops opening for the day. Monkeys played on the tangled electrical wires above, eating fruit and throwing the scraps into the alleys. Crowds of people squeezed through the traffic and climbed over our rickshaw to get on their way. I felt vulnerable and exposed. India humbled me within the first moments of my 2.5-week trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/bbcc7c7e-08d0-494e-99af-c6f5c63c50cb/IMG_7729.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - life + death in india - superior sightseeing Taj Mahal in Agra at sunrise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/6767757d-7d33-48e3-bd57-0484f8f68de9/IMG_7187.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - life + death in india - no boundaries Present-day life bursts all boundaries. Retail shops display their goods on cloth-covered sidewalks, shrinking the walkway to the width of one person. Unrelated sellers with sweet treats, trinkets, or drinks crowded the edge of the shops. Motorbikes park perpendicular to the sidewalks, taking up a lane or two of the otherwise grand central boulevard. It sounds overwhelming, and it is. But it’s compelling in a way that is hard to understand unless you are there. The layers of humanity in one city block or village center are incomparable to any place I’ve been. There is so much to see, hear, and smell, and it’s in your face and all around you. Nothing is neatly contained in western-style retail centers or city streetscapes. However, it is all complemented by either lush landscapes, rolling hills, or arid farmlands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/4d6624c1-56cf-447b-9d0b-1805bb914e7e/IMG_7593.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - life + death in india - Respect for all living things Another example is the coexistence with animals. Dogs, cats, cows, goats, chickens, and monkeys wander through city alleys past the same shops with us. They cross eight-lane highways, avoiding risk and injury. The cultural respect for life and living things is epitomized by Jain nuns. I had no idea what Jainism was before this trip and was initially uncomfortable seeing women robed head to toe in sun-bleached white cotton with a square cloth covering their mouths. A short-handled broom hung over their shoulders. Jainism teaches non-violence and respect for all living things. The nuns cover their mouths to avoid inhaling insects and use the broom to sweep the ground before stepping to avoid harming any living being. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/65574add-320f-467b-9ae7-3b8ec4298fdd/IMG_7094.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - life + death in india - Making Life The vitality of Indian culture revealed itself in other ways. Touring Khajuraho temples, our cheeky guide delighted in explaining the stone carvings on the façade. These intricate carvings showed many mischievous scenes of Karma Sutra, some quite graphic. Partners, voyeurs, groups, servants, kings, and queens all seemed to enjoy the act of creating life based on what we saw on the temple facades. One of my favorite topics during dinner and lunch meetings was marriage and family. I wanted to know if they had an arranged marriage or “love” marriage. I asked about wedding details and learned that most had 500-800 guests over several days. One lovely hotelier showed me videos of his wedding made from drones and created by a professional videographer. If it were a marketing video for a vacation, I would have booked my next trip. I enjoyed learning about how families live together and the traditions that are important to them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/66eae44e04a887603e44ec4c/74f20db5-6a47-46ba-a33e-8ba24f19da0d/IMG_7149.jpg Field Notes from Well Placed Travel - life + death in india - Sacred city of Varanasi I experienced the most unexpected tradition related to death in Varanasi. We first viewed this sacred city from a small motorboat on the Ganges at sunset. The way the monasteries, mosques, hotels and residence stack vertically against the river edge, combined with the lighting at dusk made the city appear otherworldly. 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