Posts tagged italy
Italy's Backroads | Peru's Hidden Wonders | Small Ship Expeditions | Navigating Summer Travel

Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy

Taking the Roads Less Traveled

If you’ve fallen in love with Italy, you’ve likely heard that exploring it is “a lifetime of travel.” Your first visit is a mind-blowing taste, and your second is a slower absorption of la dolce vita. But your third (and beyond) becomes a delicious deep dive into the regions, history and culture.

Barolo, Piedmont, Italy  |  Barolo Wine

Popular destinations in Italy often face the issue of overcrowding and it can be quite a challenge to secure a booking due to their high demand. Smart travelers, however, know to skip the overtouristed hot spots and head into the real Italy. 

Spend time, for example, in the Piedmont northern wine region – raise a glass (or several) of full-bodied reds at wineries on day trips from the picturesque villages of Barolo and Barbaresco. Both are day trips from Turin, where you’ll want to pick up a box of candied Pastiglie Leone while wandering this historic regional capital.

White Truffle Pasta  |  Turin, Italy

In October, the allure of the Langhe region lies not just in its undulating hills, but also in the precious white truffle that draws enthusiasts from all corners. The wine region is dotted with hilltop towns, each boasting a remarkable castle. Hiking between the vineyards is an excellent way to explore slowly and let the charms of the region take hold. These areas may be lesser traveled but high-end accommodations and luxury amenities are easily found.

Lake Garda  |  Scaligero Castle, Sirmione

Lake Garda, though often overlooked in favor of the more famous Lake Como, presents an equally mesmerizing experience. Its captivating turquoise waters, vineyards, and age-old olive groves reflect a remarkable fusion of natural splendor and rich history. Engage in a variety of water sports, amble through the historic town of Sirmione, or hike the picturesque trails of the Monte Baldo range. Lake Garda matches Lake Como's opulence with its own selection of boutique hotels and gourmet restaurants, promising a truly authentic Italian experience.


Ready to explore Italy beyond the standard itinerary?

 

Lake Titicaca

Exploring Peru's Hidden Wonders

Peru is another country where many visitors get stuck into a “Machu Picchu or bust” mindset. There’s so much more Incan and pre-Incan history to be explored. The Nazca lines, a world-renowned mystery, can be found in the South, on the other side of the Andes. These 2,000-year-old geoglyphs, covering over 50 miles, showcase roughly 300 baffling stylized animal and plant designs, best viewed from the air on customized tours or a 43-foot high observation tower for views of two striking shapes.

Nazca Lines  |  Cahuachi

Found in one of the driest areas globally, these wonders remain protected from erosive damage. Nearby, the archaeological site of Cahuachi provides further insight into the Nazca line creators, with remarkable structures like a pyramid and a stepped temple that fascinate visitors with a treasure of discoveries including textiles, engraved gourds, pottery and ancient mummies.

Belmond Andean Explorer

But perhaps the easiest and most divine way to see more of the highlands is on board the Belmond train, the Andean Explorer. Champagne flows as easily as the mountainous landscape outside your windows – from Cusco to Lake Titicaca and beyond.

Belmond Andean Explorer  |  Uros Reed Boat

After watching the sun rise over the world-famous Lake Titicaca, a Belmond guide takes you onto the lake to meet the Uros people, who live on islands they have built out of reeds. The journey and the scenery are equally impressive, from the fine dining and historic décor of the Belmond dining car to the rare experience of treatments in the spa car while the train gently trundles onward through unforgettable vistas.


Yearning for a Peruvian adventure that steps off the beaten path? Let's plan it!

 

Stuðlagil Canyon, Iceland

Small Ship, Big Adventure

You’ve heard some of the countries you're eagerly longing to visit are, to put it mildly, popular with travelers. Who wants to get stuck shoulder-to-shoulder while standing in awe of thundering waterfalls or epic mountain views or exquisitely carved works of art? 

One of the best workarounds may be to sail around the country on an exclusive small luxury ship, with a crew that knows the right local ports in which to drop anchor. From there, inland excursions with your small group are intimate and enjoyable.

Tauck  |  Slippurinn  |  Puffin

Iceland's stunning, almost otherworldly landscapes become more accessible when sailing the island's perimeter on a small ship, bypassing the crowds. Travelers can explore the fascinating lava fields of Eldfell and enjoy renowned culinary experiences at Slippurinn in the Westman Islands, a restaurant redefining Icelandic gastronomy. A group visit to a private nature reserve near Skálanes on a revitalized farmstead offers intimate encounters with Arctic birds, coastal cliffs, and the chance to spot baleen whales and seals.

Sushi & Sake  |  Miyajima  |  Gold-leaf Soft Serve Ice Cream

Or perhaps your heart is set on the history and beauty of Japan? Small ship tours can take you to quieter ports along the northern and western coasts, offering an immersion into local culture. Delve into the art of sushi and sake in small towns such as Hagi, the birthplace of samurai and Hagi pottery, or visit Kanazawa, famous for its impressive castle, gardens and gold leaf production. Here, you may even be tempted to indulge in a unique gold-leaf soft serve ice cream—a true travelbrag!


One of the best reasons to explore a country by small-ship is that you only have to unpack once!

 

Hôtel Lily of the Valley, La Croix-Valmer, France

Two Must-Haves for Summertime Travel

Patience and kindness. And we’ll add a third: a sense of humor.  Let’s face it, more than ever travelers need all three. The continuing upswing in travel during what has long been the busiest time of the year is becoming more frustrating as airlines and airports struggle to keep up. Commercial airlines switch up their schedules, swap out planes and move crew around – and that might disrupt your trip.

Lately, we've learned to expect change and prepare for outside disruptions to best-laid plans. We are professionals, and your best bet to help rework and smooth out ripples in your itinerary. Our top tip for avoiding airline disruption? Book a private jet. Make like the cast of Succession and fly private. (We can help you book that too!)


Amendments happen! We can help you sort through the shifts.

La Posta Vecchia: Escape to A Seaside Luxury Hotel Near Rome
 
 

Lily Pond Approved

 

 
La Posta Vecchia on the Tyrrhenian Sea,

La Posta Vecchia on the Tyrrhenian Sea,

If there’s one thing we hate, it’s an airport hotel. Sure, they’re convenient and get the job done before an early morning flight, or to rest and refresh on a long layover. But in a city as wonderful as Rome, it’s a rough ending to an often-epic trip in Amalfi or Tuscany to spend your last night in Italy practically planeside. 

Enter La Posta Vecchiaa Leading Hotel of the World property and sister hotel to client favorite Il Pellicano. It’s our favorite way to spend a last night in the Rome area. Just 35 minutes from the Rome airport, this seaside retreat is ideal for guests who have already seen the city sites and want to enjoy a relaxing, luxurious, and scenic end to their visit, or enjoy a nice night before a cruise departing from Civitavecchia.  

Select from the main hotel or a private beachfront villa (ideal for buyouts or weddings) that will grant you hospitality reminiscent of home, combined with the luxuries of a hotel and the décor and atmosphere of an ancient Italian villa (featuring many artworks from the Roman and Renaissance eras). 

Here are a few of our favorite parts: 


The History

Lovers of history will enjoy La Posta Vecchia’s intriguing past— a seaside paradise once favored by Rome’s elite (and still a favorite weekend getaway of their well-heeled travelers), the villa was once home to the Nobile Orsini family and billionaire John Paul Getty. Filled with Italian art and antiques, the hotel even boasts a private Roman museum—ruins dating to 2BC were found during the property’s renovation. 

The Food

Precious marble tables and the glistening ocean view set the scene for your dining experiences at the villa. Your private chef, kitchen staff and waiter will create bespoke meals and dining experiences especially for you, and you even have the possibility to go with the chef to the local food market and pick produce from the villa’s vegetable garden (to experience these immersive activities, as well as help pick out ingredients and design your own meals).

The Rooms

The beach at La Posta Vecchia.

The beach at La Posta Vecchia.

At the hotel, rooms have just as much attention to detail and special period works as the villa. In one room you may find a 16th century Venetian chest, and in another, a 17th century Madonna. A few floors below the Superior Deluxe Sea View room, there is a 2BC archaeological site rich with history (perfect for those who don’t want to commit to a day in Pompeii or an all-day tour of Rome’s scenic riches). All rooms are decorated in classic Italian style modeled on that of the ancient Italian palaces – with brass swan fittings, fireplaces mirrored with antiqued glass, and bathrooms finished with Carrera marble.

The Location

Set on the seaside of the Tyrrhenian Sea, 40 km from the center of Rome, guests can enjoy the seaside, the history of nearby Cerveteri, and the city of Rome – which is an hour’s drive away. Guests can easily go on cultural and historical tours in surrounding areas or take a day trip to enjoy the city on days that they aren’t relaxing by the seaside, sailing or working on their golf game on the edge of the Tyrrhenian Sea. In warm weather, you can also unwind at the private Beach Club or stay active on the in-house tennis courts, or relax at the spa - which uses one of our favorite Italian lines, Florence-based Santa Maria Novella, as well as Biologique Recherche. 


Written by Michaela Barrett for Lily Pond Luxury.