Please Go Away Blog

Virtuoso Travel Week highlights By Damien Martin      It might not be that big, tucked on the side of Spain on the western edge of Europe, but Portugal is the hottest destination going this year. Combine the capital of Lisbon -- think a European San Francisco -- with second city Porto and the beach-laden Algarve region with the diverse islands of Madeira and the Azores, and Portugal becomes a lot bigger than you might have previously imagined. That was one takeaway from Virtuoso Travel Week this month in Las Vegas, where more than 6,000 attendees from 100 countries shared the latest and greatest in the travel industry.


      Another important trend is the rise of sustainability. From resorts such as The Brando in French Polynesia, where 95 percent of the energy used is renewable. Buildings made from local, renewable and recycled material blend with their natural surroundings, and even waste is turned into compost that is used in organic gardens. The resort’s conservation program focuse…

Top wine destinations in the world By Damien Martin
     It’s an oenophile’s dream to taste favorite vintages on their own terroir. As lovers of food and wine ourselves, we’re experienced when it comes to enjoying the world’s best wine regions. It’s a tough job, but we’ll go to great lengths to ensure time well spent for our travelers. From our journeys, here are a few of our favorite wine tours with Virtuoso-preferred partners.

Mendoza, Argentina
     Step out of your room and into a vineyard at Casa de Uco, a wine resort in the Uco Valley. In the foothills of the Andes, under a brilliant blue sky, you can taste wines in their natural habitat and learn how much difference even subtle changes in the landscape make to grapes growing within a few hundred yards of each other. Make your own blend at The Vines Resort & Spa, where you can also ride with the gauchos. There’s plenty of great steak and fresh produce to pair with your malbec.

Marlborough, New Zealand
     Abercrombie & Ke…

Virtuoso Travel Week: your one-stop vacation shop By Damien Martin       What destinations are you interested in visiting over the next year? Any new experiences you’d like to try? We always want to hear your thoughts, but especially now, since our team will be taking over Las Vegas next week as representatives from hotels, tour operators, cruise lines and more from all over the world descend on the Strip for the biggest travel event of the year.
      Virtuoso Travel Week turns Sin City into the epicenter of the travel world, with more than 5,000 people from 100-plus countries gathering to share the latest innovations in vacations. While no one can visit every hotel and every country, the week allows advisors to build a knowledge base and take advantage of the vast resources of the Virtuoso network. Think of it as a luxury shopping trip, with your travel advisor acting as your proxy.


     There’s a smorgasbord of destinations, experiences and modes of transportation to discover. There…