Trip Planning
Traveler Reviews to Inspire You
August is a peak month for travel—prime time for school and family vacations and a last hurrah for summer getaways. For many, it’s a month of aspiring to escape heat and crowds, and trying to find that perfect road less traveled.
The travelers whose reviews you can read below all booked their trips the WOW way: Their trips were tailored specifically to the month of August by the local fixers on our WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts. You’ll find even more ideas in the August installment of our Where to Go When series, and you’ll find more traveler reviews here.
Unsure where to go in August? Click the black button below for our help.
Western Canada for a mountain escape from summer heat
Todd Fitzwater hiking in a glacier cave in Whistler, British Columbia.
“Traveled to British Columbia and visited Whistler and Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort. Whistler was fantastic in the summer. Rode the gondolas, went peak to peak, walked the suspension bridge at the top, hiked and took in the scenic view. The helicopter trip was fantastic, as was the glacier cave adventure.
Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort was an out-of-this-world experience—floating sauna docks, floating hot tub docks, land-based hot tubs nestled next to a waterfall, water safaris, deep-woods hiking, whales, otters, orcas, dolphins, bears and a 5-star restaurant. One dinner was without a doubt Michelin-worthy. Another night the dining room prepared the shrimp that I caught. Nine cabins with an eclectic bunch of people. Just a tremendous experience and one I plan on coming back for.” —Todd Fitzwater
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
The Azores for outdoor adventures in a temperate climate
Tony Ford-Hutchinson and family on a hike to Lagoa do Fogo on São Miguel Island.
“For those of us who live on the east coast of the USA, the Azores are the closest point with a European and Portuguese feel. One of our guides (an American ex-pat) described them as a cross between Iceland (they are so volcanic), Ireland (they are so green) and Hawaii (a holiday destination in the middle of an ocean).
Our trip with our daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters (aged 9 and 11) started with a direct 5.5-hour flight from Newark. We spent the first three nights in the luxurious Octant Furnas Hotel. The hotel is surrounded by hot springs bringing boiling water to the surface. Highlights there were the food, including preparing and cooking a traditional stew which is buried in the hot ground for several hours; the hotel’s super-warm, mineral swimming pool; and a hike up a mountainside to Lagoa do Fogo (a lake in a former volcanic cone) followed by a swim on the beach.
We then took a short flight to the volcanic island of Pico, famous for its mountain (a former volcano, of course) and its outstanding white wine. We took day trips on ferries to the neighboring islands of Faial and São Jorge. Highlights were a trip through the lava tubes on Pico, visits to wineries, and a hike around the caldera on Faial.
Back to São Miguel for our last three nights, highlights included a private whale-watching trip with great sightings of three female sperm whales (one with a calf), an evening wine-and-food tasting tour, a morning food tour, a Jeep tour of the Lagoa das Sete Cidades, and finally a tour of the tea plantations with an opportunity to make our own ice cream. Thank you to Gonçalo and his co-workers for a great trip that left a multi-generational family very happy.” —Tony Ford-Hutchinson
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Eastern Canada for an Atlantic coastline experience that’s not crowded in summer
East Point Lighthouse on Prince Edward Island. Photo: Traveler Phil Hoch
“We just returned from a trip to New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, and could not be happier that we chose Jill as our travel expert. Jill crafted a beautiful itinerary that kept us mostly focused on smaller towns and areas for walking/hiking. From St. Andrews to St. Martins, we could not have had a better introduction to the Bay of Fundy and life outside the big cities. Of particular note were our guides. Genny was fabulous in St. Andrews and got us on Ministers Island, which you can only drive to at low tide. In St. Martins, Mike, Jordan, and Joe took us hiking/walking, kayaking in the Bay and, best of all, our WOW Moment: We were treated to a private lobster dinner on the Bay of Fundy, watching the tide disappear, with enough scallops, lobster and more to feed us for a week.
Jill was able to get us a room at the quaint and lovely St. Martins Country Inn. We enjoyed walking the dunes at Greenwich Beach on Prince Edward Island and seeing the East Point lighthouse. On Nova Scotia, the grave site of Titanic victims, the boardwalk along the Halifax waterfront, and stops at Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg and Mahone Bay were part of the final days of a trip we loved from start to finish.”—Phil Hoch
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Disney World & Universal for VIP experiences and stress-free planning
Fireworks go off just above every night over Disney World’s Cinderella Castle. Photo: Disney
“Our entire family had an AMAZING Disney and Universal trip—we are very thankful to Michelle and the rest of her team. My wife and I have three daughters—14, 13 & 10. We planned four of our own previous trips to Disney, but we knew we wanted to have a new/different experience so we contacted Michelle.
Michelle and team secured a VIP guide on the day of our daughter’s birthday and our last day at Universal. We hardly had to do anything because Michelle and team took care of the personalized itinerary and all reservations.
We will always use Michelle’s office for future family Disney trips, as they are indispensable. The girls are already talking me into a trip to Disney in Anaheim and given we have never been, I’m confident Michelle’s team will make it a breeze and a slam-dunk.” —Adam Lewis
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Greece for island-hopping, remote beaches, and a rooftop pool to beat the heat
A savvy planner can help you get off the beaten path, even on Santorini. Photo: Shutterstock
“We had one of our best family trips in years, thanks to Maria’s colleague Irene. We started in Athens, where Irene booked us in a spacious, modern apartment at The Dolli, which had excellent service and food. The rooftop pool overlooking the Acropolis was a huge plus given the heat, and the day trip to the ruins at Delphi was a family favorite. Then it was on to Paros, where we enjoyed the beautiful accommodations and staff attention at the Adronis Minois. Our teens loved the amazing outdoor space with our own small pool, as well as the resident cats. Our most favorite day of the trip was on a speed boat, where we traveled to the Blue Lagoon, went cliff jumping, and visited remote beaches in Antiparos and Despotiko.
We then ferried to Santorini, where we stayed in the breathtaking Grace Hotel. The geology, ruins, and small towns in Santorini didn’t disappoint, and we enjoyed special attention at dinners that Irene arranged and various recommended restaurants, some off the beaten path. We also loved our fascinating guided tour to Akrotiri, a town even older than Pompeii that was also destroyed—and then preserved—due to a massive volcanic explosion.
Our meals, guides, and hotels were all impeccable, and even with the heat and crowds, we always felt supported and well taken care of.” —Amanda Mandel
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Florence and Tuscany for vineyard tours and extravagant meals
Head to smaller Tuscan villages to avoid Italy’s summer crowds. Photo: Shutterstock
“We just returned from a 12-day trip to Florence and Tuscany. Andrea and her team set up some great tours in Florence and experiences around Greve-in-Chianti. While we had been to Florence before, the other couple we were with had not, so Stefano arranged separate tours on the same day for each of us, which culminated in a private sunset cruise on the Arno. The Hotel Brunelleschi is a beautifully appointed property, centrally located with great service and amenities. On to Greve-in-Chianti. We stayed at the Borgo del Cabreo, another beautiful property located on a vineyard high above the town offering a 360-degree view of the Tuscan countryside. Breathtaking, especially while sipping our morning coffee or enjoying an aperitivo by the pool at sunset.
Our excursion to Montalcino and Pienza was sensational. We are big Brunello fans and Andrea’s team arranged a great experience for us at the small, family-owned Poggio Rubino vineyard. We got a tour of the winemaking operations and then sat down for a homemade Tuscan lunch (thank you, Nonna) to accompany our very generous and expertly paced Brunello tasting.
The following day we drove to the Antinori-owned Fonte de’ Medici estate, where we took a pasta-making class followed by a five-course tasting menu at the Michelin-starred restaurant Osteria di Passignano just down the road. Wow. Both experiences were eye-opening and a treat for all the senses.” —Andy Robinson
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Costa Rica for “epic” adventures—zip lining, rappelling, surfing, rafting…
Costa Rica is the birthplace of canopy tours that let you explore the forest via zip line. Photo: GreenSpot Travel
“My family of five spent 10 days in Costa Rica planned by Irene. We were looking for engaging adventure while staying in higher-end hotels that could easily accommodate a setup for a family (villas or adjoining rooms). Our trip was an amazing, wonderful family event that we’ll remember for a lifetime. We spent 5 days in La Fortuna, residing at the Nayara Tented Camp in a family tent that easily accommodated the five of us comfortably (no bed sharing for the kids!). We did a chocolate workshop at Two Little Monkeys, which was a highlight for us, and well worth the drive. Irene organized our excursions to the Hanging Bridges, the zip lines that rip down a mountain and a canyoning tour that had us rappelling down waterfalls. All were amazing, with the rappelling being the family’s collective favorite.
We hopped a short flight and spent the last 5 days in the Manuel Antonio region. The hotel, Arenas del Mar, had a fantastic beach and wonderful restaurant. The wildlife was very active, including the white-faced monkeys that were a permanent fixture on the hotel grounds. For adventure, we got to paddle Class III and IV rapids and we had an epic day surfing.” —Jason Grapski
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Ecuador for a working hacienda and Galápagos wildlife
Adults and kids alike are captivated by the sea life in the Galápagos. Photo: Shutterstock
“We just returned from the Galápagos Islands with our adult children, our 6-year old granddaughter and our adult nephew and his partner. Our trip started in Guayaquil, where we had one day before heading to the Galápagos. Allie sent us to La Danesa, a gorgeous, working hacienda! We visited the cacao plantation and participated in making chocolate from start to finish. Delicious! We also milked cows, went horseback riding and bicycling, and had a wonderful lunch. The grounds are beautiful and luxurious and we could have spent much more time there.
We traveled to the Galápagos the next day, where we met our wonderful guide, Viviana. She was truly one of the highlights of the trip. As a native of the Galápagos, she was knowledgeable and could share information in a way that was interesting to all of us. Even our 6-year-old peppered her with questions! We stayed at the Ikala Hotel, which had nice rooms, a lovely breakfast and restaurant area and a pool and lounge area which we all enjoyed. In our five days on the islands, we went to the Giant Tortoise Reserve; saw the lava caves and tubes; spent an incredible day walking along the beach at Tortuga Bay and snorkeling in the calmer area. We had days of boating to areas where we could go snorkeling and there we saw turtles, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, iguanas, pelicans, baby sharks and schools and schools of fish.
One of the standout activities was a morning at Las Grietas, which is a swimming hole at the bottom of a lava-created crevasse. It was completely private and truly one of the highlights of our trip.” —Judy Wimpfheimer
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Romania for leaving behind the crowds and getting lessons on European history
Romania has medieval towns and some of Europe’s last wilderness. Photo: Tim Baker
“I traveled to Romania on a graduation trip with my daughter. Important to us was connecting with the local people and understanding the country. We started in Bucharest, which was great for my daughter to learn what can happen to a country if you vote in a narcissist authoritarian as a leader, and understanding what life was like under the latter parts of communist ruling. We had a university history professor give us a tour of an apartment frozen in time from the 1980s, under communist rule.
When we left Bucharest, our guide Tavi adjusted our route so we could travel the Transfăgărășan Highway. Being from Colorado, we enjoyed the winding mountain pass and Tavi’s stories of backcountry skiing the areas around the pass. We went on an amazing mountain bike ride in the hills and forests, with some fun single track as well. We saw wonderful fortressed churches and cities throughout our trip, including the beautiful Sighișoara, without crowds and with a random local who had the keys to let us in. We met a local weaver whose family had been doing traditional weaving for generations and who rescued a loom headed for destruction. We enjoyed a visit with a local herbalist whose herb garden was expansive, and her knowledge of remedies was sought out throughout the area. Here we enjoyed a dinner in her home, again understanding her story and her life and sharing ours. We moved on to Brasov, where we had a private tour of Bran Castle and the opportunity to climb into the highest turret to view the mountain pass that the lookouts would use in centuries past. When we expressed interest in a hike, Tavi took us up a mountainside where he helped a friend build a cabin. We met one of his friends, a local shepherd, and discussed bears threatening his flock and how the handling of these bears was different between Colorado and Romania.
Romania is a beautiful, relatively undiscovered country with rich medieval history and more recent history of the rise and fall of communism. It is not as restored as other places in Western Europe, but its beauty, its history, and its people are wonderful to experience. The smaller crowds allow for a much more enjoyable visit than other European countries.” —Theresa Boone
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Tanzania for Great Migration river crossings, tented nights, cats galore…
Wildebeest and zebras crossing the Mara River during the Great Migration. Photo: Andrey Gudkov / Alamy
“When I hired Cherri and Katie to plan this trip, I had one major goal—put us in a good position to see the Great Migration crossing the Mara River. The other goals were to give us a first-class trip with great camps and great guiding. Cherri and Katie succeeded in every aspect.
First stop – Sanctuary Kichikani. This is a mobile camp so bucket showers, tent, etc. However, the camp was beautiful, the staff was amazing, and the guiding was excellent. We saw a great variety of mammals and birds. The vastness of the great herd was everywhere. The predators had full bellies. We saw a leopard on day 1—what a rare amazement. Our guide got us to a crossing of the herd that was in progress when we arrived on day 2.
Second Stop – Sayari. Fantastic fixed camp. Again we saw all the animals that you hope to see including leopards, cheetahs, lions, giraffes, wart hogs, zebras. Great variety of birds. Here we had a wonderful guide who got us to a crossing of the Mara by the herd just minutes before it began. We were the first vehicle on site and had a fantastic position to appreciate the chaos and the magnificence of one of the most amazing natural events. We even saw a croc strike out trying to grab a young zebra.
Stop 3 – Namiri Planes. This is the camp to see the cats—cheetahs, lions, leopards. The short grasses and the flat planes make sighting easy. We saw the drama of failed hunts. A cheetah jumped on the front hood of our vehicle. He stood there for several moments staring at us. The guide started the engine and he jumped off.
Stop 4 – Chem Chem. We left the Serengeti and headed to Lake Manyara. Lovely camp with a great location at a watering hole. The zebras and giraffes and wildebeest would walk and run toward the watering hole in clear close view to our tent. A large herd of male elephants was nearby. Lovely walking safari ending with a beautiful meal under an immense baobab tree. We also visited a local Masai home and met the chief and his wives and children. This was very real and not touristy.
The trip was an A+. Our friends were stunned and amazed by the beauty and miracles of the parks.” —Scott Rifkin
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Mexico City for cooking lessons and hot-air ballooning over the pyramids at Teotihuacan
Hot-air balloons above one of the pyramids at Teotihuacan. Photo: Traveler Helen Blumen
“My 16-year-old granddaughter and I spent 10 days in Mexico City and Oaxaca, and we had a wonderful time! We especially loved the cooking lesson with a wonderful Zapotec lady, and the menu was adjusted for teenager tastes so that we ate quesadillas and chiles rellenos.
Another highlight was the balloon ride to see the pyramids at Teotihuacan. We are grateful for Zach’s flexibility when our original flight was delayed.” —Helen Blumen
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Sri Lanka for geographical diversity and a “great combination of relaxation and culture”
Lauren Schor with her husband and daughter on safari in Wilpattu National Park.
“Given we only had a week, we had some tough choices as to which areas we were going to visit—the cultural triangle and ancient ruins, the mountains and tea plantations, the jungle and wildlife, the gorgeous beaches or the cities. Ultimately, with a lot of back and forth weighing the pros and cons with Miguel and Nicola, we decided on the cultural triangle and the south coast. I couldn’t imagine going all the way to Sri Lanka and not climbing Sigiriya, the ancient fortress atop a mountain and the most visited place in the country. Plus, we were near one of the national parks, and we got to do a one-day safari!
The south coast was a great combination of relaxation and culture. Galle Fort is a must-visit area—the restaurants, shops, and local life is unlike anywhere else in the country. And there were a lot of other activities in the area, like a local cooking class, a mask-painting workshop, and visiting a cinnamon plantation!
Nicola recommended fantastic properties. We loved Ulagalla—we have traveled all over the world, and it’s one of the most special properties we have stayed at. We enjoyed a WOW Moment at Kamantha, a traditional and delicious Sri Lankan meal prepared with indigenous tools in a mud hut. Such a special experience!
Sri Lanka is a special country, and everywhere we went the people were so welcoming, and we kept hearing how they meet so few American travelers. I have a feeling this is going to be a new hot-spot destination!” —Lauren Schor
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi for combining city sights and desert adventures
Diane Thormodsgard with her husband and grandsons on a private sunset cruise in Dubai.
“My husband and I took our grandsons (ages 14 and 13) to the U.A.E. for 10 days. Nicholas designed an itinerary that suited all of us perfectly. We started in Dubai with a stay at Atlantis the Palm, including exclusive Imperial Club access, after being met with VIP service at the airport. The boys enjoyed Aquaventure and the pool. We also had a Dubai historical tour, visited the Museum of the Future, went to the ‘top of the Burj Khalifa,’ had a helicopter ride, and went on a private sunset palm cruise.
After leaving Dubai, we ventured to Al Maha, a luxury desert resort. What a great experience with private pools at each suite (boys had their own Bedouin suite), a desert jeep ride, camel rides, beautiful sunset, early morning falconry presentation, and excellent food. Our only regret is we wished we would have spent more than one night there so we could have enjoyed other activities like archery, more time in the pool, and watching the many gazelles and rare Arabian Oryx on the property.
After touring Abu Dhabi, we finished our trip with visits to Warner Bros. World, Ferrari World and Sea World. Ferrari World was the highlight, with an individual Ferrari ride on nearby roads with a professional driver for each grandson. The trip was a nice mix of history, amazing architecture, and entertainment.” —Diane Thormodsgard
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
Botswana for proximity to predators at “the perfect time of year”
“We enjoyed several close-range stare-downs with leopards.” Photo: Shutterstock
“To quote one of our travel companions, ‘I would not have changed one aspect of this trip,’ and I wholeheartedly agree. We were in the right camps with the right level of service and amenities at the perfect time of year.
Probably the most surprising aspect of our tour was the proximity within which our guides placed us to some very serious predators. On numerous occasions we could have reached out from our Land Cruiser and touched passing lions, and we enjoyed several close-range stare-downs with leopards. Upon returning back to our tent one afternoon, we found an elephant drinking from our plunge pool.
Julian did a masterful job of translating our interests and desired level of comfort into four perfectly matched camps. He guided us to Botswana and the Okavango Delta and encouraged us to select winter as the best season to visit. His services added tremendous value to the trip.” —Stephen Bajan
To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below.
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National Geographic Expeditions gives travelers a taste of Portugal with its newest itinerary.
This unforgettable adventure immerses visitors into the many highlights of Portugal – including the famous Azores – all while taking the guesswork out of the planning.
Guests only have to sit back and absorb all the wonders of this fantastic destination.
Multi-City Destinations
Packing so many points of interest into one itinerary is no small feat. National Geographic has created a land tour that blends everything together seamlessly.
First landing in Porto, it is recommended to get on-site a day early because you really do hit the ground running. And with the current state of the airline industry, you don’t want to miss anything due to a delayed or cancelled flight.
From here, guests travel to the picturesque Douro Valley and then on to Lisbon via motorcoach. After a few days in Lisbon, an early morning flight takes guests to São Miguel island in the Azores.
Portugal’s Duoro Valley (Photo Credit: Lauren Bowman)
Five-Star Hotel Accommodations
So what makes National Geographic stand out for a land tour? The attention to detail. This experience is best suited for active travelers who want to learn and see a lot, all while having that touch of luxury. Guests are greeted each night with five-star accommodations. The Hospes Infante Sagres Porto is a 1950s building reminiscent of a large manor estate but with all the modern amenities. Opening as a hotel in 1951, the building set the standard for what elegance and opulence meant as the city’s first five-star hotel.
In the Duoro Valley, expeditioners stay at the modern Quinta da Pacheca winery. Nestled among the terraced vineyards, you feel as though you’re in your own luxe wellness retreat. There’s some downtime for guests and plenty of spa treatments to choose from. The one constant complaint was that there simply was not enough time at this location, so don’t be surprised if future itineraries offer a two-night experience here.
The Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel in Lisbon is a chateau-like resort with views of the Tagus River. With gardens, a large swimming pool and multiple eateries, it’s easy to forget that the city of Lisbon lies sprawled around you. After a full day of outings, it’s a relaxing reprieve to come home to.
On Sao Miguel island in the Azores, Octant Ponta Delgada welcomes guests with impressive views of the local marina, comfortable rooms, a rooftop veranda with a pool area, and delicious restaurants for when you simply don’t want to walk anymore.
The five-star experience isn’t just with the accommodations, though. It’s also in the more trivial matters like baggage. It’s easy to pack for this 10-day itinerary in a large suitcase and carry-on, but then you have to worry about lugging everything between cities – except National Geographic takes care of this for you, too. Each night before a departure, guests are told what time to have their suitcase outside their room. Then their bags are picked up and delivered to not only the next hotel, but the guest’s next hotel room upon arrival.
National Geographic Expedition in Duoro Valley, Portugal (Photo Credit: Lauren Bowman)
Comfortable Transfers
Getting to and from each of these key destinations, as well as daily excursions, is no small logistical feat. Comfortable motorcoaches are the main source of transportation. Trips are broken up with no ride lasting more than two hours, whether it’s a stop at a scenic overlook for your first sighting of the Douro Valley or simply a roadside restaurant with clean restrooms and superb cappuccinos. The drive from the Douro Valley to Lisbon is a longer trip, but it is broken up with a stop in Tomar – famous for its history with the Knights Templar. After lunching in the picturesque cafe-style village, the group ventures through the UNESCO Heritage Site, the Convent of Christ, to learn about its extensive history.
Through the cities of Porto and Lisbon, guests are split up into smaller groups to ride on tuk-tuks while receiving an informative tour of iconic landmarks. Not only did these vehicles make it easier to get from point A to point B, but it was a fun way to see more of these fascinating cities.
The most impressive transfer was watching the guides handle the maneuvering of almost thirty people through the Lisbon airport. From arranging check-in and baggage drop to corralling everyone through security and making it to our plane with plenty of time to stop for snacks, it was one of the least stressful airport experiences.
Porto, Portugal (Photo Credit: Lauren Bowman)
Daily Excursions with Local Guides
This is definitely a trip for active travelers. Early mornings and extensive walking tours require expeditioners to be in moderate shape. And like most European cities, many towns are littered with cobblestone streets or historic buildings that do not meet ADA requirements. Porto and Lisbon are both known for their hills, and getting from one sight to another will often require a nice leg workout. But the rewards are undoubtedly there – from the beautiful scenery to the delicious food – you’ll be glad you made the journey.
Traveling with National Geographic also means you’ll get a premier tour of certain landmarks like at the Livraria Lello – also known as the prettiest bookshop in the world. Guests bypass the queues of other visitors for a truly private tour of the space before the official opening, thus giving guests those coveted pictures without lots of other tourists in the background or even having to wait in line.
And even though these exclusive tours couldn’t take place at every single tourist spot, at no point during the journey were guests made to wait in the ticketing queues, which sometimes had very long wait times. Instead, everything was timed perfectly, with museum entries a breeze through the checkpoint.
Another unique experience on this tour is the whale watching on Sao Miguel island. Not only was the whale watching experience itself mesmerizing, but guests also get a detailed history of whaling and how the relationship with whales has evolved over the years. “It blew my mind that they’re still using the oldest technique of spotting whales. So they’ll have people actually planted on the coast with really heavy-duty binoculars, checking out where all the whales are, and they can identify. What type of whale it is just by, um, looking at them from many, many kilometers away and they’re talking to the boats and telling them where to go and directing folks so you can see as many dolphins and whale species as possible on these cruises. So that was really surprising to me. They’re not using any technology at all.” says Kristen Roach, a guest traveler from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal (Photo Credit: Lauren Bowman)
Field Experts
Throughout the trip, an Expedition Leader guides visitors through each place of interest with whisper boxes. Not only is the Expedition Leader extremely knowledgeable, but they’re there to help with any specific needs guests may have as well, like helping to find a local pharmacy for sunscreen. Throughout the trip, local guides join the tour to help manage the size of the group as well as give a more in-depth local account of the area. However, having that main Expedition Leader as a point of contact throughout the entirety of the trip allows travelers to form a more comfortable relationship for asking questions.
Also, part of every itinerary is a National Geographic Expert whose field of knowledge is somehow relevant to the program. During our tour at the beginning of June, attendees were lucky enough to be joined by Arianna Soldati, volcanist and Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University. During the course of the journey, Arianna gave three lectures about what guests would experience from the geological to the historical events of the areas. She joined in the daily tours and readily answered questions. It was also a treat to see her get so excited when seeing the volcanic activity on Sao Miguel – her enthusiasm rippled through the group.
“When you take a tour with National Geographic, you really get to focus on exploring the destination, and having an expert such as me on the team is a fantastic way to really dive deep into an aspect that maybe you wouldn’t have thought about otherwise,” Soldati said. “Each expedition is different. So, for example, I talk a lot about geology and volcanoes, but you know, another group on the same tour might get an explorer and an expert who focuses on marine biology or botany. So really guests get to choose whatever their main focus is and personalize the tour, or rather choose the one that really best fits their interests.”
Plenty of Time to Relax
This is no doubt a whirlwind, once-in-a-lifetime type of trip with so much packed into each day. But National Geographic has also planned ample time for self-exploration of these cities and downtime.
This allows guests to choose what best interests them while also giving them the chance to simply relax when needed. And by staying at such luxury accommodations, it’s easy to find quiet places to take in everything this magnificent itinerary has to offer.
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Photo: iStock.com/fotonazario
Perillo Tours has debuted its 2026 Italy portfolio, unveiling two new itineraries: Gems of Italy and La Dolce Vita.
The new itineraries are “city pair” tours, meaning they focus on just two Italian cities. Guests stay multiple nights at the same hotel, which allows for less unpacking and more regional exploration.
Both nine-day itineraries feature day trips around the region, with immersive cultural experiences and guided sightseeing. Gems of Italy focuses on Genoa and Florence, while La Dolce Vita pairs Rome and Sorrento. Departures run from April to October, 2026.
“This style of itinerary is something we’ve found our guests really value,” said Perillo Tours owner Steve Perillo. “By anchoring the itinerary in just two Italian cities, our guests can settle in and explore each destination, and its surrounding region, in more depth.”
Perillo Tours also offers two additional “city pair” tour in 2026:
- The nine-day Rome & Amalfi Coast, with group sizes up to 30 guests and departures from March to November, 2026
- The nine-day Taste of Sicily: Taormina and Palermo, with departures from April to October, 2026.
Perillo Tours is a family-owned tour operator with 80 years’ experience providing Italy vacations for U.S. travelers. The company will offer 13 itineraries to Italy in 2026, in addition to its growing portfolio of fully escorted tours to Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Hawaii.
OpenAI on Thursday unveiled a new capability for its ChatGPT chatbot called agent mode, and it’s more than just a smarter chatbot.
So what’s new? The agent can now take real action: it can browse the web, run code, analyze files, log into websites with your permission, and deliver full reports or slideshows.
More significantly for travel, it can navigate websites, drag and drop items, use a cursor to click around, add products to carts, and even complete bookings for hotels, tours and flights.
The feature isn’t yet available in most of Europe, and OpenAI hasn’t provided a timeline for when it will be usable there. It isn’t clear if it’s available in other parts of the world, except the U.S. Skift has contacted OpenAI for a clarification.
Who Is ChatGPT Agent For and How Much Does It Cost?
Access to the new ChatGPT agent is currently only available to paid ChatGPT Plus, Team or Pro subscribers. The price ranges from $20 upwards. Pro already has access, OpenAI said.
“Plus and Team users will get access over the next few days. Enterprise and Education users will get access in the coming weeks. Pro users have 400 messages per month, while other paid users get 40 messages monthly, with additional usage available via flexible credit-based options,” OpenAI said.
OpenAI positions this as a tool for students, small business owners, creatives, professionals and anyone who needs a digital assistant. But it’s especially useful for people buried in admin, research, or scheduling tasks.
It integrates with tools like email and calendars, so it can summarize inboxes or help coordinate meeting times.
From Browsing to Booking: Travel’s AI Leap
In a demo video accompanying the launch, OpenAI shows the agent planning and booking a trip for a wedding.
“In your personal life, you can use it to effortlessly plan and book travel itineraries, design and book entire dinner parties, or find specialists and schedule appointments,” OpenAI said.
The user asks it to not only plan the trip but also select an outfit, check hotel prices and availability on Booking.com, and make the reservation.
This isn’t just theoretical: the agent clicks around like a human would and completes the booking.
OpenAI suggests that travel agents could use the agent to compare packages, update spreadsheets, generate promotional content, or even create newsletters.
The agent can pull in real-time alerts, local events, hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path suggestions, acting like a concierge or planner.
For Travelers: A Personal Concierge
Planning a trip is often a mess of tabs, reviews, flight deals, and itinerary ideas. OpenAI says agent mode tries to cut through that.
Here’s what ChatGPT says it can now do with agent:
Custom Travel Planning: For travelers, you can tell ChatGPT your destination and preferences. It’ll research the best flights, hotels, sights, and even book them, with their approval.
Itinerary Creation: If tourists are looking for a weekend trip or a group tour plan, ChatGPT agent can put together an editable itinerary, complete with maps and bookings.
For example: “Plan a 10-day trip to Japan with a focus on food and temples, staying within a $3,000 budget”
The agent will research everything, but also compare prices, create a day-by-day itinerary, and help book accommodations and activities.
It can take over the internet browser, filter results, prompt users to log in to booking sites, and gather everything they would need.
It can also connect to calendars so it won’t plan anything when people are unavailable. If travelers want to check if a local tour is highly rated and available next Thursday morning? It can handle that too.
It can adapt to preferences over time. So if a traveler loves boutique hotels, hates red-eye flights, or always wants to include a cooking class, it can start to bake those preferences into every plan.
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