My first visual encounter with Dominica was through the paintings of the Italian-born artist Agostino Brunias, who made a career portraying the island in tame, stylized vignettes that glossed over the grim realities of colonial rule. But within minutes of my arrival there, from the first twist of its serpentine roads, it becomes clear there is nothing tame about this land that sits in the middle of the curve of the Lesser Antilles. It bristles with volcanic energy and glitters with the two-toned leaves of its bois canot trees, flipping from green to white as they waver in the wind. It lulls with the uneven music of its many waterfalls; it throws random rainbows across its astonishing horizons; it bewitches from the depths with its technicolor coral reefs. And when hurricane season comes, it roars.
A Peru Destination Wedding with a Stop at Machu Picchu
09.09.2024 - 18:06 / cntraveler.com / Megan Spurrell
It’s safe to say that travel is incredibly important for Megan Spurrell and Henry Urrunaga Diaz, both of whom travel the world for a living: Megan is a Californian who works as the associate director of articles at Condé Nast Traveler in New York, and Henry is a Peruvian who films his adventures for his YouTube channel. The pair met through friends in 2014 while spending a few months in Rio de Janeiro around the time of the World Cup. They’ve lived together in Henry’s native Lima, traveled around Southeast Asia in tandem, and logged some long-distance years before settling in New York City in 2019.
“We’re not very traditional,” says Megan of the couple’s marriage; they first wed in New York’s City Hall in January 2020, but they always knew they’d hold a larger wedding later. Doing so in Peru made the most sense for many reasons: Henry has a big family with nine siblings (which would require lengthy visa processes for visiting the US), and Megan was eager to show her own family and friends her husband’s beautiful country after she having spent so much time there. So, in May 2024, the couple welcomed 120 guests to a rowdy, hug-filled weekend (which swelled, for many, to a half-month vacation) in and around Cusco and Peru’s Sacred Valley. Ahead, they share what they learned through the process of planning a Peru destination wedding.
Megan Spurrell and Henry Urrunaga on a pre-wedding day trip to Mountain View lodge in the Sacred Valley.
Llamas, alpacas, dogs, and horses roamed the grounds at Mountain View while guests tipped back Aperol spritzes and chilcanos.
Though Henry and his family are from Lima, the couple opted to hold their wedding in the city of Cusco for its Incan ruins, colonial architecture, and proximity to the Andes. It was a stunning location that would represent a special, adventurous trip for the majority of their guests. Plus, “Every American who comes to Peru is probably going to want to go to Machu Picchu, so we were just helping them to get there,” Megan says.
From there, they did a ton of research and made two planning trips to the city before formally locking in their venue. The first visit was to get a feel for the area’s venues, and the latter came once they had found a planner, Tie the Knot in Perú, and put down a deposit at their preferred spot. “We were going to look at it and hoped we’d like it, and if we didn't, we had enough time to make another plan,” Megan says.
They needed a lot of room for their large guest list, which could be hard to find in charming, small-scale Cusco—unless they wanted to book a space in one of the city’s international luxury hotels, which they did not. The city’s venues also tended to have limitations on sound past a certain time of night,
Madewell's Leather Tote Is the Only Bag I Travel With
I realized I was obsessed with the best Madewell tote ever made when I spent an August in Italy with friends a few years ago. A friend and I rented a villa for a month and hosted rotating groups of our besties in the Florentine suburbs, in the town of Marcialla, population: 300. With that as our home base, we drove to see the Palio di Siena, dined at Michelin-starred Linfa in San Gimignano, posed with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and many other activities that, as I think about it now, make me dearly miss the rolling hills of Tuscany and those cypress trees that pierced the pale blue sky. But there’s one thing I remember most clearly about that trip, mainly because it was featured in almost every single photo my friends took of me: a bulging yet fabulous leather satchel attached to my right hip: The Madewell Zip-Top Transport Tote.
Should you pay your rent with Bilt? We crunch the numbers
In 2021, Bilt Rewards launched a points program to help renters build credit and earn points on rent payments. Shortly afterward, it debuted a cobranded credit card.
Connecticut Counters Florida’s Removal of LGBTQ+ Travel Info With Inclusive Tourism Campaign
In response to Florida’s recent removal of LGBTQ+ travel information from its tourism website, Connecticut is taking an opposing stand by re-emphasizing its commitment to inclusivity. With LGBTQ+ History Month approaching in October, Connecticut’s tourism office is underscoring the state's ongoing tradition of embracing diversity, reminding residents and tourists alike that the Constitution State is a welcoming place for all, regardless of sexual orientation or identity.
The Latest Travel Guidance for the Caribbean's Top Destinations
Cooler temperatures and shoulder season deals will have many travelers are flocking to the Caribbean for a sun-kissed vacation this fall.The islands offer not only warm weather and abundant sunshine but one-of-a-kind experiences, world-class hotels and resorts and spectacular nature in addition to vibrant culture. But before they go, travelers will want to read up on the latest U.S. State Department guidance.
Contiki Unveils New European and Peruvian Itineraries, Exclusive Launch Deal
Contiki, the renowned travel brand catering to 18-35-year-olds, has announced the launch of its most extensive collection of European trips in over 60 years, along with two new budget-friendly adventures in Peru.
Girls Trip Ideas: 11 Great Destinations From Antigua to Montauk
There's nothing better than some uninterrupted girl time, whether it's going out to dinner or just hanging out on the couch binging TV shows. On some occasions, though—and especially for long-distance best friends—a trip might make the most sense to finally get some quality catch-up time.
American Airlines Just Announced 5 New Routes to Some of Europe’s Most Sought-After Destinations
While the official end of summer is still a few weeks away, if you’re already making your wish list for destinations to visit next summer, American Airlines’ newly announced network expansion might serve as fodder.
10 beautiful destinations to see fall colors in 2024
Sep 5, 2024 • 5 min read
Skift Power Rankings: Christopher Nassetta
Christopher Nassetta, a Virginia native with a shock of salt-and-pepper hair, has the air of a senior industry statesman. Since taking the reins at Hilton Worldwide in 2007, Nassetta has orchestrated a dramatic turnaround in the hotel group’s fortunes while also advocating on behalf of the whole travel industry at the governmental level.
How to plan a trip to Greenland's top destinations
Aug 30, 2024 • 13 min read
Five Years Since Opening for Tourism, Saudi Says it Is a Destination 'For All' in New Campaign
“An unexplored territory….Untouched. Uncharted.” That’s the message in Saudi Arabia’s new global tourism campaign to attract overseas travelers to the kingdom.