If the idea of a big family vacation–or any group trip–makes you weak in the knees, fear not: bespoke luxury travel company Black Tomato has the solution.
Unveiled on October 12 and some two years in the making, See You in the Moment is an innovative collection of exceptional experiences artfully designed to bring groups together in a specific point and place in time, to showcase some of the most rarefied moments on earth–but crucially, minus the myriad headaches and thorny logistics so often (and rightfully) associated with traveling en masse.
While Black Tomato cofounder, Tom Marchant, had been noodling the idea of a unique group travel offering around for years, learnings gleaned from the Covid-19 pandemic spurred him into action.
“I think we all realized how much we missed travel, and had been taking it for granted,” Marchant says. “And we also realized how how hard it was to see friends and family, and how much we missed them.”
Against that backdrop, Black Tomato saw a post-pandemic uptick in inquiries about group trips, which currently comprise some 30% of the company’s business–a 35% increase (and counting) over 2019, when the multigenerational travel market was pegged at $270 billion and growing rapidly before Covid stopped all travel in its tracks.
It was a natural fit for Marchant’s team–many of the company’s core clients were multigenerational families and groups of friends already–but he was determined to iron out the inherent wrinkles that have traditionally made group travel such a fraught prospect.
“With these trips, there’s usually this build-up where you’re shipped around in the same transport, and all doing the same thing that someone else has planned–and invariably, you can never please everyone. There’s a running thread of compromise through it,” he says. “So by the time you get to the main event, tempers are frayed, and the loved ones you've set out with may no longer be in the loved-ones category.”
Eradicating these well-documented and universal pain points is the collection’s secret sauce. Rather than shoehorning everyone into the same itinerary–as resentment simmers at a slow burn all the while–See You in the Moment offers copious amounts of what most group trips often painfully lack: flexibility.
Consider SYITM’s take on the Palio, Italy’s most famous horse race and revered, seven-century tradition, which takes place twice a summer in Siena’s medieval Piazza del Campo. The festivities kick off the evening before with a sumptuous al fresco repast in of one of the city’s 17 contrade (medieval wards) as its cobblestone streets buzz in anticipation. The next day, you and yours ascend to a coveted private balcony overlooking the square to watch the main event, champagne and canapes
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Over the past couple of years, Puglia has become one of Italy's trending destinations—but there is more to the region than just photo-worthy locations. Puglia is home to numerous folkloric traditions, ancient histories and diverse landscapes, from the dramatic coastline along the Parco Nazionale del Gargano to the scattered trulli in the Valle d’Itria and the crystalline beaches of Salento. It’s truly difficult to narrow down the best things to do in Puglia, but the following 11 are the most spectacular experiences you need to consider on your next trip.
There’s been a rockslide somewhere in the Maurienne Valley, deep in the French Alps. By the time I’m due to set off on an intricately planned, early autumn European rail trip from London to Athens, nearly a week has passed since the incident. My intended path through France, Italy and then on to Greece via sea had relied on a connection from Lyon to Milan passing directly through this region. Now the route is out of action and it could be months before the railway tracks are dug out from the rubble. Initially, I’m irate. En route to the Eurostar terminal at London’s St Pancras at 6.30am, however, I encourage myself to think differently.
An island that lures with its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, Bali is a destination that should be visited at least once in a lifetime. Known for its rice terraces, lush jungle, sandy beaches and Hindu temples, it offers a plethora of experiences and appeals to a range of travelers — from surfers and yogis to honeymooners, families and spiritual seekers.
Starting January, 2024, the super-popular program of “selling” residence permits to wealthy foreign investors, better known as ‘Golden Visas’, will come to an end in the Netherlands.
Picture it: After years of fantasizing and months of planning, you finally arrive at the destination you've always dreamed about. Except, it's just not how you pictured it.
While accepting one of the many Oscars he received for the film Parasite at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020, South Korean director Bong Joon Ho advised that Americans would do well to “overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles” in order to discover an even broader swatch of amazing films than already available at our fingertips. Indeed, subtitles are nothing to be afraid of—but that doesn’t mean the movies they caption can’t be scary themselves. Amongst our editorial staff, in fact, there’s a consensus that foreign horror productions are actually much more terrifying than those produced stateside—bolder, bloodier, darkly funnier, and more haunting for their willingness to leave questions unanswered.
December may mean the year is coming to an end – but that doesn’t mean your travel plans have to. If you’re looking for the best place to visit in December, here are some of Lonely Planet’s top picks, whether you want stunning northern lights, epic beach adventures or cozy Christmas markets.
Located roughly halfway between Paris and Amsterdam, the city of Brussels is often overlooked in favor of those two European tourism heavyweights. But Brussels has much to offer in its own right, and is a terrific base from which to explore some of Belgium’s most beautiful cities. During my recent visit to the unofficial capital of Europe, I had the pleasure of staying at the historic and charming Hotel Amigo, a member of the Rocco Forte family of hotels and The Leading Hotels of the World.
“Muy bien, Panchita,” I whispered to my horse as she picked her way up the rocky path. It was 5:30 a.m., and the stars above us were lighting the way. Our group was hushed, and the only sounds came from our horse's hooves, the gauchos' commands, and reverent gasps as the sun began to rise, revealing the Andes against a pinkening sky. I took a moment to let the experiences of the past weekend wash over me while we rode: Two days prior, I'd learned how to cook by fire with iconic Argentine chef Francis Mallmann. I had, later, taken a sensory wine course taught by one of the first certified sommeliers in Argentina, Mariana Onofri. When we reached the mountain peak, I dismounted my horse and joined my group of fellow travelers circling a roaring fire, as someone handed me a steaming gourd of maté.
It's a fact: Summer would simply not be summer without ice cream. Extreme heat is often made (a bit) more bearable with a cone of ice cream in hand, no matter what your flavor of choice may be. The great thing about this beloved treat is that you can find great versions just about anywhere.