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  • Destination
    • North America
      • Canada
        • Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
        • Whistler, British Columbia
      • U.S.A.
        • Big Sur, Pebble Beach, Carmel
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        • Lake Placid, NY
        • Orlando, FL
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        • Twin Farms, VT
        • Watch Hill, RI
        • Woodstock, VT
      • Mexico
        • Riviera Maya
    • Europe
      • Florence & Tuscany
      • Munich
      • Puglia
      • Rome
      • Sicily: Syracuse & Taormina
    • Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Middle East
      • Turkey: Istanbul & Cappadocia
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Puglia

Villas in Puglia are Serving Up the Sweet Life

drone picture of villa in puglia

Right now everyone can’t stop talking about two booming travel topics. First, destination radars have zeroed in on a seductive slice of the Italian peninsula — Puglia, Italy.

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HOW TO PLAN THE PERFECT EXCURSION TO THE VERDON GO HOW TO PLAN THE PERFECT EXCURSION TO THE VERDON GORGE / GORGES DU VERDON ✨ 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞. Yes, the beaches in the South of France are stunning — but THIS boat ride through the Verdon Gorge was one of my favorite travel experiences. Imagine crystal clear lake waters with cascading cliffs surrounding you. A 15 min drive away you can find rolling hills filled with lavender. And stop for dinner in the fairytale town of Moustiers Saint Marie. Here’s how to plan the perfect outing to the Verdon Gorge: 🚤 MAKE A BOAT RESERVATION AHEAD OF TIME: They will sell out. We saw people turned away at the dock. If you’re traveling with kids, this is not the moment for “winging it.” ✅HOW TO BOOK?: Start with your hotel — we stayed at La Bastide Moustiers and booked directly through them. You can also try @verdon_electronautic. ⏰GO IN THE MORNING: Most of the rental places open around 9am. By 11am the whole waterway is hoppin’. 🥪PACK A LUNCH/SNACKS: There’s a snack stand, but I’d skip it. Bring your own and picnic by the lake or out on the boat. 👙WEAR YOUR SWIMSUIT: After exploring the gorge, head into the wide-open lake and jump in. Bring towels because they aren’t provided on site. ☀️WHERE TO STAY NEARBY: I recommend finding accommodations near the town of Moustiers Saint Marie. This was one of my favorite towns, and it’s only about 10 minutes away. We stayed at a 4 star hotel called La Bastide Moustiers. If you’re a luxury traveler, this is the best hotel option nearby. 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 @𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 #verdongorge #gorgesduverdon #provence #southoffrance
THE 10 QUESTIONS I GET ASKED ALL THE TIME ABOUT LA THE 10 QUESTIONS I GET ASKED ALL THE TIME ABOUT LAVENDER SEASON IN PROVENCE 🇫🇷 Lavender season is one of the most magical times to visit Provence. It was a bucket list trip for me, but admittedly my husband and kids weren’t exactly jumping for joy when I shared the plan. Fast forward to the trip…my husband turned to me in the middle of a field and said, “This was worth it — it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” I’ll take that as a win. If you’re planning your own visit, here are my top tips to help you get the timing and logistics right: WHEN IS PEAK SEASON?
👉 Late June to mid-July, depending on weather and region. I went to Valensole end of June and Luberon first week of July in 2024 — perfect timing. WHERE ARE THE BEST FIELDS?
👉 Valensole is the most famous (and most photographed), but Luberon and Sault are just as beautiful — and less crowded. Lori from @pinchmeprovence helped map out my route, and the guide written by @lelongweekend is the best I’ve read. DO YOU NEED A CAR?
👉 Yes — 100%. BEST TIME FOR PHOTOS?
👉 Early morning or golden hour (as late as 9pm in summer). I mostly visited in the afternoon — not ideal lighting, but the photos still turned out beautifully. Just avoid midday. WHAT TO WEAR?
👉 Plan it out: colors that won’t clash with the lavender, flowy dresses, comfy shoes (ground is uneven), and a hat. CAN YOU BRING KIDS?
👉 Absolutely. It’s a calm, open-air activity. Some farms have distilleries, shops, or ice cream stands too. WILL KIDS GET BORED?
👉 It’s not an all-day thing — plan for 1–2 hours, then pair it with a market or village visit. ARE FIELDS STROLLER-FRIENDLY?
👉 Not really. Most have uneven paths — bring a carrier or all-terrain stroller. ARE THERE BATHROOMS OR SNACKS?
👉 Rarely. Pack snacks and water. WHERE TO STAY?
👉 I loved the town of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie when visiting Valensole region 👉 in Luberon region I recommend renting a luxury villa. BONUS: WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO? My top pick - rent a boat and explore the gorge du Verdun #lavenderfieldsprovence #ProvenceTravel #LavenderSeason #ProvenceWithKids
No shade to Disney (I’ve done it, I get it, I LO No shade to Disney (I’ve done it, I get it, I LOVE it!) — but when I said I help families plan unforgettable trips, I wasn’t just talking about character breakfasts and rides ✨ A Family trip can mean cooking classes together in a French chateau 
✨ It can mean multi-gen sailing trips through Greece.
✨ Or private guides through Japan, surfing in Costa Rica, or villa hopping in Provence. Travel with kids doesn’t have to just be Disney, or resorts, or waterparks. I’m here to help families design trips that feel elevated, effortless, and exciting for everyone — including destinations you never thought possible with little ones. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 “𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩” 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩! #holyairball #familytrip #luxurytravel
PLANNING A FAMILY TRIP TO PROVENCE WITH KIDS Prov PLANNING A FAMILY TRIP TO PROVENCE WITH KIDS Provence started as a dream for just me—seeing the lavender fields in bloom had been on my bucket list for years. Then it became a dinner table topic around the holidays… a “what if we all went there together” kind of idea. …Which turned into late-night wanderlust searches of charming hilltop towns, farmhouse villas, and lavender field maps... …Which then became a group chat with grandparents, siblings, aunts, and uncles. …And eventually culminated in a summer trip for the ages. We did it with a group ranging in age from 4 to 74—and everyone had a blast. Here’s your mini-guide to planning a family trip to Provence with kids: ☀️WHEN TO GO: Lavender season: Late June to mid-July (timing varies by region) May & September: Shoulder season = warm + fewer crowds ☀️HOW TO GET THERE: Fly direct into Nice drive ~2 hours Or connect through to Marseille—many towns are ~1 hour from there ☀️WHERE TO BASE YOURSELF:
We chose the Luberon Valley so we could easily explore Gordes, Oppède, Goult, Ménerbes, and Saint-Saturnin. Also consider basing in Lourmarin or Saint-Rémy for charm and convenience. ☀️WHERE TO STAY:
Our villa in Provence was a dream—the kind of place you wish you could spend an entire month.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 “𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚” 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 + 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐮𝐱𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 ☀️WHAT TO DO WITH KIDS: Carrières des Lumières in Les Baux (immersive cave light show) Market days—let them explore stalls + charming cobblestone streets Run through lavender fields (and take a million photos) Pack a picnic and find a shady hilltop view “Red rock” hike in Roussillon Climb the fortress at Les Baux-de-Provence ☀️LOGISTICS WITH KIDS: Renting a car is a must (parking was easy in most towns) Prioritize the markets at Lourmarin and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Go early—markets wrap by early afternoon Traveling with a baby? Bring a carrier over a stroller Don’t overpack your itinerary. Pick one town to visit per day, then spend the rest relaxing at the villa pool #provencewithkids #provence #familytrip #luxurytravel #bestvillas
How to make Disney World planning feel less like a How to make Disney World planning feel less like a marathon—and more like a vacation. ⬇️ I’m feeling extra nostalgic these days… maybe because I have a graduating kindergartner, and I can feel my daughter’s princess-loving days slipping away. I mean—she asked me for baggy pants the other day!🤪 This small window we have as parents — where we are everything to our little ones and their imaginations are as big and bold as ever — is why I’ll always advise parents to just “take the trip.” Don’t wait for the perfect time. And when it comes to Disney, go while they still believe in magic. But let’s also be real. Disney World planning can be overwhelming. Here’s what helped us make our Disney days feel joyful (and even relaxing): ✨ WE STAYED AT A LUXURY RESORT- I personally value comfort when traveling with kids, so hotels that have fantastic friendly amenities, spacious suites, great dining, and easy park access, make it 100% worth it. I recommend 📍Four Seasons Orlando (great kids club + waterpark) 📍Riviera Resort (amazing location) 📍Waldorf Astoria Orlando (for a quieter, elegant stay) ✨ WE BUDGETED FOR A PRIVATE GUIDE
Yes, you can totally do it yourself—but for us, hiring someone who understood how to maximize time and prioritize our favorite rides was a game changer. ✨ WE SCHEDULED IN DOWNTIME We did two full park days, one full hotel day—and it was the best decision. A recharge day = happier kids and parents. What questions do you have about planning a @disneyworld trip? 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 @𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 DISNEY WORLD PLANNING | LUXURY FAMILY TRAVEL | DISNEYWORLD TIPS
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