Luxury Travel Insider – Details, episodes & analysis

Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of taking you halfway across the world, we're taking you inside Bell & Bly Travel - to share what it's like to work here, what makes our culture so special, and announcing  a brand-new role on our team. If you've ever been curious about what it's like to work in the travel industry - this will give you a little taste! 

I'm joined by two of the most wonderful humans I know - our General Manager, Rachael Armstrong, and one of our Senior Coordinators, Ana Manrique. Rachael runs our award-winning design team and is an operations guru. While Ana has been promoted twice in just three years, and brings more enthusiasm to planning travel than anyone I've ever met!

Click for the hiring role on this link https://dynamitejobs.com/company/bellblytravel/remote-job/client-growth-partnerships-manager

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

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This year, we're taking our ghostly adventures to one of the most storied and mysterious cities in the world - Rome.

My guest today is Cristiana Ventura, an art historian, archaeologist, and one of the top guides in the Eternal City. 

Together, we explore the city's most famous ghosts - emperors, noblewomen, and executioners - and uncover what these stories say about the Roman soul itself. Because in a city built on layers of history, myth, and faith, the veil between the living and the dead feels just a little thinner.

Cristiana leaves us with a beautiful reflection - that in Rome, as in life, you can't have light without shadow. To truly see the beauty of this city, you must also understand its darkness.

So wherever you are this Halloween season - whether you're lighting a candle, wandering under the full moon, or dreaming of your next Roman holiday - I hope you enjoy this special episode of Luxury Travel Insider.

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/

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Today we're wrapping up our special series on the intersection of positive psychology and travel, and we're doing it with one of the most inspiring voices in the field.

James Pawelski is the Director of Education at the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He's also a philosopher, Fulbright Scholar, and the founding director of the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project, which explores how art, music, literature, and sacred experiences can help us live more vibrant and meaningful lives.

James and I first connected through my studies at Penn, where he opened my eyes to the power of the humanities—not as subjects to study in school, but as practices that help us become more whole.

In this episode, we talk about why humans have always turned to art and story, how awe and sacred moments can transform us, and why travel is such a powerful gateway to beauty, meaning, and wonder.

If you've ever stood before a masterpiece, heard a piece of music that gave you chills, or felt something shift inside you while traveling, this conversation is for you.

Sit back, relax, and let's explore how the humanities—and your next adventure—might just add more happiness to your life.

Thank you to our sponsor for this episode, Luggage Forward.

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/

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Today's guests are Nicky Fitzgerald and Kate Fitzgerald Boyd - the mother-daughter duo who own and run Angama Mara in Kenya.

Of the thousands of safari lodges across Africa, Angama Mara is always mentioned as one of the best.

If you are the kind of person who loves heart-stoppingly beautiful views, this is the place for you. Not only can you lean over your balcony and be suspended over the Maasai Mara National Park - but you can do it style.

Nicky and her late husband Steve are weaved into the modern history of safari in Africa through a long career at &Beyond. Over the years the Fitzgerald's have been responsible for launching 60 lodges in Africa and India.

So with Nicky's deep history, and Kate's fresh perspective - they've created something truly special and innovative.

Kate, Nicky, and I discuss how they were able to get this incredible piece of land, some insider tidbits from the filming of Out of Africa, how they continue to innovate, and the differences between safari in South and East Africa.

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ 

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Today we're making our way to one of my favorite cities in the US, Santa Fe, New Mexico. It's a magical place that inspires creativity, slowing down, and taking a breath. 

Joining me to chat all things Santa Fe are brothers Isaiah and Sharif Seret. The Seret family founded, owns, and runs The Inn of the Five Graces, often thought of as one of the best hotels in America. The Inn is so special and boutique, and the service so bespoke that it's almost hard to refer to it as a hotel. 

The brothers and I chat about the different eras in Santa Fe's history, how a bohemian art scene set down roots here in the 60s and 70s, and about their fascinating family history that took them from New York, to pre-revolution era Afghanistan, to finding their true home in the high desert of New Mexico.  

I truly love this little gem, and I hope you enjoy this interesting episode of Luxury Travel Insider. 

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ 

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Today we're focusing on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It wasn't so long ago that I thought I might never have the ability to visit this vast country on the Arabian Peninsula. But let me tell you, things have changed! 

From stunning desert landscapes, to fascinating ancient history, to an absolutely stunning and untouched sliver of the Red Sea - Saudi Arabia has always had a lot to offer… you just couldn't visit. Fast Forward to recent years and the Kingdom has thrown open its doors and invested billions into infrastructure, gorgeous hotels, amazing experiences blending traditional and modern culture, and more. 

Joining me to talk about the changes are Melanie de Souza, the CMO of AlUla and Amina Farooq who is a local expert in planning itineraries throughout the country. We talk about everything from the changes in women's rights to the new projects on the Red Sea, to the delicious cuisine. 

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ 

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Today we'll be floating down the Nile River in Egypt. Close your eyes for a second and just think about the power of this ancient river. Its physical power has shaped the landscape of the African continent, but its energy has shaped the entire course of human history. 

One of the best ways to soak up the magnitude and importance of the Nile River Valley is to float down the river on a luxury cruiser. 

My guest today is Shamden Tamang, the head of operations for Oberoi's new ship on the Nile, the Oberoi Zahra. And if I may say so myself, one of the best options on the river. Shamden and I discuss everything from ancient history, to the world class food aboard the Zahra, to how the small details can make a big impact on your trip. 

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ 

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Today we're visiting the next frontier, looking up, and dreaming about what is possible for travel outside the confines of our amazing planet. 

Roman Chiporukha, founder of SpaceVIP, joins me today to talk about space tourism and why this method of exploration is so important for our planet, our fellow humans, and ourselves. 

We dive into the history and future of space tourism, what experiences are available to you right now, and how Roman is focused on bridging the gender and equality gaps in space. 

This episode will help you understand the overview effect and how looking to space might be just what we need to come together back here on earth. 

I hope you'll enjoy this inspiring episode of Luxury Travel Insider. 

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ 

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Today we're talking about the glamorous world of private aviation - from the history of air travel since the 60s, to how the industry is focusing on sustainability, to the different uses of this type of air travel. 

My guest today is George Galanopulos, the CEO of Luxaviation UK, an operator managing over 200 aircraft for all kinds of private air travel. 

George tells personal stories of how he would pilot their first aircraft when the company was a startup, some crazy requests they've gotten from guests on board through the years, and some touching stories of how private air has helped families in need. 

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ 

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Today we're jetting off to Tuscany - land of rolling green hills, Brunello di Montalcino, and of course those gorgeous hilltop towns that seem so sweetly frozen in time. Our journey takes us to a gorgeous farmstead spitting distance from Montepulciano to chat with friends, and the owners of the famed Lupaia boutique hotel.  

Heidi and Christopher Mueller have been dreaming up their perfect spot in Italy for decades. After visiting over 60 properties in the surrounding regions they finally settled on this 17th century outcropping and transformed it into a truly magical place. 

We chat about everything from the renaissance battles between Siena and Florence, to the local Tuscan cheeses, to how the couple hand picked every detail in Lupaia. 

Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels

If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/ 

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