WTN? Capri Tiberio Palace in Italy 🇮🇹 | Highlight - Isbreen the Glacier in Norway 🇳🇴 | Q&A - best historical tour destinations

📷 Isbreen the Glacier – Katie Farr Photography

WHERE TO NEXT?

Dear Traveler,

I’m officially back from my extended time off for the month of July!

Although I wasn’t completely on vacation – I was still confirming final details for client trips, having final itinerary review calls before each departure and working on another special project. But enough to feel like it was a relaxing month.

My reflection on this time – it was so worth it!

Early heads up – next summer I will likely take July and August off. Which again, means continuing to work with my traveling clients, but not starting any new trips until September.

Have you taken any extended time off in the decades you have been working?

If not, I highly recommend it! You deserve it!

The special project I was focused on was a presentation to 100+ people about creating experiences that elevate peak moments in their lives.

One of my favorite topics to talk about!

We focused on travel, but there are so many ways to intentionally plan some of your moments in life to elevate your experiences.

The presentation was scheduled to be outdoors under a tent at a winery about 90 minutes from my house. But on my drive there it was pouring rain, which gave me a bit of concern.

I stayed optimistic and before the event started the sun shone down on the vineyards causing the raindrops hanging from the vines to sparkle. The setting was beautiful.

I’ve presented virtually to many groups in recent years, but this is my first one in person since before covid. Preparing for it was fun!

The concept of Peak Moments comes from Chip and Dan Heath’s book, The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact. I love leveraging their suggestions when planning your travels.

Two ideas they mention that I particularly love are:

surprises

and

flipping the script

Surprises are self explanatory. Anytime you can truly surprise someone it is going to be indelibly printed in their memories.

Flipping the script refers to doing something you may usually do but in a different way.

Some examples:

If you usually …

take a family trip to Maine because you like the cooler summer temps, consider Norway or Finland next year
travel to the beach with your kids, consider a friend trip on a catamaran to celebrate a big milestone
love exploring big European cities, consider some of the smaller towns with more authentic experiences
stay at a well known 5* luxury hotel brand, consider an intimate boutique hotel or the igloos mentioned in this week’s Highlight

I talked about creating Peak Moments through traveling in the following ways…

Brainstorming with you is one of my favorite things to do. I have many ideas for each of the above!

The audience had lots of great questions. Today I’ve picked one to share below.

Last week’s most popular article was 11 Anniversary Trip Ideas for the Adventurous Couple.

This week’s inspirational articles include 6 of the Prettiest Outdoor Experiences You Can Have This Fall, the 15 Best Hotels in London, the Best Hudson Valley Hotels for an Idyllic Fall Getaway and other articles on Spain, Costa Rica, Azores, Italy, California, Indonesia and Japan.

The informational articles include How Safe Is Hotel Wi-Fi Really?, How to use the 5-4-3-2-1 method to nail packing every time, how to get paid to visit luxury hotels and spas around the world and insights on Federal Air Marshals.
We’ve had lots of clients on African safaris this summer and given it’s personally one of my absolute favorite places to go and I love planning safaris, next month we will have “Safari September” with lots of insights, Q&As and other helpful information to share with you.

Did you see the American men’s 1500 race yesterday?! It was so exciting! With American Cole Hocker overtaking the Tokyo gold winner and the world champion to win it at the very end, followed by his fellow American winning bronze and all three Americans finishing in the top 5. It’s the first time in 112 years that two Americans finished on the podium!

Enjoy the rest of the games!

I have an unquenchable thirst for going places few others have been. Check out this week’s Highlight for a place on my personal list – for both summer and winter.

Where do you want to go next?

Warmly,

Below:

This week’s highlight – Isbreen the Glacier
Where to Next? Capri Tiberio Palace
Q&A – What are the best historical touring destinations?
Articles to Inspire+Inform

ISBREEN THE GLACIER

Imagine soaking in the warmth of your jacuzzi under a blanket of stars in the sky. Gazing northwards you see the immense mountains your igloo, Skalsatind, was named for.

You are at Isbreen the Glacier, a remote location in northern Norway that is the epitome of luxury in both your accommodations and the destination.

Your igloo is the very best of nature-oriented Nordic design. 1500 sq. ft of living space divided between an ensuite sleeping dome and a stylish arctic lounge. Your king size Odel bed with goose down duvets will keep you toasty warm, no matter the temperature.

The reclining chairs in front of the panoramic windows and wood burning stove give you the ideal spot to simply be.

A respite like no other.

If you’d like a glass of wine or your favorite cocktail (mezcal margarita on the rocks for me), you needn’t step outside. Your igloo is outfitted with your own in-house cocktail station.

In summer you have the advantage of the Midnight Sun, with just 45 minutes of “night” where there is still a glow in the sky.

“Traverse fjords and glaciers, and chase the Aurora Borealis on skis, by foot, bike, boat, snowmobile, kayak, or even by helicopter. Immerse yourself in the traditions and tales of the tundra, and experience some of the world’s oldest living music – the enigmatic Sami joik.”

The food is spectacular, there are over 200 nights of Northern Lights viewing each year and with only four other igloos, you will be far from any tourist destination.

It’s an all-inclusive concept in a relaxed luxury setting.

Guests often invite locals to dine with them – their boat captain, snowmobile guide or their driver, who also may be their snowmobile guide. Or he may invite you to a traditional Norwegian dinner in his family’s home for a real taste of arctic living or out for a coffee.

What’s it like at Isbreen the Glacier throughout the year?

There are two seasons – Summer/Fall from June to September where the average temperature is 44-61 degrees F but could reach up to 86 degrees.

And Winter from November to April – where it’s cold, but perhaps not as cold as you’d expect, ranging from 14-41 degrees F.

They are very distinct seasons!

Here are some of the activities you can enjoy:

Summer

fjord swimming
fishing
ATVs
mountain biking
e-moped-ing
outdoor bbqs
hiking with huskies
glacier hiking
wildlife safaris
foraging
watching the reindeer migration swimming across the fjord (approx. mid-May and September)

Winter

dog sledding
snowmobiling
downhill skiing
cross country skiing
skinning
ski touring
viewing the Northern Lights (August to early April)
whale safaris by RIB boat (mid-October to January)
swimming or snorkeling with whales

Year round

Fjord and wildlife cruises, RIB boats, husky farm visits, kayak tours, dinner and storytelling in a local’s home, bonfires, Arctic floating (wearing warm and dry survival suits)
helicopters

📷 (all above photos) Isbreen the Glacier – Katie Farr Photography

A typical day

You are greeted with a hearty breakfast of fresh baked bread, scones, pancakes and other typical breakfast fare.

Then you choose if you want to head out on a morning activity – perhaps dog sledding, hiking or fjord cruise looking for wildlife.

Or sleep in, relax in your igloo, sit in the jacuzzi or a take a short snowshoe walk.

A local Norwegian lunch is often out on your activity. When you return to your igloo spend the afternoon relaxing or explore out your doorstep. Definitely taste the home baked cake made each afternoon.

In the evenings enjoy dinner where all guests come together to mingle, socialize and compare notes on day’s activities. Sit by the bonfire outside. Talk to the chef. Look out for the Northern Lights.

Isbreen the Glacier is on my personal list to visit one day. And anything on that list is worthy of being on your list too!

Condé Nast Traveller included it in their list 23 Best Igloo Hotels to Watch the Northern Lights.

Often with places like this, those who have been “everywhere” are attracted to its uniqueness and remote location. One of my colleague’s travelers fitting that description said “it is one of my favorite properties in the world!”

What other guests say…

“From the moment you arrive to the time you leave you are treated like the most welcome friends. The whole experience was simply stunning and we didn’t want to leave.”

“We love the igloos, wildlife and breathtaking landscape and were surprised by the fine dining experience in this remote location.”

Plan ahead and get yourself to this stunning location!

📷 Isbreen the Glacier – Spor Guiding

Reach out to plan your trip to

Norway

🌟 This summer we sent many clients to Italy – all over Tuscany, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia, Florence, Cinque Terre and Lake Como. One family spent several days in beautiful Capri and stayed at the Capri Tiberio Palace.

Why is Capri Tiberio Palace so special?

The rooms – each room is unique and has a nickname (the lemon suite, the dolphin suite, etc). The spacious rooms have stunning views of the sea.
The location – the hotel is perfectly situated for exploring the heart of Capri and is near the famous Piazzetta and center of the city. The views are said to be the best in Capri and inspired the ending of The Great Gatsby, after a 40 day stay by F.Scott Fitzgerald.
The food – enjoy lunch and dinner at Tierrazza Tiberio serving Caprese and Mediterranean cuisine with views over Capri and the sea. Dining is complimented with an extensive menu of Italian wines.

Do as much or as little as you like:

The indoor-outdoor pool is heated and accessible from the spa and sundeck.
The spa has six treatment rooms, a water zone with hydrotherapy pools and steam rooms. Try the highly recommend Capri Ritual Banya, a treatment in the water zone, surrounded by the essences of Capri’s lemons, fennel and rosemary from the garden.
Explore Capri by boat, spending the day on the water touring the island, visiting the grottoes and swimming in the sea.

‼️ Don’t miss…. cocktails at the Jacky Bar, inspired by Jackie Kennedy who stayed here in the 60’s. Enjoy the signature cocktail Caesar Tonic Pepper with the bird’s eye view over Capri’s sunset.

📷 Capri Tiberio Palace

Reach out to plan your trip to

Italy

Q: What are the best historical tour destinations?

A: As with most answers to travel questions, I’ll start with “It depends.” Mostly on your interests.

A handful of ideas that popped in my mind are below. I highly recommend both reading about your destination in advance and securing an engaging guide who will bring history alive for you and for your kids, no matter their ages. Another key tip is that these places are often crowded. I suggest exploring options to get access to exclusive areas or before or after hours. I also recommend combining these sites with less traveled destinations so you balance your trip with more peaceful moments.

France – Normandy
Hawaii – Pearl Harbor
Washington DC and Virginia
Peru – Machu Picchu
Rome and Pompei
Greece – following the path of Odysseus, the Parthenon and Delos
Stockholm – Vasa museum (one of my favorites – about history I never knew existed)
Demilitarized zone in South Korea
Egypt – the pyramids at Giza
Cambodia – Angkor Wat
Jordan – Petra
Travel the Silk Road
India – Taj Majal
Spain – the Alhambra
South Africa – Apartheid
Japan – Hiroshima

What else would you add to the list above? Send me an email to mimi@truvaytravel.com and let me know.

There is so much fascinating history behind each of the above! Reading about your destination before you go is so valuable. It could be historical fiction, non-fiction or a novel. It’s another great way to enrich your trip. A few recent favorites of mine:

Last Days of the Incas – in my opinion an absolute must read before going to Peru.
Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert – heart wrenching true story about Moroccan royalty.
We Die Alone – true story about Norway during WWII. I bought this for my husband for our trip to Scandinavia this summer and I read it before he even had a chance 🙂