HNHO - Prana Maya Island Resort | Destination Highlight - just back from Slovenia! 🇸🇮

WHERE TO NEXT?

Dear Traveler, Since arriving home last week I’ve been catching up. I wanted to give you a glimpse into my scouting trip to Slovenia, which took some time to put together. Slovenia is a country many people have not been to. Read this week’s Highlight below to see if it’s a place that would be a good fit for you (if you like the idea of an uncrowded, unspoiled European destination at a more moderate price than Amalfi or Lake Como – it is!).

*2 important notes*

If you’ve been a subscriber to this newsletter for over a year, you know I took the month of July off last year. I loved it so much that this year I’m doing it again. And it will extend a bit into August when we are on our family vacation. Of course I’ll be easily accessible for my traveling clients. But I will not start designing new trips during this time. If you’d like to plan a late fall getaway, consider what’s available for winter vacation or plan ahead for 2026 (always a great idea!). Send me a note to get on my calendar for August.

If you’ve considered taking a month off in the summer – I highly recommend it!

After 226 straight weeks of sending you this newsletter, I am planning to send it out once each month in July and August. Trust me – it will be hard for me. But I think it will also give me some space to think creatively about a fresh new content ideas. I always love hearing from you! If you have a moment, let me know your favorite parts of the newsletter or sections you don’t read or what destinations you are most interested in hearing about in the future. mimi@truvaytravel.com. I may send out a poll too.

I love that this last week’s most popular article was… With 7 Words, the Pilot on Our Delayed Delta Air Lines Flight Won Over a Plane Full of Cranky Passengers. “I want to start with an apology.” With travel, bumps are inevitable. It’s amazing what acknowledgement and taking accountability can do.

This week’s inspirational articles include… this year’s best hotel bars, an under-the-radar Indian Ocean island and North American safari-style adventures.

The informational articles include… this may be one of the most affordable summers to fly internationally and the next big thing in luxury travel – a family therapist! Also articles on Marbella, Athens and NYC.

Next I’m off to celebrate my and Jason’s 25th anniversary. Since I have been traveling a lot, I chose a drivable destination with a notable history. Of course I’ll share where we went and my thoughts about it when I return

Where to next for you?

Warmly,

Below:

This week’s highlight – Just back from Slovenia
Hot New Hotel Opening – Prana Maya Island Resort
Inspiration + Information

JUST BACK FROM… SLOVENIA

When I get the opportunity to go somewhere I’ve never been, I take it!

This time it was Slovenia.

Tucked between Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. In four days, I immersed myself in this compact country that feels like Europe’s best-kept secret. Even at the iconic sites like Lake Bled, there were visitors, but none of the crowds you see at many of Europe’s other main sites. Matej, my Slovenian partner (below) introduced us to the country on a handmade wooden boat gliding along the Ljubljanica River in Ljubljana’s old town. Seeing Ljubljana’s baroque and Art Nouveau architecture from the water gives you a different perspective than walking. Below you can see the hilltop castle I hiked to every morning to start my day. There is also a funicular if you want to visit the castle without the steps.

It was seeing Lake Bled, which always seemed somewhat fairytale like to me, that made me stop and take it all in. Yes, we’d all seen the photos, but experiencing it in person is always better. We tasted the famous Bled cream cake at Grand Hotel Toplice (they’ve sold over 12 million pieces of this 60-year-old recipe). We took a traditional Pletna boat ride to Bled Island, which felt like stepping back in time. These wooden flat-bottom boats have been operated by the same families since 1590, with the title of Pletna oarsman passed down generation to generation.

The view from Bled Castle stretches across the lake to the Julian Alps beyond. Lunch at the castle restaurant overlooking the lake gave us more beautiful views. Why add Slovenia to your European itinerary?

It’s uncrowded – even at Lake Bled, one of the country’s most famous attractions, you can find peaceful moments.
The diversity – in one day we went from underground UNESCO (Škocjan Caves to coastal Mediterranean charm in Portorož, with Alpine lakes and rolling wine country in between.
Goriška Brda rivals Tuscany – but without the crowds. Our Land Rover excursion through terraced vineyards to taste olive oil among the vines and under ripe cherry trees (watch out!) was a genuine moment of connection with our hosts – a 4th generation vintner and a first generation, award winning olive oil producer.
The hospitality is genuine – just one example – the winemaker invited us to his home for lunch overlooking the hills covered with vineyards

‼️Don’t miss… Vintgar Gorge if you’re visiting Lake Bled. The wooden walkways threading through this dramatic canyon alongside rushing rapids create an almost mystical experience. I was amazed at the gorgeous blue color of the water.

Experiences in Slovenia

First a special mention for two of the most popular activities in Slovenia:

Hiking – Put the Julian Alps and stages of the Juliana Trail at the top of your list! Other beautiful places to hike – areas around Lake Bohinj, Lake Bled, Upper Sava Valley, Kranjska Gora and Soča Valley. For advanced hikers only – plan a guided 2 day hike on Mt. Triglav.
Biking – It’s popular all over Slovenia! Like hiking, the Julian Alps and Juliana Trail is #1. Also the Parenzana Trail (which winds through Croatia too) – through vineyards, over mountains, road or mountain biking.

Other active and adventurous activities:

Rowing with Olympic medalists
Paragliding
Rafting
Canyoning
Kayaking
Hot air balloon flight
Via ferrata
Rock climbing
Fishing
Cave exploration (the one we visited below had caverns 450+ feet high!)

And more experiences…

History – visit WW1 battle sites, cliff-top fortresses and abandoned WWII bunkers

Scenery – gaze out at stunning gorges, enormous peaks and peaceful lakes

Culinary

Dine in between rows of a vineyard underneath a ripe cherry tree (delicious to pluck off the branch – which I did, along with plums)
Visit a Slovenian Nona’s homestead to make authentic recipes, drink wine and enjoy time with a local family
Olive oil tastings with an award winning producer
Enjoy a perfect picnic in Bohinj – overlooking a lake, on a mountaintop or while watching a romantic sunset
Dine at Hiša Franko – the famous 3 Michelin star restaurant of Chef Ana Roš
Or at Jaz by Ana Roš in Ljubljana

Culture – meet artisans (lace, woodwork, pottery and forged iron), explore UNESCO towns, take a carriage ride at the Lipizzan horse stud farm that was founded in 1580 or relax on a vintage wooden boat ride. What type of accommodations are there?

My favorite in Ljubljana is a boutique hotel in the old city
A 6 suite hideaway with a Michelin star restaurant in the Julian Alps
An historic villa with a sophisticated style overlooking a tranquil lake
A Relais & Chateaux castle on a tiny island

Slovenia surprised me. It’s sophisticated yet unspoiled, accessible yet still feels like a discovery. I look forward to sending you on an adventure there and going back myself to explore the Alps further.

Mimi’s favorite ways to add Slovenia onto a longer trip:

+ Venice
+ Istria and Rovinj, Croatia
+ Vienna or Salzburg, Austria

Mimi’s Top 5 Reasons to Choose (or add on) Slovenia for your Next European Destination:

Active outdoor adventures in beautiful scenery
Farm to table dining, 4th generation owned wineries and Michelin 3* restaurant
It’s next door to Italy, Croatia and Austria
Visit iconic places (Lake Bled, Skocjan Caves, Ljubljana’s old town), without crowds
Very good value for your vacation $

Reach out to plan your trip to

Slovenia

🌟 Prana Maya Island Resort opened earlier this year in Belize. This five-acre resort is located on a secluded island near Placencia Village. Why visit Prana Maya?

The Inn offers ten expansive all-suite accommodations with sweeping ocean views. Or chose one of seven multi-bedroom, oceanfront villas featuring private plunge pools, gourmet kitchens and spacious living areas, ideal for families or groups.
The resort’s spa is perched atop The Inn, providing panoramic views of the Caribbean. It features spacious treatment rooms, including a sound therapy room, oceanfront couples’ massage rooms, a salon and a private massage terrace.
Savor Belizean-influenced cuisine at The Grill, which emphasizes hyperlocal ingredients sourced from a nearby private farm.
Enjoy a range of complimentary water activities, including kayaking, paddleboarding and water biking. For adventures beyond the resort, the concierge can arrange excursions such as guided snorkeling and scuba diving at the Belize Barrier Reef, deep-sea fishing, jungle treks and visits to Mayan ruins.

Of course it comes with the usual perks and VIP treatment when booking your stay through Truvay Travel.