WTN - One & Only Portonovi | Highlight - Lagazuoi & WWI tunnels in the Dolomites

WHERE TO NEXT?

Dear Traveler,

Last weekend Jason and I went away for our 25th anniversary. Because of our schedules, I wanted a drivable destination and we decided on the Adirondacks. There was one aspect of it that Jason was a bit dubious about, but luckily we both loved it!

I have so much I want to share with you about the place and with a full schedule of clients traveling this week and finalizing custom trips before I take off in July, I need a bit more time to write it up, so more details to come in the July newsletter.

At this moment some of our clients are driving from the Dolomites to Venice, with a stop at a rural restaurant, Il Capitello in Prosecco for lunch.

They LOVED their time in the Dolomites and Venice is going to be a fun contrast. They will explore the city with my absolute favorite guide in Venice. He has deep friendships in the city that open doors and sometimes solve problems – like one we encountered…

A couple of months ago Jeff Bezos announced his wedding would be in Venice.

The exact same days my clients are in Venice.

Luckily we had their trip planned well before he announced it.

But there is one big impact:

He bought up all of the water taxis.

On Thursday they are scheduled to go to a cooking class by water taxi to the home of a local chef. And now there are none available.

However, their guide was able to secure from a friend – a luxury vintage wooden boat to take them – when nothing else was available.

My clients are so grateful it had no impact on them and they didn’t have to stress about it.

Traveling inevitably can entail some bumps and when they happen I’m grateful to have trusted connections that help me navigate them successfully.

Read more about one of their stops in the Dolomites in this week’s Highlight below.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting a presentation about bucket list travels to a group of clients of a wealth manager. I’ve done this many times before, virtually and in person, and I love it!

I appreciate the fact that a wealth manager wants to provide added value to their clients’ experience, not just keep assets under management. It is a good sign of a trusted advisor.

I always request the clients to be asked ahead of time about where they want to go so I can tailor the presentation for them.

Sharing inspiring destinations and experiences in beautiful places is one of my favorite things to do. For this webinar I also added my favorite travel hacks and tips. If you are interested in having me speak to your clients or group, send me an email and we’ll set up a call to talk about it.

Last week’s most popular article was North American Safari-Style Vacations Are on the Rise—Here’s Why.

This week’s inspirational articles include active travel trends for your next vacation, 2025’s world’s 50 best restaurants and the most remote places to stay on Earth that are worth the trek.

Also articles on Canada, Sardinia, Todos Santos and Alaska.

The informational articles include a worldwide travel alert announced by the US, navigating peak season in National Parks and 3 ways to enhance your next vacation.

Reminder – in July and August I’ll just be sending out one newsletter each month.

Enjoy a fun 4th of July!

My next trip is to visit our daughter in DC.

Where to next for you?

Warmly,

Below:

Highlight – WWI Tunnels at Lagazuoi in the Dolomites
Where to Next? One & Only Portonovi
Inspiration + Information

WWI TUNNELS AT LAGAZUOI IN THE DOLOMITES

Our clients’ adventure to the Dolomites started with two days of road biking, then a day hike to the Tres Cime, followed by hiking rifugio to rifugio with skilled, local guides.

Yesterday they added an historical note – exploring the WWI tunnels and bunkers. Our family also explored this fascinating piece of history on our Dolomites trip.

I love that the Dolomites offer so much – active adventures, incredible food, history, culture, spectacular views and the bliss of being outdoors in nature soaking up the fresh air.

When you plan your trip to the Dolomites, be sure to include the WWI tunnels. They are at the top of Lagazuoi. You have options to get up there – you can hike up from multiple starting points or hop on the Lagazuoi cable car. I suggest you plan it to be up there at lunch time so you can eat at the Lagazuoi rifugio – with its panoramic views and delicious mountain food. Our favorites were canederli (bread dumplings), spaetzle and of course pasta.

Guides are so important on any trip and especially important when going on big adventures. Being confident in their skills and understanding of high service levels is very important for me when planning.

Some insight into their guides’ backgrounds…

Their cycling guide is a true Venetian and global wanderer with deep experience as a lead guide in cycling trips in Italy and beyond. While he spends summers cycling the Dolomites, Tuscany or Northern Spain, in the winter he settles in the back country of British Columbia guiding ski safaris off piste. A wine enthusiast and a gourmet, he is also fond of photography and art.

Their Tres Time hiking guide is a UIAGM – IFMGA professional mountain guide and the Dolomites has been his playground since he was a kid. His knowledge and engaging nature make him a top guide for this region.

And for their multi day hike through the Dolomites their guide, born and raised in Bologna, is also UIAGM – IFMGA certified. He started skiing and hiking as a kid. Based in the Dolomites, his experience ranges from the Marmolada to the Sella Massif.

Everyone who goes to the Dolomites falls in love with the beauty, the food and being in nature.

Add it to your list!

🌟 Earlier this month our clients spent a special birthday traveling from Venice to Croatia, then ending their adventure in Montenegro. They stayed at the One & Only Portonovi in Herceg Novi, where I had stayed a couple of years ago.

Why is the One & Only Portonovi so special?

Nestled on the Adriatic coast in Montenegro, One&Only Portonovi is in the heart of the UNESCO-protected Bay of Kotor—often called the “fjords of the Mediterranean.”
Rooms, suites and villas are spacious, with private terraces, plunge pools and panoramic sea or mountain views.
Enjoy fine dining led by Michelin-starred chefs and a mix of Montenegrin, Mediterranean and international cuisines. Signature restaurants include Sabia by Giorgio Locatelli, which emphasizes organic, locally sourced ingredients and Tapasake, offering eclectic mixology and contemporary Japanese-Peruvian cuisine.

Do as much or as little as you like:

Home to the Chenot Espace, a leading destination for wellness, detox and anti-aging. It combines Western and Eastern practices and offers personalized health programs that include diagnostics, nutrition, fitness and treatments.
Explore the nearby historic towns of Kotor, Perast and Herceg Novi, rich in history and Venetian, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture.

‼️ Don’t miss…. hiking the Ladder of Kotor. This hike takes you through over 70 switchbacks, high into the mountains for an incredible view of Kotor.

One day during my stay, while resting on a lounge chair at the beach, I noticed two black half circles just above the water line across the bay. I asked one of the staff what they were and learned they are tunnels constructed by the Yugoslav Navy, primarily during the Cold War era, as part of a network of strategic military facilities along the Adriatic coast.

That’s where they hid submarines! I love learning bits of history during travels.