May 2026 | HNHO - Como Le Beauvallon | Highlight - Norma's in Sydney

WHERE TO NEXT?

Dear Traveler,

I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day, whether you were celebrating yourself or the mom in your life. I spent mine in Sydney with Jessica, which was a treat since she is so far away. I missed having all three kids with me, but I am lucky to be seeing all three of them in person this month. A special Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, Cindy, who never misses a newsletter.

Our trip to visit Jessica abroad is a good reminder of how often we plan trips for parents visiting kids studying overseas. It is always a great excuse for an adventure.

And for those whose kids are wrapping up school closer to home, graduation season is here. Another milestone worth celebrating. Another excuse for an adventure.

For clients whose kids are planning their first independent trips, I am always happy to set up a complimentary call to answer their questions and point them in the right direction. It gives them confidence going in, and gives you a little peace of mind sending them off.

Summer is coming fast, and with it, trips to places around the world. Europe and Africa are especially popular for us this year. You may have heard about EES, the new Entry/Exit System for Europe, which is causing some disruption at major airports. I’ll send a follow-up note next week with more details.

For summer, rather than long airport immigration lines, I’d rather think of picnics. Last week Jessica, her friends, Jason and I had one on Observatory Hill in Sydney, watching the sunset. It was a perfect end to the day. So when I saw this article I wanted to share it with you: 10 Hotels Packing Picnic Baskets for America’s Most Scenic Parks.

Belated exciting news: for the fourth year in a row, I have been selected as a Condé Nast Travel Specialist.

Until seven years ago, I didn’t know this career was possible. Once I discovered I could be an entrepreneur in the travel industry, two things I deeply love, I was hooked. What I didn’t anticipate were the strong friendships I would make. The partners I have met around the world, and the clients who have trusted me with their travels, have become some of the most meaningful connections in my life.

As the mom of three young twenty-somethings, I love modeling what it looks like to build a career where passion and purpose align. I hope each of them finds their own version of that.

None of it is possible without you. Thank you for trusting me with your adventures. Sending you out into the world in meaningful ways brings me a joy that no other work could. I look forward to many more years and many more journeys together.

The May June edition of Virtuoso Magazine is out. The theme – True Adventure. Oslo, Greenland, Mongolia, Atacama, New Mexico, Peruvian Amazon and Stockholm are some of the highlights. Click on the picture below to read the full issue.

My favorite article – Mongolia. It’s been on my list for a long time. And with no plans to go in the near future – it’s going to stay there.

The last newsletter’s most popular article was What It’s Like to Stay at the Most Exclusive Resort in the United States. I’m excited for our clients heading there later this summer.

This week’s inspirational articles include places to help baby turtles reach the sea (we did this with our kids – priceless!), the most expensive travel experiences, the most unique hotel experiences, Mérida, 100 hikes of a lifetime and extraordinary places to scuba dive.

Also NYC, Greece, Portugal, Norway, France and Sweden.

The informational articles include the best first class airport lounges, in-flight phone calls and the easiest countries for dual citizenship.

For the next newsletter I’m excited to be sharing details about my recent travels to two private islands – off of Panama and the Turks & Caicos. Although both on private islands, they are very different places. I’ll be curious to hear which one you think is more your vibe.

Next up for me – I’m off to Colorado to see our daughter. I’m looking forward to her taking us on beautiful hikes, fly fishing and showing us her everyday life.

Where to next for you?

Warmly,

Below:

This week’s highlight – Norma’s Deli and a perfect day in Sydney
Hot New Hotel Opening – Como Le Beauvallon
Inspiration + Information

NORMA’S DELI & A PERFECT DAY IN SYDNEY

It’s not often I rave about a sandwich. Nor is it often that I stand in line for 20 minutes to order one. But Norma’s Deli in Manly Beach earned it.

My first thought upon entering was that I needed to figure out how to bottle the aroma and bring it home. They’re baking pastries, cakes, focaccia, and breads. Making sandwiches and salads. The sandwiches all come on their homemade focaccia. We went with Jessie’s favorite – the turkey pesto. Worth every minute of the wait.

📷 Norma’s and Mimi

But Norma’s was just one stop on a full day.

We were out the door of the Four Seasons at 8:30am for a five-minute walk to the ferry terminal to catch the ferry to Manly Beach. (I love staying at a different hotel each visit so I can experience them all, and the Four Seasons’ location is hard to beat.) Getting around Sydney by ferry, light rail, or train couldn’t be easier – scan your Apple Pay when you get on and off. That’s it. And you get beautiful views like above.

Sundays in Manly bring an outdoor market along the beach – art, flowers, vegetables, local beef jerky (so good!). We strolled through, grabbed flat whites, and wandered along the shore watching surfers, volleyball players and a group doing Qi Gong.

After the ferry back we opted to walk the 40 minutes to the brand new Sydney Fish Market. Packed – and it deserved to be. The freshest sushi, crab, lobster, fried fish, calamari and fresh-squeezed juices. We settled in outside with sushi and juice, enjoying the sun. (More in this Food & Wine article) And don’t skip the gelato. We waited another 25 minutes – yes, a second line that day – for Cow & Moon, a locally beloved spot. I had the Salted Caramello and the Olive Oil, Honey, Lemon & Thyme. So good!

We’d logged 25,000 steps the day before and 15,000+ already, so we took an Uber back to rest. Refreshed, we started the evening at Centro 86. Since it was Mother’s Day, moms got a complimentary spicy margarita – which happens to be my favorite. They use vintage ice shavers for their cocktails, making them deliciously icy. They also have a secret spice blend on their popcorn. We loved it so much that the bartender sent us each home with a little bag.

Right next door was our next stop, The Caterpillar Club – a swanky bar with a hidden speakeasy in the back, vinyl lining the walls behind the bartender, and a DJ who starts early. Thursday through Sunday, expect a line down the block.

We ended the night at Bar Totti’s, known for homemade pastas and puffy bread baked in the pizza oven. Jessie’s rec: order it with a ball of burrata on the side. She wanted a Sunday evening reservation a week out and 8:30pm was the earliest available. Book ahead.

For something more formal, Bennelong inside the Sydney Opera House is festive and worth a visit for drinks alone – we did that the night before. And Mr. Wong is excellent, but book well in advance.

A few other highlights worth planning around – find a good spot for sunset. One evening we picnicked with Jessie and her friends on Observatory Hill overlooking the bridge.

Another night we walked through the Botanical Gardens to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair. You won’t be alone – but that’s simply because they’re beautiful spots. And Darling Harbour has fireworks every Saturday night, a fun and festive way to end the evening.

Sydney rewards however many days you give it. A minimum of three to four nights on your Australia itinerary is the right call.

I have so many more recommendations for your next visit!

Reach out to plan your trip to

Australia

🌟 COMO Le Beauvallon opened on April 24, 2026 on the iconic Cote d’Azur, bringing COMO Hotels and Resorts’ signature blend of understated luxury, wellness and design to the French Rivera.

Why visit COMO Le Beauvallon?

Set across the bay in Grimaud, the hotel offers a calm private, setting with quick boat transfers into Saint-Tropez for easy exploration of the Cote d’Azur.
Housed in a beautifully restored palace, it feels more like a Riviera estate than a traditional hotel, with expansive gardens and sea views.
Relax at the exclusive and quieter beach club, Beauvallon Sur Mar with a large pool and sandy shoreline.
Enjoy elevated dining experiences led by renowned chef Yannick Alléno, private yacht charters and immersive culinary and wine tastings.

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