On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Sarah Groen, owner and CEO of Bell & Bly Design, about her recent visit Lake Como’s Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

Groen shares details on the historic property’s iconic floating pool, Riva boats and Michelin-worthy dining experiences, while also explaining what makes the Grand Hotel Tremezzo distinct from its sister Lake Como property, Passalacqua. She also offers insider tips on prime shoulder season timing, unique alternatives to water activities and how her clients prefer to combine Lake Como with other European stops.

Currently in its third season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The second episode of the third season will be posted on February 10.

Further resources:

Sarah Groen

• Bell & Bly Design
• Luxury Travel Insider

Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
Email us: TheLastResort@travelweekly.com

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Amber Rose Powers, a luxury travel advisor with Fora X, about her recent visits to the Mandarin Oriental Canouan and Soho Beach House Canouan.

Powers takes listeners to Canouan, a hidden Caribbean gem where “billionaires go to get away from millionaires.” She shares her experience at two distinctly different properties: the ultra-luxe Mandarin Oriental, with its marble suites and butler service, and the laid-back yet sophisticated Soho Beach House, both of which have recently reopened after Hurricane Beryl. Powers shares highlights from her trip, from communal “jetty dinner” experiences to catamaran excursions through the nearby Tobago Cays and talks about how these two Canouan resorts successfully blend authentic Caribbean charm with world-class hospitality.

Currently in its second season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The first episode of the third season will be posted on January 13.

Further resources:

Amber Rose Powers

Mandarin Oriental Canouan

Soho Beach House Canouan

Hurricane Beryl leaves more than destruction in its wake (Travel Weekly)

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
Email us: TheLastResort@travelweekly.com

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks to Abbey Meyer, CEO of Missouri-based Sky High Travel, about her recent visit to the Hotel Xcaret Arte near Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Meyer describes how the adults-only Xcaret all-inclusive stands apart with its art-filled interiors, diverse cuisine and what she boldly claims is “the most incredible spa in all of Mexico.” While the resort commands premium pricing, she also explains how the included access to immersive cultural activities and Xcaret’s surrounding eco-parks justify the investment for adventurous travelers. Jelski and Meyer also talk broader luxury all-inclusive demand in Mexico, what the current pricing picture looks like and whether all-inclusive supply is starting to outpace demand.

Currently in its second season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 12th episode of the second season will be posted on December 9.

Further resources:

Abbey Meyer

• Instagram
• Sky High Travel

Hotel Xcaret Arte

Grupo Xcaret's Rodrigo Motavelazco on working with advisors (Travel Weekly)

Grupo Xcaret has a new booking tool for travel advisors (Travel Weekly)

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
Email us: TheLastResort@travelweekly.com

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks to Jill Albino of Jill Albino Travel and Gabrielle Brechner of Watch Our Step Travel about their recent visit to the Botania Relais & Spa on the Italian island of Ischia.

Albino and Brechner share details on the property's intimate atmosphere, unique villa-style accommodations and standout culinary experiences, including a “dessert pasta” that’s prepped tableside. They also highlight Ischia's potential as a less crowded alternative to popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast, as well as discuss the island’s accessibility, with its proximity to Naples and Capri making it an attractive addition to a broader Italian itinerary.

Currently in its second season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 11th episode of the second season will be posted on November 11.

Further resources:

Jill Albino

• Instagram

Gabrielle Brechner

• Instagram

Botania Relais & Spa

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
Email us: TheLastResort@travelweekly.com

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks to Julie Shotmeyer, CEO of Jet Set Getaways, about her recent visit to The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island in Northeastern Florida.

Shotmeyer shares her insights on the resort's beachfront location, expansive accommodations and Club Level—which she says is the best Ritz-Carlton Club Level she’s ever experienced. She also talks about the property's diverse appeal for various traveler types and why it’s a potential fit for clients looking for an alternative to Florida destinations like Naples or West Palm Beach. Shotmeyer caps off the chat with an update on current leisure travel trends and the U.S. destinations her clients are buzzing about.

Currently in its second season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The tenth episode of the second season will be posted on October 14.

Further resources:

Julie Shotmeyer

• Jet Set Getaways
• Instagram

The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
Email us: TheLastResort@travelweekly.com

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks to Pamela Schein Murphy, a Fora-affiliated luxury travel advisor and founder of The Wandrist, about her recent visit to the Rosewood Schloss Fuschl near Salzburg, Austria.

Schein Murphy dishes on the newly opened lakefront property, which she describes as having an “adult summer camp” feel. She also raves about Lake Fuschl’s Caribbean-like turquoise waters and the property’s Saint-Tropez-esque beach club, which serves up an especially tasty octopus. Schein Murphy also talks about why the Rosewood Schloss Fuschl offers a refreshing alternative to Europe's overcrowded hotspots—and might be the perfect option for clients seeking to escape the continent's scorching summer temps.

Currently in its second season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The ninth episode of the second season will be posted on September 9.

Further resources:

Pamela Schein Murphy

• The Wanderist
• Instagram

Rosewood Schloss Fuschl

Historical lakefront hotel will become Rosewood's second in Austria (Travel Weekly)

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
Email us: TheLastResort@travelweekly.com

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks to Fora-affiliated advisors Nancy Deane, Kim Hannum, Pamela Schein Murphy, Claudia Riegelhaupt and Louisa Vann, who have joined forces to attend fam trips together as part of a “fam pod.” The quintet recently visited the U.K., combining a London trip with a stay at Estelle Manor, a 108-room country estate and private members’ club in Oxfordshire.

The group shares a few insights on their London experiences, which included site visits to properties within the Firmdale Hotels and Maybourne portfolios, before diving into their stay at Estelle Manor, which they say puts a “really fresh and fun” spin on the country estate concept. They talk about the property's Bridgerton-esque charm, its adults-only main house and how the property’s membership club component elevates the guest experience. The advisors also delve into the benefits of traveling together as part of a fam pod, and how their established group dynamic allows for more focused and productive familiarization trips.

Currently in its second season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The eighth episode of the second season will be posted on August 12.

Further resources:

Nancy Deane

• The Deane’s List
• Instagram

Kim Hannum

• Instagram

Pamela Schein Murphy

• The Wanderist
• Instagram

Claudia Riegelhaupt

• Instagram

Louisa Vann

• Louisa Vann Travel
• Instagram
  

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
Email us: TheLastResort@travelweekly.com

Photo of Estelle Manor courtesy of Mark Anthony Fox

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Last Resort: Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks to Brandon White, owner of Share the Magic Travel, to talk about his recent visit to the Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

White shares the inside scoop on the recently opened 301-room all-inclusive, set amid mountains, black sand beaches and lush rainforests. He also talks about the property’s many amenities—including its 11 dining venues and multiple pool areas—and why St. Vincent's off-the-beaten-path allure makes it a prime spot for adventure-loving couples.

Currently in its second season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The seventh episode of the second season will be posted on July 8.

Further resources:

Brandon White

• Share the Magic Travel
• Instagram
• Facebook

Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

'Sandals 2.0' is embodied at St. Vincent all-inclusive (Travel Weekly)

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
Email us: TheLastResort@travelweekly.com

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.