Globetrotting Vacations LLC

04/08/2024

On day 5 in Mendoza, Argentina we participated in an empanada cooking class. They are a lot harder to make than I thought they would be!
After the class, we had a delicious lunch and were able to rest until our last dinner in Mendoza. Sergio and Carolina, the owners of Serca Wines hosted us at their beautiful home located in the Vines of Mendoza for a traditional Argentinian barbecue. Other wine makers also attended the festivities. The food and wine was delicious and it was a fun time had by all!

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04/06/2024

Day 4 in Mendoza started with a wine tasting at , probably the most famous winery most are accustomed to seeing in grocery stores. After the tasting, we went to lunch at .lagarde, a Michelin starred restaurant. The chef is only 30 years old and has already achieved so much. We took a small break and then headed to dinner for a three course dinner and a tango show.

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04/03/2024

Day 2 in Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina was a favorite of the group. We participated in the harvesting of the grapes
We were separated into teams for a little competition. We cut the grapes from the vines, making sure no leaves were in the crates as this would disqualify us. We had 15 minutes to fill three crates. Sounds easy, right? It’s hard work whether bending over or squatting in the sun while trying to beat the other team. After our work, we were rewarded with a glass of Rosé.
After the harvesting, we were taken to a warehouse to pick out leaves, stems and bad grapes from bunches moving down a conveyor belt. For a little bit of fun, we were able to do some grape stomping in large buckets. Our final activity of the day was to create a red blend from three different red wines (Cabernet Franc, Malbec & Merlot). We got to work figuring out percentages using a beaker and filling our bottle. The wine maker did a blind taste test and our bottle was chosen over the other team.
After our hard work, we were treated to a beautiful lunch, wine tour and tasting .
after our very long lunch, we went to to participate in a blind tasting. While there, we had a little fun in the barrels.
To end the day, we had a lovely dinner at Rope located in

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04/02/2024

From Santiago, Chile we flew 45 minutes to Mendoza, Argentina, the heart of Argentina’s wine country. We landed at the tiny Mendoza airport and the first thing we noticed was wine barrels and advertisements for red meat everywhere. We knew this was going to be a great trip.
We met up with our small group tour that was hosted by , an Argentinian tasting room based in Houston, Texas.
Surrounded by the Andes Mountains, we sampled wine nonstop and ate delicious foods along the way. We stayed in the Uco Valley, an hour and half from Mendoza airport and is considered one of the top wine regions in Mendoza. We stayed in an adorable resort called, that traditional hotel rooms as well as tiny home structures perfect for singles or couples.
On our first day, we had a wonderful tasting at then we headed to for a delicious lunch and more wine. For dinner, we went to 7 Fuegos for a very heavy meal of red meat and more wine.

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03/29/2024

Santiago, Chile is a metropolitan city full of restaurants, nightlife and activities. Sitting 1,700 feet above sea level and surrounded by the Andes Mountains, this city doesn’t disappoint. We felt very safe walking around during the day, but at night it’s best to take Ubers everywhere for safety reasons. We participated in a walking food tour which gave us a great education on traditional Chilean food. We stayed in the Providencia neighborhood where many western hotels are located with easy access to attractions.
Pro tip: visit Barrio Italia neighborhood for local, delicious restaurants and bars.

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01/30/2024

Very much of a late post! I traveled to Mexico City or CDMX as it’s often called for a 40th birthday party in August. The first night we went to Mexican wrestling called, Luche Libre. We started at a private home and was able to meet a professional wrestler. The hosts provided fabulous food and drinks. After learning about the wrestler’s life, we headed to the stadium for great fun!
The following day we went on a food tour with . This was my 2nd time participating on this food tour, everything was so delicious…from tacos to pulque it was a great experience.
We spent a lot time walking the city trying different restaurants or hanging out on the rooftop of listening to the DJ. Our neighborhood we stayed in is called Condesa and has become my favorite neighborhood in CDMX.

09/14/2022

The last stop on our tour was Fethiye, Turkey. This area is known as the Turkish Riviera and it truly was quite the gem to visit. The water was crystal clear and the perfect temperature. We spent all day at the beach on our second to last day at the beautiful and our final day we got to enjoy a traditional Turkish yacht called a gulet. It was a perfect end to a wonderful trip.

09/11/2022

The next stop on our group tour was to Izmir. We walked down to the harbor and had a delicious feast of fresh fish. The following day we went to Ephesus.

09/09/2022

We stayed at a very posh, famous cave hotel in Cappadocia called . It’s very well known by social media influencers and celebrities. One of the best hotels to stay in Cappadocia.
Upon our departure from Cappadocia, we visited the Pasabag Valley. This valley is well known for the fairy chimneys, natural rock formations.

09/08/2022

Balloons, balloons, balloons! Cappadocia is rated the best in the world for hot air balloons. The excursion departs at 5am because the wind is the calmest at sunrise. However, the tour can be canceled due to weather issues. Our balloon ride was canceled but the amazing tour company went above and beyond to get us an excursion the following day.

09/07/2022

Cappadocia for the win! The topography is incredibly beautiful here. We visited the Kaymakli Underground City and Göreme Open Air Museum.

09/05/2022

It has been a whirlwind couple of days in Istanbul. Our large group visited the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Basilica Cistern, yachting on the Bosphorus to ending with the Grand Bazaar. We had the most amazing guide who knew so much about the history of Istanbul and was truly accommodating for our every need.

09/02/2022

In a few short hours I will be heading to the airport in Houston for my 11-day trip to Turkey. I will be es**rting a 20 person tour to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Izmir and Fethiye. I will have the honor to attend a Turkish wedding in Cappadocia which will be a true delight. With the help of , I would not have been able to plan this trip without their help. I will be posting daily here of the adventures to come.

08/10/2022

𝐼𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓃𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝐿𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒟𝒶𝓎
I took these photos in Kenya last year in the Tsavo National Park. I have never been more terrified and excited at the same time viewing these beautiful and powerful animals.
Here are some fun facts about lions:
There are only 20,000 lions left in the wild.
Lions are the only cats that live in groups called a pride.
Female lions or lionesses are the main hunters while the male lions guard the territory and the young.
A lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away.
Simba in Swahili, an African language, translates to lion.

06/10/2022

𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎!!
Starting Sunday, June 12th, travelers will no longer have to test for Covid-19 before their departure flight to the United States. This will help alleviate so much stress for travel advisors and clients alike.

05/31/2022

12/05/2021

It’s beginning to look like Christmas !

Another convenient offering of the JL Bar Ranch - it has a fully functional FBO airport so you can bring your private plane.

Imagine sitting by the pool with a drink or work on your putting game while the rest of the family can do other activities around the ranch.

12/03/2021

I just checked into my beautiful cabin at The JL Bar Ranch and Spa located in Sonora, TX. Spanning 13,000 acres, this ranch offers a 5-star luxury destination. The property offers a private airport, world-class hunting, a 5-star spa and a state-of-the-art music recoding studio. With many activities such as horseback riding, ATV/UTV riding, s***t shooting and wine tasting, you will not get bored.

11/04/2021

Portland, Maine is one of those destinations that seems to be visited more in the summer than the fall due to family vacations. But if you have the time, Maine is a wonderful destination for a fall getaway. I visited Portland recently pairing it with Boston and Salem and was happy to see people visiting the same time I was. The weather is still pleasant but the crowds seem to be slightly less. Mostly known for lighthouses, lobsters and beaches, Portland offers this and more. It has a fantastic restaurant and art scene. Many people have moved here from bigger cities during the pandemic bringing with them a new perspective.
Tips:
Do make sure to make lunch and dinner reservations at the popular places. Due to the labor shortages, many places had long waits.
Do make sure to make the best of your time by doing a walking tour or even a lobster tour. I did both and they were fantastic.
And while you’re checking out the scene, make sure to pop into one of the many local breweries for a delicious beer and chat with the locals.

10/31/2021

Since it’s Halloween, let’s talk Salem, Massachusetts! I only spent one night there, but it is an amazing little town with a torrid past. But, they embrace it and make everything about witches and other Halloween folklore. The busiest time will be the weekends in October with wait time into restaurants being an hour long. While the weekdays are less crowded, not as many restaurants or shops will be open. It is best to plan a trip there many months in advance if not a year to make reservations at hotels or the many Halloween cocktail parties and fancy costumed balls in the town. Happy Halloween!!

10/28/2021

New England is a great place to visit during the fall. Less crowds, the weather starts to cool down and the leaves are changing colors. I visited Boston recently for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised what a cool city it is. I loved the old architecture mixed with the new and the history is phenomenal.

I highly recommend taking a walking tour to get your bearings, learn the history of the area and avoid wandering the city aimlessly. I spent three days in Boston and I think that is more than enough time to do some walking tours and see the major attractions.

Since Boston has a great subway system, there is no need to rent a car. I stayed in Cambridge which is across the river from Boston and only one subway stop to the center of the city. I was able to easily walk the city and when I got tired, I jumped on the subway to get to my next destination quicker.

Places I visited:
> Cambridge
> Boston Common
> Boston Athenæum
> Granary Burying Ground
> Old City Hall
> Old Statehouse (Boston, Massachusetts)
> Cheers Boston
> Paul Revere Statue
> Charlestown
> Boston Public Garden
> Fenway Park
> Bleacher Bar

Where is your fall getaway this year?

10/06/2021

I spent five days in New Orleans and was happy to see tourism is returning to the city. Between the pandemic and Hurricane Ida, New Orleans has had a rough time without it's tourists. I noticed many restaurants were packed, conventions were in town, bachelor/bachelorette parties pounded the pavement and the Saints had their first home game in a really long time! The city was alive and the energy is returning.
Since New Orleans does depend heavily on tourism and special events, they have put Covid-19 restrictions in place to keep everyone safe. Below, I have listed tips for a successful trip to the Big Easy.

09/22/2021

There are days I wonder if I make a difference in my client's lives with their trips or even if they appreciate all the work, especially the non-paid effort I put into each trip. Then I received the most amazing text message today from clients who are on a cruise in Greece. They had a rough 2020 like everyone else and then my client's father passed away in the beginning of 2021 and he had to deal with the estate and the stress it causes. This was a much needed family trip. They started in Rome and then went on a Silversea luxury cruise around the Greek Islands for 7 days. They are set to head back to the United States tomorrow. It warms my heart knowing I made their vacation dreams come true.

09/08/2021

I hope everyone had a fabulous Labor Day weekend.

I did something a little different this year...I es**rted three senior ladies to Santa Fe, New Mexico for a five-day trip. I was their travel advisor, driver, concierge and tour guide. I planned the whole itinerary, I booked the airfare, hotel, rental car and restaurants. There was lots of shopping, sightseeing and eating! They gave me full creative liberty and they just showed up. I flew from Houston to meet them at DFW to es**rt them to Santa Fe.
Here's a look at fun trip:
• Textile shopping in the town of Chimayo. We visited Ortega's Weaving Shop and Centinela Traditional Arts.
• A visit to the quaint El Santuario de Chimayo , a Catholic church that has been noted as one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the United States.
• Shopping at the Santa Fe Plaza
• Visit to the The Loretto Chapel that has wooden spiral staircase that leads to the choir loft. The architecture has stumped architects and engineers for years.
• A trip to the Santa Fe Farmers' Market for some tasty goodies
• Tesuque Glassworks (teh-soo-que) to watch a glass blowing demonstration and more shopping!

Notable restaurants where we dined:
• 315 Restaurant and Wine bar
• Rancho De Chimayó Restaurante
• Restaurant Martin Santa Fe
• Dinner For Two Restaurant in Santa Fe
• Geronimo
• Gabriel's
• Santacafe
We stayed in at the Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza that is 5-10 minute walking distance to the historic plaza, so it is a perfect location for shopping and dining.

07/31/2021

Washington state offers so many beautiful photo opportunities. Snoqualmie Falls is only 35 minutes east of Seattle - a super easy detour if heading to the Cascade Mountains.

07/09/2021

In preparation for heading back to the United States, I needed to get a PCR test performed for my reentry. What makes Kenya so special is they didn’t want me to worry about finding a medical provider to assist in giving the test. They sent a medical team out to the bush to give me my test. While listening to a river in the background, I was at complete peace getting my nasal intrusion. Once the test was completed, they fly the results on the last plane of the evening bound for Nairobi and I received my test results in 24 hours emailed to me.
Since they made the testing so easy for me, I was able to focus on what was important, more animals. Baby hyenas, Cape Buffalo and hippos were definitely a highlight.
Our last night, our Maasai guides stopped for sundowners and built a fire for us. Once the sun went down, a whole pride of lions walked right past us within a 100 yards while standing at the fire. They knew we were there but didn’t seem care once they deemed we were not a threat. An absolute beautiful experience.