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Besst Travels, Tustin, CA (2025)

04/02/2025

You can plan some trips on your own. But your honeymoon?

That’s one you want to get just right.

After the whirlwind of your wedding, the last thing you should be doing is stressing over hotel choices, travel logistics, or figuring out which “top-rated” activity is actually worth it.

That kind of peace of mind? It’s not accidental.

Let’s talk about one of my favorite honeymoons I’ve planned—one that had me seriously tempted to hop on a flight myself.

My clients wanted the kind of experience they’d be talking about at dinner parties for years. So I sent them to New Zealand, where they stayed in a mirrored glass pod at The Lindis, a secluded luxury retreat surrounded by rolling hills and star-filled skies.

They spent their days exploring on horseback and hiking to a remote, off-the-grid picnic spot called the Black Diamond. A private gourmet picnic, glass structure, total seclusion... just them, nature, and the kind of quiet you don’t realize you need until you have it.

That’s the kind of experience I love creating—something deeply personal and entirely un-Googleable.

Whether it’s waking up to elephants outside your window in South Africa, exploring marine life in Palau, or diving into Japan’s food and culture scene, I design honeymoons that become part of your story.

DM me and let’s start planning your version of something truly special. 💌

02/18/2025

Who has started watching season 3 of already?! This show is so special because, in The White Lotus, the destination is a character too. Unlike previous seasons, season 3 of The White Lotus is not set in one location (or even on one island). The filming locations spanned Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, and neighboring islands, and comprised at least six hotels and multiple private villas. As mentioned in the promo materials, “What happens in Thailand stays here.”

The previous filming locations — Maui, Hawaii for Season 1 and Sicily, Italy for Season 2 — are what really launched the trend of set-jetting, driving 300% year over year surges in travel demand to Sicily and Hawaii in the first 90 days following each season's premiere.

It looks like Thailand is expecting to see that same set-jetting surge. Online searches for visits to the “Land of Smiles” have already increased up to 88% and visitors to Thailand have already increased 21% since the start of the year, in comparison to 2024 - and that's before the premiere!

Has visiting Thailand been on your bucket list? I absolutely love planning Thailand trips for my clients. The sheer diversity of experiences you can experience - from elephant sanctuary visits to glamping in the jungle to island hopping in a longtail boat to a food tour in a tuk tuk - make for an incredible trip for every type of traveler!

When you are ready to take that trip to Thailand (or anywhere) fill out the Trip Design form at the link in my bio or send me a DM to get started!

02/13/2025

It's Galentine's Day!!! Do you celebrate? Galentine's Day is recognized on February 13th and it means to recognize all your female friendships.

Girls trips are my personal favorite way to celebrate all the amazing females I have in my life. However, the hardest part of getting girls trips together is convincing your girls to book the trip. Between coordinating schedules and trying to find a location that the whole group is excited about, getting the girls trip out of the group chat is the HARDEST part of taking the trip. But fear not, because when that plan finally breaks free from the group chat limbo, it’s pure magic! ✨💃

Ever noticed how the group chat explodes with excitement at the mere mention of a trip, only to fall eerily silent when it’s time to hit “book now”? If you agree, you’re not alone! Let's get some ideas flowing to make the process a little easier! Swipe through to see 8 ideas for a fun girls getaway, from dude ranches to spa getaways to luxury treehouses.

Trust me, I’ve been there. Planning girls trips is actually how I got started as a travel advisor; I was always the go to planner for every bachelorette party, birthday trip, spa getaway, and bucket list adventure. And let me tell you, the memories made on those adventures are worth every bit of effort.

So why stress when you can leave the planning to me? As your travel advisor, I’ll craft an unforgettable girls’ trip experience with VIP perks and exclusive access, leaving you and your squad free to focus on the fun! 🎉🥂

TELL ME: What’s your dream girls trip destination?

02/05/2025

Have you heard of the wild wellness trend? Wild wellness is all the rage these days and offers a holistic approach to wellness that connects people with nature to improve their physical, emotional, and spiritual health. It involves connecting with nature and the world around you and disconnecting from the need to constantly optimize to help release burdens and heal. Benefits include helping people develop greater awareness of their feelings and experiences, deeper self-understanding, and a sense of peace.

The best part of wild wellness is that it can span a full range of activities - from horse therapy to beekeeping to cold plunges to mud baths. Luxury hotels worldwide are increasingly adding wild wellness into their experience menus to allow guests to experience the world around them in new ways.

Ready to try the new trend for yourself? Besst Travels is happy to curate your journey with an opportunity to try wild wellness, allowing you to experience the world around you with a fresh take. Send a DM or fill out the Trip Design Form at the link in our bio to get started.

01/30/2025

In the words of the incredible Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec, "We need to remember what's important in life: friends, waffles, work." I wholeheartedly agree. If you happen to be looking for a place to fit all your friends (and share some waffles together) in wine country, I was lucky enough to be one of the first ones to check out the brand new Vineyard Homes, multi-bedroom homes perfectly positioned within Napa Valley. With sizes from three to six bedrooms, there's room for you to bring the whole squad. Swipe through to see how gorgeous these new houses are!
Questions about this awesome new addition to Stanly Ranch or ready to stay in one? DM me or reach out via my Trip Design form at the link in my bio.

01/27/2025

Word on the street is that it’s awfully cold on the East Coast right now. Looking for a last-minute getaway to some warm weather and beautiful turquoise water? Swipe through for some beautiful escapes down south, throughout the Caribbean and Central America, all with last-minute availability over the next few weeks! Ready to fly to some place warmer? Shoot me a DM or fill out my Trip Design form at the link in my bio.

01/01/2025

I want to wish all my Bessties a Happy New Year! 2024 has been an amazing year for Besst Travels and I hope it has been for you as well. More than anything, I want to say THANK YOU. For those of you who chose to support my small business over the mega-giants like Amex and Costco, for those of you who refer me to families and friends, and to all of my advisor and supplier friends who kept me going when times got tough. Swipe through to see some highlights of what Besst Travels accomplished in 2024!

No matter where or how you celebrated the holiday season, this time of year is all about connection and hope, and I feel so grateful to be part of your story—whether it’s helping you create lasting travel memories or simply sparking a bit of wanderlust. Here’s to a season filled with adventure, joy, and anticipation for the adventures ahead. May 2025 bring you new places to explore, moments to cherish, and experiences to savor.

What’s your dream destination for the new year? I’d love to hear it!

Wishing you the happiest of New Years! 🥂

12/12/2024

I can’t help but chuckle when a Tiktoker calls a village 30 minutes outside of Rome off the beaten path. When I say I can specialize in off-the-beaten-path adventures, I’m talking about truly remote adventures where you may have to take numerous forms of transportation or time your trip perfectly to access. With these kinds of destinations, you can visit places that most people have never even heard of, let alone explored. Swipe through to see some of my favorites 🏞️🌄

Whether you're an intrepid explorer or a luxury seeker, these off-the-beaten-path adventures offer something for every interest in some of the most remote and untouched environments on Earth. Embrace the thrill of discovering new horizons and immerse yourself in unique cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and exclusivity in remoteness. These are not just destinations; these are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you will remember forever 🌍✨

As your travel advisor, I will help you brainstorm the perfect remote location for you to have a truly epic adventure. I will coordinate all the logistics of getting to and from the destination so you can focus on the fun parts - like packing your suitcase and getting excited! Ready to get started planning your travels? DM me to get started or fill out the Trip Design Form at the link in my bio.

12/06/2024

Did you hear the big news?! Aspen just got hit with 22 inches of snow!! Now is the perfect time for that last minute ski trip before the holidays or to get your ski trip on the books before availability dwindles and pricing goes through the roof! ❄️

With direct flights to LA, SF, Chicago, Phoenix, Atlanta, and multiple hubs in Texas, Aspen is an ideal ski destination that allows you to fly in without having to deal with the long trek from Denver, making quick ski trips possible! Swipe through to see my favorite hotels, as well as the perks my Bessties receive, and the best airline to fly to Aspen if you live in LA. ✈️

Did you know I can also book condos, houses, lift tickets, equipment rentals, ski lessons, annual ski passes (like Epic and Ikon), activities (like snowmobiling or dog sledding), and even equipment rentals in ski destinations?! ⛷️

I'll take out the stress of planning so you can focus on hitting the slopes (or getting your après on). Don’t like to ski? Me neither. I can also plan a whole winter wonderland itinerary full of snowmobiling, horse-drawn sleigh rides, dog-sledding or mindful forest walk with a naturalist via snowshoe. Or, just hanging out at the spa works too 🧖

11/28/2024

Today, I'm thankful for so many things but most of all, I'm thankful for YOU.

I'm also thankful for...

✨ A career that allows me to continue to explore this wonderful planet we live on.
✨ My fantastic clients who are happy to support a small business first and think to refer me to their friends and family.
✨ My incredible supplier partners who make all of my clients' trips above and beyond. Without my partners, none of this would be possible.
✨ The lovely fellow advisors who have become my friends and confidants, without whom I would never survive.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving, fall, grateful season, or whatever you celebrate 🍂🥧

P.S. If you want to plan a trip for 2025, all the Black Friday sales from Rosewood to Auberge to cruise lines to tour operators are live NOW. It's the best possible time to plan your trip for next year with a little extra something special. Reach out to get started 🥂

11/07/2024

A long overdue post - it’s time for my travel origin story! So many of my clients hear that my mom was a flight attendant and assume that is how I have traveled throughout so much of the world. Even though I traveled a lot as a child, all of those trips were within the US or on cruise ships. It wasn’t until I graduated college that my sister and I embarked on a month-long adventure across Europe. The trip opened up my eyes in so many ways - to different cultures, different foods, & different ways of life. It was that trip that got me totally addicted to getting outside of my comfort zone, learning about other cultures, and experiencing new things. When I got home, I instantly set a goal to visit 30 countries before age 30, 40 countries before age 40, and so forth. I last visited country 52 and I have no plans on stopping anytime soon. After all, 52 countries means I have only roughly a quarter of the world! Some may say it’s enough but, for me, expanding my horizons is more than just a hobby; it’s a lifestyle.

Because of my delayed start to international travel, I have a special soft spot for first time international travelers and have helped quite a few first time travelers on their first trips out of the country. I love helping other travelers take their first steps to experiencing something new and learning about other perspectives and cultures.

I’d love to hear from you - what got you interested in travel?

Swipe through for some fun photos of baby Nadia on her first international trip backpacking throughout Europe 🍭🎒

Cover photo by the amazing

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween from me and my Tar-bae! 🎃👻🎯 What are you dressing up as this Halloween?

10/30/2024

We're officially in the midst of spooky season! 🎃 While most people are busy decorating their front porches with jack-o'-lanterns and fall garlands, I've been curating a list of spooky stops for travelers in search of a bit of creepiness year-round. Swipe through to see some of my favorites around the world!

There are eerie places all over the world, but Europe seems to take the top spot when it comes to creepy spots on the map… Europe, are you okay?! Since European nations have a stronghold on the hair-raising options, this post is dedicated to four European countries and their chilling itinerary possibilities.

As you swipe, beware of the scariest thing of all: planning your trip without the guidance of a travel advisor! 👻 Happy Hauntings!

10/09/2024

Have you made this mistake before? Dreaming of a getaway should never feel like just another day at the office! 🖥️➡️🏖️ Say goodbye to the stress of vacation planning and hello to bliss with a luxury travel advisor who handles all the details. Let us handle the details so you can travel in style without a worry in the world. Why mix spreadsheets with sunsets when you can have your next vacation curated just for you? Swipe through to see all the different ways Besst Travels can make your dream trip a reality before you know it!

Ready to finally get a vacation on the books? Fill out my Trip Design Form at the link in my bio to get started.

10/03/2024

This luxury safari lodge is DIFFERENT than all the rest. I had the most incredible stay at Royal Malewane and every luxury traveler should experience this safari lodge for themselves.

What makes different from all the other luxury safari lodges?

🎨 Fun Design - While most safari lodges lean hard into the traditional brown and green muted designs, Royal Malewane is personally designed by Liz Biden and the design is whimsical and colorful. I personally loved the bright colors at Waterside but we will match each client to the perfect design style for you.

🥾 Less Crowded Location - Royal Malewane is located within the Thornybush Private Game Reserve, a lesser known Private Reserve than Sabi Sands, with equally great game viewing opportunities. Royal Malewane’s guides are some of the best in the business and they will help you see as much wildlife in the area as possible.

🍽️ No Set Dining Schedule or Menu - Most safari lodges don’t give you a choice in what time you eat or even in what you will eat. At Royal Malewane, you will have control over your dining schedule and what you eat and there are numerous ways to customize everything. The food is also insanely delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed eating my meals while watching the resident hippo family in the watering hole.

💆 Amazing Spa - While most lodges just offer massages without spa facilities, this lodge features a truly INCREDIBLE indoor/outdoor spa, including a heated lap pool and a fully-equipped fitness center (and some sneaky monkey visitors). No matter which property you stay at within Royal Malewane, your guide can arrange your day so you can enjoy a spa day in between game drives.

👯 Multiple Options for Groups: Perfect for groups or those who want more privacy, Royal Malewane has villas and small lodges that are perfect for small groups to take over for a secluded retreat with customized service, private chefs, and dedicated game vehicles.

09/30/2024

✨ Scandinavia is one of the best destinations this year with the strongest Northern Lights in a decade! If you're dreaming of seeing the auroras, don’t wait. Winter availability is already tight, with 90% of hotels booked for Xmas, NYE, and February (trust me, February is the best time to go!).

Scandinavia is an adventure lover’s paradise in winter. Swipe to discover the most incredible ways to experience the Northern Lights before it's too late!

❄️ Ice Floating – Swim in a cutout in a frozen lake and let your body float inside a rescue suit that keeps you dry while the auroras shine above you

🧊 Sleep in an Ice Hotel – This incredible hotel is reconstructed every year with ice gathered from the river. Each room is designed and carved by a different artist each year for a totally unique experience in each one.

🏞️ Floating Hotel – This oasis of wellness and design, floating on a river in the heart of Swedish Lapland, is an architectural marvel and features a fantastic spa with an open-air plunge experience and a restaurant showcasing local ingredients.

🧖‍♀️ Sami-Inspired Spa – This spa in Swedish Lapland includes a spa ritual based on indigenous Sami medicinal traditions, from a pine oil sauna to a birch leaf scrub to multiple pools where you can relax under the Northern Lights.

🌌 Chairlift to an Observatory in a National Park – Take a chairlift to an observatory 3000 feet above sea level, where you can gaze at the Northern Lights and the stars.

🌲 Treehouse Hotel – This one-of-a-kind hotel offers treehouses, each elevated in the forests is unique and offers different advantages to its guests and most offer fantastic panoramic viewing opportunities for witnessing the Northern Lights.

🏕️ Glass-Walled Huts – These premium glass apartments, each with a private sauna and hot tub, are inspired by the traditional “kota” huts of the indigenous Sami people and the glass walls and ceilings provide an unobstructed view of the sky for optimal aurora viewing.

Ready to plan your dream trip? Let’s make it happen before the last spots disappear!

09/26/2024

While I love planning trips for all of my clients, being trusted with a client’s first trip out of the country is a great honor and I take that privilege seriously. A & M were ready to embark on their very first international adventure and approached me to help them plan their honeymoon. After discussing their goals for their honeymoon, we settled on Italy for their dream first trip to Europe. They started in Rome, exploring the culture, historical sites, and delicious food. Next, they headed to Sicily for some relaxing time at the beach.

We are so glad that A& M chose Besst Travels as their trusted travel advisor. We were thrilled to have planned this journey to ensure every detail was perfect. Cheers to happy honeymooners and a lifetime of happiness! 🥂

09/19/2024

If you know one thing about me, you know that I LOVE hippos. So you have to imagine my delight at the viral social media posts and accompanying news coverage of Moo Deng, the resident baby pygmy hippo in a Thailand zoo. Finally, the rest of the world is appreciating hippos as much as I do! In fact, 2 month old Moo Deng has reached such celebrity status that zoo officials have had to limit visiting time to see her to 5 minutes.

The pygmy hippo is an endangered species, with only about 2,000-2,500 mature hippos left as of 2015, with their numbers continuing to decline unfortunately. They are smaller than a common hippopotamus and are primarily found in West Africa in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Ivory Coast.

If you love hippos as much as I do, a visit to Africa is the best place to see them in the wild in their natural habitat. I will never forget standing at our sundowners spot in South Africa earlier this year (safely, with a guide) and watching a hippo emerge from its watering hole to begin its nightly snack walk. Happenstance moments like this on safari can’t be planned and are incredible to witness.

Want to get started planning a safari adventure? Slide into my DMs or click the link in my bio to access my trip design request form.
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Besst Travels