Travels with Tesa

21/12/2024

🌍✨ From Ancient Walls to Sacred Heights
https://www.travelswithtesa.com/stories/iconic-unesco-world-heritage-adventures-of-2024

2024 was a year of incredible adventures! 🗺️

March: Had an entire section of the Great Wall of China 🇨🇳 to ourselves, plus a private catered lunch right on the Wall. Truly magical!

August: Conquered the altitude at Machu Picchu 🇵🇪, experiencing Inca history and breathtaking mountain views. The early morning visit made it even more special!

November: Hiked to Tiger’s Nest Monastery 🇧🇹, perched on a cliff in Bhutan. Post-hike hot stone baths and massages are a must!

These sites are more than destinations—they’re stories of perseverance, culture, and awe. Ready to plan your journey? 🌟 DM me!

21/12/2024

🌏✨ 2024: A year of some incredible journeys to some of the most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world.

March 2024 - Least crowded so you should go now is the Great Wall of China 🇨🇳- representing its efforts to protect and unify its territories over centuries. We had this section of the wall to ourselves plus a private catered lunch on the wall too!

August 2024 - Machu Picchu 🇵🇪, perched high in the Andes Mountains, is the iconic Inca site showcasing the advanced engineering and spiritual beliefs of the civilization. It was a struggle for me with the altitude but our guides helped us navigate the immense crowds and mountain. Fortunately everyone is polite to let people take their obligatory photos that make it seem you’re the only one on the mountain - but nothing could be further from that.

November 2024 - Tiger’s Nest 🇧🇹 clings to a cliffside at an elevation of 3,120 meters (10,240 feet) and best reflects Bhutanese spirituality and culture.
My Tips:
- Start at the crack of dawn and ride the horses up to the Cafe before walking the rest of the way. It felt very Indiana Jonesy
- Bring your own proper walking sticks
- Layer your clothing. It starts chilly, then gets hot, then chilly again. Wear proper hiking shoes although I saw some wearing Crocs and sandals 🤷🏻‍♀️
- Bring water (I recommend Liquid IV), snacks, sun hat, sunglasses.

But these three sites are more than just destinations - they’re living stories of human perseverance, culture and history. Ready to take a trip? DM me to start planning.

29/11/2024

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours in true Filipino style complete with a whole roasted pig 🐖 a crowd pleaser for sure.

20/11/2024

sure knows how to throw a welcome party ❤️
not only did they bring a curated selection of the best artists from Laguna Beach; There were tables scattered in the great lawn with a sampling of different tastes and bites. There was no formal seating. We could all table hop as much as we wanted and they really just set this mood and the space for a great get together.

Our last T+L board meeting was in Hong Kong back in March 2024 so I’ve missed my T+L family a lot. I am excited to hear presentations from our partners in the next two days and just happy to be here to experience this original flagship property and to visit Pendry Newport as well.

18/11/2024

Recently, I was invited on a familiarization trip to Brittany, a region I knew little about—aside from my Breton-striped shirts. Surely, that meant Brittany and I were already destined to be besties.

Read full story, https://www.travelswithtesa.com/stories/discovering-brittany-through-the-lens-of-relais-amp-chteaux

18/11/2024

https://www.travelswithtesa.com/stories/discovering-brittany-through-the-lens-of-relais-amp-chteaux

Embark on a journey through Brittany with Relais & Châteaux, exploring luxury boutique hotels, Michelin-starred dining, and unforgettable experiences. Discover charming retreats like Les Lumière in Versailles, Domaine de Locguenole, and Hotel Balzac in Paris. Perfect for lovers of boutique elega

16/11/2024

The Leela Palace New Delhi


My sanctuary and haven for a brief interlude in Delhi en route to home. I’ve been on the road for almost three weeks now and when I think of the ideal place to rest and lay my head, it is always about the people who inhabit and embody the place. Connoisseurs in gracious and luxury hospitality, and the kindnest friends and colleagues in our travel industry, thank you and for welcoming me back. ❤️❤️❤️

15/11/2024

✨✨✨ NEW Client Review ✨✨✨
Milan - Dolomites - Venice - Florence

We can’t say enough good things about working with Tesa! From start to finish, every detail of our trip was flawlessly organized, and it was clear she went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. She listened closely to our interests and tailored an itinerary that was spot on, hitting all the hidden gems and unique experiences that made the journey unforgettable. Her and her teams communication was outstanding - they were quick and prompt to respond to any questions or adjustments we had while on our trip, which made us feel completely supported. We were particularly impressed by how effortlessly she handled last-minute changes, keeping everything smooth and stress-free. If you’re looking for someone who genuinely cares about creating a memorable, customized travel experience, I highly recommend Tesa!

L.Smith, IN - 10Nov24

12/11/2024

B H U T A N

Snaps from Bhutan, from Thimpu to Gangtey to Punakha so far.

04/11/2024

The Art of Personalization in Hospitality paris

I’ve just checked in to my home in Paris for the next four nights. I’m here to attend DUCO FRANCE and my host hotel is Fouquet’s Paris on Av George V, a member of

Pre-arrival I was sent a preference form to complete with questions like:
What’s your favorite drink? Sparkling water & Lemonade
Favorite Snack? Potato Chips and Chocolate
Pillow preference? Down

As I check into my room, I realize that they have indeed welcomed me with all my preferences and more!♦️Monogrammed pillow case with my initials
♦️Truffle potato chips +
♦️a beautiful chocolate cookie cake
♦️a silver napkin ring engraved with my name
♦️Fouquet red passport cover with my initials embossed
♦️Fouquet chocolates
♦️Fouquet red nail polish
♦️ Fouquet red lipstick 💄

Hotel Barriere Fouquet’s Paris really does know how to spoil its guests. What’s more, I’ve been upgraded to a Prestige Room with a small balcony facing the Champs Elysees. Thank you 🙏 for your generous hospitality ❤️❤️❤️

All these VIP welcome amenities we can give to our clients when booking your stay at .paris through us!

03/11/2024

Hotel BALZAC - Paris 🇫🇷

Home in Paris for two nights, the delivers subtlety, zen, discretion, and refinement. The luxury is in the rich materials: velvet, linen, wood, bronzed copper, alabaster…

A brand new property of that opened this past July’24, it’s a stone throw away from the Champs Elysees and George V metro with some rooms facing the Tour Eiffel.

I’m normally not one for minimalism (only because I lack that discipline) but wholly appreciate the quiet and clarity this aesthetic provides. Without knowing it, it is exactly what I need at the moment.

Thank you for your hospitality 🙏

02/11/2024

Domaine de Locguenole - Bretagne, France 🇫🇷


So much to savor here. When the hotel becomes a reason to visit the region of Bretagne and is a destination in itself. After an extensive 3-year gut renovation they quietly opened in Dec 2023 and had their official inauguration this past September 2024. More posts to come on this property that I believe is so emblematic of what stands for.

Thank you for sharing this wonder.

27/10/2024

✨ NEW Client Review ✨

Early October 9 nights in Italy, 6 Taormina, 3 Florence. Another superb Tesa trip!
Many prior trips and extended stays in Italy but first in Sicily and loved our time there. 6 nites Taormina La Plage hotel water view. Lovely resort. Excellent travel and touring. Taormina, Mt Etna, Gambino vineyard, Siracusa and Ortigia, Agrigento, Palermo (churches!), would redo this itinerary. Drove across Sicily a few times and really got to the essence of this lovely place. Awesome guides and drivers.
Will bring grandchildren there someday.

Three excellent nites Florence with agenda to help a friend build a hospice for children (Casa Marta) and visit Paul Newman’s Camp Dynamo for children with life-threatening diseases and connect Casa Marta and Dynamo made this part of the trip very poignant and socially useful and mission fully accomplished. One day at Camp, next at hospice.
Hotel Lungarno outstanding on the Arno.
Little time for touring Florence where my wife Maria lived every June as college student and which we have visited many times over the past 50 yrs. Always, one of the most spectacular cities on the planet. Spent the late afternoon early evening watching the sun and light change over the Duomo and Baptistry, unrivaled pleasure. Walked the city for hours both days. Also rerevisited Michelangelo’s The David statue and the super Frankenthaler exhibit at the Palazzo Strozzi. And definitely have the fig gelato and the bisteca a la fiorentina and some excellent bottles of Chianti. - R.Kayne, CT, 20 Oct 2025

🙏 Thank you for the trust and partnership 🙏

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21/10/2024

✨New Client Review✨

“I recently had the pleasure of working with Tesa for our trip to the Amalfi Coast and Rome, and I cannot recommend her highly enough! From start to finish, she meticulously planned every detail, ensuring we had drivers to take us seamlessly from place to place and expert tour guides who enriched our experiences with fascinating insights.
Tesa also curated an amazing list of restaurants that allowed us to indulge in authentic local cuisine—each meal was a treat! Her attention to detail and personalized touch made our trip both stress-free and unforgettable. If you’re looking to explore Italy, definitely reach out to Tesa—you won’t be disappointed!”

Thank you Michael and Rita for your trust and recommendation 🙏

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13/10/2024

61 - Sardegna, Italy 🇮🇹

Thankful for another year filled with hope, love from family -friends-colleagues, travels to far-flung places, trusting clients who inspire and fuel my own explorations, the generosity of this travel industry that has helped me re-imagine myself.

📷 from my ever trusting and loving husband who always makes me look good in his photos

11/10/2024

Vertigo Chronicles

On September 28, the day after I arrived from the Faroe Islands, I experienced my first episode with vertigo. The feeling is that the whole room spins around you and you feel like falling. This has never happened to me before.

I was able to see my Doctor who diagnosed it as such and prescribed medication for me. He said that it may lapse. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I was scheduled to travel back to Europe in a few days to participate in an active outdoor adventure trip in Sardinia.

I myself was not sure how much activity I could do and so what may seem like very easy or mundane activities, It’s all new to me again.

While the FAM has ended, I have come to appreciate that traveling really does push us out of our comfort zone. I may not have been the best at doing these activities but no matter because it’s not a race. I am very pleased and proud of myself for pushing through and navigating a new reality.

I thank Agustina of , who helped push me forward and all my fellow travelers on the FAM who were all very kind, patient and a pleasure to be with.

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30/09/2024

✨️ New Blogpost on my recent trip to the FAROE ISLANDS ✨️
read the post - link.in.bio

Tucked away in the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands are a remote paradise for nature lovers and adventurers alike. With more sheep than people, this rugged, green archipelago boasts dramatic cliffs, serene waterfalls, and unspoiled landscapes that feel straight out of a fairy tale. It’s perfect for those seeking solitude and breathtaking hikes, but don’t expect luxury—cozy B&Bs and self-catering cottages are the norm.

Between sampling local brews and savoring fresh salmon or lamb, you can explore the islands by car, boat, or even via impressive subsea tunnels. For a unique cultural experience, share a meal with a Faroese family or explore the capital, Tórshavn, home to Michelin-guide restaurants. If you crave the untouched and undiscovered, the Faroe Islands are calling.

29/09/2024

https://www.travelswithtesa.com/stories/faroe-islands-where-nature-still-whispers-secrets

Discover the Faroe Islands, a North Atlantic gem with stunning cliffs, peaceful solitude, and top hiking trails. Savor local cuisine like fresh salmon and lamb, and enjoy unique stays in cozy B&Bs or self-catering cottages. Ideal for nature lovers and adventurers, the Faroe Islands promise an un