Grand Voyages Weekly Digest

⛵ Orient Express launches sailing yachts!

August 16, 2025

Happy Saturday, Grand Voyagers!

Can you believe we're already mid-August? This week, I fell down a wine travel rabbit hole inspired by my recent adventures in Italy's Veneto region, and discovered that Orient Express is launching something that has me absolutely buzzing with excitement!

In this week's edition:

  • Wine Wandering: How to experience Europe's wine regions like a true local

  • Sailing Revolution: Orient Express launches luxury sailing yachts (following my Windstar obsession!)

  • Hotel Love: My favorite Rosewood properties running incredible 3rd/4th night free promotions

  • Semi-Private Sky: JSX and Aero making luxury air travel surprisingly accessible

🍷 WINE WANDERING: EUROPE’S HIDDEN LOCAL SECRET

The Confession: I'll be completely honest - until my recent trip to Italy's Veneto region a few months ago, I thought wine travel was just about pretty vineyard photos and standard tastings. Boy, was I wrong! There's something magical about stepping beyond the postcard-perfect shots and discovering how locals actually live, sip, and celebrate wine.

The Revelation: Real wine travel isn't about ticking off famous names - it's about connection. Whether that's sharing a glass at a tucked-away enoteca in Florence's Oltrarno neighborhood, joining harvest festivals in Bordeaux, or pairing rustic meals with family vintages in Tuscany, the authentic experience is about the people and culture behind every pour.

Here's what surprised me during my research:

  • Piedmont's Secret: Locals ask for "crus" (vineyard-specific wines) - they appreciate these nuances that most tourists miss completely

  • Bordeaux's Best-Kept: Skip the grand châteaux tours and head to wine bars in the Chartrons district where locals actually hang out

  • Provence's Rhythm: Locals spend long evenings on vineyard terraces savoring chilled rosé - it's not just a drink, it's a lifestyle

  • Douro Valley's Gem: Portugal's terraced vineyards are flying under the radar compared to Europe's big wine stars, making them perfect for authentic experiences

My Next Adventure: I'm already planning my trip to France's Rhone region next - can't wait to discover what local secrets I'll uncover there! The anticipation is honestly killing me.

Strategic Tip: The best wine regions offer incredible value during shoulder seasons when locals are more available to share their stories and favorite spots.

I'm genuinely curious - are you interested in wine travel too? Which European wine regions are calling your name? I'd love to hear your favorites!

⛵ SAILING REVOLUTION: ORIENT EXPRESS TAKES TO THE WATER

Remember last week when I mentioned my latest obsession with Windstar's fleet of sailing ships? Well, hold onto your wine glasses because Orient Express is launching luxury sailing yachts and - wow! - I am completely losing my mind over this!

The Moment that Changed Everything for Me: 140 years after unveiling their first luxury trains, Orient Express is embarking on an unprecedented new chapter with the Orient Express Corinthian - the world's largest sailing yacht. This is legendary hospitality meeting maritime innovation in the most extraordinary way.

What has me utterly excited:

  • Intimate Scale: Only 54 exquisitely appointed suites with panoramic sea views - this is exclusivity redefined

  • Heritage Meets Ocean: This is Orient Express applying their 140 years of luxury travel mastery to create floating sanctuaries of refinement

  • Perfect Destinations: Mediterranean and Caribbean's most enchanting locales - exactly the kind of access I've been craving

  • Virtuoso Advantage: The perks and amenities available through Virtuoso travel advisors make this even more compelling

Strategic Insight: This follows the exact trend I predicted after my Windstar research - luxury sailing is becoming the next frontier for discerning travelers who want intimacy with incredible service standards.

The combination of Orient Express's legendary service standards with the intimate, connected-to-the-sea experience I discovered with Windstar? Plus the world's largest sailing yacht with only 54 suites? This is the perfect evolution of luxury sailing that I didn't even know I was waiting for.

🏨 HOTEL LOVE: ROSEWOOD PROPERTIES DELIVERING PURE MAGIC

I need to share something - Rosewood Hotels are hands down one of my favorite hotel brands in the world, and they're currently running 3rd and 4th night free promotions across their entire portfolio. This is such a fantastic opportunity to experience their incredible properties!

The Client Reality: I've had clients recently stay at Rosewoods in Paris, Amsterdam, and London, and honestly, the feedback has been stellar across the board. There's something about their approach to luxury that just gets it right every time.

What makes this irresistible:

My Upcoming Adventures: I'll be doing stays at both the Rosewood Paris and Amsterdam next month, so I'll definitely report back with all the insider details and behind-the-scenes experiences!

Bucket List Dreams: On my personal wish list are Rosewood Hong Kong (their flagship property that everyone says is absolutely mind-blowing) and Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in Tuscany. A girl can dream, right?

Strategic Advantage: The 3rd and 4th night free promotion means you can really settle in and experience these properties the way they're meant to be enjoyed - with time to savor every detail and truly understand what makes each one special. Perfect timing for holiday travel planning too.

✈️ SEMI-PRIVATE SKY: LUXURY AIR TRAVEL GETS ACCESSIBLE

I mentioned recently that I'm able to book international business and premium economy class travel through my dedicated Fora Flights desk, but here's the exciting addition - I can also now book semi-private air travel on JSX and Aero!

The Client Success Story: I had a client use JSX this past weekend to jet from LA to Napa for a weekend getaway - and wow, the convenience and value completely blew their minds! And honestly, mine too.

Here's what blew my mind:

  • Short Hop Perfection: Especially brilliant for those quick weekend escapes where commercial airline hassles just kill the vibe

  • Surprisingly Accessible: The pricing is often amazingly close to regular fares, especially for last-minute travel

  • Time is Luxury: No security lines, no crowds, no stress - just smooth, elevated travel experiences

The JSX Experience: Think of it as your own private jet experience without the private jet price tag - you literally walk up to the plane like you own it

The Aero Advantage: Semi-private flights that make those spontaneous luxury getaways actually feasible, especially for European routes

Strategic Reality: This completely changes the game for last-minute luxury travel. When you can book a weekend Napa escape on Thursday and be flying semi-private on Friday, spontaneous luxury becomes actually achievable.

If you've been dreaming about that spontaneous Napa weekend or quick escape somewhere special, this might be exactly what you've been looking for. Thank me later! 😉

Until the next adventure,

Stacey