Grand Voyages Weekly Digest

🦁 Safari Planning + Cruising on Sailing Ships

August 02, 2025

Happy Saturday, Grand Voyagers!

Can you believe we're already staring down Labor Day weekend? This week has been a little slower since I'm on family vacation, but I've still had some incredible planning inquiries rolling in - from bucket-list safari adventures to last-minute weekend escapes. I'll be totally honest, I've been putting off my own safari research for way too long, but diving into it this week has me completely obsessed! Plus I discovered something about sailing cruises that's totally changed my perspective on what luxury cruising can be. 🦁

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🌍 NEXT LEVEL SAFARI PLANNING

Okay, confession time - I've been putting off planning a safari for way too long because honestly? I thought it was just... pick Africa, see animals, done. Boy, was I wrong!

A friend just returned from Tanzania last month and couldn't stop talking about watching the Great Migration from a hot air balloon at sunrise - which finally pushed me to do proper research. Even from vacation, I found myself researching until midnight because what I discovered completely blew my assumptions apart - East Africa and Southern Africa are like two totally different planets when it comes to safari experiences.

East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) is where you get those classic National Geographic moments we all picture. Think massive wildebeest migrations, giraffes posed perfectly against Mount Kilimanjaro, and that golden Serengeti grassland stretching forever. It's "safari introduction" territory - incredible wildlife populations and those quintessential scenes that make your Instagram followers weep with envy.

But Southern Africa? That's where things get wild in completely unexpected ways. I had no idea you could track desert rhinos on foot in Namibia, or glide through Botswana's Okavango Delta in traditional dugout canoes with elephants wading nearby. The sand dunes in Sossusvlei climb as high as the Empire State Building - I mean, who knew?!

What really caught my attention while researching Micato Safaris is how they handle the cultural immersion piece. Instead of just driving around looking at animals, you're meeting Maasai village elders who share actual traditions and stories. That Tanzania client I mentioned? She said the Samburu community visit was more transformative than seeing the Big Five.

The timing couldn't be better to start planning because peak safari seasons book up months in advance. If you're dreaming about 2025, now's when the magic happens with securing the best camps and guides.

⛵ ON MY RADAR - CRUISING ON A SAILING SHIP

I thought I knew sailing cruises pretty well - elegant ships, intimate experiences, beautiful ports. But then I discovered something about Windstar that completely changed my perspective, and now I'm slightly obsessed with them in a way that's probably not healthy.

The moment that changed everything for me? Learning you can literally SUP and kayak right off the back of their ships while anchored in crystal-clear lagoons. I mean, WHAT?! I've recommended sailing cruises before, but none where you could just grab a paddle board whenever the mood strikes and explore completely on your own.

What really got me excited during research was discovering how intimate these ships actually are with only 148 passengers.

Picture this: watching the crew hoist white sails at sunset while dolphins play alongside the ship. When conditions are right, they turn off the engines completely and just glide through the Aegean Sea under pure wind power. That's not something you get on bigger ships!

But here's where I started losing sleep researching their itineraries - Tahiti. Windstar has exclusive access to private motus (tiny uninhabited islands) for beach barbecues that are literally just for their guests. Plus their Water Sports Platform means complimentary kayaks, paddle boards, and snorkeling gear whenever you're anchored in those impossibly blue lagoons.

I've been stalking their 2025 Tahiti sailings way too much lately, especially with the promotions they're running right now. The combination of authentic sailing with that level of water access feels like luxury travel that's actually connected to the ocean rather than just floating above it.

🌴 COSTA RICA IS DOMINATING MY INBOX

Honestly, I never expected Costa Rica to keep popping up in luxury holiday conversations, but I've had several requests roll in for Thanksgiving and Christmas where people are looking to do something amazing but closer to home. Costa Rica keeps coming to mind, and I'm starting to understand why.

That's when Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the gorgeous Papagayo Peninsula, came on my radar - and they're offering some awesome promotions that are worth jumping on ASAP! 

We're talking 107 elegantly designed accommodations nestled in a protected peninsula setting that feels worlds away, plus two actual treetop glamping tents for those who want adventure with luxury service.

But what completely blew my mind during research? The property sits just minutes from UNESCO World Heritage-listed Area de Conservacion Guanacaste. This isn't just marketing fluff - it's actual tropical dry forest with nesting areas for endangered sea turtles. The combination of legitimate conservation work with Ritz-Carlton luxury is exactly what sophisticated travelers are craving right now 😉.

🇺🇸 LABOR DAY REALITY CHECK (WE ALL NEED THIS!)

Anyone else frantically trying to squeeze in one last summer hurrah before reality sets in? Because same, and the Labor Day weekend research has been eye-opening!

Something fascinating I discovered - luxury travelers are completely redefining Labor Day weekend this year. Data shows 70% of bookings are extending way beyond the traditional Friday-to-Monday format. Apparently we've all collectively decided that if we're going to do this, we're going to do it right with longer escapes.

For close-to-home luxury that actually delivers, I've been diving into some incredible hidden gems that prove the best adventures sometimes happen closer to home:

Camden, Maine is everything you imagine a quintessential New England town to be - sailboats bobbing in the harbor, clapboard storefronts, and seaside shacks serving proper lobster rolls (cold, the way they should be). Stay at Camden Harbour Inn for that stylish waterfront hideaway with rooms looking straight over the harbor.

St. Michaels, Maryland is a historic shipbuilding town turned quietly upscale escape where life slows down to three-hour lunches and checking your phone becomes an afterthought. The Inn at Perry Cabin offers refined Chesapeake luxury with nautical-inspired suites and waterfront lawns perfect for long, lazy afternoons.

Newport, Rhode Island quietly holds its own with stunning cliff walks, Gilded Age mansions, and that classic sailboat harbor where America's Cup races made history. The Vanderbilt is a meticulously restored Gilded Age mansion with period details, extensive art collection, and cozy cocktail nooks.

Bay Harbor, Michigan feels like northern Michigan's best-kept summer secret on the shores of Little Traverse Bay. The Inn at Bay Harbor delivers that breezy lakeside retreat with sunset lake views and easy access to dramatic golf courses and cycling trails.

Kiawah Island, South Carolina is raw South Carolina coast where beaches are more sand than people - shifting dunes, wild marshes, and 10 miles of coastline. The Sanctuary offers five-star spa services and access to that legendary Ocean Course, with Charleston just a quick drive away.

What I love about these choices? They offer summer's last hurrah without that desperate "grabbing onto summer" feeling. Instead, they feel like sophisticated escapes that prove not every amazing experience requires a boarding pass.

SO WHAT'S CALLING TO YOU?

Thanks for joining me on another edition of discoveries - even from family vacation! I absolutely love hearing which destinations are speaking to you because your feedback always leads me down the most incredible research rabbit holes.

Have a wonderful weekend filled with travel dreams!

Stacey