TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel

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TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel
HTL                               Professional Purveyors of Travel

          HTL
TRAVELTATTLER
THE

TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS                                     Q4 2016

                                        LETTER FROM THE CEO
                                                    HTL NEWS
                                             SOUTHERN ITALY
                                                       OMAN
                                             NORTHERN ITALY
                                         TRAVEL TIPS & TRICKS
                                               TATTLER TIDBITS

           H U F F M A N       T R A V E L     L T D
               C H I C A G O     •   D A Y T O N
TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel
Professional Purveyors of Travel

LETTER
FROM THE CEO
                                                 Dear Friends of Huffman Travel,

                                                 The leaves are changing and there is a chill in the air. Fall is
                                                 upon us!

                                                 I am happy to report that I’m writing you today from the
                                                 porch of my cabin at The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch in
                                                 Saratoga, WY. I can think of no better backdrop for this girls
                                                 getaway (‘Cow Girl Up for The Cure’ supports Susan G. Komen), a
                                                 guys getaway (check out their amazing French Creek
                                                 Sportsman’s Club!), or an overall week of family fun with no
                                                 shortage of activities. This was not my first trip to BCR and it
                                                 will certainly not be my last!

                                                 Fall is the time of year when we reignite ‘our routine’ and
                                                 focus on looking ahead. It’s also the time of year that allows
                                                 me to reflect on how grateful we at Huffman Travel are to have
Shawna Huffman Owen on a recent trip to Greece
                                                 such wonderful clients and partners. Every year we look
                                                 forward to the week after Labor Day when our phone volume
                                                 picks up and we hear from many of you … reflecting on your
                                                 summer travels and brainstorming where to go next. Thank
                                                 you for allowing us to assist you with ‘investing’ your most
                                                 precious of all assets: your time. We love creating experiences
                                                 that allow you to make the most of your trips, and we relish
                                                 the relationships we forge by doing so.

                                                 Not only have many of you enjoyed fantastic travels this past
                                                 summer, but we at Huffman Travel have been doing our fair
                                                 share of globe-trotting as well. We thought it would be fun to
                                                 share with you – in a visual way – where your team of Luxury
                                                 Travel Advisors have visited this year (see map on page 3).
                                                 Please let us know what inspires you…. we’d love to tell you
                                                 about our own adventures and find out how we might curate
                                                 one for you!

                                                 To travel is to live!

                                                 Shawna Huffman Owen
                                                 President & CEO,
                                                 Huffman Travel LTD

T H E     T R A V E L       T A T T L E R
TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel
HTL NEWS
                    Each year several representatives from Huffman Travel (HTL)
                    attend the annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. It’s the
                    largest gathering of luxury travel professionals in the world.
                    We spend one week deepening our relationships with our
                    hotel and supplier partners, making sure we are up on the
                    latest trends in the industry and (overall) being inspired! It’s
                    also Virtuoso’s opportunity to recognize some of the industry’s
                    key players with awards, and for industry suppliers to host gala
                    events for their top partners. Below are a few snapshots of the
                    HTL team and some of our key associates!

                    Huffman Travel has been a member of the Virtuoso travel
                    network for over 15 years and we are pleased to announce
                    that Tony Huffman, Chairman & CEO, was re-elected by peer
                    agencies to serve another three year term on Virtuoso’s
                    Member Advisor y Board (total of 12 members).
                    Congratulations, Tony! We are also proud to announce that
                    Huffman Travel was recently recognized by Four Seasons
                    Hotels as being one of the Top 20 Four Seasons Preferred
                    Partners based on production.

                    From time to time, HTL advisors are invited to help shape the
                    opening of new hotels and resorts worldwide. Krista
                    Wissinger was selected to sit on Virtuoso’s Preview Board for
                    Park Hyatt, St. Kitts. She tells us that the inspiration of the
                    design came from the plantations on the island with a focus on
                    immersive experiences. This luxe property will be the first of
                    its kind in St. Kitts and will welcome guests beginning March
                    1st, 2017!

Virtuoso’s Travel
 Week is one of
    the largest
   gathering of
  luxury travel
professionals in
    the world.
TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel
HTL
2016 TRAVELS
      As a company, we believe the best way to advise our clients is to
      experience it ourselves. For this very reason, you will see us ‘on the go’
      - whether it be a far flung destination we visit on our own or by
      participating in leading luxury travel shows around the globe.

      With our team ‘all over the map’, we thought we’d have a bit of fun and
      put together a visual that illustrates where we have collectively been
      this year - and it’s impressive!
TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel
“Capri has been dazzling
                                           for decades.”
                                                        - Monique Owen

SOUTHERN ITALY
Italy consistently ranks among the      to the iconic Amalfi coast. I highly
top travel lists of globetrotters and   recommend private ground services
it’s not hard to see why.         The   in this region. Not only are the
endless pursuit of “La Dolce Vita”…     Amalfi Coast roads not for the faint
perfectly sun-ripened sweet             of heart, but our wonderful ground
tomatoes, soft white mozzarella         services team took us from Rome
cheese, and lazy, wine soaked           (after a leisurely breakfast), to
lunches. The country that resembles     Pompeii (where we enjoyed a
a boot has an abundance of              privately guided tour and a quick
culture, charm and history making       pit stop for pizza,) and, finally, on
it not just a “one and done” travel     to Sorrento, where we boarded a
proposition, but a country that         hydrofoil….and found ourselves
beckons for many a return visit.        poolside at our hotel by 4:30pm.
                                        This was my second visit to
My family and I arrived to Capri in     Pompeii and a real highlight for our
late June ready for some fun in the     children; ages 4, 6 and 8.
sun after a whirlwind tour around
Italy (Positano, Pisa, Lucca,           Boats arrive to Capri at “Marina
Florence, Siena, San Gimignano,         Grande”, which in the peak of
Cortona and Rome). We had a             summer is a bustling hive of tourists
private driver transfer us from Rome    and activity.   Our on-site team

                                T H E    T R A V E L       T A T T L E R
TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel
Amalfi, continued

was waiting for us as we stepped off        Perhaps our favorite day was spent at
the hydrofoil and we swiftly embarked       La Fontelina beach club. We’ve all
one of Capri’s soft top taxis. The heart    seen the classic Slim Aarons
of Capri is a ‘pedestrian only’ oasis of    photographs of the beach club dotted
cobblestone pathways with charming          with blue and white umbrellas…and
boutiques and restaurants.         After    the reality does not disappoint. A short
hopping out of our taxi, the last part of   walk down a beautiful, winding path
the journey to our hotel was only 5         with views of the blue sea below
minutes on foot and a wonderful             (dotted with mega yachts!) brought us
immersion into the allure of Capri.         to a wonderful oasis.        A friendly
The island’s Tiberio Palace would be        attendant settled us into our comfy
our home for the next 4 nights.             sunbeds and we spent the day laying
                                            in the sun and swimming in the sea
We spent our first day on a private         with the famous Il Faraglioni islands as
boat touring the local regions of the       our backdrop.
Amalfi Coast. Soaking up the sun,
stopping for a swim and, ultimately, a      It’s not hard to see how Capri has been
delicious lunch at La Conca del Sogno       dazzling for decades….and I am
were true highlights. Afterward, it was     certain this wasn’t a a “one and done”
back on the boat to tour the green and      visit for my mia familia!
blue grottoes of Capri. I recommend
arriving to the Blue Grotto late enough
in the day to avoid all the tourist boats
and to swim freely in the electric blue                        Monique Owen
waters.                                                  Luxury Travel Advisor
                                                      monique@huffmantravel.com

  T H E      T R A V E L        T A T T L E R
TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel
“In a word?
                                                                                    Tranquil.”
OH MY OMAN                                                                        - Shelane Nunnery

When I told friends that my husband and I were going to visit The Sultanate
of Oman in April, the first inevitable question I was asked was, “Is it safe?”.
Not only is it safe, it is one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever seen.

Positioned on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, this arid
country offers visitors jaw-dropping vistas with rugged mountains and
canyons at every turn. The capital city of Muscat is beautiful, clean and
quite cosmopolitan…..and set on the edge of the Arabian Sea. Our visit
included everything from fine dining, wonderful wines (discovery: Lebanon
produces rather memorable cabernets!), spa time, shopping, hiking,
swimming, and 4x4 outings in the Al Hajar mountains. In terms of
activities, the possibilities are infinite!

We stayed at the Chedi Muscat upon arrival and acclimated to the time
change in their incredible spa. The Chedi is situated on the water and the
spa’s lounge area offers stunning views of the sea. In a word? Tranquil. It is
very contemporary and chic, while feeling quite exotic and arabesque. We
used this as our home base as we toured the city of Muscat with private
guides, and it was there that we visited a luxury parfumerie and Muscat’s
impressive and lavish Grand Mosque.

For our ‘desert adventure’, we lodged at Alila’s Jabal Akhdar, a luxurious
and rustic resort that is perched at the mouth of a dramatic gorge,
surrounded by mountains. After rigorous hikes in the local area, we had
truly earned the spa time and infinity pool’s awe-inspiring views. This was
our favorite hotel simply due to the fact that the setting was so raw and
magical. I will never forget the night sky’s endless stars, nor the sight of a
lighting storm approaching over the mountains as the sun was setting. It
was an incredible place to disconnect from the world and re-connect with
my husband.

I found everyone we met to be warm and welcoming, the country’s
infrastructure to be quite sound (in fact, impressive), and the
accommodations utterly luxurious. For travelers with an appetite for
adventure, the exotic, and for the great outdoors….Oman is a destination
that should not be overlooked.

                                                     Shelane Nunnery
                                                 Luxury Travel Advisor
                                              shelane@huffmantravel.com

 T H E      T R A V E L         T A T T L E R
TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel
“The Dolomites are the
                                                                                        most dramatic
                                                                                    mountains I’ve ever
                                                                                                 seen.”
                                                                                           - André Koester

NORTHERN ITALY
My husband and I take a week-long       day there was seeing the opera
trip alone every July. It’s very good   ‘Carmen’ under the stars.
for the marriage given the fact that
we have four young sons. This year      Our next few days were spent
we decided to explore some parts        enjoying beautiful Lake Garda,
of Italy we’d never been to: Lake       which is the largest of the Italian
Garda and the Dolomite                  Lakes, but not nearly as well
Mountains.                              known as Lake Como. We stayed
                                        at Villa Feltrinelli, which is a
Our first stop was Lake Garda. We       gorgeous 20-room hotel on Lake
flew direct from NYC to Venice,         Garda’s shore. It has a lovely pool,
and spent our first day exploring       a wonderful spa, and service that is
Verona since it is halfway between      beyond compare. By our second
Venice and Lake Garda. Verona is        day there all the staff knew our
a charming, medieval city with          coffee order for breakfast and our
narrow streets and beautiful            preferred drink for cocktails. Even
architecture. There is a huge arena     though it was difficult to leave Villa
from the Middle Ages right in the       Feltrinelli, there are several
center of the city that has a full      charming towns to explore on Lake
schedule of evening operas all          Garda that can be reached by car
summer long. The highlight of our       or by chartering a boat. We chose
TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel
Italy, continued

the latter and loved visiting Salo for its stylish shops,   mountains (some as long as a kilometer) that were
Sirmione for its dramatic Roman architecture, and           made by Italians and Austrians during WWI, as that
Isola di Garda, a private island in the center of the       area was a major front during the war. We had a
lake and the home of a stunning palazzo. There are          great hiking guide on several of our days who
lots of great restaurants where you can dock for an         showed us the most scenic routes and explained
alfresco seafood lunch and we loved jumping off the         much of the WWI history.     He wanted us to try via
boat for a swim.                                                    ferrata, but we told him we’d bring our sons
                                                                            back to do that!    He informed us
Next on our itinerary was San
                                                                               that the Dolomites are
Cassiano in the Dolomites.
                                                                                 incredibly popular with
The Dolomites are about
                                                                                       families – both children
an hour and a half drive
                                                                                        a n d t e e n s l ove t h e
north from Lake Garda.
                                                                                          climbing and the thrill
They are the most
                                                                                           of via ferrata. We ate
dramatic, beautiful
                                                                                           as well for dinner as
mountains I’ve ever
                                                                                           we did for lunch, as
seen and a great
                                                                                           there are numerous
destination, both
                                                                                           Michelin-starred
summer and winter.
                                                                                           restaurants scattered
Summer activities
                                                                                          throughout the
include hiking, biking,
                                                                                         rregion. Our hotel, The
rock climbing and a
                                                                                      Rosa Alpina,     was a
type of climbing called
                                                                                    highlight that manages to
via    ferrata.      Via
                                                                                 be cozy and chic at the same
ferrata involves climbing while
                                                                              time.
clipped into steel cables, ladders
and other anchors that are affixed to the                             After a great week, we had a 2.5-hour
mountain, allowing those not as experienced to hike         drive to Venice airport for our direct flight home
dramatic ledges and climb vertical walls. It was my         to New York. We promised each other that we’d
husband’s suggestion to go to the Dolomites, and I          come back to both locales – a successful trip in
was a bit hesitant as I am not really the outdoorsy         my book!
type, but I ended up loving our time there. We
would hike in the mornings, enjoying amazing vistas         e.

at every turn, and follow our hikes with lunch at a
rifugio. Rifugio is translated as a “mountain refuge”,
                                                                                              André Koester
                                                                                       Luxury Travel Advisor
but is really a cozy restaurant/inn on the mountain
                                                                                       andre@huffmantravel.com
with delicious food and good wine. What made it
even better was we could take a cable car or chairlift
up and hike down if we weren’t feeling up for a
major trek. One day we explored tunnels in the

T H E     T R A V E L         T A T T L E R
TATTLER HTL TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS, TIPS AND TIDBITS - Huffman Travel
TRAVEL                                                          Professional Purveyors of Travel

TIPS & TRICKS

PACKING &
PLANNING
FOR…..

     AMALFI COAST                                 DOLOMITES
 •   Do: Consider making Capri your         • • Do: See an open-air opera in the
     one base for a stay on the Amalfi          Verona Arena. It is a highlight of a trip
     coast. Unpack, settle in and use           to Northern Italy, but tickets need to
     charter boats and the wonderful            be purchased in advance for decent
                                                seats.
     public hydrofoils and ferries to
     explore neighboring regions like       •     Do: Splurge to charter a boat on Lake
     Positano, Amalfi, Nerano, etc.               Garda. The towns worth seeing are
                                                  far from each other by car, so going by
 •   Do: Bring an extra bag for the               boat is more efficient, not to mention
     amazing shopping on offer.                   more scenic and fun!
 •   Don’t: Miss a day at La Fontelina      •     Do: Bring a wrap or jacket for the
     Beach Club.                                  Dolomites in the summer, as the
                                                  temperatures drop in the evening.
 •   Don’t: Bother packing heels. The
     charming cobblestone laneways will     •     Don’t: Miss lunch at a refugio in the
     wreak havoc on your stroll to                Dolomites. The food and wine are as
     dinner. Flat sandals or wedges are           good as the view.
     the way to go.                         •     Don’t: Forget sturdy walking shoes
                                                  and a daypack for hiking in the
                                                  Dolomites.

                                          T H E      T R A V E L        T A T T L E R
OUR
ADVISORS
Each issue of Travel Tattler will help you ‘get to
know’ two fabulous members of the Huffman
Travel team..and what makes them so passionate
about travel!

                                                                        SANDI TODOROVICH

                                                                    After graduating from Michigan State University in
                                                                    1998 and doing a month-long tour of Europe, Sandi
                                                                    realized she had found her passion in traveling. Since
                                                                    then, she has cultivated this fervor by exploring the
                                                                    world as much as possible. Recently living in both
                                                                    London and Copenhagen for 6 years allowed her to
                                                                    travel the world extensively and shaped her decision to
                                                                    move out of the accounting/finance arena and develop
                                                                    a career in travel, and she hasn't looked back since.
                                                                    Her trip to Turks & Caicos this October will put her at
                                                                    country #49, and there is no slowing down in sight.
              JAYME HOOD                                            Sandi's passions include photography, fine dining,
                                                                    wine, hiking, and adventure, and she tries to
Born and raised in Dayton, OH, with a degree in Business            incorporate as much of this as possible into her
Management, Jayme worked in the finance industry for six            personal travel. Due to her enthusiasm for trying the
years until she started to feel like something was missing. So,     newest and best places to wine and dine, as well as
she decided to follow her heart, taking her love of                 locating the best vantage points everywhere she travels,
experiencing other cultures and making it into a career in the      she is a consummate source of knowledge on the
travel industry. She is thrilled to have joined her uncle, Jeff     hottest restaurants and hidden gems in each city. "Go
Hood, on the Huffman Travel team!                                   where the locals go" is something she takes to heart.

Jayme brings fresh passion for travel to the office. She            Sandi considers herself lucky enough to not be able to
appreciates learning about other cultures and is fascinated by      pinpoint a favorite travel experience, but there are a
rich histories, beautiful architecture and profound customs. In     few that come to mind whenever she's asked. Hot air
her free time, Jayme enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, is an   ballooning over the fairy chimneys in Cappadocia,
avid sports fan and loves to cook!                                  hiking through Petra/Bedouin, camping in Wadi Rum,
                                                                    and traveling around Nepal are three that stick out in
Jayme has most recently become Huffman Travel’s newest              her mind.
Disney specialist. She has also taken a deep dive into stunning
Spain, visiting Seville, Cordoba, Madrid and Barcelona!

Jayme sees travel not only as an opportunity to see beautiful
parts of the world, but also a chance to experience life from
another perspective. She brings that philosophy to her work as
the foundation for the adventures that she and her clients will
plan together.                                                             T H E     T R A V E L        T A T T L E R
Professional Purveyors of Travel
                                                     TRAVEL                  TATTLER
                                                                                                                   TIDBITS
                                           SERENE SANCTUARY IN RIVIERA MAYA
                                              Rosewood Mayakoba may very well be Riviera Maya’s best kept secret! A
                                               Huffman Travel staff favorite, this 1,600 acre resort sits on a mile-long stretch of
                                                pristine Caribbean sand. We love the outdoor showers, rooftop decks and kids
                                                 activities center with a focus on nature!        Activities abound with three
                                                 swimming pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center and on-site golf. Indulge
                                                 body and soul at SENSE, the 17,000 square foot tropical spa that lies on its
                                                 own island. Secluded from the rest of the resort, this spa offers an array of
                                                treatments inspired by the resort’s natural and magical setting. With multiple
                                               restaurants to choose from, you may never want to explore the dining options
                                             in nearby Playa del Carmen!

                                     MEXICO CITY’S LUXE LAS ALCOBAS
  Starwood Luxury Collection’s recently added Las Alcobas a contemporary,
  boutique hotel located in the heart of Mexico City’s chic Polanco area (think Rodeo
  Drive). The 35 sophisticated rooms range from guest rooms, deluxe suites and
  Penthouses with verandas, but our favorite are the corner rooms that serve up
  panoramic views of the Polanco neighborhood. Special touches? A menu of
  hand-made soaps for every guest to choose, free snacks and soft drinks from the
  mini bar, and sumptuous spa bathrooms in every room. Acclaimed Chef Justin
  Ermini created a concept inspired by international dishes with a farm-to-table
  driven ingredients menu at Anatol, while Dulce Patria offers a contemporary version
  with exquisite presentation of Mexican cuisine. Las Alcobas is the perfect ‘launching
  off point’ to explore the city’s amazing cultural and archeological scene, contemporary
  art and culinary scene.

                                         ROMANCE ON THE SHORES OF LAKE ORTA
                                            Another favorite from revered J.MAK Hospitality, this enchanting haven is a mere 45
                                             minute drive from Milan’s Malpensa airport, yet you’ll feel a world away. Set on a hill
                                              overlooking Lake Orta, Villa Crespi was built in 1879 and the villa’s arabesque
                                               architecture and stunning gardens are a magical backdrop for your Italian getaway. As
                                                part of the Relais & Chateaux collection, this lovely property will not disappoint
                                                culinary travelers! Chef Antonio Cannavacciuolo’s masterful cuisine takes you on an
                                               itinerary from southern to northern Italy. Rooms are opulent, traditional and colorful
                                               with four poster beds and intricate parquet flooring. Pamper yourself with an
                                              Ayurveda treatment using local organic ingredients after a day of exploring the
                                            charming medieval village of Orta with its cobbled streets and tiny cafes.

                                                                            H U F F M A N                T R A V E L              L T D

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