You know Q is a proud member of Virtuoso, the world’s largest network in luxury and experiential travel. That means that our clients have access to promotions and benefits not available to others on many cruises or hotel stays.

(AI generated images)

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Celebrity Edge will start sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on June 26, 2021.  She will alternate Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, 7 nights long. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes long-time favorite ports like Nassau in the Bahamas; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and St. Maarten. The Western Caribbean itinerary will take cruise guests to Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico and Nassau in the Bahamas.

Captain Kate McCue, the first and still only female American ocean cruise captain, will have the honor of leading the fleet – and the industry – back into operation.

Vaccinations Required

Celebrity Edge was given the green light by the CDC to be the first ship back in the water, having met all new standards for providing a healthy cruise experience for its guests and crew.  Celebrity Edge will sail with a vaccinated crew.  US guests 16 years and older must be fully vaccinated, with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing.  (As of August 1, 2021, all US guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated.)

Updated guidelines from the CDC also allows the cruise lines to make further adjustments to onboard protocol. In addition, physical changes to ships – in terms of fresh air and ventilation systems; more space in restaurants and other areas; and many more safeguards are implemented to make each cruise comfortable and healthy.

But wait, there’s more!

Over the past few weeks, more and more cruise lines have announced their new summer 2021 itineraries. And these “new” cruises typically requiring passengers and crew to be vaccinated.  As the CDC and other government bodies continue to update and publish guidelines for (cruise) travel, some restrictions are being lifted or relaxed.  We expect that this will continue over the next few months.

Here are a few other cruise options that have been announced.  Call us for details!

• Celebrity Millennium, Windstar from St. Maarten to the Caribbean
• Celebrity Summit, Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas from Seattle to Alaska
• Celebrity Apex; Seabourn Ovation; Silversea’s Silver Moon, Azamara Quest, Norwegian Jade, Holland America ms Eurodam and others from Athens to the Greek Isles, Israel, Cyprus
• Norwegian Joy from Jamaica to the Caribbean.
• Norwegian Gem from La Romana, Dominican Republic to the Caribbean.
• Crystal Serenity, Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas from Nassau through the Bahamas
• Seabourn Odyssey from Barbados to the Caribbean
• Silversea Silver Origin, Lindblad Expeditions and Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xpedition in the Galapagos
• Crystal Endeavor in Iceland.
• Crystal Symphony from Antigua and St. Maarten to the Caribbean.
• Viking Venus and Viking Sea from Malta to Greece and the Adriatic coast.

We are excited at this latest news and hope you are too!  But we realize that some of the new travel requirements can be a bit intimidating or confusing at first, so give your Cruise Travel Specialists at Q a call if you’d like to know more about cruise travel on Celebrity Edge or others in the summer of 2021.

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The anticipation of travel is a powerful boost to one’s mood.  And after a year of mandatory home “confinement”, we all need that boost! In our last blog post I talked about how excited our (almost) fully vaccinated clients are to travel again. Our phones have been ringing off the hook. Clients are asking us “Where can I travel now?” Some want to get going as soon possible and here are the last-minute trips they ask us to plan, mostly in nearby destinations.  Others look further ahead, knowing that this “I’ve got a trip to look forward to” lift will help them cope as we whittle our way out of the pandemic.

What ten travel trends are the travel advisors at Q seeing for late 2021, 2022 and beyond?

Here are ten trends we are seeing for post-pandemic travel:

1)  Pity the procrastinator!

Our clients are eager to make up for a “wasted” 2020 and 2021. Availability, especially for unique experiences – think one-off or seasonal itineraries, luxury suites on ships or in hotels, private villas – is limited and fares are going up. To get what you want, it pays to plan ahead.  We’ve been working on many trips in late 2021, 2022 and even into 2023.

2)  Bigger/Longer/Better

Annual vacation travel is a given for most of our clients.  After having been forced to stay put for over a year, our clients now allow themselves to make up for it. Many choose to apply their 2020 vacation days and budget to a longer trip in late 2021 or 2022.

We also see a trend for bigger and better: travelers treat themselves to a balcony room or suite on a cruise. Others upgrade to a for their vacation. Why? Some appreciate the fresh air and built-in social distancing more spacious accommodation offers. And others feel they and their families deserve some pampering after a year at home.

3)  World Cruises and Grand Voyages

Tying in with bigger/longer/better, we’ve seen a surge for world cruises and grand voyages. Oceania Cruises famously announced that its 2023 180-days world cruise sold out within one day of opening for sale to the general public. Regent Seven Seas sold all penthouse suites and above on its 2023 world cruise (143-nights from Miami to Barcelona) within hours after opening it for reservations.

We also see more unique itineraries.  For example, Silversea’s 2023 World Cruise (themed “South Side Story: all the world’s a stage”) visits 66 destinations, of which 40 are new to a Silversea world cruise: unusual destinations like Antarctica, the Amazon, Papua New Guinea, in addition to more traditional marquee ports like Sydney, Auckland, Hong Kong and Cape Town.

100 years since the first world cruise

Talking about tradition: did you know that the first world voyage ever took place in 1923, on Cunard Line’s Laconia? In 2023, Cunard takes the opportunity to celebrate 100 years of world cruises.  Queen Mary 2 will sail 117-nights roundtrip from New York City, to places like Colombo, Hong Kong and Singapore, while Queen Victoria sails a 92-night itinerary from New York to Southampton with stops in Hong Kong, New York City, Singapore, Honolulu and the Panama Canal.

But bigger/better and especially longer does not work for everyone, so clients also contact us for shorter segments of these epic voyages in 2022 or 2023.

4)  Private Homes, Villas and Apartments

Another trend: clients “vant to be alone” with their own. Whether we’re talking family or a group of friends, more and more are asking about , apartments or home rentals.

With social distancing in a more controlled environment, a private home on vacation guarantees plenty of space to get together with your friends and family. Pool party?

Like us, our clients care about cleanliness and safety standards, so we don’t rely on the average apartment rental website. We only recommend accommodations vetted through our trusted partners.  (And if grocery shopping or cooking is not your idea of vacation, we can have our onsite partners take care of that for you.)

5)  Private Motorboats and Sailing Yachts

Ever considered ? Not every private yacht has to be a “Below Deck” superyacht. (Although we can organize those too!)  Clients ask us about private yachts from 2 to 12 guests all the time. Savvy sailors operate their own motorboat or catamaran, while we can arrange a crew (with gourmet chef, if you like) for novice boaters.

6)  Private Planes and Globe-spanning Private Jet Journeys

If you’ve ever flown on a private jet, you know why people love it. Time savings, control, privacy. You pick your departure and arrival airports (goodbye mega-hub hours away from your origin or destination), you decide when you take off (hello check-in only 15 minutes before departure); nonstop flights (goodbye Auntie Anne’s pretzel smell at hub airport). Your plane is ready for you when you are, not the other way around.  The extra level of luxury helps too. Glass of champagne, anyone?

Clients also appreciate that private jets keep them from having to share a commercial flight with 200 or more of their best friends. And as airlines offer fewer scheduled flights from smaller destinations, the potential to save time on a private jet is even larger. Once you’re used to luxury travel, it is hard to step back. So we anticipate that private jets are going to stick around, especially when traveling with a group (which helps keep costs in check).

A world “cruise” by private jet

Another trend: combining the variety and far-away-destinations of a world cruise with the efficiency, speed and comfort of a private jet.

Instead of cruising around the world by ship in 80 days or more, . Or enjoy the from the US to see a veritable Noah’s Ark: snow monkeys in Japan; orangutans in Malaysia; whale sharks in the Philippines; Bengal tigers in India; Gorillas in Rwanda and the Big Five in Kenya.

And those who fear seasickness on the Drake Passage to Antarctica (or want to maximize time) ask us about “Flying the Drake”.  We can even arrange a private jet to a “safari camp” in Antarctica, with a side trip to the geographic South Pole!

7)  Festive Fun

Whatever you celebrate, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, it is all less fun on your own. Staying home in 2020 has been hard on families. So many of our clients are looking forward to celebrating the holidays together in 2021. We’ve had questions about and the Caribbean (the best sell out far in advance, especially if you need connecting rooms or villas to accommodate your (grand)children!); an ; a ; a relaxing and a trip to celebrate Hogmanay in Scotland.  Once again, the early bird catches the worm!

8)  Looking and Booking Far Ahead…

With 3 years of demand being pushed into barely 1.5 year of supply, 2022 will be a very busy travel year. Some of the best suites on ships and hotels are already sold out, and fares are generally 25% higher than in previous years due to the additional demand.

Small capacity accommodations like safari lodges, villas but also small group escorted vacations and expeditions are also getting more limited in availability.

Trend: planning ahead now for vacations in 2022 and even 2023 will maximize your vacation dollar and  anticipation enjoyment.

9)  And Far Away…

After a year close to home, our clients appear to now want to go as far away as possible: and Europe are always popular, but Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica are top of the list for many of our new enquiries.

10)  Ask the Advisor

When the borders closed at the beginning of the pandemic, the advisors at Q helped our clients to get home from places as far away as Australia and South America. Our excellent relationships with many of our partners and countless hours working resulted in the best available refunds, credits or other benefits for our clients.  Our goal is to help our clients in making the right travel decisions.

“Do It Yourself” no more

A development we’re seeing?  Former “DIY” travelers decided in 2020 that planning travel is no fun for them anymore, with everchanging COVID regulations, refund rules, cancelled flights/cruises/hotels, hours of telephone hold time with airlines or online travel agencies.

They realize now that, without a travel advisor, you are on your own.  Q clients never are.

It is exciting that more places are slowly opening up to welcome visitors. We realize that not everyone is ready for travel yet, and of course it is a personal decision. We just want you to know that, when you feel that the time is right for you, the team at Q will be here to help.

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It started in mid-February: we’d receive phone calls that went pretty much like this.  “Hi, how are you?  We just got our second shot and now we want to get out of here.  Where can we go?” After almost a year of being “stuck” at home, many of our clients are now vaccinated and ready to start traveling again.

Those who received their first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine tend to be first in line to plan their next adventure. And many other clients – who due to age or availability may not have access to the vaccine yet – are reaching out to plan their imminent escape from their “Working From Home” monotony.

With infection rates dropping while vaccination rates rise, that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting brighter.

What to expect when traveling now?

You probably know that it takes about two weeks after you’re fully vaccinated for the maximum protection afforded by today’s COVID vaccines to kick in.  (At Q, we are travel professionals, not medical experts. Please ask your physician whether it is safe for you to travel.)

And while you may be safer from COVID, please don’t think that COVID measures no longer apply to you. Responsible travelers will continue to follow local guidelines for social distancing, wear their masks, and protect fellow travelers who may not have been vaccinated yet, as well as themselves.

Also, flexibility is a must. As infection rates and local circumstances change, so will entry restrictions or testing requirements. While most travel providers offer more flexibility than usual in terms of cancellations or changes, you also need to mentally prepare yourself that your trip may not happen, or may not go exactly as initially planned.

So what are some of the travel trends and popular destinations we’re seeing? In today’s issue, we’ll talk about the last-minute, short haul trips and destinations our clients ask about right now:

South Florida Resorts

With many borders closed and snow buffeting Chicago and other locations in the USA, clients pine for some sun. That has resulted in (many last-minute) reservations for beach resorts in South Florida, such as oft-awarded (perfect for families or couples, but also for social distancing with only five rooms and suites per floor) and the (with its ultra-exclusive 25-room boutique hotel-within-a-hotel, Flagler Club, if you want even more privacy). Want something more contemporary? features colorful Jonathan Adler interiors and one of the best spas in the USA.

Bahamas and Caribbean

Many countries are still off-limits to US travelers. But some all-time favorites like Mexico, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Anguilla, are welcoming us. Those who are comfortable crossing the border need to be aware that a PCR test before departure is required in most cases, and also when returning to the USA. Many of our hotel partners will facilitate these tests onsite, and in some cases even pay for them. For example the include the best food I’ve ever tasted at an all-inclusive resort, as well as your COVID-test before you fly back to the USA!

Worried about testing positive and getting stuck in quarantine before returning home? Well, should that happen at the gorgeous , you can quarantine up to 14 nights courtesy of the Baha Mar resort, with a $150 per day allowance for meals. Alternatively, you can be flown back to the USA on a private plane.

We’ve also seen interest in Puerto Rico peak: as a United States territory, no PCR test or immigration procedures are required when returning to the US mainland. Our clients also like the idea of combining history (San Juan is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas); adventure and nature (the El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service) with .

American River Cruises

While ocean cruises from the US are still paused, is about to restart its river cruises on the Mississippi and other American waterways.

Important to know: American Queen Steamboat is one of the first cruise lines to require that all guests and crew are fully vaccinated against COVID from July 2021 onwards, which brings an extra level of comfort to clients.

Also important: there has been a huge run on these American sailings, so availability on some departures is very limited.

American Experiences: Road Trips and Southern Charm

While we’ve seen a distinct drop in travel to big American cities like New York or Chicago, smaller Southern cities like or are hugely popular right now.  Not surprising, considering they offer culture, history and fantastic (outdoor!) culinary experiences and great hotels.

Some clients say they prefer to drive rather than fly, so road trips have been appealing too, for example on parts of Route 66, or along Highway 1 in California, or the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville and the Blue Mountains.  And with our partners at Relais & Chateaux, we have been able to set up “Route du Bonheur” road trips along fantastic, typically small lodgings with spectacular restaurants.

Culinary enthusiasts have also been flocking to the amazing (and almost always sold out) .

American Experiences: Ranches and National Parks

The quest for space also means that National Parks and dude ranches in America’s “Wild West” are sought after. Ranches range from historic to spectacularly luxurious, and from Ted Turner’s private ranch to an entire Western village for your group’s private use.

The Islands of Hawai’i

Quarantine restrictions initially made Hawaii a bit less accessible, but now the state’s Pre-Travel Testing Program allows individuals to proceed without quarantine.  So if Pacific breezes and gorgeous scenery are on your wish list, talk to us. Here are some to whet your whistle.

Brand-new: “Sunshine and Serenity Cruise” in the Bahamas

Luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises is moving Crystal Serenity from Europe to the Bahamas.  While cruises from the USA are not yet authorized, starting in July, Crystal will offer weekly cruises from Nassau or Bimini exploring some of the lesser known island gems of the Bahamas. Ideal for those who are fully vaccinated (a new requirement on Crystal), Crystal Serenity offers a reasonably priced luxury cruise “fix” alternative to staying at home.

Our next post will be about travel further afield – both in time and distance.

It is exciting that more places are slowly opening up to welcome visitors. We realize that not everyone is ready for travel yet. Of course it is a personal decision. We just want you to know that, when you feel that the time is right for you, the team at Q will be here to help.

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The coronavirus pandemic has brought travel to a near standstill – and changed the way we’ll think about exploring in the near future. And while we’re sad about the trips we’ve had to postpone – Italy, Switzerland, and Santa Fe, to name a few – we know they’ll be back on the calendar soon.

Until then, we’re channeling Lake Como’s classic charm while sipping Aperol spritzes in our yards, , and finding new ways to support our global community from home.

On that note, we believe in the positive and transformative power of travel as a force for good. As global citizens, we have a responsibility to stand up for equality and denounce racism, both at home and abroad. Travel embraces all colors and cultures, and celebrates what humankind shares in common as well as the differences. In a world that can feel deeply divided, travel unites.

These most-read stories of the year (so far) on and blog are some of our favorite ways to keep dreaming.

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Now, imagine waking up in a luxury eco-lodge (or tented camp), opening your eyes to the real-life African savannah laid before you.

Imagine discovering a pair of ‘honeymooners’ while on a private game-drive. I’m not talking about the type you see on the beach in Jamaica…I’m talking the king of the animal kingdom finding a queen!

Imagine being on the ground to witness the world’s greatest wildlife migration…watching ‘the Circle of Life’ unfold in real time.

Imagine no more…because Q can take you there!

And why not travel with the company named the World’s Best Safari Outfitter (9 times and counting)? Micato Safaris is one of Q’s favorite, family-owned partners and Africa’s oldest travel ambassadors. Take it from Travel + Leisure magazine: the Pinto family “run their show as though they were entertaining well-loved, out-of-town relatives.” The Pintos know Africa, because they live Africa. As native Kenyans, they, along with their team, have cultivated the best of the best for their travelers.

Give Q a call and let us curate the best of Micato and Africa for you!

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Rob and David are scheduled to host the following two 7-night Caribbean cruises:

• December 15 to 22, the “Caribbean Yacht Harbors” cruise between Barbados and St. Maarten, with exclusive “Discover St. Barts with Lunch at Hotel Le Toiny” shore event.
• December 22 to 29,  “Holiday Yachtman’s Caribbean” cruise from St. Maarten to Barbados, with “Highlights of St. John’s with a Festive Lunch” in Antigua on Christmas Day, December 25.
• (Want more time in the sun? Combine both cruises for an Exotic Caribbean In-Depth itinerary from December 15 to 29.)

ĐÓ°É´ŤĂ˝ Seabourn Odyssey

Designed for only 450 pampered guests, the all-suite luxurious Seabourn Odyssey features unique options like a watersports marina that will allow you to swim or surf straight off the ship. “Foodies” will be excited to experience Thomas Keller’s Grill, and weather permitting, the truly unique “Caviar in the Surf”: a Champagne and Caviar extravaganza served by the ship’s officers in the Caribbean surf. Of course, your fare includes suite accommodations, exceptional cuisine, enrichment programs, unlimited premium wines, spirits and other beverages, gratuities, and more.

December 15-22, 2018 Itinerary

December 22-29, 2018 Itinerary

Virtuoso Voyages Benefits

And Q will offer you Virtuoso Voyages benefits with our compliments:

• Rob and David will host the Virtuoso-only guests and welcome you to a cocktail reception.
• In addition, you will be invited to join other Virtuoso guests for an exclusive “Discover St. Barts with Lunch at Hotel Le Toiny” shore event on December 19, or “Highlights of St. John’s with a Festive Lunch” in Antigua on Christmas Day, December 25.
• Alternatively, you may also select $150 per person in shipboard credit (not combinable with other shipboard credits) or $175 towards purchase of a Virtuoso product per person.

(Virtuoso Voyages hosts, benefits and event are subject to sufficient participation. In case insufficient Virtuoso guests join a specific sailing, guests will receive a $150 shipboard credit per person instead.)

Rob and David would love to welcome you on board, so please give us a call for more details.

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I am a curious (as in enquiring, not strange – I think) man.  Whenever I have the chance I’ll pick a window seat when flying.  Taking off from Sydney, our Virgin Australia flight took us over Botany Bay and beach suburbs around Sydney before flying across the blue-green forests of the Blue Mountains.  Soon, the earth’s colors changed to ochres and reds. Vegetation became more and more sparse as we flew towards the heart of Australia.  Massive white salt flats came into view – and then, without warning or surrounding mountain ranges, Uluru appeared at the horizon: a huge monolith in rust colors, majestically overlooking its domain.

After landing into the small airport of Uluru (Ayers Rock), our ride to the Sails in the Desert hotel only took about 15 minutes. The five-star option in Ayers Rock Resort, just outside of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, was recently renovated and a comfortable place to stay.  Its outdoor pool is a popular place to cool down between tours of the semi-arid desert, especially when the sun beats down in the middle of the day. It was about 42 degrees Celsius or 107 degrees Fahrenheit when we stayed.  (But it’s a dry heat…) That tends to be the hottest it gets, or so we were told.  Others cooled down in the air-conditioned comfort of their newly renovated rooms, all spread out in low-rise buildings throughout the resort. 

But you’re not visiting Ayers Rock Resort to stay in your hotel.  During our two-night stay, we truly made the most of our time:

What I was expecting:   

1. See Uluru (Ayers Rock)

What we ended up doing:                           

1. See Uluru (Ayers Rock) change color from earthy browns during the day to vibrant reds at sunset
2. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and Australian appetizers while the sun set over the desert, followed by a bush tucker inspired dinner with beautifully set tables overlooking Uluru
3. Learn to find the Southern Cross, depicted on Australia’s flag and only visible in the Southern hemisphere.   We marveled at the Milky Way during a stargazing session.  Due to the lack of artificial light,  the visibility is excellent.
4. Walk through the Field of Light, a masterful installation by internationally renowned artist Bruce Monro and his team.  50,000 handmade glass spheres gently glow and change colors in the night-time desert.  If you’d like to see this, you must move quickly: it is a unique temporary exhibit that will only be in Uluru until April 2018
5. Hike and drive around Uluru at sunrise, learning more about its sacred places, exploring watering holes and 7,000 year old Aboriginal rock art
6. Learn about the Aboriginal Anangui people who have called the heart of Australia home for generations
7. Watch four Anangui men dance and explain more about their culture
8. Be very pleasantly surprised that high-quality modern Australian cuisine (and wines, of course) are available in what frankly is the middle of nowhere
9. Hike the Walpa gorge between the massive domes of the Kata Tjuta rock formation (also known as the Olgas).  Our skilled guides taught us how the environment and geology evolved over millions of years
10. Find out about the ancient symbols of the desert. Learn how the Aboriginal people express their history and stories through dot paintings.  Next? An opportunity to express our own life stories by creating our own dot artwork
11. Enjoyed a progressive three-course camp-fire inspired dinner on top of an open-air vintage double decker bus, listening to amazing stories of pioneering history with the privilege of being the only visitors in the National Park after dark. 

What we didn’t do, but could have?  Enjoy the Red Ochre Spa at the resort; a scenic helicopter flight; relax by the pool and quite a bit more.

Uluru is on the typical “Sydney, Rock, Reef” itinerary for many American travelers.  To do it justice, you should try to spend more than one day here.  The official “Aussie Specialists” at ĐÓ°É´ŤĂ˝ are happy to help you plan your “Red Earth” discovery!

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Armand, our driver and guide, thumped the side of the jeep with his flat hand and called out to the rhino in Afrikaans. The rhino quickly moved away and joined the others at a safer distance.  The knowledgeable Armand explained that this was a “mock charge” (it felt real enough to us!) to show us that we shouldn’t come much closer. Rhinos aren’t known for their eyesight and only when he came closer he would have recognized that our big green jeep probably wouldn’t be a good target.

The 30 minute drive from the entrance of the Shambala Game Reserve turned into a one hour exploration as Armand showed us wildebeest, an elephant, dozens of impalas and kudus even before David, the boutique lodge’s manager, welcomed us to Zulu Camp. He walked us to our chalet: an entirely thatched freestanding “villa” built in Zulu style, with undulating ceilings and walls in an “African chic” design.  Our air-conditioned residence boasts a large bedroom with a private terrace overlooking the stream that runs through the grounds. The curved thatched ceiling of the luxury bathroom provides an unusual perspective from your freestanding bathtub or separate shower – both with “made in England” Molton Brown bathroom amenities. There is no need to give up life’s little luxuries while in the wilderness!  (The bottle of rosé Moet & Chandon in the minibar – included in your room rate – confirms that.)

As David quickly pointed out, one of his – and soon mine – favorite experiences was to enjoy the private outdoor shower connected to our bathroom. A rustic wooden fence allowed for privacy and a refreshing shower “au naturel”, surrounded by the sounds of nature – the rushing river just a few feet away, the bird songs amongst the sun-dappled trees. Fantastic!

In addition to the nine chalets onsite, the main building, also thatched, offers an outdoor dining room, a bar and pool on a large terrace overlooking the river. A roaring fire welcomes you at night. A little skittish? You should know that the entire camp is surrounded by an electrified fence and friendly guards to keep more aggressive wildlife out, so you can relax and enjoy nature without worries.

Another section of Shambala includes the accommodations where Nelson Mandela previously visited to get away, so he could relax and recharge. That area is now available for groups of guests who like their privacy too.  (Perfect for an African family reunion!)

But however beautiful and comfortable your accommodations are, you are at Shambala to enjoy nature and wildlife. Armand or one of his colleagues will take you out for morning or evening game drives through the almost 10,000 hectares of private bush fields. Although there are certainly game parks or reserves with more animals, Shambala offers great variety: we managed to see almost 30 species, ranging from elephants and rhinos to the tiny dung beetle.

You may also be taken on a boat ride on the largest man-made “Dam” at sunset.  A big dam was built in the river, which soon resulted in a large lake – the perfect habitat for hippos and crocodiles.  You’re likely to see them from the comfort (and safety) of your boat, while enjoying a glass of something or other.

Head ranger Dean is qualified to guide the more adventurous on a bushwalk – yes, a guard with gun, just in case, will come along – so you can see the flora and fauna up close. At night, you may be lucky enough to admire the African sky with constellations away from the bright lights of cities. David, Dean and Armand took us up to the helipad of the private mansion of the reserve’s owner. Away from artificial lights, we were amazed at the thousands and thousands of stars, planets and constellations, including the Southern Cross which can only be seen from the Southern hemisphere.

And even though you are miles away from “civilization”, rest assured that you will be fed and watered very well! For every meal, the chef or one of his colleagues will come and have a chat to discuss the day’s options and your preferences. Everything is fresh, and beautifully presented.  Feeling adventurous?  Feel free to try out ostrich, biltong, and other local specialties.

The welcome note in our chalet told us to get ready for a “once in a lifetime” adventure at Zulu Camp – but I certainly hope not! I’d love to go back there sometime soon!

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Not to worry: what might seem like the start of a bad dream or spaghetti western really was just a display of resourcefulness of the drivers of Transcabo, the transportation company in Los Cabos. When our flight landed, the main road from the Los Cabos International airport to San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas was closed due to the Los Cabos Iron Man competition. So instead of following the highway, the experienced drivers took us along the much more interesting canyon road that led us past sights we would have normally only seen in the movies – or on a canyon zipline adventure. We also passed some all-terrain vehicles with intrepid drivers ready to explore the lesser visited parts of Los Cabos.

Fortunately, the Transcabo representative who welcomed us at the airport had advised us that we would be taking an alternative route and emphasized that “we weren’t being kidnapped” despite the drive through the backroads. In fact, we enjoyed this little extra tour before we were dropped off at the all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos.

This was a perfect example why we generally pre-arrange transfers in foreign destinations, especially if we don’t speak the language. (Our Spanish is not good enough to understand why a taxi driver would take us into a dry canyon on the way from the airport.) That arrival experience is just so much more relaxed when your driver is waiting for you at the other end. It means not having to worry about changing currency, language barriers and, in some places, finding a reliable ride.

Have a Margarita while you are waiting for your ride at the Los Cabos airport.

Much like my mother when I was five, our friends at Transcabo had given strict instructions not to talk to any strangers between the surprisingly quick customs and baggage claim procedure and the transportation meeting point. Apparently the time share and taxi touts at the airport can be a little assertive, so our transportation voucher instructed us to swiftly walk to the outdoor meeting point, conveniently located between two open-air bars. Just perfect if you’d like to get your Margarita on while waiting for your transfer! Judging by the large number of patrons, decked out with cervezas, frosty glasses and suitcases, it is a popular way to get that Cabo vacation started!

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