An Elegant Party at Villa Balbiano on Lake Como in Italy (Part Five)
It was a chilly day at Lake Como but that didn't stop our Travelux 2018 group from feeling warm and celebratory for our final party of this truly memorable luxury travel event. Villa Balbiano, with roots in the mid 16th century, has recently been renovated by the famous French designer Jacques Garcia. An invitation to a party in this splendor was one of the highlights of my trip to Italy and it took my breath away.
How I Survived Without My Luggage for 6 Days on a Luxury trip to Italy
After carefully curating my packing list, constructing outfits and meticulously organizing my accessories for the most import trip of my travel advisor career, a luxury travel event in Italy, the unthinkable happened. My luggage filled with 9 days of outfits, shoes, accessories, makeup and hair tools, did not arrive with me in Nice, France. It didn't arrive while I was traveling on the Italian Riviera, and it didn't arrive until my last few moments at Lake Como!
An Italian Spa Getaway in Abano (Part Four)
After being reunited with my luggage, just as we left the hotel in Lake Como, our driver headed to the Abano Grand Hotel in Abano. It was a cold and rainy day but our welcome at the Abano Grand Hotel could not have been more warm and welcoming. As I was introduced to my spacious 'Panorama View' suite I was captivated by the view.
Villa Views from the Waterside at Villa Balbiano on Lake Como (Part Three)
While preparing for my trip to Travelux 2018, I was given several options for excursions during my time at Lake Como. Despite flirting with the option of driving a red Ferrari, or a cooking class with a famed chef at Villa d'este, I chose the boat ride around the shores of Lake Como. My decision was easy when I thought about capturing images of the stunning views of villages, villas and the natural beauty around Lago di Como. This classically beautiful Villa Balbiano, above, is where our final event for Travelux 2018 was held.
A Luxury Travel Event at Lake Como (Part Two)
I feel extremely fortunate to have received an invitation to the hosted luxury travel event, Travelux 2018, in Italy last month. This 3-day event was held at Villa Erba as well as several esteemed venues on the shores of Lake Como. Travelux 2018 was the perfect blend of luxury travel brand exposure, elevated travel experiences with an elegant Italian flair and fun relationship building with fellow travel professionals from around the world. It never hurts to toss in historic villas, sparkling chandeliers, vibrant bouquets of flowers, delectable dishes, waiters in tuxedos, prosecco toasts, dance parties, Ferraris and fireworks. Living La Dolce Vita!
A Sunny Visit to San Remo, the 'City of Flowers', on the Italian Riviera (Part One)
The first stop on my trip to Italy was an invitation to the Royal Hotel San Remo on the Italian Riviera, just 10 miles east of the French border in west Liguria. Following a red-eye flight from San Francisco, I arrived at the airport in Nice, France, and was driven to the elegant and classic Royal Hotel San Remo. I was introduced to my luxurious suite and joined the formal dinner in progress where I met a wonderful group of fellow travelers from the luxury travel industry.
As a travel advisor, I typically design full‑service, door‑to‑door journeys—hotels, transfers, tours, trains, every detail handled. But sometimes you may only need that spectacular hotel you already found, and still want access to those coveted Virtuoso amenities. We get it. When it’s a hotel‑only stay, you may feel it’s simplest to book it yourself, especially knowing you’ll still receive the full Virtuoso benefits and have Curated Travel + Cadence standing behind your reservation with dedicated support for anything you may need along the way.