The Last Resort

On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Karen Urosevich, founder of Well Placed Travel, about her recent stays at Saseka Tented Camp in South Africa's Greater Kruger and Matetsi Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, where her trip ended with a surprise proposal on the banks of the Zambezi River.

Urosevich explains how her now-fiance secretly worked with their travel partner and Matetsi to plan the big moment, and why those same experts talked him out of proposing during a helicopter ride over Victoria Falls. She also weighs in on Saseka, including her candid take on why three nights of twice-daily game drives is plenty for most clients. And lastly, she shares what the trip taught her about advising safari clients, from when VIP airport greeters aren’t always worth it to why it pays to ask how tall clients are before booking regional flights.

Currently in its fourth season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 10th episode of the fourth season will be posted the last week of October.
 

Further resources:

Karen Urosevich

Saseka Tented Camp

Matetsi Victoria Falls

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Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Leah Smith Fulenwider, COO of Coastline Travel Group, about her recent stay at Siari Riviera Nayarit, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Mexico.

Smith Fulenwider talks about what it means to stay at a Ritz-Carlton Reserve property and why Siari's mountaintop setting and design are perfect for seclusion and privacy. She shares details on the resort’s four miles of swimmable beach, the Mexican-inspired influences featured across each of its restaurant concepts and the “treehouse” feel of Siari’s guestrooms, which are surrounded by lush jungle. She also weighs in on the resort's ideal clientele, current Mexico travel demand and why she describes the Reserve concept as “understated luxury.”

Currently in its fourth season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 9th episode of the fourth season will be posted the last week of September.
 

Further resources:

Leah Smith Fulenwider

Siari Riviera Nayarit, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Riviera Nayarit's newest gems: Nauka and Siari (Travel Weekly)

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Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Amanda Veldman Doyle, owner of AVD Global, about her recent stay at the Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.

Veldman Doyle talks about what sets the adults-only Grand Velas Boutique property apart from its larger, family-friendly sister resort, the Grand Velas Los Cabos, next door. She shares details on the property's more intimate, residential feel and serene adults-only pool scene, as well as standout culinary favorites like Loto Robata Grill's Japanese-Mexican fusion menu. She also weighs in on the resort's wellness programming, the case for an all-inclusive stay versus a traditional European plan property in Cabo, and why she believes that "if you are a luxury hotel junkie and you have not been to Cabo, you are really missing out."

Currently in its fourth season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 8th episode of the fourth season will be posted the last week of August.

Further resources:

Amanda Veldman Doyle 

Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos

A different side of Mexico in Los Cabos (Travel Weekly)

Dispatch, Mexico: Self-care in Los Cabos (Travel Weekly)

Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos: For mature audiences only (Travel Weekly)

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
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Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski chats with Amanda Khazem, owner of the Fora-affiliated agency Wanders and Travel, about her recent visit to Nihi Rote, a recently opened luxury resort on Indonesia's remote Rote Island.

Khazem talks about the multi-leg journey required to reach the all-inclusive property, why that very remoteness is part of the appeal and how the resort’s onsite Rote Hospitality Academy helps create a uniquely personal guest experience.

She also breaks down pricing, ideal length of stay and which travelers are the best fit for this adventure-leaning, off-the-beaten-path property.

Currently in its fourth season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 7th episode of the fourth season will be posted the last week of July.  

Further resources:

Amanda Khazem 

Nihi Rote

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Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Fora-affiliated luxury travel advisors Jill Albino and Ronit Margolis about their recent stay at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland.

Albino and Margolis break down what makes The Retreat worth its premium price tag, with Margolis going so far as to call the property “one of the top three hotels I’ve ever been to.” The two share details on the resort’s elevated Icelandic cuisine, afternoon tea experience, complimentary spa circuit and standout service. They also cover what clients should be prepared for before they go, from the lagoon’s no-wet-hair rule and drink limit to the very real possibility of a volcanic eruption. Plus, the pair weigh in on whether one night at The Retreat is really enough.

Currently in its fourth season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 6th episode of the fourth season will be posted the last week of June.  

Further resources:

Jill Albino 

Ronit Margolis

The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland 

Retreat takes Iceland's Blue Lagoon to the next level (Travel Weekly) 

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Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License

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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Jace Tarbell, founder of Somewhere Travel Co., about his most recent stay at Atelier Playa Mujeres, an all-inclusive just north of Cancun, Mexico.

Tarbell breaks down what sets Atelier Playa Mujeres apart within the crowded all-inclusive landscape, from its standout mixology program and dining venues that could hold their own off property, to the design-forward details that he says make the resort feel “like a deep breath when you walk in.” He also addresses how the alarming Mexico headlines earlier this year affected his clients and whether bookings are bouncing back. Plus, Tarbell shares his “fantastic four” of go-to Mexico all-inclusive recommendations.

Currently in its fourth season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 5th episode of the fourth season will be posted the last week of May. 

Further resources:

 Jace Tarbell

• Somewhere Travel Co.

Atelier Playa Mujeres

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
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Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License

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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Rebecca Bullen, a Smartflyer-affiliated luxury travel advisor and self-described Italy obsessive, about her recent visit to Collegio alla Querce, an Auberge Resorts Collection property in Florence, Italy.

Bullen makes the case for why this property deserves a spot in every Italy specialist’s toolkit, from its surprisingly accessible hillside location just 10 minutes from the city center to its sizable swimming pool, a rarity in Florence. She also shares her broader read on Italy demand, the off-season opportunity she’s increasingly pitching to clients and the upcoming Italian openings she’s watching most closely, from a Rocco Forte in Naples to Four Seasons taking over the Danieli in Venice.

Currently in its fourth season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 4th episode of the fourth season will be posted on April 20th.

Further resources:

Rebecca Bullen Travel

Collegio Alla Querce, Auberge Collection

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Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Lauren Pronger, president and founder of Well Inspired Travels, about her multiple visits to SHA Mexico, the SHA brand’s first property in the Americas and what Pronger calls her “wellness Disneyland.”

Pronger breaks down what sets SHA Mexico apart from other luxury wellness resorts, from its diagnostic, science-backed programming and signature hydrotherapy circuit to its deeply personalized approach. She shares insights into who makes an ideal SHA guest, how she curates experiences for her high-profile clientele, including professional athletes, and why the property’s proximity to major U.S. cities makes it a gamechanger for the Americas wellness travel market.

Currently in its fourth season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 3rd episode of the fourth season will be posted on March 23rd.

Further resources:

 Lauren Pronger

• Well Inspired Travel

SHA Mexico 

Hotels tap healthy demand for luxe longevity offerings (Travel Weekly)

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
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Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Erica Gragg, lead travel designer and founder of Escape Artists: Luxury Travel Advisors, about her recent visit to New York’s Hudson Valley and the Berkshires in Massachusetts, including her stay at the Prospect Berkshires.

Hudson-based Gragg shares insider perspective on the region and discusses how the Prospect Berkshires and other properties deliver nature-focused experiences without sacrificing comfort. She also highlights a few favorite Hudson-area restaurants, explains which travelers might find these accessible destinations worth the journey from New York City and Boston, and shares observations on how the arrival of major brands like One&Only and Six Senses will shape the Hudson Valley's future.

Currently in its fourth season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 2nd episode of the fourth season will be posted on February 23rd.

Further resources:

Erica Gragg

• Escape Artists: Luxury Travel Advisors

Prospect Berkshires

Glasco BLCK Creek

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
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Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License

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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Karen Urosevich, founder of Well Placed Travel, about her recent visit to Australia and New Zealand and her stays at the Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania and Flockhill Lodge in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Urosevich talks about how these two luxury lodges deliver personalized service that justifies their premium pricing, and shares details on the unique experiences—like shucking fresh oysters, herding sheep during lambing season and enjoying “food theater” at Flockhill’s award-winning restaurant—that made her trip especially memorable. She also offers tips on navigating these off-the-beaten-path destinations and talks about which travelers might find these remote, all-inclusive accommodations worth the journey.

Currently in its third season, The Last Resort is a monthly hospitality-focused podcast brought to you by Travel Weekly. In each episode, travel advisors share their first impressions of the last resort they visited.

The 1st episode of the fourth season will be posted on January 12.

Further resources:

 Karen Urosevich

• Well Placed Travel

Saffire Freycinet

Flockhill Lodge

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
Email us: [email protected]

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.