On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Philippa (Pip) Clarke, head of Caribbean for U.K.-based Hummingbird Travel, about her recent visit to Curtain Bluff in Antigua. 

Clarke reveals why this Antiguan resort’s approach to all-inclusive luxury—complete with multiple sommeliers, rotating a la carte menus and pickleball—keeps families and couples returning year after year. She also discusses topics like dinnertime dress codes and how Curtain Bluff successfully maintains these types of traditional elements, while continuing to evolve with changing guest expectations. Additionally, Clarke shares her process for matching clients to the right Caribbean property, especially when working with those “vague inquiries” that simply ask for “all-inclusive in the Caribbean.”

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 eighth episode of the third season will be posted on August 11.

Further resources:

 Philippa (Pip) Clarke

• Hummingbird Travel

Curtain Bluff

Renovations planned for Antigua's Curtain Bluff resort (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 Michelle McSorley, a concierge travel advisor with Favorite Grampy Travels, and Jamie Biesiada, a Travel Weekly senior editor and host of the Trade Secrets podcast, about their recent visits to the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel at Universal Studios Resort.

McSorley and Biesiada share why the luxury property’s direct access to Universal Epic Universe is a gamechanger, as well as offer details on the hotel’s park views, dining options and themed How To Train Your Dragon Kids’ Suites. The pair also touch on how Universal Studios’ latest hotel and park expansions may change guest patterns, potentially extending Universal stays from quick add-ons to full-week experiences. 

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 seventh episode of the third season will be posted on July 14.

Further resources:

 Michelle McSorley

• Favorite Grampy Travels
• Facebook
• Nova Luxury Travels

Jamie Biesiada

• Travel Weekly
• Trade Secrets
  
  

Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel at Universal Studios Resort

Epic Universe: A new era for Universal Orlando Resort  (Travel Weekly)

Want to share feedback on the last resort you visited?
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Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Amy Nidds, a travel consultant with VWT by Chase Travel, about her recent visit to the Hotel Balzac in Paris.

Nidds reveals why this intimate 58-room hotel with Eiffel Tower views delivers an experience that feels like “your own apartment in Paris,” complete with a concierge team willing to go the extra mile to secure “impossible” restaurant reservations. She confirms that luxury European travel demand remains “crazy,” with clients not only booking Paris but often pairing the city with stays in Provence or Normandy. Nidds also shares her must-do recommendations, including the 30-seat Hemingway Bar and where to find the best chocolate mousse in Paris.

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 sixth episode of the third season will be posted on June 9th.

Further resources:

Amy Nidds

• White Glove Getaways
• Instagram

Hotel Balzac Paris

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

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Limor Decter, a luxury travel/lifestyle advisor and writer with Embark Beyond, about her recent visit to the Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Decter dishes on private beach dinners, whale watching from ocean-facing balconies and personalized service that she said makes her feel like she’s “coming home.” Plus, get her perspective on Cabo’s evolution as a luxury destination, with insights on seasonal pricing, flight connectivity improvements and the market’s expanding appeal beyond just sea and sand.

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 fifth episode of the third season will be posted on May 12.


Further resources:

Limor Decter

Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection

Esperanza unveils a feast of culinary experiences (Travel Weekly)

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

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Julie Boller, a luxury travel advisor with Atlas Wander Travel, about her recent visit to the Sheen Falls Lodge in Co. Kerry, Ireland.

Boller talks about the property’s dramatic landscapes, spacious accommodations perfect for couples and multi-generational families and diverse experiences, from falconry to helicopter tours of the Ring of Kerry. She also shares insider tips on how to craft the perfect 10- to 14-day Irish itinerary and chats about why her clients are consistently booking back-to-back Irish adventures.

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 fourth episode of the third season will be posted on April 14.


Further resources:

Atlas Wander Travel

Sheen Falls Lodge

A toast to the Wine Cellar at Ireland's Sheen Falls Lodge (Travel Weekly)


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

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Anna Gilbert, founder and lead travel designer at Upannaway, about her recent visit to Angama’s luxury safari lodges and camps in Kenya.

Gilbert shares her first impressions of Angama’s flagship Angama Mara lodge, more recently opened Angama Amboseli property and the brand’s intimate Angama Tented Camp. She shares details on some of her most memorable moments, including a peaceful hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara and getting the chance to bond with her guides over Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton songs. She also offers candid insights about Angama’s most distinctive features, from the brand’s exceptional accommodations to their unique photography studio.

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 third episode of the third season will be posted on March 10.

Further resources:

Anna Gilbert

• Upannaway

Angama

New Angama Amboseli safari lodge pays homage to its 'Super Tusker' neighbors (Travel Weekly)

Angama plans tented safari lodge in the shadow of Kilimanjaro (Travel Weekly) 

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

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Sarah Groen, owner and CEO of Bell & Bly Design, about her recent visit Lake Como’s Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

Groen shares details on the historic property’s iconic floating pool, Riva boats and Michelin-worthy dining experiences, while also explaining what makes the Grand Hotel Tremezzo distinct from its sister Lake Como property, Passalacqua. She also offers insider tips on prime shoulder season timing, unique alternatives to water activities and how her clients prefer to combine Lake Como with other European stops.

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 second episode of the third season will be posted on February 10.

Further resources:

Sarah Groen

• Bell & Bly Design
• Luxury Travel Insider

Grand Hotel Tremezzo

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

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 

 

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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks with Amber Rose Powers, a luxury travel advisor with Fora X, about her recent visits to the Mandarin Oriental Canouan and Soho Beach House Canouan.

Powers takes listeners to Canouan, a hidden Caribbean gem where “billionaires go to get away from millionaires.” She shares her experience at two distinctly different properties: the ultra-luxe Mandarin Oriental, with its marble suites and butler service, and the laid-back yet sophisticated Soho Beach House, both of which have recently reopened after Hurricane Beryl. Powers shares highlights from her trip, from communal “jetty dinner” experiences to catamaran excursions through the nearby Tobago Cays and talks about how these two Canouan resorts successfully blend authentic Caribbean charm with world-class hospitality.

Currently in its second 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 first episode of the third season will be posted on January 13.

Further resources:

Amber Rose Powers

Mandarin Oriental Canouan 

Soho Beach House Canouan 

Hurricane Beryl leaves more than destruction in its wake (Travel Weekly)

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

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks to Abbey Meyer, CEO of Missouri-based Sky High Travel, about her recent visit to the Hotel Xcaret Arte near Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Meyer describes how the adults-only Xcaret all-inclusive stands apart with its art-filled interiors, diverse cuisine and what she boldly claims is “the most incredible spa in all of Mexico.” While the resort commands premium pricing, she also explains how the included access to immersive cultural activities and Xcaret’s surrounding eco-parks justify the investment for adventurous travelers. Jelski and Meyer also talk broader luxury all-inclusive demand in Mexico, what the current pricing picture looks like and whether all-inclusive supply is starting to outpace demand.

Currently in its second 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 12th episode of the second season will be posted on December 9.

Further resources:

 Abbey Meyer

• Instagram
• Sky High Travel

Hotel Xcaret Arte

Grupo Xcaret's Rodrigo Motavelazco on working with advisors (Travel Weekly) 

Grupo Xcaret has a new booking tool for travel advisors (Travel Weekly)

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

Theme Song:
Beachfront Celebration by Kevin MacLeod
License 

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On this episode of The Last Resort, host Christina Jelski talks to Jill Albino of Jill Albino Travel and Gabrielle Brechner of Watch Our Step Travel about their recent visit to the Botania Relais & Spa on the Italian island of Ischia.

Albino and Brechner share details on the property's intimate atmosphere, unique villa-style accommodations and standout culinary experiences, including a “dessert pasta” that’s prepped tableside. They also highlight Ischia's potential as a less crowded alternative to popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast, as well as discuss the island’s accessibility, with its proximity to Naples and Capri making it an attractive addition to a broader Italian itinerary.

Currently in its second 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 11th episode of the second season will be posted on November 11.

Further resources:

 Jill Albino

• Instagram

Gabrielle Brechner

• Instagram 

Botania Relais & Spa 

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.