Travel designer Katerina Ulmanová was invited to the exclusive L.E/Miami travel show in the USA.
The trade event showcases a selection of the hottest new destinations and properties in luxury travel, from all around the world.
From St Barths to Santar, Oaxaca to Mendoza, Katarina met new partners who represent these upcoming destinations and lesser-known hotels.
Could these places be part of your next holiday?
Experiencing LE Miami
This was my first time in the USA, says Katarina, so I was very excited.
I used to play Grand Theft Auto as a teenager. Walking around Miami it felt like I was in the computer game: glorious tropical weather, places from GTA and cars.
Unfortunately, after my second day it started raining and Miami was flooded.
I did meet some very interesting people at the LE Miami show. I can’t wait for our clients to experience some of these new and less-known places.
These are my eight favourites.
Le Toiny Hotel & Exclusive Villas St Barths
St Barths in the Caribbean already has some excellent hotel options, notably Rosewood Le Guanahani and Cheval Blanc St Barth Isle de France.
Le Toiny Hotel is a completely different option, a very boutique hillside hotel on St Barths with only 22 villa suites and its own beach club.
It’s definitely a choice of couples, with each suite offering a large private pool and open ocean view.
The British owners spend most their time on the property and continue to manage the daily operations. They’re cool people who like to spend time with guests, whether hanging out for drinks or going out on an activity.
St Barths makes a great combination with the islands of Anguilla and St Martin, islands with top resorts from brands like Belmond and Four Seasons.
Le Toiny could be your change of pace and atmosphere, a more intimate stay to contrast the other options in the region.
The Vines Resort & Spa, Argentina
Discovering wine is an almost unmissable part of a holiday to Argentina. Mendoza is the wine destination and I was impressed with the approach of The Vines Resort & Spa.
It’s located 1 ½ hours outside Mendoza, deep in the vineyards, where much of the country’s best wine is grown and produced.
I’m crazy about hotel gyms and this one looks incredible, the fitness centre overlooking the vineyards and mountains.
This resort feels very genuine and they arrange a lot of themed activities, like asado barbecues on an open fire, or horseback riding through the countryside with local gaucho cowboys.
I couldn’t imagine visiting Argentina and not tasting the wine, so The Vines Resort & Spa can be a great three-night option on a longer Argentina holiday.
Boutique Hotels in Less-Explored Mexico
One of my favourite meetings was with Hilda Pineda, a woman with a portfolio of new, boutique hotels in less-explored parts of Mexico.
They are design-forward hotels in harmony with Mexican traditions, hotels that will appeal to younger travellers.
Cigno Hotel epitomises the upcoming destination of Merida, in the Yucatan. A grand colourful facade and historical building, with a very stylish and contemporary interior.
World Heritage Oaxaca was named Travel + Leisure magazine’s number one city destination in the world, in both 2022 and 2023. Majagua Hotel is the first we’ve discovered that could meet the demands of our clients.
Puerto Escondido is a trending Pacific beach destination, recently popularised by surfers. Casona Sforza looks to be the place to stay, right on the beach and reflecting the town’s youthful atmosphere.
El Perdido is like a desert dream, with only seven luxury bungalows in a less seen part of Baja California Sur. A property for nature seekers and adventure lovers, with beautiful aesthetics.
Eleven Experience
We already knew Eleven Experience as they operate Deplar Farm, a very remote and luxurious adventure base in the north of Iceland. Great for an active summer holiday in the wild, with all the possible comforts.
At LE Miami I discovered Eleven Experience’s other premium lodges, like Eleven Chalet Pelerin and Eleven Chalet Hibou, hidden away in the French Alps.
They operate a wilderness lodge in Alaska, two in remote Chile, two in New Zealand and three in the adventure heartland of Colorado.
Eleven Experience offers all-inclusive programs that includes everything from glacier trekking gear to fishing equipment.
I especially like how each lodge has a readymade program of adventure itineraries, from cycling in Iceland to heli skiing in Patagonia and multi-day fishing trips.
It’s definitely an option for very active travellers who want to get far away from civilisation, and still enjoy a top level of luxury.
Valverde Santar Hotel & Spa, Portugal
At LE Miami I enjoyed the diversity of the people I met, who represented hotels and destinations all around the world.
Valverde is a lot more sedate than the Eleven Experience, although it is also a choice for the curious traveller who wants something new.
It’s close to the vineyards, in a charming old village, but it’s not in the Douro Valley. This hotel is located in Santar, in the heart of Portugal.
I like the beautiful historic building, the original furniture and the evidently laid-back surroundings.
This could be a great choice if you’ve visited Portugal before and want to try something different, that’s off the beaten path.
Lanserhof
Lanserhof isn’t new to us at EliteVoyage, but it was good to make connections with the Lanserhof team and learn more about their medical wellness resorts.
These resorts combine medical testing with outstanding spa facilities and wellness programs.
Dorit von der Osten from Lanserhof recommended going there once per year for a strict detox, a recovery that provides real long-term health benefits.
The architecture is very interesting at the renovated Lanserhof Sylt too, the lobby area completely without corners or straight lines, a flowing style to aid mental wellness.
Resort Lans is their original resort but I think the more contemporary Resort Tegernsee is a better choice. It won World’s Best Medical Spa 2023 in the World Spa Awards.
Stanzia Baracia, Istria
Istria is easy to overlook as a destination, like many other places in Croatia. One reason is the lack of top quality accommodation, especially in comparison to neighbouring Italy and now Montenegro.
Grand hotel Park Rovinj is probably the best option on the Istria Peninsula. I was delighted to learn about Stanzia Baracia, an exclusive-use villa located among vineyards and olive groves.
The main house can accommodate ten people and there’s a second guesthouse for a further six friends or family. There’s a nice spa and pool too, along with all the outdoor living space.
The villa comes with hotel-like service, with concierge and butler. Activities on the property include wine tasting, yoga, cooking classes and many sports activities.
Stanzia Baracia is about 20 kilometres from the coast so not a choice for a beach holiday, but ideally located for exploring the Istrian region. And it’s within driving distance from the Czech Republic too, around nine hours with stops we can help plan for you.
Your program in the area could include truffle hunting, quad bike safari, horseback riding and of course the historic Istrian towns and Brijuni Islands.
Soori Bali, Indonesia
Bali in Indonesia can be a very authentic destination. Unfortunately, the beach area around Seminyak has become a mass tourism destination.
Soori Bali looks to be a great option because it’s further north from Seminyak, a hidden beachside refuge in an area where rice fields still dominate.
I really like the hotel’s aesthetics, a modern take on Balinese style, something that should impress our design-loving clients.
This wouldn’t be a standalone stay for me. It’s more of a cool option at the end of a Bali holiday.
Enjoy the island’s many highlights, perhaps also some other islands in Indonesia, then go relax at Soori Bali.
New Ideas for Your Next Holidays
At EliteVoyage we’re continually exploring what’s new and what’s next in the world of luxury travel.
This isn’t something to be researched on the internet! We’re attending shows like LE Miami to make new contacts and discover what’s being created all across the world.
Even if these eight new travel ideas aren’t for you, I’m confident my colleagues will have new and interesting options from their own travels and trade shows.
If you want to travel somewhere that’s not known by everybody else, if you want to experience something your friends and peers haven’t heard about, I can help.
Get in touch and I can give you some personal inspirations.
