Beyond Barcelona: Wine Country, Basque Culture & Hidden Spain

WEBVTT
00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:26.960
Hello, yay everybody! I'm so excited to be back with you guys today for this amazing Maison Voyage podcast episode.
00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:35.920
Again, I am Vanessa Cromer, the luxury travel advisor and the founder of Maison Voyage magazine and now the podcast.
00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:39.600
I'm so, so excited to introduce our guest today for the podcast.
00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:44.240
She is a lovely friend here locally who is just fabulous.
00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:46.640
I can't wait to learn more about her today.
00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:49.840
So I'm gonna let Josefina introduce herself today.
00:00:50.079 --> 00:01:00.880
Tell us about your luxury travel business, how long you've been doing it, kind of the intro to your business, and then let's segue into the topic today, which will be luxury wine country in Spain.
00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:02.880
So take it away, my friend.
00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:06.159
Hi, well, thank you so much for inviting me on the podcast.
00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:07.200
I'm really excited.
00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:09.519
Um, my name is Josefina Melendez.
00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:15.200
I was a military spouse for 23 years and government employee for 15.
00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:22.959
Um, that was my first exposure to the tourism industry uh while we were stationed in Italy.
00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:26.640
I was the director for the ticket to travel office on base.
00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.079
Um and I got to do some really cool stuff.
00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:41.280
I took 27 people to see the Northern Lights in Finland, 40 people to see Andrea Bocellian concert, um, and lots of wineries on the weekends.
00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:49.280
Um, and it I've always loved travel, but that sort of cemented my experience as a professional in the tourism industry.
00:01:49.519 --> 00:02:00.879
Uh, once we, you know, came back to the United States and my husband retired, um, I started Explorer Travel with the mission of really inspiring people to see the world.
00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:05.760
I want them to experience, you know, the touristy and the not so touristy.
00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:08.240
So yeah, that's a little bit on me.
00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:09.039
Oh my goodness.
00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:16.879
And so let's tell our viewers too, as far as um a couple little tidbits about yourself, because I know you also do locally here in St.
00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:19.680
Augustine, you do something on the side.
00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:21.280
So that's really cool.
00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:22.159
I do.
00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:24.800
I work for a company called the Tasting Tours.
00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:28.159
Um, and we do food on wine tours here locally in St.
00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:28.960
Augustine.
00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:33.199
We do walking tours and we do tours in the little golf carts as well.
00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:34.080
Love it.
00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:39.919
And I love that because I get to spend time with new people from all over the country.
00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:42.560
Traveling to where we live, which is St.
00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:43.120
Augustine.
00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:47.280
Kind of crazy because it's like we live here and we kind of take it for granted, right?
00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:47.680
Yeah.
00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:48.719
We do.
00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:51.120
And I love just wandering around St.
00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:51.680
Augustine.
00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:51.840
St.
00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:54.479
Augustine is the oldest city in the country.
00:02:54.639 --> 00:03:00.639
Um the Spaniards arrived here 65 years before uh the British arrived in Plymouth.
00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:04.719
So there's so much history and there's so much to see here.
00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:13.759
And I know sometimes when we tell our Italian friends that, you know, our little city was founded in the 1500s, they go, oh wow, that's pretty new.
00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:14.960
Exactly.
00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:16.960
That's like that's like modern.
00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:18.240
Exactly.
00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:19.759
But to us, it's not.
00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:31.919
And then you knew you you still have that gilded era history that's here locally that we get to share with uh the guests that are participating on this tasting tours.
00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:37.759
And the the the cuisine here in town has come such a long way in the last 15 years.
00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:42.479
I mean, this year alone, we have, you know, I think Jacksonville and St.
00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:47.919
Augustine both have chefs that are in the shortlist for the James Speard Award this year.
00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:48.400
Yeah.
00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:54.080
So one it's Lotus Bar, no Lotus Noodle Bar, and the other one is Chancho King in Jacksonville.
00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:54.400
Yeah.
00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:59.840
Um, so it's there's just very interesting new ideas coming in.
00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:10.080
And then you have, you know, like Pesca and Michaels and La Novelle, which are just, you know, they've been around for a little bit longer, but still amazing meals.
00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:10.400
Yeah.
00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:14.800
Um, and it's a great, it's a great little side gig.
00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:16.160
Uh I love the team.
00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:18.000
I love working for those ladies.
00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:22.720
Um, they're just, you know, one of them is also was military spouse.
00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:30.800
Um and yeah, they have a great team of tour guides um that we're all licensed by the city of St.
00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:31.839
Augustine.
00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:34.160
Um, and yeah, it's it's great.
00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:36.959
And again, like the I get to eat, drink, and talk about it.
00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:37.439
I know.
00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:40.800
And I'm just sitting here like thinking, like, how can I pencil?
00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:42.240
Like, can you get me in contact?
00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:45.680
Like, I'm not qualified to lead those tours, I'll be honest.
00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:49.199
But I when I saw that you were doing that, I was like, you know what?
00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:50.879
I just love you even more.
00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:55.360
It's just, it's just, and what a beautiful segue into today's topic.
00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:58.560
But also, real quick, your beautiful accent.
00:04:58.720 --> 00:04:59.759
We have to touch on that.
00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:00.639
Tell us more.
00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:02.319
What where are you from?
00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:03.279
Tell us all that.
00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:05.279
Because I mean, you just speak so beautifully.
00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:06.959
So I would love the viewers to know.
00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:07.759
Yeah.
00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:15.040
So I was born and raised in Rancagua, Chile, uh, which is uh in my mind is a small city.
00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:18.959
A lot of people that I've taken there to visit, they go, like, this is not small at all.
00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:23.040
Um, but it's a small city about an hour south of the Capitol.
00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:23.519
Okay.
00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.040
And I lived there until I was 16 years old.
00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:33.680
And then I came to the United States as an exchange student, first to uh Colorado Springs, Colorado.
00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:33.920
Okay.
00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:39.600
Um and you know, I went home after the year and it just didn't feel like home anymore.
00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:40.000
Right.
00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:49.040
Um, so I ended up here in Jacksonville going to college, um, only for literally, you know, two years to complete community college.
00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:54.079
In that time, I met my husband and in true military fashion within a year we were married.
00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:54.560
Exactly.
00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:55.120
There you go.
00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:56.639
And then the rest is history.
00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:58.319
But the rest is history.
00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:05.600
But I love, but this is why I love you, and I and and I love that you're on the podcast because I also want to get to know you more.
00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:18.000
But for our viewers out there, when we're when we're talking about luxury travel and you're working with advisors or you're looking to have a trip planned and curated, these are the type of people that are planning your trips.
00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:36.319
And I do feel like with you, you know, you bring such a beautiful story and just your expertise and just everything that you've lived is so very unique that, you know, obviously there's a lot of travel advisors who cannot say all of those things that you just did, you know, military wife overseas in Italy.
00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:47.199
And I mean, all of that is just such a beautiful introduction to what you do, but it also solidifies why someone should work with you for these types of experiences, which I absolutely love.
00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:53.680
And let's not um before we dive into Spain, I just want to point out the stripes today were not planned.
00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:57.600
So no, I love it, but we're we're rocking the stripes today.
00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:01.600
So, with that being said, let's talk all about this destination.
00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:04.560
I want to know everything about wine country Spain.
00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:12.240
I want our listeners, our the luxury brands out there and potential clients and just people who love travel in general, tell us all the things.
00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:13.279
So take it away.
00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:14.240
I'm so excited.
00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:23.680
I I definitely want to start with the fact that for me at Explora is super important that I work with locals wherever I'm going.
00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:24.160
100%.
00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:31.120
Um, so if you're booking with me, most likely we are going to choose a smaller hotel that is not a chain.
00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:46.079
Um, I love those, you know, sometimes not always five stars, sometimes four star, sometimes five star, but are run by families, and there's just, you know, a history behind the brand, basically, a local brand.
00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:53.839
Um, and it's the same thing with the tour guides, yes, or the DMCs um of wherever I'm working.
00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:58.399
So last year I went and I'm gonna have to say this part because how I met them was just funny.
00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:02.160
Um, I traveled to the World Travel Market in London last year.
00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:02.399
Yeah.
00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:21.439
So it's like 86 countries percenting, um, and each country has their own setup and they bring, you know, transportation, tour guides, tour operators, just everything in one huge expo, which for us travel advisors, when we want to make those connections, that is so important.
00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:29.199
But you know, I had booked back to back because I wanted to do as much as possible on the three days that I was gonna do there.
00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:34.799
And this one guy kept sort of messaging me on the app because the world travel market doesn't.
00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:37.919
It's like I have this trip for you, we have to meet.
00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:41.039
But I already had all my time schedule.
00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:46.000
And by the time the I had a minute, I stopped by and they were already gone.
00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:47.200
Well, that was it.
00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:56.639
And then just, you know, when I was looking at my 2026 and 2027 group calendar, because I do small groups as well, I thought of him.
00:08:56.960 --> 00:09:04.000
And, you know, I looked him up and I said, hey, we were supposed to meet in London, it didn't happen.
00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:17.840
Well, his name is Gaiska, and he runs Basca Landers in um Basque Country, Northern Spain, and you know, with with his uh friend Carlos, and um they were just fantastic.
00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:26.000
And we had one meeting, and you know, when you just connect with those people and you're speaking the same language, and it's like we have to work together.
00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:31.919
Wow, and he's like, I knew the moment I saw like your website, even before we met, that we needed to work together.
00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:32.720
I love that.
00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:41.840
Um, because we love everything good food and good wine, and your target audience is exactly who we want to work with.
00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:42.559
Right.
00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:50.879
Um, so and of course, Spain is so big, and it's the number two country with the most tourism right after Italy.
00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:52.559
Yes, yes.
00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:54.480
I mean, I think it's astounding.
00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:55.679
People don't realize it.
00:09:55.840 --> 00:10:02.000
And it's so it it's very much like Italy, where one city or one area is completely different from the next.
00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:09.360
So you can travel even three towns and they're all different, and you'll and the next time you come, you gotta go to three different towns, right?
00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:10.159
That are completely different.
00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:11.200
Exactly.
00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:23.279
And you know, it most of the tourism concentrates in southern Spain, which you still have, you know, great food, great wine, um, and you know, some of beautiful.
00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:28.080
I mean, the the um Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona, it's gorgeous.
00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:36.399
Yeah um, but there's also so many little hotels um and so many experiences that you can do outside the city of Barcelona.
00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:38.000
Outside the city of Madrid.
00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:49.440
Yeah I just had a couple uh travel Barcelona and Madrid, and in Madrid, we I send them on a day tour with a sommelier to see the wineries outside Madrid.
00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:53.120
So you don't even really have to go that far to experience that.
00:10:53.360 --> 00:11:02.080
No, and I think on that note, real quick for the listeners, I think it's important for um travelers to understand you don't have to leave your hotel.
00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:05.279
Like stay, don't unpack once or twice.
00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:11.759
We can get you to those experiences a lot of time where we're staying in Madrid or Barcelona, as you mentioned.
00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:12.559
But guess what?
00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:18.240
We can do a beautiful bespoke day trip right outside, and then you never have to unpack.
00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:26.399
And I think some clients don't realize that, and they're trying to logistically plan these smaller areas, but logistically it might get complicated and it becomes more stressful.
00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:29.519
We want to make everything beautiful and less stress.
00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:35.840
So, on that note, yes, I mean, I agree completely with those experiences right outside the wall sometimes for sure.
00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:50.480
And I and I'm sure this has happened to you as well, that you're and I'm starting to realize the more I do curated personal travel instead of the group travel that I started with, yeah, is that so much of what we do is educational too.
00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:52.799
So much, so much, 100%.
00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.440
Yep.
00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.799
Yeah, when people are like, Well, I want to see all of Italy in 10 days.
00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:59.919
No, you don't trust me.
00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:02.240
I'll do it if you're gonna force me to do it.
00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:08.000
Like, I'll do the best I can if you're set, but education 100% every day.
00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:14.480
And and especially with like wine country Spain, because I do feel like it is a little bit like people don't really know what they're getting themselves into.
00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.240
They don't really know the best way.
00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:18.879
Like, I I personally, it's not one of my fortes.
00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:25.440
I mean, I I book Spain all the time, but it's it's not something that I'm exactly well versed in.
00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:36.559
So I think it's important to have people like you that know exactly like this is what we need to do, and this is the way to make it 100% the best experience for the client, for sure.
00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:41.039
And and you know, like we were saying, uh, it's it's a lot about this experiences, right?
00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:47.919
And that's what I loved about Geiska and Carlos, that they are their local, they grew up there.
00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:52.720
Geiska um was actually in the wine business for a very long time.
00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:59.679
He spent some time in um UC Davis getting a master's um in you know, wine business.
00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:09.919
And when he returned to um Best Country, he just realized all of this, you know, wine tourism that was growing.
00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:13.600
And, you know, they wanted him and Carlos just wanted to be a part of it.
00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:16.080
And and this is when they started their company.
00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:26.159
And um specifically, you know, everybody's very familiar with Rioja wines, every and and they're very much sold all over the world.
00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:37.440
But what I didn't know too is that Rioja, it's three different places, and there's a very it's Rioja Baja, Rioja Alta, which is high or low, okay, and then Rioja Alavesa.
00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:45.759
Rioja a la Vesa is the only part of Rioja that it's not within the Rioja region, it's within Basque Country.
00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:46.960
I see.
00:13:47.360 --> 00:14:00.399
So their wines are a little bit different uh than the other two Riojas, and then Basque Country also has this wine that I had heard of it, but I had never tasted it before, and it's called Chacoli.
00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:01.279
Okay.
00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:11.120
Chacoli is this um it's almost like a Sauvignon Blancish, like citrusy with a very, very light fist.
00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:14.080
It's not a bubble, it's not a cava, it's not a proseco.
00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.440
I mean, it's 9 a.m.
00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:15.759
here.
00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:18.960
We should why didn't we pour wine for this podcast at 9 a.m.?
00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:22.879
I had a bottle in my refrigerator, but it's a little too early.
00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:23.840
Oh my god.
00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.879
Yeah, exactly.
00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:39.360
And it has this really light fist, and um, you know, chuckle as a as a uh grape, as a wine, it almost died in um in, you know, uh I think it was like the 1800s.
00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:39.759
Okay.
00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:51.200
When um all the wine all the the wineries in Italy and um France and Spain, um basically they got this bug, right, that they brought from the Americas.
00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:59.519
They don't know where in the Americas it came from, but it killed their vines, literally obliterated most of the vines all over.
00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:06.159
And um Chacoli Country at the time had I think a hundred thousand hectares of plantation.
00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:10.000
Uh, but right now there's only about a hundred thousand left.
00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.679
Or sorry, a thousand left.
00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:16.000
So um it's definitely something that they've been regrowing.
00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:21.039
And um Chacoli actually comes from the word of what's left.
00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:30.960
It's only for the house, because the way that the north of Spain was set up, um, the big lords didn't have huge spaces.
00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:31.279
Right.
00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:42.720
Because um the north of Spain, it's uh basically two tectonic plates that crashed into each other, the uh Iberian Peninsula and the European.
00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:45.679
So they crashed, so they ended up kind of like this.
00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:59.679
So all the vines are planted up and in Chacoli country, they face the ocean, um, which gives the Chacoli this like salty, wine, right?
00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.600
Beautiful taste to it.
00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:06.240
Um, and the it's so hard to find here.
00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:17.440
There are a couple of uh people that bring it to the state of Florida um importers, but here in town, for those that are listening to locally, Carrera wine cellar in St.
00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:19.440
Augustine carries Chacoline.
00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.240
Ooh, I need to go.
00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.759
Is it date night tonight?
00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.360
Because right?
00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:30.399
Um, yeah, they carry the bottle and then you know they'll put it in in cold for you so you can bring it home already cold.
00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:32.240
Um, I love them, they are wonderful.
00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:37.200
Um and so yeah, it's it's not an easy grape to find.
00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:37.679
Okay.
00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:42.559
Um, but the the particular trip that I'm working on right now, it starts in Bilbao.
00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:49.440
The city of Bilbao has, you know, the Guggenheim, and there's just so much history there to be seen.
00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.120
Um, we are also going to be visiting Guernica.
00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:57.600
Everybody goes to Guernica because knows Guernica because of uh Picasso's paint.
00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.000
Yes.
00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:00.559
Um after you know what I'm talking about?
00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:01.519
Yes.
00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:08.079
So um the town of Guernica has every single Monday of the month this market, right?
00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.519
Okay except for October.
00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:15.200
October is the big month of the market, and then they do it the first Monday of the month and the last Monday of the month.
00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:15.599
Okay.
00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:24.960
The last Monday of the month is not just farmers market, but that's when they bring their animals to, when you know, they're bringing the cows to sell, the pigs.
00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:29.440
So it's this whole just true span.
00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:32.000
You want to know, you know, bus country.
00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:37.839
Wow, you go to Gannica for their last Monday of the month in October.
00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:38.799
Wow.
00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:47.119
So this particular trip that we're working on with them, it's it's going to be the last week of October until uh the beginning of November.
00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:51.839
And it includes this amazing experiences in the you would never find.
00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:58.720
I mean, you have to work with somebody like us who have these connections to be able to create this type of a trip for sure.
00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:01.599
I know that a lot of people are like, well, I can ask AI.
00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:05.440
I'm sorry, Chat GPT cannot give you what we just did.
00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:13.039
No, and even uh above that, it's like I again, like I just mentioned a few minutes ago, like you're an expert in this.
00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:17.839
Like, there's other travel advisors who don't know anything about this either.
00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:29.920
But it's like you said, it's those relationships that you make, and boom, now we have in our back pocket this beautiful experience and a way to curate something that you would never ever be able to find.
00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:32.960
And when we talk about luxury, it's not always a dollar sign.
00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:37.440
It's this is not, we're not saying, oh, this is gonna be over the top expensive.
00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:43.039
No, these are real curated experiences that you're not gonna be able to find anywhere else.
00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:46.720
And I'm ready to like sign up with you just for that experience.
00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:53.119
Like, like, we'll put all the links to um, you know, your partners that you mentioned just for people to look.
00:18:53.279 --> 00:19:03.519
Like, we'll have all of that in the show notes for sure, because I'm sure people are gonna want to look into these towns and the festival or anything that you've mentioned because it's just so interesting to me.
00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:05.759
Oh my gosh, keep talking, tell us all the things.
00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:19.279
I'm like loving when we're um, like I mentioned, Guy Scout used to work at the wineries, and then you know, he was the president of the association of wine, you know, wineries right there in his in Basque Country.
00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:30.160
Um, you know, he's done like YouTube videos and he's been on television, um, you know, telling people about where he's from and and what him and Carlos do together.
00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:37.039
Um, you know, and you know, I go in this group trip, I lead the group, and Geiska is with us the whole time.
00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:37.440
Right.
00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:45.279
Um, so we're having someone in, and it for him is very important too that people know that he's the one that opens those doors, you know.
00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:48.640
Like we are working with him because he has that key.
00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.039
Exactly.
00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:52.880
And yeah, you may be able to go to that restaurant, but you know what?
00:19:53.039 --> 00:20:03.680
You're not gonna walk back to the kitchen to have the owner of the restaurant show you what he's making, how he's making it, and tell you why they make it the way they make it.
00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.559
That's you know what I mean.
00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.599
That's exactly right.
00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.480
Oh my god.
00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:08.160
And that is luxury right there.
00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:10.160
That is luxury, hundred percent.
00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:14.720
I agree with you, and and it's those relationships that matter for sure.
00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:15.200
Yeah.
00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:22.880
So the Basque, the region of Basque Country in Spain, is the region in the world with the most Michelin stars.
00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:35.279
Ah, wow, they take their food very seriously, and I know every single chef that has had a show on television has done a day or a show in San Sebastian.
00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:39.519
You can all of them, you know, Anthony Burdain is my favorite one because he's the bad boy.
00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:42.480
Of course, you know, of course, travel and cooking.
00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:46.960
Um, but they've all done a tour, uh, you know, a show in San Sebastian.
00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:47.279
Okay.
00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:56.240
Um, and we again we're gonna get to go to San Sebastian, walk around from bar to bar, from uh, you know, they don't call it tapas, they call it pinchos.
00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:56.480
Okay.
00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:59.680
And try, you know, different pinchos in different places.
00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:04.720
Um, and again, opening those doors to those people that are there.
00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:16.000
I'm keeping the group super small, okay, people, um, because in order to live those experiences, and that's this is where the luxury experience comes along.
00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:21.599
Like you said, it's not always that money uh attached, the cost attached to it.
00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:25.599
This is this is an investment on an experience on right.
00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:28.480
You're not just going to Spain, like that's not what's happening.
00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.319
You're not no, you're not going to Spain.
00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:30.880
Exactly.
00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:40.960
I mean, um we can, and and I love to, I feel like you also have to plan a little bit of the touristy because it's touristy for a reason.
00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:44.559
It's you know the it's all worth a visit for sure, right?
00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:47.200
The Coliseum is the Coliseum, exactly.
00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:54.880
You know, yeah, park park well in Barcelona is park well because it's it's magical to go there and and it's done beautifully.
00:21:55.200 --> 00:22:09.039
Um, you know, all the the Dali Houses and La Salgada Familia Um, you know, if you're in Sevilla to go, you know, see where the the bull runs are, all that, yes, it's tourist seat, right?
00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:11.680
But it's part of their history, the alhambra.
00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.440
It's packed with tourists all the time.
00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:13.599
Yeah.
00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:18.559
But you cannot visit southern Spain and not go to Granales and not see the Alhambra.
00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.039
Yeah.
00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:26.640
It's about that, you know, the fact that we curate this experiences to the particular client.
00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:32.160
I had a client recently say, Well, I don't, I'm not my husband and I are not big fans of museums.
00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:37.440
Then, you know, of course, we uh it's like that we're going to Paris.
00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.880
The Louvre is a musty.
00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.240
You have to see it.
00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:44.880
Um, you know, it it's huge and it's gonna take a whole day if you wanted to see the whole thing.
00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:49.759
Pick your favorite pieces that you think you want to see, go see that and then leave.
00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:51.039
Yeah, but it's a musty.
00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:56.400
Um, and no one is gonna tell you, oh, you only do the touristy stuff, you went to the Louvre.
00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.920
Right, exactly.
00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:00.880
I mean, it it's true, and and with Italy, it's the same.
00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:08.720
I mean, I obviously book Italy every single day, but like I do ask clients, like, do have you always wanted to see the Vatican?
00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:16.319
Because if you don't, I think we can skip it because there is a place in a certain person that may or may not want to go to the Vatican.
00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:23.759
I don't think I personally don't if you no one's if you're not interested in that, no, we don't need to, we can skip that.
00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:26.319
The Coliseum, I'm like, you know what?
00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:29.680
You don't have to do the tour inside, but you need to go to the Coliseum.
00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:33.759
Like, you like at least let's stop and take the selfie at least.
00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:42.160
But if you're not into if you're like you said, the museums, like if a client is not, they're like, I don't care about the history, I don't need to see the inside, I just want to see the outside.
00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:55.680
We try to meet you where you're at, but of course there's certain things that it's like, well, you have to go, like, like, you know, and and I think that's so true for Spain because I think Spain is very underrated for sure.
00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:59.920
It's coming back, it's trending again, like you said, like it's it's number two.
00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:03.599
Um, but it is still, I feel like, very underrated.
00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:15.200
And people think, oh, I'm just gonna go to Barcelona and just walk around and this and that, but they're missing, they're missing so much that when you work with someone like us, we're like, well, you need to do this or you need to see that.
00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:22.960
So so for your small group for this wine country trip that you're doing, tell us about like the track.
00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.160
Like, are you where are you starting?
00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.359
Where are you ending?
00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:30.559
So we're starting and ending in Bilva, we're starting in Bilbao and we're ending in San Sebastian.
00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:31.519
Okay, perfect.
00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:48.640
Okay, because uh with Bilbao, it allows us to see, you know, uh where the Chacoli is and Guernica and visit the town of Bilbao, and then we are going to end up in San Sebastian, uh, where, you know, and of course uh we are going through Rioja as well.
00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.039
Okay.
00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:52.240
Um, but we are ending in in San Sebastian.
00:24:52.319 --> 00:25:01.680
Um and the last day, and you know, of course, I'm there to, you know, if you want to book a surfing class on the last day, because the waves are really popular in San Sebastian.
00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.240
Of course.
00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:07.200
Um, or if you want to book, you know, we have a couple of people that maybe want to do a cooking class.
00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:10.720
We can book you a cooking class on that last day in San Sebastian.
00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:15.279
Um, but the last day will really be for people to enjoy themselves.
00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:19.039
Um, I'm there for help and for anything that they need.
00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:24.319
But for example, throughout the whole trip, all the breakfasts and all the lunches are included.
00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.920
Dinners are not included.
00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.440
And I'm gonna tell you why.
00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:31.359
Because Spanish lunches don't start until 2 p.m.
00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:34.559
And they usually don't end until like 4 35.
00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:40.319
So you're not gonna make it back to your hotel probably any night before 5 36 p.m.
00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:40.960
Right, right.
00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:45.359
And still with a belly full of food from all the food that we've had at lunch.
00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:56.000
Yeah, so it's gonna give you a chance to say, you know what, I may not want to have a huge dinner, but I'm gonna go downstairs and have, you know, a little glass of wine or a caña of beer.
00:25:56.160 --> 00:26:01.119
They take, they drink their beer in little um glasses just about this bacon, they call them cañas.
00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.160
I love it.
00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:04.640
Um, and I'll just do that.
00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.440
That's all I need.
00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:08.480
A caña and a couple of pinchos, or you know what?
00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.359
I'm exhausted.
00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:13.440
I just want to go to bed, or I just want to be alone in my room and read a book.
00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:21.359
Yeah, or just go to the local if there's anything local or at the hotel, like you said, just grab something, maybe even a room service, depending on your hotel.
00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:21.920
Exactly.
00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:25.440
Yeah, yeah, just to have that alone time.
00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:30.559
Um, I don't like trips that are first or group trips.
00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:33.680
This is and this is personal, that's why I don't book them that way.
00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:46.160
Because I've I've taken 27 people across countries in airports, and you know, I took I I've taken 40 people on a bus from Naples to Tuscany for a concert.
00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:51.519
And yeah, all every evolution of like getting the bus, getting off the bus, going to this one time.
00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:54.480
It's like the clipboard, you got the clipboard, yeah.
00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:59.440
And everybody, you know, and people sometimes don't arrive on time, and here you are waiting.
00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:01.599
It puts a whole group, right?
00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:09.440
Yeah, it you miss that that sort of personalized flow, intimate flow of of a smaller group trip.
00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:13.440
Um, so I it and to me that is part of that luxury.
00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:15.039
It's 100%, 100%.
00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.160
I love it.
00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:21.359
And I love too that you mentioned like the lunches taking so long and like being so much food.
00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:31.119
And I don't think people realize a lot how when you Europe, it's a lot of food, and it you need to kind of budget that time even for like a lunch, you know what I'm saying?
00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:32.160
Like it can go.
00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:39.119
Like, I mean, I remember one time in Milan, we just thought we were gonna be getting like one of the pizzas and wine.
00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:40.720
Like, it wasn't even really a meal.
00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:49.599
We were just sitting outside in Brera, and three hours later, it was like, but we were but but that's what Europe's all about.
00:27:49.680 --> 00:28:08.640
And I know Spain for sure, where it's like this is part of your experience to be able to people watch, like to just sit there, enjoy, have conversations with your loved one, like enjoy fresh air, just enjoy the food, have another glass of wine, and just three hours later you're just like biting on a pizza, like that's it, you know what I mean?
00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:12.079
But like sometimes those are the best parts of the trip.
00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.039
It really is.
00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:20.799
And yeah, I mean, I love all the things that you're mentioning, and so um, when you're doing so, how many of these group trips do you do?
00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:22.240
And do you try to change them around?
00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:24.960
I know we're talking about Spain today, but like that's that one.
00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:32.640
But I know you do quite a few, and you hit a couple other areas, you kind of pre-plan those far out, obviously, as far as the times, right?
00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:33.119
Yeah.
00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:38.880
So this year I have um my women-only series that I name a women who wonder.
00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:44.400
And this year is Bali, and we're going in September.
00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:46.640
I have seven spots left for that trip.
00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.759
Okay, nice.
00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:53.519
Um, and that one is a it's that one is a couple of days longer just because Bali's so far away.
00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:59.359
Um, and so we're going for 10 um days, nine nights.
00:28:59.519 --> 00:28:59.680
Wow.
00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:06.960
Um, that one that does require a little bit more movement because we're seeing Bali's so big and each city is so different.
00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:09.839
So we are going through three different cities.
00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.240
Wow.
00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:25.920
Um, and that one, like I mentioned, it's it's women only, um, and includes, you know, all of your breakfast, I believe it's four or five lunches, a cooking class, a 90-minute beach massage on our last resort.
00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:31.039
Um, and that one I would say it's definitely all five-star hotels.
00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:38.319
Um, it's it's my mission to allow women the space to just relax and be themselves.
00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:45.279
You're not mom, you're not daughter, you're not, you are just you, Vanessa for you know, for the week.
00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.240
That's right.
00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:56.000
And Vanessa has someone who said, you know, I really want to shop for those cute, you know, Bali dresses, or where, Nina, where do I go?
00:29:56.240 --> 00:30:01.039
Um, and I am there to say, you know, this stores are this far away.
00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:02.559
Let's arrange you a taxi.
00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:02.720
Okay.
00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:14.480
If you feel adventurous, we'll uh get you a scooter driver and you'll get you right in the back, and someone is gonna take you places you want to go, um, and their little scooters because they get you there faster.
00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.279
I know, I know.
00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:25.039
Um, yeah, and so you know, and if we're gonna have a spa day and all that, um, you know, I'm there to take care of everything for you.
00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:25.759
Right.
00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:32.799
Right now, I have uh a mother-daughter dua already sign up, um, you know, adults, adult daughters, of course, of course.
00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:42.799
Um, and who's getting married next year, and this is kind of their last like her last, like yes, and mom, mom, it's mom's birthday, it's a big birthday too.
00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:52.960
Um, I have, you know, another uh woman who's going alone, and it's that thing of like, I've had such a year and I just need time for myself.
00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:58.000
Um, that one is also uh that one is 10 people, so that one is a little bit bigger, yeah.
00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:04.160
Um, but none of my group trips are more than uh 10, 14 at the most, right?
00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:11.519
Really, depending on whether I feel like the country can hold, you know, where we're going to support that many.
00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:18.799
Because like in Europe, obviously, transportation, logistics, like we don't want, like you don't want that big bus, right?
00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:25.680
Like, and we we don't want to drive it if we don't have to, like, we don't want to take you in that, especially in Italy and probably in Spain as well.
00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:31.359
So, yeah, smaller groups, more intimate logistically, and it's just easier, more luxurious.
00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:36.720
You can get a better car for your clients versus oh, we need to get this big bus or shuttle.
00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:38.240
Um, that makes sense.
00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:43.440
And so for the wine country, it's couples or adults, so you you take single adult, yes, okay.
00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:57.839
Adults or couples or groups of you know, three girlfriends that want to go to anyone, just as long as they're adults, so you have single or double occupancy options or even triple or yeah, so Spain does have uh triple occupancy.
00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:59.759
Um there, it's not that many.
00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:07.759
So if anybody, it's it's sort of a uh, you know, first comes, first serve, and you have a group of three that want to do it, yeah, it's more limited.
00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:13.200
Um, you know, I think in the United States, our idea of hotels is so different than other countries.
00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:16.319
Education, we have to educate our clients all the time on that one.
00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.279
Yep, for sure.
00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:30.000
Um, even you know, even the like the Middle East with you know, I live in the Middle East for seven years, and I got to see, you know, this level of luxury that you see in Dubai, you see in Oman.
00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:33.519
Yeah, I mean, the rich Carlton in Oman used to be a palace.
00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:34.960
Insane, insane.
00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:50.079
So um, you know, when when you're selling that on one side and then you're going to another perhaps five-star hotel in France, and you go, This room is the size of my bathroom in the United States.
00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:50.799
Yeah.
00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:52.480
It's a five-star hotel.
00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:59.119
So, you know, those those accommodations can be done, but again, those are always going to depend on where we're traveling.
00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:04.079
Um, I have my calendar for 2027 will be out in August.
00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:07.920
Um, I like giving the chance for people to make payments.
00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:11.839
You know, it just doesn't feel like you have to pay right now.
00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:16.640
And so I I like peak giving people the chance to do that.
00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:20.240
Uh, Women Who Wonder in 2027 is to Morocco.
00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:23.440
So I'm really excited about that one.
00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:31.519
I have a trip to Chile to do wine country and then uh the Atacama Desert in uh April.
00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.000
Wow.
00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:35.119
Um, and I have a couple more things here and there coming up.
00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:40.160
I mean, you're like traveling almost monthly for the for these trips almost.
00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:43.039
I mean, it seems like a handful a year for sure.
00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:48.720
So for 20 this this year's only two for 2027, um, I'll have a couple more.
00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:49.440
Um, wow.
00:33:49.599 --> 00:33:52.480
This this year I've just been lucky to do a lot of personal travel.
00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:56.480
I spent some time in Denmark and Finland, got to see the Northern Lights.
00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.039
I know.
00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:59.839
I was like, oh, I'm so jealous.
00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:04.480
And and I have a trip to a family trip to Egypt in November.
00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:08.000
Nice that even though I've been there, this is the first time we're going there as a family.
00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:09.119
So I'm excited about that one.
00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:16.079
Now, when it's like a couple situation or adults, does your husband ever come with you just to be like, does he come with you ever?
00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:17.599
Or are you like, nope, I'm working?
00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:20.559
Like, this is a where do you stand with that?
00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:22.880
He used to when when we lived in Italy.
00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:31.119
He used to when he was in Italy, and I had I had larger groups and um, but it was usually the ones that were more family trips.
00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:33.599
So my child and my husband would come along.
00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:34.320
I love that.
00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:42.079
Um, so you know, but it's on what some days, like the day before we fly out, I have to make sure everybody's checked in on it.
00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:45.519
So I'm checking in 27 people onto a flight.
00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:45.760
Wow.
00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:49.519
So I don't have a lot of time to like, let's go outside and play, you know.
00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:52.960
You can't chit-chat or or talk to him or have like free time.
00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:54.960
So it logistically doesn't make sense.
00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:55.360
Yeah.
00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:57.920
No, on these smaller ones, I go alone.
00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:10.719
Um so, but in you know, and it's just it for me that intimacy between and that connection that I need to build with uh my group, with my guest, um, it's very important.
00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:14.239
Yeah, and my tour friends around, right?
00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:18.159
So I don't want, you know, like kind of personal time to take away from them.
00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:19.920
Um, yeah.
00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:24.800
When when I was in in Italy, it was, you know, I had a team of people that was working with me.
00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:25.679
Right.
00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:36.559
Um, you know, I had a team of four Italians that taught me so much about, you know, I mean, between the four of them, they had like a hundred years of tourism industry combined.
00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:37.199
Wow.
00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:41.519
Um, so that um that piece, obviously, I had more support.
00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:42.000
Of course.
00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:43.039
Um, so it was different.
00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:43.360
Yeah.
00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:49.440
Uh, but now now that is just you're taking it all on and it's a lot and you want to get it right for sure.
00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:51.199
Yeah, that totally makes sense.
00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.159
Oh my gosh.
00:35:52.400 --> 00:36:00.320
So, okay, what other what other like unique experience will be happening when you guys are doing that group wine country tour?
00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:06.400
Is there anything you didn't mention that you guys will be doing that might um of everyone?
00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:17.360
I think the biggest pieces of of the the most intimate experiences that we're going to be having there, in my opinion, are the two visits to the wineries.
00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:17.599
Okay.
00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:24.000
Uh, one in Rioja, and then the other one uh to go visit the Chacoli um winery.
00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:27.360
Um, and it's because we have Gaiska that comes with us.
00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:34.800
So in Rioja, you know, we're talking about being able to taste bottles of wine that are 300, 500 euro.
00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:35.360
Wow.
00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:44.480
Bottles of wine that are going to be open that you know are not open for anybody, that are not brought imported to the United States.
00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:46.880
This is this is their private collection.
00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:53.519
And unless you have that relationship, who's gonna open that bottle of wine for you?
00:36:53.760 --> 00:36:54.079
No.
00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:59.920
Um, and and that's you know, that's to me, that is luxury right there.
00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:03.519
So, and and I'm getting chills because I'm thinking, like, oh my gosh.
00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:08.880
So if you are a wine lover and you love travel, like this is where you need to go.
00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:25.840
Like this, this sounds like I mean, this is one of the areas that definitely needs to be on someone's radar as far as like experiencing like some really, really extreme and and bespoke wine experiences that they're not gonna find anywhere else for sure.
00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:27.119
Absolutely.
00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:28.079
Yeah, absolutely.
00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:33.440
And and the the whole history of of that country is just so interesting.
00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:41.440
Um, and you know, they they have one of the oldest languages in the world, um, and they still speak it.
00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:43.360
Wow, they still speak it.
00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:53.039
Um, and you know, they speak it in there, and then like two smaller areas in the right there in the um border with France, the language is still spoken.
00:37:53.360 --> 00:38:03.599
And um I I feel like that the the history of Hyalai, and you know, I don't know if you've seen them play, um, will actually also be able to do that during the trip.
00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:14.159
We're gonna go watch them play, we're gonna learn how to play, we'll you know, dump some helmets in the basket and and give it a whack to see if we can you know we can figure it out.
00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:18.559
Um so all that to me, it's it's just a rich history.
00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:23.440
Now, you know, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, um, the history of Guernica.
00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:29.440
So I when Geiska was telling me about this, you know, Mondays of the market, right?
00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:36.880
Um, they the attack in Guernica was on a Monday because they figured they could hit oh my god, I'd get chills, just think about it.
00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:37.920
Because they would be there.
00:38:38.719 --> 00:38:41.840
They could hit the most amount of people at one time.
00:38:42.239 --> 00:38:42.639
Wow.
00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:48.639
So all that and and getting that locals' perspective is so rich.
00:38:48.800 --> 00:38:51.519
Just that experience is so rich to me.
00:38:51.679 --> 00:38:51.840
Yeah.
00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:58.800
Um, you know, being able to pick someone's brain that lives there and you know, carries that with them.
00:38:59.039 --> 00:39:01.039
Um to me, that's special.
00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:01.920
It's priceless.
00:39:02.239 --> 00:39:02.400
Yeah.
00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:04.239
I mean, that's why I do what I do.
00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:18.159
I mean, 100%, because I love exactly all the things you just mentioned as far as connecting with the locals, the people who are who this is their history, this is everything that they've lived, their family, everything, it's their everyday life.
00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:32.719
And I think that's like one aspect of travel that I think a lot of people, I hate to say it, but a lot of Americans too, you know, when they say they want to go overseas and they want to go to these cool places, they're not understanding, they're missing a very large piece of it.
00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:40.880
And unless they get involved with someone like you or myself, where we're like, but wait, I really want you to feel this trip.
00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:42.880
Like, wait, let's slow down.
00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:43.760
You know what I mean?
00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:46.000
Like, let's make this really beautiful.
00:39:46.239 --> 00:39:54.559
Because I do think a lot of people do not realize how much this will impact your core memories for the rest of your life.
00:39:54.719 --> 00:39:59.360
It could change your worldview, it could change your faith, it could change there's so much.
00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:07.760
I mean, I can't even count the amount of times where I've come home from Europe and it's like you you just transform when you're there.
00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:10.480
And and not everybody's gonna be touched like that.
00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:18.639
They could even go on your beautiful trip and it's and it I I feel like some people they just it's just not in them to feel that.
00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:23.199
Um, but I feel like that is the most important thing in the world when it comes to travel.
00:40:23.280 --> 00:40:31.679
And I mean, I get chills thinking about it because, like you said, like learning the history of why they would do it on that day, because everybody's there.
00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:39.840
Just to be able to talk to somebody who can live, you know, live those memories and it's in their history, it's in their DNA is priceless.
00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:51.840
And my hope is always, even if somebody doesn't think that that would interest them, or they're like, no, no, no, I just want to get the, I just want to see the bucket list, I just want to go, I want the beautiful hotel, I want to do the selfies.
00:40:52.719 --> 00:40:59.760
But my hope is that they go into the trip thinking that's what they want, but then they're texting me like I'm in tears.
00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:01.440
You were right, I get it.
00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:08.239
And that to me, and I have texts of clients doing that, like it didn't make sense to me when you were telling me I was gonna cry.
00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:11.119
It never made sense to me when I would feel it in my heart.
00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:15.119
But then they're texting me mid-trip, like, nope, now I got it.
00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:16.239
I thought you were crazy.
00:41:16.400 --> 00:41:23.199
I really thought I have a crazy travel advisor who cries every time she goes to Europe, and here I am, I finally got it.
00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:32.320
And and your trip and everything that you just talked about with this wine country is exactly what my goal is every single day with clients, even if they are just going to the Coliseum.
00:41:32.480 --> 00:41:42.079
Like, you know, we can still have those experiences, even with just the basic must-do things, but it it's always our joy.
00:41:42.159 --> 00:41:44.159
And I know you and I have that same mindset.
00:41:44.320 --> 00:41:47.360
We really want you to feel things, we want you to experience it.
00:41:47.599 --> 00:41:52.800
And um, one other question though, before I forget, because again, we're I'm 50, right?
00:41:53.039 --> 00:41:56.480
So it's like I gotta ask because I'm dying to know.
00:41:56.800 --> 00:42:02.079
So when you're talking about Bass Country and all of the juicy wine details that are up there, right?
00:42:02.159 --> 00:42:04.719
Like it's a place we need to have on our list.
00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:12.559
If somebody came to you tomorrow and was like, we love wine, we want to do your suggestion for Spain, but what about southern France?
00:42:12.719 --> 00:42:21.199
Is that something that we could curate into a trip with wine country in southern France combined with northern Spain wine country?
00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:23.440
Is that something that you would recommend?
00:42:23.679 --> 00:42:24.719
Have you done that?
00:42:24.880 --> 00:42:26.320
Do you is it a comparison?
00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:32.400
Is it a one, do one one time, do one the next, or is it something we could beautifully create together?
00:42:33.119 --> 00:42:43.679
I think that I think what what really happens to me oftentimes is that you know, my the my the clients that I work mostly are not retired yet.
00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:47.920
And they cannot take as much time off those tasks, right?
00:42:48.159 --> 00:42:53.679
You know, yeah, Italians have four weeks of vacation a year, you know, and then some.
00:42:53.840 --> 00:42:54.159
Yeah.
00:42:54.320 --> 00:42:58.800
Um my my family in Chile, they're like, how are you gonna go for to Bali for 10 days?
00:42:58.880 --> 00:43:00.000
That's a 20-day trip.
00:43:00.239 --> 00:43:01.360
Well, you know what?
00:43:01.440 --> 00:43:05.199
But my clients are here in the United States, a majority of them.
00:43:05.599 --> 00:43:10.320
Um, the clients that are not in the United States, I plan their trips to come to the United States.
00:43:10.559 --> 00:43:11.119
Right.
00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:20.960
Um, and they just don't have the time to, you know, do two or three countries with with a good pace.
00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:22.800
Can I do it in 10 days?
00:43:22.960 --> 00:43:23.599
Absolutely.
00:43:23.760 --> 00:43:24.559
We we can.
00:43:24.719 --> 00:43:25.199
Right, right.
00:43:25.679 --> 00:43:34.079
You just be prepared for, you know, you may have to move hotels a couple of times, pack on the lighter side.
00:43:34.320 --> 00:43:42.320
Let's pick a time of the year where you know your airports and your hotels are gonna be off season, maybe shoulder season.
00:43:42.960 --> 00:43:47.440
You know, of course, there are places in the world where shoulder season now it's almost nonexistent.
00:43:47.519 --> 00:43:48.320
I mean, I don't have to tell you.
00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:59.599
There is no slate slow days in Disney World, and that's becoming Europe too, where it's like uh I had more clients going.
00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:03.519
To Italy in March than ever, ever this year.
00:44:03.679 --> 00:44:07.360
It was insane because it's just getting pushed and pushed and pushed.
00:44:07.599 --> 00:44:08.079
So yeah.
00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:12.639
I have two couples going, getting into Rome from a Prouse in a couple of days.
00:44:12.880 --> 00:44:16.239
And you know, we we booked them all private tours.
00:44:16.880 --> 00:44:28.079
And but my biggest like piece was I want you to take the time and relax because there might be a moment where you're going to get overwhelmed by the amount of tourists.
00:44:28.719 --> 00:44:34.320
You know, we booked a hotel really close to the Trevi Fountain in the Spanish steps.
00:44:34.639 --> 00:44:40.239
It's like I want one day you're gonna need to get up at six in the morning to go see the Trevi Fountain.
00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:43.199
Even if you come back to your hotel, have another coffee and get in bed.
00:44:43.280 --> 00:44:44.239
Yeah, it doesn't matter.
00:44:44.559 --> 00:44:51.760
But one day you're gonna have to get up early because I want you to experience these things without because it can be overwhelming for some people.
00:44:52.159 --> 00:44:52.480
It is.
00:44:52.639 --> 00:44:54.559
Oh yeah, especially in the summer for sure.
00:44:54.719 --> 00:44:55.760
But yeah, I agree.
00:44:55.920 --> 00:45:08.320
But yeah, so when and and that's a good point too about like the trip length and checking boxes, because I know there's a lot of clients who are like, we want to do, I want to do southern France, I want to do northern Spain, I want to hit it all.
00:45:08.559 --> 00:45:15.199
And sometimes it does make sense for clients if they have more time and a bigger budget, obviously, because more time costs, obviously.
00:45:15.519 --> 00:45:27.119
But um I I like to educate and kind of walk clients off the plank sometimes where where you're kind of like, let's do this instead, or we can do it your way.
00:45:27.280 --> 00:45:30.400
Like I'm happy to pencil, you know, we can figure this out.
00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:33.679
I can logistically do it, but it's gonna look like this.
00:45:33.920 --> 00:45:36.000
It let's shave a couple days off.
00:45:36.159 --> 00:45:37.760
You don't even need to go for 10 days.
00:45:37.920 --> 00:45:53.599
Let's do seven nights, boots on the ground, and focus on that one region and be in and out, but you're gonna have a beautiful, more paste, more local immersion versus like living out of your luggage, never unpacking, and just kind of going and going.
00:45:53.760 --> 00:45:58.400
We can always do it for clients, but um, you know, yeah.
00:45:58.639 --> 00:46:05.920
Like I even have honeymoon clients right now who they have a beautifully planned trip in Italy, but she's texting me like, we're so tired.
00:46:06.079 --> 00:46:13.519
Like they still have one destination um that they're ending like three days in Milan, and they're like, We're so tired.
00:46:13.679 --> 00:46:27.840
And I'm like, Yeah, because you you started with the wedding festivities in Lake Como, and you had it was high stress, high anxiety, because you know, now you got to look beautiful for the photographer, you've got the little ceremony, and that they started with that.
00:46:27.920 --> 00:46:33.199
And even though it was paced well, it still can feel like a lot to clients, I think.
00:46:33.360 --> 00:46:39.199
And I think the other thing too is it's it's so much to take in and in a good way, right?
00:46:39.360 --> 00:46:40.000
In a good way.
00:46:40.079 --> 00:46:48.639
It is a lot of food, it's a lot of eating, a lot of talking, a lot of experiencing, learning, especially when you're doing something like you're talking about in the wine country.
00:46:48.800 --> 00:46:50.400
You're learning all of these things.
00:46:50.559 --> 00:46:56.880
It is a lot, it can take a mental um toll on people, even in a good way, if that makes sense.
00:46:57.039 --> 00:47:01.360
So you do absolutely have, you know, go to bed early tonight.
00:47:01.440 --> 00:47:02.880
Like, we don't have to be out late.
00:47:03.039 --> 00:47:05.360
Like you said, you don't need to eat a dinner at 10 p.m.
00:47:05.519 --> 00:47:05.840
tonight.
00:47:05.920 --> 00:47:08.000
Like just have some snacks and go to bed.
00:47:08.480 --> 00:47:09.679
Have a nice hot shower.
00:47:09.920 --> 00:47:12.719
So I do feel like that is such good advice.
00:47:12.880 --> 00:47:28.400
And especially when you're working with a specialist like yourself who knows what she's doing in those local areas, you really want to listen to her, you, because or me, but you know, because we we want you to, we've been there, number one.
00:47:28.480 --> 00:47:33.119
We've done the hurried trips, we've done the action pack trips, we've done the slow luxury trips.
00:47:33.199 --> 00:47:39.039
So we kind of can tell we we mean it when we say it's gonna look this way or it's gonna look that way.
00:47:39.199 --> 00:47:41.519
You choose, I'll be happy to do either one.
00:47:41.760 --> 00:47:51.440
And uh we try to push push the clients towards a more slow, um, slow luxury type trip, which exactly is your wine trip, obviously.
00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:53.119
So oh my goodness.
00:47:53.360 --> 00:47:59.679
Okay, I could talk to you forever, but I know um our I know our listeners and our viewers don't have forever to listen to us.
00:47:59.840 --> 00:48:01.599
We'll have to just have you back on.
00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:16.880
Um, but just one last question, and we've we've touched on it so many times, but in your personal experience, so not about your wine trip, not about your clients, when you personally think about luxury travel, what does that feel like to you?
00:48:18.159 --> 00:48:20.000
So I I was thinking about it, right?
00:48:20.079 --> 00:48:21.760
Because I I knew you were going to ask.
00:48:21.920 --> 00:48:26.559
And and I it's simple but decadent.
00:48:27.119 --> 00:48:29.199
It is it why is it simple?
00:48:29.360 --> 00:48:43.119
It's simple because it was even in for me when I planned my own place, you know, it was planned flawlessly, it was planned with intention, and it feels decadent.
00:48:43.280 --> 00:48:55.280
You know, sometimes you can have something simple, and I'm I'm you know, I'm not a sweet person, but something as silly as a donut, but it's just in the right place, in the right context, with the right people.
00:48:55.440 --> 00:48:59.440
And all of a sudden that donut just tastes 300 times better.
00:48:59.599 --> 00:48:59.920
Wow.
00:49:00.079 --> 00:49:09.760
Um, and that to me, that experience, that feeling in my heart during a travel, during a trip somewhere, to me, that's that's luxury.
00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:10.719
Oh my gosh.
00:49:10.880 --> 00:49:13.199
I we are like the same person for sure.
00:49:13.920 --> 00:49:14.639
Definitely.
00:49:14.880 --> 00:49:30.960
But again, it's because we're peers in the industry, and that's what I mean, my hope for my clients or any travelers out there is that you are working with somebody who is that passionate, I think, because there's so many travel advisors out there that they are just checking boxes and it is a transaction.
00:49:31.119 --> 00:49:32.559
This is not transactional.
00:49:32.719 --> 00:49:40.159
Um, and that's why I love having you in my life because you are another industry peer who we have the same mindset, right?
00:49:40.320 --> 00:49:42.719
It's and and so your answer was perfect.
00:49:42.880 --> 00:49:46.079
Oh my gosh, I can't even so amazing.
00:49:46.239 --> 00:49:46.639
I love it.
00:49:46.719 --> 00:49:48.000
We'll have to do a pull quote.
00:49:48.159 --> 00:49:50.239
That was perfect, beautifully said.
00:49:50.559 --> 00:49:52.000
Um, oh my gosh.
00:49:52.159 --> 00:49:55.280
So we will have to have you back on because I feel like there's just so much.
00:49:55.360 --> 00:49:58.159
You're just such a such a gem in the industry.
00:49:58.320 --> 00:50:02.559
And so, of course, I want to thank you for being on the podcast today, and I want to thank the listeners.
00:50:02.800 --> 00:50:14.719
And if today's conversation has you dreaming about wine country in Spain, obviously, of course, all the notes and how to contact Josephina will be in the show notes.
00:50:14.880 --> 00:50:16.480
And obviously, reach out to her.
00:50:16.639 --> 00:50:23.679
We will also tag any relevant uh websites mentioned or even cities or towns or maybe even the festival.
00:50:23.840 --> 00:50:32.639
Uh, we'll we'll try to put everything in the show notes that that way everybody can kind of look into that and kind of learn more about it, and then of course, reach out, obviously.
00:50:32.880 --> 00:50:35.360
And then um, I do have a special note.
00:50:35.599 --> 00:50:44.000
If you have not subscribed to the magazine Meson Voyage, definitely I have a promo for all podcast subscribers, will also be in the show notes.
00:50:44.079 --> 00:50:47.119
So definitely make sure you get your quarterly subscription.
00:50:47.360 --> 00:50:52.639
And then obviously, thank you so much again, and thank you for listening to Meson Voyage Podcast.
00:50:52.880 --> 00:50:59.840
Until next time, keep being inspired by the places, people, and experiences that make luxury travel feel truly unforgettable.
00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:01.119
So we'll see you next time.
00:51:01.199 --> 00:51:02.239
Thanks, everyone.
00:51:02.559 --> 00:51:03.199
Bye.