How to pack lightly for a long trip

Interview by Susan Hanson Santorini had long been on Erika Bandy’s  must-visit list, and the Sweden-based Virtuoso travel advisor often booked the Greek isle as  a romantic getaway for honeymooners and other couples. So when she and her husband became pregnant with their first child, they knew just where to go for some pre-baby R&R. “It was the perfect opportunity to visit Santorini as a couple, before we became full-time parents,” says Bandy. For trips like this, “it’s important to choose a destination  where there aren’t too many families around,” she adds, “to create that special feeling that it’s just the two of you.” Here, her thoughts on a swoon-worthy stay. Above the Rim “Oia, a village built on the slope of a caldera, is definitely the place to be on Santorini. It isn’t that large, so you can explore it on foot – although you need to go slowly when you’re 32 weeks pregnant!” Santorini at dusk. [Photo: Hanquan Chen/Getty Images] Suite Secret “I recommend sta...

In preparing for a recent long haul flight, I packed all my usual skin-care suspects in my favorite overnight toiletry case. The one new kid on the block: Lauren Napier’s Cleanse facial wipes. I’d read about them in Vogue and seen them on every beauty blog. The girl-boss behind them, a world traveler and makeup artist, created them when she couldn’t find a product she loved for makeup removal. The resulting facial wipes are super hydrating, removed all my makeup, and didn’t irritate my sensitive skin. The minimalist individual packaging is an nice bonus. While they’ve earned a place in my permanent travel arsenal, these miracle wipes live in my gym bag now, too. Top photo by nadisja/Getty Images.

Tough, lightweight, adventure-ready duffels are a key piece in any traveler’s luggage lineup. 1) The stand-up leather straps of WP Standard’s Weekender are designed to comfortably slip an arm through. It’s carry-on compliant when full, with pockets on either end; a detachable, adjustable shoulder strap; and all-leather construction that includes a reinforced bottom and hand-hammered copper rivets. 2) Velomacchi creates luggage dedicated to motorcycling. Its barrel-shaped Speedway Hybrid Travel Duffle, with a 50-liter capacity, features what it calls a travel harness (aka backpack straps) and a design that prevents the compression straps from flapping on the highway. Even if you don’t ride, it makes for a tidy setup: The shoulder straps fold away  when not in use, and the entire bag is watertight; it’s ideal for developing-world travel. One note: There’s no interior organizing system, so plan to use packing cubes.  3) National Geographic’s new collaboration with E...

Valentine’s Day – that rose-covered, fancy dinner reservation, LOVE-filled holiday – is looming. But this year, may we suggest that you go and love yourself (as Justin Bieber croons)? And better yet, go on a trip to celebrate, well, you? The 2018 Virtuoso Luxe Report, which found that two-thirds of the network’s travel advisors foresee growth in solo travel this year, named five experiences for singles to fall in love with. Italy  You’re great company. Enjoy dinner at the world’s smallest restaurant, with only one table. The waiter appears when summoned with a silver bell, and serves Italian specialties crafted from seasonal ingredients. England Rock out, no matter what your ability, and even if you “only sing in the shower.” Join legends such as The Beatles and Pink Floyd and record a masterpiece at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios. Sound engineers, musical directors, musicians and vocal coaches provide all the support you need. France This is th...

Travel with a Purpose “Instead of Fly and Flop, my travel mantra is Stop and Sop,” says Ottawa-based Sheila Gallant-Halloran. “Sop up the culture and experience, immersing yourself wherever you are.” Gallant-Halloran, a travel advisor for 12 years, has long championed sustainable tourism, and feels strongly that we can have a trip of a lifetime while also making a positive impact on the local communities and places. She often speaks about sustainable tourism practices – most recently, to 70 students at the University of Ottawa with a “Geography of Tourism” course and at an Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City event on “Sense of Place”– and also hosts Twitter chats on the subject.  Gallant-Halloran invited Big Five Tours’ Ashish Sanghrajka to her daughter’s school to talk about sustainable tourism, and arranged for them both to be interviewed on TV in Ottawa about why it matters. Sheila Gallant-Halloran. The United Nations declared 2017 as the Year of Sustainability, in large part due to the i...

For many Virtuosos, one of the only things we like talking about more than travel is books. A great page-turner lends an exciting note to any trip, whether you spend hours by the pool or sneak a few pages before bed. We asked the editorial staff of Virtuoso Life and Virtuoso Traveler magazines, plus a few Virtuoso travel agency executives, for their picks for fabulous fall reads. These recommended books to read on trips are guaranteed to brighten up any plane ride.

It’s the question on every parent’s mind before winging away on a trip: how can I get the family through the airport and onto the plane faster and smarter? Virtuoso’s Misty Ewing Belles has the answer to that. The network’s managing director of global public relations recently shared her tips with a national audience on NBC’s TODAY Show. Discover below how you can prepare for the smoothest possible air travel with kids.