When an email comes in offering you three free nights on a private island in the Maldives, you’d be forgiven for assuming it’s cruel spam. This is the real deal, though: volunteer on one of of three very cool projects and you’ll be repaid in luxury. Ever since our safari planner Greg returned from Soneva […]

The mercury is shooting up to 33°C in Toronto today. What better time to begin our new series on the pools we daydream about all summer. Where: La Sultana Marrakech, Morocco Why: Sitting by a pool and staring at a brick wall isn’t usually that enticing. But when the wall in question is a Gothic-arched […]

Rudston Steward (our Italian guru) has let us in on a couple of his favourite hotels in Sicily, for the big spender and for the little spender. Or why not stay at both to see everything this Mediterranean isle has to offer? High: Grand Hotel Timeo 550 USD and up When you think about a “top […]

There are many options to choose from when visiting the UK’s cultural and financial heart—from the terrific, small boutique choices to the larger, full-on luxury spa hotels. We have many favourites, but some of the closest to our hearts are the Firmdale hotels. Classy, quirky, chic and colourful, the Firmdale properties offer a comfortable and relaxed base […]

Honduras has had bad press of late for the gang violence in its inner cities. Yes, that is a reality in the country, but on a recent visit I found that Honduras is really made up of incredible ruins, amazing natural wonders, friendly folk and a stunning set of Caribbean islands. I had the pleasure […]

The relatively small and unknown Uruguay has had a tough time. Often overlooked by travellers in favour of its larger, louder neighbour Argentina, or seen as an extension of their own country by the Argentines, this diverse and friendly country is finally coming into the limelight. Punta del Este has held international acclaim for some […]

The best word to describe Iceland is ‘mythical’. It does exist (and has its own airline, so wardrobe or fireplace transit is thankfully not required), but its landscape feels like a faraway planet. It’s the perfect place to let the imagination—and outdoor activities—run wild. Whether you have kids, or you just enjoy acting like them […]

In almost every destination where we plan, there’s an opportunity to dive into luxury headfirst (not literally—the private plunge pool is shallow), or simply dip a toe or two into the water. We compare both high and low with two properties in Siem Reap. High: Amansara 850 USD and up With cool white walls, dark woods, […]

It’s research week at Trufflepig, with so many of our Pigs arriving home or departing soon for their specialty destinations. Rudston has just returned from an unlikely combination of Italian cities you may not have paired on your own. Before we talk nitty gritty on our latest Italian conquests, however, a few words to properly […]

Few places can match the swagger and flash of the Amalfi Coast; the stretch of the Costiera between Positano, Amalfi and Ravello boasts some of the finest hotels and most spectacular hiking and boating in Italy. Folks around here are a proud bunch. It goes way back (as these things often do in Italy), to […]

The English tradition of tea has had a bit of a make over. Raised pinkies, cucumber sandwiches and polite chit chat are being replaced with fashion inspired biscuits, beef and horseradish rolls, and tri-flavoured drinkable potions. No longer a meal reserved for aristocrats, tea is making an appearance in some of London’s most desirable and […]

Bedtime stories are not just for children. In fact, if 40 Winks’ tales are anything to go by, it could be argued that they get better with age. Pyjamas are still compulsory, but hot milk is replaced with a fruity Hendrick’s cocktail, and the stories are naughtier, darker and funnier. Tucked away in the increasingly […]

I’ve always loved the Makgadikgadi Pans, but struggled to put my finger on why, as I’m a sucker for a huge herd of elephants, or a magisterial lion lounging in the grass; the Pans have none of this. After spending some time at the newly resurrected San Camp I have finally figured it out. Out […]

It’s official: I’m a Sicilian junkie. The Aeolian Islands have cast their seductive spell on me. I am now suffering from acute Summer Withdrawal Syndome, and have been salivating over Salina ever since the day I left. I keep going back to the bewitching Aeolians. The stark volcanic landscape is stunning, the sea sparkling, the […]

We’ve got some serious connections here at Trufflepig. Great trips depend heavily on who you know, so we have many contacts up our bespoke sleeves. But with 30-plus countries on our plates, we’re no match for the specialized knowledge of these amazing concierges. Andrew McEwan, Singita Ebony Lodge, South Africa Yes, everyone knows the service standards […]

I am staring at a spoonful of carrot foam. Alaska has a way of surprising travellers, stripping them of their comfortable expectations, and I make it my policy when I visit the last frontier to come prepared for anything. But this—carrot foam—I am not prepared for. The foam is the first shot fired at the […]