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Zanzibar

In its heyday, Zanzibar was regarded as something of an island paradise. Exotic and removed from the mainstream, it was an unspoilt draw for the rootless wanderers of the world. Benefiting from a bewildering array of influences, epic monuments to colonial vanity rubbed up against medieval medinas and ramshackle hovels. With a small population and […]

100 Things We Love: Part 4

It’s the second last edition of our 100 things we love, celebrating our 100th newsletter. Here we cover number 40 down to 21. 40. The Boatshed on Waiheke Island—Just a short ferry ride away from Auckland, New Zealand’s capital, The Boatshed is a tiny retreat we’ve loved for years. In fact, our New Zealand planner, […]

100 Things We Love: Part 3

Today we continue our countdown of 100 things we love, in celebration of our 100th Sounder newsletter, going out to all of your inboxes this week. Here we cover number 60 down to 41. 60. Our National Geographic “Tour of a Lifetime”—We’re not going to lie, it’s nice to see our name in lights after […]

100 Things We Love: Part 2

Today we continue our countdown of 100 things we love, in celebration of our 100th Sounder newsletter. If you need some Christmas wish list inspiration, this is it. From 80 to 61: 80. The Nam Hai—Vietnam’s villa perfection is one of our very favourite hotels. Parked right on the beach outside the charming town of Hoi […]

100 Things We Love: Part 1

The newsletter we send out to all you fine folks next week will be our 100th edition (get it here if you’re not on the list yet). To mark this special occasion, we thought we’d round up 100 of our favourite things—a little bit like Oprah does around Christmas, but with fewer free cars (sorry). […]

Masserias of Puglia

Right in the heel of Italy, sandwiched between the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic and Ionian seas, lies the understated and laid-back Puglia. This southern province offers fortified farms with home grown feasts, romantic harbours with a sunset backdrop, and an unrivalled diversity of architecture. Always keen to stay away from the well-trodden path, […]

Next Stop, Jumby Bay

Bragging rights and all-inclusive holidays don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Safari camps in Africa do it. Dream properties in the Seychelles do it. Why then must the Caribbean all-inclusives shame us with cafeteria cuisine, steel drum cacophonies, and drunken pink pot-bellied wanks cannonballing into the pool? One hotel, Jumby Bay in Antigua, has blissfully broken that mould. […]

Mashpi Lodge

It’s rare to look forward to a long drive. With traffic jams at every corner, I often wonder how we make it anywhere. But when the drive is on a winding road up through the Andes with breathtaking panoramic views, the daily commute seems very far away. On a recent trip to Ecuador (much to […]

All Ages Safari

The honeymoon’s over (and has been for a while)—now you have a whole family to consider, and you’re wondering how to make a safari work. We run down three properties that offer South Africa’s best; tailored specifically to babies, kids, and teenagers. Visiting Africa with a family requires plenty of special considerations. Malaria risk areas […]

Annual Research Recap

We’ve always said that the only way to truly know a place is to get on a plane and check it out. So we do that. A lot. This year, as every year, Trufflepig trip planners and coordinators have done a tremendous amount of research around the world. 217 days worth—by conservative count. Here’s a […]

Imanta Punta de Mita

At Trufflepig we often declare that “we know further afield better than close at hand”. But sometimes you don’t want to go all that far. The idea of sitting on an overnight flight for a short getaway seems daunting. You just need to relax and recharge a little closer to home. That’s just what I […]

Pool Party: Essaouira

If you find yourself lost in a city, seek higher ground to get a little perspective. And if there’s a pool atop that higher ground, you might as well relax in it for a little while. Where: Heure Bleue Palais Why: There’s no need to explain it; we all know why the rooftop pool is so cool. But […]

Hammaming It Up

As I laid in the hammam at Riad Fes, my thoughts now turned to survival. Steam hissed angrily from the walls, the intense heat unbearable. Beads of sweat flowed into rivers, puddling up on the hot marble beneath me. My vision blurred, breathing became increasingly difficult in the heavy humid air. I wasn’t sure how much […]

Pool Party: Corsica

If you think about it, privacy is the ultimate luxury. Now that you’re a grown-up, you don’t have to share your toys anymore, and how lovely not to share your pool with anyone, either. Where:  Domaine de Murtoli, Corsica, France Why: Yes, there are some other people staying on this sprawling estate in the unspoiled French […]

Pool Party: Turks & Caicos

Beach shack chic is hard to come by in the Caribbean, and while shiny infinity pools and jaw-dropping architecture have their place, there is no better antidote to city life than the effortless pairing of sand, sky, and weathered wood. Where: Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos Why: Here at Parrot Cay, sunsets are best enjoyed […]

On My Plate: Pre-Sahara

Any region that includes the word Sahara instantly suggests a high degree of nothingness. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Morocco has a totally unexpected slice of magic. Not only is it surprising to see what’s on your plate, it’s always a mystery where you’ll actually find it. Where: Dar Ahlam, Skoura, Morocco What: Rice balls […]