In the hands of an expert, a simple vacation can become a life-changing journey: an unforgettable adventure; a soul-restoring retreat; an education unmatched in any classroom. For our 12th annual look at the best advisers in the business, we asked these travel pros to share their latest discoveries and insider tips from around the world. Wherever your travels take you—from cruising in Antarctica to a walking safari in Zambia—we have the agent for you. EDITED BY AMY FARLEY REPORTED BY STIRLING KELSO The terrace café at Monteverdi, a hilltop retreat in Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia (see Judy Nussbaum). A-LIST • SUPER-AGENTS her interest in anthropology. a private calligraphy lesson. Lindblad works closely with Trend watch Rubin predicts ↓ experts on the ground, piecing growth in travel to Hangzhou together complex, highly thanks to its preserved cultural personalized itineraries that may heritage, natural beauty, and include historian-led walking stellar Aman and Four Seasons tours, shopping in souks, and properties. Masai-guided safaris. “When I Contact Imperial Tours, Beijing; plan a trip, I consider the whole 888/888-1970; guy@imperialtours. Meet the travel industry’s power brokers: a dozen story—the raison d’être for going net. experts with unparalleled experience and a somewhere—as I develop each peerless ability to discern what you want from individual day,” Lindblad Anne Morgan your next trip. explains. Trend watch An increasing Scully ✓ number of single travelers, both Known for Bringing the right Trend watch Uruguay continues male and female, are planning people together when they travel. Priscilla to grow in popularity. Travelers entire journeys around their Scully introduces her clients to Alexander ✓ are planning trips to hotels, such interests and passions. Lindblad artists, chefs, historians, and Known for Her ability to expertly as Playa Vik and Bahia Vik in José just arranged a monthlong, architects (depending on their pair clients with one of her Ignacio, more than a year out. The golf-focused trip to New Zealand interests) to deepen the impact of hundreds of employees, but she coastal area of Carmelo, known for a male client, and a global food each journey. “You have to design a does more than manage. for its vineyards and polo fields, is adventure for a woman on a trip based on who the client is, not Alexander loves talking to also getting more attention, with three- month sabbatical. simply the destination.” She is also travelers—both long-standing and new boutique inns such as Finca y Contact Lisa Lindblad Travel mindful of places that offer great potential clients—about the Granja Narbona and Posada Design, New York City; 212/876- value, acknowledging that even details of their trips. She’s also Campotinto. 2554; [email protected]. the most affluent travelers constantly on the road, often Contact Maí10, Buenos Aires; appreciate this. taking detours from business trips 54-11/6760-4060; maita@mai10. Trend watch More travelers are ✓ to visit up-and-coming com.ar. Mary Ann Ramsey looking for villa rentals in Europe, Known for A deep commitment to destinations. After a recent visit to especially in France. “There are extensive on-the-ground research. Argentina, she spent three days in incredible properties in wine ✓ Ramsey travels to up-and-coming Rio de Janeiro to check in on the Jack S. Ezon regions that are still close to major Known for Ezon is adept at and in-demand destinations pre-Olympics progress; on her way cities,” Scully says. “Having a planning bespoke trips, but has throughout the year. In each place, back from an Amazon cruise, she private house is also an ideal setup made his name by organizing she makes a point of staying in stopped in Panama City. “It’s for families.” dozens of global celebrations each multiple hotels, taking numerous important to be an active Contact McCabe World Travel, year. His little black book of event guided tours, and experiencing participant in the industry you’re McLean, Va.; 703/762-5055; anne@ contacts, from the best florists in excursions from several operators promoting,” she says. “Wanderlust mccabeworld.com. Rome to choice wedding to find options that best match the has never left me.” photographers in the South of interests and personalities of her Trend watch “Everything old is France, gives him his competitive clients. She also documents their new again,” Alexander says. edge, as does a team of dedicated long-term dream trips (she calls Pallavi Shah Europe bookings are the strongest Known for Believing that a party planners that includes a herself “the travel equivalent of a she has seen in years, and not only vacation begins the moment you romance concierge for financial planner”) and reports to Italy and other popular Western start planning it. Shah brings honeymoons and anniversaries. back on destinations that make European countries: Eastern travelers into the trip- Ezon is also an expert on Gen-Y their bucket lists. Europe—especially Croatia, development process to make and Gen-X vacationers, a fast- Trend watch Ramsey thinks that Montenegro, and Hungary—are them feel invested in the growing segment of the travel wildlife-focused expedition resurgent among luxury travelers. experience and to give them final market. Though these younger cruising is still in its infancy and Contact Protravel International, approval of every last detail. Once travelers traditionally like to be will gather even more interest in New York City; 212/651-2101; her clients depart, she checks in on heavily involved in trip planning, the coming years. [email protected]. them personally and through he notes a growing number are Contact Betty Maclean Travel, ground operators to make sure handing the reins entirely over to Naples, Fla.; 239/513-0333; each hotel, tour, and restaurant is his team: “Even the Millennials maryann@bettymacleantravel. to their liking. Maita Barrenechea are burned out on the DIY model.” com. Known for Her local expertise Trend watch In India, where Trend watch Clients are willing and hands-on approach to travel Shah maintains a second to splurge when access is a management throughout residence, she’s noticed a growing concern, Ezon notes, but they’re Guy Rubin Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. “I Known for Being one of the most number of requests for “journeys still looking for good values, believe it takes discernment as sought-after tour operators in that touch the soul,” as she puts it. especially during the shoulder much as contacts,” Barrenechea China for luxury travel, a field that That could mean attending the season. “They have no qualms says. “I can open doors, but more has changed dramatically in the 16 World Sufi Spirit Festival, in pushing for the best price they can importantly, I understand what years that he’s been in the Jodhpur, or indulging in ancient get.” door to open for every traveler.” industry. Rubin exhaustively ayurvedic treatments at a Contact Ovation Vacations, New Barrenechea has done more than researches new openings—the mountainside wellness resort. York City; 212/329-7267; jezon@ follow regional travel trends in her Banyan Tree Shanghai; the Contact Our Personal Guest, New ovationtravel.com. 29-year career, she has shaped Mandarin Orientals in York City; 646/284-2454; opgny@ them—through supporting hotel Guangzhou and Shanghai—and ourpersonalguest.com. and estancia openings, promoting Lisa Lindblad cultivates local contacts that lead responsible travel, and working Known for Bringing an to insider experiences: a helicopter with organizations that preserve intellectual approach to travel ride from Beijing to the Great Wall, cultural treasures. planning, attributed sometimes to instruction in the game of weiqi, or ★ NEW TO LIST ✓ T+L’S TRAVEL ADVISORY BOARD SUPER-AGENTs • eUROPe • A-LIST Jim Strong ✓ Joel A. Zack Known for An in-depth & Nancy Strong understanding of his areas of Known for Around-the-clock expertise, which include Portugal, availability, discerning taste, and Morocco, South Africa, Spain, and attention to detail—honed from Turkey, and for keeping a close the close industry contacts that watch on the evolving mindset both mother and son have and expectations of American cultivated, as well as their own travelers. His network of friends extensive experience on the road. and connections has led to a Everything they book has been growing roster of special thoroughly vetted: Jim spends experiences—kicking around a nearly half the year previewing soccer ball with kids in a small hotels, yachts, and tours South African township; an worldwide. They have also created after-hours tour of the a multimedia brand around Jim’s Alhambra—that are not easily Craving for Travel books. An matched. off- Broadway play inspired by the Trend watch Zack is seeing more series is in the works. travelers heading to Portugal for Trend watch The Strongs are its food and wine. “The best new seeing a renewed interest in restaurant is Bel Canto, in Lisbon. U.S.-based travel among clients We have arranged private dinners who have time constraints or don’t with the chef, José Avillez.” want to deal with international Contact Heritage Tours Private flights. Napa Valley, in particular, Travel, New York City; 800/378- is reemerging as the destination of 4555; [email protected]. choice for people who want to stay a little closer to home. Contact Strong Travel Services, Dallas; 214/361-0027; jim@ strongtravel.com, nstrong@ strongtravel.com. The garden at Monaci delle Terre Nere, in eastern Sicily Valerie Ann Wilson (see Andrea Sertoli). Known for Being a passionate and outspoken force within the industry, thanks to her 30-plus years of experience. She sits on half a dozen travel advisory boards and has published two books. Her top-notch agency (now under the leadership of Wilson and her daughters, Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg and Kimberly I DELLE TERRE NERE ac Wilson Wetty, also on the A-List) keeps hiring and growing its client MON F base.