LUXURY TRAVEL INSIDER PODCAST
The world is more interesting when you know who to ask.
Every episode, Bell & Bly founder Sarah Groen sits down who create the culture of hospitality in their corner of the world: hoteliers, guides, chefs, conservationists, and designers who have committed their careers to making travelers feel welcome.
Together, they go beyond where to stay and what to see to get at the stories, details, and opinions you won’t find in a search result. Come for the travel advice. Leave with a longer list of places you need to see and a slightly different way of seeing the world.
Our guest today is Michael Mesdag, owner of Galapagos Safari Camp. Michael and his wife, Stephanie Bonham Carter bought the land on a whim almost 20 years ago, and set out to create a luxury experience that still maintains the raw beauty of the Galapagos. With just 9 gorgeous tents and a comfortable lodge – […]
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Our guest today is my friend Hytham Atwan, owner and CEO of Nubia Tours in Egypt – probably the preeminent tour operator for sophisticated travelers in the country. Egypt is certainly not a destination that needs an introduction, but if you haven’t thought much about it – I want you to know that it’s more […]
Joining us today is Liz Biden, Owner of The Royal Portfolio in South Africa which includes some of the top properties in all of Africa – like The Silo in Cape Town and Royal Malewane in Sabi Sands. Though renowned for the GORGEOUS interiors and world class guides, Liz’s hotels are really a family affair. […]
Our guest is Rocco Bova, the General Manager of Chable Yucatan (now former GM) – a revived hacienda in the heart of the Yucatan jungle. Each casita and villa is nestled into the Mayan jungle, and built in contemporary design using rich local woods and stone. Relax in your private plunge pool, indulge in your […]
Today’s guest is Karen Emanuel, owner of Jicaro Lodge in Nicaragua. Jicaro is a stunning collection of 9 villas set on a tiny island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua near Granada. To get to the island you’ve got to take a speedboat and until you’re right at the threshold, you can’t even tell it’s […]
Today we’re chatting about one of my favorite countries for active travelers, Iceland! While luxury in other countries may mean five star hotels and spas, true luxury in this corner of the world looks more like private guides inviting you into their homes, having parts of the other-worldly landscape all to yourself, horseback riding to […]
My guest today is Arnaud Zannier, Owner of Zannier Hotels, a collection of 6 properties from the intimate Le Chalet in France, to the famed Phum Baitang in Cambodia. In my opinion, Zannier is the epitome of luxury for the traveler who wants to feel immersed in a culture. While other luxury hotels may box […]
Today’s guest is Stefano Barbini, owner of San Lorenzo lodges in Italy – White Deer in the Dolomites, Holy Deer in Rome, and Blue Deer which is actually a custom built, luxury catamaran that Stefano likes to call his “sea lodge.” If you like authentic travel, San Lorenzo lodges are the stuff of your dreams. […]
The Cottar family is iconic in the world of safari, as they were one of the first families to pioneer the safari experience we can all now enjoy. Cottar’s Camp itself sits on the edge of the Maasai Mara in Kenya and conserves over 7,600 acres of land. While the camp is gorgeous, full of […]
Our guest on this episode is Markos Chaidemenos, co-owner and Managing Director of Canaves Oia luxury properties in Santorini, Greece. Canaves is a collection of 6 of the top luxury properties in Santorini, all set in the whitewashed town of Oia, overlooking the sapphire Aegean Sea. After a day of wine tasting, bike riding around […]
