Who to trust in travel?
Posted by Juliet on February 18th, 2010
Dear Mr & Mrs Smith readers,
As we all know, the way we book travel has changed so much in the last decade. So who to trust when you’re seeking stylish stays? I discuss trust in my latest post for The New York Times.
Trust is especially crucial for anyone who cares about the decor of their digs. Yes, J Jones from Smallsville might be confident somewhere’s super-cool on Tripadvisor, say. But where’s the caveat that their idea of a romantic rendezvous is a Celine Dion CD, a Pina Colada in a plastic pineapple, and an avocado-coloured bidet? And I definitely wouldn’t mind a clue that they’re proselytizing about their Great Nephew’s hotel.
For really effective travel therapy, it’s good to talk. That’s right, go crazy: have some human-to-human communication. Five minutes talking taste, dates and budget with someone you can trust — be it a friend or a travel-industry expert — can match you the right pad in less time than it takes to riffle through unfiltered web results.
That’s where the lovely folks on the Smith Travel Team come in. (Click here for our telephone numbers, contact details and opening times.) Ladies and gents please be upstanding for…
REBECCA MARTIN Head of Travel Team
Languages spoken English; basic French
Favourite destinations Seychelles; Kenya
Favourite hotel Amandari, Ubud, Bali
Areas of expertise Africa; Indian Ocean
DOMINIC ATTERTON GoldSmith Travel Consultant
Languages spoken English
Favourite destination Mexico
Favourite hotel Kasbah Tamadot, Atlas Mountains
Areas of expertise Mexico; Morocco; Europe
NICOLE BEGIN GoldSmith Travel Consultant
Languages spoken English
Favourite destination Turks and Caicos
Favourite hotel Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos
Areas of expertise Caribbean; UK
NICKY GETHIN GoldSmith Travel Consultant
Languages spoken English, basic French
Favourite destination South Africa
Favourite hotel Birkenhead House, Hermanus
Areas of expertise South Africa; Ireland
JULIETTE MAURY GoldSmith Travel Consultant
Languages spoken English; French
Favourite destination South Africa; France
Favourite hotel Singita Boulders Lodge, South Africa
Areas of expertise South East Asia; Africa; Australia; France
JASMINE ROBINSON GoldSmith Travel Consultant (New York)
Languages spoken English, French, Spanish and Italian
Favorite destinations Bali, Italy, Mexico, Spain
Favourite hotel Endsleigh, Hacienda San Antonio, Cuixmal, Amandari
Areas of expertise USA
TAMARA RYAN GoldSmith Travel Consultant (Melbourne)
Languages spoken English
Favourite destination Morocco
Favourite hotel Amandari, Ubud, Bali
Areas of expertise Australia; Indonesia
ANKE WITTE GoldSmith Travel Consultant
Languages spoken English, German
Favourite destinations Thailand; Portugal
Favourite hotel Desert Palm, Dubai
Areas of expertise Germany; Indonesia; Europe; South East Asia; UAE
LAURA SQUIRE GoldSmith Assistant
Languages spoken English, basic French and basic Spanish
Favourite destinations Florence, Marrakech
Favourite hotel Amankila, Bali
Areas of expertise Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Montpellier
LAETITIA BERTHOUX Travel Team Consultant
Languages spoken English; French
Favourite destination Ibiza; Spain
Favourite hotel The Rectory, Cotswolds
Areas of expertise Europe; Smith Ski
NIKKI BURANA Travel Team Consultant
Languages spoken English, Thai, basic French
Favourite destination Bhutan, San Sebastián
Favourite hotel Jardins Secrets
Areas of expertise Thailand, Spain, eating
SABRINA CORELLI Travel Team Consultant
Languages spoken Italian, basic French
Favourite destinations Ibiza; New York; Miami
Favourite hotel Huvafen Fushi, Maldives
Areas of expertise UK; USA; Italy
LINDSAY FABERIJ DE JONGE Travel Team Consultant
Languages spoken English, basic Dutch
Favourite destinations New York; Edinburgh
Favourite hotels The Standard NY; Aquapura, Portugal
Areas of expertise Middle East; London; New York
STEVIE GULLIFORD Travel Team Manager
Languages spoken English
Favourite destinations Florence; Tuscany
Favourite hotel Tuddenham Mill, Suffolk
Areas of expertise UK (shooting, fishing, riding and other country pursuits); Smith & Friends
GABRIELLA HIGHAM Travel Team Consultant (Melbourne)
Languages spoken English and French
Favourite destinations Sydney; Côte d’Azur
Favourite hotel The Oberoi, Mauritius
Areas of expertise French Alps
ED LAMDIN Travel Team Consultant
Languages Spoken English
Favourite Destinations South Africa; Greece; US
A
Favourite Hotel Hazlitt’s, London
Areas of Expertise South Africa; UK
BECKY MOONEY Travel Team Consultant
Languages spoken English
Favourite destination Santorini, Greece
Favourite hotel Hawksmoor House, Garden Route & Winelands
Areas of expertise North America, South Africa
LARA WILLES Travel Team Consultant (New York)
Languages spoken English
Favourite destination Caribbean
Favourite hotel Charlton House, Northeast Somerset
Areas of expertise UK (the Cotswolds in particular)
JESSICA WILLIAMS Travel Team Consultant
Languages spoken English
Favourite destinations South Africa; Australia
Favourite hotel Pershing Hall, Paris
Areas of expertise UK; Dubai
VICTORIA WULF Travel Team Consultant
Languages spoken English, German
Favourite destinations USA, Canada, Switzerland
Favourite hotel Murano Resort Paris
Areas of expertise Europe, USA
These wonderful people know their hotel onions. Trust me.
[...] being on the ground Stateside is that we now have a regional travel team. Go on, test us: call our hotel gurus on the toll-free number 1-800-464-2040 (it’s free in the States and Canada). And why book [...]
By Mr & Mrs Smith – New York office
On November 9th, 2010