Whenever we begin our travel planners, we ask you to send in questions about a given place. In this case, the preponderance of them were about where to eat, stay and shop in Istanbul and the gorgeous coastline along the Aegean and Mediterranean flanks of the country. Which makes sense, as the majority of Turkey’s tourism is concentrated in this western region. But quite a few of you were curious about itineraries that took you farther—beyond Ephesus, which is indisputably amazing, to lesser-known archeological sites, or to mineral hot springs that aren’t as full of tourists as Pamukkale. Then, once we’d Zoomed with the tourism board of Türkiye (as of 2022, the country’s official spelling) and dug into our research, we had our own questions. Like, what’s going on in the Black Sea region? (Evidently a lot of hazelnut production!) So we tapped our network of local experts and creatives to answer all of your and our questions, and help us navigate this historically rich and culturally layered country. And we couldn’t be more excited about their responses. Together, they pointed us to hidden antiquities, an emerging wine scene, healing thermal pools once visited by Cleopatra, best coastal routes for a gulet trip, and storybook towns by the Black Sea… and also shared insider intel on the best ways to see the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, the beach towns with old-world charm, and their favorite markets/restaurants/hammams in Istanbul. And yes, we made sure to find out the best stops for kilim carpets, Ottoman-era brassware and artisan-made jewelry to bring home! 

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Adviye Bergemann is the founder of AIDA Tours, launched in 2003 as a boutique destination management company based in Istanbul. Born into a family rooted in the tourism industry of Kuşadası—where Türkiye’s tourism story began in the 1960s—she loves sharing her homeland with discerning travelers.  

Aida Bergsen is an Istanbul-based jeweller and sculptor who creates jewellery with different themes that reflect traces of her hometown and its multi-layered cultural fibre. She draws inspiration from mythological tales and symbolic natural forms.  

Anton Lynch has been working in travel forever, and joined Trufflepig almost at the outset. It’s easier to make a list of the places he doesn’t know. He plans trips worldwide through an unparalleled network of personal friends and professional contacts and calls London home, because occasionally he has to stay in the same place long enough to get his passport renewed.

Ata de Cin began his career as a pilot in Türkiye, and after training at the Turkish Military Academy, he moved to Florence in 2019 to study Political Science. He’s been working as a photographer since 2023, a craft that started as a long-time passion and evolved into a professional pursuit.

Arin Forstadt is a global travel advisor at luxury tour operator Black Tomato. Though a born-and-raised New Yorker, she’s traveled extensively across the world and Türkiye was one of her most recent passport stamps. 

Chiara de Rocchi is a Turkish-Italian designer and sculptor born in Istanbul to a family of Italian descent. Raised in an art-focused household, she’s been immersed in both Turkish and Italian cultures.

Christos Stergiou is the founder and CEO of TrueTrips, a luxury travel company specializing in tailor-made journeys that span Greece, Turkey and beyond.

Claire Watkins and Chris Evans are travel experts at luxury travel company Red Savannah. Claire is the Europe Regional Manager and resident Turkey specialist, and Chris oversees all their yachts & gulets, many of which are located in Turkey.

Dayna Lee & Ted Berner are the dynamic duo behind Powerstrip Studio and the principal designers of Aliée Istanbul. Though they’re based in LA, they’ve spent countless weeks in Istanbul over the years, digging deep into the design scene as they sourced hundreds of pieces for Aliée Istanbul. 

Demet Müftüoğlu Eşeli is the curator and co-founder of ISTANBUL’74 Arts & Culture Platform, Istanbul International Arts & Culture Festival, and the co-founder of ‘74Studio and ‘74Escape. The 15th anniversary edition of the festival is set to take place October 10-12, 2025.

Eda Sokmen is the founder of istanbulite, a boutique luxury travel agency that specializes in tailor-made itineraries throughout Turkiye with a focus on local perspective. Find her on Substack and  Instagram.

Enis Karavil is an interior designer and creative director who owns Sanayi313, a design studio, curated retail space, and canteen in Istanbul.

Esra Levent is a native of Istanbul and a managing partner of IDEE Travel. She has extensive experience in personalized travel planning across Turkey, with creativity and a keen eye for detail.

Feleksan Onar an internationally recognised glass artist and the founder of Fy-shan Glass Studio. Known for her conceptual installations showcased in prestigious museums worldwide, Felekşan uses the delicate medium of glass to tell powerful stories of displacement, identity, and resilience.  

Feride Yalav-Heckeroth has been writing about Turkish contemporary culture since 2012 and is the author of the guidebook The 500 Hidden Secrets of Istanbul and the Softer Volumes Istanbul City Guide for Design Lovers. Her work has been published in Kinfolk, Wallpaper*, Decanter and Condé Nast Traveler, among others.

Lucy Scovell is a British freelance journalist who writes about art, design, travel and lifestyle for various publications including Christie’s and Wallpaper*. She also maintains a Substack, The Istanbulist, which explores all things art, design & travel in Istanbul, London & beyond. Before moving back to London in May 2025, she lived in Istanbul for five years with her husband and daughter. 

Mina Dilber is the founder and creative director of Anim, an Istanbul-based lifestyle brand on a mission to celebrate a life well-lived. With a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and creativity at its core, Anim offers thoughtfully designed collections in both ready-to-wear and home textiles.

Naz Cuguoğlu is a curator of contemporary art at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, whose experience includes exhibitions and programs at documenta fifteen, 15th Istanbul Biennial, Taiwan Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, 4th Istanbul Design Biennial, and more. As a co-founder of Collective Çukurcuma, she experiments with collaborative curatorial practices through reading groups and international exhibitions.

Noona Smith-Petersen is a veteran PR officer and comms manager, whose clients have included the likes of Armani, Valentino and Calvin Klein. She now runs her own PR and communications strategy firm  in Milan and regularly visits Türkiye, where her family has a home near Izmir. 

Pinar Ellialti is the co-founder and creative director of Suvla Winery, Suvla Bistro Wine Bar, Suvla Concept Stores, and Kilye Natural Products.  

Serena Uziyel is the founder and designer of her eponymous footwear and accessories brand, known for using time-honored techniques like loom weaving, crochet, and filigree. Committed to social impact, she collaborates with around 200 female artisans in Türkiye, offering training and employment to preserve traditional crafts.

Serra Türker is the founder and creative director of MISELA, a line of premium handmade bags and travel accessories that blend bold pattern, sculptural form, and feminine energy with Turkish artisanal techniques. Now in its 17th year, MISELA has grown into a global brand with boutiques in Istanbul, Bodrum, London, and New York—while remaining proudly female-led and rooted in Serra’s vision of empowered design.

Şule Uzun is the managing partner of ITEM Travel, which creates and delivers beautifully planned experiences for individuals, groups, and organizations. Above all, they want their clients to love Turkey as much as they do.

Ülkü Eruçar-Kenny is the president at Alice Marshall PR. Based in New York, she is originally from Turkey and still visits family there.

Ümit Mesci is a curator at Istanbul Modern, working across contemporary and modern art, as well as design and architecture. Based in Istanbul, he develops programs for the museum alongside curating exhibitions.

GENERAL/LOGISTICS/ITINERARIES

The post Turkey Travel Planner appeared first on Yolo Journal.

I first went to the Caribbean with Matt in the late ‘90s, when he was on assignment for Departures to shoot an all-Caribbean edition, which was so big they ran it over two consecutive issues. He was gone for weeks zigzagging all over, but I got to join for part of one trip. My favorite memories were of the Meridian Club in Turks and Caicos, which had the most beautiful water, and the K Club in Barbuda, which was best known because Princess Diana had vacationed there. I remember how complicated it was to get from one island group to another—lots of connecting through Puerto Rico and overnighting in some places because there just weren’t easy connections. It didn’t really matter, though—we really fell in love with the islands, and the journey to get to wherever we were going was just a part of it. 

Since I was an early convert, I was always surprised when I’d tell friends how much I loved it there—really, everywhere—and they’d shrug and say that if they wanted a warm-weather vacation in the winter, they’d rather go to Mexico. The most common complaint was that there wasn’t good food there, it was too expensive, too complicated, etc. I just couldn’t understand how an entire group of islands could be written off like that, but then again, I’d heard people say that about Greece. They assumed the Greek island experience was Mykonos or Santorini, and couldn’t imagine that there was a completely different experience beyond that. Last year, we tackled the expensive question in our Costa Meno Caribbean edition, where we shared our favorite inexpensive places to stay, and the year before we did a deep dive on the Bahamas in this Black Book. But for this winter season, we wanted to tackle your questions, and the ones we hear the most frequently from our friends. We’re pretty sure you’ll find your place in the sun somewhere in this incredibly extensive list. —Yolanda

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Alban Roger is a New York-based, French-born creative director. He has been going to the Dominican Republic regularly for a decade, and was one of the curators of Design Week Dominican Republic alongside his partner, the Dominican designer Jorge Brown. 

Alberto Petochi is a fifth-generation jeweler and brand consultant based in NYC.

Alexandra Dib is a NYC-based consultant in the Italian food industry, who’s been going to Puerto Rico every year for nearly two decades.    

Alex Chantecaille ran sales for her family’s eponymous cosmetics brand for 20 years. Based in London, she now works as a director of her family’s charity, Chantecaille Conservation Foundation, and spends time each year at their home on St Barth.

Alina Gonzalez was born in Havana and immigrated to NYC with her Cuban grandparents and mother. She spent the last 35 years developing award-winning beauty products for both global beauty brands and startups.

Ben Simmons is the third-generation owner of the Ocean View Club, and the founder of Little Island Design and Little Island Hotels—a collection of small, stylishly casual hotels that includes The Other Side, its new sister property The Farm, plus a new project The Current—with his wife, Charlotte. 

Brendan Monaghan is the former publisher of Condé Nast Traveler, Tatler Asia and T Magazine, and is the founder of boutique travel agency, Coolidge & Co.

Christelle Hilpron is the general manager of Cheval Blanc St Barth. She got her start on the island more than 20 years ago, working as the assistant maitre d’. Over the years, she has worked almost every job at the hotel and knows the place deeply. 

Christina Ohly Evans is the US correspondent for the Financial Times’ HTSI section.

David Coggins is the author of The Believer: A Year in the Fly-Fishing Life, as well as The Optimist and Men of Manners, and has written pretty extensively about his trips to The Bahamas and Cuba on his Substack, The Contender. 

David Jefferys has been a contributing editor for Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey for the past 20 years. Raised in New Delhi and London and now living in Atlanta, he is passionate about travel in the Caribbean. 

Francesca Squillacciotti is the co-founder of Bond Global, a new public relations agency, along with her sister Ariana. The Australian sisters have been visiting St Barth for years.

Jen Rosa Lopez worked in comms for MAC Cosmetics in LATAM and the US Hispanic market, and moved to Puerto Rico to lead strategic comms for the island’s first destination marketing organization. Today, she splits her time between NY and San Juan working as a consultant and occasionally she pens a Spanish travel substack titled @LeRolodex. 

Jonathan Petrino is a travel writer and photographer, published by ASSOULINE and Reader’s Digest, and featured in Photo Festival St Barth. When not traveling, he is a tech executive with a severe case of wanderlust, always in search of a great martini at a hotel bar.

Juella Gumbs is the marketing communications manager at Park Hyatt St. Kitts—born and raised on St. Kitts, she is a true expert on the island. Her personal connection to the destination and local’s touch shines through in all aspects of her work.

Lauren Atchison is a US-based luxury travel advisor, the founder of Found Luxury Travel, who loves planning vacations to her favorite islands.

Larissa Thomson is the founder of  ONDA Beauty and our resident clean beauty expert. She’s logged plenty of time in the Caribbean, testing out the best mineral sunscreens along the way.

Lucinda Scala Quinn is the author of eight cookbooks, including the bestselling Mad Hungry trilogy, and founder of the Mad Hungry kitchenware brand. Her new book, Mother Sauce: Italian American Family Recipes and the Story of the Women Who Created Them, will be published by Artisan in March 2025 (available for preorder). She has been visiting Jamaica for decades.

Matt Hranek is the author of A Man & His Watch, A Man & His Car, A Man & His Kitchen, The Negroni: A Love Affair with a Classic Cocktail, The Martini: Perfection in a Glass, and founder of Wm Brown Magazine. 

Melinda Hughes is an opera singer and comedian from London and the artistic director of the Allstars Festival Barbados, which fosters the careers of young Bajan musicians and runs from 5-15 March 2025.

Michael King-Hew is a serial entrepreneur, hotelier and adventurer. He and his husband David own Kamalame Cay on Andros, where they live with their three young boys and three Portuguese water dogs.

Peter Jon Lindberg was our colleague at Condé Nast Traveler back in the day; before that, he was Travel + Leisure’s longtime editor-at-large. This fall he and his wife, Nilou Motamed, launched a new digital travel magazine called Further.

Ruaridh Nicoll travels the world for a living, a privilege he atones for by offering advice to people visiting Cuba, the place he chooses to live, so feel free to contact him through instagram @ruaridhnicoll for more information.

Sam Godsal is the creative director of the beloved great-house hotel, Cobblers Cove, on Barbados’ west coast. She helps to oversee every detail of the hotel that has been in the Godsal family since the 1960s. 

Tegan Maxey grew up on Eleuthera in the Bahamas, where she developed a deep appreciation for responsible travel and its potential to support local economies. Inspired by her own adventures, she co-founded Wanderers Club, a community of travelers dedicated to immersive, impactful travel experiences. 

Valón Thorpe is the founder and CEO of Mystique Integrated Services Limited, one of the Caribbean’s leading award-winning 360 degree creative agencies.

Vasco Borges is the founder and CEO of Beach Enclave Turks & Caicos, a collection of exclusive-use beach houses and villas across North Shore, Long Bay, and Grace Bay. He initially came to the Turks & Caicos for three months, and has now been there for over 20 years. 

The post Caribbean Island Travel Planner appeared first on Yolo Journal.

Rajasthan is one of those seemingly postcard-perfect destinations—the candy-colored forts, glimmering lake palaces with strutting peacocks, and sunbaked desert towns tracked by camels—that sets it apart from much of the subcontinent’s hyper-reality. And in many respects, it is different from the rest of India, says our friend Rymn Massand, a New York-based creative director who was born and raised in New Delhi, and who helped us as a kind of guest editor on this Travel Planner. “One thing that sets Rajasthan apart is the beauty of its topography, which can go from the wild hills of the Aravalli Mountains to lakes to forests where tigers reside, to the lunar landscapes of leopard country, to the desert.” Another is that the history of Rajasthan is incredibly rich. “I grew up on a steady diet of the valor and the glory of the rulers of Rajasthan—they fought against the Mughals, they built beautiful forts and palaces, which are architectural marvels,” she continues. “And of course some of the best jewelry design has come from Rajasthan and its royal families for centuries, along with some of the most beautiful painting, craft and printing techniques, like block printing and embroidery. And lastly is the fact that many of the Rajasthani Maharanas and Maharajas, the kings and queens, studied abroad and grew up with refined palates; they brought the richness of their culture abroad and brought back influences that shaped their tastes at home. So there is a massive amount of sophistication imbuing this traditional idea of Rajasthan.”

Given how close Rajasthan is to New Delhi, or just a short flight from Mumbai, the region makes a perfect first stop on a longer India itinerary. But it also is layered enough to be a destination in itself, whether you have one week or three. In addition to its color-coded cities—Jaipur (the Pink City), Jodhpur (Blue), Udaipur (White) and Jaisalmer (Gold)—there are so many opportunities to digress, ideally by car (though one of our contributors took trains!) to more rural corners of the state that are more off the tourist circuit, to really experience the flavors and textures of the countryside. “There are these communities of conservationists, of goat herders, of traditional artist communities who carry on crafts and arts that have been going on for generations,” Rymn says. “So what might come as a surprise is that the common everydayness of Rajasthan is just as rich and layered as the pomp and pageantry of the palaces.”

In the interest of mapping out the perfect itinerary—to tick as much as possible off in a week, or slow-travel to Rajasthan’s less-visited pockets, to figure out the best stops/hotels for exploring with kids, or for those who want to chase tigers or leopards, and of course for serious shoppers—we took on Rajasthan as our next Travel Planner, responding to your questions (and our own). Rymn helped connect us with friends who call Rajasthan home, or who have been going for years. We also reached out to many of our own network who have longtime associations with Rajasthan, to get their favorite addresses and travel game-plans. We hope you learn as much as we did! —Team Yolo

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Abhishek Honawar is founder of the Honar Group, with multiple bars and restaurants in Bombay; together with his wife, Naina, they have designed and run one of the prettiest hotels in Jaipur, The Johri. 

Aisha Bennett is a director at Bird Travel PR, a global creative travel communications agency in London. Having visited India numerous times for the past 12 years on a quest to reconnect with her heritage, Rajasthan floats to the top of the list each time.

Alex Wix is the Morocco-based co-founder of Wix Squared, a travel company that always takes a tasteful and insidery approach to organizing bespoke itineraries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East (we previously profiled her as a Navigator).

Anjali Singh is the co-founder and creative director of Suján hotels, the beloved conservation-focused luxury tented camp brand that nearly everyone on our list name-checked as a favorite. 

Elizabeth Morrison is the founder and creative director of From Jaipur With Love, a rug brand made by local artisans inspired by her travels in India. 

Ishita Parikh is the founder and curator of Bougainvillea Gallery in Ahmedabad, which has showcased Indian artisans and designers for the past decade. She is a native of Ahmedabad and deeply connected to its cultural, design and art scenes.

James Jayasandera is the founder and managing director of Ampersand Travel, raised in Italy by his Sri Lankan diplomat father and English mother. James’ itineraries in Asia and Africa invariably emphasize deep cultural immersion.

K. Mohanchandran was previously the GM of the iconic Taj Lake Palace Udaipur and is now the area director of the entire Northeast of India for the Taj Hotel Group. 

Katie McClure is the co-founder of Mirth, a clothing and accessories brand. She lives in Houston, TX, but travels to India at least three times a year to meet with her team and check on upcoming collections. 

Laura McGowan is the global brand director at Suján, where she works with Anjali Singh on their conservation initiatives and partnerships.  

Marthinus Johannes Coetzee is the cofounder of Oryx photo tours and an award-winning wildlife photographer who has visited India 23 times in 14 years, from the backwaters of Kerala to the trans-Himalayas at Hemi’s National Park.

Mona Singh is the director of guest experiences at The Leela Palace, New Delhi. A native of Udaipur, she’s been sending guests to Rajasthan for decades. 

Nikhilendra Singh is the cofounder of RAAS, Jodhpur, who transformed a traditional haveli mansion into a beloved boutique hotel and has influenced the revitalization of several surrounding historical sites. 

Puja and Kunal Shah are jewelry designers and entrepreneurs who returned to India from the US 20 years ago and now live in Ahmedabad. They launched two fine jewelry brands, Aurus and Moi, and during their travels throughout India, have discovered lots of places off-the-beaten path and boutique hotels run by founders who are passionate about travel, food and discovery. 

Raghavendra Rathore – Lifestyle designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, hotelier and member of the Jodhpur royal family, for 30 years he has been at the forefront of the Raghavendra Rathore Jodhpur (RRJ) bespoke brand of menswear.

Rymn Massand is the founder and creative director of PLUSRYMN, a creative agency that works between NYC and India and everywhere in between. Born and raised in India and living in NYC, she designs for and works with magazines, publishing houses, hotels, lifestyle and beauty brands. She gave us a big hand pulling together this Travel Planner! 

Sai Pradhan is an Indian-American writer and artist living in Hong Kong. Her writing has been published in The Iowa Review, Prairie Schooner, Hong Kong Free Press, and her art appears in gallery exhibits. She used to review hotels for The Particular Rover, where she now curates her favorite travel finds.

Tarang Arora is the CEO and creative director of Amrapali Jewels; he was born into a family with deep roots in Indian jewelry and focuses on heritage-inspired designs with a modern twist. 

Thierry Colson is a French fashion designer who draws inspiration from India’s vibrant textiles, cultures and heritage who travels frequently to Rajasthan to partner with local textile artisans. 

Vanessa Boz specializes in creating sustainably luxurious itineraries for families anywhere in the world, with a particular love for Rajasthan. She launched BozAround Private Travel five years ago after writing about travel and design for magazines and her travel blog, BozAround. 

Vishal Tholia is a legacy jeweler and creative head of Tholia’s Kuber jewelers in Jaipur.

The post Rajasthan Travel Planner appeared first on Yolo Journal.

It’s been a couple of years since I was in Copenhagen (when I visited my brother and his family who were living there, and went to Noma for the last time since it’s closing its restaurant in a few months); more than five years since I was last in Norway, and over ten since I was in Sweden. We decided to tackle Scandinavia as a whole for this Planner, since many of you may visit more than one country in a single trip (though we left out Finland, since the consensus seems to be that it is not Scandinavia, though Nordic, and anyhow it would be too overwhelming to do it all in one post!). We received a lot of great questions from you via our comments and DM, and since several of them had a family element to them, I went back to my old travel blog, Travels with Clara (yes the stories are still there!), to remind myself of some of our favorites. Of course, that took me down a big memory rabbit hole–some of the things I was most impressed by were how nobody cares about the weather—I can’t remember who said there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear—and how as a young parent I was so impressed to see little kids being given hammers and saws in Junibacken, the Pippi Longstocking museum. Matt fell in love with the antiquing in a few towns way outside of Stockholm, and we still live with the furniture we shipped back. 

I adored the idyllic town of Mariefred and our stay at the Gripsholm Vardshus is still one of the best trips in memory. But one of my favorites was the children’s driving school called Ladbilslandet in Nykvarn (about 45 min from Stockholm), where little kids  pick out their car or truck,  drive it around  the track, and get a “driving license” at the end In a time when parenting culture has grown so over-cautious, it was refreshing. I’ll say the same about cultures that believe in real candlelight, even in the most historic of wooden structures. I’ll be happy if I never see a fake flicker in the States ever again! But enough about my nostalgia. Let’s get to your questions and our incredible contributors’ answers. —Y.E.

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Amalie and Cecilie Moosgaard are twin sisters and the founders of LIÉ STUDIO, a Copenhagen-based jewelry brand.

Andrea Belck-Olsen is a Scandinavian travel expert who has been director of sales at Nordic Hotels & Resorts and The Thief in Oslo. Now she’s the managing partner at Nordfolk Travel, where she tailors itineraries for visitors to Norway.

Anna Moller is a freelance photographer originally from the US, who now lives in Stockholm with her partner and two daughters.

Charlotte Linnea Björklund is the founder of Linnea Lund, a Paris-based “conscious cashmere” brand that draws inspiration from her Swedish roots.

Eduardo Plaschinski is co-founder of niddo in Mexico City and an avid traveler who loves all things Scandinavian.

Ellen and Maja Dixdotter are the Swedish-born sisters who took the reins of Danish womenswear label By Malene Birger in 2020 as CEO and creative director, respectively. 

Emma O’Kelly is a British freelance journalist who writes about design, architecture and travel for various publications including Wallpaper*. We love her recent book, Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat, which explores sauna culture in Scandinavia and beyond. 

Hilary Robertson is style director of Feel Free magazine, author of seven books and designer of products, sets and interiors for ABC Home, Bloomist, and Crate & Barrel. Her latest book, Nomad at Home, examines the lives of creatives who have left their countries of origin for somewhere else.

Ilenia Martini is a creative director and writer based in Gothenburg, Sweden. She is the editor at large for design and communication at Scandinavian MIND and also writes weekly personal essays on her substack, Appia.

Irene Edwards is a former magazine editor who lived in Copenhagen with her family for four years and led communications at MAD, the nonprofit launched by René Redzepi of Restaurant Noma.

Jason Edwards is a private chef, now based in the Hamptons outside of NYC, who spent four years in Copenhagen immersing himself in Danish food culture by cooking in some of the top kantines around town.

Jonas Sundstrom is the Swedish-born founder of New York clothing brand En Passant and designer at J. Mueser. He keeps a Substack for the joy of writing.

Lean Timms is an Australian travel and lifestyle photographer who loves to explore and has visited the Faroe Islands several times. 

Liza Laserow is the co-founder and creative director of the Scandinavian textile company Nordic Knots, with a strong background in interior design and 17th- to 19th-century Swedish antiques.

Louise Roe is the founder of innovative interior design brand Louise Roe in Copenhagen.

Marie Kristine Schmidt is the chief brand officer at GUBI, a global design house based in Copenhagen.

Mats Klingberg is the Swedish-born founder of Trunk Clothiers, a menswear brand with stores in London and Zurich. Before moving to London, he lived in Stockholm for seven years and still goes back several times a year. 

Noona Smith-Petersen is a PR officer and communications manager whose clients have included the likes of Armani, Valentino and Calvin Klein. She spent much of her childhood in Rungsted, Denmark, and now runs her own firm in Milan.

Sarah Fuchs is a Norwegian photographer and art director now based in Berlin.

Sophie Riddervold is a Norwegian interior architect based in Oslo, who often embarks on sourcing trips across Europe for her company, Joy Living. 

Tina Seidenfaden Busck is the founder of The Apartment—a chic apartment and design gallery in Copenhagen that’s fully shoppable.

The post Scandinavia Travel Planner appeared first on Yolo Journal.

You’ve been asking for it, and it’s taken us ages to deliver—but we wanted to make sure we really nailed it! This is by no means a comprehensive guide to Japan, since the idea here is to answer questions that you asked us in our comments (and many DMs). And to be clear, for the most part we aren’t the ones answering—we reached out to what turned into a long roster of friends and travel specialists who either are from Japan, know it super well, and/or have traveled there recently—and they really delivered. These experts generously shared their intel on a wide range of questions, from the best 10-day itineraries for first-timers to niche searches like where to shop for Japanese knives, or how to see the female free-divers of Ise-Shima. Putting this together has definitely given us new inspiration and confidence for our next trip, and we hope you feel the same! Especially because with the dollar so strong against the yen, and logistics for navigating the cities easier for foreigners post-Olympics (and for anyone watching Shōgun who’s itching to time travel), there’s never been a better time to go. So with no further ado, over to….

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Akari Endo-Gaut was born in Japan, lived in Paris for nearly 15 years, and is now in New York with her family, where she works as a stylist and style director for brands and magazines. She also curates Japanese and European artists for RWGuild and Guild Gallery, and recently curated Japanese ceramics for Matter and Shape in Paris. 

Andres Zuleta founded Boutique Japan in 2013 to introduce experienced travelers to a deeper side of Japan, where he has lived since 2005 and writes the Boutique Japan blog.

Andy Baraghani is a New York Times bestselling and James Beard Award winning author (The Cook You Want to Be). He began his career working at renowned restaurants Chez Panisse and Estela before moving into food media. 

Ashley Baker is the deputy editor for Air Mail. You can hear “Morning Meeting,” her always entertaining podcast with fellow deputy editor Michael Hainey, here.

Ashley Isaacs Ganz is the founder and CEO of Artisans of Leisure, a boutique tour operator that offers private tours around the world, with particular expertise in Japan, where she used to live.

Ben Richards is a travel and architectural photographer based in Tokyo. Following a move to Japan in 2019, he has traveled extensively across the country with his camera in search of lesser-traveled destinations. His new guidebook, Views from Japan, encourages you to explore Japan like a local, and includes 250 unique destinations and experiences across 20 prefectures. 

Brian McGinn is a film and TV director, writer and producer based in Los Angeles, best known for producing and directing the Netflix series Chef’s Table. Most recently, McGinn produced the episode “Sundae” on the second season of the award-winning FX series The Bear.

Bryan Meehan is the former chair & ceo of Blue Bottle Coffee, now looking after a rainforest in Ireland as well as a five star hotel in Ireland, Park Hotel Kenmare. 

Catherine Heald is the cofounder and CEO of Remote Lands, a private tour operator focused on Asia, who we worked with on a couple of epic Japan itineraries when we were at CN Traveler. 

Charles Spreckley is the founder of People Make Places, a Japan-wide travel and experience-design company based in Tokyo. He’s also the author of the People Make Places book, a beautifully packaged introduction to the people and places that make Tokyo unique.

Christine Muhlke, a former editor at T Magazine and Bon Appétit and founder of Bureau X culinary consultancy, is deeply plugged into the worlds of food, travel, fashion and design. She channels her discoveries into her xtine newsletter, and her most recent books include Wine Simple and Signature Dishes That Matter. 

Cristina Hudson is the co-owner of Hudson Ranch and Vineyards in Napa Valley. She worked for a decade with Alice Waters of Chez Panisse, has consulted for Slow Food International, Rockfield Japan, and others, and has been traveling to Japan consistently for 40 years. 

David Coggins is the author of the upcoming The Believer: A Year in the Fly-Fishing Life, as well as The Optimist and Men of Manners, and has written about his trips to Japan on his Substack, The Contender. 

Elizabeth Mueller is the founder of Be Here Japan, explorations for the culturally curious through an extensive network of locals. 

Emiko Davies is an Australian-Japanese cookbook author based in Italy, where she lives with her family. Her latest, Gohan: Everyday Japanese Cooking: Memories and Stories of My Family’s Kitchen, came out last year.  

Erica Nagakubo is a globe-trotting art enthusiast and foodie. Having moved from Tokyo to NYC, and now Southern California, she explores diverse cultures and flavors with her son Sage and her husband, Nobi, the art director of Yolo Journal.

Gaudéric Harang is the French-born GM of Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel. He has worked in hospitality across Asia and visits Japan frequently—especially to ski, and for fashion, whisky, craftsmanship and design.

Huy Hoang is the director of Shishi-Iwa House, a collection of retreats designed by notable architects in Karuizawa.

Ingrid Abramovitch is the executive editor at Elle Decor, where she writes and edits stories about design, architecture and travel. Born in Montreal, she is based in NYC and lives in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. She has written and co-authored several books, including Restoring a House in the City.

Ioanna Morelli is the co-owner of Bar Gyu in Niseko, Japan. She has worked with Roads & Kingdoms League of Travelers and is a partner at Kammui, an online platform with over 150 guides all over in Japan. 

Julia Maeda & Lauren Scharf are cofounders of the Japan-based destination management company, Okuni – fixers and concierges who plan trips deep into the country and its complex culture. (You can read our Navigator Q&A with them here.) 

Kiyo Taga is a Japanese national with extensive luxury experience in Tokyo and New York, who currently lives in London as head of special projects for Cartier International. She’s leading the global launch of the Women’s Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Kansai, Japan. 

Magdalena Sikorska runs the OK store website and edits its newsletter. She is a voracious note taker and builds travel itineraries in search of great food, art, design and modernist architecture, and hopes to find perspective, beauty, and connection. 

Pierson Broadwater is a lifelong New Yorker currently in graduate school in the city. He is passionate about all things Japan, speaks the language, and has spent time living in Tokyo.

Prairie Stuart-Wolff is the founder of Mirukashi Salon, where she hosts seasonally tailored, immersive culinary sessions in the countryside of Japan. 

Tony Conrad is a founder and investor, former board director of Blue Bottle Coffee and current board member of the Tony Hawk Foundation, Holder of Parking Karma and Drip Coffee Skills.

Victoire de Taillac-Touhami cofounded the apothecary brand Officine Universelle Buly, which has several locations in Japan.  

Yohishiro Makino was born and raised in Tokyo, and is a photographer of interiors and portraiture whose work has appeared in AD, T Mag, The Wall Street Journal and other publications.

Yuka Izutsu is a creative director/designer at Atelier Delphine, known for a way of expressing the texture and depth of our personal histories. In each instance, she starts with a form or a fabric she has discovered on her travels, and seeks to simplify to its most essential expression while carefully retaining the spirit of its origin and practicality for modern women.

Yuki Sugiura, originally from Tokyo, is a London-based lifestyle photographer and director who’s passionate about food and cooking, craft, design and architecture and is an avid traveler. Her work has appeared in T Magazine, Bon Appetit, Condé Nast Traveler and the FT, among others.

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Egypt is clearly not just a one-time trip; there’s so much to dig into that really requires return visits. On a recent trip to Marrakech (that Black Book will come this spring!) I met Philomena Schurer Merckoll, the lovely owner of Riad Mena, who has recently fallen hard for Egypt and sums up the vibe so perfectly: “In 2023, I traveled to Egypt twice and was totally seduced by the country. Arriving in Cairo is simply electrifying. The energy is reminiscent of New York in the ‘90s—a blend of culture, creativity and grit. So much is converging here, from the many nationalities living in the city to the ancient history that sits deep in its people, to the most interesting dinner-table conversations about literature, travel and politics I have had in a long while. Many people feel that Egypt is not safe given the current political situation. Personally, I felt that there was never a better time to go. The whole country pulses with energy and a mix of ancient and contemporary culture, blended in a heady mix. And in the end, what does travel mean? It is to broaden your horizons, to inspire and to remind us that whilst we are all very different, there is so much that also ties together us as humans all over the world. And there is no better time to remember that than now, and no more inspiring country to do that in than Egypt.”

We’ve spent the last year talking to our friends and their friends for their recs—a deep-dive in Cairo, plus Luxor and Aswan (and cruises between them!), as well as tack-on trip ideas to oasis hotels, craft villages and beach towns. If you go, or have been recently, we’d love to hear your favorites in the comments! —Y.E.  

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Anna Pihan is a travel, fashion and lifestyle photographer and the co-founder of The Pleasure of Leisure, a creative collaboration bringing visual stories to life through books and leisurely souvenirs. 

Christine ElDabh is an Egyptian-American lawyer based in Brooklyn, New York—and one of our subscribers who messaged me while I was in Egypt with great suggestions!

Dee Kennedy has a background in the healing and mystical arts and publishes a newsletter from her site, sacredegypt.com. Irish-born by way of San Francisco, she has been traveling and leading spiritually-focused tours in Egypt for nearly 20 years. 

Fabrizia Caracciolo is an expert on all things design and travel. A contributor to Cabana Magazine and AD Italy, she lives between Paris and Italy.

Jessica Cantlin is a recovered lawyer, photographer, and writer from Seattle, who is always seeking boltholes and beaches off the tourist trail. When not traveling, Jessica runs Spectrum Fine Art, the gallery she co-founded in Seattle. 

Kelly Campbell is the cofounder of The Village Experience, a socially responsible tourism company that prioritizes benefitting the local economy. Her Egypt itineraries include meals with locals, visits to fair-trade shops and trips off the beaten path. 

Mai Eldib is a cultural enthusiast who has been working at Sotheby’s Middle East, in Egypt, since 2008. She recently published the book Cairo Eternal (Assouline) and was recognized by Apollo magazine in their Top 40 Under 40 in the art business world.

Malak Shenouda is a curator based in Egypt with a background in visual arts and sociology. She specializes in art program management and has organized symposiums and festivals in visual arts.

Marc Kosberg was born and raised in Mexico City, where he works as a travel curator and bon-vivant specializing in authentic experiences. 

Noha El Taher is the co-founder of Kiliim, a Cairo-based lifestyle brand dedicated to reviving and sustaining local Egyptian crafts and the communities behind them. 

Philomena Schurer Merckoll is the founder of Riad Mena in Marrakech. Half-German, half-Norwegian, and born and raised in London, she’s lived and worked in Mexico City, Munich, New York, Paris, Berlin and Stockholm. 

Stephanie von Watzdorf founded the clothing brand Figue (which she has since sold), and has spent time traveling and working in Egypt. She’s now living between Milan and Kenya, where she’s working with Chantecaille Conservation Foundation.

Zeina Aboukheir is a photographer and jewelry designer as well as the founder of the incredibly chic Al Moudira hotel on Luxor’s west bank. 

Zein Khalifa is the co-founder of TINTERA, the only private photography gallery in Egypt. With a gallery in Zamalek and an office in London, TINTERA aims to raise the profile of contemporary and historical photography in and of Egypt.

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If you had to make your way from Portugal to Spain in 4-5 days, what is a good route to see highlights? 

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In Part 1 of our Greece Travel Planner, with a huge assist from our well-traveled friends and experts, we answered your questions (so many!) on which islands to visit for sandy beaches, the best tavernas, and traditional crafts instead of crowds. We keep updating it with new info—from adding a Corfu list from local resident Christina Martini, the founder/designer of Ancient Greek Sandals, and Yatzer’s Costas Voyatzis on less-touristy Santorini and a few of his favorite design-centric stays, along with new Guest Books and Dispatches from us—so make sure to keep checking back!

We’re sharing some new-to-us intel on itineraries and stays in the Peloponnese and the mainland, answering your questions on villa and boat rentals, the best multi-gen and friend group itineraries, and other quandaries.

Finally, since you’ll likely be flying in and out of Greece’s capital (though there are direct flights from other cities like London, Paris and Naples into islands like Santorini, Rhodes, and Kos), be sure to read our summer Athens Travel Planner to see why it’s well worth spending more than a day here.

GENERAL PLANNING QUESTIONS

Is August an OK time to visit Greece? What islands do you recommend that aren’t super touristy at that time of year?

“August will always be the busiest time to travel throughout Greece as both locals and tourists take this month off, so you can expect to find crowds everywhere, and most hotels filled to capacity, even on the smaller islands,” says Anastasia Antonopoulou, who runs the custom travel agency, Filita Travel (and has done some really great IG takeovers for us). But there’s always a solution: “If it’s the only time you’re able to travel, I would stick to islands that haven’t gained immense popularity over the past years – some options in the Cyclades are Kea, as well as Tinos and Serifos (although be prepared for windy conditions in August throughout the Cyclades). Alternatively,

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THE CYCLADES (incl. Santorini, Paros/Antiparos, Naxos, Mykonos, Milos, Syros, Tinos, Serifos, Andros, Kimolos) 

This island group in the Aegean is known for its classic whitewashed hilltop towns and turquoise seas. We answered many of the questions we received, but if you want more intel, see our Cyclades listhere (which we also lightly cribbed from below), and our more recent Costa Meno Greece which features an extensive list of less expensive places to stay throughout the Greek islands.

Would love to hear about Milos, Sifnos and any other islands that are less busy, please! And any tips for a 10-day holiday between Milos and Folegandros with an 18-month-old baby in June? Accommodation, car or boat rentals, things not to miss, restaurants etc?

MILOS

I love Milos and its relaxed, down-to-earth vibe. Because it is so rich in minerals, it hasn’t had to rely on tourism the way so many others have; locals aren’t jaded and there are more stores that cater to people who actually live there, rather than loads of expensive boutiques. It has so many beautiful beaches and doesn’t have one main town that everyone gravitates to, so even at the height of summer it doesn’t heave the way some of the over-touristed islands do. Skinopi Lodge, a modernist-style property overlooking the sea, is our spot. It was pretty much love at first sight with its owner, Nausika Georgiadou—smart, strong, opinionated, charming, great taste, captains her own boat! Everything is so intelligently and thoughtfully done—plus outdoor kitchen and shower, and the best sunset views. Every day Nausika told us what beach to go to—looking at the wind charts to see where would be the best for that day, and then she’d come up with the lunch suggestion based on that. My favorites are Medousa (in Mandrakia)–one of the most photographed restaurants on the island, with its seafront location and octopus hanging on the line. While it often has a wait, there are the most charming syrmata (colorful cave boathouses) to wander around. Taverna Embourious, (simple and fresh with tables right on the water), O Hamos (in Adamas, lovely for a late lunch–dinner is too crowded), and the souvlaki spot O Gyros in Adamas is great for a simple fast lunch. If you take a boat to neighboring island Kimolos, To Kyma is excellent–a feet in the sand kind of place that makes delicious imam (baked eggplant). For dinner my favorite is Ergina in Tripiti, which makes the best “grandma” food. And Palaios bakery in Plaka is a nice place to get coffee and orange cake in the morning. —Y.E.

Alexandra Heard and Heleena Trahanas, co-founders of  the Australia-based, Mediterranean-obsessed lifestyle brand Alex and Trahanas, know the island well. “Milos has some of the most stunning beaches in the world. Kleftiko Beach on the

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