2026 - Are We Located Yet?

Dear Friends and Travelers,

If you’re wondering where the title of this newsletter comes from - Are We Located Yet? - watch or re-watch The Darjeeling Limited! There’s a fun exhibition of Wes Anderson’s work at the Design Museum in London at the moment. I love how he creates a magical sense of place in all his movies. I thrive to do the same with all the itineraries that I create. We’re losing out on connections in this super digitalised world. People & A Sense of Place is what travel is all about!

A friend of my daughter asked her recently “Isn’t your mom’s work going to disappear with chatGPT” … and I truly think Not! Yes it can turnaround a practical sequence of places in an effortless way but … Where are the emotions? The personal touch? The connections? They come from being constantly out in the world, listening, scouting, talking, networking, reading, researching, smiling.

I’ve visited over 80 countries to date - but who’s counting when you’re in love - and I am often asked which one is my favourite. Sincerely, I cannot say. It’s like having to pick your favorite child. There is beauty everywhere, it’s a matter of focusing on places with a soul, with a story, places that give back, and places that put design and craftsmanship above anything mainstream.

BozAround Private Travel celebrated its 5th anniversary in 2025. I launched the business in times that feel so distant today (covid!) and it’s grown into something that makes me so proud. Thank you for trusting me in the adventure.

If you are receiving this post today, it’s because you have either traveled with BozAround Private Travel, or subscribed to my travel blog sometimes in the past 15 years (yep, that’s how long it’s been around… pre-instagram, dinosaur ages). I haven’t been very consistent at writing, but I am hopeful this will change as I’ve missed connecting with words. I hope this will leave you feeling inspired.

May 2026 take you to many places near and far. May it be rich in bonding times with loved ones, with real emotions and connectivity in this beautiful world.

What I’ve been busy with

Among the 70+ trips that we’ve planned in 2025, here’s a glimpse at some epic ones for your wanderlist:

• A soulful journey through New Zealand, with hikes and heli flights, fjords and sunrises - and fly-fishing. From North Island to South Island.

• An adventure through South Africa from the epic Kruger to see the Big Five to the immensity of the Kalahari at Tswalu Lodge. Not a small affair when this is planned for a group of 14 family & friends!

• A 3-weeks journey across Indonesia, exploring 3 different islands by road, boat, train and plane, for a family with 4 teens on constant discovery mode.

• A deeply immersive trip in Kenya with guests finding themselves invited to a local wedding in the local samburu community. Completely unscripted. Because that’s what happens when you leave room for the magic to happen.

• Waterfalls, Surf and Samba for a family with teens seeking fun in Brazil for the first time.

• A 50th birthday celebration in Corsica with rafting, snorkelling and wine tasting in the plans.

• The Galapagos with a marine biologist on board to explore the archipelago further.

• Talking about marine adventures: Antarctica! Yes, we planned this as well, aboard a very comfortable boat with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to kayak at the end of the world.

• Northern lights in Sweden. And also in Iceland. Can never promise they’ll be there, but can certainly promise to plan it with a good dose of hygge.

• A biking trip along the fjords of Norway, with just a few hours of dark every night. Electric bike optional:)

• Mexico with los niños, from CDMX to Oaxaca to Yucatan. There’s a bit for everyone: architecture, tacos tasting, Frida, and the mighty Quetzalcoatl.

• Japan, oh Japan - a winner each time yet so many ways to approach it.

• Provence like an habitué, because I have “the keys” to some of the most gorgeous private villas that you won’t find online.

• Bhutan - no longer the exclusive domain of Aman hotels (as beautiful as they are), it means we can be creative and compose itineraries with all 5 valleys.

• Egypt - the talk of 2025! and 2026! thanks to the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, plus a few game changers boats & hotels.

• City & Culture: Paris, Rome, Istanbul, Marrakech, Madrid, Berlin ...

• Or for the Sun Seekers: Maldives, Greek islands, Barbados, Oman, Seychelles …

And I am pleased to say: I have never repeated a same trip twice!

What has touched my heart

• I haven’t stopped talking about Rwanda all year. I went for the gorillas, based at the insanely beautiful Kwitonda lodge - and to compare the experience with Uganda’s gorilla trekking. And yes that was incredible. But what also touched my heart was to learn about the Path to Reconciliation of this little country. How it has gone from an atrocious genocide 30 years ago to being a model of resilience today. Kigali is a vibrant city, safe, clean, attracting investments from all over Africa. Travel changes the whole narrative sometimes (often).

• The Dolomites. Those tall dark grey stony peaks can be intimidating when you arrive in the region, but after a few days of hiking, mountain biking and downward dogging, you come to a point where you’re at one with the mountains. All tiny but at ease. Yes, I felt oppressed when I arrived and I felt opened when I left. Thank you nature.

• The sunsets in the Aeolian islands. Filicudi, Salina, Stromboli, Panarea… with the sound of the wind aboard our catamaran. Oh and the magic of Taormina. I never wanted to go to Taormina. I was always afraid of the crowds. But with the energy of the Etna on your right and the Mediterranean Sea in front, it’s not too difficult to forget about the crowds - and feel transported back to when the Greeks arrived and kept it all to themselves.

• Samburu land. Check it out on the map, far north in Kenya. The land of the nomadic Samburu people, sometimes called the cousins of the Masaï. Incredible. Immensity of the land, ancestral traditions, and awe-inspiring efforts of conservation by some of the lodges there that truly mean sustainability when they say it.

• Indian Summer in Canada. And I keep humming the song of Joe Dassin On ira où tu voudras quand tu voudras ..

• The Costa Verde between Rio and São Paulo, and in particular this little spot 30minutes beyond Paraty, a bit lost, right before Ubatuba. With the green lush forests falling straight into the Atlantic Ocean to give it a very particular green-blue color. A place where I went 30 years ago, and again 15 years ago. And it almost hasn’t changed. There are still places like this in the world. You just have to look. Or ask the right people.

A new website - and a refreshed branding

Five years in business meant that BozAround deserved a bit of botox in 2025. Shout out to my team of graphic designers based in Cape Town (do ask if you want their contacts). I’ll be happy to read your comments to know what you think of the new bozaround.com.

I’ve created a page Find Your Hotel so you can book yours at the same price as if you booked it directly with the hotel, but with all the special perks that I have access to for my clients. Because it would be silly not to.

Where to now

I think I’ll save this section for the next newsletter, so I have a reason to be back soon. Until then, find me on instagram @bozaround.

I am truly grateful that you have read thus far and please don’t worry if you’d rather unsubscribe, I won’t feel offended.

Bon voyage

x Vanessa

I realized that - in spite of all the risks involved - a thing in motion will always be better than a thing at rest; that change will always be a nobler thing than permanence; that that which is static will degenerate and decay, turn to ash, while that is in motion is able to last for all eternity. — Olga Tokarczuk, Flights

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