Great Escapes in Chile and Argentina

In one of our recent blogs, we shared an article we had written on Búzios for Luxe Magazine’s debut issue. But this wasn’t the only travel feature we produced for Luxe. In fact, we wrote so many great articles for the first issue, we thought we’d share another one.

Our team of  writers penned pieces on everything from sensational swimming pools to spectacular spas, but for oenophiles it’s hard to beat our feature on South America’s finest vineyard resorts. It hones in on two things that many of our well-travelled writers are passionate about: wine and travel.

Written by two of our expert travel writers, this article focused on a pair of  exclusive resorts in South America, both of which are set amid the vines. One was the innovative Vina Vik in Chile’s Millahue Valley and the other was the superb Vines Resort and Spa, located in the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina. In both resorts, wine takes pride of place, in the bar and on the dinner table, as well as – in the case of Vina Vik – in the spa, where grapes are incorporated into the treatment. Just like the wines themselves, stays in both hotels are meant to be savoured. Would you like to jet off on a luxury wine country retreat to South America? Then scroll down below.

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Búzios: Where Beaches Beckon

With the reverberations of the World Cup 2014 only just behind us and the 2016 Olympic Games still looming, Rio de Janeiro has been hogging the holiday limelight. But while the rest of the world lands in Rio, where do the young and beautiful Rio residents go when they need to escape from it all? Búzios it seems, a place we’ve been getting to know for our latest travel article for Luxe Magazine.

A gloriously gorgeous seaside resort, Búzios is bordered by more than 20 golden strips of soft sand. With its azure waters and endless sun, it doesn’t have to work hard to court attention and can even name a VIP – Brigitte Bardot – among its fanbase. Couple that with an exciting dining scene and you’ll get a sense of why Búzios is a favourite destination for cariocas. So whether you’re looking to tack on a beach getaway to the end of your Olympics trip or you’re a Rio dweller planning a holiday to recoup and recover after the event, scroll down to read our full article and to discover more about this Brazilian resort.

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Hotels Among the Vines: Great Vineyard Tours – A Blog for From the Grapevine

Have you ever read a wine label, noted its far-flung origins and been seized by wanderlust? Then you might want to consider visiting a vineyard resort. Fortunately, there are an increasing number of them from which to choose.

This is something that we highlighted in our most recent travel blog article for From the Grapevine. We wandered off the beaten track and into a host of fantastic vineyard resorts that combine lip-smacking wine with spectacular destinations. Among the lesser-known wine hotspots were a New York vineyard with a delicious range of pinot blancs and a chateau in Galilee with a wine list boasting the best in regional vintages. We also looked at vineyard resorts in better-known wine regions, such as a hotel in Mendoza, Argentina with beautiful wine-themed rooms, a complementary tasting and its own personal vineyard. And then, of course, we couldn’t miss the luxurious lodge in Matakana, New Zealand, which offers a wonderful vineyard along with majestic views across the mighty Pacific.

If our summary of the blog has tickled your oenophilic tastebuds, then simply scroll down for our pick of the five best vineyard resorts in the world. They all combine fine wine, great accommodation and breathtaking scenery…

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Why You Should Avoid Writing About a Travel Destination Only from Memory

Great travel experiences create vivid memories. Ask any traveller about a particular trip, and they will recall many strong sensory memories, from the incredible sight of a migrating herd of elephants to the gentle sound of waves lapping at shore; the overpowering smell of a bustling spice market to the sweet taste of a freshly-picked mango.

However, memory is not as reliable as it first appears. Press the same traveller on the exact number of elephants, or the route they took through the spice market, and you may find they struggle to give you an answer. The fact is, no matter how vivid your travel memories seem, there’s always key information missing from your recollection.

As travel writers, we do as much as we possibly can to record everything we see and do during our trips – in fact, making notes on your travels is a very valuable habit for travel writers – but it is not possible to record absolutely everything. So how do you ensure the travel article, guide or web copy you write when you arrive home is 100% correct, providing accurate and valuable information for your readers? Here are four ways to always get it right…

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