August 12, 2009

An interview with one of our culinary travel experts

Artisans of Leisure is well known for our private culinary tours in destinations around the world. We hope you enjoy this interview with one of our culinary travel experts. Q: How does food influence how you travel? A: Basically, I travel to eat. Quite often I plan my touring around a certain restaurant I want […]

Tags: Artisans of Leisure, books, cuisine, culinary tours, culinary travel, cultural tours, food, food blog, food markets, food tours, foodie, Indonesia, Jewish tours, restaurants, shopping, tours, travel

August 3, 2009

Secret London: Chelsea Physic Garden

The Chelsea Physic Garden is one of our favorite places in London. Hidden behind high brick walls and largely unknown to many travelers, this three-and-a-half-acre garden is not just a beautiful and relaxing sanctuary. It’s also a fascinating window into the botanical world, international trade and London’s history. The garden was founded in 1673 by […]

Destinations: England, Europe, UK

Tags: botanical gardens, botany, British, Chelsea, Chelsea Physic Garden, England tours, English gardens, flowers, garden design, garden history, garden tours, gardens, history, London, luxury tours, plants, private tours

July 20, 2009

Bluff oysters: a superstar among New Zealand’s sensational seafood

Among New Zealand’s many seafood sensations, a standout is the legendary Bluff oyster. Plump, delicate and sweet, Bluff oysters are highly coveted among Kiwis. But, unlike much of New Zealand’s excellent seafood, Bluff oysters are sold only in New Zealand, and they are available fresh only from March through August. New Zealand has some of […]

Destinations: New Zealand, South Pacific

Tags: Bluff Oysters, cuisine, culinary tours, food, New Zealand tours, oysters, seafood

June 24, 2009

A conversation with hotel designer Olga Polizzi, Rocco Forte Collection

Olga Polizzi, director of design for the Rocco Forte Collection, is the creative mind behind many of our favorite international hotels, including Hotel de Russie in Rome, Brown’s Hotel in London, and Hotel Astoria in St. Petersburg. Olga works closely with her brother, famed hotelier Sir Rocco Forte. We recently spoke with her about travel, […]

Destinations: Central Europe, Europe, UK

Tags: Berlin, Brown's, collecting, design, Hotel Astoria, Hotel de Russie, hotelier, hotels, interior design, interiors, London, luxury, luxury hotels, Olga Polizzi, Prague, Rocco Forte, Rome, shopping, Sir Rocco Forte, style, travel, Verdura Golf & Spa Resort

June 18, 2009

The Way of Tea: Experiencing the Japanese Tea Ceremony

The tea ceremony is one of Japan’s most interesting and enduring artistic traditions. More than a ritual for preparing and drinking tea, the tea ceremony is a means to aesthetic appreciation and social interaction that has had a profound influence on Japanese art, architecture, gardens, cuisine and philosophy. What happens during a traditional Japanese tea […]

Destinations: Asia, Japan

Tags: Buddhism, ceramics, cuisine, culture, design, gardens, interiors, Japanese, Japanese architecture, kaiseki, Kyoto, shopping, tea, tea plantations, tea utensils, Tokyo, tours, Zen

June 10, 2009

Just Back: Italy

Highlights from our recent trip through Italy, including Lake Como, Bologna, Florence, Tuscany and Rome.

Destinations: Europe, Italy

Tags: Bologna, Bologna's porticos, Emilia-Romagna, Florence, Italian food, Italy, Italy art tours, Italy culinary tours, Italy garden tours, Italy tours, Lake Como, luxury Italy tours, luxury Rome tours, luxury Tuscany tours, Pienza, private Rome tours, Rome, Rome art tours, Sinalunga, Vatican, Villa d'Este

June 9, 2009

The Best of Normandy: Food, History, Villages, Gardens and Art

Normandy is one of our favorite travel destinations in France. It’s just a few hours by private car and driver from Paris, and there are endless touring options. One of the highlights of traveling in Normandy is the food, which we feel is among the best in France. Normandy is the home of many of […]

Destinations: Europe, France

Tags: architecture, art, Bayeux, cheese, cooking, culinary, D-Day beaches, Deauville, decorative arts, excursions, food, food tours, France tours, garden tours, gardens, Giverny, history, Honfleur, luxury hotels, Mont St. Michel, Normandy, Normandy gardens, Paris, Rouen, UNESCO, villages

June 8, 2009

A unique day with elephants in northern Thailand

It’s not everyday that you have a chance to talk to an elephant, let alone that you get a response. Yet that’s just what we offer our travelers during a private, hands-on day of working with and riding domestic elephants in the forests of northern Thailand. During this special activity, our travelers visit a private […]

Destinations: Asia, Southeast Asia, Thailand

Tags: adventure, animals, Chiang Mai, day tours, learning, luxury Thailand tours, mahout, once-in-a-lifetime, tours, wildlife