The Essence of a Luxury Slow Traveller

There’s a certain type of traveller - perhaps you recognise yourself - who is, well… a little bit difficult or wonderfully discerning…depending on how you look at it. But nonetheless, thank goodness for that!

You don’t settle for mass-market experiences. The idea of a cookie-cutter itinerary makes you cringe. You don’t just want luxury - you want the right kind of luxury. Not velvet ropes or gold-plated excess, but the kind of luxury that feels like it was crafted with you in mind - thoughtful, understated, and deeply personal. Exclusive, not because it’s expensive, but because most people don’t even know it exists.

You're the traveller who wants the best table - not the most famous one, but the one with the view the locals would fight for. You want a boutique stay where the concierge isn’t a desk, but a person who greets you by name and remembers how you take your coffee. You prefer a private villa, a hidden riad, or a family-run boutique hotel where the connection to the locals is front and centre.

For you, travel is a sensory pursuit. The right dish, in the right place, at the right moment, can tell the story of an entire culture. You don’t just eat well - you seek out the why behind the flavours. The terroir of a vintage, the hands behind a dish, the centuries-old techniques passed down through generations.

It’s why you say yes to intimate farm-to-table dinners where you can hear the crackle of the wood-fired oven, and hands-on cooking classes where the only rule is to eat as you go. It’s not about fine dining for the sake of it - it’s about dining finely, wherever that may be. A Michelin-starred experience one night, a family-run taverna the next. It’s why you don’t just visit a vineyard - you sit with the winemaker, listening to stories of the soil, the seasons, the patience it takes to create something exceptional. Because the best experiences aren’t just booked; they’re remembered.

Let me let you in on a little secret: Travel with Tess was built for people exactly like you. The ones who don’t want generic. Who have the taste and discernment to appreciate the right kind of exclusivity. Who want a trip designed not just to impress, but to feel intuitive - as if it was created by someone who already knows your preferences before you even say them out loud.

I handle the details, so you don’t have to. I find the experiences that aren’t on the usual luxury travel lists. I curate journeys that feel effortless, deeply personal, and entirely unique to you.

So, when shall we start?