Travel does not begin with geography. It begins with emotion. A need for quiet. A desire for wildness. A longing for beauty, intimacy, culture or renewal. After speaking with travelers and hosts around the world, we recognised a clear truth. People choose retreats based on how they feel, not simply on where they think they should go.
This insight shaped a new framework we will soon unveil with the relaunch of our website. It is built on six emotional profiles that reflect the most instinctive ways people move through the world. This article offers a preview. Rather than revealing the profiles, we are introducing six retreats that express these different emotional pathways. The full experience will begin with our Travel Mood Quiz, arriving very soon.
Here is a first look at six stays that reflect the many ways we experience travel.
A retreat for those who seek stillness
La Casita de Femés, Lanzarote
Two traditional whitewashed buildings standing quietly in the volcanic landscape of Lanzarote, framed by soft slopes and an open sky.
Photography courtesy of La Casita de Femés.
La Casita de Femés sits in the volcanic highlands of Lanzarote. The house is built from ecological materials sourced from the island and reflects the principles of sustainable, vernacular architecture. The surrounding landscape is defined by volcanic slopes, open sky and wind that moves like breath through the valley. It is a place shaped by local craftspeople and the slow rhythm of island life. Stillness becomes the central experience, and time stretches in a way that feels grounding and meaningful.
A retreat for those who crave movement and wild land
Esirai Camp, Tanzania
Canvas tents at the foot of a green escarpment, with zebra grazing across the Serengeti grasslands.
Photography by Eliza Powell, courtesy of Entara.
Esirai Camp was created by former safari guides who wanted to return to the true spirit of the Serengeti. The camp follows the migration routes and sits lightly within the land. Nothing is staged. The team grew up near these parks and carry their knowledge with sincerity. Days revolve around walking, tracking and witnessing the changing rhythms of wildlife. Esirai offers adventure travel that feels authentic, human and respectfully connected to the environment.
A retreat for those who find peace in design
Santa Clara 1728, Lisbon
Soft morning light falling across a carved stone bathtub framed by white tiles and warm wood.
Photography by Robert Pilichowski, courtesy of Silent Living.
Santa Clara 1728 expresses Silent Living’s philosophy of honesty and simplicity. João Rodrigues created the project to celebrate slow living, human warmth and the beauty of essential materials. Architecture by Aires Mateus brings soft stone, warm wood and gentle geometry together with rare precision. Nothing is excessive. Everything feels intentional. It is a place where design becomes a form of restoration and where architecture guides you back to a quieter, steadier rhythm.
A retreat for those guided by emotion and atmosphere
Casa Talía, Modica
A long table set beneath an olive tree, overlooking the baroque rooftops and warm stone facades of Modica.
Photography courtesy of Casa Talía.
Casa Talía sits in the ancient Jewish quarter of Modica and gathers its rooms around a Mediterranean garden that looks out over the baroque valley. Marco and Viviana describe it as an island within an island. They rebuilt the ruin using bio-architecture and local materials, shaping a retreat that feels intimate, poetic and full of life. Terraces capture warm Sicilian sun. Nights glow with the soft light of the town below. Casa Talía offers a kind of romantic travel that becomes deeply personal and memorable.
A retreat for those who look for connection
Galopina, Yucatán
A quiet jungle hideaway where simple stucco structures open onto a leafy courtyard and a round, stone-edged pool. Afternoon light settles through the trees, softening the architecture and pooling gently across the water.
Photography by Fabian Martinez, courtesy of Galopina.
Galopina was created when Elisa decided to return home to Mexico and build something grounded in family, community and sincerity. The property stands along an old henequén trail dating back to the nineteenth century and remains connected to this history. Every detail is thoughtful. Furniture is handcrafted by local carpenters. Cakes are baked fresh each afternoon. Dinners unfold around a fire as fireflies drift through the trees. Galopina is cultural travel in its purest form. A stay feels like being welcomed into someone’s life.
A retreat for those who need warmth and renewal
Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus, South Tyrol
The Sky Pool stretching toward mountain peaks and valley light, suspended above the landscape.
Photography by Manuel Kottersteger, courtesy of Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus.
The Nurturer seeks restoration. You want a wellness retreat where the landscape, the architecture and the experience work together to soften and renew you.
Hotel Hubertus began as a modest guesthouse and evolved across generations into a retreat that celebrates mountain life and family hospitality. The Sky Pool became a symbol of the hotel’s philosophy. It unites contemporary design with the surrounding Dolomites and creates a feeling of floating between earth and sky. The hotel blends panoramic wellness rituals, warm interiors and outdoor experiences that help guests find balance and clarity.
Travel becomes more meaningful when you begin with feeling. Stillness, wilderness, beauty, romance, culture or renewal. Each pathway leads toward a different rhythm of experience. With the launch of our new website, our Travel Mood Quiz will help you recognise what you are seeking and guide you toward retreats that reflect your inner landscape.
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