Destinations Archives - Amore Travel Designs

Step into the world of The Crown — the palaces, castles, and royal landmarks where history, royalty, and drama unfolded, and where your own journey can begin

BETTER THAN THE PALACE

Here is the twist that surprises almost everyone who watches The Crown: the production never filmed at Buckingham Palace. Never at Windsor Castle. Never at the real Balmoral.
The royal family was, understandably, not interested in lending their actual homes to a television show about themselves. So the production designers did something almost more interesting — they found a constellation of England and Scotland’s most extraordinary stately homes and quietly turned them into the most famous addresses in the world.

July 3, 2026 No Comments

A woman in a red beret clutches fresh baguettes and flowers on a Paris balcony — the effortlessly chic moment that makes everyone want to book a flight

OUI EMILY OUI

Oui, Emily, Oui. Emily was right — and I say that as someone who has been making the case for Paris long before Netflix got involved. Still, there is something about watching that show that makes the city feel urgent all over again. Suddenly you are Googling flights at midnight and wondering why you ever stopped planning a trip there. That is the magic of great set-jetting. The destination was already extraordinary. The show simply reminded you.

June 26, 2026 No Comments

A whitewashed chapel, a blue door, and the Aegean stretching to forever — this is exactly what Mamma Mia promised, and exactly what Skiathos delivers

KALOKAIRI IS REAL

If you have seen Mamma Mia — and statistically speaking, you have seen Mamma Mia — you already know exactly what the Greek islands are supposed to look like. Do you know what Kalokairi means? It means summer in Greek. Kalo means good, and Kairi means season or time. So basically “good time” which is what the movie was based off of.

June 19, 2026 No Comments

A sunlit alley in Cortona, Tuscany — the kind of street you wander down and suddenly understand why Diane Lane never went home

DIANE LANE WAS RIGHT

“Under the Tuscan Sun” has inspired countless travelers to visit the enchanting town of Cortona, Italy. The film depicts Frances’s journey of self-discovery and allure of a slower life, attracting visitors to its rich history and stunning landscapes. Cortona’s charm lingers, making it a destination worth exploring beyond the movie’s fame.

June 17, 2026 No Comments

"A longtail boat on the shores of Thailand — the water really is that color, and yes, it looks exactly like it did on White Lotus"

THE RESORT IS REAL

The White Lotus has a gift. It takes a place — Hawaii, Sicily, now Thailand — and turns it into the only place in the world you want to be. Never mind the scheming, the dramatic irony, the bodies. The locations are impeccable. And Season 3’s Thailand is the most gorgeous setting the show has ever used.

June 5, 2026 No Comments

Writing by candlelight in another century — the immersive, transporting feeling that Outlander fans chase all the way to the Scottish Highlands

OUTLANDER MADE ME GO

— and if you’ve seen the show, you already understand why.

There’s a moment in Outlander — probably different for everyone — when Scotland stops being a backdrop and becomes a destination. I read the books long before the series came out, and I was in awe of the production. Maybe it’s the first time Claire steps through the standing stones at Craigh na Dun, the mist rolling across the moorland, ancient and wild and completely irresistible. Maybe it’s Jamie Fraser on horseback against a Highland sky. Maybe it’s just the cumulative effect of eight seasons of some of the most atmospheric scenery ever committed to television.

May 29, 2026 No Comments

The tools of a well-traveled life — because the best trips start long before you ever leave home

NOBODY TELLS YOU THIS

— but after enough miles, enough countries, and enough trips that went sideways and sideways-in-the-best-way, I feel like I owe you the truth.

I have logged a lot of miles. A lot. And I have many more to come 🤣

And while I wouldn’t trade a single stamp in my passport, there are things I know now that I absolutely did not know in the beginning — things that would have saved me time, stress, and more than a few moments of standing in the wrong place wondering what went sideways.

May 22, 2026 No Comments

he heart of Fort Collins, Colorado — where a passion for world travel and local roots meet at Amore Travel Designs

WORLD FROM FORT COLLINS

Everyone knows Paris. Everyone has been to Rome.
And honestly? Everyone is a little tired of fighting the crowds at the Trevi Fountain.
Europe is a continent of jaw-dropping beauty, extraordinary food, and stories that stretch back centuries. But the most memorable experiences? They rarely happen where the tour buses stop.
As a luxury travel advisor, I spend a lot of time steering my clients away from the obvious — and toward the extraordinary. The places that make you catch your breath. The ones you come home raving about, that your friends have never heard of.
Here are five hidden gems that belong on every discerning traveler’s radar this season.

May 15, 2026 No Comments

Safari guides setting up sundowner drinks beside a game vehicle in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve during a luxury African safari experience.

SAFARI MORNING MAGIC

There’s a soft knock on the door…

It’s still dark outside, the air is cool, and the lodge is quiet except for the distant sounds of the bush beginning to wake up. I pull on a sweater and walk toward the main lodge where a small group of guests gathers for a quick coffee and a pastry before heading out. It’s a strange mix of sleepy and excited. You know you’re about to head into the wild, and anything could happen.

March 27, 2026 No Comments

Cathy Rowland standing next to an emu at Cleland Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills during a South Australia wildlife visit.

INTO WILD AUSTRALIA

Australia is one of those destinations that feels wild in the best possible way.
I visited in September 2024 — on a familiarization trip with fellow travel advisors, specifically designed to experience the destination firsthand before recommending it to clients. It’s how I vet the places I send people, and South Australia made an impression that was difficult to leave.

March 20, 2026 No Comments