Get to Know Your Huffman Travel Advisors
Read on about Tiffany, Monique, and Sandi’s most memorable experiences, and why they hold them close to their hearts.
TIFFANY WOODS
Peru
Hiking Machu Pichu with my brother for his 40th birthday with Enigma Peru was an incredible experience. Starting the trip at Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, doing a private hike with my brother and the Enigma Peru guides, and then ending at the Sanctuary Lodge in Machu Picchu. It was a trip of a lifetime; every tiny detail was considered. We celebrated his birthday mid-trip with his favorite food and beverages, and they even made a birthday cake for him. It was truly luxury camping!
Galápagos Islands
Spring break with my family on Lindblad's new ship, the National Geographic Islander II in the Galápagos, was a thrill. This trip exceeded all of our expectations. The crew onboard was so knowledgeable about the area, making all the excursions an exciting opportunity to learn about all the different animals and sea life. We loved seeing all of the animals (giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, iguanas, and penguins) through many different lenses, from zodiacs and kayaks to snorkeling and on-land exploring. We visited different islands each day and had a celebration to mark the crossing of the equator.
Bora Bora
Staying at the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora to celebrate Christmas with my family in an overwater bungalow was a magical holiday memory for the books. Paradise is the word that comes to mind when I think of Bora Bora. We arrived at the resort by boat and then were escorted to our spacious overwater bungalow. The trip was filled with every type of water activity, from tubing (my daughter's favorite), wakeboarding, and paddle boarding, to kite surfing lessons. One of the highlights was, snorkeling with rays, sharks, and so many tropical fish.
MONIQUE OWEN
France
Spending our summers in France is at the top of my list of memorable vacations. My husband studied abroad in Avignon and dreamed of returning with our children. We spent five weeks in Provence touring the Luberon and Côte d’Azur during the summer of 2012. We enjoyed it so much that it became an annual tradition. We settled in for weeks at a time, renting villas and enjoying long, lazy days touring the local markets, cooking, and eating. The magic of this region for us lay in the villages of the Luberon: hiking the red sands of Roussillon, the Sunday Cavaillon market, and eBiking from Bonnieux to Lacoste. We recently had the opportunity to return (sans les enfants) and visit a property I have had on my wish list. Villa La Coste, nestled between Aix-en-Provence, the home of Cezanne, and the Luberon National Park. A gorgeous Palace Hotel is set amid the provencal landscape in the heart of a biodynamic vineyard. An incredible celebration of art, architecture, and food.
New Zealand
I spent much of the pandemic living in my homeland, Australia. In May 2021, I enjoyed a glorious and much-needed week-long retreat at the award-winning wellness offering, Aro-Ha. Set just outside New Zealand’s adrenaline hub of Queenstown, days are spent hiking the southern Alps, practicing yoga and breath work, and indulging in incredible plant-based food. The perfect antidote to a worldwide pandemic, it was a magic tonic for the mind, body, and soul.
Abu Dhabi
In 2019 I was invited to participate in the launch of the Forbes Car of the Year. We raced supercars at the Las Marina Circuit Formula 1™ Track in Abu Dhabi, changed tires, and bonded over our four-wheeled friends. A visit to the Louvre and on to Dubai and finishing in Oman rounded out a Middle East trifecta.
SANDI TODOROVICH
Turkey
My first trip to Turkey back in 2009 was one of my most memorable travel experiences. I didn’t know anyone who had been there yet, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but every single aspect of the trip blew me away. Lively Nevizade Street was a favorite place, as was the magnificent Grand Bazaar and cocktails with a view at Mikla in Beyoğlu. After devouring the sights and sounds of Istanbul, we continued on to stay in Cappadocia way back before it became famously Instagrammed and touristed, and that experience in itself was magical. We had an unplanned home visit with locals in the countryside which was special beyond measure, and it was also my first cave experience. Turkey was, and still is, one of my favorite places to visit.
Provence
I love to explore when I travel, so any trip that gives me time to wander around quaint villages on my own is always a favorite. Renting a convertible in Provence during peak lavender season and visiting the provincial hilltop towns in Rose country was a highlight for me. We stayed in picturesque Gordes at a hotel with a stunning vista of the town and enjoyed a special dinner the first night. The following few days we drove on small countryside roads, top down, no one else around, and explored the charming hilltop villages with no timeframe in mind. Bonnieux, Oppede le Vieux, La Coste, Saignon, Rousillon – I love the beauty of the Luberon valley and want to experience this all over again.
Antartica
A bucket list experience was one I did just last year – spending the week in the interior of Antarctica with the luxe exploration outfit of White Desert. We started with a stay in the brand new futuristic sky pods of Echo Camp, on the actual opening day nonetheless, and spent the end of the trip in the polar pods at the flagship Whichaway camp. We had a packed itinerary – nunatak hiking on the snow and rocks, abseiling, hiking over ice waves, a full day hike over snow and ice terrain to explore an underground ice tunnel, and the absolute highlight of the trip – a truly private expedition to the Atka Bay emperor penguin colony where we came face-to-face with 28,000 emperor penguins. All topped off with gourmet meals prepared by a private chef followed by cocktails by the fire and in the Ice Bar. Being in this remote area where so few have traveled was a memory I won’t soon forget.