https://www.truant.com.au Truant Travel Wed, 02 Nov 2022 23:50:54 +0000 https://www.truant.com.au en https://www.truant.com.au/Home-Page Tue, 01 Nov 2022 03:00:56 +0000 Truant Travel https://www.truant.com.au/Home-Page <img width="269" height="50" width_o="269" height_o="50" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9c876a0e569b5dfdceaeff1154c77ab2df938413c2f19630b23b710e7d2d5644/TRUANT-LOGO.svg" data-mid="157537747" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/269/i/9c876a0e569b5dfdceaeff1154c77ab2df938413c2f19630b23b710e7d2d5644/TRUANT-LOGO.svg" /> Specialising in exquisite lodgings and creating personalised itineraries throughout Australia and the world, Truant Travel Design is a private travel design firm based in Australia. ★ <img width="2268" height="1697" width_o="2268" height_o="1697" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/422532d344e1882a1f191edd90848e0862388d9d1a5b7b1ece27b3b3f6275011/photo-32.jpg" data-mid="157538239" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/422532d344e1882a1f191edd90848e0862388d9d1a5b7b1ece27b3b3f6275011/photo-32.jpg" /> <img width="1836" height="1373" width_o="1836" height_o="1373" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5b62ae518832d8c638a10239769022fa1317c9bffa806b083e23db40102f4207/photo-53.jpg" data-mid="157538582" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5b62ae518832d8c638a10239769022fa1317c9bffa806b083e23db40102f4207/photo-53.jpg" /> <img width="2268" height="1697" width_o="2268" height_o="1697" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2c51292ee3ca194c3f48298c7e1094a83e746b3260d5cc02a2b3d9b69aa91f20/photo-11.jpg" data-mid="157543724" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2c51292ee3ca194c3f48298c7e1094a83e746b3260d5cc02a2b3d9b69aa91f20/photo-11.jpg" /> AliciaYou have been such a great addition to our world Riya!! I absolutely love travel but do not have the time to do the research and be up with what’s what, let alone actually make the arrangements. It has been so wonderful knowing that we have someone on our team who can take care of this task for us, and we trust your judgement completely on where we should go, and stay and what we should do. Thanks again for doing what you do, and for doing it so well ★ Sarah What a trip! I want to thank you so much for everything in the frantic lead up to making this happen and for giving us the trip of a lifetime! The whole trip was amazing and went so smoothly. The travel coordinators were brilliant, drivers perfect and hotels were great. Thanks again Riya. Amazing x ★ Meg We had the best holiday thanks to all your hard work. Everything worked beautifully and we all had a fabulous time! We loved your travel app, it was our bible while away and invaluable. Our accomodation was perfect and I have been raving to friends and family about how well we were looked after by you. ★ <img width="2268" height="1696" width_o="2268" height_o="1696" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fa112bffab18f04a31d51a8269d643336178f4d3313e9436c83587f27b463c60/photo-8.jpg" data-mid="157544652" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fa112bffab18f04a31d51a8269d643336178f4d3313e9436c83587f27b463c60/photo-8.jpg" /> https://www.truant.com.au/Services Tue, 01 Nov 2022 04:40:13 +0000 Truant Travel https://www.truant.com.au/Services Services Through its network of international luxury consortia and as a member of VIP programmes at some of the finest properties in the world, our clients enjoy instant access to an exclusive world of benefits.TEL. +61 (0) 459 990 459 E. TRUANT@TRUANT.COM.AU ★ <img width="2268" height="1697" width_o="2268" height_o="1697" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dd7c3bdc6c8128cda0e1d5670947f74056bacb2aa165bc1771f69fbfadbde8d9/photo-12.jpg" data-mid="157545509" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/dd7c3bdc6c8128cda0e1d5670947f74056bacb2aa165bc1771f69fbfadbde8d9/photo-12.jpg" /> SpecialisedWe work closely with you to offer seamless logistics, a curated edit of accommodation, and plenty of inspiration. In destinations where we believe it’s crucial to have support on the ground, we partner with a network of top drawer local specialists who we know and trust, and who will show you the hidden gems you’d never find by yourself. CuratedWe organise trips for freestyle travellers who just want to know where to stay and how to get there, for more structured travellers who like to immerse themselves in planned activities and experiences, and for travellers in between. <img width="2268" height="1697" width_o="2268" height_o="1697" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7e84349b4a831e286c9d3527fb56475714ae7b22b94cdc938ffed09163307e4d/photo-15.jpg" data-mid="157545529" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7e84349b4a831e286c9d3527fb56475714ae7b22b94cdc938ffed09163307e4d/photo-15.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2268" width_o="3024" height_o="2268" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1c29bb10fad98a7f94a1fc3909436cd5695d7650775c431b91c03ab82bdc1c97/photo-9.jpg" data-mid="157545599" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1c29bb10fad98a7f94a1fc3909436cd5695d7650775c431b91c03ab82bdc1c97/photo-9.jpg" /> IndividualEveryone’s travel style is different: perhaps you want nothing more than sand between your toes and to hear your children laughing; or perhaps you’re looking for a deeper connection with a country, its people and culture. Whatever your style is, our job is to make it happen. ExperiencedWe are the best fit for you when you want the certainty of knowing you will be looked after, both here and whilst you’re away, and when you appreciate that there is a value on our time and experience, and more importantly, on yours. <img width="2268" height="1697" width_o="2268" height_o="1697" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b956f32c012433632d6c3ce1ffc762bf09c4e08776c99a119a759d9d820438af/photo-18.jpg" data-mid="157545715" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b956f32c012433632d6c3ce1ffc762bf09c4e08776c99a119a759d9d820438af/photo-18.jpg" /> https://www.truant.com.au/Benefits Tue, 01 Nov 2022 06:05:49 +0000 Truant Travel https://www.truant.com.au/Benefits Benefits Through its network of international luxury consortia and as a member of VIP programmes at some of the finest properties in the world, our clients enjoy instant access to an exclusive world of benefits. <img width="1200" height="600" width_o="1200" height_o="600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f5a192af865de4567ae7195937a9f1902da188181f9dcddb1885934cd1f1617a/TRUANT-LOGOS-20.png" data-mid="176702951" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f5a192af865de4567ae7195937a9f1902da188181f9dcddb1885934cd1f1617a/TRUANT-LOGOS-20.png" /> <img width="1200" height="600" width_o="1200" height_o="600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f9bf85e4dd69afb682e5a1caeccdbcca309e1a68570e11eb32eadc12fbc48255/TRUANT-LOGOS-19.png" data-mid="176702948" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f9bf85e4dd69afb682e5a1caeccdbcca309e1a68570e11eb32eadc12fbc48255/TRUANT-LOGOS-19.png" /> <img width="1200" height="600" width_o="1200" height_o="600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2b513d70eeb425149abb52db32c0e5a74d85aed1afb3d12ba03d74c9798da852/TRUANT-LOGOS-18.png" data-mid="176702946" border="0" 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data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/56b44bda5e5961b6d092c0fed5948962b6fd45ac23ef9c00ee05bb7f7af584be/TRUANT-LOGOS-1.png" data-mid="176702893" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/56b44bda5e5961b6d092c0fed5948962b6fd45ac23ef9c00ee05bb7f7af584be/TRUANT-LOGOS-1.png" /> TRuant Travel Design is an independent affiliate of Smartflyer, a member of Virtuoso: an elite, invitation-only consortium featuring the world’s best hotels. This allows us to extend exclusive amenities such as daily breakfast, hotel credits, upgrades, luxury transfers and much more to you, with our compliments. We are also a preferred partner of Belmond, Four Seasons Hotels &amp; Resorts, Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, Rocco Forte, Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood, Shangri–La, Conrad, Edition Hotels, St Regis, and the Dorchester Collection amongst others. We are often able to add special amenities at selected unique and independent properties around the world thanks to our elite status with Leading Hotels of the World, Preferred Hotel Group, Small Luxury Hotels, Design Hotels, Mr &amp; Mrs Smith, and Tablet Hotels. We are a member of the Pure Life Experiences and LE Miami communities, respectively connecting with leaders in experiential travel in some of the world’s most far-flung corners, and forward-thinking contemporary and creative travel brands. Each of these affiliations means that you are a valued guest, not a booking reference, and provides you with access to a little black book of hotels and experiences you didn’t know you needed. ★ https://www.truant.com.au/Faq Tue, 01 Nov 2022 06:12:46 +0000 Truant Travel https://www.truant.com.au/Faq Faq Fees, Terms and Conditions Please download our PDF for More Information. Subject To Change.&nbsp; Contact E. TRUANT@TRUANT.COM.AU TEL. +61 (0) 459 990 459 How are you different to a normal travel agent Truant Travel Design has access to the same types of services as a general travel agent, such as travel insurance, rail, car hire, cruising, tours and flights. However we are not a retailer of travel “products”. We are retained by our clients to source information, experiences and accommodations which are particularly suited to them and have a very proactive role in finding, advising and designing travel. One of our key differences is that we are an entirely independent consultancy, which leaves us free to choose the elements of a trip which best suit you. We have a far reaching network of hoteliers and suppliers but our key aim is to choose what suits you. Do you charge fees&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;We do charge fees for some services, and this enables us to maintain our independence and ensure that we are always working in our clients’ best interests. A copy of our fee schedule is available on request. Can you obtain deals and specials which I can’t obtain myself We have excellent relationships with hoteliers and suppliers around the world, and can often obtain VIP benefits for you that are not available to the public at large or online. We always strive to obtain the best value for our clients however this does not necessarily equate to the cheapest deal. We find that we are better matched with clients who trust our judgement and understand that there is a value in both what we do and the time that we put in. What happens if we decide not to go ahead with a trip We appreciate that often circumstances beyond your control result in a trip either not proceeding, or being cancelled. Sometimes clients just want to have an idea of what’s possible and the likely cost. We charge a small trip planning fee for the itinerary and information we provide, and if the trip doesn’t proceed for any reason, there is no further obligation until such time as a trip is booked. Once the trip is booked, we do charge cancellation fees, as may any suppliers we use and we encourage you to familiarise yourself with any terms and conditions prior to booking. Can I book the trip or part of the trip myself Our preference is to book our clients’ trips in their entirety to ensure quality and continuity in the travel services provided, and to limit the possibility of mistakes arising out different parties arranging different services. However we understand that sometimes trips need to be partially arranged by clients themselves, and we will always try and work with you to ensure that everything flows smoothly. ★ https://www.truant.com.au/Nihiwatu Tue, 01 Nov 2022 06:23:01 +0000 Truant Travel https://www.truant.com.au/Nihiwatu Nihiwatu <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bd04b3f8a2e0a7c300bda4ae6d1d4dfa144c088a71ce3f719bd30b3b5490d759/nihi5.jpg" data-mid="157547997" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bd04b3f8a2e0a7c300bda4ae6d1d4dfa144c088a71ce3f719bd30b3b5490d759/nihi5.jpg" /> <img width="1701" height="1273" width_o="1701" height_o="1273" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1a1a6503e4333a40e3969d653abb7f9d9952e9df64db8fc5fc05655d7a222032/nihi3.jpg" data-mid="157547995" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1a1a6503e4333a40e3969d653abb7f9d9952e9df64db8fc5fc05655d7a222032/nihi3.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f0a97e3fa05267450019aef84c88d82d32d9ce25269a26a665507578c37e4dcf/nihi8.jpg" data-mid="157547999" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f0a97e3fa05267450019aef84c88d82d32d9ce25269a26a665507578c37e4dcf/nihi8.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/703689d2744c0e00d11b2c65732336a2d8e7688ca150c329cfd104e18a1e209c/nihi2.jpg" data-mid="157547994" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/703689d2744c0e00d11b2c65732336a2d8e7688ca150c329cfd104e18a1e209c/nihi2.jpg" /> <img width="2268" height="1697" width_o="2268" height_o="1697" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fbd726b0d84c1bcaea71de330c3542e008b7e11e918c9f8e532d3766c359f1a9/nihi7.jpg" data-mid="157547998" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fbd726b0d84c1bcaea71de330c3542e008b7e11e918c9f8e532d3766c359f1a9/nihi7.jpg" /> <img width="2558" height="1914" width_o="2558" height_o="1914" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6ce324969f694f7b0c1a8c8ac119600c551b8fc4286b217747b5f08c63c4b4e4/nihi4.jpg" data-mid="157547996" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6ce324969f694f7b0c1a8c8ac119600c551b8fc4286b217747b5f08c63c4b4e4/nihi4.jpg" /> Sumba. No Bintang t-shirts or braided hair here, no Rip Curl stores or girly bars. This is Indonesia’s tribal isle, where the traditional way of life (including subsistence living, malaria, tribal conflict, and shamanism) has perservered for far longer than its near neighbours. It is also extraordinarily beautiful and it’s no surprise that the jaded eye of tourism has focussed here. Several of the big ticket resort companies have purchased or earmarked land here, and a hospitality school is already in progress. Nihiwatu, on the unspoilt south west coast of the island, has been getting a lot of press lately but in fact this piece of paradise has been operating as an under-the-radar surf resort for nearly 30 years thanks to the passion and vision of its original owners, Claude and Petra Graves. A recent investment boost from avid surfer and entrepreneur Chris Burch has seen millions flow into the resort, making it a village with five-star amenities, but one where Robinson Crusoe would feel right at home. It is also one arm of the Sumba Foundation, which aims to eradicate malaria, provide basic health services and bring clean water, nutrition and education to the thousands of villagers who live here in abject poverty. In short, it is doing amazing things. For the barefoot philanthropist, the rooms and villas are enormous and beautiful, and decorated in a rustic safari-chic style. There are open air bathrooms, handcarved signs and thatched roofs. There are a huge variety of activities on offer, from surfing the world class Occy’s Left (a max of ten surfers allowed at any one time), to trekking an hour and a half to a hidden waterfall that not even the locals know about. The owners also have another little piece of perfect coastline a 90 minute hike away with three open air bales, where you can spend the day under the healing hands of their therapists. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are of a high standard and are included daily. The beach is one of the most perfect I’ve ever seen (and I come from a land which has officially counted 10,685 beaches). But when you consider that most supplies need to come an hour and a half by road from the airport over treacherous mountain passes, or by sea to a ferry port that is often not operating, it is astonishing that this level of comfort can be enjoyed at all. The resort employs principally Sumbanese to give them and their families a living and is key to the continued success of the Sumba foundation. The staff are genuinely warm and friendly. They lack the polish of the big-name resorts, but seeing their wide smiles, you would not want it any other way. The room rate is high. But this is so much more than just a tropical resort. The most special part of Nihiwatu is that is truly does seem at the edge of the world. On the drive here, we saw the ubiquitous dogs, chickens, cows and children weaving over the road – we also saw a man in full tribal wear with a machete slung across his back, taking a horse for a run, tied behind his motorbike. The local Sumbanese houses are painted in bright pastels: mauve, yellow, mint-green, blue and pink. From a distance they look like a scattering of dolly mixture over the bushland landscape. Close up, you can see that families live on largely open air raised platforms, with storage in the roof cones and animals living beneath. Monolithic shrines and tombs, some painted with Christian murals, pepper the roadside. And after an hour and a half, you find yourself in a sand-floored bar, looking at that beach. It’s hard to put a price on this sense of isolation, of unspoilt paradise, of seeing a place where tourism is almost non-existent. That is what you are paying for and after a week here, it seems cheap at the price. Nihiwatu’s motto is “On the Edge of Wildness” – and it is. One day we took a boat down the coast. We travelled for an hour past limestone cliffs, rock formations that would not look out of place along the Great Ocean Road, and mountains which had slid in to the sea. We did not see another living soul, let alone another boat. The beach we visited was a perfect arc of white sand. The water was clear and warm. There was good snorkelling at the point. The boys went out spearfishing to get some lunch for the barbecue. The rest of the world could have been obliterated and we would not know. Crack open your piggy banks if you must but get here fast before the rest of the world does. ★ https://www.truant.com.au/Amanjiwo Wed, 02 Nov 2022 23:35:52 +0000 Truant Travel https://www.truant.com.au/Amanjiwo Amanjiwo <img width="2826" height="2114" width_o="2826" height_o="2114" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9a881e987be3516139ecf5c93d05e5dc9cf8f1fc25e866cd5d15ab366a0a9d2a/Jiwo2-1.jpg" data-mid="157759708" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9a881e987be3516139ecf5c93d05e5dc9cf8f1fc25e866cd5d15ab366a0a9d2a/Jiwo2-1.jpg" /> <img width="2268" height="1697" width_o="2268" height_o="1697" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c0590a11646e7680a04c6c0a351fa64ebc147e1450b566b0e05189cb5d541606/Jiwo1-1.jpg" data-mid="157759707" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c0590a11646e7680a04c6c0a351fa64ebc147e1450b566b0e05189cb5d541606/Jiwo1-1.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6d4d424dd7a7dba7940ad199f55002247adf9a04211df8ae23d455360b63cac4/jiwo5.jpg" data-mid="157759711" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6d4d424dd7a7dba7940ad199f55002247adf9a04211df8ae23d455360b63cac4/jiwo5.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b4ba91631f37f84c8f94c67ddfa9452fbfa2730681d355edf5312a73f2db5f2/jiwo3.jpg" data-mid="157759709" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1b4ba91631f37f84c8f94c67ddfa9452fbfa2730681d355edf5312a73f2db5f2/jiwo3.jpg" /> <img width="2268" height="1697" width_o="2268" height_o="1697" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/59c6511af55fb9635fb2858837d0a22274d3a46a968a7b27c45703a2481823c8/jiwo4.jpg" data-mid="157759710" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/59c6511af55fb9635fb2858837d0a22274d3a46a968a7b27c45703a2481823c8/jiwo4.jpg" /> I have to confess to being an Amanjunkie. Amanresorts are not for everyone – their spare zen-like aesthetic and hushed quiet do not suit those looking for a more bombastic ambience and they are often in out-of-the-way places. But for me, the service is always fabulous, the food just as much so, and I love the architectural details –the play of light and dark, the situation of the buildings, and their integration in to the landscape. Amanjiwo is no exception and is perhaps one of the most dramatically sited properties I’ve been to. Set in the heartland of Java, surrounded&nbsp; by active volcanoes and close to the Unesco World Heritage site of Borobudur, Amajiwo echoes the famous temple in its perfect sandstone curves and columns. It is, frankly, stunning. The rooms are stand-alone villas in the typical Aman style – monochrome palette of timber, stone and marble, some with gorgeous azure plunge pools looking out over the verdant valley below and across to the dome of Borobodur itself in the distance. Staff are discreet but warm, and ever-professional. Every afternoon, a wrinkled woman from the local village arrived to make Java tea – water was boiled over a brazier, and fresh herbs including basil, lemongrass, nutmeg and cloves were pounded together and infused, then sweetened with honey. A dance teacher from the village taught a small class of tiny girls the steps of the local dances&nbsp; (they were most distracted by my handsome 7 year old boy, and plenty of giggles and coquettish glances were thrown his way, to his great embarrassment and my great amusement). The main draw for Amanjiwo is of course a dawn visit to the famous temple, the 4am wakeup call more than compensated for as its domes and carvings gradually emerge from the mists as the sun rises. The stories and history of the temple were beautifully explained by our guide and made it a meaningful experience. However once the temple is done, Amanjiwo can arrange other fabulous experiences – I went shopping for antique batik at the home of a local antiques dealer, whose house was an Aladdin’s cave of textiles, statues, old posters and artworks. We took a horse and buggy out into the villages and saw tofu being made, and stopped to watch some fiercely contested pigeon racing, all fascinating. And then of course there is Aman time. To reflect, relax and rejoice, and that is what Amanresorts excel at. ★ https://www.truant.com.au/Haciendas-of-the-Yucatan Wed, 02 Nov 2022 23:41:22 +0000 Truant Travel https://www.truant.com.au/Haciendas-of-the-Yucatan Haciendas of the Yucatan <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5dcb5d4064803eae24ece8efd7316cad635b327c89f43366540f055a40f2a1f0/haciendas3.jpg" data-mid="157759958" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5dcb5d4064803eae24ece8efd7316cad635b327c89f43366540f055a40f2a1f0/haciendas3.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6eb43fed12aa3cb5f52d8844eac45d32ea36f40443b056a4fd44128ebf5f2754/haciendas5.jpg" data-mid="157759960" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6eb43fed12aa3cb5f52d8844eac45d32ea36f40443b056a4fd44128ebf5f2754/haciendas5.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0d2fe00ce4aebdd7b79efaf8b273d79ce738d43c7c20d83cd6e1c1b7cae9a689/haciendas4.jpg" data-mid="157759959" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0d2fe00ce4aebdd7b79efaf8b273d79ce738d43c7c20d83cd6e1c1b7cae9a689/haciendas4.jpg" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/55c28a39ad5b8b622c95272b5fd8bfcbf508c556052d3a27e293d7bc615b0f74/haciendas2.jpg" data-mid="157759957" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/55c28a39ad5b8b622c95272b5fd8bfcbf508c556052d3a27e293d7bc615b0f74/haciendas2.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9e10c7d53778f57d2c6ffaf89a4b4930a3156ec778fc4e49f6b2a83e22a46274/haciendas1.jpg" data-mid="157759956" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9e10c7d53778f57d2c6ffaf89a4b4930a3156ec778fc4e49f6b2a83e22a46274/haciendas1.jpg" /> The Yucatan is Mayan territory – temples such as Chichen Itza and Tulum are now well known but the culture and history of the region and its people runs far deeper. I have wanted to come to the area ever since my imagination was captured by a feature article on the restoration of the ruins of three Spanish haciendas hidden deep in the bush. Today those haciendas, along with two more, are luxury hotel properties, and several others have been restored by the same owners, passionate about the region, into private holiday villas. The largest city of the area, Merida, is yet a small gem, bustling and authentic but in the beginnings of a boom as a new conference centre is built. Paseo de Montejo is lined with impossibly grand mansions, the legacy of the enormous wealth of the region generated by sisal production from the agave plant. At its peak in the 16th century, the Yucatan was one of the richest regions in the world until the invention of nylon lead to its fall. The small city houses the oldest cathedral in the Americas, still in use with bells chiming out the call to mass. In the streets, low rise shops and houses are washed in candy colours and horses with red flowers in their bridles draw carriages of locals here and there. New boutique hotels and bars are popping up and in a fine irony,&nbsp; intrepid escapees from the US are making their homes here. Meanwhile in the countryside, over 1500 haciendas, most attached to long-abandoned &nbsp;sisal producing factories, are dotted throughout the bush. The majority are still crumbling ruins, their brick towers and rusted iron machinery testament to an era of industry long past, ignored by children cycling past or playing football in the dusty fields nearby. However one enterprising family has been gradually buying up and restoring the haciendas. Some are sprawling luxury retreats, others are family compounds, and there are smaller properties for couples and honeymooners. All of the haciendas have hammock areas – the hammocks are crucial to the success of a siesta and are taken very seriously. I find the Yucatecan priorities most refreshing. A stay here can involve nothing more arduous than rolling from the hammock to the &nbsp;pool whilst the most delicious guacamole and an ice cold margarita signal lunch and then dinner. However, those who can rouse themselves to explore will be rewarded with swimming or snorkelling in crystal clear limestone cenotes, visiting the ancient Mayan pyramids of Chichen Iza and Uxmal, birdwatching for the many indigenous rainbow species of the bush, and visits to small towns like the gorgeous Ixamal (painted almost entirely in a shade of egg yolk yellow and full of folk art and craft). As an add on to the craziness of Mexico City, the baroque beauty of San Cristobal, the ancient silvermithing capital of San Miguel de Allende, or the hedonistic Riviera Maya, the Yucatan is a perfect complement, where the age old traditions of the Maya are being slowly rediscovered in an environment of peace and plenty. ★ https://www.truant.com.au/Halcyon-House Wed, 02 Nov 2022 23:44:25 +0000 Truant Travel https://www.truant.com.au/Halcyon-House Halcyon House <img width="1512" height="1208" width_o="1512" height_o="1208" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8d607d61a86c5dd7678cef5c7c3f63e1902acbf0157d8227af7ae672ccdc438d/Halcyon4.jpg" data-mid="157760085" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8d607d61a86c5dd7678cef5c7c3f63e1902acbf0157d8227af7ae672ccdc438d/Halcyon4.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2413" width_o="3024" height_o="2413" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a5ffc9c7844d0f51377fa0c0f4b3d44824eb65934d82a3dcdd27be5ed5d955c2/Halcyon5.jpg" data-mid="157760090" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a5ffc9c7844d0f51377fa0c0f4b3d44824eb65934d82a3dcdd27be5ed5d955c2/Halcyon5.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6972d050faae0bfc604080bc4fc6b321abe5d5cd198decc8606c64d3e21885cd/Halcyon2.jpg" data-mid="157760083" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6972d050faae0bfc604080bc4fc6b321abe5d5cd198decc8606c64d3e21885cd/Halcyon2.jpg" /> <img width="1512" height="1208" width_o="1512" height_o="1208" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0c3ba7b6644765e040617a43068dfaef99e0b3b9e4b266f375dfcfc261e2541b/Halcyon3.jpg" data-mid="157760084" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0c3ba7b6644765e040617a43068dfaef99e0b3b9e4b266f375dfcfc261e2541b/Halcyon3.jpg" /> <img width="3024" height="2262" width_o="3024" height_o="2262" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4e398afffa6202f7a38fbfacc9e1c490ee8c17bce7fc3e09721a69d9d10bb38a/Halcyon1.jpg" data-mid="157760082" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4e398afffa6202f7a38fbfacc9e1c490ee8c17bce7fc3e09721a69d9d10bb38a/Halcyon1.jpg" /> Blue on blue, but no heartache here. The end of a cruisy little jaunt to Northern NSW took me to Byron and then a little further north. My short few days in Byron were spent blissfully taking in all the sights: walking the beautiful path to the lighthouse, as yoga-toned grannies and small fluffy dogs made their way past me at speed. I pretended that I was just strolling, and to be honest I was often stopped in my tracks by drop dead gorgeous vistas through the tea-trees of beautiful coastline and aquamarine waters, dotted with tiny black figures bobbing about, hoping not to be eaten by sharks. We ate at hipster heaven The Farm at Byron, surrounded by men in bush-beards, and more yoga-toned grannies (classes are held on site in a restored Queenslander. It was somewhat offputting to be eating your ricotta hotcakes and maple smoked bacon and see various&nbsp; lissome limbs flung up against the windows in the near distance). We ate at Harvest Cafe in delightful Newrybar, with its beautiful home-from-home vibe, superfresh classics and flirty little cocktails. We ate at many other Byron haunts, where the smashed avo was mandatory (with feta, with dukkah, with biodynamic macadamias, on sprouted grain rye, with yoghurt cheese hung in muslin sacks handwoven by spiders on an organic spider-muslin farm……kidding on that last). We shopped. Island Luxe can afford to build a third store with the proceeds of our visit and I am fully decked out for years to come. Out downtime was spent at the beachy-sweet Atlantic Guest Houses, all blond timbers and white tongue and groove, bold prints and balmy breezes. A tropical garden links the various guesthouses, which have their own common areas – kitchen, library, living room artfully scattered with found objects, and suitably decorative bottles of complimentary mineral water. There is a dinky pool, brightly coloured boards for guests to take out in the surf, a nicely edited little on-site store of floaty cotton garb and a sense of community.. And on our last night, we made our way to Halcyon House, darling of the fashpack. A restored seaside motel at tiny Cabarita, whose claim to fame is a stunning surf beach behind a lawned strip, it houses restaurant du jour Paper Daisy, and has been blessed with the fairy-wand of interior designer Anna Spiro. Rooms are small, and can’t hide the fact that they are reincarnated motel rooms, but they are well thought out and comfortable. As for the décor, blue and white predominate, with quirky splashes such as giant chalky clam shells filled with pineapples. Textiles are everywhere, including the walls which are fully upholstered. Halcyon House is expensive for what it is – but they do very well at adding luxury touches. Our two-bedroom suite was spacious and airy, with a gorgeous forward terrace overlooking the beach (and everyone else’s rooms, if we cared to look backwards – most seemed to be housing fashion shoots, disappointing for the voyeur). A jar of handmade confectionary awaited us including spiced marshmallows and fruit gels. Do NOT turn down turn-down – another jar of the most delicious chewy chocolate biscuits was provided. I’m not sure how that sugar rush was meant to bring on sleep. Maybe by coma. But I was ready to try it. Paper Daisy was lovely – populated with a mix of city folk down for the weekend, and local folk celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. We saw fashion types and ladies who lunch during the day and at breakfast, but the vibe was relaxed and fun, as were the staff. The food was good, and the simpler dishes worked better, I found – a delicious prawn sandwich on brioche with shredded iceberg was perfect. The House at present has a great team and Ben Devlin is providing a kitchen which is offering something very different for this part of the world. &nbsp;Anna Spiro’s riot of art and colour is terrific fun and the natural beauty outside the front door is breathtaking. Hopefully they can maintain the standard, and keep it rolling to be more than just a location shoot. ★ https://www.truant.com.au/Cuba Wed, 02 Nov 2022 23:47:11 +0000 Truant Travel https://www.truant.com.au/Cuba Cuba <img width="1664" height="1245" width_o="1664" height_o="1245" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ae1e05f15cd261eaba12bb8a85aa5e65adaa428a139fcd29ee79c1df46829ed4/cuba7.jpg" data-mid="157760191" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ae1e05f15cd261eaba12bb8a85aa5e65adaa428a139fcd29ee79c1df46829ed4/cuba7.jpg" /> <img width="2048" height="1152" width_o="2048" height_o="1152" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/91f3ee964cd5f01b39b49ae143df5a39bc38deef07ee6fc1e38541caa9c8b27b/cuba8.jpg" data-mid="157760192" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/91f3ee964cd5f01b39b49ae143df5a39bc38deef07ee6fc1e38541caa9c8b27b/cuba8.jpg" /> <img width="1664" height="1245" width_o="1664" height_o="1245" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/09856303ed71095e71c031058ef8848750e4d3f70628a0be759f715b9bb5014e/Cuba5.jpg" data-mid="157760188" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/09856303ed71095e71c031058ef8848750e4d3f70628a0be759f715b9bb5014e/Cuba5.jpg" /> <img width="1664" height="1245" width_o="1664" height_o="1245" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d18540538f90e854a603cfc032a27586b2939a150669c3ca0898ac856779a687/cuba3.jpg" data-mid="157760187" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d18540538f90e854a603cfc032a27586b2939a150669c3ca0898ac856779a687/cuba3.jpg" /> <img width="1664" height="1245" width_o="1664" height_o="1245" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a807ac44707f9d0044bc442c02c05002b84deb0517b840fe0c9e518f503e5c84/cuba2.jpg" data-mid="157760186" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a807ac44707f9d0044bc442c02c05002b84deb0517b840fe0c9e518f503e5c84/cuba2.jpg" /> <img width="1664" height="1245" width_o="1664" height_o="1245" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c27934b631de39b43c62ecebbe8355e4b954463cccda9f7f0d4f2006c42fc640/Cuba1.jpg" data-mid="157760185" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c27934b631de39b43c62ecebbe8355e4b954463cccda9f7f0d4f2006c42fc640/Cuba1.jpg" /> <img width="1664" height="1245" width_o="1664" height_o="1245" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/07ad13c79c0bf86d023ff79a4942687797b24d8b60b661536a5136db5b10097a/cuba6.jpg" data-mid="157760190" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/07ad13c79c0bf86d023ff79a4942687797b24d8b60b661536a5136db5b10097a/cuba6.jpg" /> Flying over the narrow Atlantic strait between Miami and Cuba, I couldn’t get Dragon’s “April Sun in Cuba” out of my head. “Castro in the alleyway, talking ‘bout missile love / Talking ‘bout JFK and how he shook him up”. I was now about to find out just what that talk had cost Cuba. Cuba is only just starting to open itself to tourism. It has been going on in a small way for years, limited to a few select types of tourism, and sanctions still in place mean it can be very difficult to organise travel. And yet, they come. Tour companies advise that Cuba hotels are booked solid for 3 months in advance in the high season. However, the city is opening almost every door to every room for the chance for a few extra pesos to supplement the rations and black market goods that Cubans survive on. This is a country of endemic poverty, but of surprising richness of both spirit and culture. It’s still a backpackers dream, where buses cost a few cents, rum not much more, and you can sleep in someone’s spare room for less than $10 a night. Experienced and more well-heeled travellers looking for a seamless experience will encounter hiccups but this is a country in a state of flux, where almost everything is regulated by the State, and where tourism infrastructure is still in its infancy. “Cuba is surprising” became our refrain, and it is so true, in both good ways and bad. But that is what makes Cuba Cuba, and every day is an adventure. We travelled with the best arrangements possible for Cuba – wonderful guides and drivers, a 55 Chevy on call for us in Havana, and an Audi A6 for our longer touring. Whilst we took endless instagrammable shots of Oldsmobiles, Buicks and Chevys, the locals crowded around the Audi with awe. Restaurants, bars, paladors and Casas Particulares (homestays or apartments) were all chosen for us, with enough flexibility for us to change our minds or ask for assistance as the whim took us, but we found that the recommendations made for us were generally exactly as we would have hoped. This all comes at a price far above the base cost, but for those who don’t care for backpacking, it’s worth every cent. La Maison was a gorgeous French-style apartment taking the top two floors of an 18th century building with stunning Portuguese tiled floors, a rooftop terrace populated with doves and climbing bougainvillea, crisp-uniformed maids and an air of faded glory. The surrounding area was a little seedy but made for stunning street photography. Unfortunately my iphone was pickpocketed so many of mine will remain unseen. Our guide in Havana was Lien, a silken-haired, doe-eyed young woman of such beauty that traffic literally stopped wherever she was. She was there when we needed her and was responsible for some of our most memorable times in Havana – spending the evening on the rooftop of a crumbling bar with an amazing view of the city around us, going to an outdoor salsa club by the river under a full moon whilst the percussion and horns went crazy and the dance floor even more so. The Cubans can dance like no-one on this planet and if you get a chance to see them, and even better have enough confidence to join, you will have the night of your life. We spent some time in Vinales, a lovely rural area dotted with limestone outcroppings like a land-based Halong Bay, where cowboys rode the streets and tobacco farms thrive – Cuban cigars are one of the country’s principal exports. We stayed a little out of the pretty pastel town of Vinales in a homestay with sateen-Zebra printed frilly bedcovers and window-shatteringly loud air-conditioning. After some passably good tapas at the local bar (where a Pina Colada came Virgin, with an entire bottle of Havana Club to add to taste), we wandered back to our homestay and sat on the sun warmed roof of the adobe building on some rickety plastic chairs overlooking the valley with the clip-clop of horsecarts riding by, drinking Cristal beers and talking long into the night as shooting stars and fireflies flickered around us in the deepening dusk. We visited the busy little port of Cienfuegos, with its gorgeous Spanish mansions. En route we stopped at the Bay of Pigs, the site of the disastrous US foray to (unsuccessfully) overthrow Castro’s regime. We snorkelled in crystal clear waters over a sunken wreck, strangely eerie in the dim blue light so deep below us. We holed up that night in Don Luis, a tiny local bar with exceptionally cold beers and exceptionally good mojitos, which although it seated only 5, ended up holding around 30 patrons when a local band started playing in the doorway. The dancing and singing spilled out onto the cobblestone street until well into the morning. Suffice to say that after a few mojitos, language is not a barrier. We ended our trip in Trinidad, a hilltop town populated heavily by locals and tourists. During the day we hiked into the mountains and swam amongst butterflies in waterfalls, or took advantage of the cool retreat of our lovely Casa Particulares for a siesta. We stayed in Casa Amistad, owned by Oscar, a young interior designer and his partner Oriel and their two comical Pekingese dogs. The large airy rooms were set around a simple courtyard, lush with greenery and dotted with interesting artefacts. Once the sun set, we would once again go wandering for music, dancing and mojitos. We did not have to wander far, for in a country where so little is otherwise available to the locals, they certainly manage to make do with what they have. ★ https://www.truant.com.au/Alavya Wed, 02 Nov 2022 23:50:54 +0000 Truant Travel https://www.truant.com.au/Alavya Alavya <img width="2448" height="1836" width_o="2448" height_o="1836" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3460a5fae2158406b082179a056f082b90065c178031c54580cad16e4b4d5a49/alavya6.jpg" data-mid="157760373" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3460a5fae2158406b082179a056f082b90065c178031c54580cad16e4b4d5a49/alavya6.jpg" /> <img width="2051" height="1539" width_o="2051" height_o="1539" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1f13cf8b139e8c497d219587eeba64ed5ae5a75ea8d7cc01cb3af6500d02997a/alavya3.jpg" data-mid="157760370" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1f13cf8b139e8c497d219587eeba64ed5ae5a75ea8d7cc01cb3af6500d02997a/alavya3.jpg" /> <img width="2448" height="1959" width_o="2448" height_o="1959" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fb7005c35bacc64180ccbf17f0ef1b5d7a6b78def322a3f0019f29ba7122014d/Alavya1.jpg" data-mid="157760368" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fb7005c35bacc64180ccbf17f0ef1b5d7a6b78def322a3f0019f29ba7122014d/Alavya1.jpg" /> <img width="2448" height="1836" width_o="2448" height_o="1836" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/490a6c988f2ce59736b83f5976459c50617f9c15beb34e38fe92ffd68056f9f5/Alavya2.jpg" data-mid="157760369" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/490a6c988f2ce59736b83f5976459c50617f9c15beb34e38fe92ffd68056f9f5/Alavya2.jpg" /> <img width="2048" height="1532" width_o="2048" height_o="1532" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e75b53278e3d6d1fc2d2fed9b297bbd979f940a5b16465597a396abfa4c958ca/alavya5.jpg" data-mid="157760372" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e75b53278e3d6d1fc2d2fed9b297bbd979f940a5b16465597a396abfa4c958ca/alavya5.jpg" /> <img width="2448" height="1836" width_o="2448" height_o="1836" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fde6a764ab3c32cc20f886c4489da6e52433c263528282d17a02cf656c61e473/Alavya4.jpg" data-mid="157760371" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fde6a764ab3c32cc20f886c4489da6e52433c263528282d17a02cf656c61e473/Alavya4.jpg" /> On the last leg of a reasonably punishing schedule through Turkey, I made a choice to spend the last three days of our trip in the small town of Alacati, on the Cesme Peninsula a short drive west of Izmir. Alacati is barely on the international tourist trail, however it’s very well populated with Turkish holidaymakers who have been visiting the hamlet in increasing numbers over the past ten years. Originally a windsurfing community, the little town swells to over ten times its population in the summer season. It’s become a haven for Istanbul’s arty set, with its cobbled streets and picturesque stone buildings. Galleries, boutiques and antique shops abound (along with a curious number of shoe shops and sunglass shops). There is barely an inch of streetspace which is not lined with tables, chairs and cushions beneath fairy lights and lanterns, and the warm summer air is perfumed with cascades of bougainvillea and jasmine. When we visited, the amount of restoration taking place was incredible –Alacati has become hot property, and derelict stone buildings are suddenly emerging from their chrysalises of scaffolding as artist’s ateliers, boutique hotels and hip bars. One of the forerunners of this transformative process is Alavya, a group of 6 stone terrace houses around a central courtyard, now a delightful boutique hotel. Rooms are spacious and decorated with mix of Scandinavian simplicity and ethnic chic. Timber furniture is painted in soothing pale olive or dove grey tones, and accented with delicious textiles from Rifat Ozbek and contemporary artworks. Bathrooms are enormous and clad in sheets of marble, punctuated with the welcome yellow pop of Aqua di Parma toiletries. The Mediterranean gardens house grassy courtyards, shady olive and mulberry trees and a pretty azure lap pool. There is a tiny spa and gym, and Pilates and yoga are offered. The amazing thing about Alavya is that, via its gorgeous restaurant Muti, it actually opens right onto the main street of the town – but is a haven of peace and quiet that you would barely know existed. You could not ask for a more central location. Breakfast was divine – local cheeses, honeycomb, fresh tomatoes, dried olives , local fruit preserves and home baked breads, and then a walk straight out of the door into the thick of things.&nbsp; So days in Alacati were spent strolling the streets and popping into coffee houses for thick Turkish coffee, or perhaps a late afternoon ice-cream. The artist’s quarter of Hacimemis was a treat: we visited the enchanting studio of ceramicist Serap Yurdi to buy feather-light pottery with vibrant glazes. We loved the gorgeous hand printed silk and cotton dresses by Milanese designer Sonya Corti, and bright textiles of Yastik by Rifat Ozbek. Further afield on the peninsula itself , there are plenty of water based activities to suit the non-shopper as it boasts lovely beaches with clear water and beach clubs to suit every taste. And in the evening – Alacati has some of the best restaurants we found on our trip, from the fairytale garden setting of Asma Yapragi with its welcoming kitchen table heaving under platters of freshly made mezes, to the equally divine but more sophisticated Agrilia. Sitting on my terrace, shaded by a large fig tree and with the prospect of freshly grilled fish for dinner at the marina, I had no doubt that my choice was the right one. I’m glad I’ve got in at a time when you can still see the locals haggling at the fish markets, when sleepy cats can be found in doorways down winding streets, and when you can still get a room at Alavya. ★