That time I went to Scotland...


The most expensive trip I ever took was to London and Scotland. I had been given some free hotel nights at a luxury hotel in London, and used that as an excuse to plan a trip for me and Iñigo that just got more and more expensive (the exchange with the pound didn’t help at all).

We stayed at some iconic hotels, took in spectacular scenery, and did fun activities like touring castles and whisky distilleries.

But every time the bill came, we gulped a little. At some point, we just started looking at each other, shrugging, and saying, "Bueno, hemos venido a jugar" (“Well, we came to play”).

And you know what, Reader? It was worth it. It turned out to be one of the best trips I ever took, and it’s one I still remember often.

So I get it if you’re looking at my Insider Oaxaca trip and saying, “I’ve never spent this much on a vacation before!” or “I don’t need anything that fancy!”

But here’s the thing: in travel, spending more isn’t just about 2,000 square-foot suites with butlers and gold-encrusted everything (I’m looking at you, Burj Al Arab).

What you’re really paying for is expertise, access, connections, and yes, comfort. It’s the security of knowing that it’s going to be good—that the money is well spent, and you’re going to have an amazing time.

So I’ve found that there’s a travel spending sweet spot, where yes, the investment might be big, but the experience is SO much better.

And on my Insider Oaxaca itinerary, you don’t have to worry about expenses adding up, like on my trip to Scotland. This dinner bill? How much that cooking class is going to cost? Tipping the guide? It’s already all in there, so you can just relax and have fun… which is how a vacation should be, amiright?

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Ciao for now!

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Hola! I'm Stephanie

I'm an award-winning travel expert who's using over 15 years of industry experience to help you get MORE out of your travels. Sign up to get weekly travel inspo delivered straight to your inbox.

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