jmbklj....wish you could have given us a bit more lead time for dining suggestions....we know a few more interesting choices off the 'tourist' trail. f.y.i.....we were in Austin when we received your PM.

Actually, Juilie Frans, signature chef at Essencia (the farm to table) restaurant at The Palms offers some wonderful choices (that's her private herb garden on the walkway to the beach).

Michael Schwartz is a star Lunch with Lydia: Michael Schwartz’s big comeback - Lunch With Lydia - MiamiHerald.com and you went to one of his most popular places in Miami.

f.y.i...Anthony Bourdain dines there when he's in town.

Anthony's Coal Fired is a fun place......pleased you went to the one in FLL (their flagship and first location). https://plus.google.com/105742201383...ut?gl=us&hl=en

Thanks for visiting South Florida and spending your vacations dollars down here.

Sounds like a great breakaway from the hustle of every day life! I love "walk to everything" destinations.

Nope, never heard of the place....there are resort/real estate developments sprouting up all along the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. The only other Luxury Link property we saw (from a distance) was
http://www.luxurylink.com/fivestar/hotels/san-juan-del-sur-nicaragua/pelican-eyes-resort-and-spa?pkid=0&ppid=0&len=0&noShowSocial=1

-O-, did you happen to drive by or hear anything about

Rancho Santana | Nicaragua Vacation Rentals and Real Estate

during your time in Nicaragua?

Every time we saw you, you were both very relaxed. Particularly when we met at the spa lounge Sounds like the Travaasa ambience took hold of you, as well!

Thank you for the link!!!

I haven't visited one of the these farms, but here is a list of lavender farms by state.

Everything-Lavender - LAVENDER FARM LIST - 50 STATES OF LAVENDER FARMS! - Find Lavender Farm

NICE. Glad you enjoyed Morgan's Rock. We loved it and enjoyed visiting twice. I would definitely visiit again. Didn't you stay in Granada???

Thanks! The other property is La Bonne Etape and I will be reviewing it shortly.

We are looking for lavender festivals in the US.....any ideas? I will be on the lookout for "A Year in Provence".

I'm thinking about writing a blog entry on the experience and I wasn't even present. But all of the social media exposure generate during the time at Travaasa Austin has provided a cyber happening for me.

I'm sure there must have been several parameters for the initial selection. I am hoping to see the other 2 invitees' blogs soon (Min and Michael) on their take on this experience. I think we all got a good chance to chat with everyone, including Diane, Ben and Travaasa principals. So little time and so much to do!

As always, very thoughtful review. I'd be hard-pressed to choose form some of the LL properties w/out these follow-ups--thanks.What was the other property you visited?
PS--I'm adding more French lavender to my garden. I've never seen the fields in France, but a very enjoyable book is A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle.

Sounds lovely! Thanks for sharing it.

I know it's sometimes difficult to write a review upon a return home. I know I'm usually busy catching up from being gone.

My observation is Ms. McDavitt and her staff want to invite people who have been active buyers of Luxury Link travel packages and have proven to be active and savvy with various social media formats.

Otherwise, why bear the expenses of organizing an experience such as the one held at Travaasa Austin. If you are not able to qualify under those terms and to assist spreading the word across the Internet, why bring you along,

So you only get entered into the pool to be invited if your invited friends buy a package? I have sent numerous invites but none of my invitees have purchased a LL package since they do not trust auction sites - hard to convince die hard folks to buy travel online especially at an auction. No other way to be included in the pool? I have been a LL member since 2006 and have purchased a fair amount of packages over the years!

It was a great experience!! I am thankful that we were in included and hope to be considered in the future. Now, please add packages to Chile and Uruguay so I can buy more packages!!!

Wonder if the next event will be open to returning VIPs from the first event? Maybe, if we actively engage in buying trips!

We're always available to join you.

Just phone or email, we keep a 'go bag' in our bedroom!

I noticed in Diane McDavitt's latest email update there is hope for a future event, similar to what you and the others attended at Travaasa Austin.

I guess the key to be entered into the pool of possible invitees is to continue to purchase Luxury Link trips and remain active in the lounge.

That's easy for me, since I intend to do both, regardless of whether I make the future guest list or not.

Originally Posted by TravelerBen_ll

Mountie - Jim has stayed at several LL properties. Let me see if I can coax him into adding to our group blog, but as you said, it's tough to pry Jim away from the phones

Kyshel - The OW airport transfer was another huge perk of my lebua stay. I imaging you'll really enjoy it after a loooong Transpacific flight, but for us it was such a breeze to be whisked out of Bangkok on a shockingly traffic-free Sunday morning, met at the airport by another lebua rep and walked all the way to the security line!

Ben, I have spoken to Jim several times and he has been a great help, especially when I encountered difficulties in adjusting my travel schedule to Peru. Jim jumped right into the middle of the fray and sorted out the complications. During our several conversations, Jim was kind enough to comment on some of his travels. He's been around the travel industry for years and certainly knows the ins and outs of tight situations.

I'm sure he has some favs he could share.