Travel Expert

Justin Beck

Our most memorable trips usually include a moment we could never fully anticipate—and we’ll never forget. I'll build moments like this for you. ASK ME ABOUT * What it really feels like to visit Antarctica * The impact of Trader Joe’s canvas bags on Japanese hospitality * Why private reserves matter for your custom-designed African safari * Why it’s worth viewing the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City on a private tour * The difference between a traditional cruise and an expedition cruise * Why curry leaves dominate my front porch—and why South Indian food is the best * Combining the Galápagos Islands, Peruvian Amazon, Easter Island, and/or Machu Picchu * How space and crew-to-guest ratios affect your cruise experience * Watching three lionesses hunt a wildebeest at dusk during the Great Migration * My wardrobe challenge while canyoneering in Tuscany’s Garfagnana Valley * The safety briefing I received before tackling Class V rapids in Costa Rica * When a luxury cruise can offer greater overall value than a mass-market cruise * How a jaguar licking your forehead gives you context on your own cats * How to experience Mount Everest Base Camp without actually hiking * Overcoming my fear of sharks in Belize—with a little help * The possibilities that open up with privately guided, bespoke travel * Our departure committee as we left the Antarctic Peninsula * Why feeding apples to a cow in the Black Forest may be an effective use of your time * Objective comparisons of Viking River and Ocean Cruises versus the alternatives * How sloths are surprisingly great swimmers * What it’s like to jump out of a perfectly good airplane * Why you should never give up on an extra-special wildlife sighting * Why it isn’t that gross to feed a tapir from your mouth * Top destinations for oenophiles outside Europe * Why a mahout doesn’t mind you grooming their elephant * How remote Amazonian villagers are not impressed with your mastery of Warren G’s “Regulate” * Restrictions on local banana purchases for elephant snacks * Arrive late and you won’t learn to keep your hands away from a peccary