The Extra Mile
From flying private to booking trips that promise to regenerate communities, here are novel ways to upgrade your travel plans
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While many of us dream of going on a vacation, there’s still a general hesitancy to fly—unless it’s by private jet, apparently. Private jet travel has seen a boom in first-time bookings in recent months, not surprising given that travellers only encounter on average 20 human interactions that way, as opposed to some 700 touchpoints when flying commercial. Vista Jet, one of the leading players in private aviation, is seizing the moment with the introduction of a Vista
Jet World Safe Havens programme that combines flight and resort options in partnership with agencies including Abercrombie & Kent and Roar Africa. Our picks are a 14-day trip to Ecuador, including the Galápagos Islands, which comes with a hike in the Andes with world record-breaking mountaineer Karl Eglof. There’s also a low-impact trip to both South Africa and Antarctica, during which you can enjoy a safari in a remote, 100,000-hectare property and explore Whichaway Camp in Antarctica. vistajet.com
One of the joys of travel is bringing a memento of the destination home with you. For those who yearn to infuse their spaces with a touch of Japan, the recently launched online platform POJ Studio offers a selection of original, high-quality lifestyle goods made by Japanese artisans. POJ Studio, which stands for Pieces of Japan, also publishes articles and photo shoots giving a look into the lives of Japanese artisans. “With everything we do, we hope to give back to the artisan community for it to continue on to the next generation, while also collaborating with them to advise where to apply their techniques to create products that fit the needs of the modern world,” says co-founder Tina Koyama. POJ Studio also offers packages that allow you to try making crafts at home. Its Kintsugi Kit includes tools such as Japanese lacquer—made in collaboration with a fourth-generation urushi lacquer producer—and gold dust, as well as an online class, so that you can learn a 400-year-old technique of repairing lacquer in the comfort of your home. piecesofjapan.com