Blessed, Busy, and Barely Home
The May Edition
Hotel Libby: A note from the GM
Greetings from mid-May 2026. How we got here, I’m truly not sure — but here we are.
My mantra this month is #blessedtobebusy. Not one full week at home, and honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is the part of the job I live for — the season where everything I’ve been planning for months actually happens. A snapshot of what a day looks like right now:
Morning check-ins to confirm clients have landed safely across the pond
Answering what feels like 500 texts and emails a day — from “what should I pack for the Amalfi Coast” to “can we add a night in Positano” to “is the restaurant confirmed” — yes, yes it is, I checked twice
Itinerary reviews and final refinements, because the details are everything
New inquiry calls as summer closes in and everyone is ready to go somewhere wonderful
Real-time support for travelers currently on the ground — my favorite part of all of it
In between all of that: Cabo to start the month — have you ever seen a more gorgeous sky — client dinners, our beloved nephew’s graduation, Mother’s Day, and a few stolen pool and patio moments I held onto for dear life. We’ll close out May at Rosewood Mandarina celebrating Lolo’s birthday.
This is the wave I’ve been paddling toward all year. It’s cresting, it’s a little chaotic, and it will absolutely crash eventually.
But I'm enjoying every single second of the ride. And to you — merci beaucoup, grazie mille, muchas gracias — for being here!
xx, Libby
On my desk: May 2026
Girls' trips, grand tours, and a train through Scotland — what's been on my desk this May
Girls’ trip to Barcelona and Rome
Couples’ trip to Paris, Venice, Florence, and Rome - talk about love languages
Couples’ wine trip through France and Italy with traveling sommelier
Couples’ trip starting in Italy, driving the coast of the South of France, ending in Bordeaux — with a river cruise and four nights in Paris on the back end
Couples’ trip from London to Edinburgh aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman, then splitting ways to Paris for Roland Garros, finishing in Amsterdam
Have a trip on your list? libby.taft@smartflyer.com
Notable Openings
You already know I have feelings about this one.
Orient Express Venezia opened March 30th inside the Palazzo Donà Giovannelli — a 15th-century aristocratic residence in Venice’s Cannaregio district, which means it’s tucked away from the tourist crush in one of the city’s quieter quarters. The palazzo sits where two canals meet along the Rio di Noale and has been entirely reimagined by architect Aline Asmar d’Amman — for the first time in nearly six centuries.
The dining lineup alone is worth noting: Michelin three-star chef Heinz Beck helms the fine dining restaurant, the all-day La Casati handles more relaxed meals, and the Wagon Bar serves signature cocktails and Venetian cicchetti in a setting inspired by the classic Orient Express lounge cars.
Rates start from $1,200 and it’s part of Accor Live Limitless. And yes — guests arriving on La Dolce Vita Orient Express train can disembark at Venice Santa Lucia and reach the hotel by foot or by boat. Which is exactly as cinematic as it sounds.
More about my six days with Orient Express below + my how-to guide here!
All Aboard: Six Days with Orient Express
I arrived in Rome for my agency’s discovery trip with Orient Express for six days of experiences, first-time stays at their luxury properties, and one night on La Dolce Vita, the insanely outfitted train that travels from Rome to Venice with a few stops along the way.
From the Concierge Desk
Paris, Paris, Paris. Everyone is going and I don’t blame them.
My clients arriving in early June are in for something special — they’ll board a Tauck River Cruise from Bordeaux to Paris, then close the trip with four days of exploring the city. No agenda, technically. But when you book with me, your “no agenda” days are meticulously positioned — the right streets, the best bistros, the perfect boutique around the corner you didn’t know you needed.
Here’s the plan:
Four Days in Paris.
Not a checklist. Not every museum. Just the right neighborhoods, the right tables, and enough white space to actually be somewhere together.
From the Kitchen at Hotel Libby
Cooking is my ultimate de-stresser. Nothing winds me down after a long day of calls, texts, and itinerary double (triple) checking quite like pouring a glass of wine and making something to share with Lolo.
Considering we’re home less than half of May, I keep grocery runs minimal and lean on our wonderful farmers market and the fish markets nearby. My favorite is Rose’s Seafood — family-run for generations, with the freshest red snapper, gulf shrimp, and sauces galore.
My go-to easy, breezy, healthy, happy summer dinner:
Pan-Seared Red Snapper
8 oz snapper fillets, skin off EVOO 2 tbsp Red Fish Magic seasoning
Coat both sides of the snapper with Red Fish Magic. Heat a large non-stick pan to medium, add a drizzle of olive oil. Cook snapper four minutes per side, or until white and flaky. Let rest a few minutes before serving.
Spicy Slaw
½ head green cabbage, shredded ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced ½ green jalapeño, sliced ¼ cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt ¼ cup white wine vinegar 1 lime, juiced
Whisk together the sauce ingredients, toss with shredded cabbage, and let sit in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
Lemony Couscous
1 clove garlic, grated 1 tbsp butter 1 lemon, zested and juiced Couscous + water as directed on package
Add butter to a small pot over medium heat. Add garlic and lemon, cook for a minute until fragrant. Add water and bring to a boil, then add couscous as directed. Fluff and serve.
From the Gift Shop
Travel essentials I cannot live without + a few summertime favorites
The sleep contraption that has single-handedly saved every time zone I’ve ever crossed — how anyone travels without this is genuinely beyond me.
The carry-on tote that does it all, including fold flat when you’ve inevitably over-shopped.
The travel makeup pouch I’d stake my reputation on. And I have tried. Every. Single. One.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have 47 unread texts and a glass of wine with my name on it. Until next month — and trust me, June has a lot to say
xx, Libby