La Motte is one of the finest wine estates in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. Situated in the Franschhoek Valley, near the town of Franschhoek (map), against the imposing backdrop of the Wemmershoek mountains, the La Motte wine estate can trace its roots back to the 17th century. These days, La Motte is famous […]
Safari at the Gondwana Game Reserve
The light was fading quickly but we were determined to find them. Our guide expertly manoeuvered the jeep around a tight bend and stopped. Silence reigned as the dust settled. I surveyed the surrounding bushes before turning my gaze to the mountains, bathed in a soft pink light, in the far distance. We sat in […]
Memories of Bora Bora
It was ten years ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday. When I sat down to plan my round-the-world trip in 2008, a trip which quite literally changed my life, I took out a world map and circled the places I wanted to visit. One place I certainly didn’t want to miss […]
A luxury weekend in Amsterdam
If you’ve been reading my blog or following me on social media, you probably know that I live in Amsterdam and that I absolutely LOVE my city! One of the best things about Amsterdam is that there’s always something new to see or do, an event or concert to attend, or a new hotel or […]
Feeling like a rock star in Monaco
I vividly remember the stories my Mum told me of her trip to Monaco in the eighties: the lavish accommodations and restaurants, the beautiful people and her evening in the Monte Carlo Casino where she rubbed shoulders with the world’s rich and famous. Since then, I’d always wanted to visit this little principality in the […]
Help design the perfect boutique hotel
Have you ever wondered – if you had the opportunity to help design the perfect boutique hotel – what it would look like? What services, facilities, activities and amenities would you add to it? When these questions were posed to me a while back by my friends Kristin and Marcus, I sat back, sipped on […]
A home by the sea in Langkawi
Langkawi is an archipelago consisting of 99 islands situated in northern Malaysia near the border with Thailand. Also known as the islands of legends, Malaysian children are all brought up with stories of Langkawi legends such as Mahsuri and the fields of burnt rice. Langkawi is a beautiful destination in itself, with mountains which look […]
A culinary getaway from Amsterdam
Vreeland (map) is a small village about a 20-minute drive southeast of Amsterdam. Situated on both banks of the Vecht River (a branch of the Rhine River), the village is picture-perfect, quintessential Dutch, with a scattering of grand manors and rows of quaint houses with their typical Dutch gables. The Vecht River is, in my […]
Ljubljana: charming and cool!
Each time I think of Ljubljana (map) nowadays, I react with a chuckle and a sigh. A chuckle because I still have problems spelling its name (thank you spell-checker for correcting me each time. I know I’ll master it myself one day!). A sigh because this fabulous city, the capital of Slovenia, just blew me […]
Ten things to do in Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch (map) is an historic town in South Africa, situated about a 45-minute drive from Cape Town. Most tourists visit this vibrant university town as part of a day-trip from Cape Town but I highly recommend spending a few days there to truly appreciate the sights and attractions in and around the town. The town […]
About Keith Jenkins
I'm Keith Jenkins. In July 2008, I left my ten-year banking career to travel around the world. I've not looked back since.
Connect
Follow Velvet Escape on:
-
Experiencing the Iguazu Falls
-
Impressions of Kathmandu
-
Sunset cocktails at Vertigo
-
Easy international data roaming for travellers
-
What to do in Ljubljana – a video guide
-
Exploring the food scene in Vancouver
-
Plane views: Lisbon
-
My birthday weekend in Amsterdam
-
Discovering the origins of Bauhaus in Germany
-
Finding bliss at Jordan Wine Estate
-
The art of wellness in Birštonas
-
Discovering the origins of Bauhaus in Germany
-
Exploring the food scene in Vancouver
-
Sitges: more than just a beach town
-
My birthday weekend in Amsterdam
-
Sunset cocktails at Vertigo
-
Plane views: Lisbon
-
Experiencing the Iguazu Falls
-
What to do in Ljubljana – a video guide
-
Easy international data roaming for travellers
Velvet Escape has appeared in
