A river cruise is something I previously didn’t consider as a means to travel and explore a place – the idea of being stuck on a ship with hundreds of other people and visiting places fleetingly didn’t sound appealing to me. That changed when I decided to give it a try several years ago. I […]
A piece of paradise at Constance Prince Maurice
“Welcome to Constance Prince Maurice!”, exclaimed the driver as we turned off the main road. I had just arrived in Mauritius and was met by Kamal. He led me to the resort’s limousine and as I stepped in, I found a set of cold towels, bottled water, juices, reading materials and macarons. Nice! I was […]
A weekend of indulgence at Lanzerac Wine Estate
The Stellenbosch winelands near Cape Town are one of my favourite places in the world. I’ll never tire of the magnificent mountain scenery, gorgeous vineyards, beautiful Cape Dutch architecture, the friendly locals and their big smiles. Hence, it’s always a treat to return to this stunning part of the world – and I count myself […]
Eleven things to do in Mauritius
On a world map, Mauritius is a tiny dot in the vast Indian Ocean off the coast of Madagascar (map). Famous for its stunning beaches and luxurious resorts, Mauritius is a popular honeymoon destination. However, there are many more things to do in Mauritius besides lazing on a beach. With its spectacular lagoons, blinding white […]
My stay at Hotel Pacai in Vilnius
Hotel Pacai is a five-star hotel in Vilnius (map), the capital of Lithuania. Opened in 2018 after five years of restoration work, this hotel is located in a 17th century Baroque palace in the Old Town of Vilnius. Built as the home of the influential Pacai nobles in 1677, the palace played an important role […]
An afternoon at La Motte
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 […]
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:
-
Street art in Reunion Island
-
Plane views: Kathmandu
-
A weekend in Ghent
-
Malaysian chic at The Ruma Hotel
-
Three days in Phu Quoc
-
Why geography is important
-
A Danube River cruise with Avalon Waterways
-
What makes me happy when I travel
-
Reigniting the magic of travel
-
My weekend in Graz
-
A Danube River cruise with Avalon Waterways
-
A piece of paradise at Constance Prince Maurice
-
Street art in Reunion Island
-
My weekend in Graz
-
Reigniting the magic of travel
-
Three days in Phu Quoc
-
A weekend of indulgence at Lanzerac Wine Estate
-
A weekend in Ghent
-
Plane views: Kathmandu
-
What makes me happy when I travel
Velvet Escape has appeared in
