Travel Brands that Embody Each Y Factor
Here at Y Travel, we have decades of collective experience creating bespoke travel itineraries. Looking back on these long careers, it has always been clear to us that although travel is different for every person, there are eight overarching ‘themes’ that govern the trips we craft.
With this in mind, we created our revolutionary ‘Y Factors’. In essence, our Y Factors are an encapsulation of these eight categories, and they allow us to categorise travel according to our clients’ different portals of passion. From immersive expeditions imbued with culture, to thrilling adventures in nature and everything in between, our Y Factors allow us to connect travellers with experiences that truly resonate with their wants, needs and dreams, ensuring the most custom-fit trip possible.
Luckily for us (and our clients), there are endless resorts and hotels to choose from within each category. Below we have provided a sample of brands that embody each Y Factor perfectly.
ADVENTURE
Luxury meets adrenalin at Aman’s American desert retreat, Amangiri.
AMANGIRI
Thousands of square miles of untouched scenery surround Amangiri, a luxurious desert resort that lies at the gateway to major national parks in America’s vast Colorado Plateau. From canyoneering and cultural insights to excursions by air, bike, boat or on horseback, guests are encouraged to discover the rugged region their way. The surrounding sweeping Utah desert provides plenty of adrenalin-spiking options for adventurous travellers, including: 12 miles of designated walking and hiking trails, the unique Via Ferrata challenge and Cave Peak stairway, access to the Navajo Nation Slot Canyons, and the opportunity to explore the Colorado Plateau on horseback.
ARTISTRY
One of the world’s most celebrated art hotels, the Silo Hotel, enjoys prime position in Cape Town.
THE SILO HOTEL
A celebration of art, architecture, style and design, the Silo Hotel is Cape Town’s most iconic luxury property. The five-star hotel towers above the V&A waterfront and is surrounded by the natural wonder of South Africa’s buzzing capital city. What makes it particularly alluring – especially for travellers with a penchant for all things artistic – is that it was built in the grain elevator portion of the historic grain silo complex, and occupies six floors above Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), which houses Africa’s largest collection of contemporary African art. In addition to bold, eclectic rooms and colourful artworks dotted throughout, the hotel is home to a subterranean private art gallery—known as The Vault—in the basement, which features bi-annual exhibitions.
CULTURE & COMMUNITY
Find a connection with ancient Sumbanese culture & the local community at NIHI Sumba.
NIHI Sumba
Multiple award-winning luxury resort, Nihi Sumba, is located on the edge of wildness on the breathtakingly beautiful Indonesian island of Sumba. A stay at NIHI combines the ultimate in luxury comforts with the opportunity to authentically immerse oneself into the island’s magnificently preserved ancient culture, to imbibe in local traditions and flavours, and enjoy the rich symphony of Sumba daily life. You can witness more of the wild and vibrant culture through a visit to the local villages and markets for local arts and crafts, monumental megalithic burial sites, and the exquisite ikat weavings recognised the world over. Guests are also invited to join the community in a traditional Pasola ceremony - annual traditional war ritual played by Sumbanese to celebrate the rice planting season, and tour the Sumba Foundation, which enriches the lives of many Sumbanese by providing access to education, health and nourishment.
GENEROSITY
Supporting African communities has been the cornerstone of Singita’s operations since conception in 1993.
SINGITA
Singita, the Shangaan word for 'Place of Miracles’, is an ecotourism and conservation brand with a collection of luxury safaris and lodges throughout Africa. Dedicated to environmentally conscious hospitality, sustainable conservation and the empowerment of local communities since 1993 each Singita property has wonderful philanthropic initiatives that support local communities, and Singita Pamushana Lodge works directly with the Malilangwe Trust, which helps protect children and wildlife and also preserves Zimbabwe’s rich culture and land. Partake in the Trust’s meal-preparation program, which feeds about 19,500 children each school-going day throughout the entire country. You can also adopt or become a partner with certain projects, such as anti-poaching or alien plant control programs, and help fund them to completion.
NATURE & SUSTAINABILITY
Barefoot luxury brand, Soneva, is renowned as pioneers of the sustainable travel movement.
SONEVA
For guests who wish to travel sustainably, there’s no looking past the Soneva brand, which comprises two luxury resorts in the Maldives and one in Thailand. Inspired by a deep-seated conviction that luxury isn’t always synonymous with gold and marble, the iconic Soneva brand instead proves that opulence can be au naturel. The dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind Soneva, Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, believe that to live with sand underfoot, to bathe outdoors beneath a canopy of lush vegetation, and to dine under starry skies is what true luxury is all about. Guests can choose from a mind-blowing list of once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are designed to immerse them in the extravagance of nature, including a sunset dolphin cruise, snorkelling with mantas, stargazing at Soneva Jani’s overwater Observatory, embarking on a guided aquatic adventure, or catching an exclusive wave with the world’s first eco-surfing program. Soneva properties also apply a small carbon levy to all guests to offset both direct and indirect carbon emissions across all Soneva operations. The funds collected from this levy go into various projects – from building wind turbines in India, planting trees in Northern Thailand, funding fuel-efficient cooking stoves in Myanmar, and supplying safe drinking water to thousands around the world.
TASTE
Les Prés d´Eugénie, a French palace created by a famous hatted chef, is a haven for foodies.
Les Prés d´Eugénie
For travellers who prioritise their tastebuds, France is a gastronomical playground. One of our favourite foodie hotels in the country is Les Prés d´Eugénie, a small palace created in 1974 by Christine and Michel Guérard, well regarded as a famous French chef. Nestled in a valley of the Landes de Gascogne, in the small village of Eugénie-les-Bains, it is a legendary property, flush with nature. The Estate covers eight hectares, and is made up of five historic buildings, 45 rooms and suites, a salon-bar, a thermal spa and seven poetic gardens. Straight from the pages of a fairy-tale, it is also home to three restaurants, including Guérard’s gourmet restaurant, which has maintained three Michelin stars since 1977. In addition, the hotel is also home to the Michel Guerard Institute professional culinary school.
THE UNEXPECTED
Discover a fusion of curiosity, creativity and homeliness at Silent Living’s collection of eclectic Portuguese properties.
SILENT LIVING
For those who like a unique story or a touch of the unexpected woven into their travels, Portugal’s ‘Silent Living’ brand is a must. Embodying all that is most lovely about the experience of home, Silent Living is a collection of five beautifully-designed properties that eschew extravagance in favour of a more humble and homely approach to luxury, focusing on creating idyllic accommodations that have guests feeling at home the moment they arrive. Combining impeccable architecture with swoon-worthy landscapes, the company specialises in creating one-of-a-kind stays that celebrate the rich culture of the city the home resides in. From a pair of tiny fishermen’s huts on the river Sado to an ultra-modern architectural masterpiece in Monsaraz – Silent Living takes many forms. Combining great architecture and breathtaking landscapes, the houses leave visitors in awe.
WELLBEING
JOALI BEING is the first nature-immersive wellbeing retreat in the Maldives.
JOALI BEING
Nestled on the secluded island of Bodufushi in Raa Atoll, amid crystalline lagoons, pristine beaches and lush coconut palms, JOALI BEING is the Maldives’ first nature-immersive wellbeing island retreat. At this adults-only resort, the experience begins with a pre-arrival wellbeing consultation and an integrative wellbeing assessment, which help staff create a personalised journey that includes workouts, spa treatments, classes and healthful meals. Guests are greeted wherever they are on their wellness journey and guided by the resort’s expert staff on the path to self-discovery and renewal. From exhilarating adventure and soulful relaxation to customised nutrition and interactive learning, JOALI BEING creates wellbeing experiences tailored to individual lifestyles and goals.