When 23-year-old Gabriella Heekin of Cincinnati submitted a shot of her and some friends sandboarding in San Pedro de Atacama to the Conde Nast Dream Trip photo contest, she couldn’t have known it would win her a vacation of a lifetime! With Gabriella’s eye on Southeast Asia, Conde Nast enlisted specialist Andrea Ross and the Journeys Within team to help plan a leg of the dream trip she won…
I was honored to be asked this year to help organize the Conde Nast Traveler Dream Trip. Gabriella Heekin won the trip with an amazing photo of sand surfing and she decided that her dream trip was to Southeast Asia. As a Conde Nast Travel Specialist I was asked to help plan the trip and of course I was happy to get involved. Gabriella and her boyfriend Peter are clearly an adventurous couple, but they also had heard of the Four Seasons Chiang Rai and wanted to enjoy a bit of pampering along with their adventure. Here are some photos Gabriella has been sending me along the way, along with some of her comments. Enjoy and let me know if I can plan YOUR dream trip!
“The Four Season Tented Camp is incredible. The attention to every detail was incredible. I especially enjoyed how connected they are with the local community. We had the best morning riding the elephants, which has always been a dream of mine. The whole resort is spectacular. We’re obsessed.
“Thank you for the help with the visa. Thailand has been incredible and it will be hard to leave, but judging from these past few days, we know that we can expect many unbelievable and unforgettable surprises. Please let everyone who has helped plan this trip know that we are in heaven and are having the time of our lives.”
“Here are some more photos. Every detail of this trip has been absolutely perfect. From the food, to the sights, to the guides- we could not be happier.”
“We have been completely blown away by everything that we have seen and done here. Everyday is new and exciting and just as amazing as the day before. We owe you and everyone at Journeys Within and Conde Nast a lifetime of priceless memories and discoveries. Thank you! Thank you!!”
On behalf of the Journeys Within team, it was out pleasure Gabriella!
— Andrea Ross