Teddie Chapman

Here follows my extensive travel resume. If you were wondering how I managed to do so much travel, well, during my eight year stay in London I was a senior executive at an American Investment Bank. So I had five weeks vacation each year. I often combined holidays with work travel (which was constant and extensive). Further, in the UK there are several 'bank' holidays, which like many expatriates, I combined with some holiday time and went far and afield. Then of course there were the weekends spent in the English or French or Italian countryside.

Europe:
As I mentioned, I lived in London, in South Kensington to be exact for eight years. Prior to that, I had traveled throughout Europe for 5 months, on various trips during university breaks, or other vacations.
First of all, I am really an expert on the UK, as I have covered every corner of the British Isles, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Mann. It seems there was never a weekend that I wasn't on the road exploring Scotland, or the West Country or the Ring of Kerry or the Lake Country.
I have traveled through France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Austria, Sweden and Denmark extensively. Whether it was a rented farmhouse in Tuscany, or a weekend in Munich, or driving/wine tour of Burgundy and Bordeaux, I have done it all. Additionally, I am a skier and have skied all of the major resorts in Switzerland, France, Austria and Italy (Zermatt remains my favorite).
I continue to travel to Europe each year. This past year, my husband and I went to Italy for two weeks and explored the Sorrento peninsula and the Amalfi coast.
This brings up another of my specialties - Luxury Travel. I have stayed at the finest of the finest hotels throughout the continent. When my husband and I travel we stay at only five star properties. So whether it is Le Sirenuse in Positano, or the D'Angleterre in Copenhagen, or the Palace in Madrid, or the Ritz in Paris, or the Bayerischof in Munich, or the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, or the Four Seasons in Istanbul, or the Grande Bretagne in Athens....need I go on?
So I have stayed at the finest hotel properties in Europe, and as a result, have first hand knowledge of what they have to offer.
I have done extensive touring of the wine regions of : France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, New Zealand, Australia and Chile.
If I were to try to come up with numbers of how long I have spent traveling around each country, it would be approximately:
United Kingdom : well I lived there for 8 years, and crisscrossed constantly, I consider London my home town
France : I have easily spent 16 weeks traveling throughout the countryside, and of course lots of time in Paris. Lots of traveling through the wine regions and Provence (for both the cuisine and the Roman ruins). Spent a lot of time in Normandy and Brittany too.
Italy : I have spent 12 weeks in Italy, having been to Florence 5 times, Rome 4 times, I also rented a villa in Tuscany for a week, skied in the Dolomites, went to the Lake country and Milan, and traveled throughout the south this past year.
Germany : I have spent 3 weeks in Germany (my husband was born in Munich), mostly in the south - Bavaria and the Alsace. I have been to Frankfurt and Berlin too .
Austria : I traveled throughout the countryside and the cities over 10 days.
Spain : I have also traveled throughout Spain over 4 weeks, mainly focusing on Madrid, Andalusia and the Costa del Sol. I have also been to the Canary and Balearic Islands.
Portugal : I have traveled to Lisbon and the Algarve over a period of a week.
Denmark and Sweden : this was part of my territory as an Investment banker, so I have been to Copenhagen and Stockholm, literally hundreds of times. Have sailed around the archepelago which surrounds Stockholm, it is called 'the Gold Coast' for the fabulous mansions that are everywhere. The Danish countryside is beautiful, dotted with magnificent castles and palaces.
Switzerland : I have spent about 8 weeks in Switzerland, whether it was touring by car, skiing at various resorts, or visiting bankers in Zurich and Geneva.
Belgium : I have spent a weekend in Brussels and a weekend in Brugge, both times eating far too many frites!
Holland: I have traveled throughout the Netherlands, and have been to Amsterdam 5 times, twice on business.
Eastern Europe and Russia : I have been to Russia three times, having the pleasure of riding the 'Bolshoi Express'. St. Petersburg is one of my favorite cities and I would recommend it to anyone.

I spent a week in Prague, and I adore it. I also spent 5 days in Budapest, which is also a beautiful city. I have traveled throughout Turkey over a period of two weeks, and Istanbul is again, one of my favorite cities ( I have been to Istanbul twice.) I have sailed throughout the Greek and Turkish islands, and traveled all over the Greek mainland over a period of two weeks. Which brings up another of my specialties : temples and tombs.
I am a serious history buff, whether it is the landing beaches of Normandy, or the Temple of Apollo on Delos, or the incredible array of temples on the Plain of Pagan. Since London is essentially the center of the world for someone like me who loves to travel to exotic places, a lot of my travel was to Asia, India, the Middle East and South America. Lets start with Asia:
This is truly one of my specialties, and I have explored some places that some people would never consider traveling to!

China : I have been there 3 times for a total of 5 weeks. My most recent trip was in March of this year. I have crisscrossed the country, road a bicycle around Tianemen Square, visited the Terracotta warriors twice, climbed the great wall twice, climbed every temple imaginable, visited every museum imaginable (the museum in Shanghai is my favorite). And this does not include Hong Kong, which I have visited 5 times and spent a total of 3 weeks there. I was very fortunate to go there on business, so I know all of the finest hotels and restaurants. But I also went exploring to Stanley Beach and Lantau Island too.
Vietnam : I spent two weeks traveling from the very north, Halong Bay, all the way down the country to Ho Chi Min City. Saw everything there was to see, and then some. Ate cobra at an outdoor restaurant (tastes like chicken), rode a motorcycle around the incredibly crowded streets of Saigon, walked along China beach, toured the palace at Hui.
Cambodia : Well before this country was busy with tourists I spent a week there, particularly to explore Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. There is very little to see in Phomn Pen.
Burma (Myanmar) : I spent 10 days exploring this country, and admittedly, it was hard work. But as for temples, they cannot be beat. The Plain of Pagan (now called Bagan) is simply breathtaking, and for a temple hunter like me, pure nirvana. Saw everything to see and then some, from Mandalay to Rangoon (Yangon) to reclining Buddha's in an airport hanger!
Thailand : I have been to Bangkok 5 times, as it is the jumping off spot to go to Vietnam or Burma or Cambodia. Stayed at the Oriental, shopped at all of the night markets, toured the klongs. Then spent 2 weeks in the South exploring the beaches, and a week in the north, exploring the hill people of Chang Mai.
Singapore : Have been there 5 times, two for pleasure, three for business. Best food is to be had at Nelson's Circus outdoor food fair. Unbelievable ultra deluxe hotel properties.
Bali : Stayed at the two Four Season's properties for two weeks, such a beautiful island.
India : Have spent 5 weeks in India, on two different occasions. Toured all of the north and most of the south. I adore India and would return in a nanosecond. Temples, tigers and tombs and fabulous luxury hotel properties....it does not get any better.
Nepal : Spent a week in Nepal, exploring Katmandu and then looking for Tigers at Tiger Tops Lodge in the Royal Chitwan park.

Other temples and tombs I have explored:
Egypt : I have traveled to Egypt twice, and spent a little over two weeks traveling around. I have ridden a pony on the sand dunes around the Great Pyramids of Giza, sailed up the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, flew down to Abu Simbel, climbed into every tomb that was open....I love Egypt, I just wish the Middle East was safer to travel to at this time.
Israel : I have spent a week in Israel, and crisscrossed Jerusalem endlessly, climbed Massada, floated in the Dead Sea, viewed the crypt in the Church of the Nativity, and gazed in awe at the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Dome of the Book. Such a wonderful country, such a troubled time to visit.
Jordan : One of the greatest countries to visit! From the roman amphitheatre in Amman, to the roman ruins at Jerash (second in the world to Ephesus) to the most magical of all spots for a temple and tomb hunter like me : Petra! I was very lucky as I visited Petra when tensions were very high in the Middle East, so it was empty. We climbed every hill and temple and explored every tomb, all to ourselves. And the Jordanians are the nicest people. Cannot recommend it high enough.

South America
Ecuador and the Galapagos : I went on a 8 day cruise around the Galapagos Islands. The ship was a very luxurious 40 passenger yacht, and we visited every island possible. It was wonderful. From swimming with fairy penguins and sea lions to walking amongst the blue footed boobie colony. Then I spent a week traveling throughout Ecuador, which is a beautiful country. There are very interesting Incan structures to visit. Quito is a particularly lovely city.
Peru : From Lima to Machu Picchu to the Nazca Lines, I saw it all. Fabulous country for a temple and tomb hunter.
Chile : Traveled from the North to the South, from the Atacama desert, to the Torres del Paine, breathtaking scenery. Went to Easter Islands to see the Moai. Toured the wine country to gain some insight into their viticulture methods.
Antarctica : Sailed on the Explorer to the Antarctica Pennisula. On my web site I am putting together a whole section dedicated to Antarctica. What can I say, it was utterly amazing, but would not been everyone's cup of tea, definitely for the intrepid traveler.
Australia and New Zealand

Australia : I have spent over 4 weeks traveling around Australia, on three individual visits. From glamorous Hayman Island, to Sydney to Melbourne to Ayers Rock to Tasmania, I have seen it all, in some cases, several times. I adore Australia, and my husband lived there for two years, and I have many friends there. Needless to say, we toured the wine country extensively.
New Zealand : We spent a little over two weeks traveling from the top of the North Island, down to the bottom of the South Island. Of course we toured vineyards, but we also explored all of the cities, and stayed at very exclusive lodges : Solitare, Moose and Huka. Queenstown is a gas, and we jet boated, and took helicopter rides and white water rafted. So much fun to be had. I also went swimming with the dolphins in Kaikoura, which was an amazing experience.

Africa
I have been to Africa 5 times and consider myself a Luxury safari expert. I have stayed at the most luxurious lodges everywhere possible.
South Africa : Twice I have been on Safari in Kruger National Park, both times staying at Londolozi. Then I have driven all over South Africa, from Durban to Plettenberg Bay, through the Garden Route, up through the Drakensberg, and of course the wine country, and then spent a lot of time in one of my favorite cities ; Capetown.
Kenya : I have spent 10 days in Kenya on Safari, having the pleasure of staying at Olonana.
Tanzania : I have spent 9 days on Safari in Tanzania, being completely pampered at Swala Camp and Kusini Camp. Then I went on to Zanzibar for four nights for a wonderful escape on The Indian Ocean.
Botswana: More game viewing, and more luxurious accomodation at Stanley's Camp and Chobe Chilwero.

Luxury Cruises
I only endorse the small ship experience, with the exception of Cunard, which I believe is wonderful for transatlantic and world cruises. I have cruised with Seabourn, Windstar and Callisto, that is why I recommend them on my website. In each case I sailed around various parts of the Mediterranean. All are different in some aspects, but all are Luxury cruises. All are small ships, in particular Callisto, with only 36 guests. It is very appealing intellectually, as the guest speakers aboard are phenomenal. Seabourn offers up a level of luxury that I believe is unparalleled. Windstar offers up luxury combined with the romantic environment of being under sail. Finally, Seadream, which I have only done a ship inspection, is also a small luxury ship experience, and it is totally hip, so I feel comfortable recommending it too.
I have sailed across the North Atlantic on the QE II, and therefore I feel I can recommend it. But to be truly comfortable, I can only recommend the upper classes of stateroom.
So to sum it up: my expertise is in Luxury travel to Europe (all of the continent, from north to south, east to west), Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand and luxury cruises by Seabourn, Windstar, Callisto, Seadream and Cunard Line. Further, I am really a temple and tomb hunter, and a history buff. At this time, I am not putting any information on the Middle East on my web site, but I will when tensions settle down. Lastly, I am well versed with Antarctica, and I am putting together a whole section on my website dedicated to travel to the 'final frontier'. Look for the Goddess driving a dog sled! Finally, I am obviously very well versed with the assorted wine regions throughout the world!

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