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oundup of my favorite things this week…
And this week, it’s a roundup of travel tools that may (or may not) transform the terrain. Take a peek at Peek, Gallivant, Want Me, Get Me, and an app to end them all via Jetsetter.com. Follow it, don’t judge it.

Want Me, Get Me.
Want Me Get Me is a free members-only website that upgrades modern travelers as VIP guests at the world’s top luxury and boutique hotels. It’s backed by some badass boss and board memebers (Tristan Mace, Melanie Brandman with ex-Jetsetters and Gilt-ers too) so expect big things.
 

Peek.
Peek offers up high quality experiences, handpicked by experts. Explore travel guides, “perfect” day itineraries and then book direct through their platform. If you find a better price elsewhere, they’ll match it and refund the difference ala Walmart. With an ex- Arts.y and Gilt Grouper leading the charge, Ruzwana Bashir has attracted both Jack Dorsey and Eric Schmidt as investors, as well as Khosla Ventures and SV Angel. 

Jetsetter Now.
Jetsetter Now features same-day, mobile only deals at rates of up to 60% off. Deals will initially be offered in Jetsetter’s top seven markets: New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Boston and Chicago, subject to hotel availability. What makes Jetsetter Now unique is that the hotel’s name is a mystery (which Jetsetter says provides greater discounts), and each property is Jetsetter-Verified, which means it’s been vetted and reviewed by a Jetsetter employee to meet the company’s standards.

Gallivant.
Gallivant is a new online publication for men who seek the best places to stay, shop, eat, drink, and be merry. Think of it as Uncrate, but for places instead of products. Not relegated to fancy-schmancy restaurants or upscale hotels, Gallivant curates the places real men want to frequent, introducing them to hidden gems and old standbys alike from across the world. Yeah bro. 

World champ and Surfrider Foundation ambassador Stephanie Gilmore hops planes between the best surf breaks on the planet for a living. Alex Pasquariello snagged some tips for Jetsetter.com

What advice do you have for novice surfers?
Start on a thicker longboard so it’s easier to stand up and feel the motion of the wave. Surf a beach with small, rolling waves at first and don’t be scared to go across a wave instead of straight down it - the face of the wave is a lot easier to ride than the white wash. And above all, have fun! 

Do you have favorite waves?
So many. My home break of Snapper Rocks off of Rainbow Bay on the southern end of Queensland, on Australia’s Gold Coast. Farther south, the beaches of northern New South Wales are also insanely beautiful. And Honolua Bay, Maui, and P Pass, Micronesia. The rest are secret!

Where have you eaten well on the road?
I went fishing with chef Ludo Lefebvre off Hawaii’s Big Island recently, and he took me to his pop-up restaurant, LudoBites Nine-O at Four Seasons Hualalani to cook up the catch. I have never tasted anything like it. I still can’t decide which was best - the just-caught lobster with caramelized pineapple or the vanilla bean panna cotta with black caviar and caramel sauce.

Tell us about your work with Surfrider Foundation
We’re mistreating our oceans, and Surfrider Foundation is at the forefront of the effort to educate people about it, and I’m honored to be part of it. We have 120 events taking place in more than 20 countries for International Surfing Day on June 20; check out the Surfrider Foundation website to see if there are any events at your beach.

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This members-only refuge in a converted warehouse in the Meatpacking District attracts a cool crowd of arty and media types plus the odd celeb (hello, Justin Timberlake), and has 24 capacious bedrooms. A stay here gives you access to the club’s restaurant and newly refurbished bar, with velvet banquets, a wood-burning fireplace and fresh, contemporary art — plus the Cowshed spa, rooftop pool and 44-seater cinema.

Soho House New York — part of the London-based Soho House group, a private members’ club — covers more than 45,000 square feet of an old warehouse building in the Meatpacking District. The comfortable sixth floor space, which comprises a restaurant, drawing room and two bars, serves as living room, office and party pad for its members, an international crowd from the media, music, fashion and movie worlds. There’s also a cinema with leather armchairs that shows new releases (booze is permitted), a library and a rooftop pool, which is heated to 80 degrees in winter. 

The 950-square-foot Playground has plenty of seating and an egg-shaped bath. Bedrooms have exposed brick walls and wooden floors, and range from 325 to 950 square feet — immense by New York standards. I couldn’t decide whether to dive into my free-standing bathtub or the baroque kingsize bed first. Statement pieces anchor each room: an Asian-inspired mural, a heavy green desk and a ’50s velvet couch gave mine a bohemian, British vibe. 

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You’ve been patient, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the best. travel. app. ever invented. Say hello to the brand new Jetsetter.com iPhone app! Shop our exclusive travel sales right on your iPhone.  Book hotel rooms and vacation packages in under a minute, read our Correspondents reviews, get real-time sale alerts (coming soon) and get instant Jetsetter membership upon download. Can you tell I’m excited!?

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Let’s just say it: The best gifts are gifts of experience. Period. Be it snowboarding the best trails in Japan or cruising on a yacht to Dubai, crossing an adventure off your bucket list is a gift worth getting. So in honor of a Very Jetset Holiday, here are my must-have moments. 

Tis’ the season to make our members smile…

1. The unparalleled rush of adrenaline you’ll get from driving more than 100 mph in someone else’s car at Skip Barber Racing School in Atlanta, Palm Beach & Laguna Seca.For 35 years, Skip Barber has operated a fully integrated system of racing and driving schools on more than 20 of the most prestigious tracks in North America. Whether you’re a wannabe professional racer, a sports car enthusiast or just an everyday driver in need of some help, the inspiring instructors at Skip Barber Racing Schools will teach you how to take on the road in some of the world’s most high-performance vehicles. Check out our video…

2. The unimaginable feeling of watching a five ton African Elephant stomp towards you on the refreshingly down-to-earth Kenyan adventure with Extraordinary Journeys. Let’s not forget the personal moments you’ll share with iconic Maasai and Samburu warrior guides as you track down the Big Five. 

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