$9,750 single occupancy (1 attendee in 1 hotel room)
$8,500 each double occupancy (2 attendees in 1 shared hotel room)
$12,500 single plus one (1 attendee and 1 traveling companion in 1 shared hotel room)
The Scottish Highlands
October 6–12, 2024
“I have spoken before of my deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country,” Queen Elizabeth II once said of Scotland. Like Her Majesty, who spent many vacations from childhood to adult life amid the rolling hills and crystalline waterways of the Scottish Highlands, journey with Editor Melissa Lester to this land brimming with natural beauty. Planned to suit the varying interests of individual travelers, as well as husbands and wives, this Live Your Bliss Retreat includes a breadth of activities and ultra-exclusive events celebrating the release of Victoria’s latest volume, Our Hearts Are in Scotland. From our luxurious accommodations at the five-star Gleneagles resort, set out on foot for grand adventures, and travel by private coach for exclusive castle tours.
Each registered attendee will receive a one-year subscription to Victoria. If you are already a subscriber, you have the option of extending your subscription or gifting it to someone who loves gracious living.
What’s Included
- Six nights at the five-star Gleneagles luxury hotel, spa, and golf resort
- Use of leisure facilities at Gleneagles
- Exclusive private tours of Drummond Castle, Blair Castle, and Glamis Castle
- An excursion to the House of Bruar
- An optional guided hike
- Daily breakfasts, some lunches, afternoon tea, and several dinners
- Travel by private coach to all excursions
What’s Not Included
- Airfare/travel to and from Scotland
- Airport transfers
- Lunches on Wednesday and Friday and dinners on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
What’s Included
- Six nights at the five-star Gleneagles luxury hotel, spa, and golf resort
- Use of leisure facilities at Gleneagles
- Exclusive private tours of Drummond Castle, Blair Castle, and Glamis Castle
- An excursion to the House of Bruar
- An optional guided hike
- Daily breakfasts, some lunches, afternoon tea, and several dinners
- Travel by private coach to all excursions
What’s Not Included
- Airfare/travel to and from Scotland
- Airport transfers
- Lunches on Wednesday and Friday and dinners on Tuesday and Thursday
What’s Included
- Six nights at the five-star Gleneagles luxury hotel, spa, and golf resort
- Use of leisure facilities at Gleneagles
- Exclusive private tour of Glamis Castle
- Daily breakfasts and several dinners
- Travel by private coach to Glamis Castle
What’s Not Included
- Airfare/travel to and from Scotland
- Airport transfers
- Lunches, afternoon tea, and dinners on Tuesday and Thursday
Have a question about the Live Your Bliss Retreat? Contact Us.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT
To reserve your space, email the following information to victoriaevents@hoffmanmedia.com.
· Registration type (single, double, single plus one)
· Phone number so we can contact you to take your deposit
· Your name and name of double-occupancy attendee or plus one, if applicable
You are required to pay your deposit and sign a travel waiver and acknowledgement of cancellation policy via DocuSign within 48 hours of receiving a confirmation email. Each person traveling in your reservation must sign this document. Reservations will be taken in the order in which we receive emails.
Sunday, October 6:
Arrive in Auchterarder, Perthshire, and settle in at Gleneagles, a renowned hotel, spa, and golf resort nestled in the Scottish Highlands. During a welcome reception, meet Editor Melissa Lester, Creative Director of Lifestyle Brands Melissa Sturdivant Smith, and your fellow travelers. Savor a three-course dinner of regional fare to commence our week of bliss.
Monday, October 7:
Begin the day with Gleneagles’ legendary breakfast in The Strathearn Restaurant before departing by private coach for Drummond Castle, recognized as having one of the most significant and impressive formal gardens in all of Europe. Following our private tour, return to the hotel for a quintessential afternoon tea served to our party in the Glendevon, a lovely venue that drew international attention as site of the 2005 G8 Summit. Following teatime, you are free to enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Tuesday, October 8:
Begin the day with Gleneagles’ legendary breakfast in The Strathearn Restaurant before departing by private coach to Blair Castle, which brims with artwork and furnishings collected by the dukes of Atholl. Our day continues with a stop at a local eatery for lunch on your own and concludes with a visit to House of Bruar, Scotland’s premier independent country fashion retailer, for an opportunity to shop traditional tweeds and other garments. Following this excursion, we will return to the hotel, and you are free to enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Wednesday, October 9:
Begin the day with Gleneagles’ legendary breakfast in The Strathearn Restaurant before savoring a restful morning exploring the area or enjoying the resort’s leisure activities. As the day begins to fade, depart via private coach for a private tour of Glamis Castle, the storied setting of William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. Amid the rich heritage of a destination that has welcomed guests the likes of Mary Queen of Scots, we will savor a majestic private dinner—an unforgettable highlight of this retreat. Following this excursion, we will return to the hotel.
Thursday, October 10:
Begin the day with Gleneagles’ legendary breakfast in The Strathearn Restaurant before setting out on foot for a guided hike through rugged yet beautiful terrain. Take in gorgeous vistas of the Scottish Highlands while pausing for a specially prepared picnic of hearty regional fare—the perfect prelude to a lighthearted Highland Games experience in which our party will be led through a series of outdoor events. When we return to the hotel, you are free to enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Friday, October 11:
Begin the day with Gleneagles’ legendary breakfast in The Strathearn Restaurant before savoring restful hours exploring the area or enjoying the resort’s leisure activities. During an excursion, savor a sweet sampling of confectionery delights at Highland Chocolatier and discover other local wares in nearby shops. The evening culminates with a closing dinner in the Drawing Room, a private dining room with décor that reflects the charms of a traditional country house. Here, we will indulge in the Taste of Scotland menu while reflecting on memories of our time together.
Saturday, October 12:
Following Gleneagles’ legendary breakfast in The Strathearn Restaurant, check out of the hotel before departing for home with a heart full of memories.
Accommodations
Experience the pampering luxury and historic charm of Gleneagles, a five-star luxury hotel, spa, and golf resort.
Registration
To ask questions or initiate registration, email victoriaevents@hoffmanmedia.com. Messages will be answered in the order received, and a Victoria staff member will take your payment by phone.
Booking
Fifty percent of your balance is due at booking, with the remaining balance paid by April 1. We accept payment by American Express, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Amazon Pay. Trip prices are in US dollars.
Travel to and from Scotland
Guests are responsible for travel to Scotland and Gleneagles on October 6, 2024, when the retreat commences. Guests will be responsible for getting themselves from Gleneagles to the airport or their next destination on October 12. Following event registration with Victoria Events, transportation to and from the airport can be arranged directly with Gleneagles at an additional cost.
Costs
Single-occupancy, double-occupancy, and “plus one” guest rates are available.
The price of the trip includes hotel accommodations for October 6–12, all breakfasts, and leisure activities at the resort. Single- and double-occupancy rates include all provided meals and excursions. The “plus one” rate includes all provided meals and excursions for the attendee, with a traveling companion sharing accommodations and attending the opening and closing dinners, the tour and private dinner at Glamis Castle.
Your credit card will be charged by Hoffman Media, the parent company of Victoria.
Cancellation
Since the trip is nonrefundable, we suggest buying trip insurance.
If you don’t purchase travel insurance, you agree to indemnify us against any charges that might otherwise be covered by your insurance. You further agree that we are not responsible for any costs of cancellation or costs related to COVID-19. Due to COVID-19, there may be limitations relating to activities. Certain services and amenities may be reduced or unavailable as a result of changing circumstances. Please know that we are working closely with our partners to plan and execute a safe retreat for our guests, but there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 when traveling. By booking this retreat, you acknowledge and assume these risks associated with travel. Please note that we will be monitoring travel advisories related to the COVID-19 pandemic closely.
Have a question about this Live Your Bliss Retreat? Email victoriaevents@hoffmanmedia.com.
Can I extend my stay at the hotel?
If you’d like to inquire about additional nights at the hotel, please email victoriaevents@hoffmanmedia.com.
Is breakfast included?
Breakfast will be included in your stay at Gleneagles.
If I book a double-occupancy package, will the hotel room have two beds?
Due to the uniqueness and historic charm of the resort, double-occupancy rooms may have one bed. If you are traveling with a friend or adult child, you can request two sets of linens on one bed.
Are children able to attend this retreat?
All participants must be 18 years old or older to attend this retreat.
What should I plan to wear during retreat events?
Attire for the welcome reception and opening dinner, dinner at Glamis Castle, and closing dinner will be dressy or cocktail. Most daytime excursions will be smart casual with comfortable walking shoes. Thursday’s optional hike will include traversing rugged terrain, so we recommend casual clothing weatherproof shoes. Based on past travels to Scotland, Victoria staff members recommend packing waterproof boots, a scarf, gloves, and a mid-heavy jacket. In October, average temperatures range from the 40s to 50s, with possibilities of rain, wind, and frost, so please dress comfortably for the season and current forecast. Retreat events will proceed, rain or shine.
Will we have any free time?
You will have free time to rest, enjoy resort amenities, or explore the area on Monday and Tuesday evenings, Wednesday morning, Thursday evening, and for a portion of the day on Friday.
Are travel companions able to attend this retreat?
Travel companions can attend this retreat at a “plus one” rate, which includes accommodations, daily breakfast, and leisure activities at Gleneagles. Travel companions will also attend the welcome and closing dinners, tour and private dinner at Glamis Castle. They will not participate in other provided meals or excursions.
