Active / Adventure
Celebrations
Culinary
Custom Itineraries
Experiential
LGBTQ+
Ocean Cruises
River Cruises
Spa and Wellness
After having lectured in the field of International Communications in Italy for 15 years, John Skelton decided it was time for his next great adventure. In 2015, he packed up and moved home to Birmingham, Alabama, where he realized his dream of working in the travel industry and established his new luxury travel design business, John Skelton Travels. John has always been passionate about exploring the world, getting off the beaten path, learning as much as possible about other cultures and traditions, and creating the perfect itinerary.
John took this passion for creating the perfect trip and translated it into a thriving business. Over the past 6+ years as a Virtuoso luxury travel advisor, he has curated unforgettable itineraries for travelers to all corners of the globe: from Italy to Japan, from Tanzania to Antarctica. He specializes in finding exactly the right experience for each individual client, as no two are alike. His other specialties include Experiential Travel, Culinary Travel, Celebration Travel, Adventure Travel, Luxury Voyage Travel and LGBTQ+ Travel, as well as long-term planning for discerning clients.
John is proud to have been named a Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist in 2021, as well as a Top Travel Advisor and Italy Specialist in Travel+Leisure’s 2022 A-List. He is also an inaugural member of The 1000, a global community of top travel advisors from around the world.
It is hard to pick just one trip as my favorite trip. The ones which come to mind first are Brazil, Egypt, as well as Morocco, which was the most recent of the three. Morocco had always been a dream of mine and it did not disappoint. I call it a feast for the senses as it truly is sensory overload: from all the rich colors and intricate architectural elements that surround you, to delicious food and wine (the latter was a surprise to me!). The people are so warm and welcoming, I felt completely at ease everywhere I traveled, and I found the culture and way of life fascinating.
Since I specialize in experiential travel, I was able to take a deep dive into the country and try as many unique experiences as possible, such as hiking the High Atlas Mountains and having tea with local a local Berber family to horseback riding on the beach near Essaouira, from a private wine tasting in the countryside to exclusive tours to visit artisans and see how they work in Marrakech and Fes.