Distinctive Travel
By Lara Cross
The baobab doesn’t rush to grow tall — it stands steady, gathering stories through the seasons. So too are the best journeys: rooted, intentional, unforgettable.
About Me
Curator of extraordinary journeys
I’m a lifelong traveller with a passion for uncovering the world’s most extraordinary places — from wild African safaris to serene island escapes and luxurious hidden retreats. My journeys are as much about the people, culture, and food as they are about the landscapes, and I believe every trip should feel both deeply personal and utterly unforgettable. Whether it’s riding on horseback through remote wilderness, discovering the perfect boutique hotel, or experiencing a festival in paradise, I seek out moments that stay with you forever — and I love helping others find them too.
Favourite Destinations
& Recent Adventures
Stories from the places I love most
Africa’s Heart
Island’s of The Indian Ocean
Adventure on Horseback
For me, there’s no better way to see the world. I’ve ridden through Kenya’s plains, Botswana’s waterways, South Africa’s coastal trails, Spain’s sunlit hills, and Wyoming’s wide-open ranchlands — each ride offering a connection no vehicle can match.
Luxury & Timeless Style
The Aman hotel group is a personal favourite. Our monsoon-season stay at Amanbagh in India proved that even torrential rain can’t dim a magical setting, impeccable service, and exquisite food.
Closer to Home
In the Cotswolds, I escape to Estelle Manor for old-world elegance, padel courts, and beautifully varied rooms — a perfect blend of tradition and comfort in the English countryside.
Let’s Create Your Next Adventure
Whether you dream of tracking lions at sunrise, sipping cocktails by a turquoise lagoon, or discovering a historic palace in the rain, I’ll help you craft a journey that’s entirely your own.
Global Connections with 360 Private Travel
As an independent partner of 360 Private Travel, I’m connected to the world’s leading travel operators and enjoy access to exclusive perks. This partnership offers my clients complete financial protection through IATA and ATOL bonding, while allowing me the freedom to provide a genuinely personal, tailor-made service.
Virtuoso & Forbes Travel Guide Benefits
360 Private Travel is a preferred partner of many of the world’s most prestigious hotel groups and a proud member of Virtuoso and we are endorsed by the Forbes Travel Guide— luxury travel networks offering clients exclusive benefits such as complimentary upgrades, hotel credits, and VIP amenities, and all round VIP experiences.
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Our Latest Newsletter
Edition Three / Curated Escapes & Inspired Journeys | Spring 2026
Previous editions
Edition Two / winter 2025
Edition One / autumn 2025
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SPOTLIGHT on CROSS COLLECTION TURNING ONE!
I’ve just had the funnest 12 months of my life!
It started with the launch of @crosscollectiontravel last summer, with so much support from friends and family, to travelling and learning and realising how much I love doing what I do, and I LOVE being busy and productive.
I’ve booked trips to Costa Rica, Japan, the Mekong Delta, Saint-Tropez, Greece, Comporta, Finland and lots of Africa. Planned milestone birthdays, anniversaries in the Alps, a group trip to Ibiza and padel in Portugal — and that’s just the beginning.
I’ve travelled too. Incredible educational trips across Europe and Africa, We Are Africa in Cape Town, and next I’m off to Puglia for Do Not Disturb, one of the most exclusive events in the world of private homes and villas. Next year, there’ll be even more — particularly Kenya, Rwanda, the Cape and Kruger with some Italy, Greece and Aeolian islands too.
And somewhere along the way I designed my green carry-on bag. It’s become a bit of a Cross Collection signature, travelling with me and now with my clients too. Quite possibly the best travel bag in the world! More importantly, travel has taught me the art of packing light, travelling hand luggage only and just how liberating that can be.
Cross Collection brings together everything I love - travel, food, interiors, lifestyle and discovering brilliant places - but the business itself is deliberately small. It’s just me. Every client works with me personally, and that’s how I intend it to stay.
This is more than just booking a flight - it’s about geography, logistics, sociology, human psychology, inordinate amounts of patience and being super organised - I’m working on all those things!
None of this would’ve happened without the friends who became clients, the clients who became friends, and all of you who have recommended me to someone else.
So keep booking. Keep travelling. And please keep recommending me.
Year two, here we go.
#crosscollection #360privatetravel #firstbirthday
HOTEL SPOTLIGHT - Petunia, Ibiza
I almost didn’t want to write about this one…
Three nights at Petunia Ibiza with a group of friends, and it was pretty much perfect.
The setting is spectacular, tucked away on Ibiza’s west coast, looking straight across to Es Vedrà, with those incredible sunsets every evening. There really is something magnetic about that rock that’s hard to explain until you’re there.
But what really made Petunia stand out was the service. From the moment we arrived, the team couldn’t have done more for us, including some very lovely room upgrades (and driving us to lunch when our taxi didn’t show up !) Throughout our stay everything just felt easy, warm and incredibly well looked after.
Beautiful rooms, gorgeous weather, long lunches, sunsets and some of my favourite people.
Such a great find. And perhaps one I should have kept to myself…
#ibiza #petunia
I love seeing and hearing what my clients are up to this summer….so far they’ve been:
On the Adriatic coast in Italy 🇮🇹
Kayaking in Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Sunset vibes in Ibiza 🌅
And this is just the beginning……stay tuned for everyone’s adventures!
#crosscollection #summervibes #italy #costarica #ibiza
HOTEL SPOTLIGHT - La Residence, Franschoek
Liz Biden has an exceptional talent for anticipating how her guests want to travel! That, with her amazing style make La Residence a great destination in the Cape Winelands.
The Vineyard Suites were created for families and groups seeking more space and privacy without compromising on @theroyalportfolio renowned service. Available with one, two or three bedrooms, they combine the feel of a luxury private home with full access to all the facilities of La Residence.
The newest addition is Franschhoek House, an exclusive-use six-bedroom villa that opened in late 2024. Designed for larger families and groups of friends, it offers complete privacy with a private chef, dedicated host and beautiful entertaining spaces, while guests can still enjoy everything La Residence has to offer. The perfect home away from home.
@laresidencesa @theroyalportfolio @eabiden
#crosscollection #franschoek #laresidence #
DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT - Venice
Italians are all about family (much like Dom Toretto), so it only seemed fitting that I dash to Venice for 48 hours to catch up with my sister @carmikennedy @sunstoppersdbn on her epic Italian adventure all the way from South Africa.
We walked and walked and talked and talked, and supported the Italian economy with aperol and gelato. This is such a great city to see in a short space of time.
@nolinskivenezia is about as good a location as it gets, or @stregisvenice for a location on the canal and excellent people watching. I wish I could say I kept a record of restaurants, but it’s safe to say we only had great food….(Parma melon and carbonara were my staple diet, with a chilled glass of lugana 😋). It was busy but not crazy…if you avoid the tik tok gelato shops and singing gondoliers, it’s a great city to navigate on foot.
#veniceinjuly #crosscollection #familytime
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