Editor’s Note: This article is based on a recent Substack Live conversation with Robyn Levin of Rare Finds - Luxury Travel. Together, we explored why extraordinary travel isn't about collecting famous destinations—it's about following curiosity, seeking out local stories, and discovering experiences most travelers never find.
When Robyn Levin described herself as a “truffle hunter of travel, "I immediately understood what makes Rare Finds - Luxury Travel different.
Most people travel by following lists.
The top ten attractions and the most photographed landmarks.
The restaurants everyone else recommends.
Robyn travels differently.
She follows curiosity.
She searches for the experiences that don’t always appear on the first page of a travel guide—the family-run winery, the boutique hotel whose owner still greets guests personally, the chef passionate about local ingredients, or the hidden corner of a destination that quietly becomes the highlight of an entire trip.
That’s what Rare Finds is really about.
Not luxury for the sake of luxury.
Discovery.
The Difference Between Visiting and Experiencing
Anyone can visit a destination.
You can check the landmarks off your list, take a few pictures, and head home.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
However, the trips that stay with us years later usually aren’t remembered because of the buildings we saw.
They’re remembered because of the people we met.
The conversations we had.
The unexpected moments that could never have been planned.
That’s the difference between visiting a place and truly experiencing it.
Croatia Was The Perfect Example
During this week’s live, Robyn took us to Croatia—not through a list of tourist attractions, but through the experiences that made her fall in love with the country.
Instead of starting with famous landmarks, she introduced us to a family-owned truffle farm in the Istria region, where highly trained dogs search the forest floor for one of the world’s most prized delicacies.
Along the way, she shared one important lesson: if you’re going truffle hunting, leave the fashionable shoes behind and wear boots.
It wasn’t just about finding truffles.
It was about slowing down enough to appreciate the land, the tradition, and the people who have spent generations mastering their craft.
That’s a very different experience than simply ordering truffle pasta at a restaurant and moving on.
Every Place Has A Story
That same philosophy carried through every stop on the journey.
A family-owned winery where multiple generations work together to produce wine and welcome guests.
An olive oil estate where tasting isn’t just about flavor—it’s about understanding how different oils pair with different foods and why each bottle tells its own story.
Boutique hotels where thoughtful design reflects the character of the destination instead of feeling interchangeable with hotels anywhere else in the world.
These aren’t simply recommendations.
They’re invitations to experience a place more deeply.
Go Before Everyone Else Does
One of my favorite pieces of advice from Robyn is to travel during the shoulder season.
Not because it’s trendy, but because it allows you to experience a destination differently.
The temperatures are often more comfortable.
The crowds are smaller.
The pace is slower.
You have more opportunities to connect with local people instead of standing in long lines.
It’s another reminder that when you travel can be just as important as where you travel.
Follow Curiosity, Not Crowds
Listening to Robyn talk about Croatia, I realized something.
She doesn’t travel to say she’s been somewhere.
She travels to understand a place.
That’s a subtle, but important difference.
Curiosity leads her to experiences that can’t be copied or mass-produced.
It’s why she keeps returning to destinations like Croatia.
Not because she’s finished exploring them, but because she knows there are always more stories waiting to be uncovered.
The Big Lesson
The goal isn’t to collect destinations.
The goal is to collect stories you’ll still be telling years later.
Sometimes those stories begin with a truffle dog leading you through a forest.
Sometimes they begin with an unexpected conversation over a wine tasting.
Sometimes they begin by simply choosing a quieter season to visit.
The common thread is curiosity.
When you travel like a truffle hunter, you stop asking, “What’s everyone else doing?”
Instead, you start asking, “What extraordinary experience haven’t I discovered yet?”
That’s where the rare finds live.
In This Episode
Robyn Levin from Rare Finds - Luxury Travel and I discuss:
Why Croatia continues to be one of her favorite destinations.
What it’s really like to go truffle hunting.
Family-owned wineries and boutique hotels in Istria.
Olive oil tastings and local culinary traditions.
Why shoulder season often creates a better travel experience.
Practical travel tips, including what not to wear while truffle hunting.
How curiosity leads to richer, more meaningful travel.
Whether Croatia is already on your bucket list or you’ve never considered visiting, I hope this conversation encourages you to travel a little differently.
Not by following the crowds.
By following your curiosity.
↑ Replay Above
Resources From This Conversation
Follow Jess at Nurse in The Market →
Follow Robyn at Rare Finds - Luxury Travel →
Follow Robyn at Finding Your Edge →
Scan Robyn’s QR code for exclusive activities in Croatia →
Thank You
Thank you so much for everyone who tuned into this live, your presence is truly appreciated, and to the people who are watching the replay, thank you!
See you next Friday at 12pm ET for our weekly show, stay tuned!
-Jess, The Creator & Robyn Levin
