18 Questions with Jordan Rhodes

Jordan Rhodes is the founder of Glimpse Guides, an upscale lifestyle and travel business that builds guides to inspire and inform travelers of all ages. We recently got the chance to sit down with her and get a glimpse of her life behind the business. Built on the belief that travel is core to both education and the human experience, a portion of all Glimpse Guides proceeds goes towards gifting travel to underserved students.

ON TRAVEL

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE? 

Wherever I am. Seriously. I love new surroundings and experience a sort of spiritual renewal whenever I travel to a new place.

ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO PREFERS THE COMFORT OF RETURNING TO THE SAME PLACES AGAIN AND AGAIN OR ARE YOU ALWAYS THINKING OF YOUR NEXT DESTINATION? 

I want to see every inch of the world so I typically do not go to the same place twice. Although I do return to Villa Feltrinelli each year with my husband, Skibo in Scotland with my kids, and the Ocean House every summer with my dearest friends who also happen to own the hotel. They are all glorious, and of course being with people I love makes them all the more magical.

WHY DO YOU THINK TRAVEL IS SO IMPORTANT FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES?

My kids are far from perfect, but they have tons of empathy for others which they learned from travel. They grew up in a bubble in Greenwich, CT and now attend boarding schools in England, so needless to say they have been sheltered. Travel has shown them poverty and hardships, and they cannot pass a homeless person without begging to give them money. We try to teach them that with privilege comes responsibility but I think they have really learned that for themselves just by their interactions with other cultures. 

WHAT PLACE RESONATES WITH YOU THE MOST ON A SOUL LEVEL?

Scotland. I have had visions of past lives there while working with both mediums and Native American healers. And each visit brings a strong sense of familiarity. 

HOTELS OR HOMES ON VACATION?

Hotels! I love the buzz of other people enjoying themselves and I love meeting new people.

WHAT KIND OF SOUVENIRS DO YOU BRING BACK FROM YOUR TRAVELS?

Anything unique to the area. Tea from Sri Lanka, shaman-blessed crystals from Peru, Patrick Mavros silver tableware from Africa.  

WHERE WILL YOU BE TRAVELING THIS YEAR?

Japan, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Hanoi, India, Sydney, Fiji, Singapore…all before June, yikes. But I am never happier than when I’m exploring.

WHY DO YOU THINK TRAVEL IS SO IMPORTANT FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES?

My kids are far from perfect, but they have tons of empathy for others which they learned from travel. They grew up in a bubble in Greenwich, CT and now attend boarding schools in England, so needless to say they have been sheltered. Travel has shown them poverty and hardships, and they cannot pass a homeless person without begging to give them money. We try to teach them that with privilege comes responsibility but I think they have really learned that for themselves just by their interactions with other cultures. 

WHAT PLACE RESONATES WITH YOU THE MOST ON A SOUL LEVEL?

Scotland. I have had visions of past lives there while working with both mediums and Native American healers. And each visit brings a strong sense of familiarity. 

ON BUSINESS

WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR STARTING GLIMPSE GUIDES?

When I had my first child 12 years ago I found there was a huge lack of decent luxury family travel journalism. So I started creating guides for those traveling with babies, and would write and post tips on Instagram. One thing led to another and I eventually turned the guides into books, which then brought about a travel advisory element that today consists of seven travel planners curating multiple trips for hundreds of clients. This year we are launching an invite-only travel society for women called Aperçette, and our first trip in June will be to Paris, London, and the English countryside hosted by Nicola Bathie McLaughlin. It includes insider experiences that money can’t buy and are never available to the public, including a stay at my dear friend Rosie van Cutsem’s private estate in the English countryside.

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN THE BUSINESS?

I wear many hats, including travel planner, editor, curator, and instagrammer. 

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS SUPERPOWER?

Trusting my colleagues to do what they do best. Which is always better than what I would have done, anyway. I am thankfully not a control freak. Too busy wanderlusting!

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?

For business…always take the meeting. For life…be amused, not abused. 

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SURPRISING THING YOU'VE LEARNED SINCE STARTING YOUR BUSINESS?

It never gets old. Every flight I take, and every itinerary I create just makes me want to see more.

ON YOU

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY IN THREE WORDS?

Jovial, grateful, curious. I am a seven on the enneagram. 

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

Mary Magdalene Revealed by Meggan Watterson. I can’t remember the last time a book had a greater effect on me, and I actually started it all over so I could absorb more and take greater notes. 

WHAT IS A SKILL THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?

Becoming a morning person. 

WHAT IS ONE ITEM THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BAG AT ALL TIMES?

My headphones because music makes the scenery even more spectacular. And sometimes, I might use them to tune out my family.