We understand you because we are you: discerning, design-focused, and with an independent streak.
Meet your travel insiders
Don
Founder Don's path to The Swank Guide was unconventional. As a kid, he dreamt of architecture and made movies with friends. Though sidetracked into law, a stint in the corporate world, then entrepreneurship in clean energy and sustainable housing, his passion for travel, film, and architecture never faded. Born in Italy, growing up in Paris until he was 5, and living in China for 17 years and Australia for 3 (where he attended architecture school for fun in his 40s), and traveling to over 60 countries, Don channeled his experiences into Swank: a platform built around authenticity, design, and discovery. He gets you because he's lived your travel frustrations—and triumphs—firsthand. His perfectionist tendencies mean he's been known to rearrange hotel furniture for better feng shui before filming—leaving confused housekeeping staff in his wake.
Margaret
A Chicago native, Margaret began studying Chinese at 15—an early curiosity that eventually carried her across the ocean to live in China for five years. Her path through luxury hospitality took her from global hotel brands to independent outdoor resorts in remote corners of the world, shaping a deep appreciation for place, people, and the craft behind unforgettable travel. Along the way, she logged half-marathons across Asia—an endurance that mirrors the way she approaches building the Swank platform: with curiosity, discipline, and a sharp eye for detail.
Andressa
Brazilian based in Spain, Andressa brings curiosity, warmth, and a thoughtful eye to the world of travel. Although she studied Ancient History, her path naturally led her into the hospitality industry, where she quickly discovered how much she loved shaping meaningful travel experiences.
She’s drawn to the subtle details that give a place its soul, the atmosphere of a beautiful hotel, the rhythm of a neighborhood, the long dinners that stretch late into the night. Travel, for her, lives somewhere at the intersection of art, food, and culture.
Always attentive to the details that shape a journey, Andressa believes the best trips are the ones that feel personal, thoughtful, and effortlessly memorable.
Zofia
Born in Poland, Zofia is part of the creative force of Swank Guide. Her friends once described her as a “free electron,” and if you spend five minutes with her, you’ll quickly realize she has the energy of someone trying to live three lives at once. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a ballerina, a dream she only finally made real at 21, when she started to learn classical dance.
Her love for art, food, and the slow rhythm of southern Italy and Spain shapes the way she approaches life, work, and the people she loves talking to. She speaks four languages and occasionally forgets which one she’s supposed to be using.
Duan
Cape Town-based video editor Duan blends stunning visuals with a sharp eye for detail, bringing each location to life with elegance and style.
Together, we're redefining travel—not just as another website, but as your trusted insiders committed to transparency, authenticity, and unforgettable experiences.