Forbes 5-Star, 3 Michelin Keys, AAA 5-Diamond — what do they actually mean? A plain-English cheat sheet to every major hotel rating system, and how to use them.
Stars, Keys & Diamonds: Decoding Hotel Ratings Read More »
“Europe’s summers keep making the wrong kind of headlines. Six alpine lakes — Garda, Iseo, Lucerne, Lugano, Bled, and Bohinj — that are cooler, quieter, and just as beautiful as Lake Como.”
Lake Garda, Bled, Lucerne: Europe’s Best Alternative Lake Escapes Read More »
The smartest travelers I know aren’t fighting for sunset selfies in Santorini. They’re an island away on Milos. They’re skipping Kyoto’s temple queues for Takayama. They’re trading Bali for Sumba, the Maldives for Mozambique’s Bazaruto
Skip the Obvious: Eight Destinations to Visit Instead of the Famous Ones Read More »
Three countries. More than 19,000 islands between them. And a dollar that goes further than almost anywhere else right now. The 2026 guide to island-hopping Southeast Asia.
Bali to El Nido: A Southeast Asia Island-Hopping Guide Read More »
The world feels a little louder right now. So a lot of my clients are asking the same question: where can we go that just feels easy? Five destinations that quietly deliver peace of mind in 2026 & 2027.
Switzerland, Ireland, Japan: Five Destinations Where Travel Just Works in 2026 & 2027 Read More »
There’s a definite shift in how my clients are thinking about summer travel this year. Instead of pushing through European heat waves, they’re asking about destinations where being outside still feels like the point — Norway’s fjords, Chile’s Atacama Desert, the small-ship coast of Alaska. I’ve been calling these *cool-cations*, and the timing has never been better. Take a look at a few of my favorites for summer 2026 — and let me know if one of them sparks the start of a real plan.
Why “Cool-cations” Are 2026’s Hottest Travel Trend Read More »
Some destinations are about to have their moment. The trick is getting there first. Five places worth booking before everyone else catches on — including Laos, Okinawa, and the Italian south.
Get There First: Five Destinations on the Cusp of Their Big Moment Read More »
Cruising used to mean buffets and crowded pool decks. The new generation of luxury vessels — Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Aman, Orient Express — has rewritten the script entirely.
From Ritz-Carlton to Aman: Why Luxury Hotels Are Going to Sea Read More »
Some trips begin the moment you check in. Others begin the moment the train pulls out, the ship rounds the headland, or you open the curtain on a view you’ll never forget.
Taking the Scenic Route: When the View Is the Point Read More »
We all love Paris. We also all know what Paris in July looks like. The best discoveries crossing my desk this season are happening in the cities just a couple of hours away from the obvious one
The Second Cities Worth Putting First Read More »
