soul-stirring
journeys

Guatemala is not a country you rush through. It’s a place that asks you to slow your pace, sharpen your senses, and listen to the land, to its people, to histories that are still very much alive. This itinerary traces a thoughtful arc through three of Guatemala’s most soulful regions: the volcanic calm of Lake Atitlán, the colonial elegance of Antigua, and the deep jungle heart of the ancient Maya world near Tikal.

In a world where “luxury travel” is often synonymous with glossy brochures and cookie-cutter five-star itineraries, Sarah Casewit offers something refreshingly different: journeys designed not around amenities, but around meaning: a new path for discerning travelers who want more than just a change of scenery, they want transformation, connection, and stories to last a lifetime.

There are certain moments in the Arctic Circle, Norway, that feel almost mythical. They are so fleeting, so otherworldly, that you wonder if they truly happened. The last sunset before the polar night is one of them, on the night of November 27th. And this year, as we sailed across the Norwegian Sea, it unfolded in a way that felt absolutely unreal.

My top five destinations for 2026 are up! There’s always so much to unpack about these “top destination” lists and how they often overlook the lesser-known places truly deserving of our attention. Still, if I had to narrow it down to my six standout destinations for 2026 chosen for their exciting new openings, projects, and upcoming events—these would be the ones. Many I’ve visited more than once, and I’d return to them again and again.

A soulful conversation with Sofía Arista of The Happening on designing meaningful travel at this stage in my career, how to be intentional about luxury, and how experiences that leave a mark go far beyond trends or checklists.

Exciting news that you’ll want to bookmark immediately. COMO Maalifushi, the only resort in the pristine Thaa Atoll, is bringing back two of their most beloved offers for 2025. And as a trusted partner, I have exclusive access to these offers plus additional benefits just for my clients.

To build trust with my valued partners and find the very best hotels for my travelers, I spend weeks out of the year conducting site inspections. I don’t just see the rooms but experience them through my clients’ eyes, testing every detail to ensure it’s a memorable stay. From quirky shower controls to noise-free mini fridges, I aim to provide the perfect recommendations based on real experience.

I set out alone with a camera, a single film roll, a Wrangler, and no real plan — chasing raw beauty across Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Kanab, Lake Powell, and Zion. A vision quest through sacred lands, endless roads, and wild skies, searching for the soul of the desert and the future home of Eunoia’s next retreat.

If you ever find yourself in Stockholm, do not just take the subway to get from one place to another. Take the time to explore it. Hop on a train, get off at random stations, and let the art guide your journey. It is an experience that transforms a simple commute into an adventure, proving that even the most utilitarian spaces can become extraordinary.

For my stay in Bangkok, I wanted the full experience and chose to rest my head at the Capella Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River. This urban resort experience was nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing the perfect blend of understated luxury, impeccable service by staff that remembered your name from day one, and thoughtfully curated moments that I still think about and recreate in my mind.

Oman has always had a quiet confidence, never needing to shout for attention, yet it captivates those who take the time to look closer. Muscat, with its balance of tradition and modernity, understated elegance, and natural beauty, is stepping into the spotlight without losing its essence. As the world turns its gaze toward Oman, it’s not a place rushing to keep up. It’s a place that has always known its worth.

I was taken aback by Qatar’s beauty and deeply humbled by my own ignorance. As an Arabic speaker and someone who considers herself partly from the Arab world, I had subconsciously absorbed the narrative that the Gulf was a homogeneous cluster of oil-funded microstates, their cultural depth overshadowed by gleaming skyscrapers. I was wrong. Realizing my misconceptions was uncomfortable, but necessary. Travel often teaches us hard truths, and this trip reminded me why it matters so much to engage with places deeply, not just pass through them.

There are places you visit once, perhaps twice. And then there are places like Venice—the kind of city that reveals itself slowly, inviting you to return, wander, and uncover its many layers. This weekend guide offers an intimate, lived-in Venice, one that doesn’t rush or crowd. It’s a Venice that feels real, away from the obvious paths, while honoring the city’s unmistakable magic.

There’s a rare magic when a hotel gets it just right—when grand gestures of hospitality in a historic manor are infused with genuine generosity by a warm team of staff, and the experience feels more like being a guest at a family estate rather than a transient visitor. After spending my 35th birthday weekend at Son Net, here is my hotel review – a soulful estate dating back to 1672.

In October, I launched Eunoia Chapters, a curated collection of intimate gatherings in stunning destinations around the world where synergy, growth, and bold conversations unfold among 12 participants, establishing an honest community of strong, resilient women. Born in Marrakech, it felt only natural to host the inaugural retreat in the place that shaped me, Morocco—the place that made me the woman I am today.

To deltiologists - or postcard collectors, these unique pieces have something magical about them. They offer a captivating glimpse to what travel was like many decades ago, refreshingly pre-Instagram. The postcards take you to a specific moment in time where our world was less global and cultures more vibrant and defined so that the sender may describe what they see in fine detail.

Ever since I started working in travel, Ethiopia settled itself in the back of my mind as the ultimate destination. Growing up on the opposite side of Africa, I was intrigued by this seemingly different and mysterious country that shared my continent.

If we can collectively agree on one thing, it’s that the world has reached an unprecedented global stress level in the past couple years that has brought us together in a mutual struggle to stay sane. The macrocosmic angst stemming from an obnoxious pandemic caught us all off guard, abruptly cutting us off from basic freedoms we took for granted.

For centuries, the Italian island of Sardinia has been playing a game of tug of war with its deep African roots and rich European ancestry, yet this gem remains underrated in the mass travel world. Sardinia is a place of wonder, proudly owning second place in size among the islands of the Mediterranean. It is most famous for having some of the bluest waters in the world.

I never thought I’d return to Morocco as a traveler - especially having lived here for 20 years. Isn’t travel supposed to offer perpetual excitement of being in an unfamiliar place? Shouldn’t it have an element of the unknown by default? That’s what I thought too, until recently. Born in Marrakech in the late 80s and raised in Fez and Rabat throughout the 90s, I lived in a relatively untouched Morocco, before it gained worldwide fame as a boho-chic tourist hotspot.

The Scotland of our dreams is a shared one. A castle perched at the edge of a misty loch that ripples with secrets and tales of old. Wild heather blows in from the moors with its glorious hues of mauve. Cloud-softened light gathers in patches as thin rays make their way past the Highland peaks. A fjord crashes into a serene valley of green while a distant bagpipe skirls over daring cliffs.