Industry Intel Archives - SmartFlyer

A Different Kind of Cabo with Velas Resorts

SmartFlyer — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 21:38:45 +0000

Los Cabos has long been a renowned vacation destination—with its cloudless skies, reliable desert heat, and vibrant ocean waters set against the stunning contrast of mountains; its allure is undeniable.

As a desert escape, Cabo benefits from a Mediterranean-like climate boasting 340 days of sunshine per year. Jagged rock landscapes punctuate its idyllic shores where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet. The most iconic image that comes to mind when one thinks of Los Cabos is arguably El Arco, a three-story arch formation on the beach accessible only by boat. But there’s more to Cabo than this picturesque backdrop.

What to do in Cabo

With nineteen beaches, an unexpected art scene, and nightlife you can dip into when in the mood, there are endless reasons to carve out time for Cabo.

Those who fish for sport will relish the region’s deep-sea catches, including Marlin. For divers, the 17,571-acre Cabo Pulmo natural reef system is reason enough to visit. From November to April, Cabo is known as one of the world’s best spots for whale watching. And away from the shoreline, Los Cabos delivers world-class golfing across eighteen courses sure to delight any golfer. With nineteen beaches, an unexpected art scene, and nightlife you can dip into when in the mood, there are endless reasons to carve out time for Cabo.

On the note of nightlife, let’s talk geography. At the Southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California, a twenty-mile corridor connects Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, which make up the two main towns of the region. The two towns are siblings, though each offers a distinctly different vibe: Cabo San Lucas is known for its vibrant nightlife and glittering marinas, while San José del Cabo is laid back and more artsy.

Where to Stay in Cabo

…the brand has become synonymous with innovating and elevating the all-inclusive experience through Michelin-starred dining, holistic and top-rated spas, and impressive staff-to-guest ratios.

Set amidst this diverse setting, Velas Resorts has created three distinct properties in San José del Cabo, each serving a different type of traveler. With each backed by the ethos set by the Vela family, there’s an element of consistency and quality that the most discerning of travelers will appreciate. The Vela family has operated its collection of industry-leading all-inclusive resorts in Mexico since 1990. Under the leadership of Eduardo Vela Ruiz, the brand has become synonymous with innovating and elevating the all-inclusive experience through Michelin-starred dining, holistic and top-rated spas, and impressive staff-to-guest ratios.

Today, there are seven Velas Resorts across Mexico. With three in Los Cabos—Grand Velas Los Cabos, Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos, and Mar del Cabo by Velas Resorts—you can expect the same high-caliber offerings with amenities tailored to various travel styles. The best part? Each is only a short, complimentary golf-cart ride apart. And while your SmartFlyer travel advisor remains the best resource to help match your preferences with the right Velas Resort for you, we’re diving into all three Cabo properties to get your creative wheels turning.

Bring the Entire Family to Grand Velas Los Cabos

As you arrive at the Grand Velas Los Cabos lobby, you’re greeted with a view looking out over the Sea of Cortez that’s truly transportive. Sloping striped columns frame the sky, sleek marble slabs line the floor, and structural furniture and sculptures complete the space. It makes you feel like you’re entering another world entirely, where sunsets are even more cinematic.

Design language here is guided by the sail-shape of the building, designed by architecture firm Elias Elias, which honors the Vela family. A quick language lesson: “Vela” is “Sail” in Spanish. Through this feat of architecture, each of the 307 suites has an ocean view, continuing the magic from the lobby into each room. Since opening in 2016, the property has been awarded a range of highly sought-after awards not just for its design, but the service that accompanies it. When staying at Grand Velas Los Cabos, rest assured you’re in the hands of a property that’s earned 5 Stars by Forbes, 5 AAA Diamonds, and a Michelin star. In order to maintain its strict service standard, regardless of the hours you choose to keep, you’ll have someone to assist you with twenty-four-hour personalized concierge service.

Each suite at Grand Velas Los Cabos measures more than 1,100 square feet, with select accommodations featuring private plunge pools. There are three swimming pools—one that’s adults-only, one for the kids, and one that welcomes everyone. A 35,000-square-foot SE Spa offers sixteen treatment rooms, a seven-step hydrotherapy journey, and staff referred to as “body artisans.” One of the standout offerings is the Spa Atelier program—fifty- or eighty-minute sessions that include custom programming of aromatherapy, tea ceremonies, nutrition, and Ayurvedic medicine. There’s also a state-of-the-art Life Fitness center, featuring a complete slate of equipment, Pilates and yoga classes boasting ocean views, and unique programming like floating mat core sculpting.

Think: arts and crafts programming, bingo, soccer games, Wii and Xbox, storytelling hours, movie screenings, board games, and mini bungee jumping.

With such a wide array of offerings, Grand Velas Los Cabos knows who it’s designed to serve best. Families are a major part of that mix. The resort has a dedicated Kids’ Club for children between the ages of four and twelve, with age-appropriate activities that give younger guests their own spaces. Think: arts and crafts programming, bingo, soccer games, Wii and Xbox, storytelling hours, movie screenings, board games, and mini bungee jumping. But family-friendly programming doesn’t stop when the Kids’ Club does. Teens have their own dedicated space for activities, while the resort also builds experiences that parents and children can do together, from pool time and beach activities to culinary and cultural programming.

This wide range of offerings gives the property a wide range of guests it can serve, as well as carving out unique experiences within one family unit. For instance, a family can spend the morning together, split off for a few hours while the littles hit the Kids Club, and then reconvene for dinner without ever having to leave the premises. This convenience is particularly adept for multi-generational trips, where grandparents, parents, and young children may have very different ideas of what makes a perfect vacation. Plus, the resort’s spacious multi-bedroom Family Suites are designed with multi-generational travel in mind, giving families more room to stay together while maintaining separate sleeping and living spaces.

Think of it less as dinner and more as a culinary tour through Mexico, where local produce, seafood, meats, Mexican wines, and ancestral tradition are given the kind of treatment you might expect at a destination restaurant with a months-long waitlist.

The resort is perhaps at its most impressive when it comes to food. Cocina de Autor, its signature restaurant, earned a Michelin Star in 2024. Led by two-Michelin-Star Chef Sidney Schutte (who leaves his restaurant Amsterdam for two months every year to craft the menus at Los Cabos) and Executive Chef Francisco Sixtos, the restaurant serves an eight- to ten-course tasting menu that draws on Mexican ingredients and traditions while taking plenty of creative liberties. Think of it less as dinner and more as a culinary tour through Mexico, where local produce, seafood, meats, Mexican wines, and ancestral tradition are given the kind of treatment you might expect at a destination restaurant with a months-long waitlist. The fact that your meals here are a built-in part of the stay feels almost like a cheat code.

Adult Sophistication at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos

This adults-only property sits next door to its larger sister resort, but the experience is intentionally more intimate…

If Grand Velas Los Cabos feels like an expansive retreat for a family of all ages, Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos feels like someone dialed it up to deliver an even more sophisticated, grown-up version. This adults-only property sits next door to its larger sister resort, but the experience is intentionally more intimate, with just seventy-nine suites and a quieter atmosphere from the moment you arrive. There’s still the Sea of Cortez glistening, the Baja sunshine, and the dramatic landscape that makes Los Cabos feel so far removed from the rest of the world—but here, the scale is different.

Suites at Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos all open onto ocean views, with some featuring private plunge pools and fire pits. Here, the pace is geared toward savoring each moment. It’s particularly suited to couples, honeymooners, and adults traveling together, with the child-free environment delivering a specific brand of serenity. And if at any point you want to switch up the rhythm, you can head over to the main resort—all the dining and amenity options there are included in your stay, too.

Wellness here is less about checking in for a spa treatment and more about moving through a holistic array of programming. The fitness center is stocked with more Technogym cardio and training equipment and free weights, and more opportunities for personalized training. At the Boutique’s SE Spa, consider partaking in a complete Wellness Ceremony built around a progression of heat, cold, water, and meditation. This special treatment begins with a sauna and steam room session before moving into an ice room, and ultimately continuing into a magnesium pool with bubble seats, jets, and a reflexology bubble geyser. The final stages include sleep therapy, meditation, and detoxification. There’s also a Before Bed Dry Spa Experience, which moves guests through dry spa stations including a sleep chair and infrared light, with a snack and calming beverage at each juncture of your treatment.

The focus turns toward Mexico’s food, drink, and creative traditions.

The “Before Bed” experience is just one of the resort’s Signature Experiences that follow an immersive approach. The focus turns toward Mexico’s food, drink, and creative traditions. A Mexican Spirits & Agave Tasting moves beyond tequila into the smoky complexity of Oaxacan mezcal, along with the regional traditions of sotol and raicilla. The Tequila Journey traces the spirit from crisp Blancos to complex Extra-Añejos, introducing guests to Blue Weber Agave and the craftsmanship behind boutique labels. For wine drinkers, the Mexican Wine and Cheese Pairing is led by a sommelier and focuses on Valle de Guadalupe wines matched with artisanal Mexican cheeses, while the Salts of the World Tasting takes a decidedly more unexpected approach, exploring how mineral salts from different parts of the world can change the flavor of individual ingredients. There are also hands-on experiences, including a Mole Mexican Cooking Class and an Art and Wine Experience with a local San José del Cabo artist.

And then there is Loto Robata Grill, where the property’s grown-up sensibility makes its way onto the dinner table. Led by Chef Schutte, the restaurant takes the Japanese robata tradition and combines it with his own creative approach, bringing traditional Japanese flavors into a Baja setting. It joins the resort’s other food and beverage experiences as another reason to stay on the Boutique side of the property. Another point for Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos? One of its more playful—but still very adult—beverage additions. Heritage Sips is a collection of five non-alcoholic drinks inspired by ancestral Mexican beverages and centered on traditional ingredients. Cacao, corn, hibiscus, and agave become the starting points for drinks that explore the ingredients and traditions behind Mexico’s drinking culture.

It’s the best of both worlds—adults can rest assured in choosing the grown-up oasis of the Boutique property and still indulge in the variety of the dining scene next door.

That’s really the defining difference between Grand Velas Los Cabos and Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos: the emphasis at Boutique is on tasting, learning, lingering, and trying something genuinely unique. Plus, you’ll still have access to the five gourmet dinner restaurants at Grand Velas Los Cabos, including Cocina de Autor. It’s the best of both worlds—adults can rest assured in choosing the grown-up oasis of the Boutique property and still indulge in the variety of the dining scene next door.

Mar del Cabo for The Independent Traveler

It’s notably the smallest property in the Velas Resorts Los Cabos portfolio, with just forty-eight rooms and suites.

If Grand Velas Los Cabos feels expansive and Grand Velas Boutique feels intentionally subdued, Mar del Cabo feels like the more laid-back, design-minded sibling. It’s notably the smallest property in the Velas Resorts Los Cabos portfolio, with just forty-eight rooms and suites. And with its position on a narrow stretch of the corridor between the two Grand Velas properties, the design is matched to feel pared back. White walls act almost like a canvas, while Mexican handicrafts, local textiles, wood furniture, and pops of color provide a full sensory experience. Guests can choose between one- and two-bedroom suites as well as two penthouses with accommodations varying depending on where they sit along the slope. Some have direct ocean views, while others look onto gardens and corridors, but all have furnished terraces or balconies. The oceanfront suites near the lobby offer elevator access, while the suites closer to the pool sit lower on the property and include larger indoor and outdoor spaces.

The property’s layout is part of its charm—and something to keep in mind when booking with your SmartFlyer travel advisor. Rather than one large building with an elevator that takes you everywhere, Mar del Cabo cascades toward the beach, with stairs connecting its different levels. The descent brings you past gardens and viewpoints before reaching the oceanfront pool, which acts as a distinctive tiled pool just steps from the sand. Above it is a lookout where guests can settle into the grass with a panoramic view of the Sea of Cortez; it’s particularly beautiful around sunset. On select evenings, the hotel turns this area into a gathering spot around a fire pit for s’mores. Continue down a few more steps, and you’re on the beach, where the long stretch of sand is better suited to walking and jogging than swimming, given the waves and strong currents along this part of the coast. Between December and April, there’s the possibility of spotting migrating whales offshore.

…leaves guests with more flexibility to build their days around the destination, especially if you’re hoping to explore wider Cabo San Lucas, including its golf courses, fishing, or robust dining scene.

The adults-only designation gives Mar del Cabo a different vibe from Grand Velas Los Cabos next door. The European plan at Mar del Cabo also differs from the Boutique; the nightly rate includes breakfast, but everything else is a la cárte, giving you free rein to do Cabo your way. That leaves guests with more flexibility to build their days around the destination, especially if you’re hoping to explore wider Cabo San Lucas, including its golf courses, fishing, or robust dining scene. Guests can also opt to dine at either sister property. This flexibility gives you an advantage not often found at a small boutique hotel: the property itself remains intimate, but the larger Velas ecosystem is accessible just next door.

Its focus on culinary is where the Velas connection becomes especially apparent. Breakfast includes homemade bread, acai bowls, traditional Mexican dishes, fresh juices, and smoothies, while dinner can move into more elaborate territory. Encanto Farm & Sea sits above the pool and looks toward the Sea of Cortez, with a menu built around the flavors and ingredients of Baja California Sur. More than ninety percent of the restaurant’s ingredients come from nearby orchards, ranches, and producers, and the kitchen’s emphasis on local sourcing carries through from breakfast to dinner. The newer Encanto de la Baja: The Chef’s Blind Menu takes that local focus even further, with Chef Oscar Morales creating a seven-course menu based on what is freshest that day. You’ll share any dietary restrictions and ingredients you avoid, and the rest is left to the kitchen, with pairings that can include wines from Valle de Guadalupe or cocktails, depending on the vibe.

The smaller footprint of Mar del Cabo also makes it an appealing option for group travel. With just forty-eight rooms and suites and two larger sister resorts immediately beside it, the property can accommodate buyouts for destination weddings, corporate gatherings, and other celebrations while still having access to its wider range of amenities. The programming can be customized around the setting, from sailboat weddings and beach barbecues to mariachi nights and spirits tastings, with excursions such as whale watching and sunset boat trips available beyond the property. And for guests traveling with four-legged companions, Mar del Cabo is pet-friendly, with its Pawsh Spa offering a particularly on-brand ritual: Tibetan singing bowls, a natural-bristle brush massage, organic shea butter for the paws, and jade rollers to cool them down after a day in the Los Cabos heat.

Getting to Velas Resorts in Los Cabos

Los Cabos is served primarily by Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), which is a thirty-minute drive from the Velas Resorts properties. There are nonstop flights from major cities across the U.S., as well as from Canada and Mexico. Cabo San Lucas International Airport (CSL) is also roughly thirty minutes from the resorts, and it caters primarily to private and executive aviation, including our partners at Aero who offer convenient service from Los Angeles, complete with Erewhon on board.

Private airport transfers take you directly from the airport to your stay. The drive from the airport also gives you your first introduction to the landscape, including a dramatic combination of desert, mountains, coastline, and Sea of Cortez views that defines this part of Baja California Sur. By the time you reach the resorts, the landscape has already started doing some of the work of convincing you that you’ve arrived somewhere very different from home. Ultimately, no matter what version you chose to experience, Cabo is one of those destinations where the hardest part is often when it’s time to leave.

2027 Travel Trends Report

Kayla Douglas — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:02:08 +0000

Each year, as summer winds down stateside, we look ahead through the lens of our travel advisors to chart the trends shaping the future of luxury hospitality.

As we set our sights on 2027 travel trends, we’re looking not only at where discerning clients are traveling, but why—and how—they choose to move through the world. Several themes have emerged that are poised to define our year ahead. The prevalence of AI is swinging the pendulum back toward the power of human expertise. Wellness is becoming more clinical than spiritual. A return to analogue experiences is emerging as the antidote to our always-on world. Emerging air routes are reshaping where people want to go. And above all, taste is supplanting algorithmic suggestions as the ultimate arbiter of aspiration. Let’s dive in.

2027 TRAVEL TRENDS WE’RE BREAKING DOWN

Having an Original Thought is Modern Life’s Greatest Luxury
Wellness is Changing its Face. Or Yours.
A Return to Analogue
The End of Endless Choice
Literary-Inspired Travel is Entering the Luxury Space
No photos, please.
Mamma Mia! Greece Has Never Been Hotter
The Runway Effect
Travel Advisors as Agents of Influence
What’s Even Real Anymore? Taste.

Having an Original Thought is Modern Life’s Greatest Luxury

In a world where talking about the pros and woes of AI in seemingly equal measure has become a part of everyday discourse, it’d be expected for a travel company powered by human insights to take the bait. In fact, in our 2025 Travel Trends Report, we’ve delved into just how much more the recommendations of a real person matter in the face of increased AI adoption. Two years later, we still believe that.

But the reality is, in our current landscape as it relates to 2027 travel trends, even the savviest travel advisors are using AI; in a recent survey of our SmartFlyer travel advisor community, six in ten advisors have incorporated it into their workflow. Fittingly, on a recent panel discussion at the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Summit, Dr. Richie Karaburun, Clinical Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism at the NYU School of Professional Studies, said, “AI isn’t going to take your job. Someone who knows AI will.” And the most strategic travel advisors are taking note, choosing to incorporate AI not for recommendations, but to streamline otherwise tedious back-office tasks. Which leads us to our starting point for this 2027 travel trends report: the intrinsic value of an original thought.

…we’re of the mindset that it’s the trips that go against the grain that often leave the most outsized impact.

While it can be tempting to follow the droves of well-heeled travelers towards St. Barth’s over New Year’s, Aspen for February break, or Sardinia in the peak summer months, we’re of the mindset that it’s the trips that go against the grain that often leave the most outsized impact. Working with a creative travel advisor means you’ll be privy to personalized recommendations that go beyond the expected—certainly beyond what AI could come up with. If you’re active, maybe that means a surfing trip in Indonesia at the new Nihi Roté. If you’re looking for a science-based health reset, perhaps it means going to Lanserhof Sylt on the Wadden Sea in Germany for a weeklong Neuro Sleep Reset. If you’re looking to reignite a romantic connection, maybe that means a wine-fueled trip down to Awasi Mendoza, weaving through its vineyards. No matter where an advisor-provided suggestion finds you, we’re certain it’s one that AI wouldn’t have come up with. And that just might be the biggest flex of all in 2027.

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Wellness is Changing its Face. Or Yours.

The word “wellness” has been on the lips of hoteliers for what feels like forever. In fact, entire resorts and even hospitality brands like SHA Wellness (notably launching its third location coming halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai soon) have been constructed to serve the growing demand for longevity. But the 2027 travel trend we’re charting tied to wellness is distinctly different than years past. With GLP1s and peptides abound, we’re living in a culture obsessed with results. In fact, in a recent survey by Strategic Vision, 39% of travel advisors say clients are showing more interest in measurable wellness outcomes such as sleep, fitness, and stress reduction.

Take The Emory in London. Under the umbrella of Maybourne Hotels and sister hotel to the iconic Claridge’s and The Connaught, their approach to wellness is anything but stuffy. In The Emory’s Surrene Belgravia facility, treatments like its “City Circadian Reset” offer personalized treatments that go far beyond your standard massage. Think: consults with Surrenne’s medical lead, daily Tracy Anderson classes, complimentary gym wear laundry service, daily red-light therapy, and 30 days’ worth of personalized supplements. It’s not just about feeling better, but looking better, too. And increasingly, wellness is moving beyond hands-on treatments toward technology-driven, touchless therapies rooted in these sought-after measurable outcomes. For instance, at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, guests can enjoy the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Somadome Meditation Pods, and sensory-deprivation float experiences.

This science-based approach is reflective of a broader shift in longevity care. ZEM is moving beyond biomarkers alone to consider resilience, mental clarity, and overall quality of life.

Results-backed wellness isn’t about fluff; it’s about diagnostics. After a recent trip to ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea in Spain, SmartFlyer Founder and CEO Michael Holtz remarked on how innovative the property’s technology was, noting, “ZEM is the only destination in Europe to offer all seven Metawell multisensory systems. They combine vibration, light, and frequency to support nervous-system recovery, emotional balance, and cognitive performance. This science-based approach is reflective of a broader shift in longevity care. ZEM is moving beyond biomarkers alone to consider resilience, mental clarity, and overall quality of life.” ZEM is infusing its science-backed philosophy in all it does, including offering therapies like Pro-Ageing Performance IV Therapy, which reduces fatigue and boosts energy; O₃ Vitalage Ozone Therapy, which improves circulation and reduces inflammation; and Hypoxia–Hyperoxia Therapy, which improves your capacity for exercise and reduces blood pressure. All in all, it’s about walking away from your stay not just more balanced, but looking better than ever.

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A Return to Analogue

For years, luxury travel in the traditional sense has been defined by offering more: more amenities, more dining outlets, more square footage, and more experiences packed into seemingly fewer days. However, as a part of our 2027 travel trends, we see there being a notable shift away from “more” as we instead ask, what happens if it’s actually “less” that empowers you to get closer to yourself? In stripping back to the essentials, travelers are able to dig deeper into one of the rarest luxuries of all: presence.

Increasingly, we’re seeing that the most memorable moments don’t happen inside a suite, but outside. And often, tech-free. At Singita Lebombo and Singita Sweni in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, guests can opt to trade their four walls for a night spent partaking in “Night Camp,” which is Singita‘s take on sleeping in a canvas tent away from the lodge, directly beneath the stars. Similar thinking applies in New Zealand at Minaret Station, where guests are helicoptered into the Southern Alps to stay at one of the world’s most remote lodges with just four rooms. Or, in the highlands north of Ubud, Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape offers a unique “no walls, no doors” concept across its sixteen private villas featuring open-air views to the jungle and nearby mountains. In these environments, luxury isn’t measured by how much is added, but by how much comes into focus when the fluff falls away.

Perhaps the greatest luxury isn’t having more distractions or more to do, but having the space to notice more.

This gravitation towards analogue extends far beyond where travelers sleep. It’s not a more-is-more mentality, but a growing desire to go back to basics in order to be brought back to yourself. According to WGSN’s Future Consumer forecast, these behaviors are connected to “The Great Exhaustion,” or a growing desire to slow down, disconnect from constant stimulation, and instead seek human, tactile experiences. Whether it’s a real room key over a digital one like at Passalacqua in Lake Como or immersing yourself in the vinyl culture of Patina Osaka‘s Listening Room (a space outfitted with over 6,000 records), ultimately, this 2027 travel trend of returning to analogue is about rejecting our culture of hyper-optimization. Because today perhaps the greatest luxury isn’t having more distractions or more to do, but having the space to notice more.

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The End of Endless Choice

Just when you thought we’d finished talking about the shift away from the more-is-more mentality, there’s one final piece to the puzzle: the choice itself. For too long, luxury has been equated with an abundance of options—a concierge guide with endless dining recommendations, an in-room pillow menu with seven choices, or an in-room electric panel so “advanced” you can’t figure out how to make the lights turn off. To us, this optionality isn’t comforting—it’s distracting. In reality, it’s ritual and the elimination of decision fatigue that creates a sound stay. This is where travel advisors become indispensable, editing the infinite possibilities into a handful of personalized picks before a trip even begins—and where the very best hotels, villas, and cruise or yacht operators elevate an experience by remembering those preferences upon your arrival.

This symbiotic relationship comes most naturally in the realm of repeat stays. On a recent check-in at COMO The Treasury, Perth, the team told us about a guest they’d welcomed over one hundred times. Now, upon her arrival, she’s provided a special key outfitted with a leather tassel in her favorite color (yellow), and led to her favorite room (a Studio Suite facing Elizabeth Quay), which is set to her exact preferred temperature (21°C). It’s a ritual. And the property’s recognition of her loyalty is what takes hospitality from feeling transactional to relational. Because few sentiments resonate quite like feeling known and remembered.

…the brands and advisors that earn lasting loyalty won’t be the ones offering the most options, but the ones that make clients feel like the choice was crystal clear all along.

Increasingly, this is what affluent travelers are actually paying for: not more options, but fewer decisions. In a world where access to information about every place can be surfaced in seconds, luxury isn’t endless intel—it’s being spared from having to sift through it. Every preference remembered in an effort to return something to you more valuable than money: your time. And as travel becomes increasingly frictionless, the brands and advisors that will earn lasting loyalty won’t be the ones offering the most options, but the ones that make clients feel like the choice was crystal clear all along.

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Literary-Inspired Travel is Entering the Luxury Space

The idea of a beach read has long held universal appeal for its promise of fleetingly euphoric conditions: a page turner paired with the sun hanging above at high noon, and hopefully (if executed properly) a cold beverage beside your lounger. But in today’s hyperconnected world, the notion of packing a few paperbacks and hoping for the best isn’t quite cutting it for avid readers. Bibliophiles are seeking not just an itinerary that carves out time for reading, but one that creates connection to place and forges friendships with fellow readers.

Maryland-based SmartFlyer travel advisor Mackenzie Peyser launched Luxury Reading Retreats in spring 2026 after seeing a void of reading retreats that called luxury hotels home. Mackenzie hosted her first retreat in Middleburg, Virginia—a locale that not only allowed the group to stay at Salamander Resort & Spa, but most importantly, take a trip to Middleburg Books. Preferring to keep group sizes to about twelve, she’s equally mindful about the place she chooses to host each retreat as she is the people who partake; participants must submit an application of interest, and Mackenzie carefully curates attendees. Looking to next year, she’ll host retreats in Nantucket, Napa, and Nashville, each of which sold out within hours of launch.

Luxury reading retreats are merely one expression of a broader shift toward literary travel. This summer, The New York Times declared that “book-cations” are having a moment, noting that books give travelers an emotional connection to a destination before they ever arrive. World of Hyatt’s partnership with Reese’s Book Club is only further proof of the appetite for a vacation to be connected to story. And in its best form, not as a solitary act, but as a means to connect to community.

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No photos, please.

The pursuit of novelty is at the heart of what has made travel appealing for centuries. But the ultimate irony of our reliance on social media is that so little today actually remains novel. A vista we’ve long seen posted on our feeds when finally seen in person can turn out to be overly contrived—it’s only once getting to places like Zakynthos that you discover the hike overlooking Shipwreck Beach is strewn with metal gates and barriers surreptitiously cropped out of said Instagram posts. A café serving ice cream and wine in Paris gets so popular that they command a line down the block, at the same time putting up “No TikTokers” signs, making its original allure of cozy, calming vibes all but negligible. We could go on and on, citing examples of something special turned into an experience devoid of enjoyment, all because too many have flocked to performative posts and tell the world: I’ve been here.

…for once, you don’t know what you’re walking into because it’s never been posted about.

But the pendulum is beginning to swing in the other direction. If the “No influencers” sign hanging in Nantucket’s Four Winds Craft Guild antique stores sparking spirited online debate has taught us anything, it’s that where content creation is welcome is becoming more limited. Restaurants and hotels are responding in droves. At FORESTIS in the Dolomites, photos are most certainly not allowed in its series of textile-free saunas and cold plunges; but more interestingly, in one select restaurant, your phone is actually confiscated at the door. After being collected at the entryway of the hotel, guests are guided to the entrance of its mountain cave restaurant, Yera, by torch before being presented with a wooden box to place your phone in for the duration of the twelve-course tasting. Walking into the moody space surrounding its open fire kitchen is one of true novelty: for once, you don’t know what you’re walking into because it’s never been posted about.

On a smaller scale, properties around New York are looking to create an equally impactful sense of privacy. In Soho at The Mercer, the lobby is reserved for guests only, and photos are discouraged given its high-profile clientele. At Faena New York in Chelsea, upon entering its popular Living Room social space, you’ll be met with a sign sharing, “In keeping with the intimate, artistic atmosphere of Faena New York, and to preserve the privacy and comfort of our guests, photography, videography, and audio recording are not permitted.” Across the pond at Heckfield Place, they’re all but assuring there are no photos of its spa facilities by confiscating your phone at the door. And just about an hour away at Beaverbrook, discretion is taken a step further with its four-bedroom secret residence, The Dower House, which is marketed with no more than one photo. It turns out, you have to go to know.

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Mamma Mia! Greece Has Never Been Hotter

Greece has never gone out of style. But like all destinations, demand ebbs and flows. We’re predicting 2027 to be a peak year for travel to Greece thanks to an amalgamation of cultural sway and increased hotel inventory. On the note of arts and culture, this summer, headlines were dominated by coverage of The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan’s newest masterpiece shot on 70mm. And the conversation is predicted to be continually pulled toward the Aegean’s turquoise waters with the release of the sixth and final season of Emily In Paris, set to hit Netflix just before the holidays with early episodes filmed in Greece.

Film and TV storylines aside, the country has never been more ready for high-end travelers. This year, we saw two newcomers to Mykonos that turned heads in the Cyclades and beyond: Four Seasons Hotel Mykonos and Fouquet’s Mykonos. Next year will see the opening of several new properties across mainland Greece as well as the islands, including Rosewood Crete, Kenshō Paros, and Conrad Corfu. These properties will join the ranks of an existing hotel landscape that’s already earning international recognition: in the latest Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, THE DOLLI at Acropolis was voted number five city hotel in Europe, while Canaves Epitome was voted number one resort in Greece. In keeping with travelers who’ve “been everywhere,” this combination of newness and a track record of excellence is reason enough to pivot Euro summer plans to Greece.

The investment in new hard product isn’t just strategic for hoteliers and travelers; it reflects the outsized role tourism plays across the country at large. According to a recent report from the World Travel & Tourism Council, Tourism represents roughly 20% of Greece’s GDP, the largest share among the countries reported and nearly double Italy’s 10.4%. But Greece’s relationship to hospitality stretches back far longer than any traditional tourism boom. If you were one of the hundreds of thousands who ran to the nearest IMAX to see The Odyssey, you’ll recall Zeus’s Law: the ancient obligation to welcome and care for strangers. The Greeks have been perfecting the art of hospitality for centuries. In 2027, travelers will simply have more ways to experience the Grecian touch.

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The Runway Effect

…longer direct flights—whether domestic or international—have gained share over more complex itineraries.

Ask any seasoned traveler how they choose their next destination, and they’re likely to point to a new hotel opening, a cultural reference that swayed them, or a recommendation from a trusted travel advisor or friend. But increasingly, one of the strongest influences on where clients are choosing to go is new airline routes. According to the 2026 Deloitte Summer Travel Survey, longer direct flights—whether domestic or international—have gained share over more complex itineraries. And notably, there’s a 10% increase amongst travelers willing to upgrade to business or first class for a more comfortable flying experience.

For our SmartFlyer Air Team, every new nonstop flight redraws the map. A destination that once required two connections and a full day of travel suddenly can be unlocked with the introduction of routes. Delta’s new nonstop from JFK to Olbia has driven client demand for Sardinia, says New York-based travel advisor Teddy Betesh, while Rebecca Alesia notes an uptick in travelers to Sicily since the airline launched a nonstop to Catania. United Airlines’ nonstop from Newark to Málaga has made a marked difference as Beth Washington’s tri-state-based clients seek easy access to sunshine along Spain’s Costa del Sol. Barri Reisch weighed in to share how the recently launched American Airlines nonstop between Miami and Milan has driven northern Italy business. Similarly, St. Louis-based advisor Betsey Brown and Chicago-based advisor Amy Zebala shared sentiments on an influx of inquiries to London with British Airways’ new nonstop from STL to Heathrow.

Looking ahead to 2027, the long-awaited nonstop flight between New York and Sydney—also known as Qantas’ Project Sunrise—will do more than replace New York to Singapore as the longest flight in the world, further opening up the destination to many who hadn’t previously considered visiting Australia. In 2027, we’ll also see American Airlines launch a route between Chicago and Tokyo. El Al is launching Tel Aviv to Seoul, making it the first nonstop between Israel and South Korea. SAS will launch Copenhagen to Krabi and Phuket, offering more options for the continued demand for premium product to Thailand. More than ever, watching which airline routes are being invested in may prove just as pivotal as new hotel openings, and your SmartFlyer travel advisor remains your trusted resource to connect all the dots.

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Travel Advisors as Agents of Influence

For years, headlines have been swirling that travel advisors are “so back,” citing how Millennials and Gen Z are turning to agents for advice. So, it’s no surprise that in this year’s LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise Report, “Travel Advisor” sits at number eighteen as the top growing job title. Does more mean better? Not necessarily. But what can’t be ignored is how those outside the travel industry are increasingly being influenced by travel advisors more than traditional influencers.

In its July 2026 Trends Report, London-based agency Perowne International draws a notable parallel between who they refer to as “Super Agents” and the trust inherent in their recommendations. The report goes on to describe how the most strategic travel advisors use their social platforms to showcase not just pretty destinations, but a peek behind the curtain in how they approach scouting. Jules Perowne describes it as flexing the same editorial muscles as a journalist, in turn reassuring existing clients that they know their stuff.

But ultimately, the idea of a travel advisor supplanting a traditional influencer in terms of drumming up demand for a place or property comes down to taste.

From our vantage point, increasingly, travelers are craving certainty. They want to know that their advisor has been to the hotel, tested the restaurant, slept in the bed, and can speak to the size of the gym first-hand. It’s not scalable to expect your agent to have been everywhere, but the power of a network like SmartFlyer means that even if they haven’t been, someone in the collective has. But ultimately, the idea of a travel advisor supplanting a traditional influencer in terms of drumming up demand for a place or property comes down to taste. Lots of hotels have highly rated hard product; but following and engaging with an agent who shares your taste level is where the real influence comes in.

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What’s Even Real Anymore? Taste.

In our final trend, we return to the idea that luxury is no longer defined simply by access to what has traditionally been considered desirable. Instead, it is increasingly shaped by the judgment, filtration, and taste required to decide what is worth desiring in the first place. In a world where everyone can generate an itinerary with AI, purchase convincing handbag dupes, or discover the latest “hidden gem” online, true discernment has become infinitely more valuable than access itself. For travel advisors, taste functions as a filtration system. One client may seek complete privacy while another wants to be at the center of the scene, but in every case, the advisor’s role is the same: to distinguish what is genuinely exceptional from what is simply new, popular, or algorithmically amplified.

Luxury isn’t becoming less exclusive; instead, it is becoming more informed.

That same shift is reshaping how we think about provenance. Historically, value was rooted in where something came from. Today, when a lab-grown diamond can be visually indistinguishable from a mined one, or a meticulously crafted Birkin dupe can challenge the original, authenticity is becoming less about what something is and more about the judgment behind choosing it. We believe an eye for quality will always outlast status signaling. Luxury isn’t becoming less exclusive; instead, it is becoming more informed.

Consider UK-based jeweler Astrea London, a brand built around recycled gold and D- and E-color lab-grown diamonds. This summer, it opened its flagship boutique inside Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris, the storied Left Bank hotel that has welcomed guests since 1910, just steps from Hermès’ original flagship. The juxtaposition is telling: one of hospitality’s great heritage institutions is embracing a brand that challenges long-held assumptions about value and craftsmanship. The old guard is changing, and with it, so too, are signals of wealth. Erina Pindar, SmartFlyer COO and Managing Partner, weighs in, sharing, “Ultimately, the question is no longer whether a lab-grown diamond is better than a mined one, or whether a heritage house is more valuable than a newcomer. In a world where almost anything can be replicated, what cannot be copied is judgment. A honed eye and taste, the ability to recognize lasting quality amid limitless choice—that has become the rarest luxury of all.”

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Ready to start planning 2027? Contact a SmartFlyer travel advisor.

A True Longevity Trip Starts with Science

SmartFlyer — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 22:30:20 +0000

Today’s travelers aren’t simply looking to disconnect for a few days—they’re seeking a stay that empowers them to live better.

…we’re seeing an uptick in those turning to wellness clinics for advanced diagnostics and science-backed strategies for ongoing vitality.

Increasingly, demand for a “wellness retreat” has morphed into conversations around investing in longevity care. Our team of SmartFlyer travel advisors is adept at designing itineraries to help you better understand your body. The growth of longevity-focused travel reflects a broader shift in how we’re collectively approaching well-being. With more travelers seeking medical expertise beyond their general practitioner, we’re seeing an uptick in those turning to wellness clinics for advanced diagnostics and science-backed strategies for ongoing vitality. With the longevity clinic tourism market valued at approximately $18 billion and projected to reach $48.2 billion by 2033, this trend only promises to continue.

This new era of wellness travel, backed by science, centers on improving cognitive function, maintaining energy, and increasing mobility. Travelers are notably drawn to destinations where physicians, diagnostics, nutrition, movement, and restorative therapies work together to create a proactive approach to aging. But it takes a true expert to scout out trusted newcomers to this space—and that’s where we come in.

Wellness Amplified by a World-Class Location

Set along Spain’s Costa Blanca, ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea brings together advanced medicine and Mediterranean living in a thoughtfully designed setting. A stay at ZEM is best suited for travelers looking for a more intentional reset—only a fifty-minute drive from the international Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC), it’s a worthy standalone destination, but can alternatively be worked into a broader European itinerary.

Altea’s climate makes ZEM a year-round destination.

Located in Altea, one of the region’s most atmospheric coastal towns, the property sits between the foothills of the Sierra de Bernia and the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by whitewashed streets, artisan boutiques, historic architecture, and sweeping coastal views. Altea’s climate makes ZEM a year-round destination. Winter offers an opportunity to step away from colder climates and focus on recovery, sleep, and restoration, while spring and autumn are particularly well suited for outdoor movement and mindfulness practices. While still an under-the-radar destination within Spain, Altea offers a quieter perspective on Spain’s coastline combined with a creative community that gravitates here for its relaxed pace of life.

How a Stay at ZEM Works

Each stay begins by pairing you with a dedicated ZEM Master…

From the moment you arrive, the experience unfolds more like a highly personalized health journey than a traditional wellness retreat. Rather than checking into a preset itinerary, your first days are dedicated to understanding how your body functions today so that every treatment, consultation, and meal throughout your stay is informed by objective medical data. Each stay begins by pairing you with a dedicated ZEM Master, who guides your journey from pre-arrival consultation through the program itself.

Each stay begins with the ZEM Wellness Medical Assessment, which goes beyond the traditional screening. Laboratory analysis includes oxidative stress and free radical testing, NAD+ level assessment, Cardisio electrocardiogram testing, body composition analysis, and skin evaluation—information that not only determines your baseline health but also informs consultations spanning neurocognition, emotional wellbeing, biodental health, and aesthetic medicine.

Despite its wide range of advanced technology, arriving at ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea feels less like entering a traditional medical facility and more like stepping into an elegant retreat. The grand gold-and-cream lobby sets the tone for serenity immediately, centered around a hand-assembled mosaic made from 35,000 individual pieces, and a sculptural chandelier suspended above the space. The design introduces a sense of calm before any consultation or assessment begins. The property’s architecture reflects a different vision of wellness. Its ninety-five rooms and suites are designed around natural light, quiet, and expansive views, each element contributing to an aesthetic that’s refined but still understated.

Your Medical Team at ZEM Wellness

Through ZEM Wellness’ partnership with IMED Hospitales, a private healthcare group, the clinic brings together advanced diagnostics, preventive medicine, regenerative therapies, nutrition, movement, and recovery within one integrated destination. The medical team is led by Dr. Carlos Gutiérrez, Director of ZEM Clinic and a specialist in longevity medicine and family medicine with more than twenty-five years of international clinical experience. He works alongside a multidisciplinary team including Dr. Alfonso Díaz, a bio-dental specialist focused on implantology and oral rehabilitation, and Dr. Jessica Castejón, a clinical psychologist and sexologist specializing in mental well-being, psycho-oncology, and evidence-based therapies.

Programs are designed around a range of goals, from foundational assessments and detoxification to weight management, cognitive balance, immunity, aesthetics, and longevity care. A 4,000 square-meter spa and fitness area, forty-two treatment cabins, outdoor pools, and Finca Althaya, ZEM’s organic estate spanning approximately 200,000 square meters—about twice the area of Chicago’s Millennium Park—each act to support the various programs.

How Long to Stay at ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea

Those new to the concept of medical wellness are suggested to begin with ZEM Essential, a three-night introductory program designed to provide an initial understanding of the clinic’s approach. For travelers curious about longevity medicine—but not yet ready to commit to an extended program—the three-night ZEM Essential stay offers an approachable introduction to the clinic’s philosophy. Rather than attempting to transform your health in just a few days, this visit focuses on establishing your baseline and introducing lifestyle habits. In three nights, you can expect:

A comprehensive medical assessment and physician consultation.
Baseline diagnostics to better understand current health markers.
An introduction to ZEM’s personalized nutrition philosophy.
Movement and recovery sessions tailored to your goals—leave with a cross-functional training plan that will lower your mile time or a path towards more mobility.

For those with a bit more time, or who are looking to see results while on the property, five to seven nights allows enough time for the clinic’s multidisciplinary approach to fully come together. Once your diagnostic results have been reviewed, your daily schedule is built for your goals. During a five- to seven-night stay, you’ll experience:

Personalized physician consultations informed by comprehensive diagnostics.
Targeted movement sessions including strength, mobility, and functional training.
Recovery therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, or therapeutic massage.
Nutrition consultations and personalized meal planning.
Time to establish sustainable routines around sleep, movement, recovery, and nutrition, so that you can leave with a foundation in place.

Together, these evaluations provide a detailed picture of how your body functions and where targeted support can have the most outsized impact.

If you’re seeking even more measurable lifestyle changes, you could consider staying for at least seven nights—and programs extend to twenty-one nights, offering the most meaningful opportunity for transformation. Every program of seven nights or longer begins with the ZEM Diagnostic Lab, where an advanced assessment evaluates physical, metabolic, cardiovascular, cognitive, and functional health. The eight-step assessment includes vital signs, advanced electrocardiogram testing, autonomic nervous system balance, body composition analysis, grip strength, mental performance, skin appearance, and a three-dimensional body scan. Together, these evaluations provide a detailed picture of how your body functions and where targeted support can have the most outsized impact. The additional time allows physicians to monitor your response to therapies, refine your treatment plan, and layer advanced regenerative medicine into your itinerary as your body progresses throughout the program. Extended stays may include:

Metabolic coaching and personalized performance strategies.
Regenerative therapies to target specific goals, whether that’s weight loss, increasing your athletic ability, or meeting a specific health marker like lower cholesterol.
Additional neurocognitive and emotional well-being programming to strengthen long-term behavioral tools.

Regardless of the length of your visit, the goal remains the same: to leave with a deeper understanding of your body and practical tools for improving how you eat, move, recover, and age. The longer you’re at ZEM, the more time the medical team has to personalize your program, monitor your progress, and build new habits.

Inside a True Longevity Program

A perfect example: the ZEM Prime Longevity Program is designed for those seeking understanding of how they’re aging and providing them with tools to support long-term vitality; it is available as a seven- or fourteen-night program. The foundation of longevity is built around four interconnected pillars: physical movement, nutrient-dense nutrition, quality sleep, and mental and social well-being.

Together, these areas support increased energy, independence, and vitality. Innovation is central to ZEM’s approach, particularly in the emerging field of emotional and cognitive longevity. The property houses all seven Metawell multisensory systems—the only destination in Europe to offer the complete collection—which use combinations of vibration, light, and frequency-based stimulation to support nervous-system recovery, emotional balance, and cognitive performance. This science-based approach reflects a broader shift in longevity care: ZEM is moving beyond biomarkers alone to consider resilience, mental clarity, and overall quality of life.

What a Typical Day Looks Like

While no two itineraries are exactly alike, a typical day at ZEM is intentionally structured around your body’s natural rhythms. Mornings begin with movement or functional training before transitioning into physician consultations, diagnostic reviews, or specialized therapies. Afternoons balance treatments with time to enjoy the property’s expansive wellness facilities, while evenings prioritize recovery, nutritious dining, and restorative sleep.

Built-in moments of rest allow the body time to recover between treatments, reinforcing one of ZEM’s central philosophies: lasting health isn’t achieved by doing more, but by helping the body function more efficiently.

While the schedule is comprehensive, it never feels rushed. Built-in moments of rest allow the body time to recover between treatments, reinforcing one of ZEM’s central philosophies: lasting health isn’t achieved by doing more, but by helping the body function more efficiently. Recovery is integrated throughout the program with treatments such as a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, whole-body cryotherapy, facial and body treatments, aquatic therapy, private body-mind sessions, conscious breathing with ice immersion, and the ZEM Signature Body Massage. Targeted therapies may include Pro-Ageing Performance IV Therapy, which reduces fatigue and boosts energy; O₃ Vitalage Ozone Therapy, which improves circulation and reduces inflammation; Hypoxia–Hyperoxia Therapy, which improves your capacity for exercise and reduces blood pressure; and colon hydrotherapy, which flushes the large intestine of waste.

Mental and social wellbeing are also recognized as vital elements of the program. Through emotional wellbeing consultations, neurocognitive support, mindful practices, and time spent within the restorative rhythm of the environment, ZEM addresses the connection between mental clarity, stress management, and overall vitality. These are tools designed to last beyond your stay—while you won’t be able to fit the hyperbaric chamber in your checked luggage, resetting your understanding of how to sleep, eat, and move to perform optimally will remain with you even when you land back home.

A True Farm-to-Table Wellness Experience

Food is central to the ZEM philosophy. Through its connection to Finca Althaya, ingredients grown on the property shape the menus at Salvia Restaurant. A focus on nutrition follows the same philosophy as the rest of ZEM’s wellness approach. Every ZEM program, regardless of duration or focus, accentuates whole foods, seasonal ingredients, and anti-inflammatory nutrition in line with the principles of the Mediterranean diet.

Expect colorful, Mediterranean-inspired menus that celebrate seasonal vegetables harvested from Finca Althaya alongside whole grains, legumes, healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil, antioxidant-rich produce, sustainably sourced seafood, and thoughtfully selected lean proteins. Refined sugars and ultra-processed ingredients are minimized in favor of nutrient-dense dishes designed to support your metabolism, reduce inflammation, and promote steady energy throughout the day.

Instead of set menus, meals will reflect your individual program and objectives. Depending on your goals, meals may emphasize blood sugar balance, cardiovascular health, recovery from physical training, or weight management—all while remaining beautifully presented and rooted in Mediterranean culinary traditions. The experience continues beyond the table through the ZEM Culinary Academy and cooking workshops, where you can learn how to select quality ingredients, understand nutritional pairings, and apply the principles of the ZEM approach at home.

Digital Freedom

A feature that differentiates ZEM from other clinics is that there’s no requirement to completely disconnect from your digital world. You can certainly add a complete digital detox into the ZEM program, but it is not required. You are welcome to remain connected throughout your time at the property, making the ZEM a great option for entrepreneurs, executives, and travelers who may need to balance their goals with professional responsibilities. Rather than limiting access to technology, the emphasis is on improving sleep quality, reducing stress, and developing healthier routines that naturally foster a more mindful relationship with digital devices.

A New Way to Travel Well

The next era of wellness travel is not about escaping everyday life—it is about returning to it with a stronger understanding of how to care for yourself. At ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea, science provides the foundation, while the landscape and cuisine shape the experience. Through advanced diagnostics, preventive medicine, restorative therapies, and a setting designed around renewal, ZEM offers travelers the opportunity to invest in their long-term wellbeing.

For those who’ve practically been everywhere, your most meaningful next destination may be the one that helps you better understand yourself. What sets ZEM apart is the breadth of expertise available under one roof. Rather than focusing on a single aspect of wellness, the clinic brings everything together into one coordinated program.

A New Blueprint for Place-Led Luxury with Ritz-Carlton Reserve

SmartFlyer — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:14:59 +0000

The world’s most celebrated hotels have long been built around a simple promise: consistency.

Whether arriving at a grand European palace, a Caribbean retreat, or a reliable city hotel, travelers crave the reassurance that comes from a trusted name over the marquee. Today, the expectations of the most discerning travelers have changed, and the wisest brands are listening.

Ritz-Carlton Reserve is one such brand that’s paying attention to the evolving needs of today’s savvy traveler.

The most memorable journeys are increasingly defined by what cannot be replicated: conversations with local artisans, meals crafted from regional ingredients, landscapes that influence the rhythm of the day, and traditions that remain long after departure. This isn’t just conjecture. In one survey published in May 2026, sixty-three percent of affluent travelers reported seeking unique experiences as a primary travel objective. Only one percent of respondents reported status or recognition as a key motivator. As global access expands, the rarest element of travel has become meaningful connection. Ritz-Carlton Reserve is one such brand that’s paying attention to the evolving needs of today’s savvy traveler.

The Added Depth of Ritz-Carlton Reserve

This shift has redefined what constitutes a remarkable hotel. Square footage, thread counts, and recognizable design signatures still matter, but they are no longer the complete measure of distinction. Increasingly, the properties that stand apart are those that could exist nowhere else. Within this transforming landscape, Ritz-Carlton Reserve takes a particularly distinctive approach: it begins without a template. The very first Reserve property launched in 2009 at Phulay Bay, Krabi, Thailand, and was designed to be a private sanctuary experience that offered something more intimate. In the nearly two decades since that first property opened, an additional eight Reserves have opened around the world. While each delivers on the exceptional quality and standard of service that defines Ritz-Carlton, the approach is different.

Each Reserve property—and the individualized service it offers—is defined by what authentically exists around it.

Each Reserve property—and the individualized service it offers—is defined by what authentically exists around it: its history, ecology, craftsmanship, cuisine, and culture. One of the most distinctive characteristics of Reserve is what it avoids. There is no single architectural signature repeated across every address. No identical arrival sequence. No formula that favors brand recognition over local identity. There are no fixed color palettes and no standardized guest journey. That approach embodies a larger change in how travelers define memorable journeys. When access to the world becomes easier, the places that stand apart are those that offer something more difficult to find.

…the most compelling properties are no longer those that are standardized regardless of their location, but those that tell travelers something meaningful about where they are.

Across the Caribbean and Latin America, that philosophy takes four distinctly different forms. At Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico, Rockefeller-era conservation shapes a retreat built around heritage and environmental preservation. At Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica, rainforest biodiversity influences everything from architecture to wellness. At Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Los Cabos, Mexican craftsmanship and evidence-based wellbeing meet against the backdrop of the Sea of Cortés. And at the latest opening in the collection, Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, sits on Mexico’s Pacific Coast as an ode to conservation and indigenous traditions that define a new approach to coastal hospitality. Together, these four Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties reveal a broader shift: the most compelling properties are no longer those that are standardized regardless of their location, but those that tell travelers something meaningful about where they are.

Where Legacy Shapes Place: Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Long before environmental stewardship became a defining conversation in hospitality, Laurance S. Rockefeller was shaping a different model for resort development. When he opened Dorado Beach in the 1950s on the former Rockefeller estate, his approach centered on preservation. Buildings would not rise above the island’s palms. The coastline would remain accessible. The natural landscape would guide the design rather than be altered to accommodate it.

More than seventy years later, those decisions remain defining features of the beloved Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Set on fifty acres along Puerto Rico’s northern coastline, the resort residences are of note for those seeking more space. Available for stays of four nights or longer, these multi-bedroom villas offer private pools, gourmet kitchens, and a dedicated golf cart for getting around the resort. The Rockefeller Nature Trail, named in honor of the property’s founder, winds through nearly eleven miles of coastal terrain and can be explored by bicycle, golf cart, or on foot. Along the way, you’ll pass shaded forests, sandy beaches, and native ecosystems that have been carefully preserved for generations. The naturalist program extends that link. Observe the island’s native and beloved coquí frog in the Pterocarpus Forest, explore coral reefs offshore, or join evening stargazing sessions that introduce the night sky above Puerto Rico.

The same approach defines Spa Botánico, a feature of the property that is a driving factor of the resort’s high repeat guest rate. Here, treatments unfold within a garden sanctuary tucked amongst tropical plants, herbs, and flowering trees. The spa’s apothecary-inspired setting reflects Puerto Rico’s botanical traditions, while the open-air treatment spaces allow the landscape to remain part of the experience. The lemongrass-ginger massage oil is crafted from the property’s herb gardens. But the real standout is the ManoSantas Apothecary Ritual, a three-hour massage experience with a manosantas, a traditional Puerto Rican healer who creates a custom blend of botanicals for each guest.

This highly personalized experience extends to the service during each stay. Upon checking into your accommodation, you’ll be paired with an Embajador or ambassador; their role goes beyond traditional concierge service to build a more personalized connection between you, your surroundings, and the destination at large—whether arranging a private ocean excursion, recommending local culinary experiences, or introducing guests to lesser-known parts of the island. At Dorado Beach, history is not preserved as a reference point; it remains part of daily life. The result is a property where the most meaningful distinction comes from what has been protected over time: the shoreline, the forests, and the sense of place that Rockefeller preserved more than half a century ago.

Learning the Rhythm of the Rainforest: Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Costa Rica’s defining feature has never been a single landmark. A trip to sink into “Pura Vida” evokes images of its forests, coastlines, and volcanoes. On the Peninsula Papagayo, biodiversity shapes every element of Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, a property opened by the brand in 2025. Named after the Chorotega word for “lush garden,” Nekajui sits within a 1,400-acre private peninsula where tropical dry forest meets the Pacific Ocean. Like at Dorado Beach, the preservation and conservation of this land is paramount to a stay at Nekajui. Your arrival here will gradually introduce the geography: a drive through Guanacaste’s landscape leads to sweeping views of Playa Pochote, followed by a descent aboard Costa Rica’s only resort funicular toward the shoreline below.

The architecture of the resort follows the contours of the land: ocean-facing suites, villas, and two-bedroom Treetop Tents are positioned throughout the hillside, with private plunge pools and elevated views of the forest canopy. Rather than creating a barrier between guests and nature, the design places them directly within this tension without sacrificing any of the comfort or sanctuary expected from a Ritz-Carlton Reserve stay.

The architecture of the resort follows the contours of the land.

The personalization you’ll feel here begins immediately through the Manzu service model—the unique name for the butler program like Dorado’s Embajador—replacing the traditional front desk with a dedicated host who remains connected throughout the stay via WhatsApp. From arranging a rainforest excursion to coordinating a private dining experience, the Manzu serves as a point of contact for navigating the property and the peninsula. The Papagayo Explorers team leads guided rainforest walks, wildlife spotting, and mangrove canoe excursions where guests may encounter howler monkeys, tropical birds, and other native species. Coffee and cacao rituals highlight local agricultural traditions, while experiences with nearby producers underscore the importance of Costa Rica’s farming communities.

The property’s approach to its culinary program further deepens its commitment to a regional narrative. At Puna, Chef Diego Muñoz creates Peruvian-inspired cuisine using ingredients sourced throughout Costa Rica, while Paruro, the resort’s six-seat omakase counter, delivers a more intimate culinary experience. At Niri Beach Club, Iberian influences meet a relaxed coastal setting, and Café Rincón celebrates Costa Rican coffee through partnerships with local farms. Wellness at Nimbu Spa draws inspiration from the nearby Nicoya Peninsula, one of only five of the world’s Blue Zones where people have been well documented to live longer, healthier lives.  Treatments incorporate native botanicals and traditional practices alongside modern hydrotherapy facilities, including an ocean-facing infinity pool and Costa Rica’s largest dedicated hydrotherapy pool. Keep an eye out for the Earth Therapy treatment, an indigenous Chorotega-inspired ninety-minute massage that utilizes clay, pottery, and woodwork designed to recenter.

Wellness Through the Topography of Baja: Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

In an era where resort concentration is higher than ever in Cabo, wellness has become one of the driving factors behind client decision-making for where to stay in the region. Channeling the ethos of regional specificity that Nekajui embodies at Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the focus on well-being becomes a distinguishing feature, extending beyond spa treatments and programming to design that embeds zen in your stay. Set along the coast of San José del Cabo, the resort approaches well-being through the lens of Baja itself—a landscape defined by desert, ocean, and a slower pace of life.

That philosophy is reflected through the property’s partnership with Sensei, whose approach fuses evidence-based wellness with personalized guidance across movement, nutrition, sleep, and mindfulness. Rather than providing a standardized itinerary, those who want a wellness program will begin with an individual assessment to identify personal goals and create a more tailored path forward. Consultations, movement sessions, and private coaching are integrated into the stay, allowing wellness to feel like an intuitive part of the day.

The relationship between the environment and guest experience continues throughout the resort. The property’s 113 suites, villas, and rooms are designed for indoor-outdoor living, with terraces facing the Sea of Cortés and interiors that incorporate Mexican craftsmanship through textiles, artwork, and furnishings sourced from artisans across Oaxaca, Puebla, Jalisco, Yucatán, and Campeche. The colorful design does not rely on a single regional aesthetic; instead, it reflects the diversity of Mexican craft traditions. The Grand Reserve Villa expands that residential approach, offering five bedrooms, private living spaces, and direct beachfront access, giving you a more expansive retreat with the full service of the resort.

Set along the coast of San José del Cabo, the resort approaches wellbeing through the lens of Baja itself—a landscape defined by desert, ocean, and a slower pace of life.

Dining at Zadún follows the same connection to the region. Culinary programs draw on Mexico’s varied traditions, highlighting local seafood, seasonal ingredients, and techniques developed in the country’s coastal and desert regions. Fire and open-flame cooking play an important role, reflecting Baja’s ranching heritage and the resourcefulness that has long defined the peninsula’s cuisine.

Beyond the resort, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sea of Cortés, becomes an extension of the property’s programming through the Ambassadors of the Environment initiative. Guided by naturalists, guests can explore the marine ecosystem through snorkeling, coastal excursions, and educational experiences focused on conservation and the species that inhabit one of the world’s richest bodies of water. This programming extends to the property’s youngest guests. Instead of a standard kids’ club, youngsters can join the “Guardians of Baja” and learn about local biodiversity through a spectacular selection of education, creativity, and play. That commitment continues through the resort’s sustainability practices, as reflected in its Green Key certification, which recognizes ongoing efforts in environmental accountability and operational stewardship.

Conservation as the Next Chapter: Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

If Dorado Beach represents the preservation of a historic estate, Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, represents a new phase in destination development—one centered on protecting a rare stretch of coastline before it changes. Located within the Nauka enclave along Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, Siari occupies a 920-acre private reserve between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The setting is defined by the backdrop of an evergreen jungle, mangrove ecosystems, and more than four miles of golden-sand beach—a scene where wildlife corridors and natural habitats remain central to the experience. The journey to Siari reinforces that sense of remoteness. A scenic ninety-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta International Airport winds through jungle-covered terrain before arriving at a resort built into the landscape rather than placed above it.

Designed by Bernardi + Peschard Arquitectura, accommodations follow the property’s natural contours. Its ninety ocean-view rooms and suites, along with thirty-four private residences including its five-bedroom Presidential set to be complete just ahead of festive season 2026, feature expansive terraces, local wood and stone, and uninterrupted views toward the Pacific. Interiors feature elements inspired by Wixárika artistry, expressing the region’s cultural heritage through craftsmanship and design details.

Carrying over the individualized butler service at Siari, you’ll be paired with a Yakana, a companion who guides your stay and connects you with the surrounding environment. That connection extends through the culinary program, where indigenous ingredients and regional customs shape the dining experience. The signature dining experience at Zula, Siari’s signature restaurant, offers a truly can’t-miss meal from Mexican celebrity Chef David Castro Hussong. Open-fire cooking, locally sourced seafood, and recipes influenced by the communities of Riviera Nayarit highlight the relationship between food and geography. The resort’s wellness offering draws from the traditions of the Wixárika people, whose cultural practices recognize nature as a source of balance and renewal. Treatments incorporate elemental therapies and rituals inspired by the Mexican habitat, while the spa itself is positioned as a place of restoration within the larger landscape.

Siari represents a different vision for travel to Mexico—one where development and preservation are carefully considered.

Adventure at Siari is defined by access to that same precious ecosystem. Through the Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment program, guests explore the region alongside marine educators and naturalists, learning about coastal habitats, ocean conservation, and the species that inhabit the area. Nearby experiences include jungle walks, whale watching during migration season from November to March, and exploration of hidden coves along the Pacific coastline. The property’s connection to conservation also goes beyond the resort through its relationship with the broader Nauka community, including access to the Tom Fazio-designed Nauka Golf Club, whose course was designed with the natural environment in mind—instead of being built against the topography, the course was built adhering to the jungle, volcanic cliffs, mangrove estuaries, and oceanfront. The grass is Pure Dynasty-seeded paspalum, chosen because it thrives in tropical environments and therefore requires less water and fertilizer.

Siari represents a different vision for travel to Mexico—one where development and preservation are carefully considered. Its appeal is not simply that it is remote, but that it offers access to a landscape that remains largely unchanged. In a world where untouched places are increasingly difficult to find, protecting that rarity becomes part of the stay.

Matching Travelers to Places, Not Properties

The value of the Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio is not found in comparing room categories or resort amenities. Each property serves a different type of traveler because each destination presents a different reason to visit. The conversation begins less with “What do you want from a hotel?” and more with “What are you hoping to experience?” That distinction matters because these four Reserve properties across the Caribbean and Latin America have an appeal rooted in the stories they tell, the landscapes they occupy, and the way they invite you to engage with your surroundings.

The properties are not interchangeable per se; instead, they’re distinct options your SmartFlyer travel advisor can discern between and recommend the best for you based on your interests, seasonality, and what you’re seeking. A stay at Dorado Beach cannot be recreated in Costa Rica. The rainforest experience of Nekajui cannot be transported to Baja. The wellness philosophy of Zadún belongs to the desert and sea. The conservation story of Siari depends on the coastline it protects.

Each Ritz-Carlton Reserve property begins with a different landscape yet can help answer the question: what makes this place worth knowing? This approach creates something more lasting than an aesthetically pleasing stay. It creates a deeper connection to the destinations you visit—and a reason to remember not only where you traveled, but what you discovered there.

26 Hottest New Hotels Opening in 2026

SmartFlyer — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:42:16 +0000

Our annual tradition continues with this year’s edition of our hottest new hotels of 2026 list.

…several long-anticipated debuts, the reinvention of iconic landmark properties, and bold new concepts that redefine how—and where—we experience place.

For the third year running, we’re taking a global look at the hotels shaping the future of luxury travel. And while each year it seemingly becomes more challenging to narrow the list of top openings down, this year’s was a true feat with several long-anticipated debuts, the reinvention of iconic landmark properties, and bold new concepts that redefine how—and where—we experience place. From Riviera retreats to imaginative rewilding camps across Africa and design-forward urban sanctuaries in top cities, the world’s most exciting new addresses fuse architecture, storytelling, and service in a way that moves our cherished industry forward.

Whether you’re a loyalist waiting on the next jewel in your favorite brand’s portfolio or an explorer seeking something wonderfully unexpected, these twenty-six openings promise thoughtful design, sense-of-place designed programming, and access to exclusive privileges unlocked when booked with your SmartFlyer advisor.

Use the navigation below to jump to the region that’s calling your name next:

UNITED STATES

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

CARIBBEAN AND MEXICO

AFRICA

ASIA

EUROPE

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

MIDDLE EAST

2026 NEW HOTELS: UNITED STATES

Delano Miami Beach (Miami Beach, Florida)

NOW OPEN

The legendary Delano Miami Beach returns to South Beach with an entirely new vision, completely transformed since closing in 2020. Reviving Philippe Starck’s iconic minimalism while layering in a modern Riviera-inspired lightness, the property will feature reimagined guest rooms, a refreshed poolscape, and reinvented F&B concepts befitting Miami’s new era of glamour. Its oceanfront setting, wellness-forward programming, and signature Delano energy make this a long-awaited homecoming for the curious and creative traveler.

The Knox Hotel & Residences, Auberge Collection (Knox Henderson, Dallas, Texas)

Projected Opening: Autumn 2026

Arriving in one of Dallas’ buzziest neighborhoods, The Knox introduces Auberge Collection’s residential-meets-hotel sensibility to Texas. Expect thoughtfully layered interiors, a vibrant culinary program anchored by a signature restaurant and bar, and light-filled accommodations designed to feel like impeccably curated homes. With a prime position in Knox Street’s thriving creative corridor, this debut promises to become the city’s integral to the social heartbeat of the city.

Viceroy Sun Valley (Sun Valley, Idaho)

Projected Opening: Autumn 2026

Set at the base of Dollar Mountain, Viceroy Sun Valley brings the first luxury hotel to one of America’s most storied ski destinations. The resort will pair Viceroy’s signature warm-modern design and intuitive service with trail-side access, après-ready gathering spaces, and a spa inspired by Idaho’s natural hot springs. Whether guests come for powder days, fly-fishing, or summer mountain biking, this new opening positions Sun Valley for a chic, year-round revival.

2026 NEW HOTELS: CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA

Explora El Calafate (Patagonia, Argentina)

Projected Opening: December 2026

Explora’s newest Patagonian lodge, Explora El Calafate, is set near the famed Perito Moreno Glacier, bringing the brand’s expedition-forward ethos to one of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth. Expect immersive treks, glacial explorations, and design that blurs the line between indoors and out. With guided experiences led by Explora’s expert team, this opening will serve travelers seeking elemental beauty paired with deeply thoughtful hospitality.

2026 NEW HOTELS: CARIBBEAN & MEXICO

Alila Mayakoba (Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico)

NOW OPEN

Alila’s arrival in Mayakoba marks a striking evolution for this beloved enclave. With a complete redesign emphasizing organic materials, lagoon-view suites, and contemporary Riviera Maya cuisine, the retreat highlights Alila Mayakoba‘s signature serenity and sustainability. Its integration with Mayakoba’s wellness circuit, culinary scene, and protected mangrove ecosystems makes this a standout for design-forward travelers.

Park Hyatt Mexico City (Polanco, Mexico City, Mexico)

Projected Opening: August 2026

Rising over Polanco’s cultural corridor, Park Hyatt Mexico City is set to become one of the capital’s most significant luxury openings. The sleek tower will feature 155 rooms and suites, a signature Park Hyatt dining collection, and an indoor–outdoor spa with sweeping Chapultepec views. This urban sanctuary promises to blend Mexico City’s creative pulse with refined Park Hyatt elegance.

2026 NEW HOTELS: AFRICA

Hoanib Elephant Camp (Kaokoland, Namibia)

NOW OPEN

Situated in Namibia’s remote northwest, Hoanib Elephant Camp will place guests at the heart of desert-adapted wildlife territory. Expect tented suites overlooking otherworldly landscapes, conservation-driven programming, and guided encounters with the region’s famed desert elephants. This is the kind of elemental, horizon-stretched Africa that adventure travelers dream of when they envision their bucket list trip to Namibia.

Singita Elela (Okavango Delta, Botswana)

Projected Opening: Late 2026

Singita’s long-anticipated debut in the Okavango Delta promises a game-changing entrance by the brand into Botswana. With water-encircled suites, cutting-edge sustainability design, and safari experiences guided by some of Africa’s top naturalists, Singita Elela is poised to become one of the continent’s most coveted openings. Expect Singita’s signature restorative calm, intuitive service, and landscape-first philosophy.

Wilderness Mara (Mara Triangle, Kenya)

NOW OPEN

Wilderness Mara marks the newest Kenyan camp anchored in one of Africa’s most wildlife-dense regions. Elevated design, panoramic views, and a modern interpretation of tented luxury create a front-row seat to the Mara’s year-round migrations. Emphasizing conservation partnerships and low-impact architecture, the property blends wilderness immersion with a polished, contemporary aesthetic.

2026 NEW HOTELS: ASIA

HOTEL THE MITSUI HAKONE (Kowakudani, Hakone Town, Japan)

Projected Opening: Late 2026

HOTEL THE MITSUI HAKONE brings Japanese artistry and ryokan heritage to a forested hillside overlooking Mount Sengen. With thermal waters feeding its expansive onsen, Yabu Pushelberg–influenced design, and a hushed refinement that celebrates craft, this hideaway captures the essence of slow, intentional travel. Its proximity to Tokyo paired with deep immersion in nature will make it a sought-after retreat.

The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)

Projected Opening: Late 2026

Housed in one of Bangkok’s most historic riverfront buildings, The Langham’s new flagship property reimagines a century-old landmark into a glamorous urban sanctuary. Interiors will pair Langham’s classic pink-hued elegance with contemporary Thai sophistication. Expect a destination spa, signature afternoon tea, and a riverside atmosphere that reflects Bangkok’s vibrant cultural rhythm.

Park Hyatt Phu Quoc (Phu Quoc, Vietnam)

Projected Opening: TBD

Spread across sixty-five acres of protected coastline, Park Hyatt Phu Quoc blends Vietnamese craftsmanship with contemporary elegance. Oceanfront villas, serene lap pools, and a culinary program rooted in island produce set the tone for quiet luxury. Designed as a sanctuary for families and couples alike, the resort promises barefoot ease paired with elevated Park Hyatt service.

2026 NEW HOTELS: EUROPE

Octant Vila Monte (Algarve, Portugal)

NOW OPEN

Octant’s new flagship brings bohemian-chic sophistication to the Algarve’s eastern coastline. Think whitewashed architecture, lush gardens, and design infused with Portuguese craftsmanship. With a focus on slow living, culinary immersion, and proximity to sun-drenched beaches, this opening promises escapism at its most elegant.

Zannier Île de Bendor (Île de Bendor, Bandol, France)

NOW OPEN

Zannier brings its poetic, minimalist aesthetic to a private island off the coast of Bandol. With just ninety-three rooms and suites designed to mirror the island’s natural textures, the property will blend the warmth and conviviality of Provencal lifestyle with the French Riviera’s vibrant spirit and social scene. Expect vineyard-to-table dining, Mediterranean calm, and the understated refinement Zannier loyalists adore.

The Grace (Westport, County Mayo, Ireland)

NOW OPEN

Set along Clew Bay, The Grace introduces a new era of contemporary Irish hospitality. The property will showcase views of Croagh Patrick, a destination spa inspired by Atlantic wellness traditions, and interiors that spotlight Irish makers and materials. It’s an elevated retreat for travelers craving elemental landscapes with a modern sensibility.

Corinthia Rome (Rome, Italy)

NOW OPEN

One of Rome’s most ambitious restorations, Corinthia Rome will bring new life to a historic government building moments from Via del Corso. Featuring suites shaped by classical Roman proportions, grand wellness spaces, and destination dining led by internationally renowned chefs, the hotel blends monumental architecture with warm modernity. It’s slated to become one of the Eternal City’s defining new addresses.

Baccarat Rome (Rome, Italy)

Projected Opening: 2027

Bringing its crystalline Parisian glamour to the Eternal City as only the brand’s second outpost, Baccarat Rome will reinterpret a storied palazzo through the brand’s unmistakable red-punctuated elegance. Expect shimmering chandeliers, haute-design suites, a jewel-box spa, and a restaurant that channels Baccarat’s celebratory spirit. It’s poised to attract design lovers seeking maximalist luxury.

Rosewood Rome (Rome, Italy)

Projected Opening: Early 2027

Rosewood Hotels’ highly anticipated Roman debut is set within the historic former headquarters of the Italian Social Security Agency. With a soaring central courtyard, refined suites, and culinary concepts rooted in Roman tradition, the property will marry heritage with Rosewood’s signature residential warmth. Expect polished romance and a new benchmark for luxury in the capital.

Na Praia (Comporta, Portugal)

Projected Opening: TBD

Set along the wild Comporta coastline, Na Praia is a study in effortless, sun-washed living. Organic architecture, sandy-toned suites, and a culinary program spotlighting local fishermen and farmers make this retreat quintessentially Comporta. With dunes, pine forests, and Atlantic breezes as its backdrop, this is barefoot luxury at its chicest.

Danieli, A Four Seasons Hotel (Venice, Italy)

Projected Opening: Summer 2026

Few openings have been as anticipated as Four Seasons’ takeover of the iconic Hotel Danieli. A meticulous restoration will bring new brilliance to its Gothic façade, opulent Sala Duca D’Aosta, and suites overlooking the Venetian lagoon. Elevated dining, a reimagined rooftop terrace, and Four Seasons’ signature service will usher this landmark into a dazzling new era.

Château de la Commaraine (Burgundy, France)

NOW OPEN

Set within a 1,000-year-old estate in Pommard, Château de la Commaraine will offer an immersive expression of Burgundy’s winemaking heritage. The restored château will feature just twenty rooms, vineyard-driven gastronomy, and exclusive access to the domaine’s storied Premier Cru plots. It’s an intimate, atmospheric escape for oenophiles and romantics alike.

COMO Le Beauvallon (Grimaud, Saint-Tropez, France)

NOW OPEN

COMO’s Côte d’Azur debut transforms a Belle Époque estate overlooking the Bay of Saint-Tropez. With just forty-two rooms and suites, the retreat blends Riviera glamour with COMO’s wellness-driven approach—think a world-class spa, yacht access, and elegantly understated dining. It’s poised to become a new staple of the French summer season.

Rosewood Blue Palace (Crete, Greece)

Projected Opening: Slated for 2027

Set along Crete’s cobalt coastline, Rosewood Blue Palace reimagines a beloved resort through a contemporary, island-chic lens. Suites cascade down toward the sea, each emphasizing light, texture, and tranquility. With Mediterranean dining, a next-level Asaya spa, and easy access to Spinalonga Island, this is the new jewel of the Greek isles.

Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch (London, United Kingdom)

Projected Opening: Autumn 2026

A landmark transformation years in the making, Waldorf Astoria’s takeover of Admiralty Arch will introduce one of the most architecturally significant hotels in Europe. Overlooking The Mall, the property will feature palatial suites, refined dining, and a spa concept that brings Waldorf’s timeless elegance into the heart of London. Dining also promises to be standout, with concepts from both Clare Smyth and Daniel Boulud.

St. Regis London (London, United Kingdom)

Projected Opening: Autumn 2026

St. Regis’ London debut brings the brand’s legendary glamour to an exquisitely restored property near Buckingham Palace. Expect butler-attended suites, a signature champagne sabrage ritual, and design that celebrates London’s golden age. With its grand address and storied lineage, this opening is set to redefine modern British luxury.

2026 NEW HOTELS: AUSTRALIA

Ocean Dunes on King Island (King Island, Australia)

Projected Opening: Late 2026

Perched between roaring Bass Strait waves and rolling, windswept greens, Ocean Dunes will introduce a unique hybrid: world-class golf paired with understated luxury hospitality. Expect dramatic ocean-view suites, warm Australian design, and immediate access to one of the country’s most anticipated new courses. King Island’s rugged beauty sets the tone for an elemental coastal escape.

Hotels on the Water: 2026 Bonus Openings

Aqua Lares: This boutique ice-class expedition yacht debuts with East Africa sailings from November to April, covering the Seychelles, Aldabra Atoll, Zanzibar, and coastal Tanzania. From June to September, she pivots north to Svalbard and the Arctic Circle for intimate, design-driven polar exploration.

Explora III: Launching July 2026, Explora III will explore Iceland, Greenland, Northern Europe, and the far north with its signature blend of spacious design and immersive destination programming. Expect refined onboard living paired with adventurous, culture-rich itineraries.

Four Seasons Yachts: Four Seasons introduces a new standard of residential-style luxury at sea, complete with expansive suites, elevated dining, and curated access in top global destinations. It’s the brand’s iconic service ethos, now reimagined on the water.

Orient Express Sailing Yachts: Launching June 2026, Orient Express Corinthian brings French craftsmanship to sea as the world’s largest sailing yacht, cruising the Mediterranean before crossing to the Caribbean. Expect fifty-four sea-facing suites, the only Guerlain Spa at sea, Michelin-level dining, and exclusive cultural moments like Venice Film Festival access and Saint-Tropez’s Les Voiles.

Ready to map out your 2026 travels? Contact your SmartFlyer travel advisor.

Mapping Out Your 10-Year Travel Plan (With Your Travel Advisor)

SmartFlyer — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:59:22 +0000

There are trips you take, and then there are trips that mark time—the latter deserve a plan made with the guidance of an expert.

We’re talking the kind of trips that become reference points like “before Patagonia” or “after the Nile,” which ultimately become the adventures your children are still talking about around the dinner table years later. And when it comes to creating experiences that quietly recalibrate how you see the world—and sometimes, even see yourself—we know a thing or two.

In a moment where last-minute bookings have become increasingly common, we’re making a different case entirely: the most meaningful travel of your life deserves a long-term plan. Because landmark journeys—including the ones requiring permits, deploying expedition vessels, or securing private aviation access—reward the early bird. And for these trips, planning twelve, eighteen, or even twenty-four months in advance isn’t simply practical; it’s how you unlock the extraordinary.

What if, instead of thinking about next summer, you started thinking about the next ten years? Mapping out a decade-long roadmap allows you to anticipate mile markers around big birthdays, retirement chapters, and even milestones in your children’s development…

Exclusivity translates to limited availability, and that’s precisely where your SmartFlyer travel advisor comes in. What if, instead of thinking about next summer, you started thinking about the next ten years? Mapping out a decade-long roadmap allows you to anticipate mile markers around big birthdays, retirement chapters, and even milestones in your children’s development—pairing each season of life with destinations worthy of the moment. So how, exactly, do you map a ten-year travel plan with intention? It starts with a conversation—and not about where you want to go next summer. Your SmartFlyer travel advisor will begin by asking you bigger picture questions: What milestones are coming up for your parents, spouse, and children? What pockets does work tend to peak in? What seasons of life do you want to mark in a meaningful way? What experiences would you regret missing if you waited too long?

From there, the plan begins to take shape, following a framework customized to you. Together, you’ll discuss how to:

Anchor the decade with milestone moments. Decade birthdays. Major anniversaries. The summer before your oldest leaves for college. A retirement year. Study abroad semesters and graduations. Your advisor helps place these on a long-view calendar first—because those dates aren’t flexible.

Match destinations to your children’s ages. This is where experience really matters. Maybe it’s a Galápagos expedition when they’re confident swimmers and still wildly curious. A month of language school in Spain before high school schedules and sports commitments narrow your window. A multi-gen villa summer while cousins still want to share rooms. Your advisor looks at not just where to go — but when it will land best.

Plan around limited inventory and ideal seasons. The most sought-after safari camps have fewer than a dozen suites. Prime migration weeks or peak dry-season dates can fill up one to two years in advance, especially for families who need multiple rooms and private vehicles. Mapping these out eighteen months ahead means you secure the right camp, in the right season—not what happens to be left.

Balance “pillar” trips with breathing room. A Nile cruise one year. A low-lift Caribbean reset the next. Your advisor helps pace the decade so it feels intentional—not exhausting.

Track fixed-date global events. Olympics. World Cups. Total solar eclipses. These operate on immovable timelines, with hospitality inventory that disappears quickly. With a long-range roadmap, your advisor is watching booking windows and ready to act the moment they open.

Revisit the roadmap annually. Kids grow. Careers shift. Interests evolve. The plan isn’t rigid—it’s refined over time, adjusted each year to reflect where your life actually is.

The result isn’t overplanning—it’s peace of mind. The trips that matter most are protected before life crowds them out. And when charted alongside a SmartFlyer travel advisor, the extraordinary doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because someone was thinking ten years ahead. To get your creativity flowing as you think about some pillar trips to include on your roadmap, we’ve rounded up some epic adventures for consideration.

For the Outdoor & Nature Enthusiast

Some landscapes demand reverence, while others demand perspective. A well-rounded decade of travel for the nature lover should include both cinematic wilderness and remote stillness—places that remind you just how expansive the planet truly is.

Experience Intrepid Alaska

Alaska is a perfect starting point for the nature lover, and while cruising along its coast is an option that works best for many families, there are other creative ways to explore the United States’ northernmost territory. Instead, imagine a curated lodge circuit that begins in Anchorage and continues by helicopter into Denali’s dramatic terrain. For instance, a heli-adventure to Sheldon Chalet, located on the only privately owned land within Denali National Park & Preserve, becomes a journey that feels deeply personal and wildly cinematic. This is not about checking off “Alaska.” It’s about redefining how you encounter it.

See The Northern Lights

Further north, Norway and Finnish Lapland offer the chance to sleep beneath the Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights are visible from late August through April, but seeing them well requires thoughtful positioning. Your SmartFlyer travel advisor can help you explore fjord hopping by private yacht, pairing Nordic design-forward hotels with wilderness lodges, and time excursions around snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or dog sledding to ensure the magic unfolds with ease.

Connect with Mongolia’s Expansiveness

For travelers craving vastness, Mongolia’s Gobi Desert introduces an entirely different scale. Luxury ger camps allow you to explore fossil fields, ride camels across dunes, and engage with nomadic communities—all within a landscape defined by silence. This is a destination that demands patience and rewards those who plan carefully. United Airlines offers seasonal nonstop flights from Tokyo to Ulaanbaatar, meaning the SmartFlyer Air Team can issue you a ticket from the U.S. to Mongolia through Tokyo. Yet another reason to plan in advance and get this bucket list destination on your travel roadmap.

Scuba in Raja Ampat

For those who feel most alive underwater, Raja Ampat in Indonesia remains one of the most biodiverse marine environments on Earth, making it somewhere that should be catapulted to the top of your list. Chartering a Rascal Voyages vessel in the region allows you to explore remote reefs in privacy, navigating marine seasons and conservation guidelines with precision. Plus, the Rascal way ensures that you can bring along the kiddos, providing invaluable real-life learning about biodiversity, from showing them real-life dragons to brilliantly colored corals and smoking volcanoes.

For the Active Traveler

Movement imprints memory differently. Arguably, some of the world’s most transformative journeys are earned on foot, on skis, or at altitude.

Hike Through Patagonia

Patagonia feels almost mythic in its scale. Hiking through Torres del Paine National Park or Argentina’s Los Glaciers National Park reveals jagged peaks and glacial lakes that feel cinematic in every direction. Anchoring your stay at Tierra Hotels’ lodges—such as Tierra Patagonia, perched above Lake Sarmiento with uninterrupted views of the Paine massif—adds architectural drama and guided access that elevates the experience beyond a hiking trip. Incorporating Patagonia into a decade-long plan allows you to pair it strategically, perhaps linking it with Antarctica via a fly-cruise from Punta Arenas, reaching the continent in hours rather than spending days crossing the Drake Passage. The goal isn’t extremity; it’s orchestration.

Do A Ski Safari Through the Dolomites

In northern Italy, a ski safari through the Dolomites blends adrenaline with indulgence. Moving between alpine villages, stopping for long lunches in mountain rifugi, and concluding at a spa-forward retreat like FORESTIS transforms a ski trip into a fully realized alpine circuit. Over ten years, you might revisit the Alps in multiple seasons, layering hiking, cycling, and culinary exploration into your version of this dynamic destination, but seeing it by skiing from rifugi to rifugi is something truly remarkable.

Connect To Your Spiritual Side in the “Land of Happiness”

Bhutan offers another kind of active journey—one rooted in spirituality as much as physical challenge. Hiking to Tiger’s Nest Monastery is physically demanding, but the deeper resonance lies in the country’s philosophy of Gross National Happiness and its “High Value, Low Impact” tourism model. Visa requirements and protective travel policies make advance planning essential. Whether you opt to do a multi-lodge circuit with Six Senses or Aman, you can chart your own path through mountains and valleys that feel both sacred and cinematic.

For the History Buff

Some travelers crave narrative above all else. They want to stand where history unfolded and understand the context that shaped it. If that’s you, we’ve got a few quintessential trips to prioritize.

Set Sail Along the Nile

Cruising along the Nile offers one of civilization’s most immersive classrooms. From Luxor to Aswan, ancient temples rise from desert sands with staggering presence. Choosing a private or ultra-luxury vessel ensures you’re not merely passing by these sites, but engaging with them alongside expert Egyptologists who provide depth and nuance. Your SmartFlyer travel advisor will be sure to match you with the best suited subject matter experts to ensure you’re maximizing your visit to Northern Africa.

Do the Ultimate Morocco Circuit

A Morocco itinerary weaving through Casablanca, Fes, the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert, and Marrakesh is sure to layer architecture, craft, cuisine, and landscape into one cohesive journey. Exploring medinas with private guides, spending nights beneath desert stars, and retreating to riads that feel more like private residences than hotels creates a narrative arc you won’t soon forget. Be sure to leave extra room in your bag for all the treasures you’ll uncover at the souks.

Embrace the Allure of the Golden Triangle

Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur coalesce to create their own iconic framework known as the Golden Triangle. When paired with private palace stays, exclusive artisan encounters, and wildlife extensions, the journey is sure to engage every sense. India rewards travelers who move thoughtfully, making this a destination well-suited to be planned by travel advisors who understand its beautiful complexity.

For the Epicurian

Food remains a primary motivator for travel, shaping not just where we go but how deeply we connect once we arrive. With thoughtful planning, your advisor can time reservations around seasonal harvests, secure coveted counter seats, and build itineraries that unfold through markets, kitchens, and vineyards rather than just landmarks.

Dine Your Way Through Peru

Some destinations are tasted as much as they are seen, and Peru stands firmly in that category. Begin in Lima, where one of the world’s most dynamic dining scenes continues to redefine Latin American cuisine, before continuing into the Sacred Valley. From there, your travel advisor will arrange your journey to Machu Picchu aboard the Belmond Hiram Bingham, timing your arrival to avoid peak congestion and heighten the sense of cinematic anticipation as the Andes unfold outside your window. After experiencing the citadel at its most serene, continue on to Cusco, where a stay at Palacio Nazarenas offers quiet refinement at altitude, grounding the journey in both history and understated luxury.

For the Expedition-Minded

For those drawn to exploration by smaller vessels, sailing the Peruvian Amazon aboard Aqua Expeditions’ Aria Amazon offers an intimate counterpoint to traditional cruising. With just sixteen suites and the option for a full buyout, the experience feels less like a voyage and more like a private expedition through the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, where pink river dolphins surface at dawn and skiffs glide silently past dense jungle canopy. This is cruising reimagined—design-forward, wildlife-rich, and intentionally small in scale.

For the Wildlife-Driven

Some travelers are pulled toward vast landscapes and untamed ecosystems. They want early mornings on game drives, sundowners overlooking the savanna, and encounters that shift perspective. If that’s you, Africa deserves multiple chapters on your decade-long plan.

Witness the Great Migration in East Africa

Kenya and Tanzania deliver some of the most extraordinary wildlife spectacles on Earth—and the lodges you select often define how you experience these special parts of East Africa. In Kenya’s Laikipia region, Ol Malo offers a family-owned, deeply personal safari rooted in conservation and community. For front-row access to the Serengeti’s drama, Singita Faru Faru pairs contemporary design with prime migration positioning. And in the Maasai Mara, refined camps such as Angama Mara place you high above the plains with panoramic views that feel almost cinematic. Timing is everything here—river crossings and peak wildlife months follow natural rhythms, not calendar dates—so your SmartFlyer travel advisor secures the right camp in the right region well in advance.

Do a South Africa Circuit

South Africa offers one of the continent’s most seamless introductions to safari, especially when anchored by the visionary properties of The Royal Portfolio. Begin in Cape Town at The Silo Hotel, where art-filled interiors overlook Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront. Continue into the Winelands at La Residence for vineyard serenity before heading to Royal Malewane for a Big Five safari led by some of the most experienced guides on the continent. This circuit balances cosmopolitan energy, culinary excellence, and wilderness immersion within a single, thoughtfully paced journey.

End with a Remote Indian Ocean Escape

After days on safari, few finales feel more transportive than Madagascar. A stay at Miavana by Time + Tide offers private-villa seclusion on a protected island off the country’s northeastern coast, where marine life, lemurs, and untouched reefs create an experience that feels worlds away from the mainland. Pairing bush with beach at this level adds restoration without sacrificing a sense of discovery—turning an already extraordinary journey into something truly singular.

Life at Leisure

Not every landmark moment demands exertion. Some are meant to unfold slowly—designed for celebration, restoration, and long afternoons that stretch into golden evenings.

Charter a Yacht Through the Aeolian Islands

A private yacht through the Aeolian Islands allows you to dictate your own rhythm—swimming off volcanic coves, docking for lingering Sicilian lunches, and anchoring beneath Stromboli as it glows against the night sky. Milestone birthdays and anniversaries deserve settings that feel cinematic, and nothing feels more singular than gathering friends or family aboard your own floating villa.

Escape to Bora Bora

In Bora Bora, guided shark and manta ray encounters introduce a dose of adventure within crystalline lagoons, while overwater villas provide the kind of privacy that encourages true pause. For an even more secluded chapter, a stay at The Brando elevates the experience entirely—set on a private atoll once owned by Marlon Brando, where sustainability, barefoot luxury, and profound stillness define each day. Over the course of a decade, alternating high-energy expeditions with restorative escapes like these ensures your travel roadmap remains balanced, intentional, and deeply personal.

Take Over a Mediterranean Villa

There is something timeless about a private villa. Whether perched along the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, tucked into the hills of Mallorca, or overlooking the Aegean in Paros, a fully staffed estate becomes the backdrop for birthdays, reunions, and the kind of unstructured time that families rarely get at home. Days revolve around long lunches, market visits, and spontaneous swims—proof that sometimes the most meaningful travel isn’t about movement, but about staying put.

The Butler Did It: How Raffles Is Rewriting the Rules of Ultra-Personal Service

SmartFlyer — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:17:59 +0000

The word “butler” has long conjured a certain image: discreet, white-gloved, quietly omniscient; but Raffles Hotels & Resorts is redefining that archetype—positioning the butler not simply as a steward of comfort, but as the architect of the entire guest journey.

With its global campaign, The Butler Did It, Raffles reframes one of hospitality’s most storied traditions for a new era of experiential travel. The modern luxury traveler is no longer seeking seamless logistics alone—after all, working with a SmartFlyer travel advisor ensures that’s already the case. Instead, they want access that feels insider. Cultural immersion that doesn’t require guesswork. And increasingly, they’re craving someone on the ground who can help interpret a destination on their behalf.

“Since 1887, our legendary butlers have been the soul of this tradition, embodying the art of intuitive and emotional hospitality. ‘The Butler Did It’ packages celebrate this enduring legacy…” -Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles Hotels & Resorts

As Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles Hotels & Resorts, explains, “The magic of Raffles lies in delivering a highly personalized level of service that transforms a stay into a remarkable experience. Since 1887, our legendary butlers have been the soul of this tradition, embodying the art of intuitive and emotional hospitality. ‘The Butler Did It’ packages celebrate this enduring legacy by offering guests immersive and unique journeys tailored to each of our iconic destinations. From the cultural heart of Singapore to the refined elegance of Paris, the tropical serenity of the Seychelles, and the historic charm of Istanbul, each experience showcases the grace, sophistication, warmth, and wit that define Raffles.”

What makes this inflection point notable is timing. “Luxury travel” has entered an era defined by scale and, in turn, sameness. Hotel portfolios are expanding rapidly with social media usage accelerating the likelihood that interaries are being rinsed and repeated in destinations around the world. In this environment, differentiation no longer comes from square footage or marble finishes alone. It comes from the human interpretation of how to navigate a place. And it’s here precisely where Raffles is placing its bets.

Raffles Singapore

The Origin Story, Reimagined

This iconic property was the birthplace of the brand, dating back to 1887, and remains the spiritual anchor of its service philosophy.

No discussion of the Raffles butler can begin anywhere other than Raffles Singapore. This iconic property was the birthplace of the brand, dating back to 1887, and remains the spiritual anchor of its service philosophy. In a city that balances tradition and hyper-modernity with precision, this element of human curation becomes essential.

Here, the butler tradition is not marketing language; it is lineage. Through The Butler Did It, guests are invited into experiences that go beyond the iconic Sling at Long Bar or the white façade along Beach Road. A butler may arrange private heritage walks tracing colonial-era influences across Singapore’s evolving neighborhoods, or secure behind-the-scenes introductions to local culinary artisans redefining Peranakan cuisine.

For families traveling together, this creates layered storytelling: grandparents reconnecting with Southeast Asian history, parents exploring contemporary design districts, and children discovering hawker culture through curated tastings. Here, the Raffles butler becomes a cultural translator—ensuring the narrative of Singapore unfolds in a way that feels coherent rather than overwhelming.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor and Raffles Hotel Le Royal

A Seamless Passage Through Khmer Legacy

In Cambodia, the campaign unfolds as a twin-stay journey between two of the country’s most historic addresses. In Siem Reap, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor situates guests at the threshold of Angkor Wat and the surrounding temple complexes—but the butler’s orchestration ensures visits transcend standard sightseeing.

Private sunrise access is timed to avoid peak congestion. Expert guides are matched to specific guest interests, whether they are architecture, mythology, or photography. Temple explorations are balanced with restorative pauses back at the hotel’s Art Deco pool, which in turn allows space for reflection.

…the butler may coordinate private dining that interprets Cambodian flavors through modern gastronomy…

The journey then transitions to Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, where colonial architecture and Khmer design coexist in the Cambodian capital. Here, the butler may coordinate private dining that interprets Cambodian flavors through modern gastronomy, or introductions to local creatives shaping Phnom Penh’s contemporary arts scene. For multigenerational groups, cultural immersion unfolds at a rhythm tailored to the family dynamic.

Raffles London at The OWO

History, Activated

At Raffles London at The OWO, the campaign leans into the gravitas of the building’s past as the Old War Office. Under The Butler Did It, guests are escorted into hidden Whitehall spaces, including underground rooms where wartime strategy once shaped global history. In a city dense with luxury hotel inventory, narrative access—not simply architectural splendor—becomes the differentiator.

Yet what distinguishes this experience is personalization. A history devotee might receive a deep archival narrative. A family traveling with teenagers may experience storytelling designed to make Churchill-era decisions feel immediate and human. A couple marking an anniversary might opt for a private dinner within these storied walls, where heritage becomes backdrop to celebration.

Raffles Istanbul

Perspective as Luxury

Istanbul exists at the intersection of continents and empires, and at Raffles Istanbul, the butler’s role is to help guests comprehend that scale. Helicopter transfers arranged by butlers reveal the Bosphorus from above, tracing bridges that physically link Europe and Asia. From this vantage point, landmarks such as Hagia Sophia and Dolmabahçe Palace take on a new dimension.

The butler translates complexity into cohesion—ensuring no one feels lost within Istanbul’s grandeur.

On the ground, butlers curate contemporary art encounters reflecting Istanbul’s creative resurgence. Private gallery access, museum introductions, and culinary explorations guided by local tastemakers layer modern vibrancy atop ancient infrastructure. For families traveling together, this allows multiple entry points into the city’s story. The butler translates complexity into cohesion—ensuring no one feels lost within Istanbul’s grandeur.

Raffles Bali

Ritual Without Performance

At Raffles Bali, perched above Jimbaran Bay, butlers emphasize immersion into Indonesian culture. Visits to Balinese family homes unfold with sensitivity and authenticity, arranged in partnership with local communities. Or, for those who want to lap up the sun, private yacht excursions navigate hidden beaches rarely reached by larger tours. For the wellness-driven traveler, Jamu-making workshops introduce Indonesia’s herbal traditions.

The butler’s orchestration ensures these experiences feel natural rather than staged. Timing is perfectly in sync with temple ceremonies. Wellness rituals are scheduled around personal energy levels. Dining reflects both local ingredients and individual dietary preferences. Luxury becomes measured not by extravagance, but by alignment.

Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain

The Architecture of Privacy

At Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain, the meaning of “The Butler Did It” shifts toward seclusion and restoration. Private villas establish a residential cadence, while butlers coordinate bespoke wellness programs, personalized menus, and curated heritage excursions exploring Bahrain’s pearl-diving legacy and contemporary cultural revival.

For high-profile guests or families seeking retreat, this infrastructure of quiet anticipation becomes invaluable. The butler operates discreetly, adjusting plans in real time and ensuring each day unfolds effortlessly. n a luxury market increasingly prioritizing private accommodations, the human layer of service becomes the true differentiator.

Why It’s About So Much More Than A Butler

The resurgence of high-touch service is not accidental. As wealth transfers accelerate and younger high-net-worth travelers enter the luxury market, expectations are shifting. Efficiency is assumed. What stands out now is how a travel advisor and their carefully chosen hotel partners interpret client needs.

For advisors, the parallels are clear. The butler mirrors the advisor’s role: filtering options, curating meaningful access, and advocating for experiences that align with personal values rather than algorithmic suggestions.

For advisors, the parallels are clear. The butler mirrors the advisor’s role: filtering options, curating meaningful access, and advocating for experiences that align with personal values rather than algorithmic suggestions. Raffles’ forthcoming expansion into destinations such as Lake Como, Tokyo, Los Cabos, and beyond underscores this commitment to personalization at scale. Growth does not dilute the brand’s DNA; it amplifies it. In positioning the butler as cultural curator and emotional guide, The Butler Did It becomes more than a campaign. It becomes a statement about where experiential luxury is headed.

At Raffles, the butler still did it. Only now, what they’re doing is helping to define the future of intuitive hospitality.

Our Top Booked Hotels of 2025

SmartFlyer — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 04:22:30 +0000

Each year, analyzing SmartFlyer’s top-booked hotels offers a revealing snapshot into where—and how—our clients are choosing to travel.

This year, booking patterns tell us a story of balance: a continued love affair with sun-soaked escapes, paired with a growing appetite for city escapes, storied European grand dames, and culinary-driven stateside stays. Through these check-ins, we see our travel trends echoed, with insights into both where clients have been and often, where travel at large is headed.

…the Caribbean and Europe tied as the most represented regions, each claiming seven spots on our top-booked list, followed by Hawaiʻi, Mexico, and a steadily growing presence across the mainland United States.

This year, the Caribbean and Europe emerged as equally dominant on our top booked list, each accounting for seven properties on our list, underscoring the enduring pull of both barefoot luxury and classic continental elegance. Hawaiʻi remained a perennial favorite with four top-booked hotels, while Mexico continued to deliver reliable allure along its coasts. Notably, we also saw a meaningful rise in mainland U.S. icons—from Florida’s revitalized resort scene to mountain retreats where food, wellness, and nature take center stage. All told, the Caribbean and Europe tied as the most represented regions, each claiming seven spots on our top-booked list, followed by Hawaiʻi, Mexico, and a steadily growing presence across the mainland United States.

While this list doesn’t fully capture the far-flung, multi-stop itineraries our clients explored across Asia, Africa, South America, and beyond, it does highlight something just as compelling: a portfolio of hotels that span generations, geographies, and travel styles. From legacy institutions with over a century of history to newly reimagined classics and modern trailblazers, these are the properties SmartFlyer clients returned to—and trusted—again and again.

Blackberry Farm & Blackberry Mountain

Wallan, Tennessee

For those getaways when you’re looking for food to be at the forefront, Blackberry Farm and its sister property Blackberry Mountain deliver immersive escapes rooted in nature, craftsmanship, and terroir. Blackberry Farm remains the gold standard for refined Smoky Mountain hospitality—think paddock-to-plate cuisine, curated outdoor excursions, and an agrarian ethos executed with finesse. Just a half an hour away, Blackberry Mountain takes that sensibility higher still, with vaulted spaces, wellness immersion, and mountain panoramas that make every moment feel intentional.

The Boca Raton

Boca Raton, Florida

A South Florida stalwart reinvented for today’s luxury traveler, The Boca Raton blends storied Palm Beach County tradition with contemporary coastal refinement. With a sprawling oceanfront campus, championship golf, a vibrant culinary scene, and the newly reimagined spa and poolscape, the property delivers both respite and spirited social energy. Its mix of classic glamour and modern amenities strikes a chord with clients looking for approachable yet aspirational resort living.

Borgo Santandrea

Amalfi Coast, Italy

Freshly opened in April 2022, Borgo Santandrea has since shaken up the Amalfi Coast hotel scene in a big way. Perched above the centuries-old fishing village of Conca dei Marini, the property’s connection to its neighbors acts as a lovely reminder of how sleepy the Amalfi Coast was once. Today, the two owning families behind this project (a three-year renovation from its 1960s bones) have reimagined what a fresh, light-washed hotel in the region could look like. Aside from all forty-five rooms having balconies and sea views, we love the sexy beach club and private beach access.

Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel

Anguilla

Belmond’s Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel remains one of the Caribbean’s most elegant addresses. Rebuilt and refreshed after recent years, the property’s Moorish-inspired architecture, sweeping white beaches, and crystalline waters make for quintessential island luxury. Whether you’re unwinding under a palapa with a rum punch in hand or exploring the coral reefs offshore, Cap Juluca’s rhythm feels uniquely Anguillan: serene, gracious, and endlessly beautiful.

Cheval Blanc Paris

Paris, France

Voted the best hotel in Paris by The World’s 50 Best Hotels, Cheval Blanc Paris shook up the landscape of an already competitive landscape of top properties when it opened in 2021. With a location perched on the Seine just beside the landmark La Samaritaine building, this jewel box was the first urban Maison from LVMH Hospitality. Guests adore the colorful interiors by Peter Marino and Dior Spa complimented by the longest swimming pool in all of Paris.

Cheval Blanc St-Barth

Saint Barthélemy, Saint Barthélemy

As the only property in the Caribbean with Palace distinction, you can rest assured that Cheval Blanc St-Barth will have you feeling like you have all the refinement of Paris along the shores of Flamands Beach. With only sixty-one rooms, guests are welcomed into an intimate haven of French hospitality with a design rooted in tranquil colors and earthy finishes. The property prides itself on discretion, and we especially appreciate how all rooms, suites, and villas –many of which boast their own pools – were expertly devised to ensure guests have privacy even when checking in during peak season.

Claridge’s

London, United Kingdom

A visit to the U.K. capital hardly feels complete without admiring the impressive facade of Claridge’s; but only once you walk under the Union Jack proudly flying at its entrance can one understand the magnitude of this hospitality icon. Clients gravitate towards its quintessential British flair, but that’s not to say the property is resting on its laurels. The recently renovated 7,000-square-foot spa required the team to excavate into five floors of London clay, resulting in a stunning center of tranquility evoking Claridge’s Art Deco history. On the exact opposite side of the hotel, our team recently scouted the property’s rooftop Penthouse, filled with 75 works by Damien Hirst.

COMO Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos

Turks and Caicos

For a taste of Asia just three hours away from the East Coast, we adore COMO Parrot Cay—an award-winning Turks and Caicos luxury resort set on its own private island. Low-key and laid back in the best way possible, the island’s privacy attracts some of the most well-known names in fashion and Hollywood. Boasting over 1,000 unspoiled acres and over four miles of beach, COMO delivers the ultimate barefoot luxury, perfect for families and couples alike.

Eden Rock – St Barths

Saint Barthelemy, Saint Barthélemy

Nestled on the glistening white sands of St. Jean beach in the heart of St Barths, this island beauty has a jaw-dropping location. Part of the esteemed Oetker Hotels, Eden Rock – St Barth’s one-of-a-kind decor, forward-thinking dining outlets, and a chic club that create an effortlessly stylish Caribbean experience with a French twist. Each room shines with unique artwork, but we especially love the picturesque Rock Rooms, set right on the water.

Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Miami, Florida

Bold, theatrical, and unapologetically glamorous, Faena Hotel Miami Beach stands apart on Collins Avenue as a beacon of design-forward hospitality. With interiors by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin that feel like a cinematic celebration of Miami itself, every corner of Faena—from its striking lobby to its beachfront poolscape—invites endless storytelling. Here, world-class dining (don’t miss Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann) meets a soulful spa and cultural programming that transform a stay into a social event in its own right.

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

Paris, France

A timeless emblem of Parisian elegance, Four Seasons Hotel George V continues to capture the city’s gravitational pull for luxury travelers. Just off the Champs-Élysées, its three Michelin-starred dining, exceptional floral installations, and grandly refined rooms offer an urban sanctuary that feels both classic and contemporary. For clients seeking a Paris experience that marries heritage and heartfelt hospitality, George V remains at the apex.

Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club

Miami, Florida

A design-centric icon reimagined for the modern luxury traveler, Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club evokes old-world glamour with contemporary precision. Set on a private stretch of sand just north of Miami Beach, the property’s mid-century lineage is complemented by fresh art, serene beachfront spaces, and Michelin-level dining. Its combination of polished sophistication and ocean breeze ease makes it a perennial favorite for both long weekends and extended stays.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort

Orlando, Florida

For families (and the young at heart) seeking the ultimate blend of wonder and luxury, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World continues to shine. Beyond its proximity to the parks, the resort itself is a destination: a lazy river and water playground, championship golf, a world-class spa, and character-dining experiences that feel elevated rather than kitschy. Clients gravitate towards it not just for location, but for seamless ease and sophistication even amid the theme-park magic.

Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

Papagagyo, Costa Rica

Sink into true pura vida at Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo on Costa Rica’s ultimate coastal retreat for unsoiled access to nature and relaxation. From the five-bedroom estate at Prieta Bay to the three-bedroom Canopy Villa, the stellar accommodations here are just the beginning. Guests are invited to soak up the true essence of the destination with surf lessons, a day in the rainforest, exploring the mangroves, or even a trip to the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i

Set on the picturesque Kona-Kohala coast of Hawai’i Island, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is a magnificent work of art that pays homage to its unique setting. Built into its natural surroundings, the resort combines history, culture, pure pampering, and true aloha to all who come its way. Featuring 243 magnificent rooms and suites, championship golf, world-class spa and fitness, tennis, on-site ocean activities, retail boutiques, seven pools, cultural experiences, and award-winning dining, it is safe to say that this Four Seasons property has the whole family covered.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Kihei, Hawai’i

Just a stone’s throw away from several of Maui’s best golf courses and a handful of luxury boutiques, location is just the beginning in a long list of reasons why clients adore Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. With a variety of rooms and suites — each with sweeping views of the surrounding ocean, garden, or mountains — it is the perfect retreat at the end of a long day in the Maui sun. If there’s anything we’ve learned this past year, it’s the importance of supporting our dear friends in Maui, and we can’t think of anywhere better to start than at Four Seasons.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla

Anguilla

Nestled on the northwest shore of Anguilla between two gorgeous bays, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla is a secluded island escape. With a variety of accommodations ranging from villas to penthouses to townhomes — the majority of which have ocean views — it is an ideal beach getaway for your next family vacation, couples weekend, or even corporate retreat home base. Relax by one of the property’s three outdoor pools, try your hand at rock climbing in the sports pavilion, or indulge in the property’s prime positioning for Anguilla’s stunning sunsets for a truly memorable experience.

Grand Hyatt Baha Mar

Nassau, Bahamas

With multiple Baha Mar properties making our 2023 list of top-booked hotels, it’s clear that SmartFlyer clients feel everything is indeed better in the Bahamas. Grand Hyatt Baha Mar stands out for its central location and wide array of restaurants, beautifully landscaped pools, ample nightlight options, spa, casino access, and one of the most pristine beaches in the Bahamas. If you’ve got a golfer in your midst, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar makes for an ideal golf trip thanks to its location by the front nine of Baha Mar’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Royal Blue course.

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Antibes, France

Old-world glamour meets modern luxury at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. For more than 150 years, this iconic Oetker Hotels property has welcomed flocks of A-listers and movie stars to its prime location on the French Riviera, captivating guests with its quintessential charm. The pine-clad grounds and glittering coastline, famous infinity swimming pool, and exclusive sanctuary of 118 rooms, suites, and villas create a glamorous, gloriously seductive escape worthy of its starry reputation.

Jumby Bay Island

Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda

A fantasy hideaway that offers Caribbean comforts in a relaxed atmosphere, Jumby Bay Island is the epitome of private island living. This is a place where each experience can be tailored to your desires, and you can create your ideal vacation — from action-packed to blissful serenity. Kick off your shoes, take a dip in the turquoise sea, and relax in one of the property’s exceptional suites or villas. For those seeking more space, Jumby Bay’s twenty-two Private Residences each offer large communal areas, a private pool, and a personal chef and butler for your convenience.

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

Kona, Hawaii

The storied shores of the Kona Coast have long been home to one of Hawaii’s most beloved resorts since its opening in 1965 by intrepid explorer Johnno Jackson and his wife, Helen. In the intervening decades, Kona Village established its own beating heart, welcoming families from around the world who’d loyally return annually. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ reimagining of this property after a brief closure revived it to even higher heights than its cult following believed possible. A stay at Kona Village, A Rosewood Hotel is steeped in spirituality as the resort was remade for ‘ohana as guests gather and reconnect.

The Little Nell

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen’s only five-star, five-diamond hotel, The Little Nell is the quintessential base for year-round mountain adventure with a cosmopolitan edge. Steps from the Silver Queen Gondola, it flawlessly blends ski-in/ski-out ease with refined après ski culture, a standout wine program, and one of Colorado’s most celebrated restaurants. Here, elevated service and local expertise turn a seasonal getaway into a signature Colorado experience.

Las Ventanas al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort

San Jose del Cabo, Mexico

Admired for its Mediterranean-Mexican style architecture, unique artistry, and unwavering attention to detail, Las Ventanas al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort is distinguished by many as a true Cabo gem. Dotted with succulents, cacti, and other native plants, the resort is beautiful and blissfully private, with its network of underground tunnels allowing staff to be discreet and making it a favorite among honeymooning couples and celebrities. We especially appreciate the hotel’s “director of romance,” who aids in creating private on-the-beach dining experiences for two, oceanfront marriage proposals, and over-the-top anniversary celebrations.

Marbella Club Hotel

Marbella, Spain

Set on the fabled Costa del Sol, Marbella Club Hotel exudes unpretentious Andalusian chic with a storied legacy. What began as a private family estate has grown into a refined seaside refuge where olive groves meet Mediterranean breezes. With discreet service, lush gardens, and a wellness program inspired by the region’s rhythms, the hotel offers a Mediterranean experience that’s equally about languid afternoons and spirited evenings.

Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection

Kamuela, Hawai’i

On the dramatic Kohala Coast, Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection’s secluded beaches, coral reefs, and ancient fishponds set the stage for a memorable Hawaiian getaway. Primely located on the Big Island, this hotel’s design is highly unique with bright, inviting pops of color. From beachfront activities down at the Surf Shack to relaxing meals at the celebrated CanoeHouse, Mauna Lani is the perfect escape for the whole family.

Montage Los Cabos

Los Cabos, Mexico

With a prime address on Santa Maria Beach, Montage Los Cabos draws in families and couples alike to sink into its guestrooms, suites, casas, and residences. If you can pull yourself away from the swimmable beach, Spa Montage, and multiple pools are all on offer for ultimate relaxation. Your SmartFlyer travel advisor can also arrange for you to golf, do a deep-sea fishing trip, go whale watching, or even try out a cooking class.

Ritz Paris

Paris, France

Since opening its doors in 1898, the Ritz Paris has remained a living legend on Place Vendôme for over a century. As the host to dignitaries, royalty, artists, and fashion icons from around the world, discretion is everything at the Ritz, a signature of its anticipatory service that is just one of many calling cards that keep loyal guests coming back year after year. We especially love the property for its celebration of the art of French gastronomy, a pillar of the property that’s on full display at its on-property cooking school, École Ritz-Escoffier, and its signature watering hole, Bar Hemingway.

Rosewood Baha Mar

Nassau, The Bahamas

A true sanctuary in every sense of the word, Rosewood Baha Mar epitomizes Bahamian refinement and sophistication. Fusing the timeless charm of a modern Bahamian estate with luxury amenities and contemporary beach cottage interiors, Rosewood Baha Mar offers 237 rooms, suites, and beachfront villas — including a spectacular six-bedroom Oceanfront Villa. With exceptional dining experiences, private beach access, and an indulgent spa, this Rosewood property is ideal for travelers craving an effortless island escape.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay

British Virgin Islands

Reopened and refreshed, Rosewood Little Dix Bay embodies barefoot luxury at its most gracious. Sir Laurence Rockefeller’s original vision—a conservation-minded hideaway set within a horseshoe harbor of pristine sands and calm waters—remains intact, elevated by Rosewood’s modern sensibilities. Guests return for the luminous setting, attentive staff, and the sense that this is both a Caribbean classic and a quietly contemporary escape.

Rosewood Mayakoba

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Resting along a mile-long stretch of white sand beach, this centerpiece of the luxury Mayakoba development exudes Mexican resort chic. Strikingly modern in design, Rosewood Mayakoba’s generously proportioned 129 suites and seven villas are crafted from indigenous materials. With oversized bathtubs, private bath gardens with outdoor showers, lush amenities, and a heated plunge pool, this Mexican beach retreat is spectacular down to every last detail.

Four Seasons Yachts Marks A Major Sea Change in ‘Cruising’

SmartFlyer — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 02:33:24 +0000

There are hotel brands that follow hospitality standards—and then there are those rare few that set those standards.

For more than sixty years, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts has represented the gold standard of intuitive service, thoughtful design, and culinary excellence. Arguably one of the world’s most recognized brands, “Four Seasons” has become synonymous with luxury. Now, for the first time in its history, this legacy is being translated from land to sea.

For travelers who have long trusted Four Seasons on land, this debut is more than a launch—it’s reason alone to convert non-cruisers to cruise curious.

In March 2026, Four Seasons I will set sail, beginning a new chapter not only for the brand, but for modern maritime travel. This all-suite yacht is Four Seasons reimagined. On board, guests will enjoy the intimacy of just ninety-five accommodations and a one-to-one staff ratio, the embodiment of a commitment to elevating every moment at sea. For travelers who have long trusted Four Seasons on land, this debut is more than a launch—it’s reason alone to convert non-cruisers to cruise curious. And if Four Seasons Yachts has anything to say about it, one day, loyal guests at sea.

Reimagining a Global Icon for the Open Water

…Four Seasons I was conceived not as a floating resort and not as a cruise ship, but as a private superyacht scaled for 200 guests.

For Four Seasons to enter yachting means taking the elements the brand is beloved for—residential-feeling design, meticulous craftsmanship, intuitive service—and translating them into an environment where movement, discovery, and freedom shape the day. Four Seasons I was conceived not as a floating resort and not as a cruise ship, but as a private superyacht scaled for 200 guests. That distinction matters. The vessel’s generous proportions allow for immersive public spaces and expansive suites, while maintaining the intimacy and quiet luxury that define the Four Seasons experience.

Across the yacht, the brand’s signature warmth is unmistakable: staff who anticipate preferences you never voiced, design that feels effortless rather than opulent, and a philosophy that every touchpoint should feel instinctive, never imposed. Where many vessels focus on spectacle, Four Seasons I focuses on ease—how light moves through a space, how a guest transitions from sunrise swim to afternoon tea, how the yacht can expand or contract around their mood. This is hospitality not as performance, but as presence.

Design as a Way of Living

At the heart of the vessel’s vision is world-renowned style consultant Prosper Assouline, whose approach distills the essence of seaside living into a series of spaces that feel sculptural, humane, and quietly glamorous. His influence is felt in the yacht’s fluid circulation, the interplay of textures, and the subtle nods to yachting heritage woven into each distinct part of the yacht.

For guests accustomed to Four Seasons’ urban penthouses and villa offerings, their seaborne equivalent is sure to deliver.

Yet, it’s the suites that truly are turning heads before the vessel has even officially launched. They are among the largest in the industry, designed as modern residences rather than cabins. Floor-to-ceiling windows erase boundaries between interior and horizon; private terraces offer sweeping views, and the materials echo the calm of sea and sky. The result is a sanctuary that feels both personal and profound. For guests accustomed to Four Seasons’ urban penthouses and villa offerings, their seaborne equivalent is sure to deliver.

But the in-suite innovation runs deeper. These suites “think” for the guest: light adjusts to circadian rhythms, privacy responds to movement, and climate shifts before comfort is compromised. Cutting-edge technology also promises to allow the space to operate with a kind of quiet intelligence. For instance, suites will have televisions that are first of their kind, visible when you want to queue something up, and invisible at the foot of your bed (which naturally, faces a window) when you don’t.

The Social Architecture of Escape

One of the greatest triumphs of Four Seasons I is its reimagining of communal spaces—not as programmed venues, but as environments that evolve with the day’s rhythm. At the heart of the yacht is “The Salon,” a luminous gathering space framed by wraparound windows. Mornings begin with pistachio croissants and bento-box breakfasts; afternoons shift to tea service and live piano; evenings spark conversation among newfound friends. Like the world’s best hotel living rooms, it serves as both backdrop and hive of activity.

On select voyages, the transverse marina unfurls both port and starboard, creating a vast floating resort that immerses guests in sunlit adventure and barefoot leisure.

Outdoors, “Piscine” channels mid-century yachting glamour: a pool by day that converts into an open-air dance floor by night, thanks to its hydraulic floor rising for late-evening revelry. For those seeking retreat, “Horizon Lounge” offers a Moroccan-accented adults-only hideaway perched high atop the yacht. Here, moody cocktails, Levantine mezze, and views stretch endlessly across passing coastlines. At sea level, the “Marina” transforms from a nook perfect for taking your morning espresso to a watersports hub and twilight lounge, anchoring the yacht’s connection to the ocean. On select voyages, the transverse marina unfurls both port and starboard, creating a vast floating resort that immerses guests in sunlit adventure and barefoot leisure. Every space is designed not to fill time, but to expand it.

Where Four Seasons Yachts Sails

Four Seasons Yachts approaches itineraries with the same intent it brings to its hotels: connection, discovery, and insider access are at the heart of each sailing. Itineraries across the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Adriatic anchor in destinations celebrated not only for their beauty but for their cultural resonance—think: Croatia’s storied coastline, Montenegro’s fjords, Göcek’s hidden coves, Porto Cervo’s glamour. Voyages are unhurried, allowing travelers to slip into the cadence of each region.

The emphasis is always the same: fewer stops, deeper immersion, and a sense of discovery…

During winter in the Caribbean, itineraries center on natural splendor and coastal intimacy, where guests will have the chance to explore tranquil bays, volcanic landscapes, and island communities where the yacht docks not in crowded ports but in cinematic seclusion. The emphasis is always the same: fewer stops, deeper immersion, and a sense of discovery shaped by the yacht’s ability to reach harbors inaccessible to larger vessels. Notably, the inaugural season will also be helmed by Captain Kate McCue, one of the most respected and recognizable captains in the industry, bringing her signature warmth, expertise, and global fanbase to Four Seasons Yachts.

Grand Touring: Freedom on Your Terms

One of the most defining innovations aboard Four Seasons I is the “Grand Touring” program—an elevated way to explore shoreside destinations through two custom-built vessels. The Limo Tender is discreet opulence reimagined: a floating private lounge with curved glass, a climate-controlled cabin, and a champagne service that rises theatrically at the touch of a button. The Beachlander, its sportier sibling, is part performance craft, part beach-landing marvel—able to glide directly onto remote shores, pivot from snorkel base to culinary drop-off, and embrace adventure with effortless style.

Tastes That Travel With You: Eleven Venues, Infinite Possibilities

If culinary artistry is a hallmark of Four Seasons on land, then Four Seasons I becomes its most ambitious stage yet. Eleven dining (and drinking!) venues redefine what gastronomy can look like at sea. Plus, ingredients are sourced throughout the voyage from fish handed over by a local fisherman that morning to herbs plucked from a market garden hours before service, ensuring guests can expect seasonal flavors carried onboard from port to plate.

“Terrasse” serves morning pastries inspired by the region the yacht sails through—pan de coco in the Caribbean, pain au chocolat on the Riviera. “Pistachio” showcases filled-to-order cruffins, French viennoiserie, and a serious espresso program. “Miuna” brings an intimate omakase experience to sea, its hinoki counter serving fish flown from the world’s great markets or pulled from local waters when they meet exacting standards.

At “Bar Piscine,” poolside fare is paired with dramatic rosé trolleys and carved-ice cocktails. “Champagne & Caviar” celebrates refinement on an open-air terrace. “Bar O,” the yacht’s ode to golden-age mixology, houses sea-aged spirits and some of the best martinis imaginable. And at the pinnacle sits “Sedna” where a multi-course, French-inspired dining experience guided by Four Seasons’ most celebrated culinary talent, complemented by rare vintages and vertical wine collections seldom seen at sea.

This rotating talent model ensures menus evolve continuously throughout the season, reflecting both destination and chef-driven creativity.

The culinary program is overseen by Four Seasons’ global food and beverage leadership, with an onboard executive chef and a brigade whose background spans Michelin-recognized restaurants, flagship Four Seasons properties, and regional specialists brought on for particular sailings. This rotating talent model ensures menus evolve continuously throughout the season, reflecting both destination and chef-driven creativity. It’s important to note that, unlike traditional cruises, meals aboard Four Seasons I are not included in the voyage fare. This intentional choice mirrors the brand’s resort model—giving guests the freedom to dine selectively across the yacht’s eleven distinct venues, each priced à la carte and designed to offer maximum flexibility and creativity.

Centered by the Sea: A Reimagining of Wellness

Wellness aboard Four Seasons I is less a program and more a rhythm—something you drift into, shaped by curiosity rather than obligation. The yacht’s spa, “L’Oceana,” offers a modern interpretation of ancient rituals: a twelve-seat hammam, infrared sauna, cold plunge, ocean-view thermal circuit, cryotherapy chamber, and treatment rooms designed for both solitude and connection.

Four Seasons has always understood that luxury is personal.

Fitness unfolds intuitively: sunrise bow meditations, AI-driven movement assessments, or paddleboarding straight from the marina. Culinary wellness complements indulgence rather than replaces it—nutrient-rich dishes appear alongside classic comforts, guided by visiting chefs, nutritionists, and educators. And naturally, sleep and recovery are integrated into the very architecture of the suites, from custom mattresses to circadian-supportive lighting. Four Seasons has always understood that luxury is personal. Onboard Four Seasons Yachts, wellness follows the same philosophy.

Marina Days: Four Seasons Yacht’s Love Letter to the Sea

On select voyages, the dedicated marina day becomes the voyage’s gravitational center—a full day devoted to barefoot leisure in a secluded bay far from any port. The transverse marina opens on both sides, revealing expansive platforms and an inflatable dock rivaling the size of a boutique resort. Guests flow between action and serenity with Foils, electric surfboards, pedal-powered water bikes, custom snorkeling bases, an ocean pool protected from jellyfish, shaded lounges, and a breezy marina bar. This is the purest expression of what makes yachting magical: no schedule, no rush, just the simple joy of being exactly where you are.

Who Will Love This Product

Four Seasons Yachts promises to resonate deeply with:

Loyal Four Seasons guests who want the brand’s warmth and precision in a new environment
Design-driven travelers drawn to residential luxury
Yachting clients craving an intimate alternative to large-ship cruising
Culinary travelers seeking destination-inspired cuisine
Wellness-minded travelers who crave restoration without rigidity
Couples, families, and multi-gen groups seeking privacy paired with impeccably orchestrated service
Adventurers who prioritize rare access and unhurried discovery

Why This Matters for Travelers

Four Seasons Yachts represents a pivotal evolution for a brand that has shaped the hospitality landscape for decades. It is a statement of intent: that luxury today is defined not by excess, but by intimacy, personalization, and the seamless blending of exploration with comfort.

For guests, the value is clear. This is not simply a new way to cruise—it is a new way to experience the world’s coastlines. Imagine waking in a suite that responds to you, dining on ingredients sourced hours before plating, stepping into watersports crafted for all ages, and ending the day under a starlit sky at Horizon Lounge as the coastline drifts past. Four Seasons I offers the familiarity of a brand you trust with the thrill of a journey that feels entirely new.

A New Era Sets Sail

When Four Seasons I embarks on its inaugural voyages, it will mark more than the debut of a yacht—it will signal a transformative moment for luxury travel. A moment where hospitality’s most iconic name expands its legacy onto the open water, where design and discovery merge, and where every voyage becomes a masterclass in how luxury can feel both effortless and extraordinary.

For travelers seeking the next evolution of Four Seasons, the ocean is calling—and this time, it comes with a horizon that stretches as widely as the brand’s own ambition.

Curious about booking your own voyage? Contact your SmartFlyer travel advisor.

A New Chapter at Sea: Inside the Debut of Orient Express Sailing Yachts

SmartFlyer — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 02:20:53 +0000

There are legends in travel, and then there are icons—Orient Express is one such icon whose name holds the weight of history yet manages to reinvent itself for every generation of curious travelers.

…the brand that defined the golden age of rail is setting its sights on the open sea.

For nearly 150 years, Orient Express has been shorthand for the romance embedded in the heart of a journey; the brand represents craftsmanship elevated into art, and the idea that how you arrive at a destination can be as meaningful as discovering the place itself. And now, for the first time, the brand that defined the golden age of rail is setting its sights on the open sea.

Launching June 2026, Orient Express Corinthian marks the beginning of a transformative new chapter for experiential maritime travel: the debut of Orient Express Sailing Yachts. And in typical Orient Express fashion, this evolution is a reimagining of what modern luxury at sea can look like. Designed for only 110 guests yet serviced by 170 crew, Corinthian introduces a new standard of intimacy, artistry, and cultural immersion as it sails across the Mediterranean and Caribbean. For clients craving ultra-personalized experiences paired with the emotional resonance of French heritage, this is a product poised to become one of the most defining launches of the decade.

Reimagining a Legend for the Sea

…designed not simply to move through the water but to create a cinematic experience of gliding across oceans with quiet power and grace.

The story of Orient Express Sailing Yachts begins with a question: What happens when the brand that perfected slow, elegant, meaningful travel decides to enter ‘cruising’? The answer is Corinthian—a 721-foot sailing yacht that merges wind power with liquefied natural gas propulsion, signaling a future-forward approach to sustainability while honoring the romance of traditional sailing. This will be the world’s largest sailing yacht to set sail, a vessel designed not simply to move through the water but to create a cinematic experience of gliding across oceans with quiet power and grace.

Inspired by the original Orient Express ethos of craftsmanship and cultural discovery, Corinthian’s onboard experience feels like stepping into a contemporary chapter of an already storied legacy. French heritage isn’t referenced—it’s felt. Every material, every line, every interplay of light and texture has intention. And that is largely thanks to one creative force: Maxime D’Angeac.

The Maxime D’Angeac Effect: Design as Storytelling

Tasked with translating decades of brand legacy into a floating masterpiece, architect and art director Maxime D’Angeac approached Corinthian as an act of storytelling. His vision is rooted in dualities: history and innovation, elegance and adventure, French rigor and the untamed nature of the sea.

The result is a masterclass in restraint and richness, a vessel that feels more like an architectural gallery than a conventional cruise ship.

Across the vessel, D’Angeac’s signature is unmistakable—harmonious spaces that feel sculptural yet inviting. The design language balances maritime minimalism with Parisian refinement, creating an atmosphere where every detail is meant to be discovered. Hand-finished woodwork, bespoke fabrics, sculptural lighting, curated art: nothing is by chance. The result is a masterclass in restraint and richness, a vessel that feels more like an architectural gallery than a conventional cruise ship.

The exclusive fifty-four suites are all spacious and open directly onto the sea, embodying the architect’s ethos on an intimate scale. Thoughtfully zoned for relaxation, contemplation, and connection to the outdoors, the suites are designed as private sanctuaries for travelers who value aesthetic harmony as much as comfort. For clients who gravitate toward design-driven properties, Corinthian will resonate with a similar emotional register.

Where Corinthian Sails: A Seasonal Rhythm Between Continents

…the focus is on immersion into ports of call over constant movement, offering guests the luxury of time to absorb the essence of each region.

Corinthian’s inaugural itineraries are a masterstroke in pacing and place. From June to October 2026, guests will explore the Mediterranean at a tempo that mirrors the Orient Express philosophy: unhurried, sophisticated, deeply rooted in culture. Expect anchorages—not quick port calls—in The French Riviera, Corsica, Sicily, The Italian coast, and The Adriatic. Notably, the focus is on immersion into ports of call over constant movement, offering guests the luxury of time to absorb the essence of each region.

In late fall, Corinthian shifts continents with a fourteen-night transatlantic crossing from Lisbon to Barbados; this sailing will echo the grand voyages of the past, reinterpreted for the modern traveler. Winter brings the warm luminosity of the Caribbean season, with itineraries shaped by cultural touchpoints rather than crowded ports. For travelers, the dual-season rhythm offers two distinct options, catering to Mediterranean culture seekers in summer and Caribbean relaxation seekers in winter.

Aboard the World’s Largest Sailing Yacht: The Experience

Corinthian was built not to compete with standard cruise categories but to transcend their offering in a completely unique light. This is a yacht that privileges spaciousness, craftsmanship, and a north-star commitment to personalization.

Culinary Excellence: Five Restaurants and Five Bars

Food is a cultural lens aboard Corinthian, crafted by Michelin-starred chefs who reinterpret regional flavors through a French culinary framework. Ingredients are sourced locally at each port, creating a dynamic menu that evolves throughout the sailing. Whether dining alfresco with Mediterranean breezes or savoring multi-course tasting menus indoors, every meal is positioned as a moment of artistry.

The Only Guerlain Spa at Sea

Wellness lovers will gravitate toward Corinthian’s Guerlain Spa, the maison’s first and only outpost on water. Treatments draw inspiration from the sea’s rhythms, offering both classic Guerlain rituals and yacht-exclusive protocols crafted around tranquility, renewal, and sensorial immersion.

A Marina Built for True “At Anchor” Living

Unlike traditional cruises with short port stops, Corinthian embraces a life lived on the water. The yacht’s state-of-the-art marina unfolds into a playground for snorkeling, paddleboarding, sailing, and more. Active, multi-gen, or water-loving clients will appreciate the fluidity of this offering—adventure is accessible at any moment.

Service: The Orient Express Signature

The Orient Express legacy lives most vividly in its service. With 170 crew for 110 guests, personalization is not simply a promise; it is a philosophy. Staff move with anticipatory precision—quiet, intuitive, and unobtrusively present. It feels less like cruising and more like being enveloped in a private members’ club at sea.

“Money-Can’t-Buy” Moments: The Signature of This Yacht

What ultimately elevates Orient Express Sailing Yachts beyond even the most luxurious peers is the brand’s commitment to exclusivity that feels cinematic. Corinthian’s curated experiences are not excursions—they’re invitations into cultural moments that very few travelers ever access. During initial sailings, guests can look forward to special access to some of the season’s most sought-after events, ensuring an emotional resonance for those seeking depth, rarity, and cultural texture in their travels.

Venice Like Never Before |Anchor during the Venice Film Festival, gaining entry to red carpet premieres, private screenings, and soirées inside historic palazzos typically reserved for celebrities and industry insiders.
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez | Arrive directly into the heart of one of the world’s most legendary regattas. Guests enjoy behind-the-scenes access and celebrations woven into the sailing community’s most iconic week.
Private Dinners in Historic Villas | Across the Mediterranean and Caribbean, intimate dinners unfold in architectural landmarks, estates, and private residences where food and music become cultural storytelling.
Vintage Car Rallies | Guests embark on coastal drives in rare automobiles—guided by experts who reveal hidden landscapes, forgotten histories, and insider-only roads.
An Onboard Recording Studio | For the creatively inclined, Corinthian offers something that feels pulled straight from fantasy: a studio where guests can collaborate with renowned artists or record their own compositions. It is, in the truest sense, a once-in-a-lifetime memory-maker.

Travelers Who Will Love This Product

Wondering if the Corinthian is for you? SmartFlyer travel advisors approach every client and trip with complete personalization, but if any of the below align with your travel style, the world’s largest sailing yacht just might be perfect for you.

Lovers of design-forward hotels and architectural storytelling
Francophiles and those drawn to heritage brands
Cultural travelers who prioritize exclusive access
Repeat cruise guests looking for a more intimate, artistic alternative
Yachting clients unable to commit to full-boat charters
Wellness travelers craving a serene, spa-centric floating retreat
Multi-gen or couples seeking privacy paired with personalization

A Second Vessel Joins the Story: Orient Express Olympian

The journey doesn’t end with Corinthian’s debut. In June 2027, Orient Express Olympian will join the fleet, expanding itineraries and deepening the brand’s presence across the world’s most coveted waters. Two vessels, one design language, one ethos: the continued evolution of the Orient Express universe.

Why This Matters for Travelers

…Corinthian offers the intimacy of a private yacht paired with the craftsmanship and storytelling that define the Orient Express legacy.

Orient Express Sailing Yachts isn’t simply a new way to cruise—it’s a new way to travel. For guests who value design, culture, and meaningful experiences, Corinthian offers the intimacy of a private yacht paired with the craftsmanship and storytelling that define the Orient Express legacy. This is travel that feels personal, unrushed, and deeply connected to place. You’re not just moving from port to port—you’re anchoring in the heart of the Mediterranean and Caribbean, dining in historic villas, accessing festivals and cultural moments that are normally invitation-only, and unwinding in the only Guerlain Spa at sea. Every element is designed to feel like it was created just for you.

Ultimately, this matters because Corinthian turns a voyage into something unforgettable: a blend of beauty, exclusivity, and discovery that stays with you long after you return home. Here, the journey becomes the experience—and the sea becomes the backdrop for memories you’ll carry forever.

A Legend Sets Sail

When Orient Express Corinthian sets out across the Mediterranean in 2026, it won’t simply mark the beginning of a new itinerary—it will signal a new philosophy for luxury at sea. One rooted in heritage but shaped for the modern traveler; one that values design as deeply as discovery; one that invites guests to join a story over a century in the making. For travelers seeking the extraordinary, Corinthian offers a rare proposition: a voyage where every moment is curated with intention, where exclusivity is woven into the rhythm of the day, and where the journey itself becomes a legend. Welcome aboard Orient Express Sailing Yachts—where the extraordinary is just the beginning.