Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.
Today: My 2026 trips that I am most excited about
I wish you all a happy, safe, healthy, and prosperous 2026. In a world that often feels increasingly complex, polarized, and fast-moving, travel remains one of the most meaningful ways to reconnect with curiosity, empathy, and wonder. Few quotes capture this better than Martin Luther King Jr.’s timeless reminder that darkness cannot drive out darkness—only light can do that. Travel, at its best, is a form of light: it broadens perspectives, fosters understanding, and reminds us of the beauty and diversity of our planet.
At the end of last year, I looked back on my most memorable journeys of 2025, reflecting on what made them special and what they taught me. Now, as a new year unfolds, it’s time to look forward. In 2026, I have a series of remarkable trips planned, combining aviation deep dives, luxury hotel stays, and inspiring destinations. These journeys will be shared in detail on my Wednesday blog posts—always featuring flight trip reports or luxury hotel reviews — as well as on my Instagram account and my YouTube channel, where visuals and storytelling bring these experiences to life in different ways.
If you have some tips and suggestions for my upcoming 2026 trips, please share them in the comments section below!
10. Flying Emirates A380 Business Class
Few airline products have achieved the legendary status of Emirates A380 Business Class, a cabin that for many travelers defined an entire era of aspirational long-haul flying. When the superjumbo entered service, Emirates transformed Business Class into something far more experiential, making the journey itself a highlight. The onboard lounge at the rear of the upper deck quickly became iconic, encouraging passengers to leave their seats, socialize, and enjoy premium drinks at 40,000 feet, while the overall cabin design projected confidence, glamour, and scale. In 2026, I’ll be stepping back onboard Emirates’ A380 Business Class cabin and assess whether this once ground-breaking product still lives up to its stellar reputation in a market that has evolved dramatically. Over the years, competitors have introduced increasingly private business class suites, sliding doors, and more personalized service concepts, fundamentally raising expectations. This flight will be a comprehensive review, examining seat comfort and sleeping ergonomics, cabin ambiance, inflight entertainment, catering quality, wine program, and service consistency throughout the journey.
9. Skiing in the Dolomites
Draped across the high Alps, where Italy, Austria, and Switzerland converge, the Dolomites are one of the most dramatic and visually striking mountain ranges in the world. With 18 peaks rising above 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), the Dolomites are defined by vertical rock faces, sheer cliffs, and a dense network of deep, narrow valleys that create a truly otherworldly landscape. Formed and eroded over more than 200 million years by landslides, floods, and avalanches, the vast Dolomite massifs have evolved into a spectacular collection of needles, towers, and pinnacles. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, the Dolomites offer outstanding outdoor experiences throughout the year. From December to March, it transforms into a true winter wonderland, boasting 12 ski resorts, state-of-the-art lift systems, and over 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) of groomed slopes suited to all levels. Adding to the excitement, 2026 is a milestone year, as the Winter Olympics will be hosted in the Dolomites, further highlighting the region’s global appeal. During my stay, I’ll be checking into the COMO Alpina Dolomites, one of the area’s finest luxury ski hotels, perfectly positioned to enjoy both the slopes and the timeless alpine beauty of this extraordinary region.
8. Visiting the Kingdom of Cambodia
Cambodia is a destination that leaves a lasting impression, not only because of its ancient temples and dramatic landscapes, but also because of the resilience, warmth, and creativity of its people. My 2026 journey through Cambodia will explore the country through a carefully curated collection of hotels that reflect both its past and its future. I’ll begin with a stay at Six Senses Krabey Island, a private island retreat that blends barefoot luxury with strong commitments to conservation and wellness. In Siem Reap, I’ll stay at Shinta Mani Angkor, a property that stands out for its contemporary design and deep engagement with local communities, all within easy reach of Angkor’s awe-inspiring temples. Phnom Penh will follow, with a stay at the Rosewood Hotel, occupying the upper floors of the capital’s tallest building and offering sweeping views over the Mekong River. The journey will culminate at Song Saa Private Island, an eco-luxury pioneer that proves meaningful sustainability and indulgent comfort can coexist beautifully.
7. Exploring Europe’s Grand Hotels
While long-haul adventures are always thrilling, Europe continues to offer some of the world’s most refined, storied, and culturally rich hotel experiences, where history and hospitality are inseparably intertwined. In 2026, I’ll be embarking on several trips within the continent, centered around iconic properties that represent the very pinnacle of European luxury and service traditions. In Amsterdam, I’ll be staying at Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, a true masterpiece set along the city’s historic canals, where meticulously restored 17th-century palaces are paired with understated contemporary elegance and flawlessly polished service. Switzerland will also feature prominently on my itinerary, with a visit to the spectacular Bürgenstock Resort, dramatically perched high above Lake Lucerne and offering sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding Alps, combined with world-class wellness and dining experiences. These European journeys will focus on the enduring appeal of grand hotels, the art of intuitive and highly personalized service, and why Europe remains unmatched when it comes to blending history, culture, and luxury into a seamless, deeply immersive travel experience that continues to stand the test of time.
6. A Safari Trip to Zimbabwe
Boasting magnificent wilderness and the spectacular Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is a lesser-known yet truly fabulous off-the-beaten-path safari destination. Its national parks remain wild, remote, and largely untouched, while still offering a remarkable collection of intimate, high-end safari lodges that rival the best in Africa. Bordering Botswana, Hwange National Park is the country’s largest game reserve and impresses with its diverse landscapes, ranging from semi-desert scrub on the edge of the Kalahari in the south to forests, granite hills, and expansive mopane woodlands in the north. The park is home to more than 100 mammal species, including lion, leopard, and rhino, and is especially renowned for one of Africa’s largest elephant populations. Hwange is also highly accessible, with most camps offering both day and night game drives. During my trip, I plan to combine Hwange with a visit to Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Located in northern Zimbabwe along the mighty Zambezi River, Mana Pools is considered one of Africa’s finest destinations for walking safaris, made possible by Zimbabwe’s exceptionally rigorous professional guide licensing system, which ensures guides are qualified to track and walk safely among dangerous game.
5. Flying Thai Airways A350 Business Class
Another journey I’m particularly excited about in 2026 is flying in Thai Airways’ Business Class aboard the Airbus A350, an aircraft that has become a favorite for long-haul travelers thanks to its quiet cabin, modern air circulation, and refined onboard environment. Thai Airways has long been admired for its gracious service, elegant presentation, and distinctly Thai sense of hospitality, qualities that have helped the airline maintain a loyal following even during more challenging periods in its recent history. What makes this flight especially intriguing is the reported inclusion of caviar in Business Class on select routes—an indulgence traditionally reserved for First Class and one that immediately raises expectations. However, beyond the novelty factor, this journey will focus on the fundamentals that truly define a premium experience: seat ergonomics, sleeping comfort on long overnight sectors, inflight entertainment quality, meal presentation and taste, and the overall service flow from boarding to landing. The A350 provides an excellent platform for consistency and comfort, and I’m particularly interested in seeing how Thai Airways balances its strong service traditions with modern expectations of today’s premium traveler in an increasingly competitive Business Class landscape.
4. A Holiday in the Island of Gods, Bali
Bali continues to hold a special place in the world of luxury travel, not only for its natural beauty but for its unique ability to blend spirituality, wellness, design, and deeply rooted traditions into a truly transformative experience. In 2026, I’ll be returning to the Island of the Gods for a multi-stop journey that highlights Bali at its most refined and diverse. My stay will begin in the jungle near Ubud at COMO Shambhala Estate, a legendary wellness retreat where holistic living, mindfulness, and nature-driven healing define every aspect of the experience. I’ll then venture deeper into Bali’s highlands to stay at Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, an extraordinary “no walls, no doors” concept that reimagines luxury through radical openness, immersive nature, and a profound sense of seclusion. Along the island’s dramatic west coast, I’ll experience the minimalist elegance of Soori Bali, set between black-sand beaches and volcanic landscapes. The journey will continue with a stay at phenomenal Alila Villas Uluwatu, a benchmark for sustainable clifftop luxury, before concluding in Seminyak at Potato Head Suites, where design, culture, and sustainability converge in one of Bali’s most creative and forward-thinking hospitality experiences.
3. Getting Off the Beaten Path in Palau
Each year, I make a conscious effort to include at least one destination that sits firmly off the beaten path, and in 2026 that destination will be Palau. This remote Pacific nation is celebrated for its untouched marine environments, vibrant coral reefs, and dramatic limestone islands that rise abruptly from turquoise lagoons, creating some of the most pristine seascapes on the planet. Palau’s long-standing commitment to conservation, marine protection, and sustainable tourism makes it one of the world’s most distinctive and meaningful travel experiences, especially for those seeking something beyond traditional luxury. My stay will be with Four Seasons Explorer Palau, offering a rare combination of ultra-luxury service and genuine expedition-style exploration, from guided diving and snorkeling to remote island excursions. Palau isn’t about ticking off landmarks or following trends; it’s about slowing down, immersing yourself in nature, and recognizing the responsibility that comes with visiting fragile ecosystems. This journey will explore how luxury travel can evolve into something more thoughtful, educational, and purposeful—without sacrificing comfort or service—and why destinations like Palau are increasingly important in shaping the future of high-end travel.
2. Exploring the Galapagos Islands
I’ve been dreaming about taking a trip to the Galápagos archipelago since a long time, and I hope this dream will finally come true in 2026. The Galapagos Islands, situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 km (600 mi) from the Ecuadorian coast, remained a closely-guarded natural secret for millions of years. This archipelago and its immense marine reserve is known as the unique ‘living museum and showcase of evolution’. Its geographical location at the confluence of three ocean currents makes it one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. Ongoing seismic and volcanic activity reflects the processes that formed the islands. These processes, together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual plant and animal life – such as marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, giant tortoises, huge cacti, endemic trees and the many different subspecies of mockingbirds and finches – all of which inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection following his visit in 1835. I’ll divide my time in the Galapagos between a stay at a luxury hotel (Finch Bay) and a cruise on a private yacht (La Pinta), but I’ll also combine my Galapagos holiday with a few nights on Ecuador’s mainland, more precisely in the capital city (where I’ll stay at the historic Casa Gangotena Hotel) and the nearby cloud forest, which is home to Ecuador’s most exclusive hotel, Mashpi Lodge.
1. A Return Trip to the Maldives
No year of travel feels complete without a return to the Maldives, a destination that continues to redefine the very idea of barefoot luxury, castaway escapism, and refined indulgence in harmony with nature. Even after many visits, the Maldives retains a rare ability to feel timeless and endlessly inspiring, thanks to its luminous lagoons, overwater architecture, and constant evolution at the highest end of hospitality. In 2026, I’ll be revisiting two standout resorts that each represent a distinct yet equally compelling interpretation of Maldivian excellence. At Soneva Jani, I’ll once again immerse myself in a philosophy rooted in sustainability, privacy, and imaginative design, where vast overwater villas feature retractable roofs, private slides into the lagoon, and an emphasis on experiential dining that turns every meal into a story. In contrast, my first visit to Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi will showcase a more polished and contemporary vision of luxury, spread across a sprawling private island with impeccably designed villas, an impressive collection of dining concepts, and a level of service defined by precision and consistency.
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