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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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