Everything That's Fresh & Exciting In Travel Right Now

THE CAMPAIGN

Rimowa – For A Lifetime of Lives

German luggage house Rimowa has unveiled a cinematic campaign titled For a Lifetime of Lives, exploring the emotional connection people develop with the objects that travel alongside them. Directed by Argentinian filmmaking trio Pantera, the three-part series follows a single aluminium Rimowa case as it passes between generations of musicians, tracing the dents, stickers and wear that accumulate over time. Rather than pristine perfection, the campaign leans into the idea that great luggage should age well, collecting stories, scratches and character along the way.

Visit Rimowa.com

THE MUSEUM

M24, Le Mans, France

Opening just ahead of this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, M24 is being billed as the most ambitious motorsport museum in the world. Four years in the making, it is the result of a collaboration between the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille. As well as Le Mans, Formula One, IndyCar, rallying, endurance racing and motorcycling all feature, with immersive displays designed to feel more like stepping into race weekend than walking through a traditional museum. More than 100 vehicles are on display – all kept in running order – including the Bentley 3L, Porsche 917 LH, Mazda 787B and Schumacher’s Ferrari F2002. There’s also a dedicated restoration workshop, a hall honouring legends from Ayrton Senna to Michèle Mouton, and thousands of scale models documenting every Le Mans entry since 1923.

Visit M24-Musee.com

THE NORTH AMERICAN OPENING

Amanvari, Mexico

Aman’s first property in Mexico opens this August on Baja’s East Cape, bringing the group’s unparallelled sense of luxury to the shores of the Sea of Cortez. Set within the Costa Palmas community, Amanvari will comprise just 18 casitas, each designed to blur the line between indoors and out with private heated pools, expansive terraces and uninterrupted views across desert, estuary and ocean. Architecture studio Elastic has taken cues from the surrounding landscape, where towering cardón cacti, palms and red copal trees frame the resort. Activities outside the hotel will range from reef diving at Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park to horseback rides through the desert, and private fishing expeditions on the Sea of Cortez. Though we wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want to leave the Aman spa or beachfront.

Visit Aman.com

THE EUROPEAN OPENING

The Manor, Amsterdam

Set inside a 19th-century former hospital in Amsterdam-Oost, The Manor Amsterdam is one of the smartest new stays in the city. The landmark building has been carefully restored, retaining original staircases and period features while introducing a more contemporary feel. The 125-room property balances these heritage details with understated modern interiors, while its location places guests within easy reach of Amsterdam’s markets, galleries and restaurant scene. Italian restaurant Pepe Nero anchors the ground floor, serving classic dishes ranging from cacio e pepe to slow-braised veal cheek. Elsewhere, there’s a gym and a 24-hour self-service market stocked with snacks, wine and coffee.

Visit LeonardoHotels.com

THE CYCLING DESTINATION

Andermatt

Deep in the Swiss Alps, Andermatt offers access to eight of Europe’s great cycling climbs. Amid the sort of terrain usually reserved for Tour de Suisse highlights – picture long alpine switchbacks, high-altitude roads and near-constant mountain views – the Gotthard, Furka and Grimsel passes are all within riding distance. No wonder the town is now positioning itself as a fully fledged cycling hub. Hotels including The Chedi and Radisson Blu Reussen cater directly to riders, while this summer sees the opening of a BMC Showroom & Test Centre offering bike fitting, guided rides and performance rentals.

Visit SwissCycologyTours.com

THE ITINERARY

Orient Express Grand Italian Tours, Italy

For summer 2026, La Dolce Vita Orient Express has launched a series of Grand Italian Tours combining luxury rail travel with stays aboard its trains and the new Orient Express Corinthian sailing yacht – plus overnight stops in Rome and Venice. The itineraries move between destinations including Venice, Marseille, Dubrovnik and Valletta, pairing slow travel with high-end hospitality. Interiors on the train – designed by Milan-based studio Dimorestudio – draw heavily on the glamour of post-war Italian design, while onboard dining is overseen by chef Heinz Beck. The Corinthian – which is the world’s largest sailing yacht – features 54 suites, a Guerlain Spa and culinary direction from Yannick Alléno. All itineraries include a dedicated destination experience, such as a private visit to a Sienese palazzo, a dinner in the Gardens of Augustus in Capri, a truffle hunt in the forests of Istria or an evening at the Palais Bulles in Cannes.

Visit Orient-Express.com

THE WELLNESS CONCEPT

The Benissimo Club, Italy

Italy’s Pellicano Hotels has unveiled The Benissimo Club, a wellness concept rolling out across its three properties: Hotel Il Pellicano, La Posta Vecchia and Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa. Rather than focusing purely on spa treatments, the initiative takes a broader approach to wellbeing, incorporating movement, nature, nutrition and slower living into the experience. For example, guests can access curated hiking routes, paddle boards, e-bikes and outdoor swimming experiences intended to connect wellness more closely to the surrounding landscapes.

Visit IssimoIssimo.com

THE LA OPENING

PUBLIC West Hollywood, LA

Hotelier Ian Schrager returns to Los Angeles this summer with the launch of PUBLIC West Hollywood, bringing his cult-favourite hospitality brand to the Sunset Strip for the first time. Designed in collaboration with British architect John Pawson, the 137-room property continues Schrager’s long-running vision of ‘luxury for all’, pairing high design with a more democratic atmosphere. Interiors will centre around a large social lobby, destination restaurants and nightlife spaces, while the standout feature is a rooftop terrace overlooking Los Angeles. The opening marks Schrager’s third major hotel project in the city, and arrives nearly 50 years after the cultural impact of New York’s Studio 54 first established his reputation for shaping nightlife and hospitality culture.

Visit PublicHotels.com

THE COFFEE-TABLE BOOK

Pacific Islands

Part travelogue, part visual history, new Assouline book Pacific Islands highlights one of the world’s most remote and captivating regions through the lens of exploration, nature and culture. Inspired by Captain James Cook’s 18th-century voyages across the South Seas, the book retraces those routes while diving into the landscapes, biodiversity and traditions that continue to define the Pacific today. From volcanic terrain and dense rainforest to coral lagoons and isolated atolls, it captures the scale and variety of a region that still feels far removed from modern life – with a smattering of surf culture thrown in for good measure.

Visit Assouline.com

THE TECH COLLAB

Carl Friedrik x Sony

Sony has teamed up with Carl Friedrik for a limited-edition travel package that pairs its new 1000X headphones with the luggage brand’s Carry-on X suitcase. Designed around the idea of seamless travel, the collaboration combines Sony’s latest audio tech with the Carry-on X, an aluminium and German polycarbonate hard-shell case with a front pocket for laptops and travel documents. Inside, a modular compression system keeps everything organised without wasting space. The kits are available in either all-black or a platinum-and-tan combination.

Visit CarlFriedrik.com

THE GUIDEBOOKS

Wallpaper*

Twenty years after first launching its cult travel guides, Wallpaper* has returned with a revised collection covering four of the world’s most design-conscious cities: London, Milan, Paris and New York. Compact enough to slip into a jacket pocket, each guide has been curated by writers with on-the-ground knowledge of their city, focusing on the hotels, restaurants, galleries, bars and independent shops worth knowing about. As expected from Wallpaper*, the emphasis leans heavily towards architecture, interiors and contemporary culture, but there’s also plenty for anyone simply looking to eat, drink and stay well while travelling. Alongside city essentials, the guides include ideas for slower weekend diversions beyond the obvious tourist routes.

Visit Wallpaper.com

THE ISLAND OPENING

Casa Bonavita, Malta

After a meticulous seven-year restoration, Casa Bonavita has opened in the historic Maltese village of Attard. Created by Christopher and Suzanne Sharp – founders of The Rug Company – the 17-room property has been conceived less as a traditional hotel and more as an intimate private house layered with history, texture and character. Original architectural details sit alongside vintage family furniture, bespoke commissions and collaborations with Maltese artisans, including Villa Bologna and de Gournay. Outside, a sprawling Mediterranean garden filled with citrus trees, palms and bougainvillea softens the grandeur of the main house, while the restaurant from executive chef Dex Oseman focuses on ingredient-led Mediterranean cooking.

Visit CasaBonavita.com

Travel Notes: Summer 2026