Passport Newsletter is the original and most respected luxury travel newsletter in the U.S. We've spent 46 years informing experienced travelers about the best and latest hotels, restaurants, sights, and destinations. Learn more about us.
What does "traveling well" mean today?
Options. Customization. Flexibility. Individual fit. The concept of luxury travel is coming a little unstrung ... veering toward "de"-luxe, if you will. High standards, yes; high prices, possibly; and priority on traveling style that is understated, unpretentious, and rich in experience.
When it comes to a definition, "traveling well" can change with every trip, because each has its own purpose. Passport Newsletter adapts to these shifts and keeps your travel planning on the mark, even when that's a moving target.
Where are the hottest destinations right now?
We could say "Eastern Europe," which is what so many travel publications say right now; but really, how can a one-size-fits-all answer apply to something as personal as your own travel and world discovery? The truth about what's hot right now is this: It depends. What do you feel like doing?
For some, no matter how appealing the exotic may sound, returning to old favorites is irresistible. If that sounds like you, put a new slant on London, Paris or Rome (or wherever you like to return again and again), by adding non-mainstream sights to your repertoire. Instead of the British Museum, venture over to the more controversial Saatchi Gallery. Rather than dining in your five-star hotel, test the talents of a gifted young chef at a small Parisian restaurant such as Frenchie. If you don't really need another pair of Italian leather boots, skip the designer boutiques in Rome and shop for English-language books about Italy ranging from fine editions to out-of-print used volumes, none of which you're likely to find back home.
You might choose inspiration for your next remote adventure from one of our recent reports; for example, visiting the orang-utans of Sabah in Borneo and road-tripping through Rajasthan. Or dig into our archives to collect information about the land of meerkats, Madagascar, or off-the-beaten-path, ancient cities along the Yesilirmak River in Turkey.
You might find your personal hottest picks by squeezing in a diversion. Explore new destinations in the midst of longer trips. For example, from Barcelona make a quick visit to Terrassa in Catalonia; with more time you might fly from Beijing into the central Shanxi province to see Pingyao, a time-machine back to the Qing dynasty. Or if you're traveling within the U.S., route yourself through Phoenix after your next business trip for a few days of sun, golf, and me-time at the better resorts of the Sonoran desert.
Travel planning starts with intelligent choices
Those who know Passport wouldn't think of planning a trip without consulting our past reviews and advice. Other travel resources may offer you hundreds or thousands of choices ... but honestly, how helpful is it to sort your way through an avalanche of information, of which only a small portion applies to you and your lifestyle?
Passport is created fresh every month by a seasoned group of travel experts who present a restrained number of insightful, vetted, and carefully edited dining options, hotel recommendations, shopping suggestions and destination tips. We report only that which experienced, affluent travelers are interested in reading. It's the sort of advice your best friend would give you, if your best friend happened to live in Brussels, Buenos Aires, or Bangkok.
Give Passport a try and see for yourself. Here's why: You'll receive intelligent travel options you won't find anywhere else; your friends will think you're a travel wiz; your trip planning will become even better than it is now; and your satisfaction with your subscription is absolutely guaranteed.
Passport Newsletter has been serving discerning and affluent travelers for 46 years. We never accept advertising or fees for the content we publish; we never try to sell you travel; and we never share your information with others. So you can trust our reports to be authentic and reliable. Put the expertise of our private, global network of seasoned travel correspondents to work for you today, and travel well.
In the March Issue
A peek into the March issue. Weddings in Uzbekistan are community events often lasting much longer than the wedding day. But on that day, processions through the streets, featuring the bride in a pouffy white meringue, rarely have fewer than 50 participants, even when the marriage is "arranged." It's just one facet of an Uzbek culture that has lived behind a veil for decades.
Why visit Uzbekistan? Because it is new on the travel circuit, meaning it has yet to draw tourist crowds or drive its lodging and restaurant prices into the stratosphere. To offset the absence of five-star hotels and Michelin-rated dining, there is a very good chance you'll be nearly alone to savor significant historic sites and major museums at your leisure. These are important sites that, in any developed country, would come with a velvet rope maze to manage the waiting line and a mid-double-digit admission price. All that may lie in Uzbekistan's future; but for the moment, if you're interested in experiencing a country and its cultural roots in an unvarnished state — now's the time. Read more about how to do it in Passport Newsletter.
Also in March. Dining in Normandy; active, outdoor touring from Vancouver to Whistler and back; going back to New Orleans; new hotel finds in San Francisco; the Northern Territories at Darwin, Australia; exploring Uzbekistan from Khiva to Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent; discovering Katowice, Poland, just beyond Krakow; assessing Maldives resorts; and an update of options in London and Rome.
Today’s Glimpse
Mazatlan(From our Mexico archive)
For almost a century, the beautiful stretch of beach north of the port of Mazatlán has attracted vacationers, especially sport-fishing enthusiasts.
Today, Mazatlan ranks among the best of fishing hot spots, promising trophy-size catches of striped marlin, sailfi More.
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