Happy Sunday, Grand Voyagers!
Welcome back and Happy New Year! I've missed you all during the holiday break, and I'm genuinely buzzing with excitement about what 2026 has in store.
What I've been up to…
Planning a few trips for clients to Latin America's largest art fair Zona Maco in Mexico City where Fora is the exclusive travel partner
Getting my 2026 travel calendar in order - places I'm looking to hit: New Zealand, South Africa, the Arctic, and a month in Europe before the summer crowds hit 🙌
Rebranding this here newsletter and my travel advisory to Transported… new logos and website forthcoming!
Continuing post production on our streaming series Grand Voyages while launching new slow cruising videos each Saturday to kick back with 🚢
🎬 SLOW CRUISING TV
If you've been contemplating sailing the Norwegian Fjords, check this one out and let it run in the background while you're going about your day.
2026: YOUR MONTH-BY-MONTH TRAVEL BLUEPRINT
One of my brilliant Fora colleagues, Janine Yu, put together a comprehensive guide to planning your entire year of travel — and I've been obsessing over it since it landed in my inbox.
Here's What Caught My Eye:
February: The Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina! If you haven't secured tickets yet, now's the time. Pair it with a stay at the stunning new Aman Rosa Alpina in the Dolomites — absolute showstopper of a property.
August: The total solar eclipse on August 12th is going to be massive. Hotels in Mallorca are already booking up fast — Jumeirah Mallorca is set on a clifftop with prime viewing. For something more remote, Eleven Deplar Farm in Iceland offers an otherworldly backdrop.
November: Saudi Arabia's Dream of the Desert train launches — a one-to-three-night rail journey across the Arabian desert in sheer opulence. Starting at around $800 per cabin per night, it's surprisingly accessible for what you get.
Strategic Insight: The guide reinforced something I've been telling clients for years — the best travel experiences require advance planning. Events like the Olympics and the solar eclipse? Those rooms are disappearing fast.
ICELAND FEVER: WHY EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT IT
I'll be honest — I can't scroll through my travel advisor feeds without seeing Iceland mentioned at least a dozen times. And for good reason! Between the 2026 solar eclipse visibility and the sheer otherworldly beauty of the place, it's having a major moment.
My Top Recommendation: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon. Full stop. This property consistently blows my clients away, but here's the reality check — it sells out. Fast. My advice? Reserve now, think later. Seriously. You can always adjust dates, but securing availability is half the battle.
The Ring Road Experience: I've done the complete Ring Road trip myself, and it remains one of my all-time favorite travel experiences. The diversity of landscapes you encounter in a single country is genuinely mind-blowing — glaciers, volcanic beaches, geothermal fields, waterfalls that seem to appear around every bend.
What This Means For You: If Iceland is calling your name, get in touch and let's chat about specific itineraries. I have strong opinions about which stops are worth lingering at and which are better as quick photo ops.
JAPAN TIMING: THE FEBRUARY SECRET
Here's something I've been advising clients on lately that feels almost counterintuitive: consider a February Japan trip instead of waiting for cherry blossom season.
The Reality Check: Everyone wants sakura season (late March through early April), and I get it — it's magical. But it's also crowded beyond belief and hotel rates skyrocket. February gives you a completely different experience: crisp winter landscapes, far fewer tourists, and the ability to actually enjoy the places you're visiting without fighting through crowds.
The Properties I'm Excited About:
Park Hyatt Tokyo just reopened after renovations, and I'm genuinely dying to get there myself. If you've seen Lost in Translation, you know the vibe — sophisticated, atmospheric, those jaw-dropping views over Shinjuku. We have a fantastic Hyatt partnership, which means excellent perks for bookings. Honestly? I'd love to book one of you and live vicariously in the meantime. 😉
Palace Hotel Tokyo is my other top Tokyo recommendation right now. Absolutely stunning property with views over the Imperial Palace gardens. There's a serenity to it that feels rare in such a bustling city.
Strategic Insight: December is actually peak fall foliage season in parts of Japan (I know, wild right?), so if you're flexible on timing, there are windows throughout the year that deliver incredible experiences without the premium pricing.
ITALY... AGAIN! 15 WAYS TO FALL IN LOVE
Do I really need to convince you about Italy? I didn't think so.
The Sunday Times just published a brilliant roundup of 15 "out of the box" Italian trips for 2026, and some of these genuinely surprised me — in the best way.
What Caught My Attention:
La Dolce Vita Orient Express: A five-day Grand Tour from Rome hitting Venice, Matera, Taormina, and Palermo. Yes, it's £14,500pp, but this is train travel elevated to an art form, with design by Dimore Studio and catering by Heinz Beck.
Lago d'Orta: The article calls it "a kind of Como in miniature — and infinitely lovelier." Milanese weekenders have kept this one under wraps, but the secret's getting out. Fewer crowds, same stunning northern lakes magic.
The Pontine Islands: These tiny dots in the Tyrrhenian Sea are where classy Romans escape. Think raw, trippy magic — apparently where Odysseus was bewitched by Circe. Now that's a conversation starter.
Cycling Southeast Sicily: The baroque Val di Noto, Montalbano filming locations, ancient Aztec chocolate recipes in Modica. I mean, come on.
The Takeaway: Italy isn't a "one and done" destination. As the article's author says, it requires "a whole lifetime of exploration." I couldn't agree more.
And that's a wrap for the Grand Voyages newsletter in 2025! Thank you all for being a part of our community and reading each week (and sending me the loveliest notes).
Please forward this to a friend or family member who might enjoy reading my bi-weekly missives in 2026….
Lots of love,
Stacey