Editor’s Note: Passport will be on vacation next week. The newsletter will return tan, rested and ready on June 19.
A Wave Of Luxury Hotel Brands Is Coming To The Maldives
Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives
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The Maldives set a tourism record in 2025, welcoming 2.2 million visitors, but there’s still room for more. Or there will be soon—as several luxury hotel brands are building resorts in the South Asian archipelago. Bulgari, Mandarin Oriental and Mondrian are expected to open hotels later this year, with Nobu, Baccarat, Rosewood, Aman and more arriving in 2027 and beyond. Here’s everything you need to know about the new luxury resorts coming to the Maldives.
Inside The World’s Most Exclusive Train Journeys
While Rovos Rail is a known name, particularly the South African journey, their secret ‘Copper Trail’ traverse is a different beast entirely.
Rovos Copper Trail 5
As train travel continues to surge—particularly with younger travelers—high-net-worth individuals are seeking a quieter track. The most coveted rail journeys have lottery booking systems with years-long odds of success, accept just a few dozen passengers per departure, and operate almost entirely by word of mouth. Here’s what you need to know about the world’s most exclusive train journeys.
The 10 Best Beaches In America 2026
Wailea Beach is known for its golden sand, clear water and a shoreline protected from overdevelopment.
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What are the best beaches in America for 2026? Dr. Beach (aka Dr. Stephen Leatherman, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environment at Florida International University) has been ranking the country’s top coastlines since 1991—and recently released his annual list of the top 10 beaches in the U.S. Hawaii’s Poipu Beach in Kauai took top honors this year, with two Florida beaches—St. Andrews State Park in Panama City and Caladesi State Park near Clearwater—rounding out the top three.
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Travel Wise
Budapest, Hungary, ranks as the third most walkable city in the world in GuruWalk’s 2026 report.
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For many travelers, the best way to experience a city is to walk it. A new survey recently ranked the 30 most walkable cities in the world based on nearly 500,000 verified traveler reviews from 3,600 walking tours across more than 800 cities—and Europe is home to most of them. Rome was No. 1 for 2026, with Madrid coming in second and Budapest ranking third.
5 Underrated Summer Road Trips For 2026
The road trip between Utah’s national parks is one to remember, featuring desert landscapes filled with unique features, like tunneled arches.
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With Route 66 celebrating its 100th birthday, America’s Highway may be a little busier than usual this summer. But the country has plenty of other scenic drives. From coastal Maine to the Oregon Coast Highway, here are five underrated summer road trips.
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