The Secret Lives of Luxury Travelers

Latest Luxury Travel News

🐾 Bark Air Adds New Routes Between U.S. and Europe (Yes, It’s for Dogs)

Luxury dog airline Bark Air (link) is expanding its paw print. After a successful launch earlier this year, the pet-first carrier is adding new international routes, including Los Angeles–Paris and New York–Milan. The airline promises white-glove service, pup-sized treats, and no cargo holds, just window views and plush beds. Humans can come too... as long as they behave. T+L

🏙️ Rosewood to Open Ultra-Luxury Hotel in Dubai’s Business Bay

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts (link) is set to open its first Dubai property in 2028, bringing its signature brand of understated elegance to the city’s Business Bay district. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the waterfront tower will feature 150 rooms, luxury residences, and panoramic views of the Burj Khalifa. Expect wellness, art, and a serious statement. LUXURY DAILY (Paywall)

🖼️ 3 Hot List Hotels Where Design Is the Destination

These newly opened properties don’t just reflect their surroundings, they elevate them.

• The Manner, NYC: Maximalist and moody, with red lacquer walls, sculptural fireplaces, and Soho’s fashion pulse built into every detail.

• Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Costa Rica: A luxe jungle retreat infused with Guanacaste hacienda architecture and Sabanero-inspired artisan design.

• The Emory, London: The city’s first all-suite hotel, designed floor-by-floor by six world-renowned designers, with art-gallery vibes and Hyde Park views.

These hotels don’t blend in; they belong. CNTRAVELER

🖋 From the Editor

7 Rituals of Exceptionally Well-Traveled People

These aren’t tips. They’re tells. Subtle, unspoken signals that someone doesn’t just travel often, they travel well.

1. They fly left. Always.

Left side of the plane. Front of the cabin. It’s not superstition; it’s sunlight, sleep angles, and a lifetime of testing where the views are best. (Hint: it’s usually seat 2A.)

2. They book hotels by the GM, not the brand.

Because seasoned travelers know that five stars don’t shine without strong leadership. They follow the people behind the property, not just the name on the door.

3. They don’t schedule everything. They protect one day.

In every itinerary, there’s a blank page. A “let’s see where the afternoon takes us” buffer that no concierge can predict and no app can replicate.

4. They don’t ask concierges what’s good. They ask, “Where do you go with your friends?”

And that one line separates the tourist from the guest. Because real travelers don’t want top-10 lists. They want secrets.

5. They know which dish reveals everything.

Whether it’s pho in Hanoi or ceviche in San José, they have a go-to litmus test. One local plate that tells them if the kitchen’s worth staying for.

6. They never eat hotel breakfast… unless it’s legendary.

Fluffy eggs and ocean views don’t cut it. They want craft, context, and a reason to linger. If it’s not exceptional, they’re already at the local bakery down the street.

7. They trust someone who knows them better than Google does.

Behind every great traveler is a great travel advisor. The kind who can reroute a trip mid-flight or land a room that’s supposedly sold out. Some things, algorithms still can’t touch.

📘 The Video Savvy Guide to Costa Rica

Costa Rica isn’t for checklist travelers.

It’s for the ones who crave balance, the kind you find between jungle silence and gourmet tasting menus, volcano hikes and spa rituals, raw beaches; and five-star villas tucked quietly into the hillside.

In this week’s Savvy Traveler Video Guide, we take you across one of the world’s most versatile luxury destinations, a place where discerning travelers come not just to unplug, but to reset.

You’ll discover:

• The most refined regions of Costa Rica, where natural beauty meets curated comfort

• Adventure experiences designed for people who want adrenaline with intention, from ziplining through cloud forests to private wildlife safaris

• And yes, cultural stops that go far beyond tourist trails

Watch now: Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica
A country that rewards the well-traveled and welcomes the ones who’ve outgrown the ordinary.

Global Events | August - September 2025

Extraordinary moments. Unforgettable settings.

🎾 US Open – New York City
📅 August 24 – September 7
There’s nothing like watching Grand Slam tennis live. You don’t have to be an expert, the energy is electric, the drama is real, and the world’s best are all fighting for the final major of the season.
Why go:
• Two matches a day, midday and night
• Final chance to see tennis at its highest level in 2025
• New York in early fall = perfect
Want to go? Tell us when and where you’d like to sit, we’ll help you get great seats without losing your mind (or your wallet).

🎤 Coldplay – Wembley Stadium, London
📅 August 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31 + September 3, 4, 7, 8
Still dreaming about their tour? This is it, the last stretch of Coldplay’s massive world tour. 10 final nights at Wembley, and then… who knows? Take the chance to see them where music history is made, and make a little of your own.

🦅 The Eagles – The Sphere, Las Vegas
📅 Sept 5–6, 12–13 • Oct 3–4, 10–11, 31 • Nov 1, 7–8
Want to see the newest entertainment venue on Earth while listening to one of the greatest rock bands of all time? The Eagles take over The Sphere every Friday and Saturday this fall. Classic hits. Mind-blowing visuals. Vegas-level everything.

→ Write us. We’ll handle the rest.

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