If sources close to the hit HBO show are to be believed, The White Lotus is planning its next seven-night all-inclusive vacation in … France. The news has turned the spotlight firmly on the three Four Seasons properties in the country:  Hotel George V in Paris, Four Seasons Hotel Megève in the French Alps, and Four Seasons Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera.

Megève has emerged as an early fan favorite, with many intrigued by the fresh narrative potential an alpine setting could offer. Plenty have already commented that the French Riviera might feel too similar to season 2, which saw relationships unravel under the Sicilian sun, while a full season in Paris could feel a touch too urban.

​HBO hasn’t made an official comment, but it’s known that show writer and director Mike White isn’t a fan of cold climates, which casts some doubt on Megève. Still, it is worth remembering that the Alps are warm in summer, when the show is typically filmed.

​As for White himself, the only hint he has given about season 4 is that he wants “to get a little bit out of the crashing waves on rocks vernacular …”

​Given that, the odds might not favor Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, perched above waves crashing into the jagged coastline of the billionaire-friendly Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. That said, the property remains one of the most exclusive in the country—checks all the classic White Lotus boxes.

​The swimming pool is sublime, set against the blues of the Mediterranean Sea. The on-site restaurants include the Michelin-starred Le Cap (and we all know how much the White Lotus guests love to dine at their hotel hotel), and a scattering of ultra-private villas across the grounds are practically made for bad—or at least naughty—things to happen.

But, if there’s one destination made for The White Lotus, surely it’s the original “sunny place for shady people”? British writer W. Somerset Maugham’s famous description of the French Riviera could sum up the show’s entire premise in those six words.

​As a French Riviera resident, who calls the village of Villefranche-sur-Mer, just across the bay from the Grand Hôtel du Cap Ferrat, home, I’d argue it would be a crime—a creative homicide, if you will—if at least one season weren’t filmed here.

This stretch of coast continues to serve as the original playground for the rich and famous, even as other destinations compete for the same clientele.

​Whatever theme White chooses to explore this season—be it wealth and class in Hawaii (season 1), sex and betrayal in Italy (season 2), or death and spirituality in Thailand (season 3)—the French Riviera already offers a hedonistic backdrop to build upon: champagne-soaked parties at La Guerite, the A-List beach club of choice only accessible by boat on the Île Sainte-Marguerite off Cannes; the helicopter rides from Cap Ferrat for nights out at Les Caves du Roy in Saint-Tropez; and supercar chases along the three stacked corniche roads that twist between Nice and Monaco.

​White has already shown that he’s quite partial to a scene or two on a superyacht, too.

​All this, juxtaposed against the insane colors and charm of villages like mine, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and nearby Eze-sur-Mer, perched precariously on a cliff above the Mediterranean. These sun-drenched spots, whose light has inspired artists for generations, would no doubt shine even more brightly under White’s cinematic touch.

​Wherever in France the next season lands (if it does at all), the speculation is half the fun. Online forums like Reddit are already casting dream roles—Eva Green or Audrey Tautou as the hotel manager, Vincent Cassel as the brooding gangster boyfriend.

Personally, my top choice would be Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, who steals every scene as Sylvie in Emily in Paris. She’s already stayed at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, too … the Emily in Paris cast and crew took over the hotel during the COVID-19 pandemic to film scenes from their jaunt south in season 2.

Here’s hoping a new film crew shuts it down next summer—and give those of us who live here a season to remember.

Ski and snowboard season is just around the corner, and Ikon Pass is making it even easier to plan a snowy European getaway with five new mountains added to its lineup. 

Holders of the popular pass will now have access to five new mountains within the Valle d’Aosta region of the Italian Alps for the winter 2025/2026 season, Ikon shared with Travel + Leisure. These include Courmayeur Mont Blanc, Cervino Ski Paradise, La Thuile Espace San Bernardo, Monterosa Ski, and Pila.

“This partnership opens the door to U.S. skiers and riders, offering the opportunity to discover the breathtaking scenery and exceptional winter experiences that make Valle d’Aosta a true hidden gem of the Alps,” Danilo Chatrian, the general director of Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie and a project representative in Valle d’Aosta, said in a statement shared with T+L. “From iconic peaks and world-class skiing to gourmet cuisine and authentic alpine charm, we are thrilled to share the unique spirit of our special region in Italy with a wider global audience.”

During the season, Ikon Pass holders will have access to a combined seven days between the five resorts. And here’s the best news: there are no blackout dates.

Skiers and riders who hold an Ikon Base Pass will have access to five days combined. Valle d’Aosta is not available on the Ikon Session Pass.

As an added bonus, travelers exploring the mountains in Valle d’Aosta can even ski in two different countries with the ability to head to Zermatt Matterhorn in Switzerland from Italy’s Cervino Ski Paradise. 

Erik Forsell, the chief marketing officer of the Alterra Mountain Company, which owns the Ikon Pass, said the new access will allow travelers to explore “the special mountain culture of the Alps.”

Overall, the Ikon Pass now includes 63 mountain destinations across 11 countries on five continents. Beyond Italy, the Ikon Pass allows skiers and riders to explore resorts in several other European countries, including Andorra, Austria, France, and Switzerland.

In North America, pass holders can ski in 17 states in the United States and four Canadian provinces.

The Ikon Pass is currently on sale for $1,429 and includes extra perks like 25 percent off the window price of lift tickets for friends and family, up to 15 percent off food, beverages, and retail at select mountains, and discounts on popular ski brands like The North Face, Blenders, and more.

The Ikon Base Pass is currently on sale for $1,009, while the four-day Ikon Session Pass is on sale for $489.

If you’re looking for a little more happiness in your life, consider moving to Denmark, home to the happiest city on the planet.

Each year, the Institute for Quality of Life releases its Happy City index, ranking cities “committed to cultivating and growing happiness” based on factors such as education, inclusive policies, the economy, environmental protection, and access to green areas. Overall, the organization looks at 82 different indicators of joy, including individual interviews with residents in cities across the globe. 

And this year’s list is topped by Copenhagen. According to the findings, the Danish capital ranks high thanks to its “commitment to education and innovation,” as well as its transparency in governance, sustainability, and access to health care. 

“Health and well-being are cornerstones of life in Copenhagen,” the report noted. “The city boasts universal health care coverage, with every resident insured and access to 4.4 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants. Life expectancy stands at 79.9 years, supported by a well-balanced lifestyle that includes an average workweek of 37 hours.”

Zurich, Switzerland, was second, followed by Singapore. Another Danish city, Aarhus, which topped the ranking in 2024, is fourth, and Antwerp, Belgium, is fifth. Denmark, which was named the second-happiest country in the world earlier this year after Finland, has seven cities in the top 50 alone.

The highest-ranking U.S. cities on this year’s list are New York, which came in at No. 17, and Minneapolis, which is 30th.

However, the Institute for Quality of Life notes, “If there’s one takeaway from our extensive research, it’s this: no single city can be labelled as the absolute best at ensuring the happiness of its citizens over the long haul […] At best, we might highlight cities for specific achievements or improvements in a given year. But that’s not our main goal. We’re all about uncovering and celebrating positive trends that boost happiness around the world.” 

See the full rankings and details of each city at happy-city-index.com. 

Getting to Mallorca, Spain’s new Son Xotano hotel isn’t easy. The hotel’s sign is small, the right-hand turn down the dirt road is nondescript, and the quiet lane could make you think you’re driving to the middle of nowhere.

Nestled right in the middle of the largest Baleriac island, Son Xotano is surrounded by rustling olive trees, the hum of cicadas, and the distant bleating of goats on the other side of its stone walls. I was greeted in the courtyard by the hotel’s attentive staff with a cool towel and a glass of lemon-infused water, the perfect remedies for a 100-degree day under the Spanish sun. At Son Xotano, luxury isn’t measured in formality, but in thoughtfulness.

Check-in was a breeze, as was the quick walk to my room, number 14, tucked near the reception. While the oversized bed and the massive bathroom stocked with Aesop products were a welcome sight, I wasn’t planning to stay inside for too long. I changed into my bathing suit and headed to the hotel’s glittering blue pool, surrounded by day beds and a lush green lawn.

Here, my husband and I soaked in the rays, nibbling on delicious snacks and plotting out the rest of our long weekend on the island. Meanwhile, it seemed other hotel guests were content to just keep their noses in their novels and relax in the shade of the palm trees.

Son Xotano’s central location makes it ideal for exploring: you can reach any corner of the island in no more than 45 minutes. Palma, the largest city in the Balearic Islands, is a 20-minute drive. Towns like Deià, popular among creative crowds, and the historic port city of Alcúdia, with its medieval houses and beautiful white-sand beach, are slightly farther.

While my husband and I enjoyed exploring, each day, we rushed back for dinner. The menu, crafted by chef José María Borrás, offers dishes deeply tied to Mallorca’s seasons.

“I don’t have a garden. Mallorca is the garden,” Borrás tells me, noting he uses as many of the island’s products as possible before he even considers importing goods. He wants to encourage guests to slow down and savor every ingredient. “It’s not just about the quality, which is already high, it’s telling the story of the terroir and the people who are growing and creating these products in each bite.”

My favorite meal—local langoustines with homemade pasta and a salad prepared with plump Mallorcan blackberries and other ingredients sourced from the farmers’ market down the road—gave me a sense of place in every bite. 

And that’s what makes Son Xotano a singular destination. It’s small and out of the way, but it tells the story of Mallorca. Its roots can be traced back to the island’s Islamic period between the 10th and 13th centuries. The land changed hands a few times, serving as a fully operational farm, a vineyard, and even a horse-breeding estate. Here, my review of its latest chapter, as a meticulously restored 20-room boutique hotel.

The Rooms

Son Xotano has 20 guest rooms and suites, ensuring privacy and an intimate vibe. The accommodations are spread throughout the property, in the main house and smaller stone buildings that served as stables and storage.

Each room and suite features natural stone walls, exposed pine beams, and tiles in neutral shades, all crafted by Mallorcan artisans. Some of the rooms open to private gardens that come with outdoor furnishings, while others have terraces giving guests eyeline views of the palm trees. The suites offer more expansive living areas, along with deep soaking tubs. The decor epitomizes understated luxury, offering a stylish sense of serenity that’s perfect for a remote destination like this.

Food and Drink

Dining at Son Xotano was the highlight of my stay. The hotel’s restaurant, nestled among olive and cypress trees, embodies a kilómetro cero philosophy, which promotes sourcing ingredients from local producers whenever possible. Meals here begin with warm bread served with two kinds of butter and olive oil, followed by decadent salads with goat cheese, local blackberries, and greens galore. Then, guests can choose from a variety of main dishes.

I opted for pasta with local langoustine, while my husband dined on roast chicken over a fragrant bed of olive leaves. Then, we finished it all off the only way you should in Mallorca—with ensaimada. The spiral bun, made from flour, water, sugar, and eggs, and topped with a generous dusting of sugar, has been a local staple for hundreds of years. Guests can also pair it with a sommelier-recommended local wine.

Activities and Experiences

At Son Xotano, many guests choose to lounge in their private gardens or terraces, or on one of the oversized daybeds by the pool. But if they do want to venture out, the hotel offers a small menu of experiences to help guests connect with Mallorca’s quieter side.

For active travelers, the team can set up guided hikes that lead through the island’s diverse landscapes, from its pine forests to coastal cliffs. Other options include guided cycling on routes that meander through country roads, along with horseback rides through Mallorca that also honor the hotel’s equestrian past.

However, Mallorca being an island, the main draw remains the water. Guests can hop aboard a private boat tour and explore some of its most picturesque coves. We chose a sunset cruise, which offered the ideal blend of views and fun as we got to jump off and go for a swim at a small cove.

Culture seekers can also experience curated excursions to historic sites and artisan studios, such as shopping for glassworks at Gordiola and a visit to the Can Vivot manor house.

The Spa

Son Xotano doesn’t have a dedicated spa, but guests can book in-room massages. They can also opt to enjoy a treatment outdoors, beneath the olive trees in the garden, as the Mediterranean breeze blows through while they relax.

Family-Friendly Offerings

Son Xotano is an adults-only hotel, designed for quiet reflection. It welcomes guests aged 16 or older.

Accessiblity and Sustainability

Son Xotano is housed within a centuries-old estate, meaning accessibility comes with limitations. One room has been adapted for guests with reduced mobility; however, all pathways connecting the various buildings are covered in loose gravel.

Sustainability is taken seriously at Son Xotano. The team implemented natural insulation techniques during its restoration, as well as cross-ventilation and traditional rainwater collection systems to lower the ecological burden of the hotel. Its outdoor areas are an example of xeriscape landscaping, with native, drought-tolerant plants and drip irrigation that reduce water use. The hotel also uses glass and metal containers and products with zero single-use plastics in sight. Its locally sourced dining ethos helps keep the restaurant’s carbon footprint low.

Location

Son Xotano is located at the heart of Mallorca’s countryside, about 25 minutes from Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI). A car is necessary if you wish to visit any of the beaches or the island’s small towns. Car rentals are affordable, with some costing as little as $20 per day. Uber is available, but rides can be quite expensive. The island also has a robust bus system for those who prefer to avoid driving.

Book Now

Son Xotano is part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Members of its I Prefer loyalty program receive complimentary Wi-Fi, room upgrades, early check-in, and exclusive rates when available.

Nightly rates at Son Xotano start from €350 ($380) during low season and €500 ($545) during high season.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.

When people think of Rio de Janeiro, they think of its beautiful beaches, bossa nova, and the famous cultural landmark Christ The Redeemer. There’s no doubt those are all major draws as a destination, but Rio also has something else going for it: it’s the best city in the world for hiking.

According to a new study from Sports Shoes, the seaside Brazilian city scored the best of 180 cities across the globe for hiking. The study evaluated the total number of hiking trails, their popularity, and the average review of the tails, based on data from AllTrails.

Rio de Janeiro has 334 hiking trails, with an overall “hikability score” of 100. The hiking trails offer a bit of everything: beach views, waterfalls, and mountain treks. With state and national parks, rainforest and beachfront trails, you could spend an entire week in the city without running out of new hiking options to explore.

According to AllTrails, these are the five most popular and best reviewed trails in Rio de Janeiro:

1. Vila do Abraão: An 8.4 mile out and back trail that takes roughly five hours to complete. It ends at Lopes Mendes Beach, which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil.

2. Corcovado Trail: The 6.2 mile trail is popular year-round and includes top attractions like Parque Lage, and views of Christ the Redeemer.

3. Pedra da Gávea: This 4.6 mile trail is considered to be pretty challenging, with options for hiking and rock climbing up cliff faces.

4. Trilha T13: A 6.1 mile trail is open year-round and offers views of Ilha Grande and Restinga da Marambaia on clear days.

5. Pão de Açúcar e Morro da Urca: This short 2.2 mile hiking trail offers views of Sugarloaf Mountain, and it is short though there’s plenty of obstacles as well making it slightly challenging.

For anyone planning on taking a trip to Rio, make sure to save some energy for the night, as it is considered one of the best cities for nightlife, too. As one of the most beautiful cities in South America with unforgettable Carnival celebrations, you’ll want to make sure you pack your best hiking boots and your most stylish sandals.

Fall is officially around the corner. Since the season is so fleeting—peak fall foliage tends to arrive one week and depart shortly thereafter—travelers have to make the most of the short period and plan their leaf-peeping trips accordingly. If you’re still figuring out where you want to take in all of the reds, yellows, and oranges in just a few weeks, Airbnb has a few data-backed suggestions.

On Sept. 3, the vacation rental company revealed that Vermont is the top-rated fall destination in the U.S. for fall foliage, according to guest reviews. This will likely come as no surprise to travelers who make their way to New England this time of year. Around 78 percent of Vermont is covered in forestland, and its trees include sugar maples, red maples, aspens, hickory, birch, and oak—all of which have leaves that turn color as the weather gets colder. 

Although you can see vibrant fall hues throughout the Green Mountain state, there is one spot in particular that stood out to Airbnb users: a tiny mirrored glass house in Warren, Vermont. This most-wishlisted listing “captures the spirit of fall,” according to Airbnb. The one-bed, one-bath rental was originally built in Estonia and then transported to the Green Mountains. 

While it’s only 200 square feet, you won’t feel too cramped—the mirrored glass walls are designed to give the “illusion of endless space and the sense that you’re one with nature.” Not only will you wake up to views in every direction each morning, but you’ll also get to soak in a hot tub, play corn hole, make s’mores, or read on the patio, all while being surrounded by gorgeous fall vistas. There are also plenty of hiking and biking trails in Roxbury State Forest, located directly behind the house. “It’s such a serene spot, and the views are fantastic … I highly recommend staying there in the fall, as we did. The foliage was incredible,” shared a past guest. 

Even though the tiny home is relatively remote, you’ll want to spend at least part of your trip exploring downtown Warren, stopping in the quaint Warren Store for coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. The town is also home to one of Vermont’s famous wooden covered bridges, the Warren Covered Bridge, which makes for an incredible photo op all year round.

If the tiny home is unavailable for your ideal dates—there are still some open dates in mid to late October, though—or you want to explore somewhere besides Vermont, consider Airbnb’s other fall travel suggestions. New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, and Minnesota followed Vermont as the top fall destinations for autumn colors.

This month I turned 41! In the heart of summer, I made a few quick visits around Europe, but kept things pretty low-key for the most part.

From rural Slovakia to urban Poland to suburban England, here are the best moments of August 2025!

Destinations Visited

• Prague, Czech Republic
• Poprad and Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia
• Warsaw and Piaseczno, Poland
• St. Albans and Watford, England

Highlights

A perfect birthday getaway to the High Tatras. After the big Croatian blowout for my 40th birthday last year, this year I wanted something quiet, in nature, accessible by train, with a nice hotel. And so Charlie and I went to the High Tatras, the stunning mountainous region of Slovakia!

We stayed at the Grand Kempinski High Tatras, a hotel I’ve wanted to stay at for years, which was SUCH a good place for a splurge. The biggest highlight was the hotel spa, which we visited every day. The indoor pool actually has three chandeliers hanging above it, and a glass window so you can see outside to all the people walking the path around the lake.

And it was a perfectly low-key trip. We hiked, we strolled, we ate garlic soup topped with cheese, and it was really nice having a chill itinerary without feeling pressured to do all the things.

I was fully prepared for the area to be overrun, as we were visiting on a weekend in early August. But it really wasn’t that bad! When hiking, we were solo 1/3 of the time, with a few others 1/3 of the time, and in a big crowd 1/3 of the time. I’d aim for a slightly more off-peak time in the future, though.

I absolutely loved this trip. It was so good that we are already talking about more trips like this we can do in the future: easy nature getaways with hiking and a good hotel with a spa. And hopefully a return to Štrbské Pleso and the High Tatras soon!

From Slovakia, I hopped on a bus and a train to Warsaw to see Kendrick Lamar and SZA for the second time this summer! The concert was fantastic, and it was different experiencing it from the floor. Overall, I think the Warsaw crowd was better than the Frankfurt crowd.

This was my first visit to Warsaw in many years, and I took a LOT of long walks around the city, seeing what it had to offer. And I happened to be there on inauguration day (in addition to being in Kraków on Election Day in June), and staying in accommodation right across the street from where the swearing-in took place. Oops.

And at the end of the month, we visited England for our friend’s annual bonfire party. It was a very brief visit, but we did spend a bit of time in St. Albans, a delightful suburb with a lovely downtown that I imagine is expensive as hell to live in. It’s like the London version of Lexington, Massachusetts, or New Canaan, Connecticut.

Fun times in Prague. Dinners with friends, a visit to Letná Beer Garden, and lots and lots of walks around the city….

Challenges

I got stung by a wasp for the first time since I was a kid. Fun times. It landed on my upper arm, got crushed against my body, and stung.

And there was the time I got caught in an epic rainstorm nowhere near stores that sold umbrellas…

Not a challenge, really, but living in a place as modern and nice as Prague kind of gets you used to it. Like the fact that the vast majority of public bathrooms in Prague take credit cards — just hold up your phone and scan your way in.

And it struck me upon arriving in Slovakia and Poland, even in malls, that you not only needed cash for public bathrooms, you needed coins. Kind of annoying when you’re in each country for only a few days and you don’t want to carry around a lot of change you’ll never end up spending…

What I Watched This Month

The Thursday Murder Club is a delightful new movie on Netflix. A cozy murder mystery set in an absolutely gorgeous retirement home, with four actors you adore starring as senior residents trying to solve a mystery and save their community. I really enjoyed it.

Also. I finally watched White Chicks. Yeah. It’s not bad if you don’t think too hard about it.

Below Deck update: After a few months off, Charlie and I got back into Below Deck! This month we watched Below Deck: Down Under Season 3, which actually takes place in the Seychelles. (And has convinced me not to visit the Seychelles in February or March, after seeing how much they suffered through the heat, humidity, and storms!)

As far as seasons go, it was…fine. Not one of the best. Captain Jason is such a good leader that it’s educational just watching him — but he seemed a bit removed from everything this time around. The cast were good, there were some villains. No horrific guests. It was fine.

What I Listened To This Month

I’m listening to all 500 of Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, which I am enjoying immensely. I am loving discovering new artists and listening to albums I’ve somehow missed my entire life until now!

In August, I listened to albums 284-250. I’m officially more than halfway! And to think — the ones I’ve listened to have been the WORSE half. How good is it going to get?!

Here are the highlights:

Favorite Discovery: The Hissing of Summer Lawns by Joni Mitchell. I am kicking myself for not getting into Joni Mitchell’s music at a younger age. She is TRANSCENDENT. And to think this is just the first of her several albums on the list!

I love how every song on this album is so detailed and unique, it would be enough for an entire album in its style — yet they’re all cohesive. Every song belongs on this album. And I can’t stop listening to them.

I also want to give a shoutout to Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves. I’ve never heard her music before, but I immediately became a huge fan of her pop-blended country with a liberal background. I love that this challenge has shown me country artists I really love, rather than dismissing the genre as a whole.

Other Favorite Discoveries: Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman, What’s the 411? by Mary J. Blige, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan, The Bends by Radiohead, Nillson Schmillson by Harry Nillson.

Favorite Revisited Album: The Diary of Alicia Keys by Alicia Keys. I listened to this album a TON in the early 2000s, and I think it’s one of the best R&B albums of its era. It is the perfect blend of strong songwriting, raw talent, and producers who understood how to shape this album to perfection. I still hum these songs to myself all the time.

Side note: revisiting this album made me look up Jermaine Paul, her backup singer on this album and her live Unplugged album, who honestly sang circles around her whenever possible (especially on the live version of “Diary” on Unplugged) and went on to win season two of The Voice. Turns out he’s now a pastor in Bridgeport, Connecticut?!

Favorite Songs: “The Rain” by Led Zeppelin, “Love is a Wild Thing” by Kacey Musgraves, “Amy” by Elton John, “21 Questions” by 50 Cent, “Edith and the Kingpin” by Joni Mitchell, “Girl from the North Country” by Bob Dylan.

Get the playlist: I’m creating a playlist of my favorite songs from the 500 albums — maximum one per album — on Spotify. You can listen to it here.

Lowlight of the Month: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! by Devo. Through this challenge I’ve learned that I do not care for new wave at all — if it’s pop- and punk-adjacent within five years of 1980, I hate it. But this album just annoyed the hell out of me, start to finish. I hated their voices, the music, the lyrics, everything.

Also, I was irked that Rolling Stone chose a four-album box set of Merle Haggard’s greatest hits for the list. Really, you can’t think of one of his regular albums that was better than the others? Putting a four-hour and forty-five-minute album on the list is taking the piss, for real.

And I had a seven-hour train ride that day, so I listened to the whole damn thing in one sitting. Kind of out of spite.

Random Music Thoughts: Both the Buzzcocks and the Pharcyde have a song called “Oh Shit.”

And all along I thought the Jackass theme song was something original created for the show. Turns out it’s the song “Corona” by Minutemen, whose album Double Nickels on the Dime was on the list this month.

What I Read This Month

I’ve felt a bit embarrassed that my reading fell off SO much in recent years. At first I said it was because I was working so hard on my New Hampshire site; from there it snowballed into “I’m doing too much.” But I’m trying to get back into it, for real for real.

Die with Zero: Getting All You Can From Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins (2020) — This book is very popular in personal finance forums, and I always seeing people refer to it, so I was glad to finally read it. The book encourages you to spend all your money while you’re still alive — and more importantly, to have the right experiences at the right time.

It’s the part about the experiences that rang so true for me, and I’ve been planning my own trips this way. I’m SO glad I did so much backpacking in my twenties when I didn’t mind hostel dorms. But as you age, you should prioritize doing more of your physical trips, because it won’t be as easy doing them later. Save cruises and safaris for when you’re older. When you’re really old, you most likely won’t want to go very far at all.

The book also makes a great point about leaving money to your kids — that they can get a LOT more out of a smaller gift at age 30 to help buy a house than their full inheritance at age 55 or 60, when their life is slowing down.

I think everyone can get a lot out of this book — namely, sketching out different eras in your own life and what goals to prioritize during each of them.

Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits — to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life by Gretchen Rubin (2015) — Gretchen Rubin is famous for The Happiness Project, researching what makes humans truly happy, and how we can put it into action. In this book, she dives into habit formation.

Now, I’ve read habit formation books before, including James Clear’s very popular book Atomic Habits. But I think this is the best habit formation book I’ve ever read. What makes it so good? I love Gretchen Rubin’s writing style. I love how she divides people into four types of different behaviors, rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all framework for everyone. I love how the book is part memoir and part self-development tome. And I love how she shares stories from lots of different people in her life.

Now, Gretchen Rubin and I are very different people. She states outright that she doesn’t care for music, food, games, or fashion. She can be a bit rigid. And I think that’s behind some of the negative reviews of this book. But she’s not asking you to be her friend. She’s asking to you take a look at what she discovered. For me, this is the first time I realized why it’s so much easier for me to abstain from things than to live in moderation.

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue (2024) — In this novel, Jolene is a depressed 20-something Persian Canadian working a boring office job and sending her coworkers insults in hidden in white text in her emails. When her messages are discovered, she’s forced to have her emails monitored — but in a tech mishap, she suddenly gets access to every inbox in the company. Jolene decides to use this to her advantage, reading everyone’s emails to get ahead in her career and improve her work relationships.

I liked this book, but felt it could have gone in some better directions. In fact, I think it would have been better not going in a romantic direction at all. I did enjoy the characters in the office and the perfect descriptions of office politics, and the work Jolene did to make her life better. There are some comparisons to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, which I think is a much better book.

The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone (2011) — You know how most business books could essentially be a blog post? This is a business book that could have been a tweet.

“Work 10x harder than anyone else. Set goals 10x higher than anyone else.” Boom. You got as much out of the book as I did.

Additionally, I hated that it was written in this awful, almost singsongy voice, and that he doesn’t include any examples of anyone in the book besides himself. Complete waste of time.

Coming Up in September 2025

Finally, it’s time for my big adventure trip of the year. I’ll be spending most of the month in Mauritius, Réunion, and Madagascar!

I’ll be traveling in Mauritius and Réunion solo, for a few days each. No, this isn’t an ideal amount of time. Originally I was just going to visit Réunion for a few days, but then Air France moved my flight back and I realized I now had JUUUUST enough time to visit both islands. And they’re only a 45-minute flight apart…

So it will be a bit of a teaser visit for both places.

I decided not to drive in Mauritius, against conventional wisdom, because I’ll be arriving after an overnight flight in economy where I almost certainly won’t have slept one wink, and I don’t think it’s safe for me to drive in that state, let alone on the left side of the road for the first time ever. I’ll be staying in Flic en Flac and Grand Baie, and I have a private tour of the southwest one day.

In Réunion, I will be driving, in part because a three-day car rental is the same price as a one-way taxi to my hotel in St. Gilles, but one day I hope to join a tour to Cilaos in the interior. Réunion has such a dramatic landscape and I can’t wait to take it all in.

And then comes the BIG part of the trip — more than two weeks in Madagascar! I’m traveling on this tour with Rock My Adventure, run by blogger Helen in Wanderlust. Helen is an Africa specialist and I’ve heard her tours are fantastic.

I booked this tour more than a year ago because the itinerary appealed to me so much, with time in the places I wanted to visit the most — the Tsingy, the Avenue of the Baobabs, and lots of time in the islands off Nosy Be. Plus there’s a two-day river camping trip and LOTS of overland driving on not-quite-roads. I’m a little bit nervous — and super excited.

What are your plans for September? Share away!

Taking a trip is the perfect opportunity to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s as simple as sampling a dish with an ingredient you thought you’d never eat, or going bungee jumping in a scenic location, there’s something about being in a new place that makes you feel a bit bolder and more open-minded toward new, exciting experiences.

In this collection, we’ve rounded up five exciting stories involving travelers, places, and experiences that will inspire you to push your limits.

There are a lot of odd airport jobs. The “bird guys” keep birds at bay, lavatory crews empty the loos, and finally, there are people who get paid to wrap luggage in plastic. The first two jobs make sense—it’s important to keep the runways clear and the planes clean— but most travelers aren’t sure about the third. That said, luggage-wrapping stations have been a mainstay at major U.S. international airports since the early 90s. They’re even more common abroad; one Miami-based company, Secure Wrap, has more than 500 employees wrapping luggage at airports across 17 different countries. 

Why do passengers wrap their luggage? 

Passengers wrap their luggage for an array of reasons. Some travelers get their luggage wrapped to protect the exterior of the luggage from scratches and marks, while others get it wrapped to protect the contents inside the luggage. Some travelers may think that if a suitcase is wrapped in plastic, it’s less likely to be inspected by TSA or interfered with by nefarious characters who may be inclined to steal or perhaps worse, plant something incriminating inside.

And some travelers, especially those going to the Maldives, Australia, and other countries that spray insecticide and disinfectant on arriving flights, wrap their luggage in plastic to protect their contents from the chemicals. “A lot of people did this on my flight arriving in China because of how much they spray and ‘disinfect’ your bag upon arrival,” wrote one traveler on Reddit who said they regretted not wrapping their bag in advance because their clothes got saturated. Finally, there are always travelers who have to get their luggage wrapped because their suitcase is falling apart or they’ve been cursed with a rogue zipper. Paying $15—what Secure Wrap charges at Miami International Airport—to wrap a broken bag is a lot cheaper than buying a new suitcase at the airport. 

What does the TSA do with wrapped luggage? 

TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers tells Travel + Leisure that luggage wrapped in plastic is treated the same as luggage that is not wrapped in plastic. All checked bags are subject to screening before they’re passed on to airline baggage handlers who load them onto the plane. In the U.S., that’s approximately 1.3 million checked bags per day. TSA and its counterparts abroad use X-ray machines that use a 3D scanner to look for objects that resemble explosives or other hazardous materials. Some airports also rely on K-9s that can detect everything from bullets to bombs. Wrapping your luggage in plastic doesn’t affect how the X-Ray machines scan the bag, nor does it deter the dogs. 

Most bags, approximately 95 percent, pass this screening and don’t need to be physically inspected by a TSA officer. Bags that are flagged, get opened—this means plastic wrapping will be cut, and locks will be broken if they’re not TSA-approved. In the U.S. at least, the TSA examines luggage in a controlled environment monitored by CCTV. This ensures that no one is tempted to tamper (in an unnecessary way) with a passenger’s property. While the TSA agent who examines the bag will repack it and include a paper slip indicating that the bag was inspected so the passenger knows why someone rifled through their luggage, they will not rewrap the bag in plastic. 

However, some luggage-wrapping companies, including Secure Wrap, offer complimentary rewrapping if the plastic wrapping is cut by TSA. They also include a guarantee that matches the airlines’ compensation for lost baggage or damage. Note: These types of guarantees are subject to many terms and conditions. 

What else can you do to keep luggage secure? 

While some luggage-wrapping companies claim they only use 100 percent recyclable plastic, many airports are starting to consider banning plastic luggage wrapping due to environmental concerns. Fortunately, if you want to keep your luggage secure, you have other options. For starters, you can use TSA-approved locks or luggage straps. You can also invest in a reusable luggage cover if you’re concerned with aesthetics. 

Fall may be prime time for leaf peeping, but stargazers have loads to look at this month, too. Spectacular planet gatherings, eclipses, and Saturn’s opposition are among the many marvels on the horizon.

Plus, September means it’s officially aurora season in the northern hemisphere—and experts say this year could produce above-average lights sightings given the sun’s 11-year peak of activity, known as solar maximum. September is also one of the last months for Milky Way core viewing in the U.S. Our galaxy’s luminous center remains visible until about November, so there’s no time like the present to visit a dark-sky park to see it, especially around the Sept. 21 new moon.

Now it’s time to plot your September stargazing. Here’s what to watch for in the night sky this month.

Sept. 1-7: Morning Planet Parade

Throughout the month of September, stargazers can catch Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn in the pre-dawn sky. (As always, spotting Uranus and Neptune will require strong binoculars or a telescope.) The lineup turns even more enchanting in the first week of the month, as Mercury joins the party just below Venus for around an hour before sunrise. Catch Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter aligned in the eastern sky, Uranus in the south, and Saturn and Neptune in the southwest.

Sept. 7: Lunar Eclipse

September’s full corn moon will experience a lunar eclipse in certain parts of the world, including Asia, Russia, eastern Africa, and Australia. The U.S. won’t see another lunar eclipse until March 2026. If you’re not in the viewing area, tune into Time and Date’s livestream to watch the spectacle from home.

Sept. 16: Moon Meets Jupiter

The thin crescent moon will appear just above bright Jupiter in the early morning hours of Sept. 16. You can watch the duo dance above the eastern horizon around 2 a.m. local time; they’ll climb higher as the morning goes on, with Venus joining when it rises around 4:30 a.m.

Sept. 21: Saturn Reaches Opposition

The ringed planet will be at its largest and most vivid as it reaches opposition on Sept. 21. During opposition, Earth lies smack-dab between the planet and the sun. Our bright star puts the planet in the spotlight—kind of like the full-moon effect—and it’s best viewed around midnight. While Sept. 21 marks Saturn’s opposition, you can enjoy stellar views of our solar system’s sixth planet into October.

Sept. 21: Partial Solar Eclipse

Mid-September will bring a partial solar eclipse to the skies above Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and portions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, according to NASA. New Zealand has arguably the best view, with both the north and south islands enjoying optimal visibility that morning, from roughly 5:40 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. NZST, per Time and Date.

Sept. 22: Fall Equinox

This year’s autumn equinox hits on 2:19 p.m. ET. It’s the first day of fall, and during this time, the sun appears to pass over the celestial equator, according to Adler Planetarium. It’s also known to be an exceptional time for northern lights activity, so if you’ve been waiting to plan an aurora chase, now’s the time.