This Week in the World

I hope you enjoyed your summer solstice! I am currently spending the longest day of the year as an excuse to still be outside at 9pm (still daylight in London right now!) and sipping on a paloma as I write this. While most people are using this season to travel, travel, travel… I am marking an entire month of being at home (and a few more weeks of it ahead still!) But London is a destination in and of itself… and in my opinion, she’s at her best in the summer- which has been fun to take advantage of. I attended Ascot last week, have done some trips to the countryside, am trying new restaurants, luxuriating in the parks with my book and gearing up for more fun activities like Wimbledon, BST Concerts in Hyde Park and watching some of the World Cup. Here’s what’s worth knowing this week across the globe.

The World Cup is happening, and it’s affecting travel.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway across 16 cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico through July 19th… the first time the tournament has spanned three countries! If you’re traveling domestically or to Mexico City, Vancouver, or any of the other host cities between now and mid-July, you can (and should) expect elevated hotel rates, compressed availability, and airports operating at full tilt. Mexico City in particular has sold out a significant portion of its mid-range and luxury inventory around match dates, so if you were planning a trip there this summer (though, if budget is no concern, we do have access to both games and hotels through our partners… but you’ll want to book now.)

The upside: if you are a football fan, or simply love the electric energy of a city during a major global event, this is a rare and remarkable summer to experience it! This is exciting for international tourism to the US, because outside of the World Cup it is declining overall. Canadian visits dropped 22% in 2025, and booking data from Europe for July is down over 15% year-over-year. Unsurprisingly, this is largely due to policy concerns, border uncertainty, and the broader political climate. It’s a complex picture worth being aware of, especially for those of us who work in travel and have clients coming from abroad, or friends who are reconsidering their plans.

Delta just flew the first nonstop flight from New York to Sardinia. And yes, it’s as good as it sounds.

Sardinia has received quite a bit of buzz as a European summer option these last several years (it almost feels like how people used to talk about Positano before everyone went.) The problem has always been getting there, as it requires a connection through Rome or Milan, but that changed this month. Delta launched inaugural nonstop service from JFK to Cagliari on June 17th, and for anyone who’s been waiting for the right moment to finally go… this might be it. The route runs through summer and operates on Delta One. Tori from Window Seat, another Substack I enjoy, wrote about it here.

Airlines are rethinking the in-flight dining experience, and United just made an interesting move.

Starting August 1st, United Polaris passengers on select international routes will be able to preorder dishes from 11 acclaimed chefs (including Nancy Silverton in LA, Tomos Parry in London, and Tashi Gyamtso in Tokyo) with in-flight content about the meal and the chef to go alongside it. The collaboration is with Chef’s Table, the Emmy-winning Netflix series, which tracks. It kind of reads as a gimmick at first, until you think about it for a second and realize it’s actually what premium cabin travel should be doing: borrowing from the hospitality and dining worlds rather than just adding more legroom and calling it luxury.

The Orient Express launched a sailing “yacht”

I say “yacht” in quotations because there is debate if we should actually be calling them that instead of “very luxurious, small cruise ships.” The same applies to Four-Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Aman. Whatever title you want to use…The Orient Express Corinthian is the world’s largest sailing “yacht”: 220 metres, 54 suites (for just 110 guests), five restaurants curated by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, three masts standing 328 feet high, and a technology called “Solid Sail” that allows the ship to run on wind alone at 15 knots. It’s currently sailing the Mediterranean and Adriatic through October before crossing the Atlantic for a Caribbean season.

Three-night voyages start at €17,700 per suite. Not exactly an impulse purchase, but good for the “someday” list that actually has a date attached to it. We work directly with Orient Express and have a wonderful relationship with the team, so if this is calling your name, reply to this email. We can help make the booking and the entire journey seamless from start to finish.

A few hotel openings this summer are worth having on your radar:

Four Seasons Mykonos opens late summer 2026 as the first Four Seasons on a Greek island… with 94 rooms, suites, and villas designed in quintessential Cycladic style, cascading down coastal cliffs to the beach. It has been a long time coming and early images look every bit as good as the anticipation.

Hotel Danieli, a Four Seasons Hotel, Venice officially opens August 26th following a €30M renovation of one of Venice’s most historic addresses. Worth noting: the spa won’t be complete until later in the year, so if you can hold out until 2027 for the full experience, it’s probably worth it (in the meantime, I would try Airelles or Orient-Express, as those are new and exciting options as well!)

La Reserve Firenze is the standout on this list: a former Florentine palazzo reimagined as six apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms, each with its own kitchen and hotel services, plus a rooftop terrace and a secret bar. For a family trip or a small group of friends, it’s the perfect place to elevate the whole experience.

Amanvari in Los Cabos opens in July. Aman’s long-awaited Mexico debut, after years of delays. If you know, you know.

Our team is proud to know and work closely with all of these hotels and their sales teams, ensuring everything from your booking to your stay is seamless. Get in touch to start planning.

READING

I just finished The Force of Such Beauty, which was deceptively easy to read and a book you move through quickly… then find yourself still thinking about days later. It’s for the reader who wants to be entertained but also doesn’t mind being unsettled by the end.

I’ve just started All the Things We Never Say and am already absorbed (it feels like you’re reading someone’s private correspondence). Good for anyone who loves family stories with emotional texture and a slow reveal.

Andrew just started London Falling (Paul Cornell), which I’ve had my eye on: a gritty, supernatural crime novel set in the city we live in, which makes it feel quite compelling… even more-so because it’s based on a true story. I’ll be reading it the moment he’s done.

Also in my queue: Maggie O’Farrell’s Land, because I’ve yet to read anything of hers that hasn’t stayed with me. And a recent finish worth mentioning: The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali. A novel about female friendship spanning decades of Iranian history. I really loved this one because it’s beautifully written and so human. For anyone who loved Pachinko or A Gentleman in Moscow, this is your next read.

WEARING

Easily my two most-worn items so far this summer: this basket tote and these sandals (which I walk at least 10,000 steps a day in comfortably). They both pair well with a dress, linen sets, swimsuit cover-ups, denim… you name it. Chic and functional, well-made and fairly priced.

WATCHING

I binged America’s Sweethearts Season 3 this week, which… who hasn’t, right? It’s one of my very few reality TV guilty pleasures… but honestly, not guilty once you’re watching it. It’s so rare to see a show in this genre that’s so uplifting. Reality television so often frames women as catty, but this is a group of girls’ girls and it’s so refreshing. Even if they’re vying for limited spots on a team, they’re all hardworking and supportive of each other and it’s heartwarming to watch. Next in my queue: Your Friends and Neighbors. I’ve had multiple people tell me to watch it this week… have you seen it?

That’s all for this week. As always, happy to answer questions about any of the above…drop a comment or reply directly.

xx

Whitney