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- The Real Reason People Should Love Luxury Travel
The Real Reason People Should Love Luxury Travel
PLUS: A Savvy Day in Barcelona
Alex Mustaros
June 18, 2025
In Partnership With:
Most people have the wrong idea about what luxury travel really is.
I believe Luxury Travel is not about the welcome champagne.
Or the private driver waiting at the curb.
It’s not even about the five-star rating.
The real reason to fall in love with luxury travel is this: presence.
Presence is what happens when everything unnecessary fades, and you begin to notice again.
The scent of the wood in a ryokan.
The soft rustle of linen in the evening breeze.
The silence of a vineyard in early morning light.
Luxury, when done right, isn’t about being pampered.
It’s about being restored.
And the most seasoned travelers know this.
What we’re really after isn’t excess.
It’s a five-sense awakening.
And while we wake up…
Latest Luxury Travel News
🛳️ Silversea Wants You to Stay Awhile
Silversea is now promoting its growing portfolio of “Combination Cruises”, which let travelers book extended, multi-segment journeys across regions like the Mediterranean, Asia, and South America, without changing suites. The idea? Fewer logistics, more immersion. Guests enjoy new ports, added perks, and long-haul-level luxury… with only one unpack. Let us know where you want to go and enjoy a $1,000 shipboard credit per suite when you book with our sister travel agency.
When one week isn’t enough, Silversea says, “Just keep going.”
💙 JetBlue and United... Together?
JetBlue and United just launched “Blue Sky,” a surprise collaboration that links their loyalty programs for the first time ever. Eligible members can now match status, earn reciprocal rewards, and get better access to upgrades across both carriers. While they remain fierce competitors, this is a loyalty-first move aimed at high-value travelers. UNITED
Apparently, even rival airlines know the power of a good alliance.
🇺🇸 America the Beautiful... Again
Brand USA has launched a new global campaign to attract international travelers back to the United States. Titled America the Beautiful, the initiative blends iconic landscapes with diverse cultural stories. The goal is to reframe the country as welcoming, rich in experiences, and worth the long flight. Think more Yosemite, less Times Square. TRAVEL WEEKLY
The message is clear. The U.S. wants its spotlight back, and your boarding pass too.
🐘 Wilderness Expands into the Mara
Wilderness has announced two new luxury camps in Kenya’s Mara Triangle, set to open in 2026. The project will feature Wilderness Usawa Mara, a mobile camp that follows the Great Migration, and Wilderness Mara, a year-round base with classic tented elegance. This move deepens the brand’s East Africa footprint while keeping a light environmental touch. LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR
The camps move with the herds. The comfort stays exactly where it should.
🏛️ Capella Heads to Florence
Capella Hotels and Resorts has announced its European debut with a new property set to open in Florence in 2026. Located in a restored 19th-century villa near the Boboli Gardens, the hotel promises just 66 rooms, a Capella Spa, and views that flirt with perfection. This marks a major step in Capella’s expansion into legacy destinations.
Because if you’re going to enter Europe, you may as well start with Florence.
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For the “been there, done that, back for the good stuff” kind of traveler…
The Savvy Traveler | Barcelona
A Morning in El Born
Some guides tell you where to go.
Ours reminds you how to feel it.
Today, we’re sharing a full half-day straight from The Savvy Traveler Guide | Barcelona Edition.
No icons, no clichés, just curated presence in one of the city’s most evocative neighborhoods.
📍 Neighborhood: El Born
🕰️ Time: Morning to Lunch
🎯 Mood: Slow, sensory, and local
Coffee First.
Start with a cortado at Cafès El Magnífico (for purists), or go brunch-modern at Granja Petitbo or Brunch & Cake.
Then Choose Your Culture.
Walk to Santa Maria del Mar for a quiet moment of architectural awe.
You can also dive into Barcelona’s artistic roots at the Picasso Museum or MEAM.
Both are best before 11 a.m.
Lunch Like a Local.
El Born delivers two gems:
El Xampanyet: loud, beloved, and full of cava.
Tantarantana: quieter, just as local, and always satisfying.
This is just one of eight immersive sessions inside the Barcelona guide.
👉 Grab the complete Barcelona guide here or explore all destinations at the Savvy Guides Store
And on the events front…
Global Events to Keep on Your Radar
June 17 – July 14, 2025
⚽ Sports
🎾 The Championships Wimbledon - 📍 London, England | 🗓️ June 30 – July 13, 2025. Strawberries, cream, and centuries-old tradition. Wimbledon remains the crown jewel of tennis — elegant, unpredictable, and never without a touch of royal drama. wimbledon.com
⚽ FIFA Club World Cup 2025 - 📍 United States | 🗓️ June 14 – July 13, 2025
The biggest Club World Cup in history. 32 teams, 8 groups, 11 cities — and a summer showdown that’s rewriting the football calendar. fifa.com
⚽ UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 - 📍 Switzerland | 🗓️ July 2 – 27, 2025
From Zürich to Geneva, the continent’s top players compete for glory in a tournament that’s growing in both power and prestige. uefa.com
🏎️ F1 British Grand Prix - 📍 Silverstone Circuit, England | 🗓️ July 4 – 6, 2025
Where speed meets heritage. Expect packed stands, unpredictable weather, and the roar of homegrown support. formula1.com
🚴 Tour de France - 📍 France (Lille to Paris) | 🗓️ July 5 – 27, 2025
Cycling’s most iconic race returns with mountain climbs, coastal sprints, and more than 3,000 km of pedal-powered drama. letour.fr
🎵 Music & Entertainment
🎤 Tomorrowland Music Festival (Weekend 1) - 📍 Boom, Belgium | 🗓️ July 18 – 20, 2025 Epic visuals, explosive sound, and DJ sets that feel otherworldly. Weekend 1 of the globe’s favorite electronic festival begins. tomorrowland.com
🎶 Lollapalooza Paris - 📍 Paris, France | 🗓️ July 18 – 20, 2025
A stylish mashup of global pop and French flair. Justin Timberlake, Olivia Rodrigo, and David Guetta headline this year’s edition. lollaparis.com
🎷 Montreal International Jazz Festival - 📍 Montreal, Canada | 🗓️ June 27 – July 6, 2025 Thundercat, Jeff Goldblum, and a full lineup of jazz legends, funk icons, and indie discoveries. montrealjazzfest.com
👗 Culture, Fashion & Business
👞 Milan Men’s Fashion Week - 📍 Milan, Italy | 🗓️ June 20 – 24, 2025
Tailoring, innovation, and plenty of sprezzatura. Where streetwear meets silk and the future of menswear walks the runway. cameramoda.it
👔 Paris Men’s Fashion Week - 📍 Paris, France | 🗓️ June 24 – 29, 2025
Maison power plays, underground showcases, and the city that never misses a style cue. fhcm.paris
♻️ Berlin Fashion Week - 📍 Berlin, Germany | 🗓️ June 30 – July 3, 2025
Focused on sustainability, tech, and future-forward brands — Berlin proves edgy and ethical aren’t mutually exclusive. fashionweek.berlin
📣 Cannes Lions 2025 - 📍 Cannes, France | 🗓️ June 16 – 20, 2025
The world’s best creatives, agencies, and brands meet seaside to pitch, pitch louder, and (maybe) take home a Lion. canneslions.com
🏇 Royal Ascot – Gold Cup Thursday - 📍 Ascot, England | 🗓️ June 17 – 21, 2025
Top hats, champagne, and elite equestrian drama. Thursday is the centerpiece, but every day brings pageantry and pedigree. ascot.com
✈️ Planning Your Next Trip Around One of These?
Whether it’s courtside in London, a rooftop in Paris, or trackside at Silverstone, we help you turn global events into unforgettable journeys.
🗺️ Need help planning? Reply to this email and we’ll connect you with a Savvy Travel Advisor.
A work that is in the hands of God and the will of the people.
Antoni Gaudí (About the Sagrada Familia)
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