What’s New, October 2026
FULL IMMERSION
The Tailor, Australia
From December, The Tailor will be offering clients the chance to experience Australia beyond sightseeing, at Ever Bloomfield on the Daintree Coast in Tropical North Queensland. Positioned between two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – ancient Daintree Forest and the Great Barrier Reef – Ever’s mission is to immerse guests in the land, its people, and its stories. The intimate 14-room rainforest retreat offers forest hikes but also reef and coastal exploration, cultural experiences with the local Indigenous community, river journeys, fishing and foraging. An escape suited to curious, nature-interested guests open to adventure.
READY AND ABEL
Ahipara, New Zealand
On a peaceful stretch of the Abel Tasman coast, hidden in the nook of a private stretch of shoreline, Lodge by the Beach is an owner-hosted boutique home from home with just four suites, each on its own floor for total privacy. No crowds, no noise, incredible views; just you, the sea and birdsong, plus private beach access rarely found in the region. Take a peaceful early morning dip, or kayak to the iconic Split Apple Rock – with luck, you might glimpse the shyest of local residents, the blue penguins.
AERIAL SHOT
Sticky Rice Travel, Borneo
Long established as one of Borneo’s must-visit destinations, a stay in Danum Valley’s Borneo Rainforest Lodge can now include abseiling and tree climbing, giving guests direct reach-out-and-touch-it access to the rainforest canopy. This new soft adventure activity has two experience levels: canopy climb and canopy photoshoot, with a maximum of six guests at a time.
WELL, WELL, WELL
Banyan, India
Wellness in India is moving beyond the traditional spa retreat, with a new generation of properties taking an increasingly holistic approach and mixing traditional practices with modern wellness innovations. Dharana at Shillim, in the Western Ghats outside Mumbai, is one such addition to the wellness scene. Programmes are individually designed, combining Ayurveda and traditional Indian practices, supported by modern diagnostics.
WINNING FORMULA
ITEM, Türkiye
Formula 1 returns to Istanbul in October next year, for the first time since 2021. In addition to Grand Prix tickets, ITEM Travel can arrange access to pre-race parties, subject to availability, as well as VIP arrangements at the track, private car or helicopter transfers, and accommodation aboard a private yacht near the circuit. Beyond the big day, add a Bosphorus cruise or tours through Istanbul’s favourite neighbourhoods, or extend the journey beyond the city to Cappadocia or the Aegean coast.
SNAP HAPPY
PLAN-IT Morocco, Morocco
The Casablanca Museum of Photography and Visual Arts opened recently, in the heart of the medina. The first African building by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the museum combines historic arcades and walls with Ando’s signature exposed concrete; a fascinating dialogue between heritage and modernity. Developed in collaboration with the Moroccan National Museums Foundation, the institution supports exhibitions, education, cultural exchange and young creative talent. Its inaugural exhibition, CASA, explores Casablanca’s people, neighbourhoods, memory and identity.
Image with thanks to © Fondation Nationale des Musées.
TICKETS PLEASE
Galavanta, Colombia
From mid-December, Cartagena’s blue skies and laid-back Caribbean spirit will be easier to reach from the US. New, non-stop flights from Houston and Washington DC put Colombia's year-round summer within direct reach of North America; ideal for guests looking to fly south for the winter. There will be four flights per week and afternoon arrivals mean you can be in your hotel in plenty of time for sunset drinks on the rooftop, followed by dinner at one of the top restaurants in Colombia. The perfect start to a getaway to the tropics.
AMAZON PRIME
Enigma, Peru
Long the most luxurious way to travel the Peruvian Amazon, Delfin’s flagship vessel, Delfin I, has been upgraded with a fresh new look. The open-air terrace has been transformed into a stylish new lounge and bar, while the rest of the vessel, including its four suites, have been completely refurbished. The intimate riverboat now offers a fresh, more contemporary take on laid-back Amazonian style, while retaining its sense of privacy and close connection with the rainforest.
RAISE A GLASS
Glove, Argentina | Chile
In the Pucará Valley of northwest Argentina, at an altitude of 2,400 metres, Viñedos Imposibles is one of the country’s most ambitious vineyards, in a region where the rugged terrain and extreme altitude produce wines of exceptional intensity and character. Welcoming only a handful of guests each year, the estancia combines high-altitude winemaking with the traditions of a historic Andean ranch. Ride to ancient fortresses with the estancia’s Paso Peruano horses, explore the remains of a lost Inca city, discover the uses of native valley plants, harvest alongside the winemaking team, and learn to prepare Argentine asado and empanadas. Nights are for sharing the estate's legendary wines beneath one of the world's clearest skies.
SETTING THE BAR
Lares, Uruguay
Set in 1,600 hectares along the banks of the Río Negro, Estancia La Bendición offers a genuine taste of rural Uruguay. The property stretches along 36km of riverbank, with riding, fly fishing, kayaking and boating among the ways to experience it – guests can even take part in traditional cattle activities alongside the 2,000 resident Aberdeen Angus cattle. The newly opened River Bar, built from locally sourced timber, is a natural addition to the property, offering a place to settle in by the river after a day outdoors and watch the sun set over the water with a well-earned drink.
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Memories by Valberg, Iceland
360 Boutique and Spa Hotel reopens after extensive renovation this month as a five-star retreat and the first Icelandic member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. 360 sits on a hilltop in the heart of South Iceland, surrounded by open fields, mountains and five volcanic systems including Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull. The spa offers outdoor pools, cold plunge, outdoor sauna and infrared cabins, while the interiors provide a cosy retreat from the outside world, all wood panelling and warm tones. At Hnaus restaurant, the menu is prepared by Hinrik Lárusson, a former Icelandic Chef of the Year.