Luxe Travelers Name 2024’s Top Cities

There’s something utterly alluring about the hustle and bustle of a city, no matter where in the world it may be. Travelers flock to metropolises far and wide to soak up the intense fix of culture, shopping and food. But which cities are the ones not to miss this year?

Small Luxury Hotels recently asked its members to share their most yearned for urban travel destinations in 2024, and the answers may surprise you.

Source: https://journal.slh.com/journal/top-10-cities-to-visit-in-2024/

Aussie Wines by the Pouch

Get to know the best of Australian wines thanks to a pioneering new wine delivery service that delivers ‘wine in a pouch’ to your door.

The new wine list from A Glass Of is a carefully curated collaboration with renowned Australia sommelier Shanteh Wale and features five wines from independent wine-makers across Australia in convenient 200-milliliter pouches.

Shaking up the way people discover and experience great wine, A Glass Of also places great emphasis on sustainability.

“Each foil pouch is pre-cycled, meaning less materials and energy are required in the production of the mini casks, compared to their vino counterparts, with 73 percent less energy, 94 percent less water and 82 percent less CO2 emissions required in production than glass,” the company said.

Under the Stars

More and more in-the-know travelers are journeying to remote areas, where light pollution is minimal, to take in unspoilt views of the night sky. The practice, known as dark sky tourism, has been highlighted as one of the hottest luxury travel trends of 2024 by high-end agency group Virtuoso.

Tahiti is proving particularly popular for this type of trip, with the light pollution-free Polynesian night sky perfect for star-gazing, combined with the telling of local legends.

Also proving popular, according to Virtuoso, are destinations such as Norway, where operators such as Majestic Whale Encounters are showing travelers the Northern Lights as the sun goes down after a day of exploring and encounters with sea life including orcas.

Night-Sky Inspired

Luxury watchmaker Orient Star has unveiled its new M45 F7 Mechanical Moon Phase model as part of its Classic Collection M45, with a cutting-edge dial inspired by the mystical M45 Pleiades star cluster.

The stamped patterns represent the open star cluster of Taurus, with the watch also featuring a new gray gradation effect on the dial, representing an occultation or overlapping of Pleiades and the moon.

In addition, the watch has black roman numeral indices matching the color of the dial’s outer rim, which are printed in multiple layers to distinguish them from the background.

“Each of the 120 limited-edition pieces in this rare design are engraved with a serial number,” Orient Star said.

Hypercar Brand Gets New UK Address

Swedish hypercar brand, Koenigsegg Automotive, is spreading its wings with the opening of a dedicated dealership in Central London, United Kingdom.

The Kensington High Street boutique showroom represents a major milestone in Koenigsegg’s global expansion strategy, with various models to be on display and highly trained specialists to offer personalized consultations.

“We’re thrilled that Koenigsegg London joins our dealer network and becomes part of the Koenigsegg family,” Founder and CEO Christian Koenigsegg said. “The new facility will be perfectly placed in the UK’s capital to deliver a unique and immersive experience that reflects the exceptional quality, innovation and performance that define Koenigsegg.”

New Vientiane Link

A new VietJet Air flight between Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Vientiane in Laos will offer travelers “seamless connectivity” between the two destinations.

The Hanoi-based airline expects the connection to enhance travel efficiency and foster opportunities in tourism and trade.

“Ho Chi Minh City, a dynamic economic and cultural hub, offers diverse attractions and culinary delights,” the airline said. “With seamless connectivity, travelers from Singapore can explore Vietnam’s culture before continuing to Vientiane, known for its scenic beauty and cultural heritage.”

Operating four times a week, the service offers convenient direct flights in under two hours.

Schumacher’s Model Commemoration

Racing legend Michael Schumacher has been honored by leading modelmaker Amalgam Collection with a set of five 1:8 scale models, entitled the Schumacher Collection.

The new set celebrates Michael Schumacher’s five consecutive FIA Formula One World Championship successes at Scuderia Ferrari. “The collection of models is the result of over 12,500 combined hours of development time, and each set takes over 1,500 hours to collectively build,” Amalgam said.

There are three display options available, with the ultimate wall-mounted edition limited to just five sets.