U.S. retail sales excluding autos climbed +4.1% this Black Friday, according to preliminary Mastercard SpendingPulse™ data, and that number quietly signals a shift in how Americans are approaching holiday spending. Rather than impulse buying for the sake of the deal, shoppers leaned toward intention — picking purchases that fit personal priorities, wish lists, or lifestyle … [Read more...] about Black Friday, 2025 — Comfort, Caution, and Clever Spending
Where Millionaires Are Traveling for Christmas 2025
MillionaireMatch® found that high-net-worth singles are reshaping holiday travel into something quieter, more intentional, and far more personal. Instead of following tradition or showing up where they’re expected, they’re choosing destinations that offer privacy, calm, and experiences that feel meaningful rather than performative. The findings from the platform’s survey of … [Read more...] about Where Millionaires Are Traveling for Christmas 2025
Coffee at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
It’s almost funny how you walk into the Kunsthistorisches Museum thinking you’re here for Bruegel, Caravaggio, Rembrandt — and then suddenly you’re sitting under this impossibly ornate dome wondering if your espresso even deserves to exist in such a setting. The café inside the museum isn’t just a café; it’s a slow-motion time capsule lined with black marble columns streaked … [Read more...] about Coffee at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Egalité, But With a Receipt
There’s a strange shift happening in France — subtle enough to pass as policy, but loud enough to break the illusion of universal values. The Louvre, that global cathedral of art and one of the most recognizable cultural institutions on Earth, has decided that from January 2026, visitors from outside the European Union will pay €32 for entry. Until now, the standard ticket … [Read more...] about Egalité, But With a Receipt
Why I Hate the All-Inclusive Model
There’s a particular hollowness to all-inclusive resorts, cruises, and buffet-style restaurants that just grates on me, and every time I’m near one, I feel that familiar quiet irritation creeping in. The idea looks great on paper—pay once, relax, don’t think—but the reality feels like stepping into a perfectly controlled bubble where everything is convenient yet nothing is … [Read more...] about Why I Hate the All-Inclusive Model
Christmasland in New Taipei City 2025, Nov. 14–Dec. 29, Taiwan
Crowds gathered beneath the winter night sky as Christmasland 2025 lit up New Taipei City, and there was this soft moment right before the show began where everything felt strangely calm—then the lights snapped on, music burst through the plaza, and the air instantly shifted into full celebration mode. The opening ceremony unfolded like a holiday movie scene: performers from a … [Read more...] about Christmasland in New Taipei City 2025, Nov. 14–Dec. 29, Taiwan
See the Statue of David in Florence, Italy
There’s a moment, right before you step into the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, where you almost underestimate what’s waiting inside. The hallway feels quiet in that museum-kind of way, and the light seems a bit too soft, almost unremarkable. Then you turn the corner, and there he is — Michelangelo’s David — standing under the natural dome of soft skylight, towering over … [Read more...] about See the Statue of David in Florence, Italy
A holiday in Poland can help to support Ukraine
There’s something quietly meaningful about choosing where you spend your time and money, and sometimes the simple act of travel becomes a form of solidarity. Poland feels like one of those places right now—a country that has been both a frontline neighbor and a lifeline for millions of Ukrainians since the war began. And while tourism rarely feels like a geopolitical tool, in … [Read more...] about A holiday in Poland can help to support Ukraine
If you want to go on holiday but aren’t sure which destination you want: Try Bordeaux, France
What about Bordeaux, France? Sometimes choosing a holiday destination feels like overthinking a menu—you scroll through endless options, every place promising to be “perfect,” and then suddenly you’re not sure what you wanted in the first place. That’s exactly when Bordeaux, France, sneaks in as the answer you didn’t know you were looking for. It isn’t as obvious as Paris or … [Read more...] about If you want to go on holiday but aren’t sure which destination you want: Try Bordeaux, France
Explore Lyon on a double-decker bus
There’s something oddly charming about sitting up top on an open double-decker bus, wind brushing past your face as the city rolls by like a slow-moving movie reel. Lyon feels especially suited for this kind of lazy exploration. The rhythm of the ride gives you time to look around, not rush, and let the city’s layers reveal themselves. As the bus pulls away from the starting … [Read more...] about Explore Lyon on a double-decker bus