OutThere | Experiential Journeys

Black and queer: meet Zanele Muholi, the artist “pushing a political agenda” For over two decades, visual activist Zanele Muholi has used the camera as a tool for Black queer empowerment and resistance – and their work is far from finished.

Black queer history is Black history. Not separate. Not secondary. Few artists articulate that more consistently than Zanele Muholi, who has spent more than two decades wielding the camera as an instrument of Black queer visibility.

OutThere reviews Canada's iconic Rocky Mountaineer The most quietly luxurious way to see the untouched wilderness of Alberta and British Columbia, this scenic luxury train has our hearts beating faster.

Sightseeing by rail at its best: the most quietly luxurious way to see some of Western Canada’s extraordinary natural landscapes, the Rocky Mountaineer will take your breath away at every turn.

OutThere reviews the Ibiza hotel offering both island design and cultural energy Say hi to the minimalism-inspired address promising both community and Ibiza chill – but not as you know it – on Cala Llonga, the island's quieter eastern flank.

A welcome respite from the noise and mischief the White Isle is famous for, Mondrian Ibiza in Cala Llonga greets the grown-up traveller where they are now: wiser, more relaxed, more appreciative of the island’s magic, with just a hint of hedonism for old time’s sake.

What does the Year of the Horse hold for travel? The Experientialist® explores the Lunar New Year through the lens of travel, Chinese astrology, ambition and renewal, speaking with eight hospitality leaders.

What will the Year of the Horse bring? Phenomenal travel, we hope! Find out how your Chinese Zodiac sign will travel this Lunar New Year!

OutThere reviews the 'shikumen'-style hotel elevating hospitality in Shanghai This luxurious hotel geared at cultural travellers takes a sense of place and raises it by a sense of time with its shikumen accommodations and sensorial immersion.

Capella Shanghai inhabits one of the city’s last remaining shikumen compounds, where a cluster of utterly charming lane houses has been reimagined as a collection of private villas that evoke the spirit of the 1930s – a time when the city was dubbed the ‘Paris of the East’.

London – but not as you know it! in our new It's a London Thing issue, we zero in on the city’s leading cultural makers, shakers, and defining hotels, before setting our sights on more of the world’s most exciting destinations.

Grab your copy from newsstands or online now.

OutThere reviews the NYC-infused boutique hotel in Lexington, Kentucky With interiors in collaboration with Jenny Bukovec Studio and a stylish rooftop cocktail lounge, this 2023-opened hotel has become a destination in and of itself.

Honouring Kentucky’s world-famous bourbon culture with delicious flair, The Manchester raises the bar for boutique stays in the state. Since opening, the hotel has become a destination in and of itself, buoyed by a rooftop bar locals love.

A sense of hope: why Amsterdam is the perfect host city for WorldPride 2026 As the canal city celebrates its very own queer milestone anniversaries this year, Amsterdam is set to radiate a sense of all that the community can achieve together.

If you thought Amsterdam had reached peak queer, think again. The Dutch capital will officially host WorldPride 2026 – timed to coincide with two pivotal milestones that have shaped not only queer life in the Netherlands, but across the globe.

OutThere reviews the chic boutique turning heads as Santiago's sole "Leading Hotel" Behind this hotel's gentlemen’s-club-like pizzazz hides genteel service and an air of rarefied hospitality that have catapulted the property to fame in the Chilean capital.

Genteel service, gentlemen’s-club-like pizzazz, and a rooftop pool and bar with sunset views to linger over have earned The Singular Santiago its rank among The Leading Hotels of the World – and a trajectory, perhaps, towards being a grande dame in the making.

OutThere reviews McLaren Vale's nature-based luxury oasis Set 600ft above the McLaren Vale, Weemilah Luxury Retreat upholds its meaning of 'great view'.

Slip into an outdoor bath with your favourite book, or linger over your morning coffee: this South Australian retreat offers up slow-lived luxury with sweeping 200-degree views of the McLaren Vale wine region.

The politics of travel – to go or not to go? With the USA a new frontier for travel anxiety, let us, who have always had to think twice when we travel, offer our thoughts

To go or not to go, that is the question. With travel to the USA now coming with a side of geopolitical anxiety, will you be travelling to America this year? For some, this "othering" is a new frontier; for us, it’s an old story…

OutThere reviews the Istanbul hotel home to more artworks than rooms and suites First commissioned by the Venetian Foscolo family in the 1890s, this boutique hotel now pairs modern art and design features with historical walls in the Pera district.

Home to more artworks than rooms and suites, Casa Foscolo, a Member of Design Hotels, doubles as both a boutique hotel and a treasure trove of contemporary art in one of Istanbul’s oldest and most creative districts.

OutThere reviews Iceland's sublime Blue Lagoon retreat Architectural extravaganza and Icelandic luxury, the Retreat at the Blue Lagoon is Nordic chic.

It’s an image that stops you scrolling every time: travellers submerged in the milky geothermal waters of Iceland’s iconic Blue Lagoon. This Nordic retreat offers unbridled access to the world-famous wellness destination, but without the crowds.

Do Florida's accessibility initiatives hint at greater inclusion for all in 2026? The state is now home to a remarkable number of travel experiences for the disabled, and it could be on the cusp of becoming more inclusive of queer visitors, too.

Is Florida entering her redemption era? It’s possible. With several creative initiatives for disabled travellers taking hold, the Sunshine State may be moving towards its most accessible chapter yet. The question is: will it open the door to wider inclusion along the way?

OutThere reviews the Vancouver Hotel with the city's first rooftop garden Panoramic views of the Northshore Mountains and the city's harbour are one thing, but this hotel's green ambitions, which place it ahead of the curve, are another.

Commanding standout views across Vancouver Harbour and the surrounding coastal mountains, and home to the city’s first rooftop garden, Fairmont Waterfront is a natural choice for anyone looking to immerse themselves in one of Canada’s most liveable and diverse cities.

OutThere reviews one of Kenya's most immersive luxury safari camps From its enviable location in the southern Masai Mara, Sala's Camp offers a traditional safari experience: think incredible wildlife and sundowners in the bush.

In the southern Masai Mara – close to where the Great Migration enters Kenya, yet with a respectful distance – Sala’s Camp delivers a timeless safari experience, complete with game drives to see the Big Five and sundowners in the bush.

It's a London Thing – and so much more in the new issue of OutThere Join us on an adventure to London and beyond... here's a taster of our new issue, featuring travel tales from the Atacama Desert, Bali, Mykonos, Okinawa, and Uluru.

In today’s Experientialist, we’re taking you behind the scenes of our latest issue: It’s a London Thing. Spotlighting the British city’s leading cultural figures and top hotels, this issue also extends to Chile, Japan, Australia and beyond – plenty to keep your mind travelling this January.

OutThere reviews the design-driven "experience hotel" in Chile's heady capital A 20th-century private mansion turned hotel, this award-winning hideaway just off the artsy Lasterria neighbourhood is the city's most original boutique bolthole.

Bordering Santiago’s artsy Lastarria district, this 20th-century mansion was reawakened in 2016 as the city’s first ‘experience hotel’. Its contemporary Chilean restaurant and prime location speak to foodies and culture-seekers in equal measure.

OutThere reviews Turks & Caicos' infamous eco-conscious resort This understatedly luxurious escape in postcard-worthy Turks and Caicos excels in thoughtful design and a genuine commitment to sustainability.

On a postcard-worthy stretch of sand in Turks and Caicos, Wymara delivers all the polish you’d expect from a luxury resort, with the ambience of a private coastal retreat and a genuine commitment to sustainability.

A white man in a large hat, cravat and blue jacket stands at the gates of an ancient Villa – the Vila Sola Cabiati in Lake Como early. He holds the gates open, with the magnificent house behind him as if opening them for the first time in a long time

As we open our gates to a new year of travel, we look at ten of what we think are the most important luxury travel trends that don't chase noise, but surface need... gleaned from real conversations with travellers moving through the world with intention.

www.outthere.travel/2026-luxury-...

OutThere reviews Marbella's outpost of contemporary calm Sun, sangria, sociality and style converge at the ME Marbella on the Costa del Sol. But beyond the usual, the hotel also offers a breath of fresh Andalusian air.

For sun worshippers seeking a calm and considered base to experience the Costa del Sol’s most talked-about enclave, ME Marbella steps in like a breath of fresh Andalusian air.

OutThere reviews the South African estate that's inviting us to dream Leeu Estates is a luxurious, 19th-century Cape Dutch manor house updated with everything you’d expect in a modern luxury hideaway.

On the slopes of the Dassenberg mountains in Franschhoek, the 19th-century manor house Leeu Estates delivers all the hallmarks of a modern luxury hideaway, complete with exceptional wine tasting experiences and vinotherapy-style spa treatments.

Meet South Carolina's Gullah community – through its most prominent queer artist Gay artist and cultural ambassador of Charleston, South Carolina, Jonathan Green, meets OutThere for a chat on growing up and living in the local Gullah community.

Artist and Charleston cultural ambassador Jonathan Green meets OutThere to talk reclamation, sexuality, and growing up in the Gullah community – one of the most culturally distinctive African American populations in the US.

OutThere reviews Kathmandu's museum-like luxury bolthole Dwarika's Hotel entices travellers with all sorts of luxurious amenities from its prime location in Kathmandu.

Few cities test the senses like Kathmandu, which is why having a restorative base to return to is essential. With its luxurious amenities and commitment to preserving Nepal’s cultural heritage, the Dwarika’s Hotel fits the bill.

OutThere reviews the "quintessentially, quirkily French" Val Thorens ski hotel This well-established address maintains a fun, funky edge in a growing luxury market across award-winning Les Trois Vallées through truly bold, idiosyncratic design.

Once the only five-star hotel in Val Thorens, Europe’s highest ski resort, Altapura still holds its own in a fast-expanding luxury landscape, retaining a fun, funky edge. Layered with modern comforts, it makes for a perfect Christmas base.

Don't fancy breaking your bones? Here are Zack Cahill's non-ski winter holiday tips Alternative winter escapes are surging in popularity each year. Off the pistes for good, Zack Cahill shares his humorous take on where to holiday instead.

Does the thought of skiing fill you with dread? You’re not alone. In his latest edition of The Layover, avowed non-skier Zack Cahill shares some of his favourite alternative winter escapes that don’t require risking life, limb, or Lycra.

OutThere reviews Tierra Hotels' design-driven desert resort in the Atacama The freshly elevated Tierra Atacama offers something money can’t buy: responsible and culturally sensitive hospitality that allows the destination to play the first fiddle.

Tierra Atacama is an oasis of local culture and desert-modernist design. Recently reawakened after a $20-million facelift, its 28 rooms and plunge pools provide welcome respite after a day exploring one of the driest landscapes on Earth.

OutThere reviews the apart hotel in Chicago’s diverse Andersonville neighbourhood The Guesthouse Hotel Chicago puts guests within steps of a tapestry of cultural highlights – and it’s far from the only thing to appreciate about this place to stay.

Experience living like a local in the North Side neighbourhood of Andersonville, with your own spacious apartment at the Guesthouse Hotel Chicago. This charming bolthole places you just steps from a mix of award-winning restaurants, craft breweries, and lifestyle businesses.

Is human connection the ultimate luxury in travel? While technology can send us anywhere in a click, it is still people who make travel truly OutThere – now more than ever before, as a matter of fact.

AI can now research destinations, compare prices, build itineraries, and book entire trips in a matter of seconds. It’s undeniably impressive. But if machines can now do most of the thinking, how much space remains for human judgement and connection? The Experientialist® weighs in.