🇬🇷 This new Greek hotel has me booking a flight

July 31, 2026 | View Online

Quick FYI – If you fly American often, here's one policy change worth knowing about. The airline has quietly tightened its 24-hour refund policy for last-minute bookings, meaning you'll now only qualify for a full cash refund if your ticket was booked at least seven days before departure.

It's not a huge change for most travelers, but it's a good reminder to double-check those last-minute bookings before you hit confirm.

In today’s edition:

• A stunning new hotel in Greece to add to your wishlist 

• Europe's best beach clubs, according to moi
• A list of fun weekend plans to fill a possible blank calendar 

The more you know,
Kaylen

If your weekend plans are still a blank page, here are some things to do whether you're leaving the house or not. 

🕵️ If you're nosey like I am and looking for an interesting trip to book this weekend, this celebrity's private Canadian retreat is opening to the public for the first time.

🍹 In LA and need a new hang out spot? Blondie is West Hollywood's chill new rooftop with an Australian-inspired menu of bar snacks and cocktails under $17. I'll be recruiting Arijana and Lauren to go with me since we all live near. 

☀️ San Diego's looking at sunny skies and highs near 77°F all weekend, so here are 11 things to do this weekend in America's Finest City.

🍤 Hungry? Me too. Here are 4 food-focused trips for travelers who love culture. If you need to satisfy a craving right now,  here's a tasty summer dish I'm making myself on the grill. 

60,000 People Are Leaving America - For This City?

More than 60,000 Americans now live in a place with “the exoticness of a top-tier European city”.

What’s the attraction?

According to the BBC, this city offers:

“the cafe culture of Paris... the cuisine of Milan... and [fun] of Madrid…”

…but at a MASSIVE discount compared to any of those cities.

There’s a lesser-known corner of the world where Americans are retiring in European-style luxury and refinement—without breaking the bank.

Imagine a Michelin Star dinner with wine and a rib-eye steak for only $11…Parisian penthouses for $650 a month…and nights at the opera for less than the movies back home!

Because the area was settled by French, Italians, and Germans 150 years ago, this retirement haven feels like some of the richest places in Europe...

Think cities like Paris…towns like Cannes on the French Riviera…or villages that could be straight from the banks of the famous Lake Como in Italy.

Click here now to learn where this is possible. 

New hotel in Paros invites to you embrace Greek life

All this talk of The Odyssey and Greek mythology has me looking at a trip to Greece, and by chance I came across a new hotel opening on August 1: Luura Paros Cliff, which sits between the coastal villages of Naoussa and Aliki on the Greek island of Paros.

The new 39-suite property leans into classic Cycladic style with whitewashed walls, clifftop buildings overlooking the Aegean, and most come with private terraces and some with private pools. The vibe is quiet and art-forward rather than flashy, with pieces from the Khoury’s (father-and-daughter team who founded the hotel) personal collection, alongside local ceramics.

Luura Paros Cliff sits on the western coast of Paros, on the bay of Agia Irini, about a 15-minute drive from Paros Airport and roughly 7 km from Parikia, the island's main town. Nearby, you've got Agia Eirini beach just steps away, Naoussa's harborside tavernas and the walkable, whitewashed alleys of Parikia for wandering, shopping, and boat trips over to Antiparos. 

The beauty and fun are in the details:
🏺 Ceramic workshops with local artisan Maria Economides, whose pieces also appear throughout the guest rooms

⛵ Boat excursions and farm visits for a closer look at the island's magnificent landscapes 

🍽️ Two on-site restaurants: Lenea for contemporary Mediterranean cooking, and the Greek debut of Mimi Kakushi for Japanese cuisine

🌿 Herbal wellness treatments using bespoke oil blends of bay, oregano, bergamot, and chamomile

🧊 Cold-plunge contrast therapy and sauna if you’re looking to reset your nervous system or start your day off on the right foot 

🧘 Movement sessions built into the wellness program, for slow, intentional travel 

The hotel is 5-star, with nightly rates starting around $800, so absolutely a splurge and a trip that would be perfect for a special occasion. Knowing myself, every trip is a special occasion, so it’s one I’d split with a friend or book through one of my credit card’s travel portals if I find it’s available there. 

The best time to visit: late April through June or September through mid-October, warm and dry without peak-summer crowds or prices, and the sea actually stays warmer in September than in July.

I could use this and a bag of potato chips right about now. 

If you've had a busy week, not a worry! I've got you covered with travel news highlights we shared this week and a few extra in case you missed them.

• 15 dog-friendly ocean-front hotels in the US 

• A list of my favorite European beach clubs 

• If you love food, the Eater app now lets you swap dining notes

• Lufthansa launches a paid "Back Seat" seating option 

• Three airports have joined TSA's private Gold+ security screening

• Southwest’s changes worked, and 60% of flyers are now paying for upgrades

📍 Four Seasons Tamarindo, Mexico

A pic I took from a recent stay at Four Seasons Tamarindo in March. I went with a friend for a girls' trip, and it quickly climbed onto my list of top 10 favorite hotels of all time.

I know you probably have some great pics of your own that deserve our eyes.
 Click here to share with us.