The Inner Circle of Travel Intelligence and Curated Discovery
Welcome to Il Circolo —
created for those who see the world not as an escape, but as inspiration.
Where timeless places meet the art of living beautifully.
As we close one chapter and look toward the next, we ’ re delighted to welcome you into Il Circolo — a place for those who see travel not as escape, but as inspiration. Here, you’ll find exclusive insights, curated discoveries, and emerging trends designed to enrich the way you experience the world.
This first issue is a celebration of new beginnings, meaningful journeys, deeper connections, and the quiet art of living beautifully, every day, everywhere.
— Lori & William Small
The Gift of Belonging
This season, give the gift of something rare — belonging. A Best Day Every Day Membership unlocks a world of elevated experiences from insider travel intelligence and curated destination guides to priority event invitations, enhanced hotel privileges, and monthly access to Il Circolo.
It’s more than a membership. It’s an invitation to live beautifully, every day, everywhere.
Give the Gift of Membership
Explore beautifully. Live intentionally.
Where the World Is Heading Next
A forward-thinking roundup of luxury travel intelligence:
The art of restoration.
Wellness in Motion
The evolution of wellness is moving beyond recovery into refinement where science, serenity, and sense of place converge. In the Dolomites, the reopening of Aman Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano sets a new benchmark for alpine vitality: Japanese minimalism meets Tyrolean soul, with spa rituals, altitude training, and culinary purity designed to restore body and mind. From peptide-powered retreats to longevity hotels and integrated med-spas, 2026 is poised to redefine what it means to live — and age — beautifully.
Destinations on the Rise
As a new year unfolds, the luxury landscape evolves—quietly, intelligently, and always ahead of the curve. Our editors trace the movements shaping tomorrow’s journeys, revealing how culture, wellness, and experience will redefine travel in 2026.
Kyoto’s Revival – A renaissance of restraint and refinement as Japan reopens with renewed artistry: hidden ryokans, slow tea rituals, and design rooted in wabi-sabi balance.
Sardinia’s Private Estates – The Mediterranean’s most discreet addresses, where sustainability meets barefoot glamour along secret coves and vineyard coastlines.
The Yucatán’s Quiet Renaissance –Colonial haciendas reborn as cultural sanctuaries, pairing Mayan heritage with modern Mexican minimalism.
The world’s most captivating destinations are no longer defined by where they are but by how they make us feel.
Cultural Crossroads
Venice — Where Art, Imagination, and Experience Intertwine
Few places capture the soul of cultural travel like Venice — a city that doesn’t just preserve art, but lives within it. Every stone, scent, and sound tells a story of creation, from the gilded halls of the Palazzo Ducale to the avant-garde pavilions of the Venice Biennale.
Here, centuries of craftsmanship meet the pulse of modern expression. Designers, chefs, and dreamers converge across canals and courtyards, proving that true culture isn’t static — it’s fluid, alive, and ever-changing.
Whether it’s an intimate evening with Antonia Sautter inside her Venetian atelier or a quiet afternoon along the Zattere, Venice reminds us that the art of travel is, at its heart, the art of transformation.
In Venice, culture isn’t something you visit — it’s something you become part of.
Italy Prepares for Its Moment on the World Stage
The Games return to Italy — and redefine the art of alpine living.
Each month, Il Circolo shares a handful of experiences that define the art of living beautifully destinations, tables, and moments chosen not for where they are, but for how they make you feel. This winter, we invite you to slow the pace, savor stillness, and rediscover the elegance of simplicity.
Spotlight | The World Returns to the Italian Alps
Milano–Cortina 2026 · Where the Games Meet Grandeur
As the world looks toward Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics, anticipation is already reshaping the country’s northern landscape. From Milan’s design-driven energy to the snowdusted majesty of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Olympic corridor will soon unite Italian style, alpine performance, and international allure.
In the Dolomites, an air of refinement is quietly settling over Alta Badia and Val Gardena destinations long favored by those who value grace over grandeur. At its heart stands Aman Rosa Alpina, poised to become the serene centerpiece of this new era, where wellness and wonder converge in perfect balance.
Long after the world’s attention moves on, the legacy of Milano–Cortina will endure not in stadiums or slopes, but in the art of stillness rediscovered in slow mornings, deep breaths, and the return to what truly matters.
Discover the spirit of the 2026 Winter Games through Italy’s most captivating alpine regions explore Milano, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Alta Badia, and Val Gardena on Best Day Every Day for exclusive hotels, experiences, and insider insight before the world arrives.
Insider Insight: Begin planning your journey to Italy’s alpine heart — Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Alta Badia, and Val Gardena are set to define winter 2026 in style, elegance, and discovery.
Elegance in motion.
Editor’s Curations
A handpicked trio of seasonal recommendations:
Each month, Il Circolo shares a handful of experiences that define the art of living beautifully destinations, tables, and moments chosen not for where they are, but for how they make you feel. This winter, we invite you to slow the pace, savor stillness, and rediscover the elegance of simplicity.
Stay | Christmas at Rocco
Forte Villa Igiea — Palermo’s Holiday Grandeur
Perched above the shimmering Gulf of Palermo, Rocco Forte Villa Igiea transforms into a Sicilian fairytale during the festive season. Twinkling lights illuminate Liberty-style architecture, while palm trees sway in the sea breeze and guests gather under frescoed ceilings for champagne and carols. The scent of citrus and pine drifts through the winter air, blending with the warmth of Italian hospitality that makes Christmas here feel timeless.
Insider Insight: Spend Christmas Eve at the Florio Restaurant a candlelit celebration of Sicilian cuisine and Dolce Vita spirit overlooking the sea.
Dine | Le Louis XV — Alain Ducasse at l’Hôtel de Paris, Monte-Carlo
Under the grand chandeliers of Monaco’s Hôtel de Paris, Le Louis XV captures winter at its most opulent. Truffle-infused menus, gilded service, and Riviera sparkle remind us that indulgence, done well, is an art.
Insider Insight: Reserve a late seating and toast with vintage Champagne as the Casino Square glows beneath holiday lights.
Editor’s Curations
A handpicked trio of seasonal recommendations:
Experience | The Glacier Express — Switzerland’s Journey Through Snow and Silence
Crossing 291 bridges and 91 tunnels from Zermatt to St. Moritz, the Glacier Express turns winter travel into pure theatre. Vast alpine valleys, glass-domed carriages, and a slow rhythm invite reflection amid breathtaking stillness.
Insider Insight: Reserve Excellence Class for a six-course lunch with panoramic views the Alps become your private gallery in motion.
True luxury is measured not by speed, but by how deeply you experience the view.
Destination Deep Dive
A closer look at one extraordinary destination through the lens of living beautifully.
Every month, Il Circolo turns its gaze toward a single place that captures the essence of the season. Beyond itineraries and indulgence, these features reveal the deeper art of destination how a landscape, a culture, or a moment can transform the way we see ourselves and the world around us.
Stay: The Little Nell, Hotel Jerome, or a private chalet framed by pine and possibility.
Dine: Element 47 for modern elegance; Cache Cache for timeless Aspen glamour.
Experience: A snowshoe journey to Pine Creek Cookhouse or an afternoon of renewal at Remède Spa in The St. Regis.
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen · Where Luxury Finds Its Soul
High style, higher spirit discover the art of living beautifully at altitude.
Beyond the powder and prestige, Aspen reveals a rare harmony of soul and sophistication. Here, art, culture, and alpine energy intertwine—where mornings open on fresh tracks and evenings unfold around candlelit tables with friends who feel like family.
From the luminous halls of the Aspen Art Museum to fireside dinners at French Alpine Bistro, the town thrives on connection. It’s a mountain village with global rhythm, where billionaires and locals share ski lifts, stories, and a deep appreciation for beauty in all its forms.
Insider Insight: Experience Aspen at its most inspiring where luxury is freedom, adventure is art, and every moment feels intentional. Continue your journey on Best Day Every Day for member-only access to Aspen’s most exclusive stays, tables, and experiences.
Members’ Moment
The Best Day Every Day, Lived and Shared
Each month, Il Circolo spotlights a member whose travels embody the Best Day Every Day philosophy stories of discovery, purpose, and presence. Whether it’s a quiet moment in the Alps or a conversation that changes perspective, these reflections remind us why we travel: to live beautifully, together.
Member Spotlight | A Winter in St. Moritz
When Aspen member Anne C. traded the Rockies for the Engadin last season, she discovered that living beautifully has no borders, only new ways to feel at home. Days began with sunlit slopes and crisp alpine air, followed by long lunches on mountain terraces where time itself seemed to slow. Evenings unfolded in candlelight and laughter, where elegance felt effortless and connection came easily.
“Travel doesn’t change you, ” Anne said. “It simply reminds you who you ’ ve always been.”
Moments that move us.
Every journey becomes part of who we are, especially the ones that slow us down enough to notice.
Editor’s Note: To be considered for an upcoming Members’ Moment, share your story with the editors of Il Circolo.
The Circolo Challenge | December 2025
Find-A-Word: A Season of Stillness and Celebration
Hidden within are handpicked words drawn from this issue destinations, philosophies, and festive moments that define the art of living beautifully.
D E C E
T H A Q L M E A P R O D I T R R R U V S
R I P E T Y M S A V E S C P E U R E P C A P W S X A A T F R T E O I S I N L K I
