Entering The Cornice, a pizzeria that is the only restaurant still open in Kirkwood Mountain Resort’s village at 8 p.m. on a Friday night in mid-March, is like slipping through a portal to an earlier era, one before hot honey and figs were toppings. The pitchers of beer, serviceable pies, parents ignoring kids, kids ignoring parents, and Foosball all jibe with what I’ve always heard about the resort: It’s got a throwback, no-frills ethos, like Utah’s Alta or New Mexico’s Taos. At a time when resorts are adding ski butlers, pop-up Veuve Clicquot bars, and $35 poke bowls, the atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious.

The base-area parking lot I walk through the next morning reminds me of the resort parking lots of my youth. Which is to say, it feels a lot like tailgating. People have set up folding chairs and are sipping coffee and Monster Energy drinks as they gear up. Mediocre classic rock, like bad movies on planes, is better at altitude, and as we queue up at the Solitude lift, everyone—whether 7 years old or 70—is feeling the playlist, which is heavy on the Steve Miller Band and Bad Company. The vibes are great all day long: Alex and I ski the trails off the village lifts before heading to the west-facing backside, where the afternoon sun has softened the snow. We lap the aptly named Happiness Is run before being seduced by the scent of burgers wafting from the Sunset Grill.

Of all the Tahoe resorts, Kirkwood is the most isolated. There’s only one way in and out: State Route 88, formerly the main Gold Rush route and Mormon Emigrant Trail. If it dumps, this two-lane road closes. You do have to work a little harder to get to Kirkwood, and once you’re there, skiing is all there is to do. This dynamic has helped keep the resort a bit of a secret. By 4 p.m. the mountain and the village are quiet. We make the five-minute drive to the restaurant at Caples Lake Resort, which opened in 1939 at the site of a former trading post. It’s cozy, with a big stone fireplace and views over the frozen lake. The food is so tasty and the atmosphere so inviting that we come back the next evening on our way out of town.

There’s something joyful and optimistic about crossing into a different state: “The People of Indiana Welcome You!” “Welcome to Maine, the Way Life Should Be.” Crossing state lines on skis is an even bigger rush. Heavenly Mountain Resort, which overlooks the southeastern corner of Lake Tahoe, is the only American ski resort that straddles two states. I spend a good chunk of my morning, embarrassingly, taking videos of myself skiing past the “Welcome to California” sign, with its bright yellow poppies, and the Nevada one, with its pensive forty-niner. Heavenly is massive, with base areas in each state and 4,800 skiable acres. On Ridgerun, a wide intermediate trail with unobstructed views of the lake, I have the distinct feeling that if I keep going, I’ll eventually swan-dive into the water. Palisades has stunning views, but Heavenly’s are next-level.

The resort gondola drops us in the lakefront town of South Lake Tahoe, California. A mere block away, on the other side of Stateline Avenue, is the town of Stateline, Nevada, with its string of high-rise casinos. It’s wild to see the stark difference between what are essentially two sides of the same town, and even more so to see a Harrah’s and a Bally’s against such a pristine natural backdrop. For many, skiing all day and gambling all night is a winning combo, but I’m happy to head to the Desolation Hotel, on the California side, a design-forward, sustainably built boutique property that seems novel for Tahoe, where nondescript rental condos rule the day.

Milan alone is gearing up to welcome an estimated 1.6 million spectators over the course of two weeks, leaving locals wondering what the impact on their city will be. Around town, a tentative optimism seems to prevail. Ask a barista, restaurant server or dry cleaner if they’re excited for the Olympics, and you’ll often get a noncommittal, “sì” delivered with shrugged shoulders and a quick, tilted double head nod. Others, like Lucrezia Bosone, who runs a branding agency and grew up in Milan, remain skeptical. “I just don’t know if the city will be able to handle it,” she says, comparing the upheaval with that of Milan Design Week that causes traffic snarls and crowds across the city.

Hotel room rates for January are already showing a sizeable increase, too. At the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan, rates are comparable to Milan’s peak periods—Design Week in April and the spring and fall editions of Fashion Week—with several rooms booked months in advance. In the weeks immediately preceding and following the Games, rates remain above average.

Marco Terzi, CEO and founder of Xenia, a short-term rental company that manages over 130 Milan properties, cites a similar pattern, noting that rates during the opening ceremony, the first weekend and major finals are 70 to 120% higher than a typical February, with “prime location” apartments costing nearly 150% more. He has noticed clear peak periods around the days leading up to the opening ceremony and the first weekend, as well as a steadier but still higher middle stretch, and only a slight easing after the closing ceremony. Stays range from quick two- or three-night “hit and run” visits, timed to a single event, to longer seven- to 14-night bookings from staff and media.

During the Games, travelers will be able to take advantage of increased train frequency and shuttle services between Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

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Increased connectivity

To manage spectator flow in a manner that minimizes neighborhood disruption and avoids wide-scale neighborhood shutdowns and heavy traffic congestion, organizers have developed a transportation strategy. Lombardy secured a considerable portion of the Games’ 3.5 billion euro ($4 billion) budget to improve the host region’s transport and infrastructure. This covers shuttle services from pick-up points in Milan to Alpine competition sites, 46 new electric metro trains, and added rail connections for the Dobbiaco and Ponte nelle Alpi stations in South Tyrol, two of Cortina d’Ampezzo’s main access points. Lombardy’s regional TreNord service has added 120 additional daily train services for nearly 2,500 daily runs between Milan and the Valtellina area.

The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are finally starting to feel really, really real—because Ralph Lauren just dropped its Team USA 2026 collection. The all-American designer (whose “Christmas aesthetic” is likely taking over your social media feeds as we speak) has been outfitting US Olympians and Paralympians for nearly 20 years, and the same will be true for these upcoming Games. But you don’t need to be an outstanding athlete to get the gear—in fact, you don’t even need to leave your couch. You can buy Team USA’s iconic Opening and Closing Ceremony uniforms—as well as a whole host of other limited-edition pieces designed in honor of the 2026 Games—right now on the Ralph Lauren website. And it’s great timing, honestly, because the holidays are just around the corner.

If you’ve got an Olympics fanatic, Team USA die-hard, or even just an Italy obsessive in your life (including yourself), these patriotic pieces would make for incredible gifts—especially if they’ve got plans to travel to Northern Italy to attend the Games. From a sleek toggle coat that will be keeping the country’s finest warm to a timeless turtleneck that can be passed down for generations, this collection has a little bit of everything for everyone. The only downside? It’s already so popular, items have been flying off the metaphorical shelves. So if there’s a piece that catches your eye, channel your inner speed skater and move quick while it’s still in stock. (We’ll also keep updating this story with news of restocks, so keep your eyes peeled!)

Ready to shop? Scroll down for our favorite women’s clothing, men’s clothing, and accessories from the new collection. And if you are lucky enough to be headed to Italy for the Olympics in the new year, start building your wish list—you’ll be able to snag pieces from Ralph Lauren locations in Milan and Rome, as well as at a special pop-up shop at the Rosapetra Hotel in Cortina during the Games.

When the Grand Sumo Tournament arrived in London this October, the city reacted as if a global pop star had touched down. For five days, the Royal Albert Hall transformed into a dohyō (sumo ring), alive with roaring crowds. It was a collision of worlds: ancient Japanese ritual unfolding in a Victorian concert hall usually reserved for symphony orchestras.

Sumo‘s first visit to London in 34 years sparked an electric response. Tickets disappeared almost immediately; social media feeds flooded with viral clips of rikishi wrestlers cycling on Lime bikes and selfies snapped outside Buckingham Palace; and suddenly Britain had discovered a new sporting obsession.

But beyond the spectacle, something more interesting happened: fans began planning trips to Japan explicitly to experience sumo in its homeland. What started as a novelty became a catalyst for travel.

Visiting wrestlers Onosato and Hoshoryu spoke to the media near the Houses of Parliament during a tour of central London.

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From viral moment to travel motivation

Sports tourism has exploded in recent years—from cricket fans turning New York into a temporary Mumbai during the T20 World Cup, to Formula 1 followers building holidays around race weekends. Expedia’s latest annual trend report has named “Fan Voyage” as a defining travel trend—a move away from generic spectator sports and toward deeply local, culturally expressive athletic traditions. For Gen Z and Millennial travelers especially, the draw isn’t the scoreboard but the ceremony, the atmosphere, and the chance to feel part of a community. Think Muay Thai in Bangkok, curling in Canada—and now, increasingly, sumo wrestling in Japan.

For many British travelers, the London tournament planted the seed.

“She looks different,” I said, staring at the mountain. My boyfriend, Adam, and I were sitting in a rocky meadow dotted with miniature bluebells of Alpine gentian and eating ham, cheese, and cornichon sandwiches we’d packed that morning. We were at the Col de Balme, a 7,228-foot pass that marks the transition from Switzerland to France. Before us was Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. We’d left Chamonix nine days earlier to complete the Tour du Mont Blanc, one of the most popular treks in the world—100 miles through France, Italy, and Switzerland, with 30,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain.

“You can’t get the scope of her when you’re in the valley,” Adam agreed. From here, the mountain, which had acquired a feminine pronoun during our hike, was broader and softer but also larger and surrounded by jagged aiguilles and compact glaciers. In one more day we’d be done circumnavigating Mont Blanc.

Until recently a 10-day trek through the Alps felt impossible to me. Not because I don’t like treks. I love them. I grew up backpacking in the Rockies. After my first divorce I walked the Camino de Santiago alone. No, a trek like this was actually very “me,” but an older—and by that I mean younger—version of me. But then I became the married mother of two small children. “Maybe someday I’ll walk like that again,” I’d say to myself. Then life changed. Suddenly I was no longer married and had my children only half the time. Last summer my coparent and I agreed to give each other two weeks off. Two weeks when he would take the children on a daddy vacation, and I could…do whatever I wanted.

After the tumult of the previous few years, I could have lain on a beach. But I wanted to walk. I wasn’t after catharsis, exactly, but I was after a connection: with nature and with myself. An alignment in rhythm between my body and mind. Eleven years ago, at 30, I walked across Spain, wondering what the next decade would bring. Now, at 41, I was asking the question again.

The Arve River in the French town of Chamonix

Jade Stephens/Stills

Every winter, I carve out time for a ski trip—a reset I look forward to as much for the snowy terrain as I do for the ritual of gearing up. I’m selective about what I bring into the mountains, and I’ll only invest in pieces that perform, last, and feel good in motion, both on and off the slopes. Vuori has earned my trust over the years for consistently getting the activewear balance right: technical capability without the unnecessary bulk, and design that stays sharp with thoughtful construction from the lift to the lodge.

Now, the brand is stepping into winter with Vuori Snow, its first-ever ski and snow collection for men and women. From bib pants to snow-shell jackets to base layers and more, each piece in the brand’s Snow collection has been tested across backcountry powder, resort laps, and varied weather. Developed with professional skier Thibault Magnin, Vuori’s new line combines four-layer recycled fabric made from fishing nets with thoughtful features like a 30K waterproof rating, fully taped seams, ventilation, and weatherproof detailing. It’s engineered for durability, mobility, and warmth, without the stiffness that often comes with technical outerwear.

As for what I’m packing on my upcoming ski trip: a streamlined mix from the new drop—versatile pieces that can handle harsh conditions and keep pace with the way I travel for snowy mountain escapes. Read on for my top picks from the Vuori’s new Snow collection, as well as some more winter gear to add to your cart for keeping warm this season.

My favorites from Vuori’s Snow collection

Vuori Snow features both men’s and women’s outdoor essentials, including bibs, snow pants, and matching snow-shell jackets. While some sizes are already selling out, there are three sleek, versatile colors to choose from for men, and two options for women. All Taika snow-shell jackets, snow pants, and bibs are pressure-tested for all conditions, and are storm- and water-proof. All items in the collection are made with 100% recycled four-layer fabric, feature Aquaguard zippers, and are designed with input from backcountry experts. Not to mention, underarm vents to regulate heat and maintain breathability, and abrasion-resistant scuff guards for added comfort.

The women’s bib pants offer a loose fit around the hips for mobility and ergonomically-placed pockets; while the men’s snow pants boast a relaxed fit that’s generous through the hips and thighs. Both offer snow gaiters with zip closures for easy boot access.

More cold-weather essentials from Vuori

In addition to Vuori’s Snow collection, the activewear brand is releasing new winter essentials that complete any and every cold-weather outing. The new Chilled Out collection is full of warm yet breathable performance layers, like its high-waisted leggings and mock long-sleeve shirts. More new arrivals include elevated takes on its top-selling seasonal gear, including packable jackets and zip-ups. The cherry on top: The brand’s new Dreamknit neck gaiter to complete your most cozy look.

Adolf Munkel Trail: “For me, this is the most beautiful hike in the Dolomites. This loop is almost six miles long and isn’t that steep. While hiking, you can see the Geislerspitzen (Gruppo delle Odle), these 250-million-year-old rock formations that poke out from the mountains.”

Gschnagenhardt Hut: “This is my favorite rifugio. It’s on the Adolf Munkel Trail and sits below the Geisler (Odle) peaks in Val di Funes. I always have a plate of fried eggs, bacon, and roasted potatoes. For me, that’s the ultimate mountaineer’s meal. It fills you with energy after a long ascent.”

Reinhold Messner Haus: “We turned a former cable car station into this center that covers sustainability and the environment. It opened in September, on my birthday. We hosted a concert and a discussion with politicians and scientists about the local wolf population.”

Learning Ladin: German and Italian are the two most popular official languages, but you may hear a third: Ladin. Today this ancient local tongue is spoken in areas around the Sella massif, Belluno province, and northwestern Trentino. People in the Dolomites don’t expect you to know it, but saying bun dé instead of hello and de gra instead of danke or grazie is a sign of respect that goes a long way.

Cable Car Seceda Mountain

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Hitting the Road

The Bolzano Airport connects the western Dolomites to European capitals like London and Berlin via the regional airline SkyAlps, but it’s best to get a car. Rent one in Brescia or Innsbruck for easy access into the ski resorts of Val Gardena; start from Venice to reach Cortina in two hours. For public transportation, trains from Venice, Verona, Munich, and Innsbruck can get you into the centers of Bressanone, Bolzano, Brunico, and Merano. The region’s gondolas, chairlifts, and funiculars bring you atop the mountains for summer hikes or winter snow shredding. New ones include the Sonnen gondola, reaching altitudes of over 6,500 feet in just six minutes, in the Klausberg ski area; a 10-seater at the Ladurns ski resort, close to the Italy-Austria border; and a cable car (pictured) that links Castelrotto with the Marinzen Alp hiking area.

This article appeared in the December 2025 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.

Imagine rallying with Maria Sharapova on Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, cycling the switchbacks of Aspen with Bob “Bobke” Roll, or hanging five with Laird Hamilton on Oʻahu. Professional athlete-led experiences are on the rise at luxury hotels across the globe, from conventional recreations like the respective camps at Amanzoe, The Little Nell and The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay to more niche programs like trail running with extreme sportswoman Anne-Marie Flammersfeld at Kulm Hotel St. Moritz or fencing with six-time world champion Valentina Vezzali at Sardinia’s Forte Village Resort.

The tennis courts at Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands

Ken Hayden/Rosewood Little Dix Bay

“Athletic programming adds vibrancy and structure to leisure travel, offering a rhythm that guests increasingly crave,” says Ashley Smith, director of sales and marketing at Rosewood Little Dix Bay and lead planner for the Virgin Gorda resort’s Little Dix Bay Tennis Cup. Hosted by professional tennis players Sloane Stephens and Genie Bouchard, the forthcoming event this December will mark the second annual Cup after a successful debut last spring. “We see the [rising] trend [of professional athlete programming] as a reflection of a broader shift toward intentional, community-driven experiences,” says Smith, noting the social aspect to sharing a court with a tennis icon while connecting with like-minded guests to promote “wellness, but also connection, purpose, and play.”

The sudden interest around professional athlete-led experiences also taps into cultural moments like sports fandom, personal development, and even social media. “People want wellness with a story,” says Karen Whitt from The Palms in Turks & Caicos. In July, the Grace Bay–front property hosted a NFL Football Clinic focused on agility drills, teamwork, and motivation. Led by current players like Cincinnati Bengals’ running back Chase Brown and Houston Texans’ wide receiver Tank Dell, Whitt says the program hit the sweet spot of being “health-conscious, cool, and unexpected.”

The growing demand for experiences that blend adventure and rejuvenation is a theme The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay meets at their five-day Camp Laird where 20 guests will be coached by big wave surfer, Laird Hamilton. Located on the North Shore in front of surfers’ favorite break Turtle Bay Pool Bar, general manager Doug Chang says, “Rather than simply admiring the view, we offer guests the unforgettable opportunity to catch their first wave.”

These opportunities are especially great for families, adds Thaaif Ahmed, DOSM at Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort. The 176-key property debuted professional athlete offerings in 2023 as they recognized vacationers sought premium active experiences in addition to relaxation. This fall, they’ll host a four-day football camp led by former England striker Michael Owen who played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester United.

“Sport is increasingly seen as a form of holistic wellness, combining physical activity with mental resilience and community,” adds Anthony Gill, general manager of Patina Maldives, Fari Islands, which launched their football (soccer, to Americans) camp last year in partnership with Real Madrid consisting of multiple days of immersive training with former professionals complemented by performance menus and recovery treatments.

A few years ago, padel was a niche sport known mostly in Spain, the Middle East, and parts of Latin America. Today, it’s becoming one of the most sought-after experiences in high-end travel. From coastal Portugal to the Maldives and across the US, padel courts are appearing as an amenity to travel for, widely in luxury hotels and resorts. But this isn’t just the latest hospitality gimmick—it’s a reflection of changing traveler priorities.

“As the fastest-growing sport in the world, with over 30 million players currently worldwide, it’s easy to find a partner almost anywhere you go,” says Jon Krieger, the founder and CEO of Cure Companies, which works with Padel United Sports Club. At its core, padel is a doubles sport played on a small enclosed court, blending elements of tennis and squash. It’s easy to learn, low-impact, and inherently social—three reasons it’s resonating with a generation of travelers increasingly drawn to movement, community, and connection, says Krieger. It requires less training than tennis, and isn’t as overly saturated as pickleball. As a result, it seems to be filling a peculiar gap at just the right time.

According to recent reports, “sports-tripping,” or planning getaways around sporting events, is the next great travel movement. The global sports tourism market is expected to surpass $1.8 trillion by 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global travel industry. Padel, for its part, travels exceptionally well: The court size is small, the equipment is minimal, and the gameplay is intuitive—ideal for guests living out of a suitcase and resorts focused on lean, elegant design.

In the past year, several leading hotels and resorts have caught on to the trend. Properties like Amanzoe in Greece, Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Mexico, Montauk Yacht Club in Long Island, and Le Jardin des Douars in Morocco have integrated custom-built padel courts into their leisure offerings. That means luxury travelers can start expecting to see “padel courts” listed alongside other top-of-the-line services—like private chefs and over-the-top spa menus—during their hotel stays. In hospitality terms, this signals a shift: Padel is being treated not as a trend, but as an amenity with holding power.

It’s a welcome shift for travelers—particularly those hailing from Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East—who grew up playing padel recreationally. Originating in Mexico in the 1960s and gaining serious traction in Spain during the ‘70s, the sport now boasts over 11,000 courts in Spain alone. For travelers from these regions, seeing padel at a resort isn’t a novelty, but something familiar. While still growing in the US, the more measured pace of expansion has allowed padel to settle into this luxury niche. That exclusivity is reinforced by high-profile endorsements: David Beckham has invested in padel racket and travel bag brand Varlion and is opening courts in the UK; Rafael Nadal has backed activewear and padel gear brand Nox and has opened multiple academies; Jimmy Butler is a co-owner of the Miami Padel Club, which has helped fuel American interest; and Eva Longoria has invested in ePadel, a digital platform for the sport. These celebrities aren’t just playing padel (although they’re doing that, too), but investing in the sport’s infrastructure.

The World Cup is more than a tournament—it’s a passport stamp in motion. And for soccer-obsessed globe-trotters (or football-obsessed, depending where you hail from), it can be a 90-minute crescendo in the middle of a week spent wandering through new cities, flavors, and cultures.

In 2026, the FIFA World Cup will unfold across three countries for the first time—Canada, the United States, and Mexico—turning North America into one sprawling, exhilarating stage for the world’s most beloved sport. It’s the ultimate ticket to adventure for travelers who crave the pulse of a crowd as much as they do a skyline at sunset or a post-match mezcal in a hidden rooftop bar. But how do you get in? When do the tickets drop? And once you have them, how do you turn a soccer match into the trip of a lifetime? Let’s break it all down, one question at a time.

When is the FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins on Thursday, June 11, 2026, with the opening match taking place at Mexico City‘s legendary Estadio Azteca. It’s a fitting place to start—a cathedral of football history, nestled in a city brimming with art, energy, and a culinary scene that could rival the tournament’s grandeur. Over the following month, 48 teams will compete across North America in the biggest World Cup to date. After 104 matches, the tournament will conclude on Sunday, July 19, 2026; the final match will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just a short train ride from Manhattan.

When do tickets go on sale, and how can I get them?

Ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup 2026 officially begin on September 10, 2025. The first phase is a Visa cardholder exclusive, meaning only fans who register for a FIFA Ticketing Account and use a Visa card can apply through a random draw. The Visa exclusive application period runs for several days in early September, and tickets will be distributed using a randomized lottery system, so it’s not first-come, first-served. If you’re selected, you’ll receive a designated time slot in October to purchase tickets.

Subsequent waves of general public sales will roll out over the next several months. Initially, FIFA will continue the lottery-style draw method through October 31, but will eventually shift to a first-come, first-served approach by spring 2026. For those who prefer flexibility, FIFA will also introduce a resale platform closer to the tournament start (though the official date is still unclear), where verified fans can sell and exchange tickets at face value.

Hospitality packages are already available for travelers who want more than just entry through FIFA’s official hospitality provider, On Location. These range from single-match luxury experiences to comprehensive “Follow My Team” and “Venue Series” packages that include access to multiple games, often paired with premium seating, dining, and lounge access. Prices start in the low four-figures and climb up depending on the scale of your experience. Think of them as all-access passes to the best games, with a velvet-rope travel twist.

Where are the matches taking place, and where should I stay?

Matches will take place in sixteen cities across three countries: eleven in the United States, two in Canada, and three in Mexico. Each host city offers a distinct flavor of football and travel, whether it’s beachside glitz, mountain views, desert vibrance, or urban grit.

Mexico

In Mexico City, where the tournament kicks off, fans can stay in the chic neighborhoods of Condesa or Roma, where colonial architecture meets contemporary design. Estadio Azteca, the opening venue, sits in the southern part of the city, easily accessible by car or ride-share. The hotel options here are diverse, but consider boutique accommodations like the Nima Local House Hotel or the more luxurious Four Seasons Mexico City for proximity and comfort.

US

In New York and New Jersey, MetLife Stadium is technically in East Rutherford, but most visitors will likely stay in Manhattan for a mix of sightseeing and convenience. Hotels in Midtown or near Penn Station offer direct train access to the stadium. Try the Moxy Times Square or the Ace Hotel for stylish, centrally located picks that balance access with aesthetics.

Los Angeles’s SoFi Stadium will also host several matches. If you’re heading to LA, Santa Monica offers beachy, walkable vibes, while Downtown LA is better for nightlife and easier transit to the stadium via car.