Rio de Janeiro
The natural starting point: iconic coastline, mountain views, beach culture, design-forward hotels, and a city that rewards time beyond the headline sights.
On My Radar · 2027
Brazil, beyond a single postcard.
Four distinct stops, a serious dining story, and several ways to build the trip, from a land itinerary to an Oceania cruise.
A note on perspective
Research in progress, clearly labeled.
On My Radar is different from my travel journal. The journal is where I share firsthand trips and decisions. This page is the research desk, destinations I am studying, watching, and considering for clients before I have experienced them personally.
Brazil stands out for 2027 because it can be shaped around very different kinds of travel. A city-and-beach itinerary can pair Rio with São Paulo, Salvador, or Trancoso, while a cruise offers a more structured first look at the coast.
The places
Four stops, four different reasons to go.
The strongest itinerary may not try to include everything. Each destination adds a different rhythm, and the right combination depends on whether the priority is culture, dining, beach time, or contrast.
São Paulo
The dining and contemporary-culture counterpoint to Rio. This is the stop for ambitious restaurants, galleries, architecture, and a more urban view of Brazil.
Salvador
Color, music, historic architecture, and deep Afro-Brazilian culture make Salvador much more than an add-on to a beach itinerary.
Trancoso
A slower coastal finish, with understated luxury, small-scale hotels, and evenings centered around the Quadrado rather than a packed sightseeing list.
What I am watching
The choices that shape the trip.
Brazil is not one simple resort decision. The hotel style, food priorities, and travel format determine the experience as much as the destination list.
Luxury hotels
Setting matters as much as the room.
In Rio, the question is beachfront energy versus a quieter view. São Paulo calls for service and location. Salvador and Trancoso offer smaller properties with a stronger sense of place.
Dining
More than one city deserves the table.
São Paulo has enormous depth, while Rio brings destination restaurants such as Oro into the conversation. Bahia adds regional flavors that make Salvador and the coast essential to the food story.
By sea
Oceania Cruises offers another entry point.
For travelers who want structure and fewer internal logistics, an Oceania itinerary can introduce several Brazilian ports while keeping dining and accommodations consistent between stops.
The Brazil file
Go deeper, or start shaping the trip.
My personalized Fora guide expands the research, while the trip page gathers the planning path in one place. Both open in a new window.
Also on my radar · St. Lucia
A cruise-stop impression, and a reason to return.
I have visited St. Lucia as a cruise stop, but I have not stayed at these resorts. That distinction matters. My firsthand impression is of the island's dramatic landscape and coastline. The resort comparisons below are research for a future stay and for travelers deciding which version of St. Lucia fits them best.
The current shortlist ranges from romantic, open-air suites near the Pitons to wellness-focused all-inclusives, family-friendly villas, and a true splurge with private pools. The right choice depends less on a universal “best” and more on the purpose of the trip.
Read my personalized St. Lucia guide
Swipe or scroll to explore the guide.