A $10M gold toilet and top-tier gorilla trekking

Welcome back to Happenings. From gorilla trekking to Park City’s best stays to a new night train in Europe, HAP editor Luke Abrahams shares what’s happening in the travel sphere, served alongside his subjective thoughts. Oh, and our NYC-Know-It-All reports on Sotheby’s newest pad, equipped with an insanely expensive toilet and Basquiat pieces. Read on, y’all.

Eco marine retreats are the next big thing. There’s a lot of greenwashing out there nowadays. Pair it with some brilliant marketing minds, and everything sounds too good to be true. While many marine-led retreats claim they are making a difference, the truth is they are not—and travelers are catching on. A new kind of marine safari is taking shape, where ocean warriors are taking on the big corps and ditching them in favor of brands and independents with programs and experiences centred on preserving and protecting the oceans. Think science-led activities with marine biologists and conservation programs designed to make a difference. Here are six of the best and most luxurious on the market right now.

I do love a train, and so should you. Several European nations will now be connected by a new overnight train service this winter. Run by the Polish operator PKP Intercity, the sleeper service kicks off in Przemyśl, in southeast Poland, and continues through to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and then Germany. Think of it as the Polar Express, just without Tom Hanks. Why was it launched? Well, in short, it’s all about convenience. With the new service, it now makes train travel possible from Poland to three major European capitals without having to change platforms. And it only takes 16 hours. Not bad at all. Find out more about the route and when it starts here.

China?! Hidden?! Sold. Qianlong Garden in Beijing’s Forbidden City has stood with not a single visitor for 100 years. Now, after a 25-year restoration project, that’s changing. With a cost of between $15 and $18 million, it’s an investment Chinese leader Xi Jinping reportedly said was well worth it. Originally constructed in the 1770s for the Qianlong emperor, you can expect four gracious courtyards, 27 structures, and a rather lovely retreat built for the long-gone emperor throughout its grounds. It’s all rather lovely jubbly, and because it’s never been seen before more than enough reason to visit the land of the dragon in 2026. Find out more here.

From the heart of Africa in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, our latest PHOTO FIVE covers a gorilla trek into the mist from one of the country’s greatest lodges, Singita Kwitonda.

A Swanky Leica experience hits this Milan hotel. Milan’s Hotel Principe di Savoia is an iconic address, which is why Leica has decided to team up with the Milanese institution for an exclusive new experience. Dubbed Time Is Yours, it all kicks off at the hotel before you are whisked off onto a guided photographic walk through Brera, Milan’s vibrant artistic heart. The experience, inspired by the new Leica ZM 12, also means you will be given your own Leica camera for the day. Not bad, eh? Book it here.

Our weekly column from hospitality-obsessed city native Megan Shelton unveils the gotta-be-there spots across the Big Apple that are anything BUT basic.

For more NYC + travel content, follow Megan, who doubles as HAP’s NYC Know-It-All and a Contributing travel writer, on Instagram, TikTok, and her Substack, Turndown Service.

Have a cool NYC spot in mind that you think should be on her radar? Email her your suggestions at [email protected].