The best job I ever had didn’t pay me a dime. Years ago, while running PC Magazine, I got an offer from the U.S. State Department to serve as a cultural attache. The job required giving presentations two or three times a day, organized by the local embassy. The hours would be long, and there would be no pay, but travel would be covered. Sold! Over the years, I have visited Hong Kong, Taiwan, Oman, Portugal, and Uruguay. The people I met on those trips have shaped my career and how I look at the world.
Perhaps it is no coincidence that my current job also comes with some travel benefits. You can read about my recent trip to Rome and Crete this issue. Americans tend to have a myopic view of history. It is almost inevitable when your country is only 250 years old. In high school, all of U.S. History was broken into two courses, pre and post 1945. We can barely think in centuries, but in Rome, the history goes back millennia.
Spending time in Rome causes time to slip, the current and the past colliding in weird ways. An amphora decorating a hotel lobby could be a thousand years old. Or it could be from Pottery Barn. I made fresh pasta in the basement of a restaurant that was also part of the ruins of the theater where Julius Cesar was killed.
Sadly, I can’t take all of the trips myself. We also sent Worth regulars Jonathan Russo and Deborah Grayson to enjoy the serene and stunning landscapes of French Polynesia via cruise ship.This collection of islands, scattered like jewels in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, attracts around 200,000 visitors annually. While tourism is a vital part of the economy, there is a strong emphasis on sustainable practices to protect the natural beauty and cultural heritage. In part, this is because unlike in, say, the Hawaiian Islands, locals still own 85% of the land in French Polynesia. Indeed, with limited tourism infrastructure, a small cruise ship is probably the best way to explore the islands.
The Copal Tree Lodge in Punta Gorda, Belize, is also trying to combine luxury with conservation to boost the local economy. This rainforest hideaway, with its 16 suites and one villa, employs 180 locals and produces rum, chocolate, and coffee. Its sustainability initiatives include ocean and rainforest conservation, debt-for-nature agreements, and supporting local organizations. Worth’s Eva Crouse visited the Lodge and spoke with its chief sustainability officer. And while she expected to talk about the threat of climate change and overfishing, the growing pirate threat was a surprise.
These stories remind us that travel is not just about the destinations we visit but the connections we make and the stories we carry with us. At Worth, we aim to inspire thoughtful and responsible travel that enriches both the traveler and the communities they explore. As we continue to uncover the world’s wonders, we remain committed to promoting sustainability and cultural appreciation, ensuring that the beauty we experience today is preserved for future generations.
