The infinity pool at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve resort at Phulay Bay overlooks the Andaman Sea

But for those with a more plebeian orientation, itʼs hard not to recall Fantasy Island. I mean that in a good way.

In Thailand, just 54 rooms will be supported by close to 300 staff; each guest will have a personal concierge; and nearly anything you wish can be accommodated at any hour you choose.

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Maiko Girl, by Kuroda Seiki, Maiji Period, 1893, courtesy of the Tokyo National Museum

North American travelers started cutting back on travel to Japan more than a decade ago when the yen seemed expensive against the dollar, measured by travelers using what I call the Coca-Cola index (as in, “A Coke costs $10 at the Narita Airport!” ‒ that spoken by a fellow traveler in 1995 at the yen’s peak).

Since then, many world currencies have gained against the dollar, while the dollar has recently done well against the yen. Foreign currency exchange is an odd soup and doesn’t hold still, of course; yet its weird math puts Japan back on the travel list again. My seat companion of 15 years ago would say, “Coca-Cola is expensive here, but it’s not as bad as in (fill in the blank) …”

So, Japan is back on the traveler’s agenda. As it should be. For many westerners, a visit to Japan means the unraveling of cultural mystery, and of such things great trips are made. Lest you fear Japan’s past might not capture your interest, remember James Clavell’s novel Shogun, which stayed on the best-seller list almost infinitely and became the second-highest-watched television epic of all time. In fact, a re-read of Shogun is an enormously satisfying preview to any first trip to Japan.

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France's high-speed train, Thalys, boards passengers in The Hague, Netherlands.

Those in Europe who are responsible for high-speed rail service are thinking about business travel needs, but leisure travelers can also benefit from ever-improving European rail service.

Why Travel by Rail?
One big advantage of rail is that itʼs a less stressful way to travel, partly because it is more comfortable, and partly because the rail station experience is so much more tolerable than a typical airport. Also, with far fewer weather delays, one can generally count on on-time departures and arrivals. And finally, for journeys of two to four hours, the door-to-door time for passengers is usually shorter via rail than via air.

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The Wall Street Journal as travel trend-setter? Well, perhaps not every day; but today theyʼre pointing experienced travelers toward Sanya, China as Asiaʼs answer to Hawaii. And theyʼve hit the mark for those who seek to be among the first in new places. As Bruce Stanley reports in todayʼs Journal, luxury hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental have recently opened along the beachfront and that, as we all know, puts foreign adventuring in the uber-comfort zone.

Now is a great time to consider visiting Sanya, as peak season for travel is October to March.

Above, courtesy Mandarin Oriental. Below, courtesy Ritz-Carlton