What Subscribers Are Reading This Month

Who doesn’t dream of escaping to a secret tropical outpost? I know I do. With over 7,600 islands making up the Philippines—and more than 5,000 of them uninhabited—there’s bound to be somewhere to hide.

The idea is timeless: a far-flung haven, ringed by blue water, where the noise of the modern world fades to a distant hum. A place not yet overrun. Not yet priced out. And don’t forget… waves for days.

One expat (dubbed Mr. Texas) finds just that in the Philippines. This month’s feature explores the kind of frontier that feels bustling and modern, yet some spots are barely marked on a map. It’s less a single destination and more a collection of livable worlds, inviting discovery rather than commitment.

Across this issue, you’ll find places and strategies that exist beyond the obvious. Ted Baumann brings South Africa into focus as European golden visas fade. In Palermo, IL’s Italy Correspondent finds delightful daily contradictions, and in Paris, belonging begins at the neighborhood market.

Elsewhere, we look at the practical side of positioning yourself wisely. Holding Swiss francs isn’t about chasing yield; it’s about preservation. Navigating the shrinking world of foreign banks requires preparation and clarity.

Diego, our resident Wine Explorer, investigates the promise of resveratrol and is led to vineyards, sunlight, altitude, and the people who make wine part of ordinary life. In Antioquia, the search for inspiration becomes something more practical—a place to sit down, do the work, and build community.

Our March lineup has real range. Some stories sit at the far edges of the map—outpost islands, a Soviet-flavored breakaway state, or a muddy off-the-beaten-path hike in Ecuador. Others stay closer to the questions that matter once the fantasy wears off: Where does daily life actually work? What happens when a “quiet” place starts getting loud?

These stories don’t argue for one perfect answer. They offer possibilities—some playful, some tactical, some unexpected—and a reminder that “escape” can mean more than distance. Sometimes it’s space. Sometimes it’s options. Sometimes it’s a new vantage point.

However you approach this issue, I hope it leaves you with one new place to consider—and one new way to think about what’s still possible.

Holly Andrew, Managing Editor