This Mexican Preserve Is the Anti-Tulum. Is That About to Change?

Plus, Biden Administration Says Sputnik Vaccine Won't Count for International Travelers Hoping to Visit America

Manage newsletters View in browser The entire world in your inbox. Hello all—   Fall weather has finally descended upon Washington, D.C. which means I'm thinking about which warm destinations I can escape to this winter. Our lead feature this week comes from one of my favorite escapes—Mexico. David Shortell reports on the storm brewing in the region south of Tulum which has long been protected from development. However, some residents of  the Mayan community there would like to see some of the reserve opened up to create jobs and wealth for their community.    It will come as no surprise to those who know me that I'm not a big fan of starchitect Santiago Calatrava. To me, his works always seem like big ego-trips, both on the part of the architect and the organizations that commissioned him. Especially egregious, given how much his projects cost to build and maintain, is that they're often using public money—which is always in short supply. But this week I have something nice to say, because a library he designed in Zurich is our latest selection for our World's Most Beautiful Library series. It's also one of the most wonderful pieces of contemporary architecture I've seen in a while.   We also have a report from Scott Bixby, who details what we know about the U.S. visitor vaccine requirement (spoiler alert: AstraZeneca is fine, Sputnik not so much).    Enjoy!   — William O'Connor, Travel Editor This Mexican Preserve Is the Anti-Tulum. Is That About to Change? Just south of Tulum is a stretch of pristine coastline untouched by large-scale development, but some in the region want to open it up to benefit the indigenous community. Biden Administration Says Sputnik Vaccine Won't Count for International Travelers Hoping to Visit America Almost all non-citizen visitors traveling to the States by air after November 8 will be required to provide proof of vaccination status to airline officials prior to boarding. The World's Most Hated Architect Created One Hell of a Library Santiago Calatrava's law library in Zurich just might be one building even his detractors can admire. Budapest Has a Grand New Hotel The newly redesigned and rehabilitated Hotel Matild repurposes a classic building constructed at the turn of the last century, blending the best of old and new Budapest. This Meteorologist-Made Umbrella Will Make You Hope for Rain Scouting Report: Invented by an actual meteorologist, the Weatherman Umbrella can withstand any weather you're willing to walk through.   Founded by famed meteorologist Rick Reichmuth, Weatherman Umbrella is not producing your typical run-of-the-mill, cheap umbrellas. The Brooklyn-based company has developed a line of well-made umbrellas with state-of-art materials, including industrial-strength fiberglass and quick-dry, water-repellent canopies, which save you and the floor from being soaked when you close the umbrella after a storm. The umbrellas are super lightweight as well. The Travel Umbrella, which I own in a fun neon pink, fits well in my oversized work bag and weighs less than a pound.   Easily opened and closed with the click of a button, the Weatherman Umbrella has become a commuting essential. I carry it with me everywhere I go, unafraid and always prepared for any surprise showers I may encounter throughout the day.   — Scouted by Layne Van Vranken BUY ON AMAZON >>> "If you walk into a place of worship and there's a cross you can feel fairly certain that you're in Christian space. Which is why it might be surprising to learn that a network of ancient Jewish catacombs about a mile outside of Venosa, Italy, has crosses etched into the walls." —Candida Moss details what might be behind a strange discovery in Italy. OMG I Want to Rent This House!      Casa Codussi, Venice, Italy (Merrion Charles): If you're finally planning a visit to Venice after a long two years going nowhere special, you are required to do it right. That means packing your finest runway looks, making only the best dinner reservations, and, most importantly, staying in an authentic palazzo that will make you feel like the last reigning Doge of Venice. Enter Casa Codussi, the palace of your travel dreams.   It doesn't get more dramatic than sailing up to your holiday house on a boat, disembarking on your private dock, and taking a step into a recently renovated wonderland that is all yours for as long as you're willing to shell out $2,636 per night.   Only sweet dreams of all the places you will sail around to are allowed here. Those dreams pair nicely with the boat and captain rental option that's available through your holiday stay. Get those Aperal spritzes ready to cruise!   What a home in Venice lacks in spacious land, it makes up for in terraces, at least as far as Casa Codussi is concerned. A private deck off the water, a first-floor balcony, a loft, and a gorgeous rooftop terrace with a city view are just some of the places you can eat, drink, and enjoy the sea breeze.   Book Your Stay: Casa Codussi, Venice, Italy$2,636/night via Merrion Charles   Don't miss previous OMG, I Want to Rent This House posts, which spotlight the most spectacular and unique homes that you can actually stay in.  Check out the full archives.  Travel to Turn of the Century Japan with this Book   So much of our travel, from museums to historic neighborhoods to reenactments, are an attempt to travel back into the past. The same goes for coffee table books, whether they be photos of Paris by Marville or the Golden Age of Hollywood. That's why our latest selection for Just Booked, our series on gorgeous travel related coffee table books, is the latest in Taschen's series on various destinations at the turn of the century—Japan 1900.   The extra large book is filled with more than 700 photos from the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th and have been lightly colorized. They capture a Japan as it slowly opens up to the world and becomes a major stop on the steamship routes (so popular that the word globetrotter was created to describe its western visitors).   Check out our previous selections for our series on gorgeous travel-related coffee table books, Just Booked. BUY ON TASCHEN  >>               Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts or newsletters, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales. © Copyright 2021 The Daily Beast Company LLC  555 W. 18th Street, New York NY 10011  Privacy Policy If you are on a mobile device or cannot view the images in this message, click here to view this email in your browser. To ensure delivery of these emails, please add emails@thedailybeast.com to your address book. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, or think you have received this message in error, you can safely unsubscribe.