# OUT & AWAY — Editorial Calendar, December 2026 to May 2027 One publication, one recognizable design, a new theme each month. Every issue keeps the same skeleton, in this fixed order: stunning opening, A Note from Carlos (50 to 75 words), LGBTQ+ Travel Spotlight, LGBTQ+ Trips Worth Discovering (two verified, bookable trips, operators rotated month to month), the LGBT Trip Hub (every issue, compact, always AFTER the discoveries so readers meet two trips before the full collection), Carlos's Pick(s) and the hosted Travel With Carlos & Chris features (rotated, never shown as available when sold out), one rotating feature (Beyond the Cruise, Worth Exploring, or Something Fun), The Premium Travel Experts Difference, and the standard footer. Themes are editorial starting points, not offers. Fold in real supplier news, actual group availability, and Carlos's own experiences as they happen. ## DECEMBER 2026 — Dreaming of Somewhere Wonderful (BUILT, production polished Nov 5, 2026) - Opening: French Polynesia lagoon, "Dreaming of Somewhere Wonderful" - Note: reflective, grateful, countdown to French Polynesia (Oct 2027) and Egypt (2028) - Spotlight: Puerto Vallarta and the Zona Romántica (Carlos and Chris have a home there) - Trip Hub: standard block - Trips Worth Discovering (approved by Carlos Nov 5, 2026; both re-verified on the operator sites Nov 5, 2026): Tryst Cruises Maiden Voyage (Celebrity Beyond, Oct 31 to Nov 6, 2027; Tryst's own FAQ says reservations are expected to open in late November with Founder Rates and payment plans from $99 per person down; no pricing published yet; itinerary Puerto Plata, Samaná, Nassau corroborated). RECHECK Tryst's status the week of the send; if reservations have opened, swap in the alternate line in PRODUCTION-NOTES.md. OUT Adventures India Holi Festival Foray (Mar 12 to 23, 2027, from $9,195 USD double occupancy, "only a few spots left" in the operator's dates block, verified Nov 5, 2026). VACAYA Samaná held for January. - Production notes for December: all links are absolute URLs or mailto links to Carlos (no relative links); the poll votes by mailto, one distinct subject per answer; the Difference section carries the no fees message in its headline only. Full test record and the CP Maxx verification list: PRODUCTION-NOTES.md. - Carlos's Pick: French Polynesia countdown (hosted sailing fully booked; inspiration framing) - Something Fun: December poll on the Out & Away poll page (Puerto Vallarta vs Christmas markets vs on deck somewhere warm; each answer links to out-and-away-poll.carlos-f18.workers.dev with its choice key, the vote is recorded, and the reader immediately sees the live bar graph; method settled Nov 5, 2026 after email voting and click-only tracking were both superseded) - Subject: "Dreaming of somewhere wonderful" - Preview text: "Puerto Vallarta in the spotlight, our French Polynesia countdown, the LGBT Trip Hub, and one very important December question." ## JANUARY 2027 — New Year, New Adventures - Opening: a destination that feels like a fresh start (southern hemisphere summer?) - Note: short, personal, one thing Carlos is looking forward to in 2027 - Spotlight: gay friendly travel experiences to book early in the year (Pride season planning) - Trip Hub: standard block, feature whatever is newest in the hub - Trips Worth Discovering (planned mix, verify at build): VACAYA Beach Club Samaná (held from December; resort week, Oct 31 to Nov 6, 2027) + OUT Adventures Peru and Machu Picchu (Apr 10 to 18, 2027) — a resort and a cultural journey - Featured journey: Egypt 2028 hosted group, one year of planning runway, registration open - Subject: "New year, new adventures" - Preview text: "Fresh destinations, Pride season planning, our Egypt 2028 journey, and the trips everyone will be talking about." ## FEBRUARY 2027 — Travel Together - Opening: a romantic escape photograph (Santorini, Bora Bora lagoon, or a resort sunset) - Note: traveling with the person you love, and with friends who feel like family - Spotlight: gay friendly resorts and experiences for couples (and the friends who travel with them) - Trip Hub: standard block - Trips Worth Discovering (planned mix, verify at build): an Atlantis Events Caribbean sailing + a Brand g river cruise (whichever departures are live at build time) — a big ship and a river - Featured: a group opportunity or hosted journey with a together angle - Something Fun: a Valentine's or friendship themed travel question - Subject: "Travel together" - Preview text: "Romantic escapes, resorts that welcome everyone, and the case for bringing your favorite people along." ## MARCH 2027 — Beyond the Ordinary - Opening: Africa, Asia, or the South Pacific, something that stops the scroll - Note: the trips that change you a little - Spotlight: an extraordinary LGBTQ+ friendly destination or experience (safari, Japan, South Pacific) - Trip Hub: standard block - Trips Worth Discovering (planned mix, verify at build): OUT Adventures Morocco (Apr 20 to 30, 2027) + a safari or expedition departure from the Trip Hub — culture and wild places - Carlos's Picks: one or two, safari and/or Asia, anticipation framing where he has not been - Something Fun: a surprising travel discovery - Subject: "Beyond the ordinary" - Preview text: "Safaris, distant islands, and the trips that stay with you long after you are home." ## APRIL 2027 — The World Is Waiting - Opening: Europe in spring - Note: a personal European favorite or anticipation - Spotlight: LGBTQ+ neighborhoods and culture (Barcelona's Eixample, Berlin, Amsterdam, London) - Trip Hub: standard block - Trips Worth Discovering (planned mix, verify at build): a European LGBTQ+ river cruise or hosted departure + OUT Adventures Thailand Songkran (Apr 7 to 16, 2027) — Europe and Asia in one issue - Featured: a special group journey or upcoming cruise (Egypt 2028 final push season begins) - Subject: "The world is waiting" - Preview text: "Europe in spring, the neighborhoods we love, and a journey worth circling on the calendar." ## MAY 2027 — Summer Starts Here - Opening: beach, boat, or Pride energy - Note: summer plans, Vallarta Pride in late May as a hook if it fits - Spotlight: LGBTQ+ cruises and group experiences for summer and beyond - Trip Hub: standard block - Trips Worth Discovering (planned mix, verify at build): a summer VACAYA or Atlantis departure + Tryst Wonder of the Seas save the date (Feb 4 to 11, 2028) — one bookable now, one to anticipate - Featured: beach escapes, resorts, European adventures - Something Fun: reader poll, summer edition - Subject: "Summer starts here" - Preview text: "Beaches, boats, Pride season, and the summer trips worth booking now." --- # Monthly production checklist 1. Carlos sends Nico: a few travel ideas, upcoming trips, any important news, and anything he personally experienced or is anticipating. 2. Nico drafts the issue from the master template (Inspiration or Journeys layout), writes the Note in Carlos's voice at 50 to 75 words, and verifies every factual claim and link before it goes in. 3. Photography: one cover image, then one per feature. Hosted URLs only in the send version (Maxx Media or verified remote), never base64. 4. Trip Hub block and footer go in untouched. Difference section stays. 5. Nico delivers: the issue HTML, a copy paste helper, subject line options, and a preview. Carlos reviews and approves the exact send. 6. Carlos pastes into Maxx Creator (source view, select all, paste), checks the View Email preview, confirms the audience count, and Save & Send. 7. Nico verifies the send appears in the Queue/Sent and that the live Trip Hub still matches the issue. App, newsletter, and Trip Hub update together whenever trips change. # Standing guardrails - Nothing is sent, published, or changed in CP Maxx without Carlos's explicit approval for that exact action. - No invented fares, cabin counts, discounts, testimonials, or supplier benefits. - Never write that Carlos has visited a place he has not. French Polynesia (Oct 2027) and Egypt (Mar 2028) are anticipation until they happen. - Perks language stays qualified: available on select vacations. - Audience additions only at Carlos's explicit request.