Welcome to 2016! Where will this year take you? Wherever it may be, may good fortune find you. Speaking of, on a fall trip to Turkey, I kept spotting trees and bushes full of evil eye talismans, as seen in my picture this month. Believing they provide protection against the curse of the evil eye, people hang their charms on these trees along with their wishes — a fitting start as we embark on a New Year, with unlimited possibilities.

Discover new beginnings on the pages of Global Traveler this month. As you flip through, take note of some new additions. We continue with our luxury goods column, Spoils, which debuted in November, on page 28. Our new Friends & Family article profiles what to see or do when visiting a specific destination with loved ones on a leisure trip. We start with Oman on page 66. And lastly, we introduce our LGBT column, dedicated to travel trends, interests and issues important to the LGBT traveler. Turn to page 78 to learn more.

We truly take you around the world in this issue, featuring both iconic cities and up-and-comers like La Paz, Bolivia. What to do when the workday is done? We tell you on page 62. Other hot spots highlighted: Manila, London, Balitmore, Tokyo, San Juan, Iceland and Switzerland.

In the ever-changing world of travel, technology plays a bigger and bigger role. One of the latest innovations is keyless entry at hotels. Sure, it’s convenient, but is it safe? What do you do if technology fails? Monique Barrett takes a closer look at this issue, while Laura Daily gives an update on the new branding behind Carlson Rezidor.

Join us next month as GT turns 12 and our worldwide journey continues.