My Top 10 Travel Highlights of 2025

December 29, 2025 1

Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.

Today: My Top 10 Travel Highlights of 2025

First of all, I want to wish all Happy Holidays, and a joyful start to the New Year, wherever you may be reading this from.

As 2025 draws to a close, it feels natural to pause and reflect on the year that is ending. Much like the year before it, 2025 has been complex and unsettling. Ongoing geopolitical tensions, persistent conflicts, and an increasingly polarized global discourse continued to shape daily news cycles. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East remained painfully present, while economic uncertainty, climate-related disasters, and the growing impact of misinformation reminded us how interconnected — and fragile — our world remains. Nature once again showed both its beauty and its force, with extreme weather events affecting communities across different continents. Against this backdrop, it has often felt challenging to hold on to perspective and optimism.

That is precisely why travel continues to matter so deeply to me. This blog is, and will remain, a non-political space dedicated to curiosity, inspiration, and the quiet joy of discovery. Travel has always been my way of stepping back and finding moments of beauty, calm, and wonder — even when the bigger picture feels overwhelming. In 2025, those moments came in many different forms, from remote islands and arctic landscapes to cities, aircraft cabins, and places I found myself returning to. Below, I’m sharing my ten personal travel highlights of 2025 — journeys that offered perspective, inspiration, and a welcome sense of escapism during an otherwise intense year. Early in 2026, I’ll also share what you can expect from me in the year ahead.

As always, you’ll find more detailed information below the slideshow, including trip reports and YouTube videos. Feel free to share your own thoughts on 2025, or your personal travel highlights of the year, in the comments section below.

10. A Winter Getaway in the Austrian Alps

My travel year began in the Austrian Alps, and the defining highlight of this winter escape was staying at the five-star Das Central in Sölden. Perfectly positioned in one of Austria’s most snow-reliable ski areas, the hotel blends classic alpine charm with contemporary luxury. Mornings began with sweeping mountain views before stepping straight onto wide, immaculately groomed slopes, while afternoons slowed into moments of comfort, swims in the rooftop pool, time at the spa, and Michelin-starred dining. The atmosphere at family-owned Das Central is what truly sets it apart: polished yet relaxed, personal without ever feeling intrusive. Staying nearby at Aqua Dome, one of the Alps’ largest thermal spa resorts, added a completely different dimension. Floating in futuristic outdoor pools, surrounded by snow-covered peaks and drifting steam, felt surreal and deeply calming in a way that only the Alps can deliver.

9. Visiting the Caribbean’s most exclusive island

St. Barts remains one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive and seductive islands, known for its turquoise waters, refined beach clubs, and unmistakable French-Caribbean rhythm. That said, in my personal opinion, its natural beauty does not quite match destinations like the Maldives, Seychelles, or French Polynesia. This trip stood out instead for how clearly it demonstrated the role service plays in defining true luxury. Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, arguably enjoying the island’s best location, delivered exactly what one hopes for here: warm hospitality, effortless ease, and understated elegance. Le Sereno impressed with its minimalist design, exceptional beachfront setting, and calm, intimate atmosphere. In contrast, Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France was a disappointment — not because of its spectacular location on one of the island’s finest beaches, but due to facilities that felt underwhelming and service that was inconsistent and surprisingly disengaged. Even the strongest hotel brands cannot compensate when hospitality falls short.

8. Flying Business Class in Qatar Airway’s mini-QSuite

Flying business class with Qatar Airways on the Boeing 787-10 from Frankfurt to Doha turned out to be one of the more pleasant surprises of the year. The airline’s so-called “mini Qsuite” offers a refined take on the flagship Qsuite (which you find on the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A350). The staggered 1-2-1 layout, combined with sliding privacy doors, provides excellent personal space, smart storage, and a strong sense of seclusion. The cabin feels modern and airy, enhanced by the Dreamliner’s larger windows and lower cabin altitude, which noticeably reduced fatigue on a long-haul flight. Service was polished yet genuinely warm, and dining felt refreshingly flexible, as meals are served on demand rather than on a rigid schedule. This product may not carry the full Qsuite branding, but it reinforces Qatar Airways’ reputation for quiet confidence and consistency at altitude.

7. Exploring Singapore & Staying at Bawah Island

This journey stood out for the dramatic contrast between urban sophistication and complete island isolation. In Singapore, staying at Capella Singapore — which gained global attention during the Trump-Kim summit in 2018 — offered a serene retreat where colonial architecture meets lush tropical landscaping. A stay at Raffles Singapore, recently awarded three Michelin Keys, added a layer of timeless grandeur and heritage few hotels worldwide can replicate. The transition from Singapore’s urban energy to Bawah Reserve felt almost surreal. Accessible only by seaplane, Bawah is among Asia’s most exclusive private island resorts, with crystal-clear lagoons, vibrant coral reefs, dense jungle interiors, and a profound sense of remoteness. Sustainability is deeply embedded into every aspect of the experience, enhancing the feeling of harmony with nature rather than detracting from comfort.

6. Flying in Emirates’ New Business Class

Flying Emirates’ new Business Class on the Boeing 777-300ER delivered the most comfortable Business Class seat I’ve ever experienced. While the suites do not feature private doors, the new 1-2-1 layout offers excellent privacy and a noticeably improved sense of personal space. What truly sets this product apart is its focus on resting quality. Shortly after takeoff, every passenger receives a proper mattress topper, transforming the seat into an exceptionally comfortable bed. Combined with Emirates’ polished service, refined dining, and strong onboard amenities, the experience prioritizes rest above all else. Rather than relying on visual theatrics, this cabin proves that thoughtful ergonomics and genuine comfort matter far more when you step off a long-haul flight.

5. A Holiday in the Seychelles

The Seychelles once again confirmed why they rank among my favorite travel destinations on Earth. The inner islands in particular boast beaches that rival the very best in the world, with powder-soft white sand, sculptural granite boulders, and water shifting through impossible shades of blue and turquoise. Staying at Mango House Seychelles provided a relaxed, contemporary base, offering sweeping ocean views and a strong sense of connection to the surrounding landscape. From there, the journey extended far beyond the familiar to the outer islands, where Waldorf Astoria Platte Island delivered a level of isolation that felt almost otherworldly, surrounded by untouched beaches and pristine marine environments. Experiencing both sides of the Seychelles within a single trip highlighted not only the destination’s remarkable diversity, but also how rare it is to find a place that combines such effortless accessibility with raw natural beauty and a genuine feeling of escape.

4. A Weekend Break at Atlantis The Royal Dubai

Staying at Atlantis The Royal – Dubai’s most luxurious resort – felt like stepping into a bold architectural manifesto rather than a traditional resort. Towering above Dubai’s coastline, the property is dramatic, futuristic, and deliberately excessive in scale. Interiors are meticulously curated, with striking design elements at every turn, while the dining scene alone rivals that of an entire city district. That said, this is not a hotel for everyone. With hundreds of rooms and constant activity, intimacy is not part of its DNA, and the experience can feel overwhelming at times. Yet there is no denying how impressive it is, both in ambition and execution. Atlantis The Royal reflects Dubai’s desire to push boundaries and redefine what modern luxury hospitality can look like when scale becomes part of the statement.

3. My First-Ever Cruise with Seabourn

My first-ever cruise became one of the most unexpectedly rewarding experiences of the year. Sailing aboard Seabourn Venture, widely regarded as the world’s most luxurious expedition cruise ship, I explored Icelan and the Faroe Islands in a way that felt genuinely immersive. Days were spent navigating dramatic coastlines via Zodiac landings, stepping ashore beneath towering cliffs, glaciers, and windswept landscapes rarely accessible to conventional travelers. What truly sets Seabourn Venture apart is its expedition hardware. For example, the ship is equipped with two custom-built submarines, allowing guests to dive beneath the surface and explore polar waters from an entirely new perspective. Onboard, the atmosphere was intimate and engaging, with expert-led lectures by geologists, marine biologists, and historians adding depth and context to each destination. The balance between exploration and comfort was seamless, with refined dining, elegant suites, and attentive service providing a sense of calm between adventures.

2. Exploring the Maldives with Four Seasons

The Maldives remain my ultimate vision of tropical escape, and having stayed at all three Maldivian properties from Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, I experienced firsthand how differently paradise can be interpreted. Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, located in the North Malé Atoll, feels vibrant and energetic, with a strong sense of place, excellent surfing, and a lively, social atmosphere that makes it easy to connect with both the island and other guests. Ultra-luxurious Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, set within the UNESCO-listed Baa Atoll, offers a completely different rhythm, defined by expansive lagoons, exceptional marine life, and a deep connection to nature that encourages slowing down. At the pinnacle sits Four Seasons Private Island Voavah, also in Baa Atoll, where privacy reaches an entirely different level and the experience feels closer to staying in a private residence than at a resort. What unites all three is intuitive, heartfelt Four Seasons service delivered without formality, making each stay feel personal rather than programmed.

1. A Stay at Soneva Secret, the Maldives’ Ultimate Resort

At the very top of my 2025 highlights sits an experience that felt both deeply familiar and genuinely groundbreaking. I didn’t visit the Maldives just once this year, but twice, and it was during these trips that my connection to Soneva Fushi once again proved why it remains one of the very few properties I keep returning to. I’ve honestly lost count of how many times I’ve stayed there. Fushi’s barefoot philosophy, expansive jungle setting, and effortless sense of freedom continue to resonate, from cycling along sandy paths to open-air villas that blur the line between indoors and nature. This year, however, the experience was taken to an entirely new level with Soneva Secret, which sets unprecedented standards for luxury in the Maldives. With just a handful of villas, each supported by up to three dedicated staff members, including a private chef, the level of personalization feels extraordinary, almost surreal. It felt less like staying at a resort and more like temporarily inhabiting a perfectly curated private world.

*** Follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Twitter or Facebook for a daily moment of travel inspiration ***

 

1 Comment

  1. Have to say been a wonderful time looking at your travels while I do my exercise and dreams . Have a Happy New Years with more adventure from you

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.