The 2025 Hot List
Unveiling the hottest destinations, hotels and trends
This is your insider’s guide to next year’s most coveted travel trends & destinations. A labor of love that blends data, hospitality intel and a shot of intuition to make predictions on where the smart set will be headed next year. Grab your spot at these destinations early to be the friend inspiring the fomo, not suffering from it.
Hot List Destinations
The Dolomites: The Italian Alps
The Dolomites are having a moment. Not only do these mountains boast the most spectacular hiking in the Italian Alps, but their verdant valleys and picturesque hillside villages are home to some of the world's best spa hotels, including Aman Rosa Alpina. It’s a stunning region.
Perfect add-ons: Austria, Lake Garda, Venice, Milan.
Morocco Is Calling
New Jersey has brought the US an incredible gift: direct flights to Marrakech, courtesy of United Airlines. For East Coasters, Marrakech has now become a long weekend destination. With luxe hotel openings, souk experiences, desert dinners ,and the Agafay Dessert and Atlas Mountains finally getting their moment, there’s never been a better time to travel to Morocco. Sleep in the dunes, take a sunrise hot-air balloon ride, or a sunset camel ride. Favourites for a luxury stay: La Mamounia, La Sultana and El Fenn.
Perfect add-ons: Tangier, Tamuda Bay, Fez or The Atlas Mountains.
Mediterranean Islands: Off the Beaten Path
Travelers are looking for the path less taken and showing up for cultural touch points, even in ever-popular spots like Spain, Italy or Greece. Step into laid-back island living with all the luxe trimmings at Folegandos and Formentera.
Folegandros, Greece
Folegandros possesses an untamed beauty difficult to find on more well-known Greek islands. The main town, Chora, sits perched on a cliff, with white-washed buildings and bougainvillea-lined pathways that have remained largely unchanged for centuries.
You can spend your days following the island’s network of ancient paths to empty beaches, hilltop vistas and family-run tavernas. Travelers who appreciate long walks, photographing incredible landscapes and delving into Greek culture (without the crowds) will love it here.
Formentera, Spain
Formentera is proof that sometimes the best things come in small packages. As the smallest of the Balearic Islands, this laid-back destination is the perfect pairing with its party-loving neighbor, Ibiza. And even though visitors are on the rise here, you can still cycle past pristine pine forests and unwind on unspoilt beaches thanks to robust environmental efforts.
Days here unfold at their own pace — morning yoga by the sea, leisurely paella lunches and unforgettable sunsets from the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse. It's the perfect spot for those who believe luxury is about finding paradise in its purest form.
Thailand: Take Me to Paradise
In December 2022, The White Lotus released the final episode of season 2, which was filmed in Sicily at the Four Seasons’ San Domenico Palace, Taormina. In January 2023, Italy bookings more than doubled; by May, they nearly quintupled. It’s no surprise, then, that we expect Season 3’s film location — Thailand — to be one of 2025’s hottest destinations. While we await the première a trip to Thailand — whether real or vicarious — is in order.
Perfect add-ons: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai.
New York City: The Return of Glamour
New York is always reinventing itself — and reigniting past personalities. In 2025, the glamour we saw in the Gilded Age and Roaring 20s is back, courtesy of various hotel openings, reopenings and renovations. Subdued, hipster minimalism will never disappear, but a more-is-more aesthetic is it right now. Private members’ clubs are gaining traction (just see Casa Tua, at The Surrey, and The Twenty Two), as are ornate décor, marble, elaborate plants and swanky bars. The era of maximalism is here, and this time, it’s done the right way. Put the sweatpants away; it's time to dress up and go out.
Hot List Travel Trends
Go the Extra Mile: Far-Flung Adventures
2025 is the year of adventure. Consider getting off the beaten track, and discovering a few of our favorite unsung, far-flung regions of the world. From Kenya to Bhutan to Chilean Patagonia, here’s where to jet off next:
Kenya: Kenya deserves a spot on the top of every bucket list — not least because of the exceptionally friendly people and exceptionally epic wildlife you’ll meet when there. It’s really a special place
Bhutan: The world’s first carbon-negative country has only been open to foreigners for 50 years. It’s famous for its peaceful, happy people, the majority of whom practice Tibetan Buddhism. Bhutan invented the Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index. This is a sustainable way of life we can get behind. With new flights from Dubai and new lodges springing up, it’s getting easier to get to the country. Bhutan is not only for the active, culture-minded traveler, however. It’s becoming a destination for families and honeymooners, too.
Chilean Patagonia: If you can’t resist Patagonia’s pull, we don’t blame you, especially considering the recent opening of an Explora lodge in Patagonia National Park. The founder of Northface, along with a former Patagonia executive, began purchasing Chilean land in 2005, with the intention of donating it to the country’s government to form a public park. There is perhaps no better setting for Explora to showcase its eco-conscious, adventure-forward sensibility.
Solo Travel for the Urban Explorer
More than just checking off your bucket list, solo travel is about adapting to the rhythm of a city on your own terms. Free from compromise and guided by curiosity, urban solo travelers often find themselves experiencing unscripted moments, serendipitous encounters and spontaneous detours that transform a simple visit into something unforgettable. Top picks for 2025: New Orleans, Santa Monica, Seattle, Mexico City, Nice, Barcelona…
High-End Cruising Is In
If you thought you knew cruises, think again. Luxury ships are redefining what a cruise can be. Think more yacht than floating metropolis. Even the most avowed "never-cruisers" are beginning to test the waters.
Redefining the Airport Lounge
Gone are the days when airport lounges were glorified business centers. With more Americans traveling than ever before, airports have had to evolve, upping their game for savvy travelers. And several airlines and credit card brands have risen to the challenge. The Delta One Lounge at JFK (a treat) and Private Suite have taken travel glam to the next level.
Hot List Hotels
La Mamounia, Marrakech:
a luxurious oasis where timeless Moroccan elegance meets world-class hospitality
Perks: breakfast, 100 USD hotel credit, upgrade and extended check-in/-out whenever possible
Aman Rosa Alpina, Dolomites (coming soon):
upscale chalet-style hotel pairing Alpine heritage with refined luxury across it’s intimate rooms, excellent dining and mountain pursuits
Perks: breakfast, 100 USD hotel credit, upgrade and extended check-in/-out whenever possible
The Surrey, NYC:
Art-forward sophistication less than a block away from Central Park.
Perks: breakfast, 100 USD hotel credit, upgrade and extended check-in/-out whenever possible
Gundari, Folegandros, Greece:
hideaway with streamlined, minimalist design on a rugged coastline.
Perks: Breakfast, upgrades when available.
Four Seasons Koh Samui, Thailand:
Surrounded by tropical gardens and situated on the island Northwestern tip, this resort is a quiet beachside oasis
Perks: when you book Four Seasons through me, you’ll enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner Benefits
Terranka, Formentera, Spain:
A serene retreat with chic rooms and gorgeous views
Perks: breakfast, 100 USD hotel credit, upgrade and extended check-in/-out whenever possible.
Stay tuned as I dive deeper into each destination, hotel, and trend in the coming weeks. Ready to book? Let’s make 2025 your most memorable travel year yet!