A destination is more than just a dot on the map; it’s somewhere you carry with you long after you’ve left. If your New Year’s resolution is to explore the globe in its many guises, begin with our itinerary of 2025’s most sought-after experiences and find inspiration in vibrant cityscapes, alpine retreats, and sun-drenched shores.
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A Winter’s Tale
Whether you’re looking to escape January’s chill or embrace it, a spirit-lifting trip is the best remedy. Filmmaker Warren Miller once said ‘a pair of skis are the ultimate transportation to freedom’, and Ultima Hotel Courchevel’s ski-in/ski-out experience underscores this. Look out at uninterrupted views over Vallée Ensoleillée from your balcony as your private chef prepares a hearty breakfast ahead of the day’s exertions, then recover hardworking ski legs with an invigorating massage in the mountain view spa.
The French Alps offer some of the best skiing in the world. Ultima Megève, a mountain chalet with immaculate views of Mont Blanc, is enveloped by snow-covered peaks and uncrowded slopes. For apres ski, make full use of the hotel’s fully stocked wine cellar, cinema, and underground nightclub.
Those preferring to swap their winter blues for the deep sapphires of the Pacific Ocean will find sanctuary in Siargao. This Philippines island, home to the dream-like Nay Palad Hideaway,creates a barefoot and relaxed mindset the moment you arrive. Explore its ancient mangrove forests by paddle board, ride the renowned Cloud 9 surfing wave, or simply recline by the pool and watch a classic film on a big screen draped between coconut palms.
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Spring Break
In the delicate rhythm of travel, timing is everything and spring is the season for an urban adventure. As winter fades and the world awakens, cities transform anew after the quiet of winter. In Geneva, the city blooms with life, inviting exploration of the city’s Medieval quarter, Botanical Garden, and of course, its great lake. On the banks of Lac Léman, Ultima Quai Wilson Geneva is a palatial escape. Strolling distance from the shimmering waters, take a morning dip, before returning home for a relaxing day in the private spa.
A visit to Gstaad in spring is an invitation to slow down and experience the calm of nature, complemented by epic views. Clear mountain air calls for hiking, biking, and wild swimming before returning home to Ultima Promenade Gstaad for an exquisite dinner on the terrace prepared by your private chef. After, get cosy in the cinema screening room or wind down in the spa with a Finnish sauna.
If art is on your 2025 travel wishlist, Hong Kong should be too. March is its official Arts Month, with galleries from the renowned Art Basel to the disruptive Supper Club drawing a sophisticated international crowd. The Upper House is its own masterpiece, offering a calm and creative stay in Asia’s indefatigable world city. A feat of minimalist design on an ‘Upward Journey’, this modern sanctuary breaches the clouds to overlook Hong Kong’s vibrant Admiralty district, easily winning its place in the top five World’s Best Hotels.
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Summertime Glamour
After the credits roll on another Cannes Film Festival, the Côte d’Azur exhales. Enjoy the quiet at Le Grand Jardin Cannes, a secluded 13th-century estate once owned by Louis XIV. Resting on the fairytale island of Sainte-Marguerite, poetically dubbed ‘the forest on the water’, three-and-a-half acres of botanic gardens reached only by sea or helipad are entirely yours. Make use of your private hair salon before visiting St. Tropez on your private yacht.
The Greek Islands will forever beckon those seeking sun and serenity. As Mykonos opens its season, the island is peaceful, its beaches uncrowded. A stay at Deos Mykonos, suitably named after the Greek word for ‘awe’, feels like stepping into a watercolour painting. Poised on a hilltop between cerulean sea and sky, views stretch from the iconic windmills across neighbouring islands to the edge of the horizon. This understated hotel does slow summer holiday living well, intuitively connecting its rustic architecture to the landscape and serving homegrown produce in its restaurant.
Corfu in June is a soul-reviving escape. Arrive by yacht to Ultima Corfu, your waterfront villa built seamlessly into the blonde cliffside with an uninterrupted view of the Ionian Sea. Everything you need is here, from a jacuzzi shaded by olive trees and a private chef who’ll take the time to get to know your tastes, to sunsets that will stay with you long after you land home.
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The Quiet Before Christmas
London wraps itself in layers come autumn. The Regent’s Park transforms into swathes of amber and ochre, museums beckon with their warmth, and tucked-away pubs offer cosy respite. Mayfair’s elegance, Soho’s energy, and St James’s sophistication meet at Hotel Café Royal, a hangout for history’s movers and shakers from Oscar Wilde to Muhammad Ali. This British icon, with its Michelin-star dining and blissful spa, is the ideal base for exploring London’s colourful West End.
Mexico’s rich culture and warm climate are a balm for body and soul in winter. On the coast of Xpu-Ha, Hotel Esencia answers the call for sunshine and adventure. Once the private bolthole of an Italian duchess, this contemporary marvel on the Mayan Riviera has quietly won a shelf-full of awards, including the coveted Three Michelin Keys. Enjoy a rally on the private tennis court, tour the Yucatán Peninsula in a helicopter, or swim with a family of manatees in a hidden cove.
Switzerland, beautiful all year round, is breathtaking in December. Gstaad’s marshmallow-like snow glows with holiday cheer, well prepared for ski season. Opening winter 2025, Ultima Promenade Gstaad puts you in the heart of Gstaad’s glamour but retains a tranquil elegance that captures the best of both worlds. After a day on the slopes, retreat to the black Sahaan marble spa for a rejuvenating facial before dinner crafted by your Michelin-trained personal chef.
End the year with a spectacular countdown party on Thailand’s Chao Phraya River. Another deserving Three Michelin Keys destination, The Siam is a memorable stay, with unique amenities ranging from a Muay Thai boxing ring to the Vinyl Room giving a nod to the hotel’s rockstar backstory. After an evening feasting on a four-course Thai dinner, start the New Year with a lasting souvenir of Bangkok – traditional ink from the on-site Sak Yant Tattoo Studio.
Where next? Discover more of our member hotels in unique destinations around the world.
