Whether your holiday planning is already well underway, or you’re still searching for inspiration, we’ve got the answers for every ‘right’ direction — after polling our SLH Club Members for their most sought-after places to visit in 2025. You might finally tick off a destination that’s been on your list for years, or visit familiar favourites with fresh eyes and new hotels to check into. You don’t need to travel too far off the map to feel like you’ve had an adventure, and with exciting happenings on screen (White Lotus S3, we’re ready for you) and in the skies (planetary alignments, solar cycles, and aurora peaks), we’re looking forward to a special year of travel ahead.
1. Thailand
“New luxuries await you in Thailand”, promises the trailer for season three of The White Lotus, Mike White’s Emmy-winning series which will see its wonderfully deranged cast take on Thailand this February. Avoid the drama by bedding down at Oriental Residence Bangkok, unwinding in one of the poolside cabanas after a river cruise past floating markets and flower-covered temples. At the water’s edge of Koh Samui, take up residence in a sea view suite at Marasca Samui, with an upbeat beach club and laid-back plunge pools to relax (and revel) by day and night. On the soft sands of Phuket’s Bangtao Beach, glamping is given a luxurious makeover by Twinpalms Bangtao Phuket Tented Resort, which offers sunrise yoga sessions and lotus flower folding workshops in a leafy lagoon-side setting. Only accessible by boat, The Retreat Koh Chang is an idyllic hideaway with wave-lapped terraces, a portable teak poolside bar, and fishing boat to board for island hopping.
2. Italy
Italy is a destination we could return to again and again, whether on a culture-packed city break, ski jaunt in the mountains, a truffle-filled escape to the undulating countryside, or soaking up the many, many dolce vita-dishing beaches. Rise and shine to the sweet scent of lemons overlooking Lake Garda at Cape of Senses, or lap up the yacht-dotted Ligurian coastline from Capitolo Riviera. Storybook stays await at Castle Elvira, a pink-hued Puglian playground of olive groves, hand-carved Carrara marble bathtubs, and palatial bedrooms. All-suite, clifftop-perched Furore Grand Hotel is the perfect jumping-off point to explore the Amalfi Coast (without the crowds), while eco-conscious I Borghi dell’Eremo is a Considerate Collection hotel nestled among Umbria’s cypress trees, serving homegrown ingredients from its organic estate. Bookmark ultra chic La Roqqa for balmy days spent at the hotel’s Isolotto Beach Club, and Palazzo Talìa (film director Luca Guadagnino’s first hotel) for a Roman holiday with cinematic charm.
3. Greece
Hospitality in Greece is an ancient art, as is the concept of a long, legendary journey. Film makers are turning to its myth-steeped shores once again, with Ralph Fiennes recently stepping into the hero Odysseus’ shoes (sandals?) in The Return (December 2024), and Christopher Nolan seeking inspiration from Homer’s Odyssey for his next project slated for 2026 release. Both the mainland and its countless islands scattered across the Aegean and Ionian Seas have long captivated creatives and castaways, from the windmills of Mykonos to the moon-like landscapes of Milos. In Athens, A77 Suites is our go-to for enchanting Acropolis views, while fellow mainlander Euphoria Retreat offers expertly curated wellness programmes in the heart of the wild Peloponnese. On Crete’s northern shores, the rock-hewn rooms at Acro Suites and Spinalonga-facing stays at Phaea Blue put sparkling sea views on a pedestal, with yet more dazzling views worth hopping the Aegean for at Laguna Coast Resort on Naxos and Andronis Minois on Paros.
4. India
India’s charms are as varied as they are vibrant. The colour-popping palaces and bustling bazaars of Jaipur feel a world away from the snow-tipped peaks and sleepy mountain villages of the Himalayas, or the wildlife reserves and desert dunes of Rajasthan. Head up to the Aravalli Hills for pottery and spice-mixing workshops at Brij Lakshman Sagar, or into the ancient forests of Binsar for a nature-cocooned retreat at Mary Budden Estate. Stay in the same residence as one of the last Maharajas at Narendra Bhawan Bikaner or The Raj Palace, and disappear into the Thar desert by holing up in Suryagarh Jaisalmer, a former fortress built from golden sandstone.
5. Iceland
A dramatic landscape of black volcanic beaches, ethereal blue lagoons, lunar-like glaciers, spellbinding waterfalls, bubbling springs and lava fields, Iceland is an other-worldly escape for back-to-nature seeking travellers. While the natural beauty of this Nordic island can be experienced all year round, it feels that bit more magical during the winter — when the fjords are frozen, the rustic cabins dusted with snow, and the Northern Lights come out to play. We’re currently at the peak of a solar cycle, with experts predicting this winter to be the best in the next decade for aurora chasing. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of its onsite observatory, Hotel Rangá has created a ‘Starry Nights’ cocktail (stirred with edible glitter) which you can sip beneath the dark skies from a geothermal hot tub.
6. Japan
From cherry blossom season and autumn leaf-peeping to winter’s generous snowfall, Japan’s beauty can be experienced all year round — in futuristic cities, traditional teahouses, and ancient villages. The Tokyo Station Hotel keeps visitors on track in the capital, with regular departures aboard the Shinkansen to whiz you past Mount Fuji to Kobe, where you can wake up on the waterfront at Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland to views of the Rokko Mountains. Slow down at Sowaka, a restored ryokan in Kyoto, then make for the mystical island of Yakushima to bathe in the emerald forests surrounding Sankara Hotel & Spa.
7. Australia
With natural wonders, rugged surf spots, and rural vineyards aplenty, Australia is home to everything from rainforests and mountains to coral reefs and fitness-focused cities in between. Trending cowboy travel recently made its way to the outback with Netflix’s Territory, which is inspiring us to saddle up for the Blue Mountains and follow the bush trails to Chalets at Blackheath (with open fireplaces and freestanding tubs for some R&R). Sip your way through the vineyards at Le Mas Barossa on a private wine tasting, or around the Margaret River wineries which border Smiths Beach Resort and its ocean view villas. Personally curated Spotify playlists and ’grammable interiors decked out with original artwork are just some of the highlights at Melbourne’s Laneways by Ovolo, while incredible views of the Sydney skyline are on offer to residents of industrial-chic Ovolo Woolloomooloo.
8. Portugal
Culture as colourful as its iconic azulejos, ruggedly beautiful beaches with a point break perfect surf scene, vast and verdant countryside dappled with vineyards and rustic farmhouses – Portugal has something to suit every type of traveller. On the banks of Porto’s Douro, The Rebello is a set of revived riverside warehouses housing loft-style residences, while Palácio do Governador in the heart of Lisbon invites guests to step even further back in time to when the Tower of Belém’s governor called this baroque building home. Tucked away in Costa Vicentina Natural Park on the south-west coast, the sand-hued Praia do Canal Nature Retreat blends with its sun-bleached surroundings, with more barefoot bliss to be enjoyed at Quinta da Comporta – Wellness Boutique Resort (including shuttles to surfer-chic Carvalhal Beach).
9. Norway
Once the stomping ground of Vikings, Norway’s snow-blanketed mountains, fragrant forests, and dramatic fjords draw nature-loving adventurers to navigate beneath the Northern Lights and midnight sun. A stay in one of the traditional rorbu cabins at Nusfjord Village & Resort immerses you in the Lofoten fishing village’s way of life, where spotting sea eagles, catching Arctic fish, and socialising in the fjord-fronting sauna are all part of the experience. Swap an overnighter in Oslo for Stavanger, the quietly cool harbour city which counts architecturally-pleasing Eilert Smith Hotel, and its three Michelin-starred restaurant RE-NAA, among its highlights. And if an excursion into epic Hardangerfjord is on your list, base yourself in Bergen at stylish Opus XVI.
10. Switzerland
The hills are very much alive with the sound of skiers ‘shoop-shooping’ down powdery pistes across Switzerland this winter, with the glitterati gathering in St. Moritz for the 40th Snow Polo World Cup at the end of January, an annual three-day tournament set against the snowy peaks of the Engadin Valley. Defrost at GRACE LA MARGNA ST MORITZ, a swish alpine stay backed by pine forests and Edelweiss flower-filled valleys (come summer), and soothe mountain-weary muscles with a salt scrub and massage at The Crystal Hotel. Powered by an innovative ice battery, carbon-neutral Valsana Hotel Arosa is taking sustainable luxury to new heights, bolstered by visits to the local bear sanctuary and a geothermal sauna, steam room, and relaxation pool.
Latest stories
The art of doing nothing, perfected in the Maldives
In a world that praises packed itineraries, early-morning flights, and the humblebrag of needing a vacation from your vacation, slow travel can feel almost counterintuitive. It’s a conscious shift away from the pursuit of more, a choice to be present, to truly know a place, and maybe, just maybe, to
Turning nature into nourishment on a remote Norwegian island
On a small island a short boat ride from Herdla, where salt carries on Arctic winds, sustainability isn’t a slogan — it’s the rhythm of life. At Lilløy Lindenberg, the days move with the tides: seaweed is foraged from the surrounding shallows by chef Antje de Vries, whose vegan, season-driven
The must-know boutique hotels of 2025: SLH award winners revealed
As SLH marks 35 years of celebrating independently minded stays, this year’s awards spotlight the hotels redefining boutique luxury around the world. Handpicked by our travel experts and voted for by our passionate community, the 2025 winners are stylish, soulful stays to have firmly on your radar. Bookmark this list
Tuscany, not as you know it: inside La Roqqa’s riviera escape
In the mid-20th century, Porto Ercole was a hot spot for the Hollywood jet-set. Now, design-led La Roqqa is putting this quaint seaside town – and Tuscany’s unsung Argentario coast – back on the international crowd’s map.
