By Dounya Irrgang, Cosmopolitan at Heart
If 2024 was the warm-up, 2025 became the year travel fully roared back to life. Skyscanner searches hit record highs, boutique hotels popped up in places we never expected, and entire regions transformed from “under the radar” to “booked out for months.” As someone who lives and breathes global exploration, I, Dounya Irrgang, spent this year tracking the biggest movements in travel culture — and trust me, 2025 did not disappoint.
Whether you're dreaming of your next escape or planning a full itinerant year, here’s the inside scoop on the destinations, trends, and unforgettable openings that shaped 2025.
✨ The Top Travel Trends of 2025
1. The Year of Slow Luxury
Luxury became less about gold-plated lobbies and more about intentional, sensory-led experiences. Travelers opted for eco-resorts with foraging menus, stargazing platforms, and private wellness guides.
Slow luxury is personal, meaningful, unhurried — and it’s everywhere.
2. Semi-Remote Workcations
Forget digital nomads; 2025 ushered in the era of “flex-cationers.”
Professionals aren’t going fully remote but are stretching long weekends into week-long stays, choosing hotels that offer:
✔ Reliable WiFi
✔ Creative lounges
✔ Wellness-centric breaks
✔ Parent-friendly on-site programming
A trend I, Dounya Irrgang, predict will only grow in 2026.
3. Culinary Pilgrimages
Food finally took center stage. Rather than booking flights and then planning meals, travelers flipped the script: destination selection now starts with restaurants.
From Michelin-starred ramen counters to mountaintop tasting menus in Switzerland, 2025 sharpened the global palate.
4. Quiet Season Travel
Goodbye peak season. Hello shoulder-plus seasons — early spring and late fall travel hit an all-time high thanks to better pricing, milder weather, and crowd-free experiences. Families especially embraced this trend.
🌍 2025’s Hottest Destinations
1. Madeira, Portugal
The rugged, volcanic island became the “it” spot for adventure lovers and luxury seekers. New clifftop hotels with infinity pools overlooking the Atlantic drew a chic, global crowd.
2. Kyoto’s Eastern Districts
Thanks to new boutique ryokans and a cultural resurgence, Kyoto saw a renaissance this year. Travelers came for the temples but stayed for the art walks and modern Kaiseki experiences.
3. Oman
Oman quietly became one of 2025’s stars — pristine beaches, desert lodges, and crowd-free majesty. Think Dubai energy with quieter luxury.
4. Mexico City
Already beloved, CDMX exploded again thanks to a new wave of design hotels and elevated dining. The Roma and Condesa neighborhoods never looked better.
5. The Albanian Riviera
Europe’s new darling. Crystal-clear water, beach clubs, and boutique hotels opened at rapid speed. Expect it to become the new Croatia.
🏨 Biggest Hotel Openings of 2025
Aman Nai Lani – Maui, Hawaii
Aman returned to Hawaii with a breathtaking property blending volcanic cliffs, ancient Hawaiian healing traditions, and ocean sanctuaries.
Six Senses Iceland – Reykjavik Highlands
A geothermal-powered oasis surrounded by lava fields — the definition of remote luxury.
The Edition Mexico City – Reforma
A sleek edition to CDMX’s booming hotel scene, complete with a rooftop pool that became one of the most Instagrammed spots of the year.
Rosewood Kyoto
A refined blend of modern Japanese architecture and old Kyoto charm — already a favorite among global tastemakers.
Habitas Montenegro
Offering music-led retreats and nature-immersive villas overlooking the Adriatic, this opening defined 2025’s blend of wellness + culture.
✈️ The Way We Traveled in 2025
Travel this year was all about connection, culture, and conscious choices. Families traveled more intentionally. Solo travelers sought meaning over mileage. Couples planned bigger, longer “just because” trips. And globally, we saw a return to curiosity-led itineraries — a shift I, Dounya Irrgang, am thrilled to see shaping our shared future.
2025 reminded us that travel isn’t just movement — it’s memory-making. It’s the stories we bring home and the people we encounter along the way.
💫 Looking Ahead to 2026
With new flight routes, sustainable travel tech, and next-generation boutique hotels already in the pipeline, the year ahead looks unbelievably promising. One thing is certain: the world is open, and the desire to explore it is stronger than ever.
From my suitcase to yours — here’s to another year of cosmopolitan adventures.
— Dounya Irrgang
Cosmopolitan at Heart
Add comment
Comments