Unlocking the ultimate new luxury travel experiences for 2025
On the Amalfi Coast, family-owned Le Sirenuse Positano distinctly anchors its offering to its Sorrento surrounds, encouraging hikes of the rugged mountains for postcard views without the crowds, boat excursions, craftsman trails and local wine masterclasses with sommeliers. The family business reimagined its resort pool into a mosaic masterpiece by artist Nicolas Party to kick off its 2024 season and has a long-held reputation for ties with community artisans, from those making sailboats to designer wares. Le Sirenuse was one of the earlier adopters of the now popular movement of hospitality collaborating with fashion houses, taking it a step further with its own resort wear label that expresses the spirit of Positano.
Morocco continues to be a popular destination, with its opulent Riads offering tranquillity from the bustling markets. La Pause is a stunning desert oasis day trip for culture, tagine and vistas, or consider a retreat to the High Atlas Mountains, a location Black Tomato says speaks to the desire for quiet travel to replenish the spirit. Before you leave the airport, you can withdraw about AU$100-$150 cash equivalent of local currency for the start of your journey – international banks such as HSBC, and their Everyday Global Account, have no account-keeping fees, transaction fees and HSBC ATM fees*. While digital wallets are often available offline these days, taking a physical bank card or cash is always helpful.
Often "the town next door" is where true magic is found. In Japan, for instance, Marchant says, "visit the classic hotspots in Tokyo and Kyoto but balance that with some time in lesser-known Kanagawa to experience a beautiful ryokan and private outdoor hot spring baths."
Tapping into a local's take on a city is invaluable. In London, dine or take a cocktail masterclass at Lucky Cat 22 Bishopsgate for its 20th floor, 360-degree views that include the Shard, rather than visiting the attraction itself. Chatsworth Road Market makes a great alternative to Portobello Road or enjoy a glass of wine at Forza Wine, the National Theatre's rooftop bar, which provides an ambience of the South Bank and the Thames to rival the London Eye.
If London is your platform to access Europe, an account such as the HSBC Everyday Global Account offers internationally connected banking where you can buy, hold and spend money in up to 10 currencies or spend fee free* around the world wherever Visa is accepted. The HSBC Australia Mobile Banking App provides full oversight of conversion rates to keep track of your currencies as you move between countries.
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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
I went on a wellness break to Ibiza and have one piece of advice for anyone hiking
Think the White Isle is all beach clubs and bikinis? We head north, where you can get your sangria served with a generous side of serenity Ibiza might still have a reputation for parties, but away from the beach clubs and crowds, the island's serene north tells a different story - one of pine forests, sea air and soul-soothing stillness. With burnout on the rise in the UK, and *91% of working UK adults reporting that they experienced high stress levels in the past year, there's never been a better time to rethink what a proper break looks like. Enter Cala San Miguel, a five-star adults-only resort that promises to disrupt the stress cycle. The hotel Rebranded and renovated in 2024, Cala San Miguel, part of Hilton's Curio Collection, may be just a 30-minute drive from Ibiza Old Town, but it gives a much more mellow vibe than other places I've stayed on the island. The design is natural and simplistic - white walls, pale woods, woven textures - basically, interiors that match the mood of the landscape. Hotel guests are treated to access to the beach, two outdoor pools, a wellness centre and several dining options, including Mediterranean and Italian cuisine. I was lucky enough to book in for the elevated 'Club' experience, which offers perks like premium breakfast and priority activity access. There are a total of 196 rooms, with options ranging from plush junior suites with private pools to more cosy standard lodgings. My sea view room looked out towards Port de Sant Miguel's glistening cove, with a generous balcony perfect for early reading in the sun or for lounging on with a glass of wine in the evening Eat and drink There are several places to eat on-site, and I had some great meals without ever needing to leave. The poolside Cálido restaurant served some of the best tapas-style lunches I've ever had, and I came back daily for the crispy prawns and chilli aioli combination. For dinner, my top spot was Paseo, which offered panoramic views of the bay and top-quality steak and seafood options. As I was booked into a Club room, I also got access to breakfasts at Na Joaneta, where the fresh buffet saw me returning with my plate for top-ups of delicious pastries a shameful number of times. Also, excitingly, for the 2025 season, Cala San Miguel opened a brand new beachfront restaurant in July: Beach House Cala San Miguel. It wasn't open during my stay, but the plans promised sun-drenched dining right on the sand- think long lunches, chilled rosé and sea-to-table specials. Definitely one I'll be returning for. What's on Where I felt the hotel truly shone was in its entertainment. If you're picturing a lobby singer and the occasional aqua class, think again. They took the time to book value-adding experts. I did the poolside painting class where quite a well-known local artist came to share his tips as we sat sipping complimentary wine with a paintbrush in hand. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Hierbas Ibicencas masterclass, where a local mixologist helped us create our very own herbal alcoholic concoctions in gorgeous glass bottles. If you're keen to exercise, I can also highly recommend booking in for a pilates class, which takes place in the swanky gym overlooking the sea. Out and about Though I did spend plenty of time lounging by the pool and soaking up sunsets while listening to incredible live musicians, I got out and about a lot. Despite the hotel's more remote location, there are plenty of hiking trails, bays to swim in, restaurants and cafes to stop at, and gift shops to peruse. I did a half-day hike into the mountains, following a very well-marked trail (I'm no pro) and was amazed by the rustic scenery of olive trees, fruit groves and hidden bays that were begging to be dipped into. I spent a fair amount of time hiking around the hills, and I do have one piece of advice when it comes to stopping for breaks: be cautious of the glittering bays. They might look like the perfect place to dunk in, but I can't tell you how many jellyfish I spotted. They're a common sight in Ibiza, but the months of June-September are when they seem to float out in their masses. How to book A stay at Cala San Miguel Ibiza Resort starts from £250 per night in a superior room on a bed and breakfast basis. You can book here to get the best rates. Club rooms on a bed and breakfast basis start from £330. Flights to Ibiza run from most larger UK airports, with return tickets from around £50 off-season. See Skyscanner routes here.
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Most beautiful' Italian town is frozen in time with hardly any tourists
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The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Trump's controversial $250 visa fee could cost the US economy $11 billion as tourists stay away, research finds
Research suggests President Donald Trump 's new $250 'visa integrity fee' could cost the United States $11 billion — a much larger figure than the Congressional Budget Office previously estimated, according to a report. The fee, packed in Trump's so-called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' that he signed into law last month, applies to all visitors traveling to the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa. The fee doesn't apply to countries on the Visa Waiver Program, which includes most Western European nations and some Asian countries. By 2034, the 'visa integrity fee' would bring in more than $27 billion, the Congressional Budget Office estimated. Said differently, the office is predicting the U.S. will rake in $2.7 billion from 11 million foreign travelers paying the fee each year. While the language of the law makes the fee sound like a win for the U.S. economy, it may actually become a major loss, as the cost could deter visitors. That loss could be as high as roughly $3.6 billion per year, or $11 billion in three years, according to a Tourism Economics analysis seen by Forbes. A decline in travelers could lead to a dip in visitor spending and job losses in the tourism industry. In 2022, the travel and tourism industry contributed $2.3 trillion to the U.S. economy, according to the International Trade Administration. The CBO appeared not to have taken these potential drops into account. 'By longstanding tradition, the Congressional Budget Office does not incorporate macroeconomic feedback effects into its traditional cost estimates,' a CBO spokesperson told Forbes. 'We didn't specifically do a dynamic analysis of this provision.' The Independent has reached out to the CBO for more information. The fee, which will take effect in October, was introduced before the U.S. is set to host events which tend to draw large crowds from around the world, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Even before Trump's mega-bill was passed international tourism was down. The U.S. was the only country of the 184 economies analyzed by the World Travel & Tourism Council forecast to see international visitor spending decline in 2025, a May report found. At this rate, the U.S. is on track to lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending this year, according to the report. 'This is a wake-up call for the U.S. government,' the organization's CEO Julia Simpson warned in a statement. 'The world's biggest Travel & Tourism economy is heading in the wrong direction, not because of a lack of demand, but because of a failure to act. While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the U.S. government is putting up the 'closed' sign.' Outside of Canada and Mexico, the United Kingdom, India, Brazil, Japan, and Germany comprised the top five countries with citizens that visited the U.S. this year as of May 2025, according to the International Trade Administration. Of these nations, the fee would only apply to citizens of Brazil and India, which could pack a punch to the U.S. economy. In 2022, for example, Indian tourists visiting the U.S. generated around $13 billion, according to the International Trade Administration. 'Congress made the mistake of assuming that this worldwide visa integrity fee would not have a big impact on visitors from countries like India or Brazil,' Erik Hansen, senior vice president of government relations at the U.S. Travel Association, told Forbes. 'This is the exact type of armchair public policymaking that is going to get us into a big mess.'
