Unlocking the ultimate new luxury travel experiences for 2025
If a Mediterranean resort location is in your plans, Marchant's tip is to visit in the "shoulder season" – April, May, June, September or October. "There's something about experiencing Rome or the Amalfi Coast when it's quieter and slightly cooler," he says. "It's the difference between rushing through a site like the Colosseum and having time to take it in."
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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The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Coronation Street hunk Adam Rickitt and GMB host wife's new life in Sicily as they splash out on Mediterranean home
FORMER soap hunk Adam Rickitt and his Good Morning Britain star wife Katy have made a huge property investment overseas. The couple have long dreamt of a life in Sicily and now they have made it a reality after remortgaging their UK home and splashing the cash of a Mediterranean holiday home. 6 6 Adam and Katy confirmed last week that they had sealed the deal on snapping up their dream pad in the sun. The 47-year-old revealed it would be their "home from home" with a view to spending an increasing amount of time there. Katy and Adam's main base is in Knutsford, Cheshire with their two dogs but it seems they could be ditching the luxury county for life in the sun full-time if plans come to fruition. Former soap star Adam and his journalist wife have set up their own side hustle in Cheshire but have plans to move the business to Sicily in time. Their craft beer and artisan gin bar called Dexter and Jones has become vital in their lives but they could adapt they sunshine life to include their business. Speaking all about their European dream, Katy wrote on Instagram: "What the hell just happened. We are giddy with excitement! "After a ceremony much like a signing of the wedding register we are the proud owners of a tiny slice of heaven in the island we've come to know as the Happy Place: ortigia! "After years of obsessively binge watching @aplaceinthesunofficial I still never thought I'd be lucky enough to do this, and maybe we are actually crazy as we've remortgaged our own house to do so!" Katy continued: "But we came to the conclusion that life is too short and being able to save up the date nights and escape here when life gives you a breather rather than having to always plan ahead just felt like the ultimate dream … and worth accepting that the bulldogs will always own the only sofa at home for. "We will give you all a proper tour very soon but for now we are off to go and shop for paint and hoovers in the sunshine!! How crazy is that?!!!" Hollyoaks and Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt strips totally naked for charity calendar Adam also spoke about the decision as he wrote online: "We did a thing!! "It's been a lifelong dream to have a Sicilian not not a it is ours!!!" In the accompanying snaps, the celebrity pair showed off some of their brand new home. Adopting a traditional European feel, it was adorned with exposed stone walls and white-wash features. It also came complete with built-in seating areas and a stunning outdoor terrace - perfect for the pair to host their family and A-list pals. 6 6
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Coronation Street hunk Adam Rickitt and GMB host wife's new life in Sicily as they splash out on Mediterranean home
The pair hope to transfer their business overseas too sunny life Coronation Street hunk Adam Rickitt and GMB host wife's new life in Sicily as they splash out on Mediterranean home Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER soap hunk Adam Rickitt and his Good Morning Britain star wife Katy have made a huge property investment overseas. The couple have long dreamt of a life in Sicily and now they have made it a reality after remortgaging their UK home and splashing the cash of a Mediterranean holiday home. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Adam and Katy Rickitt has purchased their dream home overseas Credit: Instagram/@katyrickitt 6 Former Corrie hunk Adam already seems to be settling into the home from home Credit: Instagram/@katyrickitt 6 Katy has already been showing off pics from inside their new showbiz pad Credit: Instagram/@katyrickitt Adam and Katy confirmed last week that they had sealed the deal on snapping up their dream pad in the sun. The 47-year-old revealed it would be their "home from home" with a view to spending an increasing amount of time there. Katy and Adam's main base is in Knutsford, Cheshire with their two dogs but it seems they could be ditching the luxury county for life in the sun full-time if plans come to fruition. Former soap star Adam and his journalist wife have set up their own side hustle in Cheshire but have plans to move the business to Sicily in time. Their craft beer and artisan gin bar called Dexter and Jones has become vital in their lives but they could adapt they sunshine life to include their business. Speaking all about their European dream, Katy wrote on Instagram: "What the hell just happened. We are giddy with excitement! "After a ceremony much like a signing of the wedding register we are the proud owners of a tiny slice of heaven in the island we've come to know as the Happy Place: ortigia! "After years of obsessively binge watching @aplaceinthesunofficial I still never thought I'd be lucky enough to do this, and maybe we are actually crazy as we've remortgaged our own house to do so!" Katy continued: "But we came to the conclusion that life is too short and being able to save up the date nights and escape here when life gives you a breather rather than having to always plan ahead just felt like the ultimate dream … and worth accepting that the bulldogs will always own the only sofa at home for. "We will give you all a proper tour very soon but for now we are off to go and shop for paint and hoovers in the sunshine!! How crazy is that?!!!" Hollyoaks and Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt strips totally naked for charity calendar Adam also spoke about the decision as he wrote online: "We did a thing!! "It's been a lifelong dream to have a Sicilian not not a it is ours!!!" In the accompanying snaps, the celebrity pair showed off some of their brand new home. Adopting a traditional European feel, it was adorned with exposed stone walls and white-wash features. It also came complete with built-in seating areas and a stunning outdoor terrace - perfect for the pair to host their family and A-list pals. 6 Katy has vowed to give fans a full tour of the house Credit: Instagram/@katyrickitt 6 The couple hope to move their business overseas Credit: Instagram/@katyrickitt 6 Adam rose to fame as a Corrie pin-up Credit: PA:Press Association
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
I help Brits move to Spain -these stunning beach towns with 3-bed homes from £500-a-month are perfect for expats
ONE in five Brits admit to daydreaming about ditching the UK for a new life in sunny Spain. It's no surprise when you discover you can escape the Great British gloom for a three-bed in the Med for just £500-a-month. 8 The 2024 British Expat Report shows even more British families are considering emigrating in the next five years, with 11 per cent ready to leave right now. According to the data, 532,000 Brits emigrated last year, with 45% craving a better quality of life, 39% blaming the cost-of-living crisis and 37% just sick of our miserable weather. Millene Adaime works for relocation experts, Movinn, who help people move to Spain and Portugal from overseas. Over recent years, the demand for expats seeking a new life in Spain has increased, with more families reaching out to them for help. She told Sun Travel: "Spain used to have the reputation of being somewhere to retire to in your 60s and 70s, but we are getting more requests from modern families or young entrepreneurs who are looking for a different way of life. "The cost of living here is more affordable, and, of course, we have a fantastic climate." With demand growing, areas typically popular with Brits flying south for the sun are becoming crowded and more expensive. Boozy Benidorm has long been the Brit bolthole of choice, but Millene says the party playground is not necessarily the cheapest spot on the coast. She said: "Brits tend to favour areas they already know, like Benidorm, and due to the popularity of British movers to the area, the suburbs outside the tourist hub are very nice and very desirable. "However, the downside is that prices are on the rise and it's not the cheapest place to move to now." 8 8 Plan ahead Milene warns families also need to take into account other things that may end up costing more money down the line. She said: "We identify our clients' needs and make suggestions that might make life easier once they move in. "For example, if you have kids and would like them to attend an International school, where they speak primarily in English, moving to an area with a good school that has space available is highly recommended. "You don't want to base your family somewhere and land yourself with a terrible commute. "Some areas are better for families and some are more suited to young professionals. "Of course, our retired residents tend to favour the south of Spain, due to the year-round warm weather." Milene says when her clients ask for advice, she tailors it to suit their needs. She said: Some people who come to Spain from the UK want a completely different way of life. They want to embrace Spanish culture and go all-in. "Cádiz in the south is very Spanish. It's a traditional community where people leave their front door open and it's very social. "It's a place where your friends will just walk into your home, uninvited. A lot of Brits are thrown by this. "Some people want to move here for the weather and be around other British people. "That's fine, but I would recommend a different area to them, where life is a bit closer to home." With more people working from home than ever and incentives for business start-ups in countries like Spain, it's no wonder that so many of us dream of a new life on the beach. Do you imagine yourself soaking up the sun after work and spending weekends sipping €3 Cava under a palm tree? If you are considering a Mediterranean move, these are the Spanish spots you should be looking at this year: Best all-rounder - Alicante 8 This is a good choice for Brits wanting to start a new life in Spain. Alicante is a well-rounded city with beaches, international schools, good healthcare, and excellent public transportation. It's a popular choice for British families and has a strong expat community, which will help you settle in and feel more at home. Look at suburbs like San Juan or El Campello, since they are particularly family-friendly. Expect to pay: A three-bed house in El Campello, close to the beach: £1,000-a-month. Three bed apartments can be found for £750-a-month. Best for budget - Torrevieja 8 Torrevieja is a beautiful coastal area, just south of Alicante. The rustic coastline is less populated and made up of a series of secluded coves and sandy beaches. It's less crowded than the more famous tourist areas and cheaper than many other coastal towns, since it's very small and quaint. However, expats are catching on and Torrevieja has started to build a significant British population. It offers a quieter, simpler lifestyle with essential amenities like parks, beaches, and English-speaking services, making it ideal for families looking for lower rental costs. Expect to pay: A three-bed apartment with a balcony and a partial sea view: £506-a-month. A three-bed house with gardens and shared pool: £1,000 per month. Best for families - Malaga 8 With claims of over 300 sunny days a year, Málaga is popular with sun-seeking Brits. Compared to other European cities, it is considered very affordable and has a stretch of beautiful beaches. Málaga features several international schools, including the British School of Málaga, and Brits can enjoy very convenient flight links to the UK all year round. Away from the nightlife strip, the coastal suburbs like Pedregalejo and Rincón de la Victoria are excellent for families. Expect to pay: A three-bedroom house in Pedregalejo: £1,500-a-month. A three-bedroom apartment with sea views in Rincón de la Victoria is £1,100 a month Best for young professionals - Seville 8 A city rich in culture and charm, Seville offers a warm climate and a more relaxed pace of life. It's a good option for families seeking a more traditional Spanish experience, but Brits might be put off that there is no beach. The closest beach is inside the Donana National Park, an hour from Seville. While there are fewer international schools than in Alicante, but bilingual education options are available if you want the kids to learn Spanish too. Affordable housing with a bit more space can be found in areas like Mairena del Aljarafe, outside the city centre. Expect to pay: A semi-detached home in a serviced complex with a shared pool: £1,338 a month. A three-bed apartment in Mairena del Aljarafe: £700 euro a month.
