26-03-2025
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.
