Kick Off 2025 with These Advisor-Curated Travel Trends

Icon Share

SHARE

Fora Author Fora

The Modern Travel Agency

Fora

    a red car in front of a manor covered in ivy

    Image courtesy of Mount Juliet Estate, Autograph Collection, Kilkenny

    One of the best reasons to book with a Fora Advisor is their insider access and expertise. Our Fora Advisors stay up to date on all things travel, so you can travel well and go beyond being a tourist. Following ILTM Cannes, a luxury annual travel expo, our advisors are as dialed in as ever. Here are the trends they can't stop thinking about as we head into 2025. 


    London (and the UK) is calling

    a handsome British lounge with red walls covered in paintings
    a plush bed in a fancy hotel room with teal walls and a dark-wood floor

    Images courtesy of Darren Chung for The Zetter, Marylebone & The Zetter, Clerkenwell

    London — and the UK at large — is having a moment. The nation’s cities, especially London, have tons of character, and so do their hotels. Expect charming quirkiness and quintessential British sophistication. Whatever your vibe, there’s a hotel to match. 

    Grosvenor House Suites, London

    “This is an all-suite option with 130 suites ranging from one- to five-bedroom options. They all have fully stocked kitchens and washer and dryers. In addition to the space of a residence, you get the services of a five-star luxury hotel (all-day dining, daily housekeeping and turndown service). Their Concierge won Concierge of the Year in 2024!”

    - Maggie Moran

    Fora Perks:

    • $100 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.

    The Zetter, London

    “Part of Fora Reserve, this sophisticated hotel group has a small collection of properties in London (2.5 — one opens next October!). The locations are great, and they are all about sustainability, using only up-cycled furniture and materials in all of the hotels.”

    - Pamela Murphy

    Fora Perks:

    • Welcome amenities, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.

    Six Senses London 

    “This year and next are really bringing rise to amazing resort properties expanding into cosmopolitan cities. I love this trend for travelers returning to a city they’ve visited before (or many times), because it gives them a relaxing retreat away from the hustle and bustle. One I’m most excited about is Six Senses London, coming to the Hyde Park area in 2025. Plus, it will have its own private members’ club!”

    - Claire Herzog

    University Arms Hotel, Autograph Collection, Cambridge

    “This property, built in 1834 and renovated in 2018, offers a beautifully designed experience with curated details throughout. The design, created by the same team behind Soho House, features stunning bathrooms and stained-glass windows, including 17 college crests. The downstairs library is fully curated, with a unique Book Butler service that allows guests to select books from the library and purchase them as keepsakes. The property is an excellent culinary destination with great food and beverage options, including access to a local sparkling wine vineyard. Complimentary walking tours are available, showcasing the historic colleges and town highlights. This property appeals mostly to couples seeking a unique, history-rich getaway.

    - Natalie Kurtzman

    Fora Perks:

    • $100 hotel credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.

    Mount Juliet Estate, Autograph Collection, Kilkenny

    “This stunning 500-acre luxury resort offers a blend of Georgian elegance and modern amenities. The 18th-century Georgian manor is beautifully preserved, with elegant rooms and period details. The Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole championship course is one of Ireland’s finest, with scenic views and challenging fairways. A world-class equestrian center offers horseback riding lessons, treks and pony camps, suitable for beginners and experienced riders. Fly fishing on the River Nore, with opportunities to catch salmon and trout, archery, clay pigeon shooting, falconry and bike rentals are but some of the available activities.”

    - Ronit Margolis

    Fora Perks:

    • Complimentary Champagne afternoon tea for two, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.

    Exclusive, one-of-a-kind experiences are in

    Images courtesy of Michelle Fuller

    Vacations are now so much more than a chance to tune out. In fact, more people are tuning in, and hotels and travel partners are there to help facilitate more meaningful exploration.

    “Travelers are seeking rare, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that emphasize exclusivity and privacy,” Ronit said, adding how travel partners are focusing on “next-level service, dedicated lifestyle curators, 24/7 butler teams and personalized itineraries created months in advance.”

    Natalie agreed: “There's a renewed focus on slow travel,” she said. “People are seeking out more meaningful and authentic experiences, often willing to travel farther to immerse themselves in something truly special. Hotels are noticing this, and wanting to be a part of this experience.”

    At Twin Farms, in Vermont, for instance, you’ll have access to five private ski runs and nine miles of private hiking trails. Peru’s Sol y Luna will organize an entire Machu Picchu experience for you — no need to stay in the sparser accommodations closer to the ancient site. If you stay in a villa at ​​Airelles, Courchevel, in France, your welcome amenity is a couture bag. Head to the Basque country’s Palacio Arriluce Hotel for exclusive access to Europe’s sole Rolls-Royce collection, which includes all models manufactured between 1910 and 1998.

    Turns out Moët & Chandon knows a thing or two about exceptional trips. The Champagne house has six wineries throughout the world, in California, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, India and China.

    “They partner with hotels in each place to create incredible experiences,” Pamela said. “For example, in California you can go glamping with a private butler. In Mendoza, it's all about pairing the wine with food and taking an incredible horseback ride through the vineyards. At the end of any experience, you get an engraved bottle with a customized label.”

    For a luxury shopping moment, the Bicester Collection delivers. The company’s village-like settings sell products from luxury brands — Gucci, Prada, Dior, Burberry — at more approachable prices. Bicester Village, in Oxfordshire, is a highlight, Ronit said. Expect personal shopping and tax-free shipping for non-EU visitors.

    Fora Perks at Twin Farms:

    • Twin Farms farm-to-table gift set, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.

    Fora Perks at Sol y Luna:

    • $100 hotel credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.

    Fora Perks at Airelles, Courchevel:

    • $100 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.

    Fora Perks at Palacio Arriluce Hotel:

    • Breakfast daily and extended check-in/out whenever possible.

    Hop in a (luxury) boat

    Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat

    Image courtesy of Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat

    In line with the greater focus on cultural immersion are luxury river boats. These agile, intimate vessels allow you to get up close and personal with a certain destination. And you only have to unpack once. Our advisors are particularly excited about Les Bateaux Belmond, the LVMH-owned hotel company’s fleet of French river cruises. 

    “I crush on all things Belmond,” Claire said, “but when Belmond takes to the water with a small, luxury boat (or a few)? I’m all in.”

    There are currently seven Belmond boats. The company plans to launch new routes in Bordeaux next year, just in time for summer, Natalie said.

    “Choose between river and canal routes, each offering a low-key, slow-paced and scenic journey,” she added.

    Everything is included: transfers from Paris, butlers, housekeeping, a private chef, a guide for tailored tours and excursions. Families will love it, as will food and wine enthusiasts. Dominique Crenn helmed the fleet’s impressive gastronomic program. Each itinerary is tailored to your interests: Stop by wineries in the French countryside, get exclusive access to LVMH mansions, play boardgames, swim in the onboard pool, sit back and enjoy the scenery. 

    For a luxury river cruise in South America, mark your calendar for the launch of Abercrombie & Kent’s Pure Amazon, which comes mid-next year (although you can book now!). 

    “This is like an African safari on a boat,” Claire said, with “daily activities of all different varieties. Plus, the rates are all-inclusive and incredibly affordable compared to a safari. And you add luxury accommodations and minimal logistics for a place that is usually lacking in both. Sign me up!”

    We use cookies to enhance the user experience. Read our Privacy Policy here.