The skies are grey and the temperature chilly in London: what Anne-Marie calls “Tupperware” weather, as if a lid has been stuck on top of us! So, it’s the perfect time to look ahead to 2025 and dream about which destinations would be part of your travel plans. To help, in this post we share some highlights from Scott Dunn’s hotlist for luxury travel (1).
1. Morocco’s Imperial Cities
Tourism is Morocco is recovering, following the earthquake in September 2023. Scott Dunn suggest looking beyond Marrakech when planning your itinerary. One place we visited before and would like to return to is Kasbah Tamadot in the Atlas Mountains (2). Sir Richard Branson’s award-winning retreat sits at the top of a valley, with views of majestic Mount Toubkal. We stayed in a Berber Tents last time and like the sound of the brand-new Riads (see below). You can book rooms in these or take a whole Riad is you are travelling as a group.
Other new openings of not include Royal Mansour in Casablanca, Four Seasons Rabat and La Fiermontina Ocean near Tangier.
2. Scandi summer
Scott Dunn suggest that a trident to ‘coolcationing’ was a key factor in a 26% rise in bookings to Finland and Norway last summer. We’re intrigued by the idea of a Scandi summer break, having enjoyed our brief visit to the Fjäderholmarna cluster of islands (see below) located a 30-minute boat ride from central Stockholm (3).
3. Paris & French Riviera
“A spruced-up post-Olympics Paris is at the top of guests’ wishlists in 2025,” report Scott Dunn. They suggest combining Paris with a stay on the French Riviera, something we did in 2024. In particular, we are fans of visiting out of peak season in September or even October/November. Temperatures remain mild, there’s a good chance of sun and the crowds much less.
We spotted the newly opened Arev hotel in St Tropez (4), which is on our wish list. And we’ve also read a lot about the Hotel du Covent in Nice (5) (see below).
4. Islands of East Africa
We had a loverly stay in Zanzibar at the end of a safari to Kenya. And Scott Dunn suggest it will be a popular destination in its own right in 2025. In particular, they highlight the opening of newly renovated andBeyond Mnemba Island
We’ve never been to the Seychelles but would love to go. And this dream destination will be more accessible in 2025 thanks to four international airlines resuming direct routes to the islands.
5. Sardinia
We had our first trip to Sardinia earlier this year and you can read our itinerary and recommendations here. “The island is a sleeping beauty awakened,” is the way Scott Dun describe the island. Looking beyond next year, new luxury hotel openings planned for 2026 include Cheval Blanc’s new Pitrizza and Rocco Forte’s Porto Cervo.
6. Baja California Sur Peninsula
Demand for Mexico jumped strongly in 2024 according to Scott Dunn, driven by the combination of adventure, great food and relaxation on offer. In particular, Baja California is on our wish list. We had a whole trip planned there but had to cancel at the last minute.
The area already has a Nobu in Cabo San Lucas and a One & Only in Palmilla. And Scott Dunn report that new planned openings include Amanvari (2025) and Chablé Sea of Cortéz (2024).
Other travel tips from Scott Dunn include Greenland’s High Arctic, with the Total Solar Eclipse on the horizon in 2026, and South West China, as an alternative to Japan.
We hope this post gives you some inspiration to plan your wish list for 2025 and beyond!
