2025: A few places i can't shake

As we close out 2025, I have been reflecting on the trips that did not just WOW me—they reshaped how I view the world (and I have seen a lot!). It was a banner year for visiting new destinations that sparked me—the most pivotal being Central Asia, Sri Lanka and Guatemala.  
 

When it comes to Central Asia (the “Stans”), my thoughts are simple: GO. NOW. You will be rewarded for removing the blinkers and stepping into a realm of civilization that challenges what you thought you knew. I have rarely felt more engagement with locals, and I have never been photographed more. It was raw, real, and as of yet, unaffected by tourism. Time is of the essence. Go before it becomes the “Venice of the Desert".

 

Sri Lanka combined everything I love about travel into one destination. All of my boxes were checked—food, adventure, exercise and locals. The dimension I relished most (and will return for) was men's wellness: a spiritual dive into Buddhism; strengthening my mental fortitude in nature; and resetting my body with Ayurvedic treatments.

 

A final nod to Guatemala, the most unexpected top destination of 2025. It personified why we travel, because we have to figure it out for ourselves, form our own opinions, and experience the world beyond the mainstream narrative.

 

If there is anything I would love to find under my Christmas travel tree, it is these places ... and I am, of course, already plotting the routes for 2026: Oman, Scotland, Bhutan, São Tomé & Príncipe, and Madeira. We are excited to help you shape YOUR 2026 list!

Travel Sommelier's Hailey and her family recently returned from Thanksgiving in the Cotswolds. It was a gentle reset, unhurried and quiet, and a reminder that holidays can be shaped however one chooses. Hailey shared some of her favorite moments from the trip.

 

On Thanksgiving morning, instead of parade floats and turkey preparation, we sat by the fire at The Wild Rabbit with slow coffee, warm plates, and nowhere urgent to be. A two-mile walk carried us through farmland toward Daylesford Farm, past cows, sheep, and the soft stillness of the countryside. The children enjoyed hot chocolate, and we drank coffee as time stretched in a way it rarely does at home—small but lasting moments.

 

The Cotswolds in late November embraces winter beautifully. Markets glowed, pubs invited us to linger, and streets were trimmed with lights. We spent our days slowly in Stow-on-the-Wold, enjoyed a cosy lunch in Burford, and wandered the nostalgic streets of Bourton-on-the-Water. Thyme stood out for its design and dreamy spa, while Estelle Manor balanced grandeur with warmth—both are places to which I would gladly return.

 

What captured the hearts of the whole family was Blenheim Palace, reimagined as a 1960s carnival with a Wizard of Oz light trail. The children ice-skated for the first time, wobbly and brave, their cheeks flushed with cold and triumph. That moment felt like the heart of the trip—new and unexpected, yet deeply festive.

 

This Thanksgiving was different from any we have had and oh so memorable. It was warm, meaningful, and exactly what we needed.

ESTABLISHING A TRAVEL TRADITION

Often, it’s not a single trip that matters most, but the traditions we build by traveling together year after year. Our founder, Darren, has made that literal by creating an annual father–son rugby trip with his two boys. Every year, they pick a new destination in the world and anchor it around a match.

 

Last year, they crossed the pond to the UK for their inaugural adventure. This year, the tradition continued in Ireland, with Dublin as home base. The boys pulled on their Springbok green and gold and headed to Aviva Stadium for a South Africa game under the lights—a sea of jerseys, anthems sung at full volume, and that electric stadium buzz you can feel in your chest.

 

It wasn’t just about the rugby, though. It became a multi-generational “boys’ trip,” shared with friends who are very much like family. In between kick-offs and try-lines there was time to wander Dublin’s streets, warm up in inviting pubs, and give the kids a taste of the city’s history—from exploring the storied campus of Trinity College to running across its quads between showers of Irish drizzle.

 

What started as “let’s go to a game together” is now an annual tradition the boys can count on: one trip every year, somewhere new in the world, just for them. And this idea can take so many forms: maybe it’s following the Springboks around the globe, planning “Swiftie tours” to see the Queen of Pop perform in different cities, building a ritual around Wimbledon or Roland-Garros, chasing cricket tests, or choosing one festival each year to experience together. It’s the kind of ritual that stitches childhood memories to places on the map—and one we love helping our travelers create in their own way.

HONEYMOON TRENDS

IN CONVERSATION WITH DAVID HANDY

David Handy is the CEO and Creative Director of Handy & Dallaire Events, a high-caliber wedding and event design firm renowned for crafting impeccably refined celebrations for distinguished clients and celebrity clientele across Nantucket, Palm Beach, Boston, and New York.

 

Darren recently sat down with David to explore how couples are weaving wedding design and honeymoon travel into one cohesive story, shaped by each couple’s distinct sensibilities and guided by an intentional approach. We will be sharing more from their conversation on honeymoon trends next month on our Instagram.

 

From David:
From the wedding side, the most beautiful shift I am seeing is couples designing the honeymoon as a seamless continuation of the celebration. The same sensibility is carried forward, simply at a quieter volume. I recently produced a rehearsal dinner with a Mediterranean point of view that intentionally echoed the couple’s honeymoon in Spain. A custom hand-painted tile served as the starting point for the tabletop, inspiring sun-washed tones, citrus centerpieces, olive notes, and layered textures that created a feeling of coastal ease. The design was not theme-driven. It was evocative, offering an elegant preview of what they were about to experience and woven into the weekend with intention.

 

From Darren:
That same philosophy is guiding how we are approaching honeymoons right now. Not as a checklist of destinations, but as a thoughtfully considered exhale. Couples are gravitating toward privacy-focused stays, fewer hotel moves, and experiences that feel elevated yet unforced. One beautiful base sets the tone, paired with a small collection of signature, unsearchable moments. A private sail. An intimate chef’s table shaped by ingredients foraged together and dishes that feel personal. A restorative spa ritual rooted in presence rather than schedules. Entire afternoons are intentionally left open, allowing time to linger, wander, and simply be.

 

The new honeymoon luxury should feel effortless, deeply personal, and worthy of the story it follows.

a postcard from egypt 

where will 2026 take us?

Happy New Year from Travel Sommelier! Cheers to the closing days of this year and the adventures waiting on the other side. We wish you health, joy, and continued wanderlust.