My Luxury Travel Year in Review: 2025 Reflections & 2026 Plans
A year shaped by new destinations, cruise debuts, rail journeys, unforgettable hotels - and a clear focus on travel with purpose.
As another year turns, I always like to look back at what I’ve achieved travel-wise, and what’s either already booked or on the horizon for the year ahead. Interestingly, I’ve only added two new countries this year - Norway and Colombia - yet, as TripIt reminds me, that still translated into 12 countries visited in total, 58,323 miles flown, 20 trips, over 138 days away, and 49 cities explored. I always have an ongoing discussion/argument with ‘Mrs’ TPT over how long trips are, where he has an aversion to anything over 14 days. With often an overnight in London before an onward flight, or a return overnight flight, TripIt will count both of these as full days!
New experiences remain incredibly important to me. Despite ‘Mrs’ TPT’s long-held misgivings (or outright aversion) to cruises, I somehow managed three this year — even persuading him to join me on one, and convincing him to book another for 2026. I’ve developed a real appreciation for inaugural cruise journeys in particular; while neither Queen Mary 2 nor Hermes Galápagos were inaugural sailings, Celebrity Xcel was, and Explora III will be as well. Residential train journeys aren’t new to me, but I was fortunate to experience one of the early departures of the La Dolce Vita Orient Express in Italy, alongside visits to some truly exceptional spas around the world.
I also know I can be hard on myself - acutely aware of the blogs still unfinished, or the refinements I want to make to the website to further enhance the reader experience and better share my travels. Instead, I’m trying to focus more on what has been achieved. This year saw me progress through every level at Fora to become a Fora X Advisor, alongside completing extensive brand and destination training - ensuring I can offer informed, confident guidance even when advising on places I haven’t yet experienced first-hand.
What I’ve Achieved on the Website
Over the past year, The Private Traveller has grown into a much more structured and content-rich platform, including:
14 Travel Itineraries
10 Hotel Reviews
1 Train Review
5 Spa Reviews
2 Cruise Reviews
6 Travel Diaries
Alongside this, several new sections and features have been introduced:
Destination Edits — deeper, more considered features on individual locations
A dedicated Cruise Review section (with much more to come)
Ocean Voyages / The Cruise Collection
Exclusive Events Planning
So, how did 2025 look for me…
January – Boston and New York
We wrapped up our extended (last) Christmas and New Year trip with time in Boston and New York, staying at some wonderful hotels including Four Seasons Boston, The Plaza, Equinox Hudson Yards, and The William Vale. One standout - at least in terms of style, history and design (if not service) - remains the TWA Hotel at JFK, still one of my personal favourites.
February – Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree
California featured once again, with what must now be our third visit for Modernism Week in Palm Springs, and our fifth time returning to the town itself. The trip also gave us the chance to stay somewhere new in Bel-Air — the beautiful Hotel Bel-Air from The Dorchester Collection - despite a dramatic arrival into LAX amid extreme rain and flooding.
We finally ticked off a long-standing wishlist stay at The Parker Palm Springs, before ending the trip with a couple of nights in an incredible house in the high desert of Joshua Tree.
March - Edinburgh (Gleneagles Townhouse and Fingal)
March stayed close to home, but firmly in luxury territory. Edinburgh paired two very different but equally characterful stays: the refined members-club elegance of Gleneagles Townhouse, and the wonderfully distinctive Fingal, Scotland’s floating hotel permanently moored in Leith. It was a reminder that you don’t need to travel far to experience something genuinely special - particularly when heritage, design and storytelling are done well.
April - London (Raffles London at The OWO)
April was all about one of London’s most anticipated openings in years. A stay at Raffles London at The OWO offered a deep dive into historic grandeur reimagined for modern luxury travellers. From the architecture and sense of occasion to the spa and dining scene, this was a landmark hotel visit - and one that firmly earned its place in London’s top tier.
May - Spain (Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa) & Italy (Palermo, Taormina, La Dolce Vita Orient Express, Rome and Puglia)
May unfolded across two very different European moods. First, a restorative coastal escape at Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa in Spain - a slower, wellness-led interlude.
Italy followed, and it was expansive. Sicily began in Palermo, before moving to Taormina, including time at the iconic Four Seasons San Domenico Palace. From there, one of the year’s standout experiences: the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, blending nostalgia, design and slow travel in a way that felt both indulgent and meaningful. Six Senses Rome and Rocco Forte’s Masseria Torres Maizza in Puglia completed the journey, with a focus on elegant hotels, regional character and seamless flow between destinations.
June - Oslo, Norway (Three Hotels, Three Perspectives)
June brought a return to Scandinavia, with Oslo offering a compact but surprisingly varied hotel scene. Staying across three contrasting properties allowed for a broader sense of the city - from contemporary waterfront design to heritage-led comfort - all set against long summer days and that calm, understated luxury that Norway does so well.
Where I Stayed
Amerikalinjen — Boutique heritage in the heart of the city, atmospheric and perfectly placed for exploring
Sommerro Oslo — Art Deco revival with standout wellness, dining and rooftop spaces
The Thief — Modern, waterfront design with contemporary art, views and a quieter sense of luxury
Each stay offered a different take on Oslo, and together they made the trip feel more like three micro-experiences rather than one hotel stay. Can you work out which was my favourite?
July - Dubai & San Sebastián — Two Very Different Kinds of Escape
July felt like two completely different trips. I began in Dubai - solo this time. This wasn’t a big, structured itinerary; more of a relaxed return to a city I know well, spending time between SIRO One Za’abeel and One&Only One Za’abeel, with stops at Atlantis The Royal and One&Only The Palm to compare what the newer openings are doing. It was less about box-ticking and more about seeing how Dubai continues to evolve - especially in terms of design-led luxury and wellness.
After the heat, scale and solo pace of Dubai, San Sebastián felt like the complete opposite in the best possible way. This leg was a direct flight from Edinburgh with BA Cityflyer, and it was a simple couples’ escape: slower mornings, walks along La Concha, long lunches, and a focus on food rather than five-star spectacle. One hotel, one destination, and no pressure to do anything except enjoy it.
Two destinations that couldn’t be more different - but together, they balanced each other perfectly.
August - Hamburg (Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and a Preview of New Luxury in the City)
August marked a return to the water with Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, sailing from Hamburg. There’s something timeless about QM2 — classic rather than cutting-edge - and this voyage reminded me why it remains such an icon. The experience feels rooted in tradition: generous deck space, a sense of occasion at sea, and that unmistakable transatlantic personality that Cunard does so well. For couples who enjoy slower travel with formality and grace, it’s still hard to beat.
Before boarding, we made time to explore Hamburg’s luxury hotel scene - including a first look at the newly opening Conrad Hamburg, as well as a visit to the legendary Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten overlooking the Alster. Both offered very different forms of luxury: one heritage and grandeur, the other sleek, international and contemporary. Hamburg feels like a city rediscovering its place in luxury travel, and these hotels were a big part of that impression.
September - London (Sanderson) and Iceland (The Retreat at Blue Lagoon)
September balanced city and nature beautifully. A stay at Sanderson London revisited one of the capital’s design classics, before heading north to Iceland and the extraordinary Retreat at Blue Lagoon. Few places deliver such a powerful sense of isolation and calm, and this was one of the most immersive wellness experiences of the year. This was also my first time flying with Icelandair in Saga Class on their inaugural Edinburgh to Reykjavik service.
October - London (Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane) and Canada and USA — Niagara Falls, New York and TWA Hotel)
October began with a refined London stay at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, before crossing the Atlantic for a multi-stop North American itinerary. Niagara Falls provided a dramatic natural counterpoint to city travel, followed by time in New York, including a return to the much-loved TWA Hotel at JFK — still one of the most design-led airport hotels anywhere.
November - Miami & Fort Lauderdale - Two Hotels and Celebrity Xcel (Preview and Inaugural Focus)
November was anchored in Florida, split between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, before stepping aboard Celebrity Xcel. This was one of the most forward-looking cruise experiences of the year, offering insight into where premium cruising is heading - and confirming a growing personal interest in inaugural and next-generation ships. It was also a good chance beforehand to experience two of Fort Lauderdale’s five star hotels, the newly reimagined Pier Sixty-Six, as well as the Four Seasons, before seeing what Celebrity’s ‘The Retreat’ is all about.
December - Austria (Innsbruck and Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol), Ecuador (Guayaquil and the Galápagos), and Colombia (Cartagena and Barú)
The year closed with one of its most diverse journeys. December began in the Alps, combining Innsbruck with a deeply restorative stay at Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol, where spa culture, space and setting came together beautifully.
From there, the journey continued to Ecuador, starting in Guayaquil before heading to the Galápagos aboard the Hermes Galápagos mega catamaran - a standout expedition-style experience delivered at a genuinely high level of comfort.
Finally, Colombia brought warmth, colour and history, with time in Cartagena followed by a private-island escape on Barú, rounding out the year with a sense of contrast, depth and discovery.
2025 Itineraries Published on The Private Traveller
A full year of luxury journeys - land, sea, rail and wellness escapes.
A look back at the journeys I created this year — each personally experienced, reviewed, and designed with seamless flow, hotel perks and trusted partner benefits.
Luxury Travel Itinerary: California – LA, Palm Springs & Joshua Tree
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/luxury-california-itinerary-la-palm-springs-joshua-tree
Luxury Staycation in Edinburgh: Gleneagles Townhouse & Fingal
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/luxury-staycation-edinburgh-gleneagles-townhouse-fingal
Sicily to Rome in Style (Part I): Villas, Views & an Overnight Sleeper Train
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/sicily-rome-italy-itinerary
La Dolce Vita to Puglia (Part II): Southern Italy by Rail
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/luxury-italy-itinerary-part-two-rome-to-puglia
Luxury Oslo: Three Hotels, Three Perspectives
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/luxury-oslo-hotels-itinerary
Dubai in Style: SIRO & One&Only One Za’abeel
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/dubai-itinerary-siro-oneandonly
The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon – Iceland’s Ultimate Wellness Escape
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/iceland-itinerary
San Sebastián in Style – Hotel Maria Cristina & Direct Flights
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/luxury-san-sebastian-itinerary-hotel-maria-cristina
Queen Mary 2 – Southampton to Hamburg Cruise
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/cunard-queen-mary-2-cruise-itinerary
Luxury London Weekend Break – Hotels, Dining & Experiences
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/luxury-london-weekend-break
Niagara to New York – Iconic Stays & Sights
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/luxury-niagara-falls-new-york-city
Fort Lauderdale & Celebrity Xcel Preview Cruise
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/luxury-fort-lauderdale-celebrity-xcel-preview
Innsbruck & Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol – Winter in the Alps
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/interalpen-tyrol-innsbruck-winter-itinerary
Ecuador, Galápagos & Colombia – A Luxury Land & Sea Journey
https://theprivatetraveller.com/travel-itineraries/luxury-galapagos-ecuador-colombia-journey
How 2026 is looking so far
I don’t have the whole year mapped out yet (unusual for me), but 2026 is already shaping up to include some exciting return journeys and a few firsts. We start with a short London break in January, followed by a June trip to Bruges via Eurostar — still one of my favourite ways to travel there.
I’ve also secured another inaugural sailing, this time with Norwegian Cruise Line on the brand-new Norwegian Luna, booked in The Haven - their ship-within-a-ship suite enclave. It’ll be my first time experiencing The Haven on a new-build vessel, so I’m keen to see how it compares with the likes of Celebrity and Explora.
Later in the year, there’s a return to Italy: beginning in Portofino before joining Explora III for a coastal journey through the South of France and Italy, then returning to Rome for La Minerva by Orient Express, and finally a train to Florence to close the loop. We’ll finish with an easy direct BA Cityflyer flight from Florence to Edinburgh.
Explora III – Planned Itinerary
Genoa (Embarkation)
→ Marseille
→ Saint-Tropez
→ Nice
→ Livorno (for Florence & Tuscany)
→ Return to Civitavecchia/Rome (Disembarkation)
Alongside all that, I’m hoping to carve out more time for wellness this year, including a planned trip to Buff Medical Wellness on Lake Constance in Germany, which I’ve heard excellent things about.
Beyond what’s already in the diary, there are a few experiences on the horizon that I’m genuinely excited to bring to life - trips that sit at the intersection of wilderness, design, and next-generation luxury.
Rwanda is high on the list, with a journey that combines One&Only Gorilla’s Nest and One&Only Nyungwe House - two very different perspectives on the country. Gorilla’s Nest offers a striking, contemporary base close to Volcanoes National Park and the mountain gorillas, while Nyungwe House leans into tranquillity, forest immersion, and slow mornings surrounded by tea plantations. I’d likely pair this with a stay at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi for its heritage, charm and the once-in-a-lifetime experience it offers; it feels like the right prologue to an East African adventure rather than a standalone night.
There’s also a growing curiosity toward the new wave of small-scale expedition (or perhaps “explorer-style”) vessels - from Aqua Expeditions on the Amazon to the upcoming Four Seasons Explorer routes and the small-ship options developing under Ritz-Carlton and the Orient Express hotel group. Not every sailing has to be grand or ocean-crossing; some feel more like floating boutique hotels with a sense of purpose and place.
And finally, there’s the rail world. While La Dolce Vita has already set a high bar, I’m intrigued by Dream of the Desert - not Orient Express-branded, but created by the same group behind Orient Express Hotels and the La Dolce Vita train. It’s tipped for late 2026, and looks set to bring that cinematic, design-first storytelling to a very different landscape.
Add to this the long-awaited opening of Six Senses London at The Whiteley - which is likely to become a benchmark urban wellness property — and 2026 already feels less like a fixed itinerary, and more like a year of possibilities.
Ready to Plan Your Next Journey?
If any part of this year’s travels has sparked an idea - whether it’s a European rail journey, a restorative wellness escape, a heritage hotel in Latin America or a new cruise launch - I’d love to help you plan something personal to you. As a Fora X Advisor, I can secure VIP partner benefits at many of the world’s leading hotels and cruise lines: upgrades, daily breakfast, resort credits, early check-in/late check-out where available, and enhanced recognition on arrival.
More importantly, I bring first-hand experience. Everything I recommend is informed by places I’ve actually visited, stayed, or inspected - from room categories and suite layouts to transfer logistics, spa bookings, and how to stitch an itinerary together so it flows beautifully including business or first class flights.
Whether you already know exactly where you want to go, or you’re unsure and need direction, I’m here to guide the process, simplify the planning, and elevate the experience from the very beginning.
If you’re ready to start curating your own journey:
📩 dave.gillan@fora.travel
💬 DM on Instagram: @theprivatetraveller
🌍 theprivatetraveller.com
Here’s to meaningful journeys in 2026 — and to travelling better, not just further.
A refined December journey through South America, combining standout luxury hotels in Ecuador and Colombia with one of the world’s most exciting new Galápagos mega-catamaran experiences — curated seamlessly from land to sea.