Soneva Fushi, Maldives
I remember as if it was yesterday's time swimming with dolphins in the wild as they flipped and twisted playfully around me — an experience, so incredible, that it was impossible for it to not leave a permanent mark on me. But I remember just as clearly my childhood days of feeding pigeons at Trafalgar Square with my parents, an activity that seems fairly pedestrian in comparison. Yet, there's an inherent quality about travel that sparks core memories within us and stays ignited forever. As we travel, the memories of each trip fade as soon as we return to the comforts of home, but some inexplicably do not and stay alive in our hearts forever, shaping who we become as people.
There are many sources of core memories, but for me, 3 stand out above all others. Love, Learning and Life Experiences. Love explains why I remember the simple act of feeding pigeons because the act of being with a loving family was what made it special. While less spontaneous than love, learning is no less important, especially during our formative years. Life Experiences, on the other hand, are the hardest to plan, but when they come concurrently, they stay with us for life.
Love
Whether familial or romantic, love and travel are a match made in heaven. Some of our favourite trips are multigenerational retreats designed to foster bonding and closeness.
For romance, our newly published honeymoon hotlist is a curated list of some of our favourite one-in-a-lifetime properties for newlyweds to make memories that will last a lifetime and lay the foundation for years of togetherness. From the world's most lavish private islands to palaces fit for princesses, it's the perfect way to create memories.
Las Ventanas Al Paraiso
Learning
We're seeing more and more parents using travel as an educative experience. From fostering curiosity about marine life in the Maldives to learning about ancient history in Egypt and junior ranger experiences across multiple national parks — the possibilities are endless.
One of the leaders of travel-based learning has always been Soneva, who's recently launched Soneva Academy and takes travel learning further than ever before. We sat down with Den Manager, Ms. Stacy Bachan, to get a more detailed insight into how they create learning via travel.
Soneva Jani, Maldives
Life Experiences
The hardest category to define, yet arguably the most incredible. It could be as simple as the first taste of gelato on a journey across Italy or as inexplicable as the northern lights, but it's something that stays with you.
This episode features a range of incredible destinations, fit for creating true life experiences, ranging from culturally unique life in Japan to one of the ultimate bucket list destinations, the Amazon.
So this month, our focus is to help our members reflect on the power of travel to enhance their lives and build a treasure of core memories that you can carry from place to place. Let us remember that it's not only the places we visit but the memories we create that make our journey truly extraordinary. Travel, in its diverse manifestations, perpetually moulds us, imprinting our hearts and souls with experiences that last a lifetime; you just have to embrace it!
As destinations adapt, we’re witnessing a new form of travel emerge — one where itineraries are crafted around daily doubles and designer sneakers, where resorts court you with spa menus and match schedules. It’s athleticism draped in Hermès. Playing Pickleball and Padel in exclusive courts has become the new common language of the elite. And it’s just beginning.
As we look ahead, the future of ultra-luxury travel is about going deeper into remote landscapes, cultural connections, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. While these trends are soaring to new heights, others are losing their appeal. Here’s what’s redefining luxury travel in 2025, and what’s on its way out.
Step into the world of The White Lotus Season 3 at Four Seasons Koh Samui. From luxurious hillside villas to curated experiences inspired by the show, indulge in tropical serenity, exquisite dining and unforgettable adventures. Paradise, perfected.
Luxury travellers are now seeking silent travel, a pursuit of something profound. It’s about casting aside the need for validation, trading Instagrammable moments for personal revelation. Across the globe, exclusive retreats are curating experiences where travel is a chance to inhabit each moment fully and awaken to the symphony of the unseen.
Frontier travel is redefining travel for those with a taste for the extraordinary. The unexplored edges of the world are calling, blending adrenaline with authenticity in ways that traditional luxury never could.
As an avid traveller, you might find yourself influenced by hotel rankings and best destination awards. But have you ever considered how these lists truly shape your travel choices? Our Founder, Keshav Arya, offers a refreshing perspective on these rankings, helping you see beyond the numbers to understand what truly makes a hotel or destination the 'best.'
Hidden India is a world-class, boutique, uber-luxe conservation travel and hospitality collection focusing on unique destinations, wildlife, culture, and wellness. The Raison d’être can offer personalized experiences à la carte, for the new age purposeful ‘Luxurian’.
The wealthy are often driven by a desire for exclusivity, seeking experiences and possessions unattainable to most by literally following the herd. This directionless competitive pursuit of status and superiority is distorting the genuine concept of luxury travel.
Have you felt disheartened after returning from a “Luxurious” vacation? Chances are you’ve been Luxewashed. Know everything about how hotels & influencers Luxewash, and how can you identify it to save you a big deal on time, effort and of course, money.
In this exclusive interview with the owners of Forestis Hotel—Stefan Hinteregger & Teresa Unterthiner, we delve into the inspirations and philosophy that brought this mountain retreat to life and the vision for travellers to sustainably relax and rejuvenate in the heart of nature.
Our Founder, Keshav Arya shares why we, himself included, religiously give into the wearing act of sightseeing, what makes it compulsive and how we can still pursue it healthily just by including some clever, more immersive experiences in our itineraries.
Planning a trip to Japan and want to venture beyond Tokyo and Kyoto? Azumi Setoda, harboured in the Seto Inland, should be your destination for an authentic Japanese hospitality experience. We interviewed its visionary founder, Adrian Zecha, to bring you exclusive insights about this remarkable new retreat.
We interview General Managers, Managing Directors, and Vice Presidents of Six Iconic Hotels to understand their perspective on defining and providing exceptional service—Here’s what they have to say!
Tourism brings huge amounts of revenue to a local community, but it also brings with it its own set of problems but the solution does not lie in a complete ban. Our Founder, Keshav Arya shares alternative strategies to look at before resorting to a complete ban.
In a delightful interview with tourism pioneer, Malik J. Fernando, Managing Director, Resplendent Ceylon, we get exclusives from his journey in Tourism and his enlightening views on the present and future of tourism in Sri Lanka.
To learn more about this distinctive method, we interacted with Dr. Mubaris Ahamed.T, TAIM Specialist at Zulal Wellness Resort to understand how TAIM is different from Ayurveda, its key elements and treatments and most importantly its long-term benefits.
Through an exclusive conversation with Irem Aldemir, Director of Spa at Peninsula Istanbul get enlightened with how this age-old bathing ritual has been redefined as a luxurious method of relaxation and rejuvenation.
If there is any similarity between the Maldives & the Lakshadweep it is only the fact they’re both Islands and nothing else. This is our Founder, Keshav Arya’s take on the whole Maldives-Lakshadweep debate and why these two destinations are incomparable and cannot be substituted for one another.
Soneva, one of the finest luxury and sustainable hospitality brands, has been secretly curating the next big destination that is sure to be everyone’s bucket list and is straight out of our dreams. We've been led to this long-kept secret by none other than the man himself, Sonu Shivdasani. Who wants the tea?
Consider this my open book moment—here I am, sharing my ultimate travel aspirations with you, spilling the beans on the destinations and adventures that have captured my imagination and inspired me to explore the world in style and with no bounds, whatsoever.
Travelling for one’s wellness has a whole new dimension with the Chenot Method at our disposal. While botanical walks and adrenaline-boosting experiences are at the core of meaningful travel, this is your sign to experience holistic wellness like none other.
In this very insightful interview, the wellness experts at Ananda shared profound Ayurvedic practices aimed at fortifying the body against the deleterious effects of pollution, providing a roadmap to face the umpteen environmental challenges.
If after every ‘expensive’ holiday, you return home with a big bill topped with a lingering sense of dissatisfaction because everywhere you travelled was either overrun or unjustifiably pricey, here's some food for thought to ensure this almost never happens again.
The story of Andaz unfolds as a narrative of innovation, authenticity, and unbridled self-expression making it a symbol of unconventional luxury across the world. Every Andaz property around the world is designed to propel you find your expression and also embrace it.
For those who travel to feed their souls with inspiring tales and unparalleled experiences, this piece, though a touch lengthy, will undoubtedly evoke the desire to plan a trip to this cultural haven where music and warmth reign supreme.
In the spirit of imbibing the transformative nature of travel, our founder, Keshav Arya, has crafted a set of resolutions that extend beyond the typical promises we make to ourselves.
Featuring a myriad of exclusive details about the expansion into New Zealand’s breathtaking geography and other major expansions, Lucy Werner, Chief Commercial Officer, takes us on an insider’s journey you cannot miss.
In an exclusive interview with Alex Glasscock, the Founder and CEO of The Ranch Malibu, we delve into the intricate nuances of this life-enriching methodology presenting a comprehensive overview.
When it comes to travelling, we find it quite odd how no experience is authentically ones own in this world of travelling for the gram. And so Our Founder, Keshav Arya is on a constant quest to make travel different and more enriching for those who dare to take the off-beaten path. Who’s coming with us on this journey?
For those who’ve done it all and are now seeking something quietly radical—this story introduces a retreat that doesn’t just heal, it redefines what it means to feel well. Expect personal insights, unseen tech-meets-tradition philosophies, and a place in Kerala where the future of wellness is already unfolding.