It’s 2025 and we travel differently now. Tastes are always subject to change over time, as evidenced by the general shift we’ve seen away from explorative backpacking holidays and towards a very different way of seeing the world – but for those of us accustomed to a more luxury form of travel, there’s a new way to see the world.
Gone are the days of gauche gold, shiny penthouse suites and ostentatious spectacle; here instead is the age of “quiet luxury”. To vacation in luxury and style is now to vacation with intent, in search of the slow lane and all the meaningful experiences that can result from them. Whether a slow train across a continent or a wellness-centric itinerary in a far-flung island, intent-driven journeys are all the rage for the upper crust. For some inspiration in your own upcoming travels this festive period, take a look at the following experiences.
Mountain Sanctuaries: Elevated Winter Escapes
The quintessential winter vacation is, of course, the skiing trip. Globally, there are thousands of potential spots for you to get your slope on – but there are only a handful that, honestly, truly offer the level of quiet-luxury hospitality you so clearly deserve.
On home soil, there is Aspen, Colorado. While Aspen is admittedly a popular destination for many, there are some exclusive lodges that offer you a level of quietude you simply won’t find on other slopes; besides which, with access to a private jet Aspen becomes a queue-less luxury for you and yours.
If you’re not keen on jetsetting inland, the next obvious choice is the Alps – more specifically, the Swiss Alps. There are too many incredible chalets to touch on across the Alps and Dolomites, so let’s make things easy and single out Zermatt as the ideal choice for an uninterrupted chalet getaway (and mere minutes from a town full of unique and esoteric modern conveniences).
Arctic Retreats Beyond the Usual
Are neither Aspen nor the Alps cold enough for you? Maybe they’re a little too close to civilization for your quiet-luxury liking? If you want a truly remote winter vacation, you need to be looking further north – towards the Arctic Circle.
On the closer side of the equation, Alaska’s great Arctic expanses are stunning opportunities to get lodge-y with a private cabin on a picturesque lake. For something altogether more alien, there’s the volcanic landscapes and incredible wildlife of Iceland; for a slowcore cross-country trek of a lifetime, there’s sled-riding in Finland.
Wellness, Detox & Deep Rest in Snow-Clad Isolation
All these options might still be a little too active for your quiet luxury getaway-of-dreams – in which case, let’s pivot to the full-on wellness retreats waiting for you in the colder parts of the world. There are all manner of tech-forward wellness retreats to find, but none of these are what you’re looking for; you can sit next to a tech bro any day of the week. Instead, you want to find the tucked-away and naturally-restorative destinations. My vote, for what it’s worth, is the geothermal pools of Iceland or the revered onsen of mountainous Japan.
Jessica Alexander
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