Planning for the year ahead, I’m looking forward to three luxury products I haven’t tried yet but are in my radar for 2025.
If you are considering booking travel LiveAndLetsFly.com appreciates your support.
If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.
Looking Forward To 2025
Some trips are already filling in for the upcoming year mostly around commitments we have in place, but when given the opportunity there are a number of brands and products I’d like to try but I haven’t yet done so
For some of our readers, these will be places they have long visited and I welcome your advice and guidance.
Rosewood, Mandarin Oriental, Shanghai-La, The Standard
The Rosewood brand is such a refined product and its locations are a mix of regular favorites and unique opportunities I’d love to get back to the island of Bermuda and visit the Rosewood Tucker’s Point Bermuda and the incredible water. However, it seems more likely I will try the Rosewood Baha Mar in September for a conference. Either way, the brand is high on my list and I will prioritize opportunities to evaluate the brand.
Mandarin Oriental has been a brand that I’ve wanted to encounter since before I knew it as a brand. In the 2003 movie, Brokedown Palace, the opening scenes include a lush experience at the pool of the Bangkok location. Following their recent renovation, and Siam World across the street, our next visit to Bangkok will have to feature a stay at the Mandarin.
Staying in Asia, The Shanghai-La Hong Kong (twin building the the Conrad Hong Kong where we’ve stayed a few times in the past) has some of the most incredible family rooms I have ever seen. I owe it to my kids and to traveling families like ours to give it a try and report back my findings.
Hyatt acquired The Standard Hotels and its additional brands last year and I think it’s approach is a fresh take but there’s one way to find out. As much as I would like to try their new products abroad, my most likely foray will be in New York City.
Virgin Atlantic, Etihad, Royal Air Maroc
I have avoided Virgin Atlantic for two reasons over the years, the first is a very exposed and tight herringbone configuration in business class and the second has been its high taxes and fees on awards respective to alternatives. However, it’s time to try Upper Class, and its Clubhouse lounges. I have a late summer booking secured and look forward to it.
I’ve flown Qatar in the past and loved it. I know it’s a travel blogger sin to not have flown the Emirates A380 and taken an obligatory photo in the lav with a shower, but as the product ages and they roll out new updates, I will probably wait for the new installations to be more widespread. But Etihad looks like an easier option and one I am more likely to take, the product looks stunning and I should utilize my resources (especially its partnership with American Airlines before that goes away eventually.)
While not the most glamorous product, I haven’t flown Royal Air Maroc since it joined oneworld and have a potential conference in Marrakech. I haven’t made my way to Casablanca yet but I love Marrakech and it’s been 13 years since I have been back there so I hope to take advantage of their easy nonstop flights back to the US. 
Emerald Cruises, Uniworld, Regent Seven Seas
As we explore luxury cruises further (as different as the Ritz-Carlton is from a Great Wolf Lodge – yes they are both hotels but very different experiences) Emerald Cruises is one of the most interesting. Emerald focuses on 100-passenger yachts and its soon-to-launched vessel, Kaia, features an adult-waterslide off the back and the fitness room wall folds out to create a mini yoga studio over the water. Incredible, and perfect for a Caribbean break.
Uniworld has some of the most interesting custom ships in the world for rivers. I wanted to get to a Christmas Markets cruise this year and it didn’t happen. I’d also look to them for the Nile product or the incredible Ganges sailing that incorporates the Maharaj Express to create a “Wes Anderson” type experience reminiscent of one of his greatest films, The Darjeeling Limited.
Regent Seven Seas has a storied reputation and is doing more overnights in a slower travel model that allows guests to immerse themselves in destinations rather than merely stop for the day.
What do you think? What’s on your list?
I think the best in Hong Kong is the Rosewood
I’m surprised you haven’t tried Virgin Atlantic, just make sure you don’t get cucked by their frequent plane swaps.
Upper class on their A330neo and A350s are a treat. Upper class on their 787s and A330ceos, not so much.
Their lounge products are quite solid all around otherwise.
Have reviewed A350-1000 and loved it:
https://liveandletsfly.com/virgin-atlantic-a350-1000-upper-class-review/
Recommnend Tauck for a river cruise. It’s great and as good if not better than uniworld. Not as flashy, more waspy quiet money type of luxury.
As far as Rosewood, overall it’s great, but the Baha Mar property leaves a lot to be desired. Though it’s a beautiful property, it’s a large resort ractory type property and the service levels are not up to the same level you’ll find at other Rosewoods that arent part of a resort factory. Adjust expectations accordingly.