Over the past year, our team spent thousands of days on the road, spanning continents, climates, and cultures. We went to extraordinary places, but what lingered was often the simpler pleasures: a meal with friends, a stretch of silence, or a walk at exactly the right hour. These moments didn’t seem significant at the time, but they’ve shaped our day-to-day lives in ways both subtle and profound.
Collected here are the experiences that mattered most to us in 2025—personal and unrepeatable yet shared in the hope they inspire you.
Yamanaka Onsen, Japan: Sake straight out of a novel
I first read about the hot spring town of Yamanaka Onsen in Hannah Kirschner’s Water, Wood, and Wild Things, and when I visited last fall, I went straight to Engawa, the six-seat bar where she once worked. Owner Shimoki-san poured us a flight of sake, intuitively choosing each vessel based on the season, temperature, and mood. The bites—flounder sashimi with sudachi and miso, sweet potato with fried Noto pork—were just as impressive. After a few rounds, the other guests quickly turned from strangers to friends. —Laila Said, Senior Director of Travel
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Releasing baby turtles
The turtles were barely 30 minutes old when we sent them on their way at sunset. Learning how carefully their mothers hide the eggs and how many dangers the hatchlings face made the moment feel meaningful. We carried the babies in small coconut shells, never touching them, and gently set them on the sand. Watching them instinctively turn toward the ocean—so tiny yet so determined—was incredibly touching. —Josefina Gonzalez Tornquist, Head of Bespoke Operations
Tuscania, Italy: A humble yet heavenly lunch
In the hill town of Tuscania in the Lazio region, we stumbled onto an idyllic trattoria: long tables under greenery, patched tablecloths, and the scent of tomatoes and rosemary wafting into the street. Inside Da Alfreda, three generations cooked behind a beaded curtain. We sprang for the $17 prix fixe and an unlabeled jug of house wine. Within minutes, we were savoring pici in perfect pomodoro, rabbit braised to collapse, and silky stewed tripe. It was the best meal I ate all year—proof that lifelong memories often come from getting a little lost. —Alexa Scully, Travel Designer
Paris, France: Chasing the light
As a photographer, I plan around daylight and shape my schedule to meet it at its best. In Paris, winter brings overcast skies and a rare stillness; during a February visit, I was struck by the city’s powdery, silver light—soft yet bright—making everything feel gentler. I felt it most at the Musée Bourdelle, a quiet museum in the 15th housed in the sculptor’s former studio. Bourdelle’s work is monumental and physical, yet under winter light it appeared unexpectedly tender, its patina and wear made more apparent as the visit moved between indoor and outdoor spaces. It’s a place I already imagine returning to, curious how it will shift with another season and another kind of light. —Christian Martin, Art Director
Saint-Émilion, France: Biking through Bordeaux
My friends and I spent a day in Saint-Émilion as autumn began to settle in. After French onion soup for lunch, we rented bikes and followed the wine route, stopping at small family estates and storied châteaux to taste the region’s wines at the source. The mix of landscape, architecture, and shared glasses made me appreciate my friends—and the privilege of traveling—even more. —Sofia Zorraquin, Director of Industry Relations
Åmot, Norway: Channeling childlike glee
After a day of hiking in the Norwegian fjords, we returned to Åmot—a secluded estate in the region—pulled on bathing suits and robes, and pedaled e-bikes down a quiet country road. The cold air, the jagged landscape, and the absurdity of biking in a robe made the moment feel weightless and free—like being a kid again. We ended the evening still wrapped in robes, eating cured salmon on flatbread; the day distilled into something simple and distinctly Norwegian. —Stephanie Sabra, General Manager
