Travel in 2025 was not about collecting destinations. It was about staying long enough to feel a place, returning to cities that continue to inspire me, and choosing journeys that allowed space for reflection. This year unfolded slowly and intentionally, shaped by the rhythm of seasons, the calm of life at sea, and moments spent close to family.
From extended European stays to island escapes and time onboard some of the world’s most elegant ships, 2025 reminded me why travel remains such a powerful way to mark time.
January
Beginning the Year at Sea Aboard Silversea Silver Moon
I welcomed the year aboard Silversea Silver Moon, allowing January to unfold at a slower, more intentional pace. After the intensity of the holidays, the experience felt deeply restorative. Days were shaped by quiet mornings, long breakfasts, and the simple pleasure of letting time pass without urgency.
Although this itinerary did not cross the Panama Canal, watching other ships navigate it from the water was unexpectedly captivating. This sailing was less about ticking ports off a list and more about perspective. Long breakfasts, slow afternoons, and evenings that blended seamlessly into night set the tone for the months ahead.
February
Eastern Caribbean Color Aboard Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam
February brought a brighter, more energetic rhythm with an Eastern Caribbean sailing aboard Nieuw Statendam. Each port brought its own personality and pace.
San Juan stood out for its history, color, and vibrant street life, while St. Thomas and Grand Turk delivered that unmistakable Caribbean palette of turquoise water and soft sand. This Eastern Caribbean cruise experience offered a lively contrast to the quiet elegance of January at sea and reminded me how different cruise styles can shape an entire journey.
March
Finding Stillness in Northern Spain: Cantabria and Asturias
March began on land, surrounded by green landscapes and northern light in Spain. In Cantabria, I stayed at Palacio Helguera, a luxury boutique hotel in Cantabria where heritage, thoughtful design, and tranquility exist in perfect balance. The experience felt intimate and refined, encouraging a slower rhythm that suited the season perfectly.
From there, I continued to Asturias, where dramatic scenery, quiet roads, and a strong culinary identity brought a deeper sense of grounding. Northern Spain has a way of restoring perspective, and this part of the year felt calm, rooted, and deeply nourishing.
March and April
Living in Paris, not just visiting
After Northern Spain, I settled into a long stay in Paris that lasted nearly a month and a half. Paris has become an annual ritual for me, a city I return to not just to see, but to live in.
Days unfolded organically through museums, including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Rodin Museum, Carnavalet Museum, and the Fondation Louis Vuitton. I revisited places I love and discovered new layers within familiar spaces. Evenings were marked by memorable meals at Le Jules Verne and Bofinger, along with visits to Chantilly Castle and the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Paris is also where I shop for luxury maisons like Dior and Hermès, making the city both creatively inspiring and deeply personal. It remains the place where inspiration feels most natural to me.
May
The Cyclades at Their Most Serene
May took me to Greece at what I believe is its most beautiful moment. After time in Athens and the iconic landscapes of Santorini, I ended the journey in Ios Island.
Ios was the quiet revelation of the trip. Understated, calm, and effortlessly elegant, it offered space to disconnect and simply be. Ending Greece with a luxury escape in the Cyclades brought balance and softness to the entire experience, allowing the trip to close on a deeply peaceful note.
June
Two American Cities, Two Distinct Rhythms: New York City and Washington DC
June brought me back to the United States. In New York City, I returned to my hotel of reference, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, a place that consistently grounds me despite the city’s intensity.
Dining at The River Café remains one of those timeless New York experiences that never loses its magic. Washington DC followed, offering museums, wide avenues, and a slower pace that complemented New York beautifully. Together, the two cities created a balanced and energizing summer chapter.
July
Coming Back to What Matters: Madrid and Toledo
July was about connection rather than discovery. Time in Madrid was spent with family, enjoying unplanned days, shared meals, and moments that feel meaningful precisely because they are simple.
A visit to Toledo added history and perspective. Walking its ancient streets always brings a sense of continuity, a reminder that travel can be just as powerful when it brings you closer to your roots.
September
Early Autumn Elegance in England: London and Oxford
September is one of my favorite times to visit England. In London, I stayed at Andaz London Liverpool Street and Flemings Mayfair, experiencing the city through both contemporary and classic lenses. This luxury stay in London reflected the city’s timeless ability to feel both dynamic and composed.
Oxford offered a quieter counterpoint. Walking the university grounds and visiting the Bodleian Library added a timeless calm that balanced the energy of London perfectly.
October
Lisbon Through a Slower Lens
Lisbon unfolded gently in October. Soft light, layered viewpoints, and textured façades made the city feel especially intimate. This trip was also about capturing memories through a Flytographer photoshoot, allowing moments to be preserved thoughtfully rather than hurried. If you’re planning your own getaway soon, treat yourself (or somone special!) to a photoshoot and use my code CARMEN50 for $50 off your first shoot or gift card (valid until February 28, 2026).
Throughout the year, similar sessions in Cartagena, San Juan, Paris, Madrid, and London transformed my travels into visual storytelling, creating lasting records of moments that might otherwise fade.
November
Closing the Year at Sea Aboard Silversea Silver Dawn
I closed the year sailing through Portugal and Spain aboard Silversea Silver Dawn. Stops included Madeira, the Canary Islands, Cádiz, and Seville. This luxury cruise through Portugal and Spain blended culture, coastal beauty, and refined comfort seamlessly.
Life onboard, especially in the Silver Suite, felt effortless and beautifully paced. It was a reflective and elegant way to bring the travel year to a close.
Looking Forward
As this year comes to a close, I realize that what stayed with me most was not how far I traveled, but how present I allowed myself to be in each place. 2025 reinforced something I have been feeling more strongly with each passing year. Luxury is not acceleration. It is permission. Permission to linger, to return, and to travel in ways that feel aligned rather than rushed.
Some destinations have become part of my personal rhythm. Paris is no longer simply a trip, but a ritual. A city I return to year after year to observe, to reset, and to find inspiration in familiar streets and ever changing details. Looking ahead, Asia represents the opposite energy. New cultures, new landscapes, and the quiet anticipation that comes with stepping into the unknown.
The year will close at home in Fort Lauderdale, where I will celebrate the holidays and my birthday. Ending the year at home feels intentional. After months of movement, it is grounding to return to a place that anchors everything else.
Travel continues to evolve for me, but its purpose remains unchanged. To create space. To mark time. And to build a life shaped not by constant motion, but by moments that feel deeply lived.
2025 was exactly that kind of year.
