...The collection
Our Favourite Destinations
in 2025
From encountering wildlife in the Amazon to discovering the finest vineyards of the Cape Winelands, and cycling through Slovenia’s breathtaking landscapes, it's been a busy year of travel for the Bailey Robinson team. Read our favourite travel experiences of 2025 - sure to spark inspiration for your own adventures in 2026!
Island Immersion
Alphonse & Bawah
Our Sales Director, Sarah, has travelled to many incredible destinations this year, including hopping aboard the Belmond Eastern & Oriental Express across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. However, the two biggest highlights of her year were the idyllic paradise islands of Bawah and Alphonse.
Set amid Indonesia’s Anambas Archipelago and enveloped by three sapphire lagoons and an astonishing 13 beaches, Bawah is the place of dreams. Beachside bungalows are nestled in foliage, while The Boat House is the perfect spot for a sandy-toes lunch filled with mouth-watering Indonesian specialities.
For Sarah, Alphonse Island is the best place to escape for a truly remote feeling, where barefoot luxury means feet in the sand and blissful solitude. It is known as one of the best places in the world for saltwater fly fishing, but there is also an incredible playground for coastal adventures and marine encounters, including snorkelling through shallow waters, exploring coral gardens resplendent with bright reef fish, and seeing manta rays up close.
Discover more of Alphonse Island here, and Bawah here.
AMID SLOVENIAN ALPS & LAKES
Slovenia
After spending his summer holiday in the country, Managing Director, Rory, believes Slovenia is a wonderful European alternative for those seeking non-stop adventure. For him, Slovenia feels undiscovered, a place where you step into the unknown and love every moment. With warm, witty locals, a thriving food scene and endless outdoor activities, the country surpassed his every expectation. Wander through the cobbled medieval streets of Ljubljana, raft down rivers, ring the wishing bell on the enchanting Lake Bled, and wake amid Slovenia’s Julian Alps.
A highlight of Rory’s trip was spending a day cycling across the country’s diverse landscape, before riding into Italy for a hearty lunch, swimming in an Austrian river and returning to Slovenia by evening – it was a border crossing unlike any other.
Read more about Slovenia here.
Dense Jungles & Ancient Civilisations
Peru & Sri Lanka
In 2025, Personal Travel Designer, Steph, has been drawn to destinations that deliver extraordinary variety, and few do this better than Sri Lanka and Peru.
For Steph, Sri Lanka is a year-round destination that truly punches above its weight. Though no larger than Wales, the island offers an incredible mix of experiences, from ancient cities hidden in jungle and misty tea country reached by scenic train journeys, to wildlife-rich national parks where elephants roam freely and leopards prowl. Add palm-fringed beaches, layers of colonial history and a fiery, fragrant cuisine, and Sri Lanka becomes endlessly rewarding.
Whereas Peru captivated Steph with its blend of ancient civilisations, dramatic archaeology and diverse landscapes. From the historic streets of Cusco and the wonder of Machu Picchu to desert mysteries, forested ruins and a thriving adventure scene, it is a country made for exploration, finished perfectly with Lima’s world-class food scene.
View our Sri Lanka itinerary here, and our Peru itinerary here.
Living the Winelands Life
South Africa
Caroline, Head of Product, spent a few weeks wandering the Cape Winelands, soaking up everything from leisurely picnics on sun-drenched lawns to tasting wines perfectly paired with decadent treats – bubbles with oysters at Boschendal, red with chocolate at Waterford, and chardonnay with artisanal fudge at Plaisir.
For her, the Winelands are pure magic: rolling vineyards, stunning mountains, first-class food, and a sense of space and freedom that makes every sip and bite feel unforgettable. The region’s unique charm means you can go from lazy days to bustling Cape Town in under and hour, or a short hop to some of the countries finest private lodges for spectacular game viewing.
Discover our guide to the Cape Winelands here.
Bustling Streets & Old-World Charm
India
India is our Personal Travel Designer, Sarah’s, favourite destination of 2025. Putting into words the impact and impression that India had on her is an impossible task. She says the breadth, depth and magnitude of life found all around the country was life changing – in so many ways – and she’d go back in a heartbeat.
With its sumptuous mix of architectural beauty, riot of colour, bustling markets, opulent palaces and sweeping landscapes, India has imprinted itself on her soul in ways that are both exhilarating and humbling. Beyond the usual highlights in Delhi, Sarah recommends visiting Chandni Chowk, a vibrant market where the city comes alive and an array of cuisine, including sweets, freshly baked biscuits, and chai are available to sample. The Six Senses Fort Barwara is another of her favourites. It is a 14th-century fort once owned by a Rajasthani royal family and is now a sanctuary of wellness that leaves you feeling truly relaxed.
Read about Sarah’s trip here.
Vintage cars & Olive groves
Puglia in Italy is our Villas Manager, Christina’s, favourite destination of 2025. Her greatest bit of advice is to take your time to enjoy the sun-drenched landscape, where whitewashed hilltop towns give way to rolling olive groves and sparkling Adriatic beaches. Stay in a converted masseria or stylish Apulian villa and spend your days cycling through silvery olive groves, exploring quaint villages such as Gallipoli and Trani, which offer relaxed beach days, historic streets and excellent local cuisine, or driving vintage Fiats along scenic roads to Ostuni for lunch in a bustling piazza.
With endless opportunities for active exploration or simply soaking up the laid-back Italian lifestyle, Christina believes Puglia is the perfect destination on its own, or as the jewel in a coast-to-coast Southern Italy trip.
Read our Southern Italy trip here.
From Vibrant Cities to Rock Villages
Portugal
Portugal is a country that will leave you speechless, from historic cities to hidden villages and sweeping golden beaches to national parks. Travel Content Creator, Jade, fell in love with the country in 2025, starting in Porto with its riverside charm, port wine, and terracotta buildings, before heading to Tomar to explore the Knights Templar heritage and the stunning Convento de Cristo.
Jade recommends a day trip to the rock village of Monsanto, where enormous boulders replace typical roofs, before ending in Cascais with its beaches, lively town centre, and a day trip to Lisbon to soak in the capital’s architecture, historic streets, and vibrant culture.
Read more about Porto and the Douro Valley here.
The collection
Europe’s Exceptional Resorts
We’ve put together a list of the European resorts we think get it all right. Located on stunning beach side destinations, in historic towns and islands circled by turquoise water, these resorts know exactly how to give you the holiday you need.
Booking with Bailey Robinson means access to the finest travel experiences. When planning your holiday we do all the hard work – in-depth research and meticulous organisation. You can be confident in the individual care for your holiday from your dedicated and experienced Personal Travel Designer and Concierge.
The review
Singita Sweni Lodge – Kruger
The review
Joali BEING
