2025 has brought a new era of luxury holidays, where exclusive experiences are not the trend but personalisation. So, your outlook for luxury travel must have shifted from basic opulence to experiences that are hard to come by and are transient by nature, making them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
You must have seen the focus shift in travel to personalised itineraries and experiences that are tailored to match one’s unique personality. Travel partners like TheSquare focus on replicating your tastes, passions, and preferences in the experience they offer.
As we go ahead, pop-up culture is shaping our luxury travel trends. These ephemeral, luxurious indulgences are literally popping up everywhere as we step into the hottest months of the year. Even in the natural sense, many locations like Lake Como bloom the best in summer, and to experience them at their best, you need to pack your bags right away!
If you want to hop on this train of new luxury travel, you need to choose your extravagant escape. To get you through the tough choice, we have gathered the best summer luxury destinations to holiday in this summer.
Paris: Couture Pop-Ups and Rooftop Evenings
Paris, like always, is at the forefront of the best luxury vacations in the world. In summer, the city transforms into a luxury extravagance. Find luxury brands’ exclusive pop-ups around the city and special curated rooftop dinners and themed evenings.
Bringing fashion, gastronomy, and culture into one package, these Parisian couture pop-ups and rooftop evenings are the luxury summer indulgence you crave.
One of the most lavish rooftop events is hosted by Maison Dior, and although the location is currently under wraps, it is expected to be revealed soon. The evening is generally defined by a gourmet multi-course dinner, select drinks from Dior’s personal collection, and other haute-couture themed decor.
Other luxury brands such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton are also expected to host pop-ups. Many luxury fashion brands also host special pop-ups to connect with their clients, where you can see their latest collection before anyone else.
Paris is one of the most happening luxury destinations you will ever come across. And hotels like Cheval Blanc Paris, Printemps Haussmann, and many others take this opportunity to offer something magnificent for a limited time in summer.
Cheval Blanc Paris is reopening its elegant and ultra-luxurious terrace to offer a select few a grand dining experience with legendary city views.
This year, Printemps Haussmann has opened its renowned 7th Heaven terrace as a picnic-themed summer indulgence you can’t miss.
Lake Como: The Evolution of the Luxury Villa Stay
Lake Como has revolutionised luxury travel for those who look for something exclusive and hard to come by again. Lake Como has become one of the most iconic Italian cities with its arresting waters, historical and unique villas and vibrant towns.
Well, if you don’t know, Lake Como’s luxury villa stay is a limited-time experience that specially opens its door for every traveller during summer. Its stunning villas have now been turned into something of exclusive and curated retreats.
Many iconic villas, such as Villa Balbiano, Villa Pliniana, and Villa Làrio, are turned into curated luxury vacation rentals with private chefs, sommeliers, wellness practitioners, and house managers. The staff is present to take care of any requirements and wishes of the guest.
TheSquare also offers some great choices if you are looking for an extravagant villa escape in the embrace of Lake Como. Choose from our exquisite collection of villas here.
These luxury villas in Lake Como are open to the public for just a limited number of weeks during summer, adding another layer of exclusivity to the entire experience.
The French Riviera: Private Clubs & Hidden Beach Escapes
If the sea shanty calls to you, your escape is in the French Riviera, deemed as one of the best luxury vacations around the world. One of the best things to do in summer here is to indulge in restricted-access experiences in the coveted areas of Saint-Tropez and Cap d’Antibes.
If you are wondering what to do, consider getting into membership-only beach clubs in Saint Tropez. These clubs define opulence in every way, from restricted access and select dining to unique themes. If not, you can choose custom-built cabanas along the shoreline that tailor-make a whole experience for just you.
The French Riviera has become one of the biggest luxury vacation destinations, offering loads of activities including truffle hunts, champagne receptions, sunset regattas, designer residences, secret perfume atelier and more.
Another rare experience that has gotten much attention is the French Riviera’s hidden beach escapes. You can arrange them through select beach clubs, hire chauffeured speedboats, or be invited to special cove-to-table dinners.
Bali: Sacred Spaces and Design-Driven Wellness
Bali has gained a lot of attention as one of the top luxury travel destinations, not only among travellers but celebrities alike. As everyone knows, or as the internet has popularised, Bali is nature’s heaven as well as a retreat for your soul.
We have long moved from the beach to Bali’s sacred rituals, cultural heritage, lush jungles and wellness-driven experiences suggested by native knowledgeable practitioners on the soil.
If you are looking for a luxury holiday in Bali, don’t ever forget to stop by the iconic Como Shambhala Estate in Ubud. The estate focuses on holistic wellness based on Balinese traditional practices and therapies, and a luxury retreat experience.
You can choose to book cliffside design hotels, private retreats, or take part in the holistic temple rituals for spiritual peace. Bali is filled with ephemeral experiences that bloom best in the summer, so rush and partake in its beauty.
Florence: Fashion’s New Cultural Playground
Florence, the beautiful city nestled in Italy, is bringing its Renaissance roots back this summer.
Travellers looking for luxury experiences in Florence can spend time in heritage spaces that have been carefully curated for luxury fashion houses’ private events.
One of the fashion houses, Gucci, has found a new home for its archive, now named the ‘Gucci Archive’ in Palazzo Settimanni in Florence. You can not miss walking back through Gucci’s history at these archives, where history and fashion combine to create a luxurious experience. Opened for a limited time, you just can’t miss it.
This is not all your luxury lifestyle vacation in Florence can be; look at Salvatore Ferragamo’s work in real, at its secret salone, enjoy Prada’s artisanal evenings at Palazzo Capaciani, trunk shows, or gratify your soul at lavish estate dinners.
Why These Experiences Won’t Be Around for Long
These experiences emerge for a special, limited time in the summer around the globe, so trotters, it is time you packed your bags and travelled to these exclusive holiday destinations. Just like Bali’s special wellness techniques that are connected with nature’s timings, each of these luxury experiences is ephemeral. They are here today, but the next moment they will vanish.
Gucci Archives opens its door for only a few weeks that too for a select few who need to be invited to see the fashion extravaganza. Similarly, exclusive summer hidden beach escapes and experiences are open for a limited time in the French Riviera. The reason behind these experiences is connected to the climate change in the summer. Only in this season will you be able to experience these luxury places to travel through a whole new lens.
Conclusion: The New Standard of Summer Luxury
Summer luxury has taken great leaps in 2025, and you will find many cities in a new shade that stays for just a little while. And luxury also means more than just opulence now, it has grown to become something that is ephemeral, exclusive and tailor-made.
The extravagant summer experiences that we have gathered for you in these luxury travel destinations will vanish soon. So we advise you to start planning early, or by the time you decide, they will vanish into thin air until next year.
Explore these destinations before they disappear with TheSquare now!
