THE HYPE TRAVEL / SEPTEMBER 2025
We Love
HARD SHELL
No matter where he travels or for how long, he only ever brings hand luggage. At least that’s what Rick Owens, the American designer with a penchant for the gloomy, says about himself. So where does he stow all his outfits? Perhaps he stuffs everything into his own carry-on, which was created in collaboration with Rimowa. It is, of course, in dark tones and is perfectly staged by cult figure Michèle Lamy, Rick Owens’ wife and muse.
rimowa.com, rickowens.eu
Book
HIDDEN CORNERS
For years, one destination seems to be at the top of every travel bucket list: Japan. But there is much more to discover than Tokyo. Photographer Ben Richards, who has called the land of cherry blossoms home since 2019, knows this. In addition to photography, his passion is finding the most hidden hotspots away from the tourist magnets. He does this so well that he has not only created the book “Views from Japan”, but also a website where you can put together the perfect trip to Japan. viewsfromjapan.com, benrichards.co
Concept
SOUNDTRACK
There are many reasons to travel: Usually it’s for relaxation or adventure – but the main motivation can also be to finally listen to music in peace. The Darsena Listening Suite at Il Sereno Hotel on Lake Como is a dream come true for luxury-loving music geeks. Inspired by the jazz listening cafés in Tokyo, music takes center stage in this suite. Hotel owner and music fanatic Luis Contreras created the 200 square meter room with designer Patricia Urquiola. The equipment includes Klipsch La Scala loudspeakers, a McIntosh tube preamplifier, a Thorens record player and a carefully restored Revox tape recorder. Translated for all those who only understand the station, this means: it sounds really good. There are already over 500 records in the repertoire – and the number is constantly growing, because you can make music requests in advance, which are then added to the collection.
Il Sereno Lago di Como, Via Torrazza, 10, 22020 Torno CO, Italy, ilsereno.com
Places
HEAVENWARDS
We find plenty of reasons to treat yourself to a break in a wellness hotel in every season. But one of the best times is now, when late summer turns into early fall. And one of the best places for this is the Alpiana in South Tyrol. This spring, a new wellness terrace opened on two levels. “Alcielo” is the name of this little corner of paradise. And you feel like you’re in heaven when you’re bathing in the fresh air, taking a sauna, practising your yoga moves or simply doing nothing at all. If the weather does turn bad, the indoor spa, which has also undergone a makeover, is also worth a visit.
Alpiana, Propst Wieser Weg 30, 39011 Völlan/Lana near Meran, South Tyrol, Italy, alpiana.com
Unfuck the World
WORKATION
Working on vacation sounds like an unhealthy workaholic mindset at first. But the trend is to consciously take time off and leave emails and the like at home. The work that awaits guests at the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort on Aruba has nothing to do with everyday office life. So-called Voluntourism Packages invite you to do good alongside your well-earned downtime: Planting mangroves, reforesting the resort’s own Nature Preserve on the island, helping local children learn to read, clearing remote beaches of plastic waste, caring for coral reefs during dives or rescuing newly hatched turtles – the possibilities are endless and far more exciting than any Excel spreadsheet. This makes relaxing in a luxurious Caribbean resort feel twice as good.
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, L.G. Smith Boulevard 55B, Oranjestad, Aruba, bucuti.com
Read here why we like to choose the Hotel Amano in Berlin.
