Ask a Cathay member: what was your most memorable trip of 2025?

In an age of endless online travel inspiration, a trusted and personal recommendation has never been more valuable. That’s why, as 2025 comes to a close, we turned to our well-travelled community of Cathay members to find out their most memorable trips of the year. Their answers, which span continents and travel styles, are a mix of timeless classics rediscovered, emerging hotspots and deeply personal adventures.

“This is my second year as a Cathay Diamond member, and I was fortunate enough to participate in Cathay Pacific’s inaugural flight from Munich to Hong Kong  on 16 June. The warm service from the cabin crew manager and senior purser, coupled with the inaugural flight ceremony, made me feel proud of Cathay Pacific. I hope Cathay Pacific can reach even greater heights and open more European routes to facilitate travel for Hong Kong people. After all, Cathay Pacific represents Hong Kong.”

“My sister and I live on opposite sides of the world, and we jump at any chance for a reunion in an exciting destination. This year we were lucky enough to meet in Rome. There’s so much to love about the Eternal City, but my favourite memory is of waking up early to climb the Janiculum – a park on a hill to the west of the city – to watch the sunrise. We slightly miscalculated our timing, arriving just as the sun had risen, but the walk was still worth it. At that hour, the air is fresh and you feel as if you have the entire city – normally bustling with people and cars – to yourself. On the way back down we stopped for a well-earned breakfast of cappuccinos and maritozzi – Rome’s signature cream-filled pastry.”

“My most amazing trip this year was a safari in South Africa in September. I'm a photographer and I went with a videographer, so we spent three days driving around in an open-air jeep, capturing videos and photos of extraordinary animals in their natural habitat – lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes. It was a trip I'll never forget.”

“I organised a two-week multi-leg trip to Europe to visit friends this summer, and it was fantastic. I started in Paris, where I reconnected with a former classmate who’s now working there as a top chef. She treated me to an incredible meal at her restaurant, and then we strolled through the picturesque streets of Le Marais, spotting Invader’s street-art mosaics."

“Next, I travelled to Antwerp with a group of friends for Tomorrowland – a three-day music festival. The stunning decorations throughout the venue felt like a living artwork. We coordinated our outfits every day, and the music from top DJs kept us dancing all night."
 
“Finally, I headed to London for the last leg of my trip. I especially enjoyed spending a day in Hackney, a neighbourhood filled with cool cafés and vibrant murals. The whole journey was about reconnecting with friends, reminding me to treasure our time together. I can’t wait for our next reunion – whenever and wherever that may be.” 

“Every year, I go on a trip with my best friend who lives abroad, and it’s always my most anticipated holiday. This time, we wanted a mix of good food and relaxation, so we chose Bali. For a few blissful days, I didn’t have to deal with work calls or deadlines – just quality time with my favourite person in a beautiful location.”

“One of the most memorable moments was at the famous Rock Bar at Ayana Resort , where we spent hours talking and enjoying the incredible ocean view. From where we were sitting, we could clearly see the flight corridors – the first time we’d ever witnessed such a sight. It resembled thousands of shooting stars, and we sat in awe, just watching.” 

“I booked a flight to Boston as a last-minute addition to a wedding trip in the US, and it turned into the undisputed highlight of my year. Every corner felt steeped in history, with world-class museums, stylish coffee shops and greenery wherever you looked.” 

“I also had one of my best meals of the year at Mooncusser , and I marvelled at Harvard's famed glass flowers  – intricate recreations of blooms from around the world, realised in microscopic perfection through coloured glass. There were so many wonderful surprises, like the Mapparium hiding in the back of a library ; a gigantic stained-glass globe that you can walk through to see the world as it was in 1935.”

“Adding on an impromptu trip to Cape Cod was the cherry on top. We devoured lobster rolls, watched seals play in the ocean and sipped IPAs at a seaside brewery – the perfect New England finale.”