Favorite Places I Visited in 2025

Between work and life, these are the places that made 2025 unforgettable

2025 felt like a constant balance between work and life.

Between building something new, staying consistent with my routines, and still making space for experiences that actually mean something.

I traveled for different reasons…some trips were fully work-driven, others were about family, and some were just because I needed a change of scenery. But when I look back, each place gave me something different.

Some inspired me.
Some grounded me.
Some reminded me why I love what I do.

These are the places that stayed with me.

Dubai

I started the year in Dubai, traveling with Emirates…still my favorite airline. The experience alone sets the tone for the trip.

This visit was work-driven. I was attending a medical expo, meeting potential manufacturing partners as we continue developing a medical equipment line. It’s a very different world from fashion and luxury, but one that gives me a strong sense of purpose. It’s an industry that will always be needed, and being part of something that adds real value feels meaningful in a different way.

Dubai, though, never feels like just work.

The hospitality, the attention to detail, the way everything is designed to feel thoughtfully designed…it always impresses me, no matter how many times I visit.

We escaped into the desert for a private off-road experience that felt almost surreal. Falcons, silence, lots of sand. It was one of those moments that slows everything down.

And of course, great food and a little shopping, because that’s always part of it.

Mexico City

Mexico City has quietly become part of my routine.

I go almost every month or every other month, and every time, I find something new to love.

The food alone is enough to keep me coming back. One of my current favorites is La Buena Barra, it’s consistently good, open late (which matters when we land at night), and the service is always incredible.

We usually stay around Polanco, choosing boutique hotels that feel elevated but livable, with one non-negotiable: a good gym. Keeping my routine while traveling matters more to me now than ever.

This trip, we visited a beautiful finca in San Gabriel Las Palmas and completely fell in love with it. One of those places that makes you slow down and rethink pace.

I definitely need to do a full restaurant guide for Mexico City. It deserves its own article.

Mallorca, Madrid & Asturias

May took me back to one of my favorite places in the world: Mallorca.

Cycling there never gets old. The roads, the views, the energy…it’s the perfect mix of challenge and beauty.

I rode Sa Calobra as hard as I could and ended up breaking my personal record. That feeling at the top? Worth all the suffering.

Beyond cycling, Mallorca is about long meals, beautiful homes, and slowing down. We visited a friend’s olive vineyard and had one of those unforgettable homemade paellas that you can’t recreate anywhere else.

Then Asturias, with my dad and his wife…for good rides, even better company, and of course, the best pulpo and cachopo :).

And Madrid with my mom… restaurants, shopping, and an unexpected family reunion that made the trip even more special.

favorite-places-2025-cover-mallorca5 (2).jpg

Islamorada

Back in Miami, we escaped for a quick weekend to Islamorada.

Nothing complicated. Just the beach, long slow days, and time to reset.

I went jet skiing (one of my favorite things), relaxed by the water, and brought my dog Leo…who I always miss when I travel.

Sometimes the simplest trips are the ones you need most.

Clermont

Right after Islamorada, we did a completely different kind of escape…Clermont, Florida.

It’s one of those places I always come back to when I want a ride that actually challenges me…still close to home, but a completely different feel from Miami. Rolling hills, open roads, and a pace that instantly shifts you out of routine.

It’s not far, but it feels like it.

We trained, ate really well, and stayed in one of those cozy cottages that make you slow down without even trying.

Clermont is simple, but that’s exactly the point. A place to reset, move your body, and step out of the routine for a bit.

China

September was the highlight of my year.

China completely exceeded every expectation I had.

We traveled with Qatar Airways, with a stop in Hamad International Airport…an experience in itself.

The trip was work-related, but it turned into something much bigger.

We visited Shanghai, Beijing, Zhangjiagang, and Xi’an…and each city felt like a different world.

Shanghai was ultra-modern, clean, and energetic. Beijing felt like traveling through time…history and modernity layered together in a way that’s hard to describe.

Walking the Great Wall of China was one of those moments that stays with you. It makes you think about scale, history, and what humans are capable of building.

Xi’an completely surprised me. Visiting the Terracotta Army was mind-blowing, and the city itself felt deeply cultural and rich in history.

We stayed in some incredible places…from The PuXuan Hotel and Spa to The Ritz-Carlton Xi'an, The Langham Shanghai, and the Marriott Hotel Zhangjiagang…but beyond the hotels, what stayed with me most was the feeling of inspiration.

In design, in fashion, in infrastructure, China feels (IS) ahead.

It made me think differently. About products, about execution, about what’s possible.

I’m already counting the days until I go back.

Texas

We ended the year in Texas…something completely different from the rest of my travels.

We stayed in San Marcos (and yes… for the shopping, if you know you know), visited Austin and San Antonio, and spent time with family.

We rode a bit (though I probably wouldn’t bring my bike again), ate amazing BBQ, and had one of the most unexpected experiences…flying light sport aircrafts like the Carbon Cub.

We also visited Fredericksburg for wine and interesting shopping.

It was simple, in the best way.