Insights

Vibia’s Top Travel Picks

As the summer holidays draw near, it’s time to start thinking about how we want to spend those precious weeks. At Vibia, our passion for design transcends into the places we choose to explore. Whether you’re partial to relaxing with friends and family closer to home, or embarking on exotic adventures in faraway places, we believe every destination should serve as inspiration and every experience as a source of wellbeing. We asked the Vibia team to share some of their favourite travel destinations to inspire you to live well this summer. Read on to learn their top picks.

Bárbara Ventosa
Commercial Director

Bárbara recommends Sri Lanka as a top travel destination to consider this year.

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“Every year I try to make a trip with my daughter so that she can get to know different places with different cultures. I think it is important to bring her closer to a world that is becoming more and more global and at the same time, closer.”

She and her daughter visited a natural park with spectacular wildlife: elephants, monkeys, snakes, leopards, and brightly coloured birds. They enjoyed getting to know the people, the food, the “strange” fruits, the beaches, the waves, the Tuk Tuk rides, yoga, meditation and above all, spending quality time together surrounded by greenery.

Laura Grau
Showroom and Training Manager

Laura recommends visiting the island of Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea in Japan. Although it is difficult to reach, she claims that the effort to get there – two trains from Kyoto and a ferry – is well worth it.

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“It was a wedding present. A Japanese friend and architect gave us the gift of staying on the island in the Benesse House Museum, a museum that offers the possibility of staying in exclusive rooms surrounded by contemporary art.”

There are no cars on the island so Naoshima offers the chance to just stroll around, enjoying spectacular art surrounded by nature. Laura also recommends visiting the Chichu Art Museum designed by Tadao Ando. A concrete structure buried in the mountain, using only natural light to illuminate Monet’s Water Lilies.

“I remember walking into that room and crying with emotion. I sat on the floor looking at the water lilies for over an hour… it is a magical place.”

Rick Johann
VP of Sales, Vibia USA

Rick proposes a Nordic experience with a trip to Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland. On his itinerary is a deep dive into the beautiful city of Copenhagen, from which you can do a day tour of Aarhaus, a quaint village full of interesting art and architecture, Malmo, Sweden, or Mons Klint for breathtaking views of the sea.

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“The local people and restaurants in each town and city my husband and I visited were warm and welcoming and the cuisine was delicious.”

Flying onward to Reyjavik, Iceland, Rick recommends day tours to Snaefellsnes, Buoarkirkja, Saxholl, and the South Coast, with a hike to the Solheimajokull Glacier for some beautiful mountains and waterfalls.

Blanca Gimeno
Sales Director

Blanca recommends a trip to Indonesia. The orderly chaos of its streets, its temples and its waters flooded with corals and life make this country her number one destination to disconnect from the world.

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“Personally, Indonesia is one of my favourite countries in the world, for its diversity, its spirituality and the overwhelming nature that surrounds it all.”

For those seeking cultural inspiration, Blanca recommends New York, one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, and a place where all the great architects have left their mark. Walking its famous streets, visitors will encounter everything from neo-gothic to Art Deco, modernism to postmodernism.

“Despite having lived there for more than 8 years, it is a city that never ceases to surprise me as it constantly reinvents itself. Every season of the year paints the city in a different colour palette.”

Jordi Esteso
Industrial Supply Chain Manager

For Jordi, the Greek island of Milos, one of the most beautiful and unknown of the Cycladic islands, is a top destination. The island’s capital is Adamas but Pollonia is also worth a visit for its traditional Greek restaurants, Klima for its jetty of colourful houses, and Plaka for its spectacular sunsets.

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“There are many beaches but I would recommend Firiplaka for its crystal clear waters and white rocks, Sarakiniko and Kleftiko, sculpted by the wind.”

Arisa Sato
Marketing & Digital Platform Manager, Vibia USA

Arisa recommends the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York. Only a 5-hour drive from New York City, visitors are greeted by stunning lakes on arrival.

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“My favourite is Seneca Lake, where you can visit Watkins Glen State Park, known for its beautiful waterfalls and gorge trail.”

The Finger Lakes are gaining recognition for their burgeoning wine industry, producing world-class Riesling and other wines from cold-climate grapes. In addition to the wine itself, the tasting rooms are a treat due to their beautiful architecture. At the Hillick & Hobbs Estate, where renowned winemaker Paul Hobbs crafts exquisite Rieslings, the tasting room overlooks the lake with a beautiful modern interior to enhance the experience.

Manaure Stoop
Digital Director

For Manaure, Thailand’s Ko Chang, offers a particularly memorable experience.

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“I recommend Ko Chang not because I know Southeast Asia very well, but because I did my honeymoon there and I loved it. What I liked the most was the tropical landscape, which reminded me a lot of Venezuela, in contrast with the Buddhist buildings that predominate in the whole island.”

It is one of the quieter Thai islands situated close to the Cambodian border, ideal if you’re looking for “virgin” landscapes and a bit of peace and quiet. It is a big enough island to spend a few days riding a motorbike (which can be rented on the island), stopping at beaches, eating well and enjoying the sea against a backdrop of dense tropical jungle.