From my bed, I can hear the sounds of life below – soft murmurs of staff as they begin the rituals of waking the hotel, clanking of porcelain, steam from the espresso machine and shutters being open. The scent of fresh pastries from the oven is all the motivation I need to get out of bed and emerge downstairs. 

 

These days, most of my travel is done with the purpose to discover new hotels, explore lesser known destinations, learn about unique experiences and find the best place to feast on a good meal no matter how far away.

 

Last weekend’s escapade was with the intention to attend a photography workshop. For reasons beyond me, the event was canceled. I decided to get away anyway.

 

Like the travel planner I am, I’d put together a tentative itinerary of all that I wanted to see and do. But once I arrived … the beautifully restored Georgian country inn felt like an invitation with its cozy nooks and roaring fire to settle in and stay. No going and doing. A welcome to rest.

Travel to rest.  I get it — most of us can not get up and go for a myriad of reasons. Work, family, finances, time, etc. There was a season when I couldn’t leave or could only afford to get away for an afternoon.

 

Check yourself into a hotel for a night, sleep in, allow someone else to take care of you. Maybe you have a friend who has a guest room they might offer to you for a night. If you can’t get away overnight, block off a day to do whatever you want. 

 

I encourage you to take whatever time you can.. and find space to rest. Take a moment to escape from the demands, the tasks, the requests, deadlines.. domestic life and give yourself space to settle into yourself without expectations or pressure to do, to go and just be. 

 

 

Here is my round-up of European travel-related news so you can be in the know:

 

 

One of the take-aways from a month of travel consultation calls: many of you feel the pressure to visit sites that you don’t have any interest in. I find when I mention you don't have to do or visit a place that you have no genuine interested – I hear an audible relief.  

 

This made me wonder: how many of us visit places because someone told us we had to but really.. we had no interest? 

 

Maybe more of you need to hear this: You have permission to not do the thing or go to the place just because everyone else is.

 

 

This might seem scandalous but hear me: you do not have to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower just because you're in Paris. You don’t have to visit the Louvre. If you don’t have an interest in art… you probably won’t enjoy the Louvre. You don’t have to go to Pisa and act like you're holding up the Leaning Tower. You don’t have to watch The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham. I am giving you permission to not to what all the blogs and books and people are telling you to do. Why spend the money or time doing something you have no desire or interest in doing? When your time abroad is limited — it’s important you consider what is motivating and influencing your travel plans. This also taps into the conversation on overtourism – a topic I will no doubt share more about in the coming months but not today.

 

When traveling with friends or a partner, you have permission to split up and each do your own thing. There is something liberating about having a moment all for yourself to do as you like without having to consider anyone else’s interests. This might seem intimidating if you’re used to always traveling with someone while also being in another country. One of you may want to visit a museum and you may want to simply sit in a cafe and read.. or wander. If this is a new experience for you, start small with setting aside a one or two hours to be on your own. 

 

Lastly — and this might be hard for some — you don’t have to do everything. Often the mindset is you have made the journey, might as well do and see all you can. While there is nothing wrong with that attitude, I encourage you not to consume your travel experiences rather take time to savor it.. linger..  and give yourself permission to enjoy the joy of immersing yourself in a new place without feeling like you have to do it all. 

 

 

Each month, I share a photography challenge to consider while traveling. This month, I want to challenge you to look for window scenes and consider how you frame your images using windows to compose your image.

 

Shooting through a window gives you that insight into a caught in a moment. You capture intimacy in public spaces. Windows offer reflections of self and a different perspective on a scene you'd otherwise pass by. 

 

A few ideas to shoot:

If you take an image you're proud of, let me know! Tag me when you share your images @suddenjourneys 

 

Rugged highlands. Inspiring isles. Dramatic castles. Fabled scenery. Warfare, whisky and wilderness. Heritage stories and tales of legendary folklore. Mystical landscapes. Georgian splendor and much more!

 

 

Make the most of Scotland, traveling with a small group so you can enjoy special extras along with knowing all the details are handled.

The experience is personal and authentic, with time to immerse yourself in local culture, discover gorgeous scenery, meet lovely people and time set aside for your own exploration.

 

In January, I began my travels to Paris with a stay at the Les Deux Gares – conveniently slotted between Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord. The hotel fizzes with an exuberant take on Art Deco style. The design-forward boutique hotel is splashed with British designer Luke Edward Hall’s cheerful Sixties and Seventies spirit that eschews a specific design movement. Thanks to hand-painted portraits on the walls, and cherry-picked objects and furniture, Les Deux Gares feels more like an art collector’s home. Zany color combinations channel a Wes Andersen aesthetic, like in the lobby, which is wrapped in electric green walls and has a tiled black and white take on Parisian herringbone floorboards. 

The 40, great-value rooms come in a choice of three audacious color combinations such as dusky pink and green. My bedroom popped with candy-stripe patterns, buttercup yellow ceiling and soothing robin's egg blue walls. I loved the an unobstructed view of the train tracks and the iconic Parisian rooftops letting in plenty of light. I was shocked to discover a BATHTUB in my room! If you've been to Paris, you know space is a commodity and this felt like a luxury. Rooms are on the whole compact (hello – it's Paris) but cozy, cheerful and clean. Those who stay on the fifth floor all have balconies. A bonus for families, the hotel has a handful of interconnecting rooms.

 

Breakfast is an affair to remember with fresh pastries, fruit, jams, local cheese and cold cuts. My personal favorite were the beautiful transferware dishes making this feel more like you spent the night at a friend's home rather than a hotel. 

 

Double rooms start from €155 ($165). Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.

 

Believe it or not, I have never invested in a quality piece of luggage. This year, I decided it was time! After comparing and researching various brands, I came to the conclusion that Away would be the luggage for me. If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ve probably seen a few reviews of Away Luggage. This brand’s range of luggage offers jet setters and adventure enthusiasts an array of stylish and functional baggage.  I put the luggage to the test earlier this year while traveling through France & Italy. I am happy to report it was a wonderful experience! 

 

 

Why I decided to go with Away:

Yes, it is a little pricey. But, for the premium quality materials, thoughtful design, sleek minimalist appearance, durability and limited lifetime warranty, it may be well worth the extra cash.

 

If you aren't sold, you can give an Away suitcase a try. Away has an incredible return policy. You have 100 calendar days to use an item and return it. At any point during that time period you can get a full refund or exchange it for another item.

 

 

What I am currently reading and enjoying:

 

A beauty book of musing and thoughts. Many times I found myself in tears as I read her words which felt as if she'd written them just for me. Easy read which you can pick up 

 

Skye McApline's third cookbook discusses how food can make one feel all kinds of things, but mainly feel better. Chapters are split into comfort, seduce, nourish, spoil and cocoon, interspersed with McAlpine's musings on romance, friends and heartbreak. Recipes are accompanied by Italian-style marble painted framing that gives the book an elegant feel with a mix of lovely tablescapes and food photography. McAlpine’s twist on the traditional cookbook taps into what is so fundamental about food and cooking, which is how it makes one feel. McAlpine divides her time between London and Venice – both places influence your recipe creations.

 

While wandering around my favorite bookshop in London, the cover of this book caught my attention. Cleopatra and Frankenstein was a blind book buy and I don't regret it. A stylish novel about an impulsive marriage, takes place New York City at the start of the 21st-century which Mellows captures with near-devotional lushness in this nostalgic debut. Mellors proves herself a poetic chronicler of inky gloom as well as twinkly surfaces.