Something interesting has been happening in my inbox recently… Clients who haven't locked in their late summer trip aren't asking me to find somewhere new, they're asking to go back to a region they love, but experience a different side of it. Back to Italy, but not the same Italy. Back to France, but not the same France. That instinct makes a lot of sense, and honestly, it's one of my favorite ways to travel. In many cases, we can skip the orientation and go straight to the good stuff. Think Europeans in August: minimal sightseeing, maximum lounging and sunshine with a cup or glass of something good in hand, enjoying one another on repeat. A different coastline. A different vibe. The version many people don't get to because they're looking for the next exotic getaway. BUT, there's no rule that says you have to do the obvious trip before the less obvious. If you haven't visited some of the more obvious countries and your curiosity is piqued, we can talk about whether skipping straight to the slower version is the right move for you. Here are some late July through September spots, for the regions that get better with every trip. |
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If you love MEXICO… The Pacific coast, specifically Nayarit, delivers a particular mix of jungle and beach — dense canopy meeting the ocean, a landscape that earns the low-season pilgrimage. Prices are genuinely great this time of year. Susurros, Naviva, Rosewood, and O&O Mandarina — the latter, one of my personal favorite properties on the planet — all sit on this stretch of coast. New this year: Siari, the latest Ritz-Carlton Reserve, which I'll be experiencing firsthand during my annual month in Mexico, and reporting back on. South into Jalisco, Cuixmala is an especially photogenic architectural estate designed by Robert Couturier, set on 25,000 acres of private reserve. For romance and a genuine do-nothing-but-restore experience, the Four Seasons Tamarindo is beautiful and intentionally slow. |
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If you love SPAIN… First-timers do Madrid, Barcelona, maybe Mallorca. The second or third visits typically get travelers to the deep south, the enchanting north, or the lesser traveled islands. South: Marbella… Andalusian culture, serious coastline, see-and-be-seen energy. Families who love St. Tropez and Aspen will feel at home between Marbella Club and Puente Romano. North: Asturias, Rioja, and the Basque Country… extraordinary scenery, serious gastronomy, great wine, and quiet. One of the best places in Europe to escape the heat. Akelarre for rural calm and sweeping sea views. In Rioja, Hotel Santa María Briones sits in a wine village that hasn't changed in centuries -- stone streets, barrel-vaulted cellars, and three-hour conversation around the dinner table. Island: For a different kind of serenity, look to the tiniest of the Balearics, Formentera. An adult friendly island with Caribbean-like waters in the Med and soft cushy sand. Stay at Teranka where there are no cars, and not much to do other than eat, sleep, swim, and enjoy the quiet. |
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If you love FRANCE… Not Paris. The countryside… Champagne, Burgundy, Provence, Bordeaux. Villa-hopping through private chateaux not found on any platform, with a Michelin-accredited chef, a royal butler, and a driver who come along for the journey, creating that super seamless thread throughout. I haven't done one of these voyages with my local partners and hosts, Claire and Olivier yet, but I'm recommending it anyway because I’m so excited about it. And am fully prepared to live vicariously through whoever goes first. Best for private groups of two to eight. If this is pulling at you, let's talk. |
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If you love ITALY… Every region operates like its own country, which means clients who've done Rome, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast have barely scratched the surface. My impression of Puglia is what happens when Italian dolce vita has a baby with the ease of Greek island life. Long tables, dining with new friends, hosts, and winemakers; a cheese maker in a forest, rustic yet elevated farm life, Baroque architecture, and the Adriatic so blue it looks painted. Check out my recent email for my favorite places to stay. Late summer is a great time to go if you can handle a little heat — festivals, long beach days, the sea at its warmest. I've already got several of you in mind for this one. Forte dei Marmi is the stretch of northern Tuscan coast that Italian families have occupied in the same beach chairs for generations. Stylish beach clubs with decades of legacy, mountains of marble in the background (and great stories that come with them), farmers markets by bike filling your wicker baskets… it doesn't get more joyful for a summer holiday. |
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Far-flung, out-of-your-comfort-zone trips are wonderful. They stick in your memory forever and bring personal growth, emotional clarity, and intense wow. But you don't always need one. Sometimes you just need the joy, fun, and ease. And these kinds of trips deliver it tenfold. If any of this has you thinking "yes, but where do I go to get that serious joy factor?" We can figure that out together. |
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Reply and tell me which destination brings a huge smile to your beautiful face. That's all we need to get started. |
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Schelpkade
Den Haag, South Holland 2514KB, The Netherlands |
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