With holiday season in full swing, we’re daydreaming about our next adventure.
Alexandra Dudley speaks to five women who share their must-visit spots this summer – and their secrets to booking, planning and taking the best holidays. Here’s who to follow for travel inspiration.
JÚLIA JUSTE
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Your must-visit destination(s) this summer?
Galicia and Cantabria. I’ve been going back to Galicia for many years as I have friends that live there. It’s a beautiful green area in the north of Spain with villages that remain entirely unspoiled. Summer is the perfect time to visit as it is cooler than the rest of Spain. The nights are beautifully fresh and cool and the ocean is colder which I adore. It’s a great destination for food lovers too, especially for vegetables and seafood. Cantabria is also one to visit if you are heading to northern Spain. The beaches are some of the most beautiful.
Where should we stay while there?
In Cantabria: Cabañas de Pax. It’s a wonderfully rustic converted farm with fabulous rooms and is one of the best places I’ve ever stayed. Hidden in the middle of a valley, surrounded by grazing cows and sheep, each of the traditional cabins has been renovated with all the luxuries you need, and clean soft interiors. The owners are wonderful and cook the most incredible traditional dishes.
And where should we eat?
Bar do Porto in Corrubedo in Galicia. Owned by architect David Chipperfield, it’s a laid-back restaurant serving tapas and local wines. The design echoes the easygoing vibe of the village and the food is delicious and unfussy but you still feel they have taken care of every detail. Just the kind of restaurant I love.
What’s on your bucket list?
Beirut, Ecuador, Aeolian Islands.
What can’t you travel without?
Muji bags to organise my clothes when packing. They make it so much easier to find everything and are useful for laundry too.
CALLIE THORPE
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Your must-visit destination this summer?
Menorca. I don’t think it gets as much love as the other Balearic islands but it has so much charm and beauty. If you love swimming in crystal clear natural pools, enjoying virgin beaches and relaxing in perfectly effortless fincas (rural properties) and agrotourismos (farms converted for tourism) then this is the place for you.
Where should we stay in Menorca?
Hotel Rural Binigaus Vell in the quiet town of Es Migjorn Gran. It’s a quaint restored agrarian farmhouse tucked in the countryside, but within close distance to the beach. If you’re more into design hotels, then Menorca Experimental is another great option. The Experimental Hotel group knows good design and this 19th-century finca exudes chic style.
Where should we go for dinner while there?
One of the best meals we had in Menorca was at a Spanish vineyard and restaurant called Bodegas Binifedet. Menorca has a prominent wine-growing history due to its specific climate which helps produce light and fresh wines. My top tip is to book an early-ish dinner around golden hour when you can wander the grounds and see the vineyards glowing in the golden Balearic sun. The food focuses on local Menorcan cuisine, highlighting the best of the island’s produce. I recommend trying soppressata – a local hard cheese served with honey and bread. The sweet and smokey flavour pairing is a sensation.
Next on your bucket list?
I would really love to visit Vietnam as well as other parts of South East Asia. Food is such a huge part of why I love travel and Vietnamese food is so diverse and flavourful. It has everything from fresh salads to rich curries and decadent broths.
What is the travel tool you recommend?
Booking.com is one of my most used apps, I’ve found some killer places on there and often with such good deals. Also Kayak for flights and car hire. I think making travel as easy and smooth as possible is essential, and both of these are in my easy-travel toolbox.
Rosalyn Wikeley
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Your must-visit destination this summer?
Sicily. Scicli for its faded splendour, Noto for the prairie-like scrub that makes up its scorched countryside. The Baroque South East towns are well-worth a trip too.
Where are the best places to stay in Sicily?
In Scicli, San Bartolomeo Case e Putia and in Noto, Dimora Delle Balze.
And to make a restaurant reservation?
Zash Country Boutique Hotel at the foot of Mount Etna. It serves up creative riffs on Sicilian classics, best washed down with Tasca d’Almerita. The must-eat dish while in Sicily is caponata – a Sicilian take on ratatouille.
Where are you going next?
I’m writing a ski guide so am planning some epic winter trips to the Dolomites (my favourite place to ski). I’m also going to the Scilly Isles.
Tell us what you always travel with:
My London Velvet weekender and Hey Chesto carry-on for a chic, well-organised trip.
Gina Jackson
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Your must-visit destination this summer?
Portugal. I recently went on a city break to Lisbon. It has an incredible foodie scene, as well as plenty of cultural hotspots and beaches to explore.
Best place to stay in Portugal?
Sao Lourenco do Barrocal is one of my favourite European hotels and is about a two-hour drive from Lisbon, offering a slice of tranquillity in the lesser-trodden Alentejo region. There’s a working farm, vineyard, pool, and Susanne Kaufmann spa on site – I could happily stay here for weeks on end.
Where is your favourite place to eat in Lisbon?
PRADO. It’s a slick, contemporary space serving modern Portuguese dishes using seasonal produce. Next door, their casual wine shop and deli Prado Mercearia is also a great stop for a laidback lunch. I had what was probably the best sandwich of my life here.
Where next?
I’ve recently returned from a trip to Santorini which has left me wanting to see more of the Greek islands. Paros, Milos, and Antiparos are on my wish list. Further afield, Sri Lanka is right at the top of my list.
You can’t travel without?
I’m obsessed with One Zone, the app that provides curated restaurant and bar recommendations in London and beyond. Whenever I’m heading on a European city break I use the app as my first port of call: I’ve used it for recent trips to Amsterdam, Berlin, and Barcelona. While I’ll always cross-reference recommendations with other sources, One Zone is a great starting place.
Taylor Simpson
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Your must-visit destination this summer?
Spetses and Poros in Greece. Most people think of Hydra when they’re travelling the country’s Saronic Gulf islands but you will be so pleasantly surprised if you hop off the ferry at Poros and Spetses as well.
Where should we stay in Spetses?
I love the Captain’s House. It’s a beautiful historic family villa and has a real Greek charm to it. It’s particularly great for larger groups. For a bit of luxury, the Poseidonion Grand is stunning. If you are up for it, stay on a boat and sail the islands to see them in a new light. I recommend doing so with Greek Sails.
Where and what should we eat?
I have to order saganaki every time I step foot in a Greek restaurant. The saganaki at restaurant Exedra on Spetses is particularly good. It tastes even better being able to eat it right on the waterfront at the old harbour. On Poros, restaurant Apagio is the best traditional Greek food I have ever had.
What’s next on your bucket list?
A cruise down the river Nile.
Tell us about a tech tool you can’t travel without:
Maps.me. It is the best for when your phone doesn’t have service and you need to get around.
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Any Questions or Tips to add?