5 EUROPEAN SUMMER DESTINATIONS
Sardinian arches and stone houses in Mílos to inspire your summer travel.
Choosing where to travel depends on what you’re looking for. Sometimes it’s all about the hotel and the experience it creates. Other times, it’s about getting lost in a culture, where all you need in a hotel is a comfortable bed.
I save destinations constantly. Some are cities, islands, and adventures I want to experience; others are hotels I want to build a trip around. I don’t have one source of inspiration — fashion brands with really good editorial, friends who have visited, interviews with a local creative from a magazine I picked up abroad. Oftentimes it’s asking the stylish couple sitting next to me at a dinner on a beautiful trip where else they’ve traveled (if we’re at the same restaurant, odds are our tastes align somewhere… and I love an excuse to talk to strangers).
I don't like to recommend places I haven't personally visited or heard about directly from someone I know and trust, so this isn’t quite a list of recommendations; but, here are my recently bookmarked.
MEDITERRANEAN




Skinopi Lodge
Mílos, Greece $$
I’ve been thinking about a trip to the untouched parts of Greece, and Mílos is at the top of that list. Skinopi Lodge was created by a family who spent years restoring the land with minimal impact. It sits above a quiet fishing village on the island’s volcanic coastline and consists of just a few hand-built stone villas, each with panoramic views of the bright blue sea. There’s no restaurant and no pool. You stay to enjoy the sea, local markets, and the kind of quiet that makes you hear yourself again.


Hotel Cala di Volpe
Porto Cervo $$$
You’ve probably seen photos of the terracotta arches overlooking the bright blue water. Cala di Volpe is sort of an icon of the Italian summer. Built in the 1960s and designed to resemble a traditional Sardinian fishing village, it quickly became a symbol of Costa Smeralda glamour. Over the years, it has hosted everyone from royalty to movie stars, with legends like Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly, and James Bond being famously photographed on its grounds.
Tuba Club
Marseille, France $$
If you follow Jacquemus on instagram and enjoy his content as much as I do, Tuba Club might look familiar. He has featured it as a backdrop for photo shoots and frequently highlights it as his favorite escape. There are only a handful of rooms, seeming more like a stylish local’s beach house than a hotel. I’d go with a best friend for a slow few days of swimming, sun, and reading by the water.
COUNTRYSIDE




Reschio
Umbria, Italy $$$
A thousand-year-old estate in the hills of Umbria that looks like the setting of an Italian love story. It’s best to visit this area in late spring or early fall when the countryside is green. You can fly into Rome or Florence and drive through beautiful vineyards to get there. I’d probably pair four nights at Reschio with a few nights in Tuscany or a couple of days in Rome for a romantic trip with a significant other.


Casa Lawa
Sicily, Italy $-$$
I found Casa Lawa through their aesthetically pleasing Instagram, which I’m often skeptical of but something makes me feel like this place would deliver. See for yourself the high-quality videos of rustic Mediterranean life, fresh-baked strawberry desserts, perfectly arranged zucchini, and golden hour lighting. If you're the kind of girl who wants her bachelorette to be less Vegas party trip and more rustic getaway, I’d say rent this entire guesthouse for a few days. They also host retreats. A friend who visited for one spoke very highly of the experience and it seems like a lovely option for a solo trip to meet new people.




The water in Greece is to die for!