It seems like while the rest of the team (and the world) have
gone Euro crazy, I’m bucking the trend and focusing on the
far-flung and absolutely fabulous. I’ll be busting out my best
dance moves to the sound of reggaeton — Daddy Yankee is
(unashamedly) in my Spotify Wrapped each year – surfing (badly) and
discovering the thriving hosting culture in Puerto Rico, before
touching down in Miami. There, I’ll be experimenting with
everything from sangria and clay pottery evenings at Kimpton EPIC
Hotel, tasting tours in Lil Havana, astrology chart reading
between art deco architecture and starry skies at The Standard and bedding down at boutique
darling Esme. Then, for the first time in a decade, I’ll be
swapping the dingy floors of DC10, Ibiza, for the rosé-all-day cabanas in
Mykonos, where I’ll be doing my best not to
embarrass myself (Lindsay Lohan-style) at Zuma’s new beach club and
sashaying poolside around the island’s new hotel It girl, Kalesma.
Although, I might squeeze in a few days at farm-to-fork finca Casa Maca in my
second home – the White Isle – come late September. To be
continued.

My summer plans are looking distinctly Swiss, with two alpine excursions planned in
the coming months, including a stay in a turreted tower at Le Grand Bellevue
in Gstaad. To my mind, the mountains are at their best in the
summer months – all wildflower-dappled plateaus, romantic terrain
and enticing hillside lakes for plunging into, post-hike. I’ve just
booked onto a short course about the history of the European Grand
Tour, so it feels like this will be the perfect field trip to
complement my studies. Then, it’s back to the UK for a bite-sized adventure in England’s wildest corner,
Northumberland. My boyfriend and I are planning
a mini road trip around the county’s rugged coastline, with stops
at Alnwick, Alnmouth and – when the water’s right – the tidal
island of Lindisfarne. Here’s hoping the
county’s famously turbulent skies let up while we’re trundling
along its windswept shores.

Every summer, I grab my bucket and spade, slap on my SPF 50 and
head back down to the very bottom of the Cornish peninsula,
visiting friends and family for a few weeks in my hometown of
St Ives. There aren’t many places I enjoy more, even
in recent years when I’ve had to dodge the many tourists fighting
for their square inch of sand. It’s all about having the right
guide and knowing where to head. First, though, I’ll be heading out
to the home of pina coladas, Puerto Rico – I know… sigh – trading
the cold Atlantic Ocean for those warmer waters of the Caribbean
Sea and all the while trying not to get caught in the rain. On my
return, I’ll be taking a quick trip over to Ibiza, and, while
others might be heading to the island’s newfangled wellness retreats to trade in sundowners for
self-care, I’ll be stuck between two different stag dos that
weekend (major sigh). Still, hopefully after all that, I’ll be able
to take a quick trip to Cornwall. It wouldn’t be a summer otherwise.

Soon, I’ll be driving with my husband and daughter to South
Tyrol, in the mountainous north of Italy. We will be staying at the
Vigilius
Mountain Resort, which is a wooden-and-glass, James Bond-esque
structure set high up on a mountain, accessible only by cable car.
I envision us doing many hikes (reality might dictate something
else, with a nearly-one-year-old in tow), including one to nearby
hotel Eggerhof for lunch. Later this summer, I’ll be travelling to
Capri for a wedding and staying at the reasonable (for Capri)
Hotel
Luna. We’ll be renting one of the local boats for a day out at
sea and having lunch at Lo
Scoglio. Last but not least, we will travel to Paxos, Greece,
but I have not done much research yet, so any suggestions are
welcome!

In June, I’ll be heading to Mozambique with a friend. I’ve
wanted to explore the Bazaruto Archipelago for a long time – a
group of islands known for their marine wildlife and a key
migration route for humpback whales. We’ll be staying at Sussurro, a
design-driven destination hotel with an ethos rooted in
craftsmanship and the local community. Other than that, I plan to
stay firmly rooted in London, making the most of a (hopefully)
sunny great British summer by dipping between Victoria Park, my new
local patch of green, and The Coborn, my favourite pub.

My wife and I are off to Crete (without the baby) in a couple of
weeks. We’re swapping our normal explorations for a chance to
sleep, recharge and tan – either on the beach or by a pool. As
parents to a one-year-old, with another on the way, quiet
relaxation has become a rare treat, hence the trying out a new type
of holiday. We’ll be staying at Numo
Ierapetra, a boutique resort. I’ll also be going back and forth
to France for three seperate weddings in the coming months, heading
to Provence and the Cévennes.

My husband and I are heading to The Peligoni Club
in Zakynthos, Greece, in June, with our nearly-one-year-old son and
some friends. We’ll be staying at one of the club’s new villas –
Villa Nidri. I’m envisaging long lunches in the sun and getting
stuck into a good book by the pool, although the reality may be
slightly different with an almost-toddler in tow… As an antidote to
the lazy lunches – and for my adrenaline fix for the week – I’m
doing a RYA Powerboat Level 2 course. Our love affair with Greece
continues in September, when we’re heading to the picturesque
island of Antiparos for a family holiday with my in-laws. We’ll be
renting a local boat for a couple of days (so I can put my new
skills to the test) and plan to spend the week exploring the
island’s beaches and feasting on gyros in the local tavernas.

Summer holidays to me are so much more than hopping on a plane
and lounging on a sandy beach for the week – though I’d absolutely
never decline an invitation to do so. With that in mind, while
Greece and Ibiza are firmly booked for August,
I’m also planning to spend time in the UK, which is a truly magical
place in the warmer months. So, in between dancing till dawn on the
White Isle and taverna-hopping across the heart of the Med, I plan
to spend my holidays soaking up the blissful, sun-drenched evenings
in my Surrey hometown. Strolling through overgrown fields
with my best friend, boozy picnicking with my gang and enjoying
weekly BBQ feasts with my ridiculously large family.