If we’re talking cities - Copenhagen is my absolutely favourite. It’s the only city I could imagine myself living in. I also loved Reykjavik, Athens and LA.
I much prefer a slower pace of travel though, and am mostly drawn to coastal or rural locations when I travel.
Taormina in Sicily was a big disappointment for me - I’d fallen for photos of Isola Bella I’d seen online, but in reality it’s overcrowded and covered in litter. The town is pretty, but it’s very touristy and I was mainly there for a beach that I really didn’t love. And I was stung by a jellyfish.
I adore the south-east coast of Mallorca, around Santanyi, Cala Llombards, Calo del Moro (visit in shoulder season - it was quiet and dreamy late April last year). But I found Valdemossa and Deia to be overhyped and a bit of a let down. I imagine if you’re staying at the Belmond it’s beautiful and peaceful, but even in April the main towns were full of tourists and there just wasn’t much to see.
Croatia always exceeds my expectations. The water is crystal clear there. The islands I have visited (Vis and Mljet) were both beautiful. There’s a secret spot I can’t share with anyone on the mainland which is possibly my favourite place in the world. Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar etc are very busy, but it’s easy to drive along the coast or catch a ferry somewhere peaceful, beautiful and that most people have never heard of.
I had a wonderful two weeks island hopping in the Greek Cyclades recently, and completely fell in love with both Athens and the islands. Following a very disappointing trip to Santorini a few years ago (for a family wedding, not by choice, but it’s the most overhyped place I’ve ever visited) I had written off Greece but I’m glad I returned. There are so many beautiful islands to discover; I now have a long, long list and am already thinking I want to go back this year. Hydra is next on my list - I think you’d like it there too.
I’m going to stop there because this is getting VERY long, but please feel free to message me for more travel tips. I love to waffle on about places I love, overhyped destinations/over tourism and my long, long list of places I dream of visiting ……
I haven’t even mentioned the Nordic countries! 🤦♀️ My favourite EVER trip was driving around West Sweden’s coastline and lakes two summers ago. Also Iceland’s ring road (the further away you get from Reykjavik, the better it gets). Helsinki is a really cool city. Norway is wonderful in autumn and winter (I especially loved Bergen). I’d love to visit more of Sweden, plus Norway and Finland in the summer. And Lofoten in Autumn is high on my list.
I have now subscribed to your Substack as I also prefer a slower pace of travel and after a mat leave with some long haul trips to visit family/friends in Asia, I now really want to spend some time avoiding flying where possible. On that note, do you have any advice for holidays in August? We'd love to leave the UK but are stumped on where to go to avoid hoards of tourists and huge costs. Stuck with this un-ideal time of year for work and childcare reasons!
My favourite place I’ve ever been in August was West Sweden a couple of summers ago. It’s just so hot and so busy and so expensive in southern Europe in peak season now; I really think there’s going to be a big shift towards where people chose to holiday in July/August. We were really lucky with the weather when we were in Sweden, there is so much to see - beautiful landscapes, small fishing villages and really cool cities - and I loved swimming in both the island archipelagos and the lakes.
Thank you so much for getting back to me. We'd discounted Scandinavia because of the cost, but I'll do some more research and see if we can make something work.
Sweden isn't that expensive! I haven't visited Stockholm, and imagine that may be more pricey but Gothenburg and the West Coast of Sweden were suprisingly affordable.
I’ve just booked a trip to Greece to visit Athens and some of the Cyclades (Milos, Paros and, awkwardly enough now, Santorini - I was afraid of over-hype but a few friends emphatically told us it’s a must see; I think at this point my expectations have now gone the complete other direction, so perhaps any positive experience there will be pleasantly unexpected!) would love any tips for Athens and I don’t know if you’ve visited Milos or Paros?
I haven’t visited Milos or Paros, sorry. If you’re yet to book accommodation for Milos, Skinopi Lodge looks wonderful.
Santorini - try visiting Oia and Fira early in the morning to avoid the crowds. I imagine a lot of visitors are from cruise ships, so if you check what time the ships dock you could try to plan accordingly. Make sure you book restaurants in advance, especially if you want a sunset view. I was there 9 years ago and couldn’t get a table anywhere in Oia for sunset.
I was there for a family wedding, so didn’t really have the experience I would have chosen anyway, but I really disliked the beach we were staying at. It was crowded and just not very pretty (Kamari beach). I’m sure there are nice little corners of the island to be discovered though!
Athens is wonderful! Book in advance if you want to visit the Pantheon, but you can just wander the streets and see a lot of amazing ruins for free. The Acropolis was closed for Easter when I was there, but I walked around it and up Areopagus Hill where there are amazing panoramic views of the city.
Make sure you wander around Plaka and eat in traditional tavernas - but there’s much more to see in Athens. I’m already planning when I can go back as I want to see more of the non-touristy areas where people actually live.
I really liked the wine bar Tanini Agapi Mou, and also heard good things about Eprepe Bar and Wine is Fine. I also loved Lotte cafe-bistrot for Greek pie and nice drinks. The National Gardens was a lovely place to sit with my book and shelter from the sun for a bit. Mouki Mou Athens is an expensive but beautiful shop. And I recommend visiting the Korres store - my favourite skincare brand who are based in Greece.
Paros is lovely; Parikia is a bit less touristy than Naoussa, and be sure to head inland to some of the smaller villages…you can easily rent a car and self-drive.
I was equally sure I’d hate Santorini and actually loved it - if you have the chance to drive there as well and get to some of the villages like Pyrgos and Megalochori, it gives you a sense of what the island used to be like (you may still encounter some cruise ship tours, but nothing as overwhelming as the crowds in Oia). You kind of just have to give into the fact that Oia is what it is…lots of crowds and weirdly high-end jewelry stores with some sensationally-beautiful views.
Japan ! Fantastic on so many levels Best trip I’ve done back in 2017. Can share my itinerary if interested. We went in November/December out of season. Cold but sunny. No queues. Magnificent
Japan is my bucketlist trip for when I turn 40! I need that long to save up as I want to do alllll the things while I'm there. Was it wildly expensive?
It’s wildly CHEAP right now! The yen is the weakest it’s been in 30 years. I just got back and everything was like 30-50% of (that’s OF, not OFF) what we pay in the States. The most expensive part of the trip is the plane ticket. It’s very very humid in the summer though, and can be quite unpleasant.
It's not as wildly expensive as I had anticipated - things like coffee and more casual food options (e.g. ramen, street food stalls) are so affordable and where you tend to get the best food experiences too vs the stuffy, fine dining restaurants. The things you want to save for are the train tickets and hotels/airbnbs - everything else is manageable. I also recommend visiting in November for the autumn colours and ample sunshine. It was a dream!
I worked remotely in Porto for 3 months, Jan-April 2022, and it was total heaven. One of the best cities I've ever been to. I have a big list of recommendations!
Bella, that sounds like a dream. I was only there for two days with my kids. But we did manage to do quite a few port tastings, and they loved the world of wine Rosè exhibit!
I am a big fan of “second” cities - Milan, Malaga, Genoa, Marseille, Chicago. Anywhere where you can still quite easily slip into how the locals live without fighting through layers of tourism.
With you on Berlin - I didn’t dislike it but in no hurry to go back. Antwerp is a great tip, it’s now on my list.
I also came here to say Menorca! I rarely repeat destinations because there are so many places to see in the world but I adore it and we’ve just booked to go for a week in July which I think will be my 10th visit.
It’s small (there’s one main road that runs across the island which takes max. 1 hour to drive in it’s entirely with roads leading off to the coastal resorts/towns along the way) and at either end has the two biggest towns - Mahon & Ciutadella which are quite different in character and both lovely.
I has a slower pace than Ibiza and Majorca but has started to attract more of a cool/style crowd as boutique hotels, art galleries, more high end restaurants have started to open up. I’m a bit annoyed that it’s starting to be ‘discovered’ to be honest 😂
I think I might be one of the people you are annoyed with who is a recent convert! I totally understand why you love it. It was a whirlwind visit so it’s definitely back on my list. I have to say I didn’t really love Mahon but perhaps I need to try it again.
It was only in the last few years that I’ve come to appreciate Mahon. It’s the main town where a lot of residents live and it’s not as picturesque or charming as Ciutadella but it’s got some great restaurants and the streets down towards the harbour are nice.
There’s a Hauser & Wirth gallery on an island in the harbour which has an incredible restaurant. We got the boat to it late afternoon, spent a few hours there and then came back in the dark when the town was lit up before going for drinks at ‘The American Bar’ in one of the squares which is a bit of an institution. Planning on repeating the experience this year, so good 😊
For creative retreating solo… Santa Teresa or Nosara in Costa Rica. It’s a distance but the beaches are wild, there’s lovely restaurants but not a resort to be found, you can yoga, you can surf, there’s lots of fellow solo’s who are just chilling, some incredible accommodation and it’s sunny and wild and rugged but with great coffee. I spent a month there and loved every minute!
Couldn't agree with this more! I actually found Bali a bit depressing because of the scale of tourism and the destruction that comes with it. Lembongan and Penida were lovely.
Harriet, I’m not sure where you’re from but I have an out of the box suggestion for kid friendly (mine are 5 and 2). Before I go on about it, are you US based?!
so the 'with mega convenience but not devoid of all culture' i felt so strongly was Puerto Rico. (It is an easy flight for US East Coasters, so maybe not crazy bad from the UK?). I absolutely loved the Puerto Rican culture, food, vibrant Old San Juan and beaches in Rincon. It's laid back and felt easy to explore with our two littles. I think there are a lot of Caribbean island vacations where it's easy to get swept up in a resort and miss the culture. Not here! Especially if you go the airbnb route. :)
Pleasant surprises have been Istanbul (out of season - so I’m not sure what High Summer is like). I also loved Menorca, maybe it’s a fairly obvious option but it felt surprisingly undeveloped.
I hear that a lot about Menorca actually, that it's still blissfully quiet and low-key. I really want to go, especially as there are a few more design-led hotel options there and I can't resist a good interior.
Firstly another vote for Menorca, the ciutadella is one of my favourites in the Med! Plus the roads are perfect to be a passenger no terrifying sheer drops like in Majorca an Ibiza!
Secondly, unpopular opinion, I really loved Vegas! I’m the most un - Vegas person on the planet (imagine a small arctic welsh mammal with red hair) the hotels are great, food is amazing, plus you can travel out to the incredible desert ( again somewhere I wasn’t fussed about before seeing) 5* would recommend.
What did you do in Vegas? I’m interested in going, as have relatives ‘nearby’ in AZ and also love the desert, but I have zero interest in casinos. Happy to eat my way through several buffets, however…
Ha no casinos either, I attempted to see a Cirque show but fell asleep half way through because of jet lag! I physically and mentally prepped myself for the all you can eat breakfasts which were spectacular! We stayed at the Bellagio, the spa and pool were never very busy ( March) around vegas you can drive to little red rock to see the petroglyphs, then of course Zion, Bryce and the GC which are longer dives but worth it x
Another one agreeing on Berlin. I remember it as drab and grey but I have friends who rave about it. Didn’t get the vibe at all.
Destinations that have surprised to the upside:
Chicago. It’s wonderful. Like a European city, in a good way. Vibrant, fun, great food and drink, amazing lakeside scenery (the scale of the lake!).
Cassis. Idyllic. An hour out of Marseille so you could do cool city trip too. It’s a perfect bay with a little port, crystal clear sea and surrounded by vineyards.
Now I have children (and for anyone reading this in a similar boat), the absolutely eye watering cost of an Ikos all inclusive family holiday was worth it. Only time I have properly relaxed in 6 years, I think.
Would love views on winter destinations for weekend breaks (without kids) and longer trips (with them). Never come up with anything good and I’m not a mad skier so logistically that never seems worth it with children.
Tangier is one of the best places I’ve been to. It’s fascinating and an eclectic mix of different styles, richness of colour, sounds and flavours (the city is on the sea so very different to the cities in the inner part of the country). It’s beautiful, alive and vibrant without too overwhelming.
Best holiday ever was Chile. Atacama desert blew my mind. Torres del Paine National Park and the trekking amazing. 5 day cruise around Tierra del Fuego - Incredible scenery. And landing (via Zodiac) on Cape Horn - omg. Definitely not cheap holiday but I’d pay it again in a heartbeat. Also - Uzbekistan- I’ve always wanted to travel the Silk Road and Uzbekistan did not disappoint - incredible holiday. Desperate now to visit the other ‘Stans. Spent a few days in South Korea too - very interesting place. Don’t think I’ve ever had any major disappointments - but I moved from UK to Sydney and it disappoints me every day!
I'd love to hear the Antwerp hotel recommendations! I'm there about once a year for work, so of course don't appreciate it because it's for work. But a cool design-y hotel might tip the balance.
My husband and I very nearly moved to Berlin though fortunately we visited and realised we didn’t really want to live there 🫣. I am looking forward to a second visit and digging deeper than that trip; I’m always curious if some places are a slow burn?
The places that ensorcelled me completely, aiming for ten words-ish, are:
- Bosa, Sardinia — captivating, delicious, languid! A perfect late summer romantic vacation. Fly into Alghero, hire a car, immerse in the dreaminess!
- Himarë, Albania — a heavenly enforced relaxation bubble on the Ionian Sea. Killer everything + direct ferries from
Corfu.
- Gjirokaster, Albania — inspiring, other-worldly, ancient mixed with Ottoman and modern history. Bonus: visit in autumn!!
- Sarajevo, BiH — one of Europe’s greatest underrated cities. Fascinating, humbling, enriching, essential.
- Transylvania, Romania — Completely singular. Astonishing moreish food, diverse landscapes, bewitching villages/cities.
- West Cork, Ireland — Cosy exploring across whimsical peninsulas — sea, farmland, lakes, forests, trails! Just drive, wander, discover.
- Japanese Alps (Norikura) — Don’t waste your time on Fuji. Wildflower meadows, waterfalls, untouched mountains. Unparalleled beauty.
- Wooli, Australia — eastern NSW time-warp peninsula; sublime ocean-river tide swimming, surrounded by national park. A total reset.
- Seoul, South Korea — Serene, intoxicating, traditional yet ultra-modern. Completely inexhaustible, instantly made my favourite places ranking. You somehow feel like you're in the middle of everything *and* you can breathe easily.
I'm surprised no-one (as far as I can see) has mentioned Istanbul - I've just got back from my 5th trip there in 15 years and I find it endlessly fascinating and explorable. I was at a wedding and many of the people who hadn't been before loved it too. It has everything: so much history, beautiful settings, nice bars and restaurants. Nothing ever surpasses taking the ferry from Kabatas to Kadikoy on the Asian side. I also stayed on the Princes Islands this time; you've got the whole enormity of Istanbul spread our in front of you, yet they're remarkably peaceful and lovely.
Japan, specifically Tokyo and Kyoto - I’ve been twice and was blown away by the kindness of strangers, the contrast of scenery, the art and the food. Planning on going back soon. I would however not recommend Osaka unless there’s something you’re dying to see - despite Tokyo being a hyped tourist destination it has so much to offer where as Osaka was loud, busy and overall less interesting as a place. I was also surprised at how affordable Japan was, we’d been told to expect high prices but it was much easier to get a delicious meal and drink than anywhere in London. Also the food is phenomenal - even the 7/11 and vending machine matcha is good! As an introverted British creative it is a dream destination - so polite and so pretty.
As a surprise I would say Paris - I know everyone says it’s dirty which it is
… but I just wasn’t expecting to find almost everything in the city is a tourist trap, so hard to get nice food and someone tried to rob us. The galleries are amazing of course - but I didn’t really feel the romance of the city.
I'm so relieved to hear you say Osaka wasn't totally worth visiting!! I went to Japan last year for my honeymoon and at the very last minute (I'm talking we were already in Tokyo), we decided to cancel our train to Osaka to spend more time in Tokyo and Kyoto instead. We were really only going to Osaka for Super Nintendo World, but once we sat down and really thought about it, we realized we don't actually like lines, crowds, or clusters of kids so... Out the window that plan went! LOVED Tokyo and Kyoto though. Can't wait to go back.
I absolutely promise you this is only true in central Paris where the big tourist attractions are, which I realise still sucks because obviously if you’re visiting you’re going to want to do those things, quite rightly. If you venture even a little away from the centre it’s like another city entirely. Great food, great people, and very clean! (Although I have to say I’ve never thought of Paris as dirty at all, or heard anyone say that, they clean the streets every night where I live, and I literally never see litter anywhere. Just the occasional rat. Haha.)
Love this thread. So much wonderful advice in here. To thank you all.
For Scotland advice if useful (from a local perspective ) I know Skye remains on the Scotland trip wish lists but never go high season it's awfully busy and the midges will eat you alive. I want to love it but can't.
The series of coastal villages in the East Neuk in Fife just at hour or so from Edinburgh are delightful in the Summer. 🌊 And the Angus Glens in Autumn are classic Scotland without having to schelp all the way up north to the Highlands. 🥾
Fellow Scottish person here seconding the East Neuk of Fife! I used to go to Elie in the summer as a child and I had really nice memories of it, but when I went back for the first time in years recently I had forgotten how picturesque the whole area is. The east coast of Scotland in general is really underrated in my opinion. The islands on the west coast are always on people’s bucket lists but the east coast is stunning in an entirely different way.
And obviously I can’t leave a Scotland-related comment without recommending everyone go to Edinburgh. It’s my hometown and I could still cry at how beautiful it is every time I go back.
This is my kind of discussion!
If we’re talking cities - Copenhagen is my absolutely favourite. It’s the only city I could imagine myself living in. I also loved Reykjavik, Athens and LA.
I much prefer a slower pace of travel though, and am mostly drawn to coastal or rural locations when I travel.
Taormina in Sicily was a big disappointment for me - I’d fallen for photos of Isola Bella I’d seen online, but in reality it’s overcrowded and covered in litter. The town is pretty, but it’s very touristy and I was mainly there for a beach that I really didn’t love. And I was stung by a jellyfish.
I adore the south-east coast of Mallorca, around Santanyi, Cala Llombards, Calo del Moro (visit in shoulder season - it was quiet and dreamy late April last year). But I found Valdemossa and Deia to be overhyped and a bit of a let down. I imagine if you’re staying at the Belmond it’s beautiful and peaceful, but even in April the main towns were full of tourists and there just wasn’t much to see.
Croatia always exceeds my expectations. The water is crystal clear there. The islands I have visited (Vis and Mljet) were both beautiful. There’s a secret spot I can’t share with anyone on the mainland which is possibly my favourite place in the world. Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar etc are very busy, but it’s easy to drive along the coast or catch a ferry somewhere peaceful, beautiful and that most people have never heard of.
I had a wonderful two weeks island hopping in the Greek Cyclades recently, and completely fell in love with both Athens and the islands. Following a very disappointing trip to Santorini a few years ago (for a family wedding, not by choice, but it’s the most overhyped place I’ve ever visited) I had written off Greece but I’m glad I returned. There are so many beautiful islands to discover; I now have a long, long list and am already thinking I want to go back this year. Hydra is next on my list - I think you’d like it there too.
I’m going to stop there because this is getting VERY long, but please feel free to message me for more travel tips. I love to waffle on about places I love, overhyped destinations/over tourism and my long, long list of places I dream of visiting ……
Coming back to this later as I have to go run an errand but I KNEW you'd have so many useful things to say on this one! x
I haven’t even mentioned the Nordic countries! 🤦♀️ My favourite EVER trip was driving around West Sweden’s coastline and lakes two summers ago. Also Iceland’s ring road (the further away you get from Reykjavik, the better it gets). Helsinki is a really cool city. Norway is wonderful in autumn and winter (I especially loved Bergen). I’d love to visit more of Sweden, plus Norway and Finland in the summer. And Lofoten in Autumn is high on my list.
See my comment on Harriet's comment below, it won't let me tag you!
I would LOVE to hear more about the West Sweden coastline and lakes roadtrip 👀
I wrote about this on my blog: https://www.fieldandnest.com/journal/a-swedish-roadtrip-through-vstra-gtaland
And I wrote about my favourite place we stayed on a Substack post earlier this year: https://fieldandnest.substack.com/p/naturbyn-sweden
It’s definitely something I’m going to write more about on my Substack as I’m always getting asked about it!
Wow, fantastic thanks so much.
This is such a great comment, thank you!
I have now subscribed to your Substack as I also prefer a slower pace of travel and after a mat leave with some long haul trips to visit family/friends in Asia, I now really want to spend some time avoiding flying where possible. On that note, do you have any advice for holidays in August? We'd love to leave the UK but are stumped on where to go to avoid hoards of tourists and huge costs. Stuck with this un-ideal time of year for work and childcare reasons!
Thanks so much Ayla!
My favourite place I’ve ever been in August was West Sweden a couple of summers ago. It’s just so hot and so busy and so expensive in southern Europe in peak season now; I really think there’s going to be a big shift towards where people chose to holiday in July/August. We were really lucky with the weather when we were in Sweden, there is so much to see - beautiful landscapes, small fishing villages and really cool cities - and I loved swimming in both the island archipelagos and the lakes.
I wrote about it here: https://www.fieldandnest.com/journal/a-swedish-roadtrip-through-vstra-gtaland
And this was my absolute favourite place we stayed: https://www.fieldandnest.com/journal/slow-stays-naturbyn
Thank you so much for getting back to me. We'd discounted Scandinavia because of the cost, but I'll do some more research and see if we can make something work.
Sweden isn't that expensive! I haven't visited Stockholm, and imagine that may be more pricey but Gothenburg and the West Coast of Sweden were suprisingly affordable.
Just subscribed to your newsletter on the basis of this comment because same I could talk about this all day and I need more travel content like this!
Thanks so much Erin!
And I just did the same!
I’ve just booked a trip to Greece to visit Athens and some of the Cyclades (Milos, Paros and, awkwardly enough now, Santorini - I was afraid of over-hype but a few friends emphatically told us it’s a must see; I think at this point my expectations have now gone the complete other direction, so perhaps any positive experience there will be pleasantly unexpected!) would love any tips for Athens and I don’t know if you’ve visited Milos or Paros?
I haven’t visited Milos or Paros, sorry. If you’re yet to book accommodation for Milos, Skinopi Lodge looks wonderful.
Santorini - try visiting Oia and Fira early in the morning to avoid the crowds. I imagine a lot of visitors are from cruise ships, so if you check what time the ships dock you could try to plan accordingly. Make sure you book restaurants in advance, especially if you want a sunset view. I was there 9 years ago and couldn’t get a table anywhere in Oia for sunset.
I was there for a family wedding, so didn’t really have the experience I would have chosen anyway, but I really disliked the beach we were staying at. It was crowded and just not very pretty (Kamari beach). I’m sure there are nice little corners of the island to be discovered though!
Athens is wonderful! Book in advance if you want to visit the Pantheon, but you can just wander the streets and see a lot of amazing ruins for free. The Acropolis was closed for Easter when I was there, but I walked around it and up Areopagus Hill where there are amazing panoramic views of the city.
Make sure you wander around Plaka and eat in traditional tavernas - but there’s much more to see in Athens. I’m already planning when I can go back as I want to see more of the non-touristy areas where people actually live.
I really liked the wine bar Tanini Agapi Mou, and also heard good things about Eprepe Bar and Wine is Fine. I also loved Lotte cafe-bistrot for Greek pie and nice drinks. The National Gardens was a lovely place to sit with my book and shelter from the sun for a bit. Mouki Mou Athens is an expensive but beautiful shop. And I recommend visiting the Korres store - my favourite skincare brand who are based in Greece.
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond, I really appreciate it! This is really helpful.
Paros is lovely; Parikia is a bit less touristy than Naoussa, and be sure to head inland to some of the smaller villages…you can easily rent a car and self-drive.
I was equally sure I’d hate Santorini and actually loved it - if you have the chance to drive there as well and get to some of the villages like Pyrgos and Megalochori, it gives you a sense of what the island used to be like (you may still encounter some cruise ship tours, but nothing as overwhelming as the crowds in Oia). You kind of just have to give into the fact that Oia is what it is…lots of crowds and weirdly high-end jewelry stores with some sensationally-beautiful views.
Thanks so much Kate!
Japan ! Fantastic on so many levels Best trip I’ve done back in 2017. Can share my itinerary if interested. We went in November/December out of season. Cold but sunny. No queues. Magnificent
Japan is my bucketlist trip for when I turn 40! I need that long to save up as I want to do alllll the things while I'm there. Was it wildly expensive?
It’s wildly CHEAP right now! The yen is the weakest it’s been in 30 years. I just got back and everything was like 30-50% of (that’s OF, not OFF) what we pay in the States. The most expensive part of the trip is the plane ticket. It’s very very humid in the summer though, and can be quite unpleasant.
It's not as wildly expensive as I had anticipated - things like coffee and more casual food options (e.g. ramen, street food stalls) are so affordable and where you tend to get the best food experiences too vs the stuffy, fine dining restaurants. The things you want to save for are the train tickets and hotels/airbnbs - everything else is manageable. I also recommend visiting in November for the autumn colours and ample sunshine. It was a dream!
We were surprised to find prices similar to the UK at that time (2017) but perhaps going in low season helped too (tho I don’t know!)
Porto, Portugal exceeded my expectations and everyone was really nice. I also loved Florence and Capri, Italy.
Haven't been to any of them but really want to go to all! Especially Porto.
I loved Porto so incredibly much!
I worked remotely in Porto for 3 months, Jan-April 2022, and it was total heaven. One of the best cities I've ever been to. I have a big list of recommendations!
Bella, that sounds like a dream. I was only there for two days with my kids. But we did manage to do quite a few port tastings, and they loved the world of wine Rosè exhibit!
Interesting. Porto disappointed me. Too touristy. Preferred Lisbon
I am a big fan of “second” cities - Milan, Malaga, Genoa, Marseille, Chicago. Anywhere where you can still quite easily slip into how the locals live without fighting through layers of tourism.
Second cities is a good framework for travel, I agree
Though Venice was somewhere that I didn’t think I’d enjoy and ended up finding completely wonderful/magical.
With you on Berlin - I didn’t dislike it but in no hurry to go back. Antwerp is a great tip, it’s now on my list.
I also came here to say Menorca! I rarely repeat destinations because there are so many places to see in the world but I adore it and we’ve just booked to go for a week in July which I think will be my 10th visit.
It’s small (there’s one main road that runs across the island which takes max. 1 hour to drive in it’s entirely with roads leading off to the coastal resorts/towns along the way) and at either end has the two biggest towns - Mahon & Ciutadella which are quite different in character and both lovely.
I has a slower pace than Ibiza and Majorca but has started to attract more of a cool/style crowd as boutique hotels, art galleries, more high end restaurants have started to open up. I’m a bit annoyed that it’s starting to be ‘discovered’ to be honest 😂
I think I might be one of the people you are annoyed with who is a recent convert! I totally understand why you love it. It was a whirlwind visit so it’s definitely back on my list. I have to say I didn’t really love Mahon but perhaps I need to try it again.
It was only in the last few years that I’ve come to appreciate Mahon. It’s the main town where a lot of residents live and it’s not as picturesque or charming as Ciutadella but it’s got some great restaurants and the streets down towards the harbour are nice.
There’s a Hauser & Wirth gallery on an island in the harbour which has an incredible restaurant. We got the boat to it late afternoon, spent a few hours there and then came back in the dark when the town was lit up before going for drinks at ‘The American Bar’ in one of the squares which is a bit of an institution. Planning on repeating the experience this year, so good 😊
Menorca has been on my list for a couple of years now, would love to go!
Eleanor! Do you do travel consulting? I need help!
@emmalavelle, you seem to have been everywhere, do you offer consulting?
I don’t officially, but it’s something I’ve definitely been considering! Drop me a DM or email me Harriet: emmalavelle42@gmail.com
Where do you need help with? I reckon I'd know someone (or perhaps there's even a reader here) who could steer you in the right direction! x
I’ve got a list…!
4 year old friendly holidays with mega convenience but not devoid of all culture.
Perfect winter city getaway for 2 knackered parents who aren’t major boozers.
How do I survive a trip to Bali and tag on a trip to Aus with a 5 year old in a 4 week period and not die of jet lag?
Best creative retreat destination for overwhelmed woman who is hopeless at yoga and wants lots of alone time?
Best 1 week trip to take in November that doesn’t include an exhausting flight time.
How to visit Scandinavia, enjoy the amazing shopping but not come home bankrupt?
Is train travel from London to continental Europe romantic or deathly boring?
Also- how does one get these elusive air miles?
The list goes on! and on and on.
I can’t help with Bali but can definitely help with a lot of your list!
I didn't love Bali - it didn't match up to my expectation of paradise - but a short journey to Ubud rectified the disappointment and loved it
For creative retreating solo… Santa Teresa or Nosara in Costa Rica. It’s a distance but the beaches are wild, there’s lovely restaurants but not a resort to be found, you can yoga, you can surf, there’s lots of fellow solo’s who are just chilling, some incredible accommodation and it’s sunny and wild and rugged but with great coffee. I spent a month there and loved every minute!
Oooh this is great shout Sinead, and we have pals there so all the more reason- I can ditch and go do my own thing. Thank you! Xx
I've not long got back from Bali! My second time visiting and it's got a loooooot more touristy BUT we found pockets of paradise on Nusa Penida!
Couldn't agree with this more! I actually found Bali a bit depressing because of the scale of tourism and the destruction that comes with it. Lembongan and Penida were lovely.
Oooh great tip, thank you!! Xx
Harriet, I’m not sure where you’re from but I have an out of the box suggestion for kid friendly (mine are 5 and 2). Before I go on about it, are you US based?!
So kind! No, we’re UK based… but still, hit me please! We could be extra adventurous Xx
so the 'with mega convenience but not devoid of all culture' i felt so strongly was Puerto Rico. (It is an easy flight for US East Coasters, so maybe not crazy bad from the UK?). I absolutely loved the Puerto Rican culture, food, vibrant Old San Juan and beaches in Rincon. It's laid back and felt easy to explore with our two littles. I think there are a lot of Caribbean island vacations where it's easy to get swept up in a resort and miss the culture. Not here! Especially if you go the airbnb route. :)
Pleasant surprises have been Istanbul (out of season - so I’m not sure what High Summer is like). I also loved Menorca, maybe it’s a fairly obvious option but it felt surprisingly undeveloped.
I hear that a lot about Menorca actually, that it's still blissfully quiet and low-key. I really want to go, especially as there are a few more design-led hotel options there and I can't resist a good interior.
Firstly another vote for Menorca, the ciutadella is one of my favourites in the Med! Plus the roads are perfect to be a passenger no terrifying sheer drops like in Majorca an Ibiza!
Secondly, unpopular opinion, I really loved Vegas! I’m the most un - Vegas person on the planet (imagine a small arctic welsh mammal with red hair) the hotels are great, food is amazing, plus you can travel out to the incredible desert ( again somewhere I wasn’t fussed about before seeing) 5* would recommend.
Also loved Vegas for a few days before driving out to the National Parks. The Neon museum is a must visit.
What did you do in Vegas? I’m interested in going, as have relatives ‘nearby’ in AZ and also love the desert, but I have zero interest in casinos. Happy to eat my way through several buffets, however…
Ha no casinos either, I attempted to see a Cirque show but fell asleep half way through because of jet lag! I physically and mentally prepped myself for the all you can eat breakfasts which were spectacular! We stayed at the Bellagio, the spa and pool were never very busy ( March) around vegas you can drive to little red rock to see the petroglyphs, then of course Zion, Bryce and the GC which are longer dives but worth it x
Another one agreeing on Berlin. I remember it as drab and grey but I have friends who rave about it. Didn’t get the vibe at all.
Destinations that have surprised to the upside:
Chicago. It’s wonderful. Like a European city, in a good way. Vibrant, fun, great food and drink, amazing lakeside scenery (the scale of the lake!).
Cassis. Idyllic. An hour out of Marseille so you could do cool city trip too. It’s a perfect bay with a little port, crystal clear sea and surrounded by vineyards.
Now I have children (and for anyone reading this in a similar boat), the absolutely eye watering cost of an Ikos all inclusive family holiday was worth it. Only time I have properly relaxed in 6 years, I think.
Would love views on winter destinations for weekend breaks (without kids) and longer trips (with them). Never come up with anything good and I’m not a mad skier so logistically that never seems worth it with children.
Enjoying reading the recommendations so far!
Cassis is a dream! Hiking to the calanques…nothing on earth like it
Tangier is one of the best places I’ve been to. It’s fascinating and an eclectic mix of different styles, richness of colour, sounds and flavours (the city is on the sea so very different to the cities in the inner part of the country). It’s beautiful, alive and vibrant without too overwhelming.
Best holiday ever was Chile. Atacama desert blew my mind. Torres del Paine National Park and the trekking amazing. 5 day cruise around Tierra del Fuego - Incredible scenery. And landing (via Zodiac) on Cape Horn - omg. Definitely not cheap holiday but I’d pay it again in a heartbeat. Also - Uzbekistan- I’ve always wanted to travel the Silk Road and Uzbekistan did not disappoint - incredible holiday. Desperate now to visit the other ‘Stans. Spent a few days in South Korea too - very interesting place. Don’t think I’ve ever had any major disappointments - but I moved from UK to Sydney and it disappoints me every day!
I'd love to hear the Antwerp hotel recommendations! I'm there about once a year for work, so of course don't appreciate it because it's for work. But a cool design-y hotel might tip the balance.
Have you been to Botanic Sanctuary in Antwerp? It’s so beautiful and the food is excellent - https://www.botanicantwerp.be/
Ohh, that looks amazing. Noted!
It’s really good value for money and it’s also where old Antwerp started so the buildings combine old and new in a very symbiotic way
My husband and I very nearly moved to Berlin though fortunately we visited and realised we didn’t really want to live there 🫣. I am looking forward to a second visit and digging deeper than that trip; I’m always curious if some places are a slow burn?
The places that ensorcelled me completely, aiming for ten words-ish, are:
- Bosa, Sardinia — captivating, delicious, languid! A perfect late summer romantic vacation. Fly into Alghero, hire a car, immerse in the dreaminess!
- Himarë, Albania — a heavenly enforced relaxation bubble on the Ionian Sea. Killer everything + direct ferries from
Corfu.
- Gjirokaster, Albania — inspiring, other-worldly, ancient mixed with Ottoman and modern history. Bonus: visit in autumn!!
- Sarajevo, BiH — one of Europe’s greatest underrated cities. Fascinating, humbling, enriching, essential.
- Transylvania, Romania — Completely singular. Astonishing moreish food, diverse landscapes, bewitching villages/cities.
- West Cork, Ireland — Cosy exploring across whimsical peninsulas — sea, farmland, lakes, forests, trails! Just drive, wander, discover.
- Japanese Alps (Norikura) — Don’t waste your time on Fuji. Wildflower meadows, waterfalls, untouched mountains. Unparalleled beauty.
- Wooli, Australia — eastern NSW time-warp peninsula; sublime ocean-river tide swimming, surrounded by national park. A total reset.
- Seoul, South Korea — Serene, intoxicating, traditional yet ultra-modern. Completely inexhaustible, instantly made my favourite places ranking. You somehow feel like you're in the middle of everything *and* you can breathe easily.
I'm surprised no-one (as far as I can see) has mentioned Istanbul - I've just got back from my 5th trip there in 15 years and I find it endlessly fascinating and explorable. I was at a wedding and many of the people who hadn't been before loved it too. It has everything: so much history, beautiful settings, nice bars and restaurants. Nothing ever surpasses taking the ferry from Kabatas to Kadikoy on the Asian side. I also stayed on the Princes Islands this time; you've got the whole enormity of Istanbul spread our in front of you, yet they're remarkably peaceful and lovely.
Japan, specifically Tokyo and Kyoto - I’ve been twice and was blown away by the kindness of strangers, the contrast of scenery, the art and the food. Planning on going back soon. I would however not recommend Osaka unless there’s something you’re dying to see - despite Tokyo being a hyped tourist destination it has so much to offer where as Osaka was loud, busy and overall less interesting as a place. I was also surprised at how affordable Japan was, we’d been told to expect high prices but it was much easier to get a delicious meal and drink than anywhere in London. Also the food is phenomenal - even the 7/11 and vending machine matcha is good! As an introverted British creative it is a dream destination - so polite and so pretty.
As a surprise I would say Paris - I know everyone says it’s dirty which it is
… but I just wasn’t expecting to find almost everything in the city is a tourist trap, so hard to get nice food and someone tried to rob us. The galleries are amazing of course - but I didn’t really feel the romance of the city.
I'm so relieved to hear you say Osaka wasn't totally worth visiting!! I went to Japan last year for my honeymoon and at the very last minute (I'm talking we were already in Tokyo), we decided to cancel our train to Osaka to spend more time in Tokyo and Kyoto instead. We were really only going to Osaka for Super Nintendo World, but once we sat down and really thought about it, we realized we don't actually like lines, crowds, or clusters of kids so... Out the window that plan went! LOVED Tokyo and Kyoto though. Can't wait to go back.
I absolutely promise you this is only true in central Paris where the big tourist attractions are, which I realise still sucks because obviously if you’re visiting you’re going to want to do those things, quite rightly. If you venture even a little away from the centre it’s like another city entirely. Great food, great people, and very clean! (Although I have to say I’ve never thought of Paris as dirty at all, or heard anyone say that, they clean the streets every night where I live, and I literally never see litter anywhere. Just the occasional rat. Haha.)
Love this thread. So much wonderful advice in here. To thank you all.
For Scotland advice if useful (from a local perspective ) I know Skye remains on the Scotland trip wish lists but never go high season it's awfully busy and the midges will eat you alive. I want to love it but can't.
The series of coastal villages in the East Neuk in Fife just at hour or so from Edinburgh are delightful in the Summer. 🌊 And the Angus Glens in Autumn are classic Scotland without having to schelp all the way up north to the Highlands. 🥾
Fellow Scottish person here seconding the East Neuk of Fife! I used to go to Elie in the summer as a child and I had really nice memories of it, but when I went back for the first time in years recently I had forgotten how picturesque the whole area is. The east coast of Scotland in general is really underrated in my opinion. The islands on the west coast are always on people’s bucket lists but the east coast is stunning in an entirely different way.
And obviously I can’t leave a Scotland-related comment without recommending everyone go to Edinburgh. It’s my hometown and I could still cry at how beautiful it is every time I go back.