Europe has all sorts of spots to wander around, from busy streets to quiet riversides and coastal paths. You can explore towns, try the food, or just veer off the main route to see how things really work. 

Branded residences are where luxury hotel service meets the warmth and privacy of a home. You get year-round access to world-class hospitality, wellness and community—a true evolution of living well, whilst living away in a foreign country.

There’s a quiet sort of freedom in knowing a trip has been built with someone in mind. No group itineraries, no identical photo stops, no fixed dinner times. Each day unfolds at a natural, unhurried pace, with a personal feel. 

A personalised holiday bends around preferences rather than forcing them to fit a plan. It’s not about extravagance or being waited on; it’s about detail, the kind that remembers how someone takes their coffee or that they’d rather walk than ride. Travel feels different when it’s shaped around a person’s habits and pace, not a company’s timetable or a guidebook’s script.

Travelling alone isn’t about being brave anymore — it’s about being free. The best solo trips give you space to think, explore at your own pace, and meet people along the way who make the experience richer. Whether you want to recharge, reconnect, or rediscover your independence, these destinations and hotels offer style, safety, and a sense of belonging.

Sometimes you just need to press pause. Europe’s beauty isn’t only in its grand cathedrals or crowded museums; it’s in those quiet corners where time stretches. Picture yourself walking through misty vineyards, sitting by a lake so still it mirrors the sky, or waking up to the sound of sheep on a hillside. These are the kind of places that make you exhale without realising you’ve been holding your breath.

If Hotel Calimala Florence is anything to go by, its brand-new sister hotel in Milan is set to be a game-changer for the city’s luxury boutique scene. Opening in spring 2025, Hotel Calimala Milan will bring a bold, contemporary take on hospitality, design, and culinary experiences, all wrapped up in an ultra-stylish setting.

The best places to go after exams are over..

The best 60 hotels of all time for 2023, part 2

The best 60 hotels of all time for 2023

Ten New Hotel Openings for 2023

The best private rentals for 2023 from a windmill in Suffolk and a private villa in Thailand to a gorgeous beach house in Norfolk with a private pool.

Il Palio di Siena, the most famous horse race in Italy which takes place in July and August in the Piazza de Campo in the city of Siena, Tuscany.

The Place Firenze, the first boutique hotel in Florence now begins its next chapter, a new story, a place you’ll love to call your home during your stay in Florence.

2021 is finally here and with it some great new hotel openings in the UK and aboard that we can all look forward to and add to our dream list.

Soprarno Suites is a 13-room boutique B&B in Florence in the cool Oltranto area. Spread across three floors of a Florentine palazzo, it’s filled with charm and quirkiness and sits above a cool deli Sottarno.

Ad*Astra FLORENCE is a 14-room boutique hotel in Florence just a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio.

JK Place Firenze, the first boutique hotel in Florence and one of the best in town…

Here are some of my favourite Italian hotels where you can enjoy la dolce vita including Castello Banfi il Borgo, award-winning boutique hotel in Tuscany.