Where the Condé Nast Traveller editors are going on holiday this summer
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Our editors reveal the summer hot spots they're holidaying in this year – from island hopping in Greece to picnics along the river in Albania.
Getty ImagesLake Como, Italy
Divia Thani, global editorial director
“Lake Como! When I was there in 2019, I'd wished I'd return soon, so I feel very lucky to be spending a week there this summer! First, at the splendid new Passalacqua, which is now easily among my all-time favourite hotels, and then at Villa d'Este, the icon, which just celebrated 150 years! I love taking a boat down the lake and checking out the small towns along the way, and of course, discovering local restaurants! I found a great spot for a lemon ravioli that's going to stay with me for a long time.”
Getty ImagesTurkey
Toby Skinner, features director
“This summer, possibly unusually, I'm craving a total lack of choice (and possibly WiFi). So I'm going with my family for a week on a gulet round Turkey's Turquoise Coast with ScicSailing, a really lovely Dutch-run company – going wherever they take us, eating whatever they give us, and probably existing on a contented loop of swimming/sun-bathing/eating. I'm also jealous of a trip we're sending a writer on, on a phinisi boat round Indonesia's Komodo Islands, and staying at Nirjhara, the new jungle-modern resort in Bali. Autumn will be for adventure and self-improvement (I'm planning a men's transformational retreat); summer is for happy oblivion.”
Getty ImagesSt Wolfgang, Austria
Sarah Allard, digital editor
“Austria wasn’t the first place that sprung to my mind when tasked with planning the annual family holiday this July, but it quickly became the winning spot for keeping everyone happy – from my retired parents to my one-year-old nephew – thanks to the mid-20s temperatures, abundance of outdoor activities and fresh Alpine air on offer. We’ll be heading to St Wolfgang – a picturesque Austrian town on Lake Wolfgangsee complete with cobbled streets littered with pavement cafes, the prettiest lakeside church and a mountain railway to take in the views.”
Getty ImagesNorfolk, UK
Sarah James, deputy digital editor
“There’s nothing quite like the British countryside in the summer – a happy discovery I made when successive lockdowns prevented me from travelling too far afield over the past few years. This summer, I’m planning an extended trip to Norfolk for picnics in the sunshine, long walks along the coast and some of the most delicious English produce. On the bucket list: walks along Holkham Beach’s lunar-like landscape, fish and chips on the sea wall at Wells-next-the-Sea, and a long, tramping walk through the Sandringham Estate. I’ve got my eye on rooms at The Harper, one of our Hot List 2022 hotels, that’s airy and bright for summer days, with snug corners for any chillier evenings (this is British summertime after all).”
Getty ImagesCorsica
Abigail Malbon, acting audience growth manager
“This summer, for me, is all about exploration and relaxation; I want to see places I haven’t before, and swim in crystal clear waters. Of course, so does absolutely everyone else – but I’m hoping Corsica will be less crowded than its Mediterranean neighbours as the revenge travel crowds descend. The island is incredibly geographically diverse, and I plan to hike for views of glittering secret bays, snorkel in the warm waters, and swim in natural pools in the Fango valley. I’ll base myself at Villa Joséphine in L’Ile-Rousse on the north coast, where I’ll be immersed in nature but close enough to the Citadelle in Corte to see old architecture and visit local museums.”
Getty ImagesAlbania
Olivia Morelli, social media manager
“I've been hearing rumours of Albania's sugar-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and forest-furred hinterlands for a few years now, so this summer my friends and I have decided to see what all the fuss is about. We’ll be beach-hopping along the coastline from north to south, starting off at the lakeside city of Shkodër, down towards the lagoons of Divjaka-Karavasta National Park and ending up on the white-sand beaches of Gjipe, Sarandë and Ksamil. Plus, I am desperate to spend a day exploring the Albanian Alps – the Grunas Canyon is 60 metres deep and you can have a picnic while gazing at the sparkling Thethi River.”
Getty ImagesMykonos and Milos, Greece
Sophie Knight, visuals editor
“Milos has been on my bucket list for years, and this summer I’m finally visiting. I’m drawn to the chalky white cliffs and turquoise waters of Sarakiniko beach. First off we'll fly into Mykonos, the more lively of the Cyclades islands. We’ve reserved beds for the day at Scorpios beach club where we’ll be sipping sundowners to the sound of the sea and resident DJs. Later on in the week we’ll get the three and a half hour ferry to the quieter volcanic island of Milos. There’s plenty of spots to visit, craggy cliffs with secret cove beaches and colourful, sleepy fishing villages. Between exploring, indulging in fresh seafood and boating around, I’ll be spending my fair share of time flopped on a sun bed lapping up the rays.”
Getty ImagesGreek Islands
Connor Sturges, digital assistant
“With a trip to the Bodrum peninsula on the cards at some point over the coming months, I’m dreaming of extending my Turkish fly-and-flop with an explorative roam around some of the nearby Greek islands. Having ambled through the harbour of Kos Town and flirted with mythology at The Tree of Hippocrates on multiple occasions, I’m hoping to go further inland on my next visit, now aware how large the island is and how many dazzling beaches there are to uncover. Aside from the big hitters still on my list (Crete, Corfu etc.) I’m being drawn to the smaller isles. Symi is high on that list; pastel-coloured townhouses line the hills, freshly-caught seafood is grilled in tavernas, and under-the-radar beaches await discovery – before the height of the season and school holiday crowds arrive, at least.”
Getty ImagesMenton, France
Zahra Surya Darma, digital team assistant
“I’ve been craving a seaside getaway so I plan to spend a few blissful days back on the French Riviera. While more popular spots in Côte D'Azur – like Cannes and Saint-Tropez – have some stunning scenery, Menton is where I’ll spend most of my time for a much more slow-paced holiday. Some of my extended family have retired here (truly living the dream), so I’m looking forward to catch-ups over breakfasts on the terrace, afternoons lying on the beach reading a good book, and a few dinners in Ventimiglia - a small village just a short drive from the French-Italian border – eating fresh pasta with ocean-side views. I'm also looking forward to trying three-Michelin star restaurant Mirazur, on the list of best restaurants in the world.”