TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOT 06
Answering your questions! Quick trips from Paris, planning a 12 week mat leave around a wedding in London, and more.
Welcome back to Travel Troubleshoot, an ongoing series where I, along with my very discerning community of travelers, are answering travel questions submitted via our Substack chat (a perk exclusively available to paid subscribers). It’s also just a place to talk about where we’re traveling this year or what places we’re curious about. If you’re new here, I’m rerouting all travel-related questions in my texts, emails, and Instagram DM’s here and if you missed the first few Travel Troubleshoots, you can find them here!
A few paid subscribers have expressed that they’ve only recently discovered the chat feature which has been active since I launched my Substack, so to catch you up, I’m pulling from a few exchanges to give you a sense of what kinds of questions are being asked in case any of these help anyone else.
…and one more reason to subscribe to the chat? I’m hosting a giveaway (!!!) later this month where one lucky subscriber will win a hefty chunk of cash to put toward their next trip… so stay tuned for that ;)
Now over to your questions…
Could you recommend your favorite destinations 1-2hrs outside of Paris? I’m thinking of planning a 1-2 night stay that is relaxing, scenic, and/or romantic during a longer trip to Paris. My husband and I were originally going to do Paris and the Cote d’Azur, but now want to reduce travel time between multiple cities.
Ahh, I'm so glad you asked this on here because I get it so much!! There's tons around Paris but I'll just name a few favorites. Super close to the city, just 45 minutes away, you have the 12th-century monastery-turned-luxury hotel, Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay. It’s the perfect spot for a romantic couple of nights. There’s plenty to do on the property: pedal boating, nature hikes, cycling, horseback riding, tennis, etc. Plus, the food is excellent and the spa is incredible. About an hour from Paris, Domaine de Primard is another dreamy option. This 18th-century château, once owned by actress Catherine Deneuve, has gorgeous gardens and grounds, a spa, nature activities, and great food (I still dream about the chocolate mousse here...). It's also close to Monet's gardens in Giverny, so that could be a fun off-site activity. If you guys are foodies (because eating is really all there is to do in this next one), you could book one of the rooms at farm-to-table restaurant and guest house Le Doyenné, a super famous bolthole for in-the-know chefs and gourmands around the world, located in Saint-Vrain, just 45-minutes south of Paris. For the beach, try the Parisian Riviera, i.e. Trouville and Deauville, just a two-hour train from Paris. Stay at Hôtel Flaubert in Trouville (Trouville is the chiller one, Deauville more fancy but you can explore both no matter where you base!)
Of course, the Loire Valley would be one of the best options for you guys. Approximately two hours from Paris and you can spend the days eating, wine tasting, and castle hopping! I love the hotel Les Sources de Cheverny (has a great spa!) Two more stays I recommend in Loire Valley: CHB - Château de la Haute Borde (art/design lovers like this one) and Le Château de Thauvenay. Also this one's really unique, but foodie tastemaker Alice Moireau recently renovated her family home in Olivet, a quieter, bucolic area in the Loire Valley along the Loiret River. As well as having a fully equipped kitchen (you can go to the market and pick up fresh ingredients to cook!) there's a wooden boat and bikes available for you to use! As always, let me know if you end up going with any of my suggestions, would love to hear your thoughts!
Hope you can help me narrow down options for this summer in Europe. We have saved 12 weeks of Mat leave for August-October. The only concrete plans we have is a wedding in London Sept 5/6. We're planning to spend 4 weeks in Canada visiting family at some point but the rest of the time we'd like to be in Europe. Willing to go to two areas and really spend quality time there, ideally not moving more than once per location. We'll be traveling with our two daughters (4 yo & 9 months). Last summer we went to Tuscany, Talloires and Les Roches Rouges in France. I'm leaning towards Sicily or a Greek Island but south of France is always a good idea, Cotswolds? My mind is all over the place! Help!
I’m no expert in traveling with kids so take all of these suggestions with a grain of salt. You already did south of France last summer so let’s go somewhere new this year. I love the idea of western Sicily and the Greek islands. Option 1: you could do August on the western coast of Sicily near Scopello or Noto. Tons of family-friendly villas (try The Thinking Traveller), warm water, good food, slow pace. You can fly from Sicily to London for the wedding and then do Sept in Greece! Such a nice time to be there. With small kids, I’d recommend Paros and Antiparos. Plenty of sandy serviced beaches, tavernas, and easy to get around with a car. Option 2: you could do Crete (near Chania) and I LOVE my friend Niko’s hotel Ammos Hotel for families! Chill, easy and right on the beach. INCREDIBLE food. Good anchor to explore Western part of Crete. And there’s a direct flight from Chania to London for the wedding. Then I’d propose giving Sept in Puglia a shot. Stay near Ostuni or Valle d’Itria area. There are tons of villas with pools (The Thinking Traveller has many here too!) and each day you could drive around and explore the different villages and beaches. You’ll have plenty to do. Some additional thoughts: remember that August is hot and busy in southern Europe so I’d aim for a villa with a pool or beach access with AC. Also consider islands with international airports to simplify travel days with kids (more details on which islands have them in my guide to the Greek Islands).
We are leaning towards Mallorca and Menorca for four weeks after our friends’ wedding in London in September. Do you have suggestions on where to stay to soak in as much beach / warm sunny days? I’ve done some research and Arta seems lovely along with Deia in the mountains for later on in our stay.
Definitely stay in Deia/Soller/Port de Soller later in your trip (this is my personal favorite part of Mallorca) but for the front end, since you’re looking for proper beach days, I recommend the south! Either Cala d’or (lots of boutique hotels/airbnbs around here), Santanyí/Cala Llombards area (close to some of my fav coves) or Colònia de Sant Jordi which is quieter but the gateway to Es Trenc (one of the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca). If you’re looking for an easier, family-friendly option by the beach, I recommend staying in port de Pollença in the north which has a very local feel. You probably won’t find many tourists over there!
My partner and I have a wedding next month in Cáceres and have decided we will take our car down from San Sebastian where we live and stay for an extra five or so days somewhere driving distance from Cáceres. We are a young couple with a small dog wanting to be in nature and feel like we're properly on vacation. We're thinking of going to the beaches near Lisbon or heading somewhere in Spain. Any recommendations?
Driving distance from Cáceres you have lots of great options! On the Portuguese side, I’d head toward the Alentejo coast, which is less developed than the Algarve but full of charm. The closest notable spots are Sines, a laid-back coastal town with a historical backbone, and Porto Covo, a postcard-worthy village with whitewashed houses, dramatic cliffs, and a string of tiny beaches. Both are about a 2.5-hour drive. If you’ve got more time, it’s definitely worth continuing south along the coast to Vila Nova de Milfontes, a lively beach town at the mouth of the Mira River that’s great for swimming and kayaking, or Zambujeira do Mar, which has a more rugged, wild feel and is a favorite among surfers. If you'd rather stick to Spain, consider heading north into the Sierra de Gata or Las Hurdes. I haven’t been personally, but have heard they’re both stunning, with lush mountains, natural swimming holes, hiking trails, and tiny stone villages tucked into the landscape. They’re high on my list and could be just what you’re looking for.