Where to go
Destinations
Every place we cover, with the season worth going and the base worth choosing.
Europe
7 places
Santorini
The caldera is worth it — if you stay in the right village.
Late April to early June, or late September to October
Amalfi Coast
See it from the water, not the SS163.
May, June or late September; July and August are hot and gridlocked
Paris
For the second visit: the Left Bank, better tables, fewer queues.
May to June and September to October
Switzerland
Belle Époque grand hotels, mountain railways, and summer instead of ski season.
July to September for hiking and full train timetables
Tuscany
A villa, a vineyard, and the car you genuinely need.
May to June and September for harvest
Iceland
The Ring Road in comfort: design lodges, geothermal water, long light.
June to August for midnight sun; February to March for aurora with tolerable roads
Douro Valley
Portugal's quietest luxury: terraced vineyards and river quiet.
May to June and September for harvest
Asia
4 places
Maldives
Overwater villas, house reefs and the transfer that decides your trip.
January to April for dry season; May to October for lower rates and warm rain
Kyoto
Ryokan ritual, temple mornings, and the neighbourhoods that reward staying put.
Late November for maple season; April for blossom; either books out early
Bali
Private-pool villas in Ubud, and the valleys worth the extra transfer.
April to June and September to October; avoid the August crush
Tokyo
Rooms above the city, and the districts worth waking up in.
March to May and October to November
Africa
3 places
Tanzania
Camp placement matters more than camp thread count.
June to October for the migration; January to February for calving in the south
Marrakech
Riad or resort — the decision that defines the trip.
March to May and October to November
Cape Town
Two weeks, one loop: the city, the Cape, and the winelands.
November to March, the southern summer
