How To Travel Europe Slower And More Responsibly This Summer
Cover photography @lifeof_riley
You heard right — Europe is OPEN for travel this summer. But unlike summers past when you could hop from LONDON to MALLORCA to the AMALFI COAST without a second thought, this year, restrictions and covid tests WILL slow you down.
So instead of trying to fight it, we think this year you should embrace the slower pace. Instead of hopping on multiple flights this summer trying to do and see everything you can, focus on one, slow tip that’s much more immersive than the typical travel you’d usually embark on. Think about finally eating your weight in pastel de nata for a month, getting the chance hunt down dozens of secret beaches on Mallorca or finally island hopping down the Dalmatian coast.
However, with variants still emerging and many European travelers and service people still waiting to be vaccinated, any kind of travel this summer doesn’t come without risks. For this reason, we think it’s also important to think about your trip responsibly, taking care to travel in a way that keeps yourself safe while also taking into consideration the communities you’ll visit. With this in mind, our slow travel guide to Europe this summer embraces individual travel, rural retreats and private accommodations.
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oad trip. What may seem like an obvious answer shouldn’t be overlooked. A road trip is the perfect, responsible slow-travel way to get around Europe. Not only can you go at your own pace, seeing and doing exactly what you want along the way, but you can also keep yourself contained. Plus, road trips keep you out of the big, busy cities and take you to the smaller towns and hideaways that are less likely to be overcrowded hotspots. We love long, lazy trips across the towns that speckle the Cote de Azure, or a top-down trip through Apulia, stopping only for dips in the sea and sleeps at Trullo's. To make it more of an experience, treat yourself and rent a better car than you normally would — like a sports car, or a hunt down a vintage.
If you’re headed to the Amalfi Coast, rent a vintage car, like this 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider, from Spider Lifestyle. Photography @theworldfromawindow
Bound for the Côte d'Azur? Let those windy roads lead you out to the countryside to discover gems like Chateau St Victor La Coste. Photography @conte_yoon.
The heat in Granada in the summer is unbearable anyways. So put the top down and cruise through Andalusia, stopping in towns like Montefrio for lunch. Photography @iharvera.
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harter a sailing yacht. here are some destinations that are best explored by sea. Secret swimming holes and inaccessible beaches become yours at the helm of a sailboat. Plus, you’ve always got a room with a great view. At The Suitest, we think this is by far the best way to slow travel Europe this summer, providing you with an adventurous and epic form of transportation. Life at sea is also blissfully slow — early mornings are spent reading or napping as you sail to your next destination, giving way to lunchtime swims and sun-drenched afternoons on storied islands and quaint coastlines. Importantly, by chartering a sailing yacht, you can also choose you own crew, allowing you to keep the perfect pod while you travel. Top tip: Always ask your captain or skipper about secret swimming holes and secluded spots away from the crowds — they’ll always know the best, local places.
Croatia’s Dalmatian islands make the ideal sailing trip with crystal clear waters, quiet coastlines and charming villages. We only trust Sailweek — soon launching their ‘Family’ routes with luxury boats — who’s been operating charters here for more than a decade. Photography @postcardsfromcate
If la dolce vita calling your name, a sail from the Bay of Naples over to ancient Ischia and down the glamorous Amalfi Coast is the trip for you. We like the personalized services of The Sailing Collective. Photography @thesailingcollective
Sailing is the best way to see the Greek islands — giving you a private experience away from the crowds and totally avoiding the ferries. Sailweek Family will also be offering bespoke charters in Greece this summer, the perfect trip for families, and friends who feel like family, to make memories to last a lifetime. Photography @sailweek
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ent a countryside villa. The easiest way to avoid the crowds is to steer clear of them altogether. So this year, gather your pod and rent a countryside villa. This is the perfect way to disconnect from your pandemic routine and totally immerse yourself in the moment. But, the key to making this work is two part. Firstly, you need villa that makes you feel like you never want to leave. Think: pool, panoramic views and plush amenities. And secondly, you need to be situated in a surrounding that still calls out to be explored — think, afternoons in small piazzas licking gelato, or morning swims on the gold-sand beaches of Lagos. This light push and pull will help you ease into a slow rhythm of relaxation, as well as fully indulge in life’s simple pleasures.
Villa Cardo, situated just 15-minutes from Ostuni, is a perfect example. A 4-bedroom countryside villa designed by Studio Andrew Trotter, the breathtaking property has everything you need and more. But should you want to venture out, the Apuglia region is at your doorstep. Photography @renee_kemps
The Addresses may be the new kids on the block, but we all took notice of these three properties in the Algarve when they launched this year. Casa Três has this incredible courtyard, and Faro is just a stone’s throw away when you feel like finally tearing yourself from it. Photography @the_addresses
Designed by architects Claudio Silvestrin and John Pawson, the The Neuendorf House is a Mallorcan masterpiece. Not only does this property perfectly frame the sea and mountains, but it boasts a pool, multiple terraces and 30-acres of land ripe for exploration. Photography @jelena.marija
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ake a workcation. As we begin to navigate our way out of the pandemic, experts predict that hybrid models of work — balancing work from home and in-office work — will persist. So while work from home continues in one form or another, why not work from somewhere beautiful? Trade in your morning gym session for a run down country roads, then take your calls poolside. Evenings will be your time to explore, giving you a few hours to bask in the golden hour glow of your destination. Top tips: don’t make it all about work. Bookend your workcation with real holiday time. A week of holiday beforehand allows you to get a feel for the place, and a week after your workcation will allow you to check-off all the sights and activities you didn’t get to on the weekends. And because you’ll spend so long here, we suggest a location a bit off the beaten path that’s just waiting to be discovered.
Often overlooked, Menorca is the ideal location for a workcation because you can spend weeks deeply exploring the island the island like a local. We’d stay at Menorca Experimental which offers desk space, private plunge pools and amenities like yoga for you to enjoy throughout your stay.
Dubrovnik’s ancient walled city is usually just a pit stop on a tour of Dalmatia, but the longer you stay, the greater the hold this place has on you. You’ll love starting your days with morning swims, and the weekends are ideal for island hopping or renting a car and cruising up the coast.
There’s no shortage of locations to work from at Six Senses Kaplankaya on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast — from Anhinga beach club to any of their three pools. And with Europe’s largest spa and a slew of amenities, you’ll have no problem calling this place home. Want more space? There are villas to rent, too.
