As the summer travel season fast approaches, many of us find ourselves daydreaming about the perfect getaway but unsure where to start. Whether you’re seeking a serene beach escape, an adventurous mountain retreat, or a cultural city break, finding the ideal destination can be overwhelming. To help you navigate the myriad of options, we’ve turned to the experts whose job it is to know the very best spots around the globe.

In this special feature, we pin down three of London’s top travel PRs to unlock their coveted “little black book” of travel destinations and hotels. These industry insiders reveal the places they’ve visited and can’t wait to return to, the destinations still on their bucket lists, and the exciting new openings that every travel lover should have on their radar. If you’re lacking in holiday inspiration, these expert recommendations are just what you need to plan an unforgettable summer escape.

Hannah Boucher

Perowne International

What’s one destination/hotel you would go back to in a heartbeat if you could?
Borgo Santandrea on the Amalfi Coast – it’s built into the cliffs with rooms spread over multiple terraces and is the only hotel in Amalfi with its own private beach and beach club, which you can directly access through one lift – the most phenomenal place for an early morning swim as you look back up at the epic architecture. I dream about the ‘Amalfi Spritz’ made with their homemade limoncello and lemon jam – I never thought I could be swayed away from Aperol but it’s the most delicious drink. The food speaks for itself…Alici was recently awarded a Michelin Star while the hotel was awarded two keys in the Michelin List. There’s also a brand-new spa this season located in a turret with sensational views of the sea. Belissima!

Is there a new opening you’re dying to visit?
Casa Monti, Rome, opening 1 June – dubbed ‘the home of the artist’, Monti is a really cool area I visited for my birthday recently, it’s near the Coliseum filled with chic wine bars, and this hotel is the sister to La Fantaisie, Paris which opened last summer, part of the family-owned Leitmotiv group – it’s going to have a terrace restaurant, Susanne Kaufmann spa and rooftop bar with amazing views of the eternal city, filled with lots of colour – I can’t wait to visit!

What hotel gets a lot of hype (and is totally worth it!)?
Grand Hotel Son Net, Mallorca – it only opened last year and we’ve had incredible press pick-up, it’s been included in lots of awards and was recently voted best overall hotel in Mallorca on Forbes. It’s from the team behind Finca Cortesin, Andalusia and is one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever seen – every single corner has been intricately designed by Lorenzo Castillo, with artwork and fabrics sourced from all over the world, and it’s only 20 minutes away from Palma. A stunning 17^th century Spanish countryside palacio, which has just launched a brand-new spa!

For a spa-cation like no other, where would you book?
Bawah Reserve, daily spa treatments are included in the rates which is quite a rare offering for all-inclusives! You can even take a private boat out to a hidden beach clifftop for a “spa explorer” experience, where you’ll receive an epic, authentically Indonesian treatment while overlooking the gorgeous Bawah waters and breaking waves in the background.

The Lanesborough Club & Spa, London, it has an abundance of treatments, aesthetics, and fitness classes, a hydrotherapy pool with loungers and a call-button for your personal spa butler so you can order a glass of champagne or green juice – it’s extremely elegant and the best spot to browse through glossy magazines

Do you have anything on your travel bucket list that is still waiting to be fulfilled?
Time + Tide in Zambia has an outdoor sleep-out experience, where you literally sleep under the stars – a complete immersion in the depths of the Zambian bush, surrounded by the incredible African animals and wildlife! Being South African I’ve been fortunate enough to see some of the beauty of Africa, however, there’s so much more I want to see, one for the bucket list for sure!

What are some non-negotiables for you when picking a place to stay?SUN – it has to be somewhere warm and ideally near a beach, however I went back to Lisbon for the second time last year and fell in love with the city. It’s the perfect mix between city and beach, with the best vibe – I love a rooftop bar too of which it has lots! We can work from abroad in August and I think I know where I’m returning too…

Any summer vacay plans in the pipeline?
I’m doing a French road trip to the wine region, stopping off at the beautiful Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa, which I’m really excited about – they have complimentary bicycles you can use to get around the rolling hills with an infinity pool looking over the sweeping valley – and of course lots of Champagne including a very chic Champagne trolley that can be wheeled to your room for the perfect choice! I’m also going to Milos which I’m super excited about – I love how Greece feels like you’re stepping back in time, it has a slower pace to life and an authentic, rustic feel which is rare to find these days!

A wellness enthusiast asks you to plan a holiday for them… where do you send them?
Villa Stéphanie – Health & Wellbeing at Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa – it’s the first Oetker Collection hotel and is where in-the-know celebs go for a full body detox & health reset. You can get a mega full-body health scan with Dr König, including cancer, genetic, hormone screening, as well as a full gut health check, which is very on trend right now. The hotel is located quite literally in a park – Lichtentaler Allee – totally immersed in nature and the pool looks out over the trees – the ultimate restorative retreat! Brenners is also currently undergoing a massive renovation so stay tuned for Q4… OR head to the Italian Dolomites, Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa in Val Gardena – a UNESCO world heritage site with phenomenal scenery including the stunning Alpe de Suisse – you feel an instant sense of calm as soon as you step foot in the mountain range, a heavenly hiking trip, and the spa offers incredible treatments alongside delicious cuisine.

Tanya Rose

Mason Rose

What’s one destination/hotel you would go back to in a heartbeat if you could?
La Colombe D’Or – we have been going for eons and we always stay in the same room. The team are wonderful and it’s very understated. It really does feel like a home from home – if only my own home had as many incredible works of art within it!     

Is there a new opening you’re dying to visit?
Peninsula Istanbul  – it has the most incredible views of the Bosphorus with a huge stretch of gardens full of beautiful citrus trees. I’ve been told it’s a truly special oasis and I can’t wait to see it myself.

What hotel gets a lot of hype (and is totally worth it!)?
Passalacqua on Lake Como – which won best hotel in the world last year in 50 Best. It has the same owner of Grand Hotel Tremezzo also on Lake Como – the wonderfully ebullient Valentina deSantis who has put her true heart and soul into every element of this property and it really shows. It is totally worth its hype

For a spa-cation like no other, where would you book?
Buchinger Wilhelmi on Lake Constance – I have tried all other medi spa’s and this is the best for me by far.

Do you have anything on your travel bucket list that is still waiting to be fulfilled?
Yes! I am dying to go to Costa Rica.

What are some non-negotiables for you when picking a place to stay?
The hotel has to have a sense of place as well as warm and welcoming staff who help me get under the skin of the destination I am going to and ensure I experience it like a local, not a tourist

Any summer vacay plans in the pipeline?
La Colombe D’or bien sur! Vila Vita Parc in Algarve and Maxx Royal – a new hotel by the Turkish-run company, opening in Bodrum later this month.

A wellness enthusiast asks you to plan a holiday for them… where do you send them?
It really depends on what they’re looking to get out of their holiday, but a few that instantly spring to mind – LeFay on Lake Garda, Palazzo Fiuggi outside Rome, Zulal by Chiva Som, only one hour from Doha in Qatar, and Castelfalfi in Tuscany which has just opened a spa in conjunction with Rakxa from Thailand. 

You can tune in to Tanya’s podcast, Travel Secrets

Francesca Moore

J/PR

What’s one destination/hotel you would go back to in a heartbeat if you could?
I was lucky enough to recently visit Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island and I’m already itching to go back. It’s a complete private island paradise unlike anywhere I’ve been before: think, cycling to breakfast alongside giant tortoises, swimming in crystal-clear azure waters with sea turtles and shoals of rainbow-coloured fish, and the most breathtaking sunsets. I’ve never experienced anywhere quite like it: it is the epitome of total barefoot bliss. 

Is there a new opening you’re dying to visit?
There’s a new opening called Gundari on the tiny Greek island of Folegandros opening this month. It will be the island’s very first boutique, five star resort and will really put this raw, wild and stunningly beautiful island on the map for luxury travellers looking for a new destination this summer. The owner has taken a personal stake in conserving the island’s natural beauty and the resort will be an example of how hotels can be sustainable without compromising on service and experience. The spa will be inspired by Ancient Greek rituals and there will be yoga, pilates and sound healing – I think it will be Greece’s most exciting opening this summer. 

What hotel gets a lot of hype (and is totally worth it!)?
For me, it has to be Beaverbrook in Surrey. The interiors are so beautiful (Susie Atkinson & Nicola Harding nailing it once again), the food is exceptional and the spa is sensational. You step into a sanctuary surrounded by floral-inspired stained-glass windows, and all treatments are rooted in nature and inspired by the beautiful British countryside – I also think the women’s health retreats are a must. Also, Cliveden House. The property is steeped in so much incredible history – if only walls could talk! The rooms are some of the most spectacular I’ve seen and the service is really second to none. Plus Chef Chris Hannon’s food is out of this world!

For a spa-cation like no other, where would you book?
If we’re talking within the UK, it would be the new spa at The Lakes by YOO in the Cotswolds. It opened last year in partnership with COSMOSS (the first spa in the world to partner with Kate Moss’ wellness brand!). The spa is all centred around longevity and inspired by the world’s Blue Zones (where people live the longest lives), with incredible science-first treatments and longevity-focused retreats with some of the best names in the industry. Deepak Chopra is even running a retreat there from 13 – 16 June this year! 

Or, for a long haul option, it has to be Chablé Yucatan in Mexico. The spa at Chablé Yucatan is the first and only spa in the world to be built around a natural cenote on the property. Spa treatments and experiences are based on Mayan rituals and it is a very spiritual, special place. For a once in a lifetime experience, you have to try their traditional Temazcal ceremony hosted by one of the on site ‘abuelas’. 

Do you have anything on your travel bucket list that is still waiting to be fulfilled?
A self-drive journey through Namibia, finishing off at Zannier Hotels’ Sonop – an otherworldly tented retreat in the heart of the Namibian desert. 

What are some non-negotiables for you when picking a place to stay?
Beautiful interiors that have a true connection to the locale, and a strong commitment to sustainability and community engagement are non-negotiables for me. 

Any summer vacay plans in the pipeline?
Later this summer I’m heading back out to Menorca – I visited a couple of years ago and completely fell in love with the wild and rugged scenery and laidback vibe of the island. I’ll be staying at Relais & Chateaux property Torre Vella Fontenille Menorca, a classic Menorcan finca that has been turned into a beautifully chic hotel and incredible agrotourism project. 

A wellness enthusiast asks you to plan a holiday for them… where do you send them?
For those looking to embark on a full wellness retreat and journey of self-discovery, I’d send them to Joali Being. It’s the Maldives’ first wellbeing island of its kind, surrounded by the most beautiful crystalline waters and coconut palms. Every guest has a completely tailored wellbeing plan centred around four key pillars – Mind, Skin, Microbiome and Energy – and programmes deal with a whole host of different health goals, from stress recovery and digestive reset to healthy ageing and energy replenishment.