Posts in Italy
We’re as pleased as punch!

We’re pleased as punch!

Why? Grab a copy of The Sunday Times and flick to the centre pages of the brilliant Travel Supplement. On pages 21 & 21, Deputy Travel Editor, Jenny Coad, recounts her week on the Egadi Islands with My Native. This trio of islands, off Sicily’s west coast, are wonderfully unspoilt; think secluded coves, laid-back living, breathtakingly pristine waters, quiet cycle paths, rustic landscapes, grilled tuna & caponata, and the freshest lobster soup.

Click here for the full article. And read our blog for more details on the Egadi islands, and our top five island destinations for 2020.

ItalyJulie Poston
Island escapes in 2020

Following a seven-month renovation, COMO Cocoa Island will be re-opening next week on 9th January. Conveniently located 40 minutes by speedboat from Male international airport, Cocoa Island is one of the most convenient Maldivian islands to access. This is an island better suited to couples in our opinion; facilities are low-key but perfectly orchestrated; a new, state-of-the-art Gym, a yoga studio with 360 degree views of the island, a dive centre, and the Como SHAMBHALA spa, which takes up one third of the island, is a destination in its own right. We love the calm, mInimalist style of all of the newly renovated rooms; in particular, the Loft Water villas, with their mezzanine bedroom overlooking the living area, are superbly spacious. Their fabulous ‘reopening package’, valid until mid- March, saves you quite a few pennies; speedboat transfers, usually US$350 pp, breakfast & a daily 3-course dinner.


Nikoi is, hands-down, our favourite family island escape. Why? Well, the staff on Nikoi genuinely adore getting to know each child. The creative activities on offer each day inspire kids of all ages to try something new…whether it be jetty jumping, snorkelling, catch-the-flag, flying dragon (code name for their zip wire), treasure hunts, or woodcraft. Paddle-boarding, kayaking and diving are popular past-times amongst the teenagers and as the sun sets over the South China Sea, a beach bonfire is lit, BFG-proportioned marshmallow sticks appear and a movie under the stars ensues. Add to this peanut-butter cookies & bananas on the bar for that essential morning snack on-the-go, a kids menu which brings local dishes to their radar without shocking young taste buds, and giant monitor lizards lazily sloping around the resort & you've got a pretty spectacular family holiday. Easter is our favourite time here but you’ll need to book ahead as it’s popular with local expat families.


For pure escapism and an authentic slice of Sicilian paradise, head to the Egadi islands off the west coast of Sicily. The largest of the three islands, Favignana, is ideal cycling terrain so ease into laid-back island living by exploring the island's secluded coves, quiet sandy beaches and savouring the freshest of seafood in one of the island's two piazzas. Pick up a picnic and hop on a ferry or charter a yacht to the nearby island of Levanzo - home to paleolithic cave paintings. Always leaving the best to last, spend your final days exploring the most remote and our favourite of the three Egadi islands, Marettimo. Accommodation here is low-key but stylish; choose between renovated fishmerman’s self-catering cottages or boutique hotels with lots of local character. May half-term is idyllic here or late August/early September for warmer seas.


Nestled between Vancouver Island and the west coast of Canada is Sonora Island. If the idea of sitting on a beach doesn’t rock your world, perhaps the pristine forests & clear, still waters surrounding the Sonora Resort might appeal more. Activities on offer include: world-famous salmon fishing, guided eco-tours by rib boat, close-up views of grizzly bears, orcas, sea lions and dolphins, remote glacier tours by helicopter, and riding ocean rapids. There are some brilliant mountain-bike tracks and hikes directly from the hotel for more independent exploring. The resort is also Relais-Chateaux so foodies will be immensely happy.


If one island is just not enough for you, consider a week at the Legian Bali with a 7-night cruise of the Indonesian Komodo National Park and Gili islands. Aqua Blu is equipped with diving and snorkeling gear, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, and two zodiacs so plenty to keep you entertained between stops. There are 25 crew members for 30 guests, interconnecting cabins for families (note that there is a minimum age of 7 years old) and Indonesia-inspired cuisine including the freshest seafood and alfresco barbecues. Our summer months are the best time to visit and there is still some availability for July & August.

Holidays for active kids & restless parents...

If your children, like ours, are already budding eco-warriors, look no further than Ibiza for a holiday with an eco-conscience. We’ve teamed up with a brilliant local foundation to offer our clients the opportunity to clean up the ocean themselves whilst discovering local coves, the neighbouring islands of Tagomago and Formentera, dolphin-spotting and all on an emission-free, solar-powered catamaran! The villas we represent in Ibiza are superb, as are the hosts that look after them; and can be fully hosted for the week with chef & housekeeper or you can choose to have a guest chef in on a few nights. On other days, take a guided walk along Ibiza’s beautiful coastline and we’ll provide a locally-sourced, fresh picnic to keep those energy levels where they need to be! We love Ibiza during the May & October half-terms, but the summer months are also sublime.


For footie-mad girls & boys, a week at Rocco Forte’s Verdura resort in Sicily will see them training every morning with Juventus players. Having tried & tested this resort in May half-term a few years ago, we know that it works; the interconnecting rooms provide enough space & privacy for all, complimentary bikes of all sizes make for fun journeys to breakfast each morning, there are golf clinics for the little ones & tennis lessons for those who want to hit some balls, and enough variety of restaurants to keep you brilliantly fed. For Chelsea fans, Forte Village in Sardinia runs training academies for 4-14 year olds through May half-term and the summer months. Ask us which hotel in this resort would suit you best as there are seven to choose from. We love the private villas as you have the benefits of the resort and the privacy of your own pool, garden & home-from-home.


There can’t be many better places in the world to learn to ride than Montana; nor are there more authentic places to stay than on a working cattle ranch. After a few private lessons in the riding arena, venture out on a guided horseback ride through Yellowstone National Park seeking out their big five - elk, grizzlies, black bears, bison, and wolves. When you fancy a day off the saddle, try your hand at fly-fishing for trout in some of Montana’s Blue Ribbon rivers - the Gallatin, Yellowstone & Madison. The quiet stretches of these rivers are also ideal for family canoe trips, or rafting further downstream on the white waters. Sundowners, toasted marshmallows, and a roaring campfire will bring your evenings to a close.


To experience one of the world’s finest outdoor playgrounds, consider a week on Hawaii’s second-largest island, Maui. Learn to surf, paddle an outrigger, swim in the island’s seven sacred pools (& waterfalls), snorkel, dive, join the ‘Morning Ocean swim clinic’ if you’re an early-riser! We’re excited about the brand-spanking new Auberge Maui Lani; their 2 bedroom beachfront bungalows with private pools are hard to beat for families. The keiki-only explorers club is an outdoor base camp designed like a rustic tropical hideaway with tree swings, hammocks and a big sandbox for shell hunting. Young kids will spend their days involved in sandcastle-building contests, beach bonfire storytelling and s’mores. For older children, there are fabulous mountain bike tracks, hikes, kayaking, and beach yoga & cross-training for the fitness fanatics. We’d recommend spending a few nights in Vancouver on the way out (a direct, 9-hour flight from London) and San Francisco on your way home.

And a final, festive point…if you missed this week's top pick of Christmas presents for wanderlusters, consider these new travel cosmetic cases from NotAnotherBill; a stylish way to glide through airport security and a brilliant alternative to plastic. With leather edging and matching personalisation patch accompanied by a contrasting coloured zip tape, the black & navy is My Native's favourite. For a 10% discount, use NATIVE10 at checkout.

Castello that stands out from the crowd...

There are so many beautiful hill-top hotels in Tuscany that it can be hard to distinguish between them. COMO Castello del Nero stands out from the crowd… and for all the right reasons. Firstly, their COMO Shambhala retreat offers daily complimentary yoga for residents, therapeutic massages and expert guidance in holistic wellness.. Secondly, the pared-back, sleek interiors - quite rare in Italian mansions - and the neutral colours provide an insanely relaxed vibe, and allow the scenic rolling Tuscan hills to do the talking. Food can be Michelin-starred in La Torre or more relaxed Tuscan cuisine. And last but not least, the service at COMO hotels is always warm, efficient & with an impeccable eye for detail. It’s a 15 minutes walk to the nearest village and the hotel runs a complimentary shuttle to Siena and Florence on a set day, so explore or sit back….

Whilst the hotel welcomes children with the usual Italian open-armed bear hug, COMO Castello Del Nero also works brilliantly for couples in search of some privacy, parents in need of a child-free weekend away and friends wanting a holistic break .

Contact us for their seasonal offers. We’d love to send you there…



Honeymoon, Italy, SpaJulie Poston
Home from home, only better...

These villas below work brilliantly for family holidays from May through September, and the southernmost properties with heated pools can also be considered for October half-term. Details of your home-from-home will be important to you, and are important to us, so ask us about floorplans, access to local shops & restaurants, whether the stairs are toddler-friendly, whether the swimming pool is fenced, and what temperature the pool is heated to in the cooler months…we never tire of the details.

GREECE

‘Villa L’ | Paros | 4 bedrooms | Private pool | Beachfront | from €6,200/week

 

‘Villa N’ | Crete | 4 bedrooms | Heated infinity pool & separate kids pool | Playground | 5-minute drive to beach & village | from €5,600/week


‘Villa M’ | Mykonos | 5 bedrooms | Walking distance to the beach & tavernas | from €15,150/week


IBIZA

‘Villa A’ | San Rafael, Ibiza | 6 bedrooms | Rural seclusion but easy drive to beaches & Ibiza town | from €10,000/week

 

‘Villa S’ | nr Sa Caleta, Ibiza | 6 bedrooms | Modern interiors | Tennis court | Separate guest house | Close to south coast | from €15,000/week


PUGLIA

‘Villa O’ | 6 bedrooms | nr Ostuni, Puglia | 17th century manor | Large pool, jacuzzi & turkish bath | 10 minute drive to beaches | from €30,000/week


‘Villa K’ | nr Ostuni | 8 bedrooms | Ideal for multiple family groups | Vast grounds | Easy drive to the beach | from €12,000/week

Nowhere better for May half-term...

Southern Europe is our favourite destination at May half-term...and Puglia tops the list. It'll be warm enough to swim but not yet blisteringly hot. Think blue skies framing olive groves, quiet beaches, charming towns and authentic, rustic Med cuisine.

The Masseria Torre Maizza opens May 1st and is offering 30% off its standard rates until 15th June. With Rocco Forte staff ensuring sublime service levels from dawn to dusk and complimentary aperitivo as the sun sets, this is the perfect place to kick-off summer 2019... Get in touch for competitive rates & our top local tips.