Hotels: Where You Wake Up Shapes the Trip

We’ve stayed in all kinds of places, from sleek city hotels to tucked-away countryside retreats. But the best ones always have something more—a sense of place, a feeling that lingers, a reason to remember them long after we’ve left. Take Casual Rinascimento Firenze, right in the heart of Florence. It was everything you want from a city hotel—effortlessly stylish, perfectly located, and just a stone’s throw from the Duomo. We’d step out of the lobby and be instantly in the Florence we’d dreamt of—narrow streets, Renaissance facades, and that golden Tuscan light. But sometimes, the best stays are the ones that slow things down. Like School Farm Holidays in the UK, where we escaped winter’s chill by settling into the Owl Pod, complete with a private hot tub that made even the frostiest evenings feel magical. The kind of place where the only noise is birdsong, and the only thing on the agenda is doing absolutely nothing for a while. And of course, there are the hotels that feel like pure indulgence. Lagoon Attitude in Mauritius was exactly that—turquoise waters, swaying palm trees, and a place designed to make you forget that the real world even exists. It was the kind of hotel where time didn’t really matter, and where every sunset felt like it belonged on a postcard.

Restaurants: The Tables We’ll Never Forget

A great restaurant isn’t just about the food—it’s about the experience. The buzz of conversation, the way the light falls across the table, the unexpected details that make it memorable. In Seville, we stumbled upon Bar Postiguillo Tapas, a place that didn’t try too hard to impress, yet completely won us over. Tucked away near the cathedral, it was the kind of place you’d never find if you weren’t looking—but once inside, you knew you’d struck gold. A tiny, rustic space, buzzing with energy, filled with locals who knew exactly what to order. In Carcassonne, it was Restaurant La Marquière, where centuries of history met impeccable service. The kind of restaurant that makes you slow down, savour every bite, and remember that dining isn’t just about eating—it’s about taking the time to enjoy the moment. Then there’s Maison Bagarre in Nantes, a spot that felt effortlessly cool without trying too hard. It had that perfect blend of laid-back and stylish, the kind of place where you could stay for hours and feel like part of the city’s rhythm. And if you’re in Nantes and love cheese (which, let’s be honest, is the only acceptable opinion), then Cheese and Friends is the kind of place that lives up to its name. Simple concept, executed perfectly.

Some restaurants surprise you. Others feel like they were exactly what you were looking for before you even knew it.

The Places That Stay With You

At the end of the day, travel is about moments. It’s waking up in a hotel that feels like it belongs in the city, stepping out onto cobbled streets and feeling instantly part of the world around you. It’s sitting in a restaurant where the atmosphere is just as good as the food, where you end up staying longer than planned, just because you don’t want to leave. Because when we think back on our trips, it’s not just the sights we remember. It’s the view from a hotel balcony, the warm glow of a perfect restaurant, the unexpected joy of finding a place that feels like it was meant just for you. That’s why we travel. That’s why we keep searching for those places—the ones that turn a trip into a story worth telling.