france

WISHLIST: 3 amazing and unusual stays

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I usually book my holidays thinking about all the things I’m going to see and do. But sometimes hotels can be destinations in their own right. Here are three amazing stays that I would love to visit!

1. THE BALANCING BARN, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND

Photo by Living Architecture

This place is part of Alain de Botton’s project Living Architecture. It looks absolutely amazing – who wouldn’t love to spend a few days in a floating silver barn with a swing right underneath it?

2. CAPPADOCIA CAVE SUITES, TURKEY

Photo by Cappadocia Cave Suites

Turkey has been on my wishlist before – there’s just so much to see and do there. Staying in a luxury cave hotel where you can watch hot air balloons go by? Count me in!

3. A TREE HOUSE IN FRANCE

Photo by Cabane dans les Arbres

Well, this is a bit more than a tree house: it’s a tree house modelled after a French château. Perfect for a romantic getaway, as you can relax sipping French wine in the hot tub.

Amazing!

THE 5-MINUTE TRIP PLANNER: A weekend in Paris

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I love Paris! I’ve been many times and will go back again in February.

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There are lots of things to see and do, and you can easily spend a month getting lost in the many different areas of the city.

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But Paris is also perfect for a long weekend, as it’s so close to London.

HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: Hop on the Eurostar after work and arrive right at the centre of Paris. The journey takes only a little over 2 hours, and if you book in advance it’s also the cheapest way to go.
  • Sleep: Staying in Paris can be really expensive, but if you do your research there are good budget options around. I’m staying at Le Rocroy, but there are lots of good options around Montmartre as well.
  • Do: Spend a whole day in the Louvre or catch the latest exhibition at the Grand Palais; get lost in Montmartre; go for a meal and drinks around le Marais; discover a little cafe around the corner… there’s really no way to get it wrong in Paris!

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The 5-minute trip planner: Planning a short trip in no time.

A WEEKEND AROUND GENEVA: CHASING RAINBOWS IN THE FRENCH BORDER

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I have a good friend in Geneva so I go there on occasion. Although it is a beautiful place (especially in the summer), I feel it doesn’t have that much to offer.

Travelling around, on the other hand, is always a great experience.

This time around we visited Annecy, in France, about 25 miles south of Geneva. It is a great road trip with incredible views along the way.

geneva18_for webBut first things first: the great thing about crossing the border to France is you get amazing bakeries straighaway. Our local stop is Merveilles de Pain in St Julien, just across the French border.

Along the way to Annecy we stopped to look at the views over the old bridge.

 We then sipped wine wine at Les Terrasses du Lac, which has beautiful views over the lake.
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Annecy itself is the perfect French town, very nice and actually quite touristic although I’d never heard about it.
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On our way back to Geneva we stopped to get photos of the double rainbow over the mountains.geneva14_for web

In the evening, it was time to drink some Aperol Spritz by the river, before making our way to La Caravane Passe, a delicious Lebanese restaurant.

What a beautiful day!

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HOW TO DO IT:

  • Getting there: There are lots of flights from London to Geneva, and the trip takes about 2h.
  • Travelling around: A car is the best option to explore the border with France. Alternatively, a train trip through Switzerland is an equally beautiful adventure.
  • When to go: This is a perfect break for spring and summer, when the weather is nice and temperatures mild. Switzerland also has lots to offer in the winter for those who like skiing (I don’t).