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ILUXURYTRAVELS

Europe destination guide

The Europe destination guide.

Europe runs two seasons that barely overlap: chalets from December to April, and the Mediterranean from May to September. The trick is knowing which shoulder weeks still work — a Portofino October or a Courchevel late March — and where a car helps rather than hinders. This guide covers both.

Travel tips

Pick the airport before the villa

Geneva is a common gateway for the French and Swiss Alps, and Nice, Ibiza, Mykonos and Olbia are common gateways for their coasts; journey times to each villa vary, so ask for a current estimate. Check the real journey time from the airport before you book.

Cars help on the coast, not in the Alps

Puglia, Mallorca, Corsica and the Douro want a car. Resort villages like Courchevel 1850, Zermatt (car-free) and Val d'Isère do not — ask the property whether it arranges a driver and what that costs before deciding against a rental car.

Book the festive fortnight early

Christmas and New Year in the Alps, and August on the Riviera and the Greek islands, are the two windows worth enquiring about earliest — ask each property directly about its current availability and rate for those dates.

Chalets are catered; villas usually are not

Ask each Alpine chalet exactly what staffing its rate includes, and do the same for any Mediterranean villa — a chef, driver or boat may be available on request but isn't assumed.

Know the entry rules for your passport

Check the official entry requirements for your passport and itinerary. Switzerland is within the Schengen area; the UK has separate entry rules. This guide does not assess individual eligibility.

The best months to go

December – April
Ask each resort directly for its current snow report before booking, and favour late March or April if a longer, brighter afternoon on the terrace matters more than deep snow.
April – May
Ask any Puglia, Mallorca or Amalfi Coast property about current conditions and availability for this shoulder window before booking.
June
Ask the property directly for its current June rate compared with July before booking, and check sea temperature with a local source if that's the deciding factor.
July – August
Enquire with the property well ahead for this window, and check current traffic advisories for coast roads before planning a tight schedule.
September – October
Confirm current sea temperature and harvest timing directly with Douro or Tuscan properties before fixing dates in this window.
November
Ask city properties in London, Paris and Milan for their current November rate before booking, and confirm Alpine opening dates directly with the resort.

Local culture and etiquette

Lunch is the main event in the south

Italy, Spain and Greece eat later than much of the north — ask your restaurant directly about typical booking times in Ibiza and Mykonos, and check shop hours locally before planning an afternoon around them.

Dress codes are real on the Riviera

Beach clubs from Cap d'Antibes to Porto Cervo expect smart resort wear after sunset, and several refuse trainers. Alpine restaurants are more relaxed, though the Michelin rooms are not.

Greet before you ask

A bonjour, buongiorno or kalimera before a question is the whole difference in France, Italy and Greece. Ask the restaurant whether service is already included in France or Italy before deciding what, if anything, to add.

Sunday closes things

Check Sunday opening hours locally in Switzerland, Austria and Germany before planning around them, and confirm your chalet's changeover day directly — Alpine resorts commonly change over on Saturdays, but ask rather than assume.

Must-visit places

  • Courchevel 1850

    The reference address in the Three Valleys: ski-in chalets with chef, spa and staff in the rate.

  • Zermatt

    Car-free, Matterhorn in the window, and skiing into June on the glacier.

  • Ibiza

    Cliff-edge estates at Es Cubells and Cala Jondal, quiet fincas in the north.

  • Mykonos

    Sunset-facing villas above Agios Lazaros and Psarou, with chef and driver standard.

  • Amalfi Coast

    Positano and Ravello villas with terraces over the sea; go in May or late September.

  • Paris

    Apartments and townhouses for a city opening or closing to a longer European trip.

  • Douro Valley

    Quinta estates and harvest in September — the most underrated week in Europe.

Collections in Europe

Themed pages built on the houses we hold — each with published nightly rates, planning notes and the questions we're asked most.

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