Europe destination guide FAQ
Your Europe questions, answered.
The same ground the Europe destination guide covers — travel tips, the best months, local culture and where to go — set out as the questions people actually ask us before they book.
Planning a trip to Europe
- Pick the airport before the villa — what does that mean for a trip to Europe?
- 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 — what does that mean for a trip to Europe?
- 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 — what does that mean for a trip to Europe?
- 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 — what does that mean for a trip to Europe?
- 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 — what does that mean for a trip to Europe?
- 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 time to visit Europe
- When is the best time to visit Europe?
- 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. Rates on every villa move with these seasons, and the live partner panels on each listing show what a given week actually costs.
- What is Europe like in 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.
- What is Europe like in April – May?
- Ask any Puglia, Mallorca or Amalfi Coast property about current conditions and availability for this shoulder window before booking.
- What is Europe like in 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.
- What is Europe like in July – August?
- Enquire with the property well ahead for this window, and check current traffic advisories for coast roads before planning a tight schedule.
- What is Europe like in September – October?
- Confirm current sea temperature and harvest timing directly with Douro or Tuscan properties before fixing dates in this window.
- What is Europe like in 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 in Europe
- Lunch is the main event in the south — what is expected of visitors?
- 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 — what is expected of visitors?
- 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 — what is expected of visitors?
- 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 — what is expected of visitors?
- 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.
Where to go in Europe
- Which places in Europe should I build a trip around?
- 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.
- How do I book a villa in Europe?
- Browse recorded listings in Europe estates, then check Stay22 partner searches for your dates and party. Editorial listing identity and exact partner availability are not guaranteed matches; confirm the exact accommodation and terms on the partner site.