Belle Epoque travel tips

The first thing travelers should know about the Swiss Travel System is that it’s available exclusively for international visitors to Switzerland for a choice of 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days. In fact, nearly all forms of transportation are included with a Swiss Travel Pass.

If you’re planning to attend the Paris Olympics and see a bit of Europe this summer, you have a variety of plush new hotels from which to choose (though they’re likely to fill up quickly). Whether you’re going to the Games or simply going on vacation, you’ll find fresh boutique properties in Paris and many more that are an easy flight away, be it to the French Riviera, Rome, or fittingly, an island in Greece, the birthplace of the ancient games.

For those looking to visit Sicily and experience it in a new way, a good place to start is the Villa Igiea in Palermo. A cherished landmark, the villa is testament to a great Italian dynasty, theFlorios, who were widely chronicled in Europe for both their business acumen and social prowess, as the Astors and Vanderbilts were in the U.S., during the Belle Epoque. Designed in neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, Villa Igiea was purchased by the Florios to be used as a health retreat for an ailing daughter. Instead they turned it into a hotel, which would come to be known for a glittering guest list that included kings and emperors and film-world royalty like Roberto Rossellini and Sophia Loren. In 2019, Rocco Forte Hotels purchased the historic property and initiated a multi-year refurbishment overseen by Olga Polizzi, director of design and deputy chairman of RFH.

The Swiss city of Lugano is an outlier, radically different in feeling from counterparts like Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne, or Basel. It has a 19th-century feel, a measured pace, and traces of the Belle Epoque. Situated on Lake Lugano with tree-lined promenades and a backdrop of domed mountains, the views might have been lifted from an Art Nouveau poster.

A popular port of call for cruisers or daytime stop for French Riviera travelers, Monte-Carlo offers so much more than a quick diversion on a longer trip. The principality sandwiched between France and Italy offers luxury accommodations, fine dining, an incredible, palm-tree adorned setting on the coast, and top notch hospitality. With an almost nonexistent crime rate, a distinct local culture, 300+ days of sun per year and hoards of attractions, ranging from luxe beaches to lounge on to top rated restaurants, Monte-Carlo may be the best home base for your next getaway on the Côte d'Azur.

Add a new must-see to Florence’s staggeringly rich cultural offerings—the refurbished Fashion and Costume Museum in the Pitti Palace, part of the Uffizi Galleries complex. Closed for three years for restoration and from the effects of the pandemic, the Museo della Moda e del Costumemakes news by highlighting the recent past, debuting 12 rooms focused on 20th-century fashion, while remaining an important repository for historic pieces dating from the time when the Medicis ruled the town.

Montpellier – nicknamed the surdouée, the wonder child – is a city that buzzes with life and Mediterranean light.

The holidays are here and so are the travel savings.

Hotel bars have had a bit of a patchy reputation in the last few decades, often with drab, soulless decor and an uninspired clientele. But recently, they’ve come into a category of their own as somewhere you would choose to spend your night, even if you’re not a guest. They employ pioneering bar professionals who create avant-garde drinks menus and have brought much-needed pizzazz back into the surroundings. Here are four hotel bars in Europe you’ll want to have on your radar for your next visit.

The best Christmas markets seem to turn back time, transforming areas of cities into timeless wonderlands. In the UK, you’ll find no shortage of opportunities to savour the comforts of the season, with artisanal, themed and traditional Christmas markets popping up across the country from November onwards.

Until recently, few Parisian hotels dared to distract from the classic aesthetics of the city itself. The décor of its gilded palace hotels, single-minded embassies of French heritage, was, largely, fussy and excessively impersonal, as if a misplaced streak of color could break the city’s spell. Today the capital is finally overcoming its self-seriousness, thanks in part to its vibrant post-Brexit ascendancy in the contemporary arts and culture scenes. Many of its new hotels seek to delight rather than simply impress, and often conjure other worlds, as in the Marais’s Maison Proust, a candlelit Belle Époque fantasy half-hidden behind tasseled indigo velvet curtains, or the nearby Le Grand Mazarin, fashioned by the London-based Swedish designer Martin Brudnizki from contrasting styles and eras, all in a swirl of candy colors. “It took longer than New York and London,” says the Italian architect and designer Fabrizio Casiraghi, “but Paris is at last discovering the kind of small hotel that has something to say.”

The uppermost tip of the Adriatic is a curious mix of cultures, cuisines and architectural styles. Pack lightly and tour the Istrian peninsula, before hopping over to the Venetian lagoon opposite. On a clear day, you can see from one side of the sea to the other. Forgo car hire, it’s more serene to travel by ferry, train and bus – and the occasional taxi out of season.

There are currently 142 restaurants in the world with Michelin three-star ratings. As the world’s most influential restaurant guide, a Michelin rating is the most important accolade a chef can receive. A three-star rating vaults any Michelin-rated restaurant into the uppermost tier of the top restaurants in the world. If you’re a culture and gastronomy aficionado, and chasing the high price of excellence is of great importance in your culinary matters, here are five Michelin three-star restaurants worth paying a visit.

The French Riviera is the strip of the Mediterranean coast that stretches from the town of Hyères to Menton, and the jewel in the crown that is the Azure Coast is the city of Nice. Famous for its sunshine, lively markets, colorful buildings, lovely beaches, and for being a celebrity magnet, Nice is also a good base for visiting the region. From there, you can take a quick train to Monaco, Cannes, or a longer trip to very chic St. Tropez. To make your trip to the Mediterranean a vacation to remember, book one of the best hotels in Nice, France, some of which have views and decors that will blow your socks off.

The French Riviera is often defined by what made it famous in the first place: Historic grande dame hotels, spectacular scenery, visions of jet setters basking in champagne-soaked glamour, and cruising the coast in vintage convertibles a la Grace Kelly. These scenes remain beyond Slim Aarons’ iconic photography, and each summer, a parade of well-heeled travelers arrive, toting the latest bags from Chanel and Dior.

With its crystal clear lake and rugged snow-capped mountains, Lucerne has long been one of Switzerland’s most popular destinations for an alpine retreat. Europe’s upper strata were drawn to the alps as early as the 1760s, for mountaineering and hiking. But Lucerne really took off in the 19th century, following the opening of the first hotel in 1835, the expansion of alpine health resorts and Queen Victoria visiting the town for a long summer retreat in 1868 as she mourned the death of her husband.

There are no shortages of five-star properties in Monte-Carlo. However, guests looking for an intimate and very special experience will be wowed with the aesthetics and special moments crafted by the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo. The property was originally built in the Belle Époque style in 1886. It has been renovated several times and now embodies stunning design elements and modern touches. Upon entering, it is hard not to be impressed by the central floral sculpture that changes with the season. Look a little further and you will be further enticed by the garden view.

The Hôtel de Paris is a Monte Carlo institution just steps away from the famous Casino of Monte Carlo and steeped in history. Originally opened in 1864, the property has recently undergone an extensive renovation, creating a hotel that is filled with modern touches but that also is deeply respectful of its Belle Epoque tradition. In addition to providing a very luxurious experience, one of the hotel’s most important undertakings is its deep commitment to sustainability.

While Monaco takes up less than one square mile in area, it has an outsized reputation as the ultimate luxury destination on the French Riviera. This is the place to experience Belle Époque architecture, a glamorous Casino and the Grand Prix. But you can also enjoy terrific museums, lovely gardens and a country with a deep commitment to sustainability. Below is a suggested itinerary that includes many of the country’s most beloved sites.

The summer-opened La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin takes over a historic Cognac distillery and mansion in the area of France famed for its namesake spirit.

With the Rugby World Cup taking place in France this September, rugby fans from across the world are descending on the land of Liberté, Egalité and Fraternité for the biggest event in rugby. Each of the 20 teams participating in the world cup has chosen a basecamp at a different location across France. For the UK and Ireland, Scotland is based in Nice, Wales in Versailles, Ireland in Tours, and England in the glamorous coastal resort of Le Touquet.