Travel Notes Blog

Salento occupies the southeasternmost tip of Italy, a stretch of coastline and countryside distinct from the rest of Puglia. Fortified seafront towns, baroque Lecce, and villages tucked away from well-trodden tourist routes sit alongside beaches that range from soft golden sand to rocky inlets carved into limestone cliffs. This Salento itinerary spends seven days moving between the two coasts and the towns that connect them.

Rising serenely above the Tyrrhenian Sea, Villa Talamo is an 18th-century former monastery that has been lovingly restored to create an enchanting, character-filled Tuscan home. Set in a private, 10-acre coastal estate with a 19m-long infinity pool, direct sea access, and extensive, luxuriant gardens, Villa Talamo comes with 10 bedrooms, full service, including a chef, a long-standing reputation for entertaining in style, and a little black book of contacts that means nothing is off the menu when it comes to transforming a great villa holiday into an extraordinary event.

Rising above the cobalt waters of the Ionian Sea, Michaela is a glamorous Lefkada retreat for sophisticated groups of friends and couples looking to celebrate somewhere truly special. Sleeping up to 16 guests across eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, the contemporary villa combines crisp architecture with subtle colonial influences, spectacular sea views and a distinctly chic atmosphere. The accommodation is arranged between the main house and two independent guest apartments, giving everyone a degree of privacy while bringing the group together around the villa’s extraordinary outdoor spaces. With a 22m heated infinity pool, private sea access and a highly attentive team, Michaela is particularly well suited to milestone birthdays, anniversaries, reunions and stylish celebrations with friends.

At the top of one of Spetses’ most coveted hills, Cleonice is an impressive private estate made for bringing family and friends together. A long, cypress-lined driveway leads through 5.5 acres of gardens to a collection of beautifully designed buildings, with panoramic views across the island and sea. Sleeping up to 14 guests in seven en-suite bedrooms, it is an especially appealing setting for milestone birthdays, anniversaries and multi-generational celebrations. Just a 20-minute walk from Spetses Town, it offers the rare combination of a secluded estate and easy access to the island’s restaurants, beaches and harbour.

Deciding where to stay in Paros will set the rhythm of your trip. This is an island of genuine contrasts: a whitewashed harbour town built for long, wine-soaked dinners and lantern-lit late walks; sheltered family beaches with barely a ripple, and a sun-bleached south coast that windsurfers cross oceans for.

Mainland Greece rewards those who travel beyond the obvious. Ancient landscapes, living traditions and quietly beautiful coastlines define regions such as Evia, Corinth and Porto Heli, where days are shaped by the sea, village life and long meals under the sun. If you would like to begin your holiday with a short cultural stay in Athens, the capital’s spring and summer events offer a stimulating contrast, an ideal prelude before continuing your journey to the calmer pace of a Thinking Traveller villa.

Planning a villa holiday in the Ionian Islands? From Corfu’s Venetian elegance to the tranquil harbours of Paxos and Meganissi, these islands offer far more than beautiful beaches. Throughout the year, local festivals and events bring each destination to life with music, food, ritual and celebration. This guide highlights the best events in the Ionian Islands in 2026, focusing on Corfu, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Zakynthos, Paxos, Antipaxos, Meganissi and Kastos. These are the moments that reveal the region’s character and make an Ionian holiday truly memorable.

Across the Aegean, each island group has its own rhythm. The Dodecanese offers spirituality and serenity, the Saronic Islands combine elegance with artistic heritage, and the Sporades are defined by lush landscapes and a deep connection to the sea. This guide explores the most evocative cultural, gastronomic and seasonal events in 2026 across Patmos, Hydra, Spetses, Alonissos, Skiathos and Skopelos: moments that reveal the character of these islands and enrich a villa holiday with local tradition, atmosphere and a sense of place.

Salento occupies the southeasternmost tip of Italy, a stretch of coastline and countryside distinct from the rest of Puglia. Fortified seafront towns, baroque Lecce, and villages tucked away from well-trodden tourist routes sit alongside beaches that range from soft golden sand to rocky inlets carved into limestone cliffs. This Salento itinerary spends seven days moving between the two coasts and the towns that connect them.

Rising serenely above the Tyrrhenian Sea, Villa Talamo is an 18th-century former monastery that has been lovingly restored to create an enchanting, character-filled Tuscan home. Set in a private, 10-acre coastal estate with a 19m-long infinity pool, direct sea access, and extensive, luxuriant gardens, Villa Talamo comes with 10 bedrooms, full service, including a chef, a long-standing reputation for entertaining in style, and a little black book of contacts that means nothing is off the menu when it comes to transforming a great villa holiday into an extraordinary event.

Rising above the cobalt waters of the Ionian Sea, Michaela is a glamorous Lefkada retreat for sophisticated groups of friends and couples looking to celebrate somewhere truly special. Sleeping up to 16 guests across eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, the contemporary villa combines crisp architecture with subtle colonial influences, spectacular sea views and a distinctly chic atmosphere. The accommodation is arranged between the main house and two independent guest apartments, giving everyone a degree of privacy while bringing the group together around the villa’s extraordinary outdoor spaces. With a 22m heated infinity pool, private sea access and a highly attentive team, Michaela is particularly well suited to milestone birthdays, anniversaries, reunions and stylish celebrations with friends.

At the top of one of Spetses’ most coveted hills, Cleonice is an impressive private estate made for bringing family and friends together. A long, cypress-lined driveway leads through 5.5 acres of gardens to a collection of beautifully designed buildings, with panoramic views across the island and sea. Sleeping up to 14 guests in seven en-suite bedrooms, it is an especially appealing setting for milestone birthdays, anniversaries and multi-generational celebrations. Just a 20-minute walk from Spetses Town, it offers the rare combination of a secluded estate and easy access to the island’s restaurants, beaches and harbour.

Italy stands as the world's largest wine producer, crafting approximately 50.3 million hectolitres annually—nearly 20% of global wine production. With over 1.73 million acres under vine cultivation spread across all 20 administrative regions, Italy's viticultural landscape is as diverse as it is extraordinary. What truly distinguishes Italian wine, however, is the country's staggering genetic treasure: over 2,000 indigenous grape varieties, of which approximately 400 are in commercial production. This represents more native varieties than France, Spain, and Greece combined.

Europe is steeped in history, peppered with historic sites that date back centuries. Holidaying there offers the chance to experience this history for yourself — and there are few better or more picturesque places to see history than in a castle.

Sicily boasts multiple world heritage sites, immense coasts and an active volcano. See our top five wonders of Sicily and explore our exceptional Sicilian villas.

Learn more about the ways we are embracing a more sustainable future for luxury travel in Sicily, by supporting projects from the Sicily Environment Fund, as part of the Conservation Collective.

Discover Casa di Macine, a luxurious Corsican villa blending tradition and modernity. Owner Alain Antonelli, a Corsican native and Miami-based music producer, shares his journey of creating this serene retreat nestled in the mountains.

Find out how The Thinking Traveller’s eco initiatives promote wildlife conservation, eco friendly initiatives and ecotourism in this conservation review.

Explore the benefits of luxury villa rentals vs. hotel stays, focusing on privacy, space, and personalised touches for your next getaway.

Have you ever found yourself in one of the world’s great cities and wished you had somewhere to go that felt like a home from home? We have the perfect solution.