
On a recent content trip to Italy, SLH’s Social Media Manager Lucy Kell journeys from the lagoons of Venice to the snow-blanketed Dolomites with travel-loving tastemakers Callie Thorpe, Chrissy Rutherford, India Cardona and Natasha Ndlovu – staying at specially selected Considerate Collection hotels along the way.
Making an entrance
Gliding into Venice on limoboat is non-negotiable, especially when you’re staying at Ca’ di Dio, our elegant new Venetian hideaway. Pull up to the hotel’s private dock on a hybrid-electric water taxi and feel like a film star as you step into the foyer.



Design is in the details
Imagined by renowned designer Patricia Urquiola, the detail throughout Ca’ di Dio showcases the best of Italian craftsmanship, from jewel-bright Murano glass lamps to locally-made fabrics. Don’t forget to look up at the spectacular chandelier in the former-chapel-turned lobby.


Soak it all in
The enchanting canals beckon for a morning of sightseeing, from the Rialto Bridge to the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore. Come sundown, saunter back to Ca’ di Dio for cicchetti and Select Spritz in the cosy Alchemia Bar. Don’t forget to save room for soufflé…
Onwards & upwards
A scenic train journey into the mountains takes you to South Tyrol, where summit-level FORESTIS awaits. Snow-dusted peaks stretch out in every direction from this perfectly poised spa hotel, which is deeply in tune with the elements.
The suite life
The Tower Suites at FORESTIS bring the outside in, with re-purposed wood, stone basins, crisp fabrics and clean lines. Our top tip? Try sleeping with the curtains open to wake up with the gentle morning light.







Forest bathing
Start the day with a guided Wyda class, the millennia-old yoga of the Celts. Take an afternoon plunge in the outdoor cedar-wood tub of Plose mountain water. Wind down with an early evening spa treatment.


Culture trip
Bask in the beauty of the local town of Brixen, taking in the baroque cathedral, Bishop’s Palace and the designer boutiques along the narrow medieval streets.


Curtain fall
The sun sets on a magical few days, leaving you relaxed and restored – and already plotting your return…
A new title

Ca' di Dio
Book now

Forestis
Book now
Previous
The hottest things to do in Athens right now
Next
5 European destinations for slow travel
Latest stories

12 of the world’s most photogenic hotel pools
Sure, some of us love to get a few early morning laps in, but for most travellers, the hotel pool is a place to stretch out and sunbathe beside — in full holiday mode. Ice-cold drinks delivered to your poolside lounger or cabana throughout the day, and only having to

Independent Minds: Steven Riseley, Castle Elvira
Crumbling castle it might have been for over a century, but Steven Riseley and husband, Harvey B-Brown, are writing their own contemporary fairy-tale at Castle Elvira in Puglia. Following a four-year restoration project with local craftsmen working to keep the original ceilings and stonework intact, the creative couple could finally

How to spend a short break in Syros, Greece
The Cyclades are known for their rugged beaches and iconic blue-and-white stucco buildings — until you arrive in the main town of Hermoupolis on the Greek island of Syros, that is. The bustling port city is an energised contrast from its Cycladic neighbours, where neoclassical mansions in a pastel palette

The dreamiest private villas to rent in Europe
Searching for a have-the-place-to-yourself holiday with room for everyone? These villa-style stays are stylish, spacious, and ever so secluded, with all the added extras of boutique hotel service included. Read on for some standout addresses to bed down in this summer, from Greek island hideaways to Tuscan farmhouses.